Durbin Moves to Bring Down Credit Card Costs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to allow large and small businesses to negotiate directly with credit card companies to reduce the interchange fees that are charged on every credit card transaction. "Higher interchange fees mean higher costs for retailers and consumers," said Durbin. "Every time you make a purchase with plastic, the bank that issued your credit card gets a cut of the sale amount. American businesses and consu… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on Treasury Department's Budget

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing today reviewing the FY10 budget request for the Department of the Treasury. The President's FY10 budget request for the Treasury Department for programs under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee is $13.36 billion - over 90 percent ($12.13 billion) of which is designated for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax administration. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Com… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Passes Resolution in Support of Chicago 2016

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the United States Senate passed a resolution supporting Olympic Day on June 23, 2009 and encouraging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to select Chicago, Illinois as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. "It has been over 100 years since a Midwestern city has hosted the Olympics and the return of the Games is long overdue," said Durbin. "Organizers of Chicago's bid to host the 2… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges More Transparency into General Motors Restructuring Process

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the CEO of General Motors, Fritz Henderson, to bring more openness and transparency into the company's restructuring process while in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As dealerships throughout Illinois are notified that GM does not intend to renew their contract, many owners are left frustrated and confused. "A vibrant automotive sector is crucial to the future of our manufacturing base in Illinois and throughout the… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Aid Reforestation Efforts in Haiti

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation today to aid reforestation efforts in Haiti. Once covered by thick tropical forest, Haiti is now 98 percent deforested. That deforestation has caused widespread soil erosion; the destruction of natural barriers from hurricanes; and contributes to widespread and abject poverty. The Haiti Reforestation Act seeks to end the rapid and near total deforestation of the island-nation and restore Haiti's n… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quigley Commend EPA for Swift Action to End BP Violations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) today spoke with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson regarding yesterday's decision by the Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 to cite BP for alleged Clean Air Act violations at its Whiting refinery. "For years, I have worked with members of the Illinois Delegation to shed a light on the companies like BP that have operated without concern for the protection of one of our nation's … Continue Reading

Durbin, Quinn, Daley Call on Midwest Governors to Increase Efforts to Secure High Speed Rail Funding

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn joined Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in calling on seven Midwestern Governors to increase their efforts and regional coordination on high speed rail through a regional Rail Summit held in Chicago - the Midwest rail system's hub - this summer. Today's announcement followed a meeting between Durbin and Quinn where they also discussed moving forward with Illinois's bid for the $8 billion availa… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $5.9 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Floodplain Easement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $5,946,931 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for floodplain easement in Illinois. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s floodplain easement program allows for the acquisition of private, local government or state owned lands that have been damaged by flooding at least once in the last 12 months or twice in the past 10 years. Once the easements have been established,… Continue Reading

Durbin: University of Illinois Will Receive a Nearly $300,000 Grant for Aquatic Research

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has awarded $299,744 in federal grant funding to the University of Illinois to support the research, extension and outreach activities of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (IISG). The IISG is one of 32 programs constituting the National Sea Grant network which is dedicated to promoting the wise use of coastal, ocean, a… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Meeting with Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement today after meeting with Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor: "Judge Sotomayor has an impressive life story. She came up the hard way and excelled as a student at Princeton. Her experience as a prosecutor and years on the federal bench have prepared her well for this historic opportunity." In addition to being a member of Senate leadership, Durbin serves on the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $16 Million in DOT Funding for Illinois Airports

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $15,978,467 in grants to five Illinois airports. "Today's grants will allow airports in Illinois make needed improvements and upgrades to help them serve travelers more safely and efficiently," said Durbin. "These important projects will also create good paying jobs throughout Illinois during the current construction season." The following airports will receive … Continue Reading

Durbin and Illinois Delegation Urge President Obama to Provide Federal Assistance to Illinois Counties Affected by Severe Storms

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today in asking President Obama to provide request for federal assistance for six counties in southern Illinois as a result of severe storms in May. Preliminary Damage Assessments have indicated that more than 260 homes sustained major damage during the storms. Governor Quinn has already declared these counties - Franklin, Gallatin, Jackson, Saline, Randolph, and Williamson… Continue Reading

Durbin Holds Budget Hearing on Financial Market Oversight

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing which reviewed the funding requests of the nation's primary financial market regulators - the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Today's hearing was held in Durbin's Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro and CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler were witnesses. "After high profile cases of fr… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. "President Obama has made an outstanding and historic choice in his selection of New York Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve on the Supreme Court. Her compelling life story and three decade career in nearly every aspect of the law provide Judge Sotomayor with unique qualifications to be the next Supreme Cou… Continue Reading

Durbin, Matsui Introduce Bill to Increase Public Health Workforce

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui today in introducing the Public Health Workforce Act of 2009. This legislation aims to increase the pipeline of qualified public health workers at the federal, state, local and tribal levels by offering scholarships to students going into the public health field. It also encourages current employees to stay in the public health field by providing loan repayments in exchange for a commitment… Continue Reading

Durbin Resumes Leadership of Human Rights Subcommittee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement today after Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) restored the Human Rights Subcommittee and named Durbin as its Chairman: "After offering my Crime and Drugs Subcommittee gavel to Senator Specter, I asked Senator Leahy to reestablish the Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee. Today that subcommittee has been reconstituted, allowing us to continue working on some of the… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill Requiring Universities to Offer Voter Registration to Students

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill today to require all colleges and universities that receive federal funds to offer voter registration services to students. The bill, the Student Voter Opportunity to Encourage Registration Act of 2009, or Student VOTER Act, would designate federally funded colleges and universities as voter registration agencies, much like state departments of motor vehicles. The bill's aim is to reverse a decades-long tr… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Boost College Enrollment for Low-Income Students

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Congressmen Tim Bishop (D-NY) and Vern Ehlers (R-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation today to help improve college access for low-income students. The Pathways to College Act would create a competitive grant program to help low-income school districts implement programs designed to increase the number of students who are entering and succeeding in college. "When schools focus on college … Continue Reading

Durbin and Burr Introduce Bipartisan Medical Homes Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Medical Homes Act this week to improve health care quality by helping states implement patient-centered medical home programs under Medicaid and SCHIP. "At a time when both health care costs and chronic illnesses are on the rise, we need a better way to provide care that is accessible, comprehensive and cost-effective," said Durbin. "The medical homes concept -co… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2 Million in Funding for Chicago O'Hare Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $2 million grant to the city of Chicago for O'Hare International Airport. Today's funding will be used to rehabilitate an already existing runway at the airport in order to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration's annual runway inspections.… Continue Reading