Durbin Announces $6.58 Million in DOT Grants for Illinois Transit

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's funding is part of the Department of Transportation's announcement of $100 million in Recovery Act funding for 40 transit agencies across the country that are pursuing cutting edge environmental technologies to help reduce global warming, lessen America's dependence on oil and create green jobs. … Continue Reading

Durbin: Legislation Allowing FRA to Assist IDOT in 10th Street Feasibility Study Passed by Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the approval of his amendment allowing the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to provide technical and financial assistance to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and local officials for a feasibility study of the Tenth Street corridor as a route for consolidated freight and passenger rail operations in Springfield, Illinois. The amendment was added to the 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urb… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Over $27 Million in Transportation and Economic Development Funding for Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved $27,004,744 in federal funding for Illinois transportation and economic development projects. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations includes funding for the following projects: Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration: • CTA Circle Line,… Continue Reading

Durbin Holds Oversight Hearing on DC Education Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a hearing today examining the use and impact of Federal appropriations for educational programs in the District of Columbia. The hearing, held before Durbin's Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, was the first time in over five years that the Senate has held a comprehensive review of the District's education entities. In that time, Congress has invested nearly $350 million in th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau to Discuss Agricultural Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a meeting with representatives from the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss climate change, food safety and renewable fuels. During the discussion, Durbin stressed the importance of passing climate legislation that benefits farmers. He listened to the questions and concerns from Illinois Farm Bureau members regarding climate change legislation in the House of Representatives and spoke about the current state of negotiations in the Senat… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on Mental Health in US Prisons

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing on "Human Rights at Home: Mental Illness in U.S. Prisons and Jails," today before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. The hearing, which focused on the high rate of mental illness among U.S. prisoners, was the Subcommittee's first hearing examining a domestic human rights issue. "Mental illness has been criminalized in our country over the last thirty years," Durbin said. "By… Continue Reading

Durbin Receives Golden Triangle Award from National Farmers Union

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, today received the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union (NFU) for his leadership in promoting the use and production of renewable fuels, his commitment to passing legislation to combat climate change, and his support for efforts to address the crisis in the dairy industry. "I am honored to receive the Golden Triangle Award and will continu… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Auto Manufacturers to Join Dealership Talks

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent letters to CEO's of General Motors and Chrysler today, urging them to participate in talks with the nation's leading dealership groups regarding the planned closure of over one thousand dealerships nationwide. "I write to urge [General Motors, Chrysler] to participate in a constructive dialogue with the key groups representing the hundreds of dealerships that received wind-down letters and are scheduled to close by… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $350,000 in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $350,000 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 sound proofing efforts - including acoustic window unit, ceiling, vestibule and doorway installment, mechanical and electrical system revision and existing soundproofing related asbes… Continue Reading

Durbin: US Commerce Secretary Locke Announces $4.5 Million in Recovery Act Grant

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the decision by the U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, to award a $4.5 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill., to help refurbish an existing building at the Institute's University Technology Park for use as a technology business incubator facility. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 20… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2.5 Million in DOT Funding for Springfield Airport

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a $2,516,560 grant to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. The grant will provide funding for a project to widen a taxiway. "Widening of this taxiway will put Illinoisans to work immediately on a project that will contribute to the long term ability of the Springfield Airport to serve travelers safely and efficiently," said Durbin. … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $52 Million in Defense Funding for Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $52,000,000 in federal funding to assist defense related facilities and projects across Illinois. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 defense spending bill includes funding for the following projects: • Columbia College Chicago, Chicago. $2,000,000 in funding for the Construct Program at Columbia College Chicago, which will deve… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes Springfield Doctor as Special Guest to Joint Session of Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his guest for tonight's address by President Obama to a Joint Session of Congress will be Springfield resident and member of the faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Dr. Janet Albers. Durbin, a member of the Senate Escort Committee, will meet with his guest prior to the joint session. "I am honored to welcome Dr. Albers as my guest to tonight's Joint Session of Congress," said… Continue Reading

Durbin Reaction to President Obama's Address on Health Care Reform

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement tonight following President Obama's joint address to Congress on health care reform: "Tonight the President laid out a clear plan to provide stability and security for those with health insurance and access to quality care for those who don't." "Months of delay and distortion have come to an end. For those interested in bringing new ideas to the table - the President has said 'welcome.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $750,000 Homeland Security Grant to the Chicago Fire Department

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the United States Fire Administration, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $779,520 grant to the Chicago Fire Department in Chicago, Illinois for fire prevention and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools poss… Continue Reading

Durbin: If Dismal Housing Numbers Continue, Congress May Be Forced to Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today after a new report showed the Treasury Department's Home Affordable Modification Program had a fourth consecutive month of low foreclosure modifications. Last month, only 124,000 mortgage modifications were started; 3 million homeowners are currently eligible for modifications under the program. "Waiting for banks to 'volunteer' to end this foreclosure crisis is a waste of time. … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Rockford and Harlem Township Officials

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Rockford Township Supervisor Michael Goral, Rockford Township Trustee Greg Tuite and Harlem Township Supervisor Doug Aurand to discuss local economic issues.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Cash for Clunkers Demand Allows Chrysler Plant to Hire 850 Employees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after learning of Chrysler's plan to hire 850 employees at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in anticipation of increasing consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars. "Just a few months ago, Chrysler's Belvidere plant was on the verge of a complete shut down that would have had a serious economic impact the region. Now, the company is facing a dramatic increase in demand for fuel-efficient veh… Continue Reading

Illinois to Receive More Than $200 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Unemployment Insurance Modernization

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $200,767,125 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for unemployment insurance modernization. The funds will allow the Illinois Department of Employment Security to pay unemployment benefits and to deliver employment services. Today's funding is in addition to the $100,383,562 in Recovery Act funding that Illinois received in April. "Unemployment benefits are urgently nee… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for New Carbon Sequestration Training Center at U of I

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the University of Illinois was the recipient of $994,991 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the development of a carbon sequestration training center in Champaign, Illinois. The center will be run by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium and will facilitate the understanding of technologies required for site development, operations, and monitoring of commercial carbon capture … Continue Reading