Press Releases

May 09, 2011

Durbin: Senate Bill Aims to End Joyride for Big Oil Companies as Gas Prices Hover Near Record Highs in Chicago

[CHICAGO, IL] Unless legislation to end their "joyride" is passed, the five largest oil companies, which recorded more than $30 billion in profits during the first three months of this year alone, will continue to receive $4 billion per year in tax breaks from the federal government, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today outside a gas station in Chicago. A bill eliminating the subsidies for big oil companies and diverting the savings to offset the deficit will be introduced this … Continue Reading


May 09, 2011

Durbin, Kirk, Quinn Announce $268 Million for High Speed Rail Cars in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn in announcing that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $268 million in high speed rail funding to Illinois for the purchase of 48 new passenger rail cars and 7 locomotives that will be equipped to travel at high speeds. Today's funding comes from the $2 billion that was rejected by the governor of Florida earlier this year. It is in addition to the … Continue Reading


May 06, 2011

Durbin and Manzullo Statement Following Rockford Courthouse Walk-Through

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today released the following statement after the completion of a walk-through of the Rockford Courthouse that was led by representatives from the General Services Administration and the Court. Manzullo participated in today's tour along with representatives from Durbin's office. "The new Rozkowski Courthouse is a beautiful building. Over a hundred local workers did a wonderful job constructing a state … Continue Reading


May 04, 2011

Durbin Expansion of VA Caregiver Program Could Help Thousands More Family Members

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand the number of caregivers that are eligible for the Family Caregiver Program which provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty. The decision significantly improves an earlier, more restrictive draft and expands the eligibility the pool of eligible veterans from … Continue Reading


May 04, 2011

Durbin and Manzullo Express Concern Over Delay of Rockford Courthouse Opening in Meeting with GSA Administrator

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today met with the Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), Martha Johnson, to express their concerns over reports that the opening of the Roszkowski Courthouse in Rockford, Illinois will be delayed until mid-September due to the need to address poor workmanship. Durbin and Manzullo urged Johnson to do everything possible to safely expedite the process while ensuring the highest quality … Continue Reading


May 04, 2011

Durbin, Kirk, Quinn Announce $186 Million for Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn in announcing that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $186 million in high speed rail funding to finance track and other improvements on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor between Dwight and Joliet. Earlier today, the Department of Transportation notified Congressional Appropriators that they have reprogrammed $400 million of the $2 billion in funding that was … Continue Reading


May 04, 2011

Durbin Writes China's Largest Search Engine About Web Censorship, Possible Facebook Deal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) has written to Baidu, China's largest search engine, about its censorship of the internet. Durbin, who recently returned from a week-long trip to China, asked the company to take immediate steps to protect human rights, including freedom of expression and privacy."I appreciate that Baidu has given millions of Chinese citizens the ability to access information. At the same time, your company has a moral obligation to … Continue Reading


May 04, 2011

Durbin Holds Budget Hearing on SEC and CFTC

[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). SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro and CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler were witnesses before Durbin's Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. "With our markets on the rebound, record high gas … Continue Reading


May 03, 2011

Durbin Statement on Southern Illinois Flood Control Efforts

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after being briefed by federal and state officials on the impact of yesterday's decision by Major General Michael Walsh of the Army Corps of Engineers to intentionally breach the levee at Birds Point in order relieve pressure to levees downstream and potentially save Cairo, Illinois - a town of roughly 3,000 people - from devastating floods. "While breaching the levee at Birds Point has relieved … Continue Reading


May 02, 2011

Durbin Statement on Army Corps Decision to Intentionally Breach Levee in Order to Save Cairo, Illinois from Devastating Floods

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Major General Michael Walsh of the Army Corps of Engineers announced that they will intentionally breach a levee in order relieve pressure to levees downstream and potentially save Cairo, Illinois - a town of roughly 3,000 people - from devastating floods. "I talked with General Walsh several times over the weekend and made clear that I would stand by whatever decision he made. I know he is … Continue Reading


