Durbin Announces a Nearly $500,000 FEMA Grant to Wheeling Fire Department

[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 a $488,910 grant to the Wheeling Fire Department in Wheeling, Illinois, for hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's … Continue Reading

Durbin: $5.7 Million in Federal Funds Allows East Side Transfer Center Construction to Begin in 2010

[ROCKFORD, IL] - Federal funding for the East Side Transfer Center will bring needed construction jobs to Rockford, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a news conference with local officials to announce the funding. "The $5.7 million in federal funding for this facility will provide good paying construction jobs this spring for local residents that have been hard hit by the economic downturn," Durbin said. "This funding helped jumpstart this project and moved it off the shel… Continue Reading

Durbin: Improved Access to Credit for Small Businesses Crucial to Job Creation

[ROCKFORD, IL] - Illinois small businesses would receive a much-needed lifeline if provisions included in the Senate jobs proposal to improve access to credit and jumpstart job creation become law, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference in Rockford. "Small businesses desperately need access to credit in order to grow and hire more aggressively," Durbin said. "They are the economic engine of this country and the key to a true recovery. Job creation is the hi… Continue Reading

Durbin: Student Loan Overhaul Makes College More Affordable For Illinois Students

[CHICAGO, IL] - Illinois students will see increased Pell Grants and friendlier loan repayment terms as a result of a historic overhaul of the nation's 45-year-old student loan program signed into law last week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) told college students at Roosevelt University today. The provisions, included in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation bill, force commercial banks out of the business of administering federally-guaranteed student loans, ending a system … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $2 Million in NEH Grants for Illinois Organizations

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded 15 grants totaling $1,919,557 to 11 Illinois organizations. Several of these organizations have been recognized by the NEH for advancing the goals of its We the People program. The We the People program encourages and strengthens the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture. Today's grants were awarded through a highly competitive r… Continue Reading

Durbin: White House Nominates Lewis to be U.S. Attorney in Illinois' Central District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated James Lewis to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. "James Lewis has served in the Central District of Illinois for over twenty-five years," said Durbin. "I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama, and am confident that he will bring a strong work ethic and great depth of knowledge to the position of U.S. Attorney." Lewis has served as an Assist… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Reconciliation Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's passage of legislation that makes key improvements to the historic health care reform law signed by President Obama earlier this week. The legislation also helps students by cutting out the bank industry middlemen and shifting student loans into the Direct Loan program - a measure that will save American families $61 billion over 10 years. "The final piece of healthcare legislation that was approved by t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $23 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Southern Illinois Broadband

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Agriculture has awarded an $8,538,224 grant and a $14,230,375 loan through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the Rural High Speed Ethernet Network - Southern Illinois project. The funding will be used to design, engineer, and construct 1,600 miles of fiber-optic broadband network in 24 southern Illinois counties, as well as acquire, test, and install advanced networ… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $50,000 FEMA Grant to Griggsville Fire Department

[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 a $47,244 grant to the Griggsville Fire Department in Griggsville, Illinois, for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with th… Continue Reading

Durbin: Chicago Public Schools Should be National Model for School Lunch Reform

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to CEO of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Ron Huberman, commending him for his new commitment to higher nutritional standards in school lunches, which was addressed in a series of articles in the Chicago Tribune. "The public schools in the First Lady's home town need to lead the nation in healthy and nutritious food," said Durbin. "Chicago Public Schools has made progress, but now we need a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Durbin Amendment to Encourage Sustainable Airport Design

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate approved an amendment authored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) create a standardized, voluntary set of best practices to help airports operate and build sustainable facilities. Durbin's amendment - approved as part of the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act - would establish a working group to develop these standards and help create a voluntary r… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $1.2 Million DOT Recovery Act Grant for Job Training in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $1,189,635 On the Job Training/Supportive Services grant to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Today's funding will be used to fund apprenticeships and training centers for Illinoisans pursuing careers in the transportation, engineering, and construction sectors. This funding is part of nearly $12 million in grants announced by the … Continue Reading

World Water Day

Yesterday, countries around the world celebrated World Water Day. This is a day to celebrate the progress we have made protecting this most important resource and to reflect on the many challenges we still face in providing clean, safe water to the world's poor. I was heartened to see that Secretary of State Clinton spoke at the National Geographic World Water Day event on Monday. She and others at the Department of State and USAID are doing a great job stepping up U.S. leadership on… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Durbin Amendment to Study Partnerships Between Air and Rail Travel

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate today approved an amendment authored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study ways to increase coordination between air and passenger rail travel. Durbin's amendment was approved as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. The amendment specifically identifies codeshare agreements as one way that airlines and… Continue Reading

Latinos and Healthcare Reform

Senator Dick Durbin March 19, 2010 Latinos and Healthcare Reform Prepared Remarks In March of 1927-over 80 years ago-one of the greatest civil rights leaders was born. Cesar Chavez had the rarest kind of courage-moral courage-and he had great faith in the promise of America. During times like this, it is good to ask ourselves: "What would Cesar Chavez say if he were here today?" I think he would be encouraged to see how far we have come in bridging some of the old racial divi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More than $15 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Rural Water Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $15,700,500 in loans and grants funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for four rural Illinois water system improvement projects. Today's announcement is part of a nationwide announcement of $159 million in funding for water and environmental projects that will help provide safe drinking water and protect the environment in r… Continue Reading

Durbin, Other Senators Press Commonwealth Nations on Case of Missing Journalist

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter today to Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General of the Commonwealth Nations, urging him to launch an investigation into the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist who has been held incommunicado and without charge for almost four years. "Mr. Manneh's disappearance and the Gambian Government's ongoing refusal to account for his whereabouts are in direct contradiction of the strong human rights… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators in Effort to Resolve Issues with FEMA Flood Maps

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a bipartisan group of Senators in calling for a coordinated effort to resolve issues with regard to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Flood Map Modernization Program. In a letter to the Administrator of FEMA, Craig Fugate, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Senators asked for a meeting to discuss concerns expressed by constituents including: a lack of communication,… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation to Stem the "Brain Drain" of Health Care Workers from World's Poorest Nations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Global Healthcare Cooperation Act¸ a bill designed to stem the "brain drain" of skilled healthcare workers who emigrate from developing countries to the United States. The bill will also bolster the ranks of healthcare workers serving in developing countries by enabling American legal permanent residents to assist with overseas public health emergencies. "The brain drain of talented health care… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More than $350,000 in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments

[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 6 grants totaling $353,282 to fire departments throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best too… Continue Reading