Press Releases
Durbin, Senators Press Speaker Ryan For Vote On Zika Funding
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) today in sending a letter signed by 26 Senate colleagues to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) urging him to immediately bring the $1.1 billion Zika funding legislation passed by the Senate in May to the House floor for a vote. To date, there are more than 18,000 cases of Zika reported in the United States and its territories, including 60 cases in Illinois and over 1,750 cases in pregnant… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Durbin Announces $5.88 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois First-Responders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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 $5,885,332 to communities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our firefighters and first-responders put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe," said Durbin. "This funding wi… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Durbin Announces DOJ Awards To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,483,234 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase equipment and support personnel costs. "The men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line day and night to keep our communities safe," said Durbin. "This grant funding will help equip those officers with the best, most up-to-… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Durbin To Senate GOP: Do Your Job, Give Supreme Court Nominee A Hearing And A Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about Senate Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. 176 days after the President's nomination, Durbin once again called on Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional duty and give Judge Garland a hearing and a vote. "On September 26th, the Court will hold the first conference of its new term, still with only eight justices. The Senate has … Continue Reading
09.07.16
Durbin to Senate GOP: Do Your Job
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted Senate Republican leaders for politicizing legislative efforts to address the growing Zika crisis. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin called on Republicans to stop endangering the health of pregnant women and babies and work with Democrats to pass bipartisan emergency funding legislation. "Seven months ago, the president asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency funding so that public health experts would have the resources the… Continue Reading
09.07.16
Durbin Announces More Than $1.71 Million for Illinois Community Colleges & Universities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $1,710,303 in federal funding for community colleges and universities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will help increase the self-sufficiency of community colleges and universities and support efforts to better serve low-income students. "This funding is an investment in our workforce, our economy, and our country's future," Durbin said. "These colleges are uni… Continue Reading
09.07.16
Durbin Announces Over $1.43 In Federal Funding To Assist Victims Of Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $1,439,532 in federal funding to Illinois communities to support state coalitions and other organizations that provide essential services, civil and legal assistance programs, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. "Today's funding will help ensure that organizations assisting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence continue to ha… Continue Reading
09.06.16
Durbin Statement on Closure of ITT Tech
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after ITT Tech announced it will close. The company announced last week that it was no longer enrolling new students. "Every time I looked up at the ITT sign on the side of White Oaks Mall in Springfield I knew this day would come, and I knew that hundreds of innocent students, families, and ultimately the taxpayer would pay dearly for the exploitation by for-profit colleges that Congress and Washington fail to properl… Continue Reading
09.02.16
Durbin Announces More Than $9.5 Million to Prevent Homelessness Among Illinois Veterans
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Illinois organizations grants totaling $9,540,655 to prevent homelessness among veterans and their families. Today's funding will help pay for outreach, case management, and assistance related to VA benefits. More than $300 million were awarded nationwide today through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. "Too often, our… Continue Reading
09.02.16
Durbin Asks Illinois Community Colleges to Assist Students Caught in Collapse of ITT Tech
CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to community college presidents across Illinois to urge them to assist students whose futures are at risk from the expected financial collapse of ITT Tech, which announced on Tuesday that it has stopped enrolling new students. As part of new restrictions placed on ITT Tech, the Department of Education has required the company to enter into teach-out agreements with other schools. "As a result of its actions, ITT Tech has put the futures of … Continue Reading
09.01.16
Durbin Announces More Than $8.9 Million For Head Start In Northern Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded the Two Rivers Head Start Agency $8,974,896 to support early education and comprehensive family support services in Kane, Kendall, Grundy, DeKalb, and Boone Counties. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the country-it's a stepping stone children need to succeed from elementary school… Continue Reading
09.01.16
Durbin, Schakowsky Call for Increased Resources for Mental Health Services on College Campuses
CHICAGO - As students head back to school at colleges and universities across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today discussed their legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses. The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act would make federal help available for campuses to expand their mental health awareness, outreach, and direct support services. The bill was included as part of a bipartisan mental health reform p… Continue Reading
09.01.16
Durbin Announces Funding to Support Independent Living for Seniors
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has selected the Center of Concern, located in Park Ridge, to receive up to $321,183 to support independent living among seniors living in suburban Cook County. Today's funding, provided through the CNCS' Senior Corps Senior Companion Program, will help partner volunteers age 55 and older with seniors and people with disabilities who have difficulties completing daily tasks. … Continue Reading
08.31.16
Durbin: Illinois Awarded $2,000,000 In Federal Funding To Combat Prescription Drug Overdose Epidemic
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $2,000,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Medication-Assisted Treatment Opioid Addiction Program and Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. The federal grant programs provide states like Illinois with resources and support to expand access to treatment services for persons with opioid use disorder and to reduce opioid overdose-related deaths. Today's announcement coinc… Continue Reading
08.31.16
Durbin Welcomes NIH Director to Chicago to Highlight Need for Strong National Commitment to Medical Research Funding
CHICAGO - In an effort to preserve the United States' global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) welcomed National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, to Chicago today and called for strengthened federal funding for breakthrough scientific and biomedical research.? For several years, Durbin has championed increased federal investment to reverse years of cuts and flat funding for our nation's biomedical research agencies, including the NIH. After discussi… Continue Reading
08.30.16
Durbin Announces $3.9 Million For Head Start In East Central Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency $3,900,107 to support early education and comprehensive family support services in Ford, Iroquois, and Vermillion Counties. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the country-it's a stepping stone children need to succeed from elemen… Continue Reading
08.30.16
Durbin, Senators Raise Concerns About Mylan’s Epipen Price Hike & Expanded Patient Assistance Program
[CHICAGO, IL] - In a letter sent today to the CEO of pharmaceutical company Mylan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined 19 senators in expressing their serious concerns about the company's recent significant price hikes for the life-saving EpiPen Auto-Injector. The senators raised questions about Mylan's decision to expand its patient assistance program, which allows the company to sharply increase prices while passing the cost of these increases onto insurance companies and ultimately to cons… Continue Reading
08.30.16
Durbin, Quigley, Schakowsky, Duckworth Announce $20 Million For Noise Mitigation For O’hare Area Homeowners
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL-8) today announced $20 million in federal funding for aircraft noise mitigation efforts near O'Hare International Airport. Today's funding, awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will help soundproof residences with noise levels between 65 and 69 DNL. "This welcome investment by the FAA will improve the quality of life of O'Hare area re… Continue Reading
08.29.16
Durbin Announces DOJ Awards To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $279,269 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase equipment and support personnel costs. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Durbin. Under this announcement, the following cit… Continue Reading
08.25.16
Durbin Statement on Department of Education Actions Against ITT Tech
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced it would place additional restrictions on ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT Tech) to protect students and taxpayers. As part of today's announcement, ITT Tech will be banned from enrolling new students using federal financial aid, must notify current students that the institution is not in compliance with accreditor standards, and will be required to pay an additional… Continue Reading