Press Releases

11.01.11

Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Justice, Others Protects Several Illinois Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved a bill to fund several federal agencies for the 2012 fiscal year that includes funding that will enhance programs and create jobs in Illinois. Many of these priorities were included in President Obama's 2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail On September 21, Durbin - a Co-Chair and founding member of the Bi-Cameral High- Speed & Intercity Passenger R… Continue Reading


10.27.11

Durbin: Republican "Jobs" Bill Guts Regulations, But Comes Up Empty on Job Creation

[CHICAGO, IL] - Legislation proposed by Congressional Republicans to delay, roll-back, or eliminate basic pollution standards will weaken our ability to ensure clean air and water, and a healthy environment for our families across the nation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the UIC Medical Center. By gutting the Clean Air Act and severely limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate toxic pollutants emitted by coal-fired… Continue Reading


10.26.11

Durbin Statement on Administration's Efforts to Help Students Manage Loan Debt

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after President Obama announced new steps to make college more affordable and make it easier for students to repay their federal student loans: "Today's announcement by President Obama is welcome news for the millions of students and recent graduates who are struggling to pay off their student loans. Plans to cap monthly payments, provide greater access to loan repayment programs, aid in the consolidati… Continue Reading


10.26.11

Durbin: House Transportation Bill Wrong Approach to Amtrak Funding

[ST. LOUIS, MO] - A House transportation funding proposal would dismantle Amtrak service and stunt high-speed rail growth in spite of record ridership numbers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis, Missouri. "St. Louis is one of the most important hubs in the nation's passenger rail network and Gateway Station is the anchor of that network. Residents of the St. Louis region on both sides of the river … Continue Reading


10.25.11

Durbin Voices Concerns Over Continued Violence in Syria

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to UN Ambassador Susan Rice today, urging continued US pressure on the Syrian regime in the face of continued violence and serious human rights concerns. Durbin also asked Ambassador Rice to push the UN Security Council to further investigate reports of murder, torture, summary executions and disappearances and refer credible allegations of crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court. Senator… Continue Reading


10.24.11

Durbin Calls for Passage of Key Provisions from American Jobs Act

[DECATUR, IL] - In order to give the lagging economic recovery a boost, Congress needs to pass critical elements of the American Jobs Act that would invest in school, infrastructure, and transit modernizations while putting people back to work, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said at Johns Hill Magnet School in Decatur, Illinois. While passage of the American Jobs Act was blocked earlier this month by a Republican-led filibuster, Democrats in the U.S. Senate will try to pass individual eleme… Continue Reading


10.21.11

Durbin Statement on President's Announcement of Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

[CHICAGO, IL] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today, after President Obama announced his decision to remove all American troops from Iraq by the end of this year: "During the President's announcement today, he stated what most Americans feel: we are so proud of what our troops have done." "We have made great sacrifices for the country of Iraq: $1 trillion has been spent on the war there, 4,400 American lives have been lost there, and… Continue Reading


10.21.11

Durbin, Kirk Extend Impact Aid Funding Formula For Schools Serving The Great Lakes Naval Base

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has approved a bill that will extend the practice of allowing the five public schools serving the Great Lakes Naval Training Base to pool their students to maximize federal education assistance through the Impact Aid program. The legislation also allows North Chicago to remain eligible for heavily impacted status for the next five years. "W… Continue Reading


10.19.11

Durbin: Prairie State Energy Shows Job Creation Doesn't Have to Come at the Expense of Clean Air

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the President and CEO of Prairie State Energy Campus, Peter DeQuattro, who has been working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the last several years to ensure that their new coal-fueled generation plant in southwestern Illinois meets all required emissions standards. "Prairie State Energy Campus is a clean coal success story that proves job creation doesn't have to come at the expense of clean… Continue Reading


10.19.11

Durbin: Over 2 Million Illinois Social Security Recipients Will See Relief in 2012

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the announcement by the Social Security Administration that a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be issued in 2012. For over two million Illinois residents who receive Social Security, their average benefit will grow by $516. Social Security beneficiaries haven't received a COLA increase since 2009. "Seniors have been hit particularly hard during this economic downturn and social security has been the key to keepi… Continue Reading


10.19.11

Letter to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf

TO: John G. Stumpf Chairman, President and CEO Wells Fargo & Company 420 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94163 Dear Mr. Stumpf: On October 14, your bank reportedly began charging your customers a $3 monthly fee to access their own deposited money using a Wells Fargo debit card. This $3 monthly fee is being imposed on your customers in five states: Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. It is certainly surprising that your bank would pursue this fee strategy in… Continue Reading


10.19.11

Durbin to Wells Fargo: Your Numbers Don't Add Up

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Days after Wells Fargo announced its third quarter profits were up 21%, US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has sent a letter asking the banking giant to explain the need for a new fee for its customers to access their own money using their debit card. The new fee, currently being tested in five states, is similar to the fee Bank of America announced last month to wide criticism from its customers. "It is certainly surprising that your bank would pursue this fee strategy in li… Continue Reading


10.18.11

Durbin, Lautenberg, Harkin, Blumenthal Ask MLB Players Association to Voluntarily Ban Tobacco Use

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the eve of an expected 15 million viewers-including many children-tuning in to watch the first game of the 2011 World Series tomorrow, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on the Major League Baseball (MLB) Players Association to ban the use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, on the field, in the dugout, and in the locker rooms at MLB venues. "Tomorrow night, an exp… Continue Reading


10.18.11

Durbin Announces Over $450,000 DOT Investment in Bloomington-Normal Transit

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System has been awarded two grants totaling $465,600 through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to purchase radios and procure Intelligent Transportation System software, hardware and other equipment for fixed route bus service. "Better communication can lead to cleaner, safer transportation that will improve the quality of life for all resident… Continue Reading


