Press Releases
Durbin Introduces The America Cures Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] With a decline in federal biomedical research threatening our standing as a leader in discovery and innovation and our global competitiveness, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the American Cures Act, to support the future of research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Defense Health Program (DHP), and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program. "In the last two … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
In Letter to President Obama, Durbin, Five Other Senators, Urge Administration to Finalize Regulations for Tobacco Products
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a letter to President Obama, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) - joined by U.S. Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) - urged the Administration to review and finalize regulations for tobacco products, which may include e-cigarettes and e-hookahs, without further delay. By Executive Order, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has 90 days to complete review of … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Inspector General Report on Campus Debit Card Use Confirms Need to Better Protect Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative George Miller (D-CA) today said that a Department of Education Inspector General (IG) report they requested in 2012 recommends that the Department of Education should take action to better ensure that student interests are protected when colleges and universities use third-party servicers - such as Higher One and Sallie Mae - to deliver Title IV student financial aid dollars to students. "The Inspector General has … Continue Reading
March 06, 2014
Durbin Announces Springfield's Tom Lamont Named to Commission on Military Monuments
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today congratulated Springfield native Tom Lamont, the former Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs within the Department of the Army, on his appointment to the American Battle Monuments Commission. The Commission is responsible for honoring American armed forces where they have served and for controlling the construction of military monuments and markers on foreign soil by others. "I had no doubt that when Tom Lamont retired as Assistant … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Illinois Congressional Delegation Announces $3.4 Million In FY2014 Funding to Fix Metro East Levee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will allocate $3.4 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 funding to fix the portions of the Wood River Levee that have been negatively impacted by a design deficiency in the construction of the Melvin Price Dam. The funding was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 that was signed into law by President Obama in January. As part of his FY 2015 Budget which was … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Durbin: As National Transportation Hub, Illinois Infrastructure Will Benefit From Historic Investments in Presidential Budget
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the budget that President Obama delivered to Congress today will create jobs and give our economy a shot in the arm by making critical investments in our national transportation and infrastructure network. "Illinois' airports, highways, waterways, and rail lines are at the center of our national transportation network. Maintaining and modernizing this quickly aging network is vital to our future economic well-being, and must be one of our national … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Russian Aggression in Ukraine
A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), introduced a resolution today condemning the Russian military siege of Crimea, calling for a withdrawal of those troops, and a negotiated settlement to any concerns regarding the Crimea. It also urges the administration and European Union to use a range of economic and diplomatic leverage against Russia should it fail to abide by these basic economic norms. "Russia must … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Durbin: Obama Budget Preserves Funding for Innovation & Research at Argonne National Lab & Fermilab
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the budget that President Obama delivered to Congress today preserves essential federal funding for scientific research and development programs that support work at both Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. The President's budget request includes $5.1 billion for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, which is the primary funding source for both Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. Together, Argonne and Fermilab employ roughly 4,600 … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Durbin Discusses Farm Bill, Renewable Fuel Standards and Agricultural Priorities with the Illinois Farm Bureau
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois' agricultural communities. The group discussed the Farm Bill, renewable fuel standards and waterway infrastructure. A photo of Durbin's meeting is available here. "I was pleased to meet with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss the new Farm Bill which gives farmers across Illinois the certainty they need to plan ahead. It … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Durbin, Kirk Sponsor Resolution for "Jan Karski Day"
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced a resolution that would designate April 24, 2014, as "Jan Karski Day" to honor the legacy of the member of the Polish underground resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II who was among the first to provide eyewitness accounts of the horrors of the Holocaust. "I was lucky enough to study under Professor Jan Karski as a student at the Georgetown University School of Foreign … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Durbin, Kirk Statement on FEMA Denial of Public Assistance for Nine Illinois Counties
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today released the following statement after learning that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Illinois' appeal of the agency's original decision not to award Public Assistance funding to the nine Southern and Central Illinois counties that are rebuilding after deadly tornadoes struck the state on November 17, 2013. Though more than $21 million in federal aid through FEMA's Individual Assistance program has … Continue Reading
February 28, 2014
Durbin Asks Department of Education to Investigate ITT Educational Services
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again asked the Department of Education to investigate a for-profit college over allegations of deceptive and misleading practices. It was announced yesterday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had filed suit against ITT Educational Services for predatory lending practices that include pressuring students into high cost loans, misleading students about job prospects and misleading students about the transferability of credits to … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Durbin, Bustos Ask President to Include Additional Funding for Thomson in his 2015 Budget
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today sent a letter to President Obama asking him to include the necessary funding for the second year of activation of the Thomson Correction Center in his Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Budget request which will be released on Tuesday. "We write today to respectfully request that you prioritize the activation of Illinois' Thomson Correctional Center in your FY15 budget proposal which is expected to be released on March … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Durbin Calls for an End to 'Friday Night Tykes'
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Esquire Network to remove the new show "Friday Night Tykes" from its line-up because it glorifies a culture of violent competitiveness that can be dangerous for the safety and long term health of children. In a letter to the network's President, Adam Stotsky, Durbin cited instances where football coaches encourage 8 and 9 year-old children to deliver repeated blows to the head and to play through injury. "Many school districts are making … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Durbin, Kirk, Schock Press for Public Assistance Funding in Meeting with FEMA Administrator
In a meeting with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, Craig Fugate, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Aaron Schock (R-IL) today pressed once again for a public assistance designation that would allow federal aid funding to flow to the nine Southern and Central Illinois counties that are rebuilding after deadly tornadoes struck the state on November 17, 2013. During today's meeting, the members shared their concerns … Continue Reading
February 26, 2014
Durbin, Boxer, Harkin, Blumenthal, Markey Introduce Legislation to Help Protect Kids from E-Cigarettes
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today introduced the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the marketing of e-cigarettes to children and teens. "E-cigarette makers are adopting the deplorable marketing tactics once used by tobacco companies to entice children and teenagers into using their addictive product. With fruit and candy flavors and glossy celebrity … Continue Reading
February 25, 2014
Durbin: Time to End Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles, Pregnant Women, and those with Serious Mental Illness
Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) called for an end to the use of solitary confinement for juveniles, pregnant women and those with serious and persistent mental illness during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Durbin, who chaired the hearing, urged further reform of the controversial detention practice so the United States can protect human rights, improve public safety, and be more fiscally responsible. … Continue Reading
February 21, 2014
Durbin: $320 Million Public-Private Partnership Brings Future of American Manufacturing Competitiveness to Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that the $70 million grant awarded to UI Labs will bring the future of American manufacturing to Illinois. Under today's announcement, Chicago will host a new national Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation (or Digital Lab) organized by the Department of Defense that is expected to create thousands of jobs in advanced manufacturing fields, improve military readiness and make our economy more competitive. As the Assistant Senate … Continue Reading
February 20, 2014
Durbin Statement on Crisis in Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement today in light of the continuing violence in Ukraine: "Ukrainian government officials involved in violence-and the Russian oligarchs who are backing them-should face a freeze on their assets and a visa ban from the United States if they continue this bloodbath. The Ukrainian people deserve an accommodation that respects historical ties to Russia but also … Continue Reading
February 18, 2014
Durbin, Kelly Ask U.S. Attorney Fardon to Explain Federal Role in Harvey
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) today called on U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon to explain the federal government's role in Harvey, Illinois particularly as it relates to combating violent crime which has gone largely unpunished in the suburban Chicago town. Their letter follows a series of Chicago Tribune articles concerning violent crime in Harvey and questionable conduct in Harvey by local law enforcement, local government, and … Continue Reading