Press Releases
Durbin: FAA Should Follow Recommendations to Mitigate Air Traffic Controller Fatigue
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement the recommendations found in a Department of Transportation, Inspector General Report on air traffic controller fatigue released earlier today. Citing a December 2007 GAO Report which pointed to controller fatigue as a key issue affecting runway safety at the nation's busiest airports, Durbin requested this investigation into conditions at three Chicago air … Continue Reading
June 29, 2009
Durbin: President Names Callahan and Giamanco for USDA Positions in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has officially named Colleen Callahan Burns of Kickapoo, Illinois for State Director of Rural Development and Scherrie V. Giamanco of Mt. Vernon, Illinois for State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Neither appointment requires Senate confirmation and both are expected to assume their new duties in early July. "Colleen Callahan Burns has been a respected voice … Continue Reading
June 26, 2009
Durbin to Travel to Bosnia, Lithuania, and Belarus This Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) will travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania and Belarus this week as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation which will attend the 18th Annual Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. Durbin will depart Friday, traveling first to Bosnia-Herzegovina, then on to Lithuania and Belarus. Stops in Sarajevo, Vilnius and Minsk are currently planned. Due to … Continue Reading
June 26, 2009
Lovell Health Center Legislation Approved by Senate Committee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined with the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) in applauding the inclusion of language needed to complete the James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier today. Earlier this week, Durbin and Akaka introduced legislation to give authority to the … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Durbin Statement on FutureGen Alliance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement in regards to the changes to the FutureGen Alliance that were announced today: "A few weeks ago the FutureGen Alliance overwhelmingly voted to enter into an agreement with the US Department of Energy to build the first large-scale, integrated carbon capture and sequestration plant," said Durbin. "That commitment remains firm today. Since the Bush Administration cancelled the … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Durbin: Senate Committee Approves $3.45 Million for Illinois Projects
[Washington, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $3.45 million 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, Chicago. $500,000 in funding for the Chicago Project for … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $1.2 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, has approved $1.2 million for Illinois projects. 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 • Decatur Water Infrastructure … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Durbin Announces $94 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Metra Repairs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Metra a $94,222,481 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "The Recovery Act funding announced today will create good paying jobs in Illinois and increase the appeal of public transit as an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly alternative to car travel," said Durbin. Last week, Metra was awarded a $46.6 million grant for bridge … Continue Reading
June 24, 2009
Durbin, Leahy, and Feingold Introduce Legislation Making Crimes Against Humanity a Violation of US Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, Dick Durbin (D-IL), introduced the Crimes Against Humanity Act today - legislation that would make it a violation of U.S. law to commit a crime against humanity. This legislation is needed to ensure that perpetrators of the worst human rights violations do not find safe haven in our country. "The United States led the first prosecutions for crimes against humanity … Continue Reading
June 23, 2009
Durbin, Akaka, Bean: Lovell Health Center One Step Closer to Completion
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was joined today by the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Daniel Akaka (D-HI) in introducing legislation needed to complete the James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center. The legislation - which Durbin has asked the Senate Armed Services Committee to consider for inclusion in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act later this week - gives authority to the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly operate … Continue Reading
June 23, 2009
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Boost Program That Helps Law Enforcement Quickly Find Missing Persons
WASHINGTON - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and 10 other Senators in introducing legislation (S. 1301) that would make a federal investment in an effective program that assists law enforcement efforts to locating missing persons quickly. They are seeking $5 million per year for six years for the non-profit organization A … Continue Reading
June 19, 2009
Durbin Announces $46 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Metra Repairs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Metra a $46,603,124 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's funding will be used for bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction specifically on the Electric District and the Union Pacific North Line. The funding will also be used for the replacement of fiber optic cable on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe commuter rail line. "Today's … Continue Reading
June 17, 2009
Durbin Announces $1.3 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Eaton Water District in Annapolis
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1,375,000 loan with funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the Eaton Water District in Annapolis, Illinois. Today's funding announcement is part of a nationwide announcement of $125 million in funding for water and environmental projects that will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment systems … Continue Reading
June 17, 2009
Durbin Statement on Plans for Financial Regulatory Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced a plan for comprehensive financial regulatory reform: "For the past two years, we have been dealing with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The current crisis has many causes, but perhaps the most significant, was the breakdown of our financial regulatory system which left consumers and our markets unprotected." … Continue Reading
June 17, 2009
Durbin Discusses Travel Promotion Bill That Will Support Illinois Tourism
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 on the floor of the United States Senate. The legislation will promote tourism to the U.S. while streamlining the process visitors go through to enter the county. More than that, the bill advances Chicago's interest in being awarded the 2016 Olympic Games by setting up stronger entities to promote internationally the benefits of visiting America. "In Illinois, tourism … Continue Reading
June 17, 2009
Durbin Announces $2.7 Million in DOT Funding for Illinois Airports
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $2,738,572 in grants to two Illinois airports. "Today's grants will allow the airports in Rockford and Marion to make needed improvements and upgrades to help them serve travelers more safely and efficiently," said Durbin. The following airports will receive funding under today's announcement: • Chicago / Rockford International Airport, Rockford: … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
Durbin Announces $90.9 Million in FEMA Funding for Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $90,983,282 in preparedness grants to Illinois. Today's funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $1.8 billion in grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all … Continue Reading
June 12, 2009
Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members: FutureGen Alliance Board Approves Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the FutureGen Alliance Board of Directors for overwhelmingly approving the agreement that was recently negotiated between the Department of Energy (DOE) and members of the FutureGen Alliance. "For nearly a year and a half, the people of Illinois have endured delays, reversals and disagreements over costs and funding of FutureGen. Today, patience and perseverance pay off - FutureGen at Mattoon is … Continue Reading
June 11, 2009
Durbin Statement on Passage of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 - a bill which restricts the marketing and sale of tobacco products to children; requires tobacco companies to disclose the ingredients in their products; gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) power to regulate tobacco products; and requires larger, stronger health warnings on tobacco … Continue Reading
June 10, 2009
Durbin Announces $127 Million in CDBG Funding for Disaster Recovery in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be releasing $127,270,128 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for disaster recovery in Illinois. This is the remaining CDBG funding for relief efforts following the flooding along the Mississippi River in June 2008 bringing the total amount of CDBG funding for disaster recovery to $186.5 million for Illinois. "Nearly a year … Continue Reading