Press Releases
Durbin: Defense Department Misses Opportunity To Make Armed Forces More Diverse and Inclusive
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Department of Defense's decision to permit military enlistment of immigrant students known as Dreamers only in very limited circumstances is a missed opportunity. The Defense Department announced today that it will allow Dreamers who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to enlist in the Armed Forces, but only through the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) pilot program. At best a … Continue Reading
September 25, 2014
Durbin Statement on Resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights today made the following statement after President Obama announced the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder. "Eric Holder has been a valuable ally for our state and a strong leader for our country's top law enforcement agency. He has been an important partner in working to address gun violence in Chicago and East St. Louis, … Continue Reading
September 25, 2014
Durbin Announces A More Than $15.2 Million Investment in Illinois Health Care Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $15,271,282 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several health care programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois public health system, in the health research done at our hospitals and universities, and in the primary care programs that keep our citizens healthy," said Durbin. "These … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin Announces $50,000 Investment in Northeastern Illinois Communities To Help Create Jobs and Boost Economic Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $50,000 in Manufacturing Asset Map Planning funding to the Institute for Work and the Economy - located in Chicago, Illinois - to help create jobs and boost economic development in northeastern Illinois. "Today's funding will help northeastern Illinois' manufacturing cluster create and implement a plan for continued economic … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin Announces $3.43 Million Investment To Create Jobs and Boost Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $3,433,547 in funding to communities throughout Southern Illinois to create jobs and aide the construction of critical infrastructure. The projects are expected to create a total of 209 local jobs. "Not only will this federal investment support local construction jobs, it will also leverage private investment and help attract … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin Announces A $1.6 Million Investment To Support Mental Health Training Services in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded grants totaling $1,631,487 to help expand behavioral health education and training services at universities across Illinois. This funding will help expand the mental health services workforce, increase access to behavioral health care services for young people, and educate teachers and community members to recognize mental health issues in youth. "This federal … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin Announces Over $1.8 Million Investment in Illinois Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has $791,108 in funding to three Illinois school districts and the Illinois State Board of Education to improve safety in the classroom and help prevent students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline. Today's funding was made available through the Now is the Time Grant program, which supports comprehensive efforts to improve school safety by increasing mental-health services and … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin Announces More Than $1.7 Million in Justice Department Funding For Mentoring, Re-Entry Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded grants totaling $1,749,999 to two organizations in Chicago, Illinois to support mentorship programs that help reintegrate previously incarcerated youth and adults back into the community and reduce recidivism. "The funding announced today will enhance ongoing efforts in Chicago and throughout the state to provide services that support previously incarcerated … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin Announces A More Than $1.4 Million Investment in Champaign First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $1,492,545 grant to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois for fire prevention and safety. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responders in the University of Illinois community to prevent and fight fires and prepare for other types … Continue Reading
September 24, 2014
Durbin, Bustos Highlight Potential of Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute - Peoria
[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today outlined the potential impact the new the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (or Digital Lab) will have on the Peoria region and throughout Illinois. The Digital Lab, run by UI Labs, is a first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub that will bring the future of American manufacturing to Illinois. Supported by $320 million-including $70 million in direct federal investment-the Digital … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Durbin, Schneider Announce More Than $4.9 Million in HUD Funding For Chicagoland Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies in the Chicagoland area will receive a total of $4,913,538 in grant funding through four programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop urban communities in the area. Under today's announcement, Lake County will receive $3,904,349 in funding. "This funding will give local development agencies around … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Durbin Announces More Than $2.8 Million in Funding for Transportation Improvements in Bloomington-Normal and Springfield, Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that mass transit districts in both Bloomington-Normal and Springfield, Illinois have received grants totaling $2,802,400 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Bus and Bus Facilities Program to purchase new buses for both the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System and the Springfield Mass Transit District. "Public transportation serves an important purpose in the daily lives of people in communities across … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Durbin, Foster Announce More Than $1.2 Million in HUD Funding For Joliet Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies in Joliet, Illinois will receive a total of $1,291,600 in grant funding through two programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop urban communities in the area. "This funding will give local development agencies in Joliet the ability to expand and improve existing affordable housing in their … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Million in HUD Funding For Northern Illinois and Chicagoland Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies in Northern Illinois and the Chicagoland area will receive a total of $1,291,600 in grant funding through two programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop urban communities in the area. "This funding will give local development agencies in Illinois the ability to expand and improve existing affordable housing in their communities," Durbin … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Durbin and Kirk Name Screening Committee For Next U.S. Marshal For Illinois' Northern District and Announce Application Process
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting the next United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. The task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to the Senators for filling this vacant position. The screening committee will be comprised of five distinguished Illinoisans drawn from the federal judiciary, the bar, and law enforcement. The … Continue Reading
September 22, 2014
Durbin Statement On Administration Action on Corporate Inversions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) - a leading voice in Congress raising concerns regarding corporate tax inversion schemes - released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced several steps to address the troubling, growing trend toward U.S. corporate tax avoidance: "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab. That isn't right," Durbin said. "Today, the Obama … Continue Reading
September 22, 2014
Durbin Announces A More Than $520,000 Investment in Illinois Justice Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $520,643 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system," said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice, help us more quickly analyze evidence and solve crimes, and help … Continue Reading
September 19, 2014
Durbin Announces Nearly $300,000 in DOJ Funding For Northwestern University To Prevent Sexual Assault On Campus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $299,997 grant to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois to help prevent sexual assaults on campus. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program, which was authorized by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. "Today's announcement is an … Continue Reading
September 19, 2014
Durbin Announces More Than $2.7 Million in DOJ Funding To Support Illinois Drug-Free Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded $2,749,659 in grants to Illinois communities across the state to help reduce youth substance abuse and promote drug-free communities. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's FY14 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program. "Today's funding is an investment in the safety and well-being of the youth in Illinois communities. It is critical to support the work of … Continue Reading
September 18, 2014
Durbin Meets WIth St. Louis Army Corps Commander To Discuss Metro East Levees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Colonel Anthony Mitchell, Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District, to discuss the Metro East levee project and the Mel Price Dam project. "In our meeting today, I strongly urged Colonel Mitchell to require Project Labor Agreements on the levee improvement projects in the Metro East," said Durbin. "The local resident have taken the unique step of taxing themselves to make these improvements - an … Continue Reading