Durbin Joines Colleagues in Celebrating Senate Approval of Legislation for First DC Statue in U.S. Capitol

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (FSGG), joined his House and Senate colleagues in celebrating the Senate approval, by unanimous consent, of H.R. 6336, a bill to move the District of Columbia's Frederick Douglass statue into the United States Capitol, marking the first time that the District, like the states, will have its own statue in the Capitol. The statue move was included in the fiscal year 2013 FSGG ap… Continue Reading

Durbin, City Announce a $12 Million Investment in O'Hare and Midway Airports

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, Rosemarie S. Andolino, today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a total of $11,966,213 in funding to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. "Today's runway investment will help the City of Chicago reduce flight delays and improve efficiency for traveling and shipping throughout the country… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $5.6 Million in DOJ Funding to Enhance Illinois Justice Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $5,671,165 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. These programs provide support and services to a number of Illinois communities through research and education initiatives, as well as legal assistance and support services. "Our nation's law enforcement officers are called upon day after d… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces His Support for Poland's Entry into the Visa Waiver Program While Chairing Hearing on Nominee for Ambassador to Poland

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing today on the nomination of Ambassador Stephen Mull to be the new U.S. Ambassador to Poland. During the question and answer portion of the hearing, Durbin announced that he will support legislation that would allow Poland to join the Visa Waiver Program. A photo from today's hearing is available here. "I have the distinct pleasure of representing Illinois, where Chicago is o… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Paralympic Athletes from Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for the record in the U.S. Senate honoring the individual accomplishments of the disabled athletes from Illinois who represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. With many members of Team USA visiting Washington, DC this week, today Durbin welcomed Paralympians and Olympians from across the country to his office to discuss their success at London Games. Photos of that meeting are available here… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Honoring Congressman Costello

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for the record in the U.S. Senate honoring U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello who has represented the 12th Congressional District of Illinois for nearly 25 years and will be retiring at the end of the 112th Congress. "The 12th Congressional District in southern and southwest Illinois runs along the Mississippi River, from Alton south to Cairo. It is a mix of agricultural and industrial communities including East S… Continue Reading

Durbin: Amtrak Ridership Increase Is More Good News for Illinois Travelers and Businesses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the increase in Amtrak ridership over the last year is good news for travelers that looking for a safer, greener, more efficient transportation option and businesses that rely on the economic activity generated along the four Illinois-supported Amtrak routes. Earlier today, Amtrak announced that nationwide ridership has increased 3.4% over the first 11 months of Amtrak's fiscal year with September expected to be on pace to bre… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $4.9 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.9 million in funding to the City of Chicago for noise mitigation measures at St. Tarcisius Elementary School near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The private school is made up of four buildings on the northwest side of Chicago and serves more than 370 students. This grant will fund construction on sound proofing efforts including insulated windows, additional r… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on U.S. Embassy Attachs and the Death of Ambassador Stevens, Foreign Service Officers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today after the attacks on the US Embassies in Egypt and Libya and the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and US Foreign Service Officers. "Today we mourn the loss of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith and two other American diplomats who were killed in an attack on our Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. I condemn in the s… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blumenthal Once Again Ask FDA to Address Their Energy Drink Concerns

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today asked the Food and Drug Administration to respond to their specific concerns regarding the interaction of ingredients in energy drinks and the effect that the caffeine in energy drinks has on children and adolescents. In April, Durbin sent a similar letter to the FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg; however, both Senators felt that the FDA's response did not fully address the specific concerns that were laid… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Farmers Union

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Farmers Union, who presented him with the Golden Triangle Award for his commitment to family farms and rural America, his leadership in promoting the use and production of renewable fuels, and his support for a strong Farm Bill reauthorization. With both groups, Durbin discussed the critical need for the House of Representatives to pass a full five-year Farm Bill. In J… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.8 Million Investment for Improvements at Quad Cities Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $1,800,000 grant to the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County for improvements at Quad City International Airport. This funding will be used to will modify the existing terminal building to construct a Federal Inspection Services Facility, which is needed to meet existing demands for the clearance of international cargo, passengers, and flight crews. "Qu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Chicago Public Schools Teachers Strike

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commented on the decision by the Chicago teachers union to go on strike today, after negotiations over a new contract stalled. "While most kids in the country were heading off to school this morning, 400,000 students in Chicago stayed home because there is no agreement on a new contract," said Durbin. "Instead of getting an education, these kids are being put in the middle of a fight between adults. I've reached out to Chicago Teac… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in DOJ Funding to Enhance Illinois' Justice System

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $1,089,638 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. These programs provide support and services to a number of Illinois communities through research and education initiatives, as well as legal assistance and support services. The following Illinois entities and programs will receive funding:… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $5 Million in Additional Department of Labor Grants for Illinois Youth

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded five grants totaling in $5,127,556 to YouthBuild organizations throughout Illinois. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Participants in the program include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and others. … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $4.5 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.5 million in funding to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago District 299 for noise mitigation measures at Farnsworth Elementary School near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This grant will fund construction on sound proofing efforts including acoustic window unit, ceiling, vestibule and doorway installment, mechanical and electrical system revision, an… Continue Reading

Durbin to Students and Parents: Beware Dramatic Differences Between Student Loan Options

[CHICAGO] - Students preparing to begin college this month should take care to exhaust every federal financial aid option available to them before turning to private student loans, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today while calling for passage of the Know Before You Owe Act of 2012, a bill he introduced earlier this year which would ensure students understand the full range of their available loan options before borrowing. Durbin noted that two-thirds of student loan borrowers were not aw… Continue Reading

Durbin Encourages Post-9/11 Vets Families to Apply for Family Caregiver Program

[DECATUR, IL] - Over the past year, thousands of families who have taken on the enormous task of caring for America's most seriously wounded veterans have received financial assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Family Caregiver Program, which began one year ago, provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $580,000 FEMA Grant to Hoffman Estates Firefighters

[WASHINGTON, DC] - 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 $581,565 grant to the Hoffman Estates Fire Department in Hoffman Estates, Illinois for hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Day after day, our nation's firefighters are called upon to protect communities in Illinois and around the country," Durbin said. "It's our job to… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $12,000 Investment in Pittsfield 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 $12,825 investment in the Pittsfield Fire Rescue Department and Fire District in Pittsfield, Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the 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,"… Continue Reading