Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Chang for Federal Judgeship in Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has unanimously approved Edmond Chang for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. Chang is the third individual to be nominated to fill one of five vacancies in the Northern District. Earlier this summer, the Senate unanimously confirmed the President's first t… Continue Reading

Durbin: Government Reports Widespread Abuses in For-Profit College Recruiting

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) responded to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which found widespread abuses in for-profit college recruiting. "The GAO report's findings are significant and suggest a widespread pattern of fraud and abuse. It calls into question the for-profit sector's assertions that it is the victim of a few bad actors. The GAO visited 15 for-profit colleges and at every single college found recruiters misleading students, providing inco… Continue Reading

Durbin, Webb Take Concerns About For-Profit Colleges to V.A. and D.O.D.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Concerned about reports of some for-profit colleges aggressively targeting military personnel and veterans, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jim Webb (D-VA) today asked the Secretaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, and the Department of Defense, Robert Gates, for detailed information on how veteran and military tuition assistance program funding is being spent. Specifically, Durbin and Webb asked for data on the tuition assistance used for ed… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.1 Million In Recovery Act Funding For Illinois Broadband Internet

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded three grants totaling $1,130,367 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to bring "4G" wireless broadband infrastructure to three Illinois communities - Cairo, Monmouth, and White Hall. "Broadband is an important economic tool, and too many Illinoisans lack adequate and affordable access" said Durbin. "This funding will make a significant i… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $100,000 in Grant Funding for Southern Illinois Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $100,000 grant to Illinois for the Southern Illinois Airport. This funding will be used to conduct a Safety Management System study that will help the airport determine compliance with international standards and help the Federal Aviation Administration promote better safety at all airports. "This funding will contribute to the long term ability of … Continue Reading

Durbin: Peoria International Airport to Receive a More Than $2.5 Million Grant for New Terminal

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $2,541,380 grant to General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. This funding will be used for the construction of a new terminal building to replace the existing 50-year old building. "The construction of a new terminal building will bring good-paying jobs to the Peoria International Airport which serves as a critical transportation link … Continue Reading

President Obama Signs Durbin's Fair Sentencing Act Into Law

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - An historic, bipartisan bill to curtail the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine was signed into law by President Obama today, marking the first time Congress has repealed a mandatory minimum since the Nixon administration. The Fair Sentencing Act, authored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will reduce the current 100:1 sentencing disparity to 18:1. The bill is cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and Ranking M… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Committee Approves $5 Million in Health and Education Projects for 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 $5,000,000 in federal funding for health and education projects in Illinois. The 2011 Appropriations bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations includes funding for the following projects: Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, Hoffman Estates: $375,00… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves over $2.7 million for Illinois Projects

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, has approved $2,751,000 for projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2011 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Benedictine University, Lisle: $250,000 in funding to assist small businesses increase productivity. This certificate program will be offered to Illinois entrepreneurs, … Continue Reading

Durbin's Fair Sentencing Act Passed By House, Sent To President For Signature

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - An historic, bipartisan bill to curtail the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine was passed by the House of Representatives this afternoon, sending it to President Obama for his signature. The Fair Sentencing Act, authored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will reduce the current 100:1 sentencing disparity to 18:1. The bill is cosponsored by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and Ranking Member Jeff Sessions. The Senate unanim… Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Among Finalists In Phase Two of Innovative Race to The Top Education Reform Competition

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Education has named Illinois among 19 finalists for Phase Two of its Race to the Top competition. The Race to the Top Fund provides competitive grants to encourage and reward states like Illinois that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform. In March, Illinois placed fifth in Phase One of the Race to the Top competition. "Maintaining the status quo in our sch… Continue Reading

Durbin Unveils 2011 Financial Services, General Government Appropriations Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, today unveiled the subcommittee's appropriations package for fiscal year 2011. The bill covers $48.3 billion in overall spending for over two dozen agencies within the Executive Branch; the Federal Courts; District of Columbia; and independent agencies including the nation's financial services regulators. "For the fourth st… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on DOE Rules Targeting For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after reviewing the Department of Education's new rule to ensure that vocational programs that receive aid dollars prepare students for "gainful employment. "I am glad to see Secretary is willing to set standards for quality in education in for-profit schools," said Durbin. "Defining gainful employment is a direct test of whether the for-profit education industry is fulfilling the role it claims for … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Committee Approves More Than $134 Million In Energy And Water Funding For Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, has approved $134,315,000 for energy- and water-related projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Department of Energy City of Monmouth: $500,000 in funding for a renewable energy co-generation project that will use industrial waste to power homes and reduce the amount of gr… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Committee Approves over $15.05 Million in Transportation and Economic Development Funding for Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $15,050,000 in federal funding for Illinois transportation and economic development projects. ? The Fiscal Year 2011 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 Tr… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Committee Approves $4 Million in Department of Justice Funding for Illinois

[Washington, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $4,000,000 for projects in the state of Illinois in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill. The Fiscal Year 2011 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects in Illinois: Department of Justice Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), Chicago: $450,000 in funding to provide a youth-focused violence pr… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Passage of the Extension of Unemployment Insurance

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate passed an extension of unemployment insurance, providing much needed financial assistance to over 2.5 million unemployed Americans who have seen their benefits expire because of Republican obstruction: "The extension of unemployment benefits literally means bread on the table and a roof over the heads of millions of families around the country who have fallen victim to t… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Coast Guard Commitment to Keeping Helicopter Mission in Waukegan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the Coast Guard to commit to keeping the Coast Guard helicopter station in Waukegan, Illinois. Last week, Durbin secured a legislative provision that will prevent the closure of the Waukegan-based Coast Guard helicopter station in the 2011 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member. "I have worked with the Senate Appropriations Homeland… Continue Reading

Durbin Demands Federal Extension of Unemployment Insurance

[CHICAGO, IL] - More than 115,000 workers in Illinois have lost their unemployment insurance benefits due to Republican opposition to legislation that would extend the benefits through November, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. "There are now five jobless workers for every job opening in our country, and the unemployment rate in Illinois is over ten percent. Unemployment insurance is critically important not only because it keeps food on the table for millions of desperate famili… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Appropriates Committee Approves Nearly $6.3 Million for Illinois Agriculture Projects

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $6,268,000 for Illinois projects with the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Durbin is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA includes funding for the following Illinois projects and programs: • Biotechnology Research Development Center, Peo… Continue Reading