Press Releases
The Bully of Belarus
Mr. President, during the recent 2-week recess, I was invited to speak to the Parliament of the nation of Lithuania in the capital of Vilnius. It was a great honor. This country holds a special place in my family. My mother was born in Lithuania. One hundred years ago this year, my grandmother brought her, her brother, and sister to America. My mother was 2 years old. They landed in Baltimore, and somehow our family found its way to meet up with my grandfather in East St. Louis, … Continue Reading
January 20, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Million in FEMA Grant Funding 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 grants totaling $1,210,088 to six Illinois fire departments. "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 resources possible to do their jobs … Continue Reading
January 19, 2011
Durbin and Kirk Announce They Will Sit Together at State of the Union
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In the spirit of bipartisanship, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that they will sit side-by-side at the President's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 25. Traditionally, Members of Congress are split by party affiliation with Democrats and Republicans sitting on opposite sides of the center aisle in the U.S. House of Representatives chamber. "Traditions that divide us were made to be broken," said Durbin. "As we begin … Continue Reading
January 18, 2011
Durbin: Repeal of Healthcare Reform Would Have Devastating Impact on Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] -Millions of Illinoisans are already reaping the benefits of the healthcare reform bill that put American consumers back in charge of their health coverage and medical care and would feel the effects should it be repealed, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Because of the law, young adults can now stay on their parents' health plans, small business owners are receiving tax credits to help make health insurance more affordable, and people who may have reached a … Continue Reading
January 18, 2011
Durbin to Illinois Bankers: Small Banks will Benefit from Interchange Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to three Illinois banking associations today, highlighting a recent announcement that Visa would establish a two-tiered interchange fee system - one for large institutions and one for small institutions. Visa’s announcement means that small banks and credit unions - which were given an exemption from new interchange regulation - will benefit from changes to the interchange system. The letter, addressed … Continue Reading
January 18, 2011
Durbin: $1.2 billion in Prescription Drug Savings for Illinois Seniors in Jeopardy
[WASHINGTON, D.C,] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released county by county numbers showing that the newly implemented Medicare "donut hole" fix will put over $1.2 billion back in the hands of Illinois seniors over the next ten years. Across the country, seniors who have high prescription drug spending will save as much as $12,300 over the next ten years and seniors with low drug costs will save an average of $2,400 over ten years. This week, a vote expected in the U.S. House of … Continue Reading
January 15, 2011
Durbin Visits Belarus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) spent Friday in Minsk, Belarus, following two days of high-level meetings in Lithuania. Durbin, who was in Lithuania to address that nation's parliament, made a side trip to Belarus following a violent crackdown surrounding presidential elections last month. Last month, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka claimed a fourth term as president - an announcement that was followed by violent confrontations in the … Continue Reading
January 14, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $770,000 in FEMA Grant Funding 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 grants totaling $773,525 to nine Illinois fire departments. "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 resources possible to do their jobs … Continue Reading
January 12, 2011
Durbin Travels to Lithuania
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is in Vilnius, Lithuania where he will conduct three days of high-level meetings with Lithuanian officials and address the Lithuanian Parliament. Durbin arrived in Vilnius this morning and will return to the U.S. on Saturday. Durbin, the highest ranking Lithuanian-American in the U.S. government, will address the Lithuanian Seimas (Parliament) on Thursday, January 13. Durbin will mark the 20th anniversary of the Day … Continue Reading
January 11, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Announce Release of New U.S. EPA Guidelines for Monitoring Chromium 6 in Drinking Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has issued guidance on how communities should test for and sample drinking water specifically for Chromium-6. Last month, the agency announced plans to issue this guidance following a meeting in Washington, DC between Administrator Lisa Jackson and ten U.S. Senators including Durbin and Kirk. Also today, Durbin and Kirk received a response … Continue Reading
January 11, 2011
Durbin: Illinois Commerce Commission Will Post CN Agreements With Illinois Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that, in response to his request to bring more oversight and transparency to Canadian National (CN)'s acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (EJ&E), the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has agreed to make public the voluntary mitigation agreements CN has with 26 of the 33 affected communities in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Currently, neither CN nor the Surface Board of Transportation has made any of … Continue Reading
January 07, 2011
Durbin Announces Bipartisan Screening Committee for Federal Judges in the Northern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Northern District of Illinois. There are currently three vacant judgeships in the Northern District, and the immediate task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Durbin for filling current and future vacancies. The screening committee will be comprised of 10 distinguished … Continue Reading
January 06, 2011
Durbin Statement on President Obama's Decision to Name Bill Daley as his Chief of Staff
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Obama named former U.S. Commerce Secretary and Chicago-native William M. Daley as his chief of staff. "President Obama has made a fine choice in naming Bill Daley as his chief of staff. I have known Bill Daley for over 35 years and have worked with him in many different capacities here in Washington and back home in Illinois. "Bill has been a successful businessman, public servant … Continue Reading
January 05, 2011
Durbin: White House Nominates Myerscough, Shadid and Darrow to Fill Federal Judgeships in Central District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Appellate Court Justice Sue Myerscough, Judge James Shadid and Sara Darrow to fill three vacancies on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois. All three were nominated by President Obama last year, but did not complete the Senate confirmation process before the end of the 111th Congress. "All three of the President's nominees are excellent candidates for federal … Continue Reading
January 04, 2011
Durbin's Food Safety Bill Signed Into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act was signed into law by President Obama today, marking most comprehensive reform of the nation's food safety system in over decades. The bipartisan bill, authored by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities and resources to ensure the safety of our food supply. "With the signing of this bill into law, the FDA finally has the tools it needs to ensure … Continue Reading
January 04, 2011
Durbin's Food Safety Legislation To Be Signed Into Law by the President Today
[CHICAGO, IL] - The ability of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect the safety of the nation's food supply will dramatically improve now that Congress has passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin was joined at a news conference-held the same day the President is expected to sign the bill into law-by Nancy Donley, Board President of Safe Tables Our Priority (STOP) and mother of Alex, who died in 1993 at age six after eating a … Continue Reading
January 03, 2011
Durbin Celebrates President's Signing of 9/11 First Responders Bill
[CHICAGO, IL] - Rescue workers who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at ground zero following the September 11 attacks will now receive medical care as a result of legislation just signed into law by the President, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health Compensation Act authorizes the World Trade Center Health Program, which would provide screenings and treatment for World Trade Center-related conditions for people who were in … Continue Reading
December 23, 2010
Durbin Asks Treasury, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Banking Practices, Prepaid Cards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Elizabeth Warren, Special Advisor to the Secretary of Treasury and the woman tasked with setting up the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, yesterday asking her to protect consumers from attempts to circumvent new regulations by pushing consumers to less regulated products like prepaid debit cards. "It is an unfortunate reality that the big banks and card network giants often try to … Continue Reading
December 22, 2010
Durbin Commends EPA for Swift Action on Chromium-6 Report
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for taking swift action to provide communities cited in the Environmental Working Group study on chromium-6 in tap water with assistance for additional testing. Earlier today the EPA announced a series of actions that the agency will take over the coming days to address chromium-6 in our drinking water. This announcement follows a meeting in Durbin's Washington, DC, office between … Continue Reading
December 21, 2010
Durbin Food Safety Bill Passes House, Goes to President for Signature
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act passed the House today marking most comprehensive reform of the nation's food safety system in over a decade. The bipartisan bill, initiated by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities and resources to ensure the safety of our food supply. The bill now goes to the President for his signature. "Today's vote will finally give the FDA the tools it needs to … Continue Reading