Durbin: Marketplace Fairness Act Will Help Local Governments Avoid Hikes, Painful Cuts

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Two days after the National Association of Counties (NACo), the only national organization representing county government, officially endorsed the Marketplace Fairness Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed several benefits that the bipartisan federal legislation would provide for state and local governments in a speech at NACo's 2012 Legislative Conference. The legislation, introduced by Senators Durbin, Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and a bipartisa… Continue Reading

Marketplace Fairness Act: A Matter of Fiscal Discipline and Basic Fairness

National Association of Counties 2012 Legislative Conference Washington, DC I want to thank NACO's president, Commissioner Lenny Eliason, for that generous introduction. I also want to recognize NACO's executive director Larry Naake. I understand we have a good-sized delegation from Illinois here including leaders from Cook County, DeKalb County, Lake County, McHenry County and Peoria, Tazewell and Will counties. It's good to see so many people from home. Thank you all for inviting m… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Champaign Chamber to Discuss Regional Transportation Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from Champaign County Chamber of Commerce who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss local transportation priorities, including job-creating road construction projects. Durbin also discussed bipartisan legislation he has introduced called the Marketplace Fairness Act which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers in Champaign and across Illinois to compete more effectively against out-of-state in… Continue Reading

Durbin and Reed Introduce Project Rebuild Act to Help Turn Around Vacant Homes and Businesses

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In an effort to create jobs, stabilize neighborhoods, and rehab vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced the Project Rebuild Act to help rehab houses and businesses that have been abandoned through foreclosure. The legislation would provide targeted assistance through both formula funding and new competitive grants to renovate vacant residential and commercial properties. HUD estimates that Illinois coul… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Urge Justice Department, FDA to Appeal Tobacco Warning Label Ruling

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was joined by U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Al Franken (D-MI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging an immediate appeal of the recent ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which found that graphic cigarette warning labels are unconstitutional. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Nelson Statement on the Department of Justice's Challenge of Florida's New Voting Law

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - United States Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) each released the following statements today after the U.S. Department of Justice filed papers in court challenging portions of Florida's new voting law. "The Justice Department has made the right decision in challenging Florida's new voting law," Durbin said. "The Florida law's onerous new restrictions are unfair, unwise and will have a disproportionate impact on minority, young, low income and other voter… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Mayor Parks to Rein In Club Scene and Stop Late Night Liquor Sales

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on East St. Louis Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr., to partner with federal, state and local officials to reduce crime in East St. Louis by reining in the city's club scene and stopping late night liquor sales. "It is imperative that the leadership of East St. Louis put the safety of East St. Louis residents before the interests of the liquor stores, night clubs and other establishments that attract crime. Simply put, the nightclubs and the liquor sales n… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Must Act to Protect Families Across Illinois From Critical Drug Shortages

[CHICAGO, IL] - Families of sick children and adults-and the medical professionals who care for them-should not have to worry about where they are going to find the next dose of life-saving drugs, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at Children's Memorial Hospital. The bipartisan Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medications Act, of which Durbin is a co-sponsor, would require drug manufacturers to notify the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of a disruption to a drug supply six months in a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $60 Thousand Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $59,850 investment in two fire departments in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put… Continue Reading

Durbin Blasts Bank of America On New Checking Fee Plans. Again.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after Bank of America announced new monthly fees for its checking account holders unless they bank online, buy more products or maintain a minimum balance: "Here we go again. Four months to the day after Bank of America rolled back plans to squeeze their customers instead of serving them, they are at it again. This brazen return to new monthly fees is a challenge that cannot go una… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy, Feinstein, Menendez, Cardin and Casey Ask President Obama to Extend Temporary Protection Status for Syrians in the US

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Bob Casey (D-PA) wrote to President Obama today, asking his Administration to extend temporary protected status (TPS) to Syrian nationals currently in the United States. Such a designation would allow Syrians living in the United States to temporarily stay because violence in their home country poses a serious threat to their safety. "In light of t… Continue Reading

Durbin: Justice Department Should Move Quickly to Appeal US District Court Ruling on Cigarette Warning Labels

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the U.S. Department of Justice to quickly appeal a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today that new, graphic labels on cigarette packages and advertisements are unconstitutional. "The FDA's graphic warning labels will show consumers the dangers of tobacco use and allow them to make informed choices about their health," said Durbin. "Continuing to hide the damaging effects of cigarette smoking beh… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds University of Illinois Employees Credit Union's Decision to Adopt Fee Disclosure Form

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Greg Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of the University of Illinois Employees Credit Union, today applauding the credit union's decision to voluntarily adopt a disclosure form designed to make checking accounts terms and fees transparent and easy for consumers to understand, as he has been urging. A copy of that letter is pasted below and attached. "University of Illinois Employees Credit Union's decision to voluntarily a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Agency Should Take Action Against Westwood College

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Illinois State Approving Agency to make the criminal justice program offered by Westwood College - currently under investigation by the Illinois Attorney General - ineligible for federal funding under the GI Bill. According to Durbin, veterans in Illinois rely on the State Approving Agency for assurance of the integrity of the school they attend. "Providing veterans with education benefits makes sense when we can ensure… Continue Reading

Durbin: House Republicans Right to Drop Partisan Transportation Bill that Would Decimate Local Projects and Transit Systems

[PEORIA, IL] - After House Republicans reportedly scrapped their second attempt to pass a partisan transportation funding bill yesterday in the face of overwhelming bipartisan opposition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today called on Republican leaders to consider a bipartisan, two-year compromise-like the Senate transportation bill that passed a major procedural hurdle earlier this month by a vote of 85-11. Unless House Republicans reverse course and work in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.6 Million for Flood Protection Efforts in Woodford County

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Woodford County has been awarded a $1,579,493 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood protection efforts. "This project will protect the health, safety and welfare of Woodford County residents," said Durbin. "By supporting flood control efforts, this federal funding will help reduce costs to the local government there for emergency rescue, infrastructure repair, debris removal and emergency … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Postal Service Notifications

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after learning that the Postal Service began notifying employees of possible closures. "No postal facilities in Illinois will close before May 15, 2012, period," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). "When the Postmaster General agreed, in my office, to a five-month moratorium on postal facility closures, he made it clear that the Postal Service would have to move forward with its consolidation studies a… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Mayor Spring and Cape Air to Dedicate Newly-Opened Maintenance Facility at Quincy Regional Airport

[QUINCY, IL] - As passenger traffic at Quincy Regional Airport reaches an all-time high, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin signaled the strength and importance of the Quincy community's relationship with Cape Air today by dedicating a new facility for regular and unscheduled airplane maintenance. With this facility, Cape Air increases its presence in the Quincy community and adds three highly skilled and good-paying jobs to the area, with the potential for additional job growth. "The opening of this ma… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announce $65 Million in Tax Credits to the Chicago Development Fund

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Treasury Department has awarded $65,000,000 in New Market Tax Credits to the Chicago Development Fund which will use these tax credits to invest in projects and businesses in Chicago's low-income communities. New Markets Tax Credit Program, established by Congress in December 2000, is designed for community development organizations with the goal of saving and creating jobs and spurring … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $1.4 Million Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $1,377,472 investment in five fire departments in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department and protection district to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As… Continue Reading