10.14.11

Durbin Announces $2.4 Million FEMA Grant for Flood Protection Efforts in Addison

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Village of Addison has been awarded a $2,467,869 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood protection efforts. "This project will protect the health, safety and welfare of Addison 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


10.14.11

Durbin Announces Over $26.4 Million Investment in Illinois Communities and Housing Agencies

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that Illinois communities and housing agencies will receive $26,425,768 in grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants provide local units of government with funding for community development, shelter housing and the expansion of affordable housing programs. Under this announcement, the following communities will receive funding: Community Development Block … Continue Reading


10.13.11

Durbin Meets with Belleville-native Crew Member of Final Space Shuttle Mission

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with NASA Flight STA-135 Mission Specialist and Belleville, Illinois-native Dr. Sandy Magnus and Commander Chris Ferguson yesterday to discuss the International Space Station and continuing space exploration and research. The mission, which carried supplies and spare parts to the Space Station, landed on July 21, 2011, marking the end of America's 30-year Space Shuttle Program. "The Space Program is a part of our nation's past, present… Continue Reading


10.13.11

Durbin and Ardis Applaud DOT Funding to Study Passenger Rail Between Peoria and Bloomington-Normal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mayor Jim Ardis of Peoria, Illinois joined the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in celebrating the Department of Transportation (DOT)'s decision to award $160,000 in funding to study the feasibility of establishing passenger rail service from Bloomington-Normal - which is currently served by Amtrak service from Chicago to St. Louis - to Peoria. "Connecting Peoria to the high speed rail service in Bloomington-Normal opens up new… Continue Reading


10.13.11

Durbin, Emanuel Announces $38 Million Investment to Improve Transit In Chicago

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $38,000,000 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to Chicago C… Continue Reading


10.12.11

Durbin Statement on South Korea, Panama and Columbia Free Trade Agreements

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after he voted in favor of the free trade agreements with South Korea and Panama and against the free trade agreement with Colombia: "Exports can strengthen our manufacturing and agriculture sectors and create good paying jobs across Illinois. In order to help our economy grow, we need to be able to access new markets and eliminate trade barriers for U.S. exporters." "We must ensure that we eng… Continue Reading

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Page 140 Page 141 Page 142 Page 143 Page 144 Page 145 Page 146 Page 147 Page 148 Page 149 Page 150 Page 151 Page 152 Page 153 Page 154 Page 155 Page 156 Page 157 Page 158 Page 159 Page 160 Page 161 Page 162 Page 163 Page 164 Page 165 Page 166 Page 167 Page 168 Page 169 Page 170 Page 171 Page 172 Page 173 Page 174 Page 175 Page 176 Page 177 Page 178 Page 179 Page 180 Page 181 Page 182 Page 183 Page 184 Page 185 Page 186 Page 187 Page 188 Page 189 Page 190 Page 191 Page 192 Page 193 Page 194 Page 195 Page 196 Page 197 Page 198 Page 199 Page 200 Page 201 Page 202 Page 203 Page 204 Page 205 Page 206 Page 207 Page 208 Page 209 Page 210 Page 211 Page 212 Page 213 Page 214 Page 215 Page 216 Page 217 Page 218 Page 219 Page 220 Page 221 Page 222 Page 223 Page 224 Page 225 Page 226 Page 227 Page 228 Page 229 Page 230 Page 231 Page 232 Page 233 Page 234 Page 235 Page 236 Page 237 Page 238 Page 239 Page 240 Page 241 Page 242 Page 243 Page 244 Page 245 Page 246 Page 247 Page 248 Page 249 Page 250 Page 251 Page 252 Page 253 Page 254 Page 255 Page 256 Page 257 Page 258 Page 259 Page 260 Page 261 Page 262 Page 263 Page 264 Page 265 Page 266 Page 267 Page 268 Page 269 Page 270 Page 271 Page 272 Page 273 Page 274 Page 275 Page 276 Page 277 Page 278 Page 279 Page 280 Page 281 Page 282 Page 283 Page 284 Page 285 Page 286 Page 287 Page 288 Page 289 Page 290 Page 291 Page 292 Page 293 Page 294 Page 295 Page 296 Page 297 Page 298 Page 299 Page 300 Page 301 Page 302 Page 303 Page 304 Page 305 Page 306 Page 307 Page 308 Page 309 Page 310 Page 311 Page 312 Page 313 Page 314 Page 315 Page 316 Page 317 Page 318 Page 319 Page 320 Page 321 Page 322 Page 323 Page 324 Page 325 Page 326 Page 327 Page 328 Page 329 Page 330 Page 331 Page 332 Page 333 Page 334 Page 335 Page 336 Page 337 Page 338 Page 339 Page 340 Page 341 Page 342 Page 343 Page 344 Page 345 Page 346 Page 347 Page 348 Page 349 Page 350 Page 351 Page 352 Page 353 Page 354 Page 355 Page 356 Page 357 Page 358 Page 359 Page 360 Page 361 Page 362 Page 363 Page 364 Page 365 Page 366 Page 367 Page 368 Page 369 Page 370 Page 371 Page 372 Page 373 Page 374 Page 375 Page 376 Page 377 Page 378 Page 379 Page 380 Page 381 Page 382 Page 383 Page 384 Page 385 Page 386 Page 387 Page 388 Page 389 Page 390 Page 391 Page 392 Page 393 Page 394 Page 395 Page 396 Page 397 Page 398 Page 399 Page 400 Page 401 Page 402 Page 403 Page 404 Page 405 Page 406 Page 407 Page 408 Page 409
Showing page   of 409