Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Energy and the Environment
Durbin Meets With CEO Climate Dialogue
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the CEO Climate Dialogue, a large group of companies and environmental groups that support carbon pricing as a means to combat climate change. During the meeting, Durbin spoke about his legislation, America's Clean Future Fund Act. Durbin's legislation would reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the U.S. transition to a green economy by leveraging revenue raised by a carbon fee to fund a new federal agency … Continue Reading
August 31, 2021
Durbin Joins Environmental Leaders For Discussion On Clean Energy, Infrastructure
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with leaders of Illinois environmental groups to discuss the state's clean energy and infrastructure priorities. On the call, Durbin provided details on the passed budget resolution and suggested provisions in the upcoming reconciliation bill, including a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP), which would pay utilities to produce more clean energy each year. Durbin and the environmental leaders went on to discuss … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin: We Must Protect Communities From "Forever Chemicals" Contamination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about a recent story in the Chicago Sun-Times that revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - in water systems in Chicago, Lake Forest, Waukegan, and South Elgin. Durbin called on the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which includes $10 billion to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater, … Continue Reading
July 23, 2021
Durbin, Senators Urge President Biden To Restore Bears Ears National Monument
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led his colleagues U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to restore the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments using his authority under the Antiquities Act. Under the previous … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Urge Forest Service To Review Shawnee National Forest For Wilderness Designation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Nutrition Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service requesting that the lands of the Shawnee National Forest be reviewed to determine if areas of the forest meet the requirements to be considered for wilderness protection. U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and U.S. Representative John Curtis (R-UT-03) introduced the Shawnee … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021
Durbin Meets With U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan About Region 5 Priorities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to discuss Durbin's priorities for EPA's Region 5, which includes Illinois. On the call, Durbin followed up on his March request that EPA update the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) using the best available science and that any stakeholder outreach include Chicago or Illinois to ensure that all Illinoisans have access to clean, lead-free water. … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Durbin: Equity In Great Lakes Restoration Initiative A Key Part Of Protecting Our Lake
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the Alliance for the Great Lakes and State Representative Kam Buckner (D-26) in Chicago to discuss efforts to prioritize historically marginalized and underserved communities in projects to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Durbin is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take concrete steps to prioritize low-income and communities of color within the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) - an inter-agency … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Introduce Bill To Update Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced a bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards to reflect the stricter criteria outlined in a 2016 EPA study. Under the bill, any updates to the emissions standards would have to incorporate the maximum achievable control technology requirements to … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Durbin Calls On Senate Colleagues To Support Endless Frontier Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged his Senate colleagues to support the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, the broader competitiveness package and substitute amendment to the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act. The legislation represents the largest investment in U.S. science and technology leadership since the Apollo era. It will authorize more than $100 billion over five years to support breakthrough … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Durbin Joins Colleagues In Introducing Electrifying America's Future Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and 14 Senate Democrats in introducing the Electrifying America's Future Resolution to advance the vision of widespread electrification across every sector of American life. "As we experience the disastrous effects of climate change, we know we must invest in cleaner forms of energy," said Durbin. "With the Electrifying America's Future Resolution, we are reaffirming our commitment to building more … Continue Reading
May 12, 2021
Durbin, Quigley, Rubio, & Duckworth Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Map Urban Flooding & Help FEMA Better Assess Risks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2021. The bill would enhance the mapping of urban flooding to prevent associated damage and help give cities and towns the tools they need to address flooding on the a local level. "Climate change … Continue Reading
May 10, 2021
Durbin Introduces America's Red Rock Wilderness Act To Protect National Parks & Monuments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act today to protect 8.4 million acres of land in Utah that is rich in archaeological resources and home to numerous rare plant and animal species. These landscapes are also the access point for many national parks and offer unparalleled research, educational, and recreational opportunities for scientists, educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and American families. "With the America's Red Rock … Continue Reading
May 05, 2021
Durbin Introduces Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act To Address Pollution In Great Lakes
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined officials from the Shedd Aquarium and the Alliance for the Great Lakes to announce the introduction of the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, which would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic into waterways from facilities and sources that make, use, package, or transport pellets. The pellets are being consumed by fish and … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Durbin Marks Earth Day In Senate Floor Speech
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to mark Earth Day, the planet's largest annual civic event. Durbin discussed President Biden's Earth Day Leaders Summit, the President's pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emission by at least 50 percent by 2030, and the importance of global collaboration to combat the impacts of climate change. "With this Earth Day Leaders Summit, President Biden is sending the world a clear message. The United States … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
Durbin Reintroduces Bill To Make Cahokia Mounds A National Historic Park
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced his bill to designate the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site as a National Historic Park. Durbin's bill, which would elevate the site beyond its current designation as a National Historic Landmark, will offer additional protections for the ancient mounds in St. Clair and Madison counties along with Sugarloaf Mound in St. Louis - the city's only remaining mound. "Cahokia Mounds is an important natural, archeological, … Continue Reading
April 12, 2021
Durbin, Senators Call On Department Of Interior To Restore Grand Staircase-Escalante And Bears Ears National Monuments
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), wrote to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to express their strong support for President Biden's restoration of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and restoration and consideration of expanding the Bears Ears … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
Durbin Discusses Sewer Improvements With Centreville Residents, Local Officials
CENTREVILLE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the ongoing sewage and flooding problems that have impacted the Centreville area for decades with residents, local leaders, and people involved in projects to make critical infrastructure improvements. "The chronic wastewater flooding issues that have impacted Centreville have led to serious problems for residents and are a threat to public health," Durbin said. "I will continue to work with state and local leaders to identify … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Durbin Discusses Climate Solutions at Agriculture Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing titled: "Farmers and Foresters: Opportunities to Lead in Tackling Climate Change." During the hearing, Durbin shared his interest in learning more about how the agriculture community is working to reduce carbon emissions and how that can be integrated with federal policies. Durbin also introduced John Reifsteck, CEO of GROWMARK in Bloomington, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Durbin Introduces Bill to Invest in a Clean Climate Future and Spur Job Creation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of America's Clean Future Fund Act, a bill that would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy. The bill would achieve critical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate a fair transition for workers from declining energy sectors, and renew America's commitment to remain a world leader in technology, innovation, and a sustainable future. The bill also would provide $50 billion … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
Durbin, Bipartisan Colleagues Call on USDA to Assist Biofuels Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, along with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and seven Senate colleagues, today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the department to assist biofuel producers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have been advocating for targeted relief for the biofuels industry since last spring when we were … Continue Reading