Durbin Statement on the Indictment of Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the indictment of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich on federal corruption charges: "We can only hope the former governor will not view this indictment as a green light for another publicity tour. Rod Blagojevich deserves his day in court, but the people of Illinois deserve a break."… Continue Reading

Durbin and Hinchey Introduce a Bill to Protect America's Red Rock Wilderness

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -- In an effort to preserve 9.4 million acres of Utah's spectacular red rock country as wilderness, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation in the House and Senate that would ensure the public land remains in its natural, undeveloped state. Hinchey and Durbin's bipartisan America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, which was introduced with 105 cosponsors in the House and 15 in the Senate, would protect the land from commercia… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kennedy, DeGette & Platts Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Smoking Prevention Efforts

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) joined U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) and Todd Platts (R-PA-19) today in introducing companion pieces of legislation in the Senate and the House that provide Medicare and Medicaid coverage to tobacco cessation treatments for senior citizens, people with disabilities and low-income adults. Each year, tobacco use kills an estimated 438,000 Americans-about 1 in 5 of all deaths in the United States. Toba… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Duckworth at VA Hearing

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced President Obama's choice to be Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth, to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "Tammy's entire life has been in service to our country. She is a proven leader and public servant uniquely qualified for this position," said Durbin. "Tammy's advocacy for veterans is recognized by the veterans' com… Continue Reading

Durbin: Secretary LaHood Says Illinois Ahead in Obligating Highway Funding

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a meeting with Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced that Illinois is well ahead of most other states when it comes to putting highway dollars to work. So far under President Obama's Recovery Plan, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has approved the state's plan to spend $629 million on 243 projects. In all, Illinois has $935 million availabl… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $1.8 Billion in Recovery Act Funding Now Available for Illinois Schools

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that $1,871,685,355 in Recovery Act funding is now available for states and schools to lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of teaching jobs around Illinois. "Investing in our children's future is an investment in our nation's future," said Durbin. "At a time when states face difficult choices about filling increasing budget gaps, today's funding will increase ac… Continue Reading

Durbin, Specter, Larson, Jones Introduce Bills to Reform Financing of Congressional Elections

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-CT) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation today to reform the way Congressional elections are financed. The Fair Elections Now Act would allow qualified, legitimate candidates to receive grants and matching funds to run competitive campaigns instead of relying on contributions from lobbyists and other special inter… Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois to Receive $166 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Public Building Projects

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 10 Illinois public buildings will receive a total of $166,479,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the modernization and conversion of federal buildings and courthouses to high performance, energy-efficient buildings. "The General Services Administration owns roughly 1,500 federal buildings nationwide," said Durbin. "These buildings affect our natural environment, ou… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $99 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Argonne National Lab

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced on a conference call with the Director of Argonne National Laboratory, Eric Isaacs that the lab will receive $99 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate environmental cleanup work and create jobs. The Director of Fermilab, Pier Oddone, was also on today's call. "Last week, Congressman Foster and I announced forty-eight million dollars in Recovery Act funding fo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Whitehouse Seek Additional Information Regarding Justice Department Investigation of Torture Authorizations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter today to the Acting Assistant Attorney General, inquiring about an internal investigation of Justice Department attorneys who provided legal advice regarding waterboarding and other abusive interrogation techniques. Today's letter is in response to revelations that former Justice Department officials Jay Bybee, John Yoo, and Steven Bradbury, the targets of the internal… Continue Reading

Durbin Announes $15 Million for Community Health Centers in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 36 community health centers in Illinois will receive $15,181,564 in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Increased Demand for Services (IDS) grants, allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will be used to expand services offered by adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding services. "Health centers prov… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $221 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Housing Agencies

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois Housing Agencies will receive $221,498,521 in grant funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Public Housing Capital Fund grants, allocated through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), provide funding for improvements to and the modernization of public housing. "Improvements to public housing will enhance the quality of life for individuals who rely on t… Continue Reading

Durbin Blasts CPSC Chair for Recent Comments Criticizing New Consumer Safety Laws

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Nancy Nord, Acting Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today, expressing concern with her recent comments criticizing new legislation, and showing continued resistance to modernizing and reforming the much maligned agency she leads. "Recent comments you have made in the press and in letters to Congress regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) show your continue… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $15 Million for Community Health Centers in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 36 community health centers in Illinois will receive $15,181,564 in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Increased Demand for Services (IDS) grants, allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will be used to expand services offered by adding new providers, expanding hours of operations or expanding services. "Health centers provide a valuabl… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bipartisan DREAM Act to Help Students Earn a Path to Legal Residency

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) today introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act - a narrowly tailored, bipartisan measure which would permit undocumented students to become permanent residents if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and attend college or enlist in the military for at least two years. "Our immigration laws prevent thousand… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Being Named Humane Senator of the Year by the US Humane Society

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after being named the Humane Senator of the Year but the Human Society of the United States: "I want to thank the Humane Society for their invaluable support as we fought to improve the safety of pet food, banned the importation of puppies from foreign mills, and ensuring that downed animals are kept out of our food supply. I appreciate the honor and look forward to continuing our part… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Congressional Approval of Legislation to Name Rockford Courthouse After Judge Roszkowski

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the passage of legislation by both the House and the Senate to name the United States District Courthouse in Rockford, Illinois after Stanley J. Roszkowski, former Federal Judge in the Northern District of Illinois. Roszkowski, who served in combat as a member of a bomber crew in World War II, played an integral role in bringing a new federal courthouse to Rockford. This legislation is the first bill authore… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Amtrak Decision to Commit $80 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Illinois Rail

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended Amtrak's decision to commit $80 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Illinois to modernize Amtrak's repair shops and improve accessibility and security at Amtrak stations and facilities in the state. Earlier today, Amtrak announced the recipients of $1.3 billion in Recovery Act funding for rail projects nationwide. The announcement also includes $90.8 million to rehabilitate … Continue Reading

Supporting the President's Budget

Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Next week the Senate will consider the Budget Resolution for fiscal year 2010. This will be a crucial debate. For 50 hours on the Senate floor we will make fundamental decisions about the shape of our economy - and the prosperity of our county - that will guide our nation for many years to come. We need to face facts -- we have inherited the worst economic crisis in generations. Passing the economic recovery package was the firs… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Drug Czar Nominee Kerlikowske

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Drug Czar nominee Gil Kerlikowske, today to discuss the role of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) on the issues of Mexican drug cartels, crack-cocaine sentencing, and drug abuse prevention. In addition, Durbin expressed his hope that Kerlikowske will invigorate the agency under new leadership, implementing much-needed reforms including demand reduction, treatment, and prevention. "America's dru… Continue Reading