Press Releases
Durbin, Markey, Blumenthal: Energy Drinks Report Shows Labeling, Marketingf, Ingredients Create Questionable Concoction for Consumers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Three Democratic lawmakers today released a report entitled, What's all the Buzz about?, that shows inconsistencies in the labeling and classification of energy drinks, extensive marketing to adolescents and young adults through social media and events, and high caffeine levels that exceed the level considered safe in soda by the Food and Drug Administration. The report was compiled using responses from fourteen energy drink companies received by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and … Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
Senate Democrats Crack Down on Excessive Interest Rates and Fees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), introduced the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act today, a bill to eliminate the excessive rates and fees that some consumers are charged for payday loans, car title loans and other types of credit. The bill would create an interest rate and fee cap of 36% for all consumer credit … Continue Reading
April 02, 2013
Durbin Meets with Peoria Law Enforcement Leaders to Discuss "Don't Shoot" Program
[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with local law enforcement leaders and elected officials to hear how the City of Peoria is using the Don't Shoot program to fight violent crime. Peoria's crime rate has fallen in the first three months of 2013 and city law enforcement estimates the number of gun-related emergency calls has dropped fifteen to thirty percent. "Gun violence is plaguing many Illinois communities from Chicago to East St. Louis," Durbin said. "Peoria's … Continue Reading
March 29, 2013
Durbin, Schneider Announce Nearly One Million in Funding for Waukegan Harbor Dredging
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $990,000 in funding for dredging in Waukegan Harbor to clean up shoaling caused by Hurricane Sandy and allow the Harbor to reopen to navigation. The funding was awarded as part of the $821 million approved for the Army Corps of Engineers in the supplemental appropriations bill to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy and to rebuild the areas … Continue Reading
March 28, 2013
Durbin Announces $1.6 Million in Disaster Relief Funds for Harrisburg
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $1,645,200 in Disaster Relief funding to the City of Harrisburg, Illinois which suffered severe damage from flooding in 2011 and further devastation from a major tornado in 2012. Today's investment will be used to construct improvements to the Harrisburg's waste water treatment plant, support local industries and protect … Continue Reading
March 27, 2013
Durbin Meets with Law Enforcement Leaders to Discuss Gun Violence in East St. Louis
[EAST ST. LOUIS] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with state, county and regional law enforcement leaders from the Metro East area to learn about the challenges they face in their jurisdiction related to gun violence and gun trafficking and, in turn, brief them on the gun violence legislation the U.S. Senate is expected to debate next month. "Over the last few months, as Congress has begun to debate legislation to reduce gun violence, I have met with law enforcement leaders … Continue Reading
March 27, 2013
Durbin, Waxman Urge Poison Control Centers to Share Data on Dietary Supplements with the FDA at No Extra Cost to Taxpayers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - While recognizing that both the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are providing important services under serious budgetary constraints, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) today called on the AAPCC to share dietary supplement data with the FDA at no additional cost to taxpayers. While poison control center data may help detect harmful products and identify safety … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Senators Urge FDA to Act Quickly to Develop New Tobacco Warning Labels
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging quick action to develop new graphic warning labels for cigarette packages and advertising. Earlier this week, the FDA and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced they would not appeal a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that vacated an … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Durbin Statement on FAA Announcement of Illinois Air Control Tower Closings Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that air traffic control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will close starting April 7, 2013. "There are many in Congress still arguing that the spending cuts due to sequestration won't make a … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Durbin Statement on EPA Agreement with S.S. Badger Operators
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement in reaction to the announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they have formally lodged a consent decree requiring the S.S. Badger to stop dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan by the end of the 2014 season. "The S.S. Badger, the filthiest ship on the Great Lakes, has been given two more years to dump hundreds of tons of dangerous coal ash into Lake Michigan. The millions of people … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Durbin: Marketplace Fairness Act Receives Overwhelming Bipartisan Support in Senate Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 75 U.S. Senators showed their support for the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. An amendment summarizing the bill - which was introduced in February - was added to the FY2014 Budget Resolution which is currently being debated on the Senate floor. "Today's vote proves that an overwhelming majority of … Continue Reading
March 20, 2013
Durbin Meets with Illinois Fire Fighters, Announces a Nearly $462,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities
[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 $461,778 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. Today, Durbin also met with the Illinois Association of Fire Fighters, led by Springfield Fire Captain Tom Roate, to discuss the importance of these grants and the group's priorities for the upcoming year. "Our nation's firefighters … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Durbin, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Protect Medicare Card Holders from Identity Theft
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today introduced legislation to require the federal government to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare identification cards and communications to Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers the Medicare program, has fallen behind most other public and private organizations in recognizing the danger of displaying Social Security numbers. The … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers to Discuss Mississippi River Navigation and Other Agricultural Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to discuss bipartisan, bicameral legislation he introduced last week that would help the Army Corps of Engineers better maintain navigation on the Mississippi River during extreme weather and improve the nation's water infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Both bills were endorsed by the ICGA earlier today. At a speech today to members of the national … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Durbin, Kirk, Bustos, Davis Bill Would Promote Public-Private Partnerships for Lock & Dam Modernization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve the nation's water infrastructure - including locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers - through public-private partnerships that would expedite projects and save taxpayers money. The Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act would … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Durbin Announces A More Than $750,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $754,254 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each 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," Durbin said. … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Durbin and Duckworth Announce a Nearly $165,000 Investment in Hoffman Estates First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $164,960 grant to the Hoffman Estates Fire Department 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. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Durbin, Enyart, Davis Introduce Bill to Protect Jobs by Improving Mississippi River Management and Responsiveness to Extreme Weather
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the recent record low water levels along the Mississippi River that threatened navigation and Southern Illinois commerce, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods while minimizing the economic toll on Southern Illinois. "We came close to economic … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Durbin Meets with Chatham Mayor to Discuss Local Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Chatham Mayor Tom Gray and City Manager Del McCord to discuss local transportation and infrastructure priorities. "I was pleased to welcome Chatham's mayor Tom Gray and city manager Del McCord to Washington today to discuss the village's transportation priorities, including rail," Durbin … Continue Reading
March 12, 2013
Durbin Meets with Illinois Soybean Association to Discuss Agricultural Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss Mississippi River navigation the prospects for a new Farm Bill this year and other agricultural priorities. "Illinois' soybean farmers are a critical part of our state's economy," said Durbin. "Last year, severe drought conditions damaged crops throughout Central and Southern Illinois and nearly halted traffic along the Mississippi River. I commend the Army Corps of … Continue Reading