Durbin, Cohen Along With Others Introduce Legislation to Restore Fairness in Student Lending

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Al Franken (D-MN) today joined U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Danny Davis (D-IL) to introduce legislation in both the Senate and the House that will restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt. Before changes were made to the bankruptcy code in 2005, only government issued or guaranteed student loans were prote… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Federal Judicial Nominees 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 the first two individuals to fill five pending vacancies on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois: Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman. Both nominations will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman will each bring a great depth of experience and legal ability to the bench,"… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $1.1 Million in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments and Ambulance Services

[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 14 grants totaling $1,084,370 to fire departments and ambulance services 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… Continue Reading

Durbin Resolution Expressing Sympathy to the Polish People Passes Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A resolution expressing sympathy to the people of Poland over the death of president, Lech Kaczynski, unanimously passed the Senate today, one day after it was offered by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL). The resolution marks the tragic death of President Kaczynski, his wife, and 94 others who were killed in a plane crash on Saturday. The resolution passed after the Senate held a brief moment of silence in honor of the Polish President. Polish Amb… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on CPSC Budget

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing on the FY11 budget request for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and to review the steps it has taken to improve product safety after years of high-profile product recall. "In just a few short years, the CPSC has gone from a watchdog agency with no bite to being a robust, proactive agency with greater enforcement powers and more frontline inspectors," Durbin said. "The dramatic… Continue Reading

Durbin: White House Nominates McPherson to be U.S. Marshal in Illinois' Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Darryl McPherson to serve as U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Illinois. "Over the length of his career, Darryl McPherson has shown a unique dedication to giving back to communities in and around Chicago," said Durbin. "I am confident that he will bring a great deal of knowledge and experience from his many years of service to the position of U.S. Marshal in the Northern Dist… Continue Reading

Durbin: White House Nominates Wigginton to be U.S. Attorney in Illinois' Southern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Stephen Wigginton to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. "With over twenty years of civil and criminal legal experience, Stephen Wigginton has been a leader in the Southern Illinois community," 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 posi… Continue Reading

Durbin: Fish and Wildlife Service Report No Carp Found Above Barrier

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reported that three months of analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has yielded no new evidence that Asian carp have bypassed the electric barrier in the Chicago Ship and Sanity Canal. In a meeting with Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Regional Midwest Director Charlie Wooley, Durbin learned that the agency will continue working through the summer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDN… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quigley Introduce Resolution Expressing Sympathy to Polish People on Death of President

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) today introduced identical resolutions in both the Senate and House of Representatives expressing sympathy to the people of Poland over the death of president, Lech Kaczynski, and 95 others who were killed in a plane crash. "I extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Poland for their profound loss," Durbin said. "The people of Poland turn to their faith in times of trial and that faith has… Continue Reading

Durbin Pushes for Overhaul of Nation's Food Safety Laws

[CHICAGO, IL] - The ability of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect the safety of the nation's food supply for American families will dramatically improve if Congress passes the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin's legislation, which has bi-partisan support, would give the FDA new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform the nation's food safety systems. "We've seen major recalls of peanut butter spiked w… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Passing of Poland's President

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 97 people including the President and First Lady of Poland, Lech and Maria Kaczynski. Earlier this afternoon, Durbin visited the Polish Consulate in Chicago to sign the book of condolence. "I want to express my deepest sympathies to the people of Poland for their profound loss. The pain of this sad moment is felt especially in Chicago where so many Poli… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Regarding the Retirement of Associate Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the upcoming retirement of Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens."Justice John Paul Stevens, a native Chicagoan, is widely seen as one of the wisest and most accomplished jurists of our time. The fourth-longest-serving Justice in U.S. history, Justice Stevens' judicial philosophy may be hard to label but his integrity is rock solid. A lifetime in the law and the courage… Continue Reading

Healthcare Reform News Conference in Normal, IL

This past week was historic for our country. The passage of the new health reform law is a great step forward. It is an expression of our commitment to ensuring that every Illinoisan and every American have the best health care possible. And it couldn't have come too soon. Our nation's healthcare crisis is pricing more and more people out of coverage. Over the past decade, family health insurance premiums for Illinois's workers rose five times more quickly than median earnings. … Continue Reading

Durbin: $26 Million Federal Investment in Rend Lake Pays Dividends in Jobs and Economic Development

[BENTON, IL] - Rend Lake visitors will soon enjoy improved campsites, better roads, well-staffed recreation facilities with fully restored services, and a new visitor's center, thanks to a $26 million infusion of funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The federally-funded projects at Rend Lake have created or sustained more than 200 jobs, helping to achieve the Recovery Act's primary goals of getting Americans back to work … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $500,000 in Federal Funding to Establish Regional Nursing Program at SIU's Carbondale Campus

[CARBONDALE, IL] - The nursing workforce in Southern Illinois will soon be bolstered as a result of $500,000 in federal funding for a new nursing program at Southern Illinois University, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) told students and faculty at the Carbondale campus today. The funding will give the SIU Edwardsville School of Nursing the resources to open a campus in Carbondale. The earmark was secured by Durbin in the fiscal year 2010 omnibus appropriation bill."The 3 million nurses across … Continue Reading

Mayor Daley, Secretary LaHood, Senator Durbin and Governor Quinn Announce $410 Million in Funding for O'Hare Modernization Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to provide $410 million toward funding the completion phase of the O'Hare Modernization Program, Mayor Richard M. Daley, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced today at a news conference held at O'Hare International Airport. The funding will be used for construction of three OMP Completion Phase runway projects: new runway 9C-27C, new run… Continue Reading

Durbin Encourages Illinois Small Businesses To Grow Sales And Create Jobs By Ramping Up Exports

[CHICAGO, IL] - The leading export officials in the Obama Administration joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) in Chicago today to promote the services the federal government offers to help small businesses increase their sales overseas. The Illinois Small Business Export Promotion Forum, hosted by Durbin, featured U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Export Import Bank of the U.S. Chairman and President Fred Hochberg, and U.S. Small Business Regiona… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Chronic Disease Prevention in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a $1,000,000 Chronic Disease Self-Management Program grant to the Illinois Department of Public Health through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.Today's funding will be used to provide self-management programs to older adults with chronic diseases. Self-management programs help those with chronic diseases learn how to manage their co… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $19 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Teachers and Schools

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Education has awarded a total of $18,757,085 in Teacher Quality Partnership grants to two Chicago-area universities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding will be used to help raise student achievement by improving teacher instruction in schools. Teacher Quality Partnerships are comprised of high-need school districts in collaboration with an institute of high… Continue Reading

Durbin: $4.7 Million for Water Projects will Benefit Homeowners, Local Economy

[SPRING VALLEY, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a news conference today to discuss federal funding in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act that will create jobs in the struggling construction industry and provide relief from flooding and sewage backups for local homeowners. "Water projects like these and others across Illinois are helping put contractors and their workers back on the street," Durbin said. "These are jobs that can't be outsourced - cleaning our drinki… Continue Reading