Illinois to Receive More Than $200 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Unemployment Insurance Modernization

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $200,767,125 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for unemployment insurance modernization. The funds will allow the Illinois Department of Employment Security to pay unemployment benefits and to deliver employment services. Today's funding is in addition to the $100,383,562 in Recovery Act funding that Illinois received in April. "Unemployment benefits are urgently nee… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for New Carbon Sequestration Training Center at U of I

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the University of Illinois was the recipient of $994,991 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the development of a carbon sequestration training center in Champaign, Illinois. The center will be run by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium and will facilitate the understanding of technologies required for site development, operations, and monitoring of commercial carbon capture … Continue Reading

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces $2 Million in Recovery Act Grant

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the cities of Centralia and Wamac, Ill., to help make roadway updates to improve access to Centralia Industrial Park #1. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is expected to create additional jobs and private investment in the region. "Improvements to the Centralia industrial park will enhance the re… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Passing of Senator Ted Kennedy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy: "Today there is an empty chair in our Senate and an empty feeling in our hearts." "We all waited expectantly during Ted's struggle with cancer for the Senate doors to swing wide and that great Irish spirit to once again return." "His voice roared as he battled for the poor and the victims of injustice yet he had a smile that could ligh… Continue Reading

Former Rockford Mayor John McNamara Named to Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that John McNamara, former Rockford Mayor and Vice President for College Development at Rockford College, has been named to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. The committee is an independent and bipartisan source of advice and counsel on student financial aid policy for both Congress and the U.S. Secretary of Education. "John's long history of public service and current position as a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.5 Million in Continuing Grants for Illinois Drug-Free Community Coalitions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that 14 Illinois communities would receive continuing grants as part of the Drug-Free Communities program. The grants, totaling approximately $1.5 million will assist local community coalitions as they work to prevent and reduce youth substance use. The Drug-Free Communities Support (DFC) program is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The DFC program provides coalition mat… Continue Reading

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces $1.6 Million in Recovery Act Grant

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a $1,592,627 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the city of Canton, Ill., to help build roadways and sewer service for a new bio-medical business park. The project, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is expected to create additional jobs and generate private investment in the region. "A new bio-medical facility will enhance Canton's ability to attract ne… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $12.2 Million in Byrne Grants Funding for Illinois Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the state of Illinois has been awarded $12,212,026 in funding for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants. Byrne grants are often used by state and local governments for programs dealing with drug prevention and enforcement, law enforcement information sharing, and combating gangs. The Byrne grant program, administered by Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, allows states and local governments … Continue Reading

Durbin Commends FAA and Controllers for Reaching Contract Agreement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) for reaching a tentative contract agreement earlier today. The contract must still be ratified by the NATCA membership. "When President Obama took office, he signaled his commitment to bringing about an agreement between FAA and NATCA," said Durbin. "Less than eight months later, there is now an agreemen… Continue Reading

Employees with Disabilities--An Untapped Resource

Prepared for delivery by Senator Richard Durbin I want to thank Dr. Richard Wilson for that generous introduction and for his outstanding leadership as president of this great institution. Illinois Wesleyan University is one of the real jewels of our state. Thanks to the university for hosting us today and to Carl Teichman for inviting me to join you. I also want to acknowledge my friend Mike Matejka with the Great Plains Laborers District Council, his wife, Kari Sandhaas and … Continue Reading

Durbin Forwards Recommendations for Federal Judges and US Marshal to White House

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House to consider when filling positions for the U.S. District Court and U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Illinois. There are currently three vacancies to be filled on the U.S. District Court and one position of U.S. Marshal for the Northern District; Durbin has already recommended that current U.S. Attorney for the Northern District, Patrick Fitzgerald retain his post. Based on recommen… Continue Reading

Durbin, Coburn Continue to Press Tech Companies on Human Rights Code Of Conduct

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) sent a letter today to 26 tech companies, urging them to join a voluntary code of conduct known as the Global Network Initiative (GNI). Recent crackdowns in China and Iran have made the code of conduct, which regulates the actions of technology firms operating in countries that restrict freedom of expression, even more important to the protection of human rights. Durbin and Coburn, Chairman a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Senate Approval of Legislation to Extend Hydroelectric Project at Melvin Price Locks and Dam

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate approved legislation to authorize the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) to extend the license for the proposed hydroelectric power project at Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, IL. The legislation, sponsored by Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) and passed in the House of Representatives last month, will now go to President Obama for his signature. "This project b… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation to Ensure Anesthesia and Surgical Services in Rural Areas are Covered

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation late last night that would allow services provided by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to be reimbursed by Medicare. The Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act would close existing loopholes to guarantee anesthesiology cost reimbursement for Critical Access Hospitals and enable these hospitals to continue to provide surgical services to residents in rural areas. "In my state … Continue Reading

Durbin Works with FEMA to Clarify Disaster Assistance Policy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced FEMA's clarification of a controversial disaster assistance policy that was changed earlier this year. The clarification, which Senator Durbin worked closely with FEMA to accomplish, restores FEMA's previous practice of funding repairs to levees and other flood control works, including the removal of debris and the placement and removal of flood fighting measures. "For the past few months, I have been wo… Continue Reading

Durbin: Mail Processing Operation to Remain in Quincy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Postmaster General Jack Potter announced the termination of the Area Mail Processing study that was under way concerning the possible consolidation of operations of the mail processing and distribution center in Quincy, Illinois. Potter also assured Durbin that no positions will be eliminated at the facility due to the study. "This announcement is good news for the employees of the mail processing center… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Confirmation of Judge Sonya Sotomayor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court: "When the doors of the Supreme Court open for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the doors of opportunity open wider in America." "In the history of the United States, 110 Supreme Court Justices have served under our Constitution; 106 of them have been white males. We've ha… Continue Reading

Durbin Launches Bipartisan Midwest High Speed Rail Caucus

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that formation of a bipartisan, bicameral Midwest Congressional High Speed Rail Caucus to advance the Midwest's plan for high speed rail. The Caucus will also provide an avenue to keep members of Congress and staff educated and engaged on the Midwest's effort by hosting briefings on relevant issues such as reviving the domestic rolling stock manufacturing industry and expanding Amtrak service to new cities a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Nearly $8.5 Million for Illinois Agriculture Projects

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate has approved $8,478,000 for Illinois projects with the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA includes funding for the following Illinois projects and programs: • Biotechnology Research Development Corporation (BRDC), Peoria. $3,500,000 in funding to facilitate the devel… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Senate Committee Approval of $7 Million for Campus Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $7 million in funding for colleges and universities to support their emergency management and campus safety efforts. The money will be used for a program passed into law last year and based on Durbin's legislation, the Campus Law Enforcement Emergency Response Act, which will help ensure that all colleges and universities develop emergency response procedures and c… Continue Reading