Durbin Calls for the Release of Former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko

[Washington, D.C.] Assistant Senate Majority Leader and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), called for the release of Ukraine's former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, in light of the European Court of Human Rights recent decision on her case. In 2011, Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly abusing her power in the awarding of a natural gas contract. Numerous political and human rights groups have called the charges politically motivate… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Chief Justice Roberts to Increase Transparency and Acess by Providing Live Audio of Court Proceedings

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With numerous high-profile Supreme Court opinions likely to be announced in the coming weeks, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to Chief Justice John Roberts today urging him to provide live audio of the Court's public proceedings. Durbin applauded the Court's recent decision to release same-day transcripts and end-of-the-week audio of oral arguments and opinion announcements, but asked for additional steps to be taken to increase the public's access to all … Continue Reading

Durbin: I Want to Put the Gun Lobby on Notice

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] After a spike in gun deaths in Chicago over Father's Day weekend, and just six months after the tragic shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the United States Senate Floor regarding the continuing toll of gun violence in America. "This past week we lost too many Americans, too many Illinoisans to gunfire. Over the weekend, at least 6 were killed and dozens more were wounded in shootings across the Chicago area," Durbin said. "We can't … Continue Reading

Bipartisan Support in Congress for Springfield's Federal TIGER Grant Request

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers today united in support of the application for federal Transportation, Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding submitted earlier this month by the City of Springfield, Illinois. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined U.S. Representatives Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) in a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urging the Department of Transportation to provide… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Applaud Decision to Make Public Assistance Available to Fifteen Additional Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today applauded the decision by President Obama to make Public Assistance funding available to fifteen additional Illinois counties - Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Greene, Hancock, Lawrence, McDonough, Monroe, Morgan, Peoria, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazewell and Will - that were affected by flash and river flooding that occurred in April. Public Assistance eligibility allows the State of Illinois, local governme… Continue Reading

Durbin Praises Northern Illinois University at Senate Hearing Examining For-Profit Colleges & DOD Education Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - While chairing a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised the work that Northern Illinois University has done to make serving veterans and servicemembers a priority. During an April 3, 2013 visit to Northern Illinois University, Durbin sat down with several student veterans and program administrators to discuss their experience and hear how the Military Student Services office has improved their life on campus… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Warren, and Cowan Place Friendly Wager on Blackhawks-Bruins Stanley Cup Final

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and William "Mo" Cowan (D-MA) today put home-state products on the line as they announced a friendly wager on the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup Finals series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins. Senators Durbin and Kirk have wagered Chicago's famous Eli's cheesecake and 312 beer from Goose Island Brewery while Senators Warren and Cowan countered with Legal Seafood's Chowd… Continue Reading

Durbin Raises Concerns Over Collection of Americans' Personal Information by Government Agencies

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) raised concerns today at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee with National Security Agency Director General Keith Alexander over Section 215 of the Patriot Act, which has been reportedly been used to obtain the phone records of hundreds of millions of Americans and can also be used to obtain other sensitive personal information, including medical records, internet search records, tax records, and credit card records. "Over the … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Farm Bill That Provides Certainty for American Farmers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S.954) which will save roughly $24 billion over the next 10 years compared to pre-sequestration budget levels. The farm bill, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 66-27, makes significant reforms to American agriculture policy by ending four different commodity subsidy programs and replacing them with more market-driven programs that make payments when … Continue Reading

Durbin Promotes Illinois Rail Priorities To Committee Writing Amtrak Reauthorization Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) - who met with President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Transportation, Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina Anthony Foxx last week - today urged members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to include several Illinois priorities in their Amtrak and Rail Safety Reauthorization legislation. Illinois has the second largest rail network in the country, with over 7,300 miles of railroad track. "Last year, the Senate c… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Gun Violence Listening Session with Rockford Area Law Enforcement Officials

[ROCKFORD] - In preparation for the Congressional debate on gun violence expected to begin later this month, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with law enforcement leaders from the Rockford area to discuss the strategies being used to reduce violent crime and prevent mass shootings in the city and surrounding communities and what Congress can do to help. "The slayings of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School shocked th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on NSA Phone Tracking and the Patriot Act

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after it was reported that the National Security Agency secretly obtained phone records of Verizon calls made by innocent Americans in the United States. "For over a decade, we've debated how best to protect America from terrorism while preserving the most basic constitutional rights," Durbin said. "Today's revelation is disturbing, but it should not be surprising. I have tried to reform th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with New Energy Secretary

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to discuss the Department of Energy's commitment to moving forward with FutureGen 2.0 in Meredosia, Illinois and the importance of continued federal funding for scientific research and development programs that support work at Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. Prior to being confirmed last month by a vote of 97 to 0 in the U.S. Senate, Moniz was the Director of the Energy Initiative at t… Continue Reading

Durbin and Kelly Meet to Discuss Transportation, Economic Development Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) to discuss constituent services and economic development priorities in Illinois's 2nd congressional district, including job-creating infrastructure projects and efforts to train and educate workers in advanced manufacturing. "I am pleased to welcome Congresswoman Kelly to Illinois' congressional delegation. In her first few weeks in office, Congresswoman Kelly has already proven hersel… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Polish Foreign Minister to Discuss Visa Waiver Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Polish Foreign Minister Rados?aw Sikorski and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss continued U.S. - Polish economic and military ties, as well as the possible inclusion of Poland in the Visa Waiver Program. "After working for years to allow Poland to qualify for the Visa Waiver Entry Program, I made sure this provision was part of the comprehensive immigration reform bill scheduled to come before the Se… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quinn: STB Decision Prevents Time Deadlines from Allowing CN to Evade Responsibility to IL Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today applauded a decision by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to ensure that Canadian National (CN) pays their fair share for critical grade separations in Lynwood and Aurora, Illinois and does not evade its responsibility to fund these mitigation efforts due to time deadlines. Today, the STB extended the deadline by which construction must start on these projects in order to maintain CN's requirement to … Continue Reading

Durbin and Kelly Announce a More Than $106,000 Investment in Flossmoor First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $106,400 investment in the Flossmoor Fire Department in Flossmoor, Illinois for operations and funding. 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 first-responders are call… Continue Reading

Durbin and Schneider Announce a Nearly $18,000 Investment in Libertyville First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $17,793 investment in the Libertyville Fire Department in Libertyville, Illinois for operations and safety. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "As we have seen this week, our … Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Meet with U.S. Attorney Nominee Zachary Fardon to Urge Forceful Prosecution of Gun and Gang Violence in Chicago

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today met with U.S. Attorney for the Northern District nominee Zachary Fardon to discuss his confirmation process and the need to prioritize prosecution of violent crime in the U.S. Attorney's office upon his confirmation. Durbin and Kirk urged Fardon to use the full power of the office to pursue and prosecute violent criminals in Chicago and across the Northern District. "Zachary Fardon is a dynamic pick for U.S. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Meet with Rockford Law Enforcement Officials to Discuss Crime Reduction Strategy

[ROCKFORD, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) met today with senior federal, county and local law enforcement officials to be briefed about the violent crime facing Rockford and the law enforcement response. The meeting focused on ensuring cooperation between law enforcement agencies on crime prevention efforts and making sure important information is shared between jurisdictions. "While overall crime rates are down this year compared to 201… Continue Reading