May 01, 2011

Durbin Statement on the Killing of Osama bin Laden

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after President Obama announced that Osama bin Laden has been killed. "I was advised by Vice President Biden this Sunday evening that Osama bin Laden has been killed. Though this is not the end of the threat of terrorism, it is a clear warning to our enemies that when they threaten and kill Americans, they will be pursued and held accountable. Our nation owes a great debt of … Continue Reading


April 28, 2011

Opening Statement at For-Profit College Forum

Good morning. I am pleased to convene this forum to examine the role of the for-profit college industry in educating students in Illinois and to discuss the additional federal oversight needed to end abusive practices and improve student outcomes.I am pleased to be joined by my colleague from the House, Congressman Danny Davis. Thank you all for being here.As a beneficiary of federal investment in higher education, I have always voted to support Pell grants and federal student loans.We must … Continue Reading


April 28, 2011

Durbin Responds to American Bankers Association on Interchange... Again

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) has responded to yet another letter from the American Bankers Association reiterating their opposition to any and all reforms of the interchange system. Durbin's letter to the ABA today seeks to "cut to the chase" regarding the motivations behind the ABA's criticisms of the interchange reform law that Congress enacted last year. "You say in your letter that your members are concerned about the Federal Reserve's draft … Continue Reading


April 27, 2011

Durbin Announces Legislation to Level the Playing Field for Illinois Retailers

[SPRINGFIELD] - Main Street businesses in Springfield and across the country should no longer be at a disadvantage against companies that sell the same products online, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Main Street Fairness Act, legislation which Durbin intends to introduce in the U.S. Senate following the April recess, aims to level the playing field between online and "bricks and mortar" merchants by allowing states to require sellers to collect sales taxes that are already … Continue Reading


April 27, 2011

Durbin Celebrates opening of New Terminal at Peoria International Airport

[PEORIA, IL] - The completion of construction on a new terminal at Peoria International Airport will create more capacity for commercial passenger airplanes, lower wait times for baggage, expand space for vendors, enhance security and provide the airport with the ability to handle one million passengers per year, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin joined Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and other federal and local elected officials at the ribbon cutting ceremony … Continue Reading


April 26, 2011

Durbin Expected to Visit Southern Illinois on Wednesday to Survey Flood Control Efforts

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is planning to visit Southern Illinois on Wednesday to consult with federal, state, and local officials on their ongoing flood preparation and control efforts. Earlier today, Durbin was briefed by federal and state officials on the threat of severe flooding due to heavy rainfall over the last few weeks which has caused waters levels to rise dramatically along the Ohio, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. "I commend Governor Quinn for … Continue Reading


April 21, 2011

Durbin Announces a More Than $65,000 FEMA Grant to East Moline Firefighters

[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 $66,600 in a grant for operations and safety to the East Moline Fire Department. The East Moline Fire Department, lead by Chief Robert G. DeFrance, has three stations throughout East Moline. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men … Continue Reading


April 20, 2011

Durbin, Kirk, Illinois Delegations: High Speed Rail Funding Will Have Greatest Impact in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in expressing support for Illinois' application for the federal funding for high speed rail projects that was rejected by the Governor of Florida. In their letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, the members stressed the importance of the Chicago to St. Louis route as the backbone of the Midwest passenger rail system. "We believe Illinois offers … Continue Reading


April 18, 2011

Durbin Travels to China

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) has arrived in Hong Kong as part of a week-long, senior Senate Delegation visiting China. Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, is part of a ten-member, bipartisan trip lead by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Other members of the Delegation include Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Jeff Merkley … Continue Reading


April 15, 2011

Durbin Meets with Bureau of Prisons Director to Discuss Thomson Funding

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, Harley Lappin, to urge him to identify funding for the acquisition of Thomson Correctional Center in Carroll County, Illinois, in order to open it as a federal maximum security prison. The FY2011 budget agreement that passed Congress late yesterday provided the Bureau with the funds necessary to operate for the remainder of the fiscal year. "Director Lappin assured me that the … Continue Reading

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