Press Releases
Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $82 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate has approved $82,257,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: • Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Facility, Scott Air Force Base. $7,400,000 in funding for a new aeromedical … Continue Reading
November 17, 2009
Durbin Legislation to Officially Name Lovell Federal Health Care Center Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that his language to officially name the Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago after Captain James A. Lovell was approved by the United States Senate earlier today. Durbin's legislation was added late last night as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which will now go to a Conference Committee. "While the intent to name the facility after … Continue Reading
November 14, 2009
Durbin Statement on Thomson Correctional Facility
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the potential acquisition and activation of the state correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. "I am pleased the federal government is considering the possible acquisition of the Thomson Correctional Facility from the State of Illinois." "According to the proposal now under consideration, the Federal Bureau of Prisons would operate the facility as a maximum-security … Continue Reading
November 13, 2009
Durbin Announces Fifth Member of FSA Illinois State Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Obama Administration has chosen Gordon Stine of St. Elmo as the fifth member of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Illinois State Committee. He will join Darell Sarff of Chandlerville; Jill Appell of Altona; Gerardo (Jerry) Jimenez of Cobden; and Joyce Matthews of Nokomis in overseeing the activities of the FSA in Illinois. "Gordon Stine has lifelong experience in Illinois … Continue Reading
November 13, 2009
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.5 Million in Recovery Act Funnding for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in McHenry County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2,475,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to McHenry County through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create jobs locally. "Creating jobs and securing the future of our planet are two of the aims of the Recovery Act," said Durbin. … Continue Reading
November 09, 2009
Following Meeting with the VA Inspector General, Durbin Offers Amendment Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a meeting with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General (IG) for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today offered an amendment to the Military Construction Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations bill that would help VA recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas. Representatives from the Offices … Continue Reading
November 06, 2009
Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members to Meet With VA Inspector General on Monday
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation will meet with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, on Monday afternoon in Durbin's Capitol office to discuss the unacceptable standards and treatment of veterans found by the Inspector General at the Marion VA Medical Center. On November 3, Durbin … Continue Reading
November 05, 2009
Durbin: Senate Approves $3.25 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved $3,250,000 for projects in the state of Illinois in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill. The Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects in Illinois: Department of Justice • Ceasefire at the University of Illinois, … Continue Reading
November 04, 2009
VA Secretary to Delegation: Correcting Marion VA Failures is a Department Priority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Eric Shinseki, today assured members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation that correcting the failures at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois identified in a report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is a priority for the VA and a high level Quality Management team will be sent to the facility to assess the need for further action. Shinseki vowed to report back to the Illinois Delegation … Continue Reading
November 03, 2009
Durbin Meets with New Board Chairman of the FutureGen Alliance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the new Chairman of the Board of the FutureGen Alliance, Steve Winberg, to discuss their commitment to seeing that Mattoon, Illinois is home to the first emissions-free coal generation plant. "FutureGen is a critical research component of addressing our nation's energy needs in a cleaner, more efficient way," said Durbin. "The Illinois Congressional Delegation, the State of Illinois, the Department of … Continue Reading
November 02, 2009
Durbin, Burris, Costello, Shimkus: VA Management Must Be Held Accountable for Failures at Marion Facility
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Calling the recent findings of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) "appalling" and "inexcusable", U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roland Burris (D-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) today pledged to hold the VA accountable for the failure of leadership at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois to meet VA patient safety and quality care guidelines. In a sharply worded letter, the Illinois … Continue Reading
October 29, 2009
Durbin: Congress Approves $1.4 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Congress has approved $1.4 million for Illinois projects. The legislation will now be sent to President Obama for his signature. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants … Continue Reading
October 28, 2009
Durbin Legislation to Provide Support to Families of Severly Disabled Service Members Signed into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that his legislation to increase access to compensation for catastrophically injured service members who require assistance in everyday living was signed into law today by President Obama as part of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation - co-sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) - improved a limited Defense Department proposal to better assist families who need financial assistance as … Continue Reading
October 28, 2009
Durbin, Bean: North Chicago Health Center Legislation Signed into Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) announced that the language necessary to complete the merger of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes was signed into law today by President Obama. "Soon, quality medical care will be available under one roof for veterans, servicemembers and their families in and around North Chicago," said Durbin. "Joining a VA Medical Center with … Continue Reading
October 27, 2009
Durbin Announces Nearly $11 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Smart Grid Technology in Naperville
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the City of Naperville will receive $10,994,000 in Recovery Act funding for energy grid modernization technologies that will spur the nation's transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. Earlier today, President Obama and the Department of Energy announced $3.4 million in Smart Grid grants nationwide that are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and a … Continue Reading
October 27, 2009
Durbin Remarks on Unemployment Insurance Extension
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the floor of the United States Senate today about the need to help families that are still searching for work by extending unemployment insurance. Without an extension of unemployment insurance this week, 200,000 American families will be in a position of not being able to put food on the table - 20,000 of those families live in Illinois. "We have tried - more than once - to bring to the Senate floor a bill … Continue Reading
October 26, 2009
Durbin Statement on the Public Option
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today made the following statement regarding the news that the Senate health care bill will include a public option: "For weeks, Majority Leader Harry Reid has worked to forge an important consensus within our Caucus and with the White House in support of a public health insurance option. Because of his efforts, today we are within reach of an historic achievement -- providing access to health care for every American family. The opt-out … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009
Durbin Statement on the Urgent Need for Food Safety Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered the following statement today at a hearing on state of the nation's food safety systems. Durbin is the author of the bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510), a bill that will give the Food and Drug Administration new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform the way we ensure the safety of our food supply. Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin HELP Committee Hearing on … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009
Durbin, Bean: North Chicago Health Center Legislation Approved by Congress Awaiting President's Signature
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) today announced that the language necessary to complete the merger of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes has cleared the final major legislative hurdle. Earlier today, the Senate passed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 68-29 giving authority to the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009
Durbin, Costello Announce New Carrier to Provide Air Servie to Downstate Communities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today announced that two new air carriers will begin providing air service from three downstate Illinois communities to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport before the end of the year. Cape Air was awarded the Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts in Marion/Herrin and Quincy, while Air Choice One will serve Decatur. There will be no interruption in service during the transition to … Continue Reading