Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Advances Durbin-Sponsored Legislation to Expan Student Loan and Housing Assistance for Servicemembers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A hearing today of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee made legislative advances on three bills to provide additional assistance to servicemembers and military families sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act, the Servicemember Housing Protection Act, and the Benefits Fairness for Filipino Veterans Act. The bills must receive a vote by the full Committee before proceeding to a vote on the Senate floor. "Our nation'… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with CEO of Greater Chicago Food Depository to Discuss Importance of Protecting Food Assistance for Millions of Working Families

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Kate Maehr, to discuss the importance of protecting funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as congressional negotiators begin to work on a compromise between two different versions of the Farm Bill as part of a House-Senate Conference Committee. He is scheduled to speak with the Illinois Hunger Coalition about the same issue later this week. This week, … Continue Reading

Durbin: It Is Time for Stand Your Ground Laws To Be Carefully Reconsidered

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, called for state "stand your ground" laws to be carefully reconsidered following recent and high profile shootings of unarmed young people. These laws, one of which played a key role in the trial surrounding the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, give individuals legal permission to use lethal force to prot… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Dietary Supplement Manufacturer to Prove Compliance with Federal Law Regulating New Ingredients

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on USPLabs to provide information showing it has complied with federal law requiring dietary supplement manufacturers to report new dietary ingredients and evidence of their safety to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a letter to the CEO and Co-Owner of USPLabs, Durbin raised concerns about OxyElite Pro, a diet supplement that may be linked to 48 cases of liver injury including death. The product contains aegeline - a n… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Schools Across the Nation to Develop Concussion Safety Plans for Student-Athletes

[COLLINSVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Collinsville High School to discuss legislation he recently introduced to strengthen K-12 schools' procedures for preventing, detecting, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions while competing. "Injuries are a part of all sports, but as we learn more about the long-term effects of concussions and how frequently they are ignored, it is clear we need to do more to confront this health risk, especially among student… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Zachary Fardon as New U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) released the following statements today after the Senate confirmed Zachary Fardon to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate unanimously approved his nomination. "Zachary Fardon will be an exceptional U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois," Durbin said. "His range of experience will serve him well in a city and region as diverse and challenging as the Northern District. … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Federal Judicial Nominees in Northern & Central Districts of Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has unanimously approved Sara Ellis for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Colin Bruce for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. "Both Sara Ellis and Colin Bruce have the experience, qualifications, and integrity to be excellent federal judges," said Durbin. "I was proud to recommend them both to President … Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Luncheon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the fifth bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 113th Congress. The members discussed the impact the federal government shutdown is having on Illinoisans. The luncheon today was attended by thirteen members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation: Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Representative… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Government Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the House failed to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government. "Early this morning, the federal government shut down because the House of Representatives was unwilling to pass a short-term government funding measure," Durbin said. "So today, nearly a million federal workers were sent home without pay and government offices around the country were shuttered. This is no … Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Nearly $1.4 Million in Funding for Peoria and Rockford Law Enforcement

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program has awarded the City of Rockford $625,000 in funding to hire or rehire five police officers and the City of Peoria $750,000 in funding to recruit or rehire six police officers. Today's funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $125 million in COPS grants that will be given to 263 different… Continue Reading

Durbin, Harkin, Rockefeller, Waxman & Members of Congress Call on E-Cigarette Makers to Explain Marketing Tactics Targeting Kids

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing a dramatic increase in the use of e-cigarettes among children and youth, twelve members of Congress today called on nine e-cigarette makers to provide additional information regarding the sale, distribution, labeling, and marketing of their products to children and teens. Currently, e-cigarettes are not subject to federal laws and regulations that apply to traditional cigarettes such … Continue Reading

Durbin, Markey, Rockefeller, Blumenthal Call on Energy Drink Companies to Stop Marketing to Children

[WASHINGTON, DC] In the latest step in their ongoing investigation into the energy drink industry, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), today called on 17 major energy drink companies to commit to voluntary steps in the marketing and promotion of energy drink products, including not marketing to children nor selling products in K-12 schools. The requests to the companies come after the July Senate Comm… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with U of I President Bob Easter to Discuss Research Funding and Higher Education Issues

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met yesterday with University of Illinois President Robert Easter to discuss comprehensive immigration reform and the importance of funding student research and innovation. "The University of Illinois is a great institution that plays an important economic and education role for students from Illinois and across the world," Durbin said. "I was pleased to meet with President Easter today. We agree that investing in our students and preparing … Continue Reading

Durbin: NFL, NHL, NBA, US Soccer, NCAA Endorse Concussion Safety Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After receiving endorsements from six national professional and collegiate sports organizations, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to strengthen K-12 schools' procedures for preventing, detecting, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions while competing. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that about 140,000 students playing high school sports suffer concussions every year though many go unreported. … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Fermi Director to Discuss Support for National Labs and Funding for Scientific Research

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the new Director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Dr. Nigel Lockyer to discuss the importance of continued federal funding for scientific research and development programs. "Research and innovation are a fundamental part of the basic infrastructure that builds this country," said Durbin. "It is critical that we maintain our commitment to the scientific research taking place at our national labs that fuels American inno… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Illinois Health Plan Rates

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the State of Illinois announced that the rates for health care plans in Illinois' new Health Insurance Marketplace will be more than 25 percent lower than initial estimates. The marketplace, created as part of the Affordable Care Act or "Obamacare," will open on October 1st. "Today's announcement by the State of Illinois confirms what many have been saying for years: Obamacare will lower health ca… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.4 Million in Funding to Local Colleges to Bridge Supply Chain Management Skills Gap

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that William Rainey Harper College and Northwestern University have received a combined $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor supporting a new initiative to train workers for high-demand jobs in the fast-growing, high-need field of supply chain management. The schools are part of a multistate group of twelve colleges working to establish the Leveraging, Integrating, Networking, Coordinating Supplies (LINCS) in Supply Cha… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $8.5 Million in Workforce Development and Training Grants for Illinois Community Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a total of $8,460,255 in funding through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program to four colleges and universities throughout Illinois. The funding announced today is intended to help create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. The National Associatio… Continue Reading

Durbin meets with University of Illinois - Chicago Student Trustees

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with the student representatives to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees outside the Capitol building. During the meeting, the group discussed issues in higher education including rising college costs and federal student aid. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Investing in our students and preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow's global economy must be one of our highest priorities," Durbin said. "I was pleased … Continue Reading

Durbin to Duncan: Time to Crack Down on For-Profit Medical Schools That Use Offshore Loophole

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) raised the alarm about foreign medical schools that are not accredited by approved U.S. accrediting bodies, but are still eligible for federal Title IV funds due to a 1992 loophole that allowed a small number of these schools to qualify for federal funding under lower standards than other foreign medical schools. An investigative report that appeared today in Bloomberg Markets Magazine highligh… Continue Reading