Press Releases
Durbin to LaHood: Obligate Illinois Transportation Funds to Save Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, urging him to obligate as soon as possible nearly $400 million in Illinois transportation funding. Obligating - making a legal commitment to allow a project to move forward - this funding could potentially keep eight Illinois projects safe from rescission under the House Republican's 2011 Budget plan. "Over the past two years, communities in Illinois have successfully … Continue Reading
March 28, 2011
Durbin Urges Residents to Prepare for Flooding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged Illinois residents in flood prone areas to take steps to protect their homes and businesses in advance of any flooding this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Army Corps of Engineers are warning of possible heavy flooding this spring around the country and in parts of Illinois. "Minor flooding began last week along the Upper Mississippi River," said Durbin. "I have been in contact with … Continue Reading
March 24, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Express Support of Quincy Appeal
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) supporting the City of Quincy's appeal of the Commission's decision to dismiss the a permit application for the hydroelectric power plant at Lock and Dam 21. "We are writing to express our strong support for the City of Quincy's (Illinois) proposed hydroprower project and to urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to grant their … Continue Reading
March 23, 2011
Durbin: Cuts to Head Start Will Devastate Low-Income Families and Stunt Economic Recovery
[AURORA] - Thousands of low-income children and their families will lose critical access to education, health, and support service programs as the result of drastic federal spending cuts passed by the House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today in Aurora. Funding for comprehensive early childhood services, including the Head Start program, is cut by more than 20 percent in the House spending bill (H.R.1) for the current fiscal year 2011, which was approved along party … Continue Reading
March 22, 2011
Durbin to Chair First-Ever Hearing on the Civil Rights of American Muslims
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will hold the first-ever Congressional hearing on the civil rights of American Muslims on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. The hearing will be the first hearing before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. Senator Durbin is the Subcommittee's Chairman. "Our Constitution protects the free exercise of religion for all Americans," Durbin said. "During the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2011
Durbin and Quinn Announce Major Agreement to Advance High-Speed Rail in Illinois
CHICAGO - Work on the next phase of high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis is set to begin as the result of a $685 million construction agreement, Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The federally funded project will create an estimated 6,200 direct and indirect jobs and move Illinois one step closer to faster trains and improved service along its signature high-speed route. Durbin and Quinn were joined at today's announcement by railroad workers and … Continue Reading
March 21, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $800,000 in FEMA Grants to additional Illinois Fire Departments
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded eight grants totaling $834,272 to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. "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 tools possible … Continue Reading
March 18, 2011
Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Political Repression in Belarus Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan resolution condemning recent Belarusian elections as illegitimate and calling on the Belarusian regime to immediately release all political prisoners, unanimously passed the Senate late yesterday. The resolution also calls for a tightening of the of the list of Belarusian officials who are subject to U.S. and European Union travel and financial sanctions, new elections in Belarus that meet international standards, tightening of EU sanctions against the … Continue Reading
March 18, 2011
Durbin and Corker Introduce Water for the World Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group lead by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) introduced the Water for the World Act late yesterday, a bill that bill builds on the success of the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act by placing clean water in the forefront of America's development priorities, seeking to reach 100 million people around the world with sustainable first time access to clean water and sanitation within six years of enactment. The … Continue Reading
March 18, 2011
Durbin, Kirk: President Issues Major Disaster Declaration for State of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that President Obama has made a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois triggering the release of federal funds to help communities recover from the severe winter storm and snow storm which occurs January 31 - February 3, 2011. "Although the snow has been cleared and the storms are long gone, residents and business owners are still facing a mountain of challenges. This Presidential … Continue Reading
March 18, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Ask Attorney General to Clearly State that No Prisoners from Guantanamo Bay Will Be Transferred to Thomson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today asked Attorney General, Eric Holder, to clearly state that his Administration has no intention of transferring prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to Thomson Correctional Center so that Congress can focus its efforts on acquiring and operating Thomson as a maximum-security federal prison. The activation of Thomson Correctional Center by the federal government is expected to create more than 1,100 jobs and inject at … Continue Reading
March 18, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Urge NASA to Select Adler Planetarium for Space Shuttle Orbiter
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) are urging the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to select Adler Planetarium for one of three retired space shuttle orbiters for public exhibition. "The Adler Planetarium is America's first Planetarium and a world-renowned science museum located on the shorelines of Lake Michigan. More than five million guests are welcomed at Museum Campus each year, and Chicago Museums create an annual economic … Continue Reading
March 17, 2011
Durbin and Illinois Delegation to Meet with Governor Quinn to Discuss Illinois Job Creation and Investment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation met with the Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, to discuss ways in which the Delegation can work together to help create jobs and invest in Illinois. Prior to today's meeting with the Delegation, Durbin and Quinn met with the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, Joe Szabo, to discuss the progress of high speed rail in Illinois. Last month, after the Governor of Florida … Continue Reading
March 17, 2011
Response to the Wall Street Journal's Editorial on Swipe Fee Reform
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I usually do not get up in the morning and race to read the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal. It is not part of my morning routine. I do not agree with them on most of the positions they have taken and I have found many times the statements they make are sometimes grossly inaccurate. This morning was no exception. They printed an editorial on the issue of interchange fees on debit cards. They had some critical things to say, which is their right, and … Continue Reading
March 17, 2011
Durbin Statement on the Passing of Jim Tyree
[Washington, DC] U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the passing of Jim Tyree: "Jim Tyree's determination and positive view of life inspired me and all he met. I will never forget Jim walking into my office only a few weeks after a double-organ transplant to tell me he was diabetes-free for the first time in his adult life and urging me to support stem-cell research and diabetes research to spare others the ordeal he had borne. After all his many … Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Groups to Discuss Agriculture Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss agricultural priorities including improving the infrastructure along the Mississippi River which is the backbone of Illinois' waterway transportation system - transporting $12 billion worth of products each year, including over 1 billion bushels of grain to ports around the world. After today's meeting, Durbin, … Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
Swipe Fee Reform
This week, we are considering legislation on the Senate floor that affects small businesses. I want to talk about another issue very important to small businesses; that is, the topic of interchange fees, also known as swipe fees. Last week, nearly 200 small businesses came to Washington, DC, from Illinois and from all across America. They came to stand up in support of the reform of interchange fees, swipe fees, that Congress passed last year. They came to stand up to the major credit … Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
Durbin: Decision on CN Appeal Strengthens Role of Surface Transportation Board
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after a federal appeals court upheld a decision by the Surface Transportation Board that requiring the Canadian National (CN) to pay seventy-eight and a half percent of the cost of specific mitigation efforts in Lynwood, Illinois and sixty-seven percent of specific mitigation efforts in Aurora, Illinois - estimated at $68 million total. "This decision finally cements Canadian National's commitments to … Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
Durbin Statement on Efforts to Delay Implementation of New Interchange Fee Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today on legislative efforts to delay implementation of common sense reforms to the interchange fee system: "Every month we delay limiting the amount banks and credit card companies charge merchants means another $1.3 billion bailout for Visa, MasterCard and their big bank allies. The $13 trillion banking industry doesn't need another handout - especially one paid for by small business … Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
Durbin Launches New Website, Joins Facebook and Twitter
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he has officially launched a modern and easy-to-use website to improve communications with his constituents. The completely redesigned website, https://www.durbin.senate.gov, will provide Illinoisans with quick access to an enlarged library of videos, photos, information, and legislation as well as offer the ability to easily share content with friends and family. "People across Illinois, … Continue Reading