U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans Karen Ignagni

Wed, 16 May 2012 02:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Durbin met with Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, to discuss the Affordable Care Act.

Eliminating Racial Profiling from FBI Training Manuals

Wed, 16 May 2012 02:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) questioned Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller regarding FBI training materials.

Durbin: Congress Approves Legislation That Will Continue to Help Illinois Businesses Succeed in Global Economy and Create Jobs Here at Home

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank will support thousands of Illinois jobs and help Illinois businesses, both large and small, succeed in the global economy. The Export-Import Bank is responsible for supporting 288,000 jobs at more than 2,700 American companies - 113 of them in Illinois including 80 small businesses. Today’s legislation, which passed the House of Representatives, last week, was approved by a vote of 78 to 20 in the Senate. It will now go to President Obama for his signature.

Canadian Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer

Tue, 15 May 2012 03:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Durbin met with Gary Doer, Canadian Ambassador to the United States, to discuss transportation issues and U.S. - Canada relations.

Senate Confirms Tharp to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District

Mon, 14 May 2012 07:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has confirmed John "Jay" Tharp for a federal judgeship in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate approved Tharp by a vote of 86-1.

Durbin Calls for Passage of Safe Chemicals Act

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:30:00 EST

Chicago Tribune Series Shows Need for Greater EPA Authority to Protect Consumers from Toxic Chemicals...

Safe Chemicals Act

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:30:00 EST

Senator Durbin held a news conference in Chicago on Friday, May 11, to call for passage of the Safe Chemicals Act, which would update a 35-year-old federal law that is ineffective and in desperate need of reform. The bill would protect the health of families and the environment by requiring safety testing on all industrial chemicals.

Durbin, Vitter Commend USDA Rule to Close Loophole and Regulate Online Puppy Sales

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and David Vitter (R-LA) today commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for closing a loophole that allows domestic puppy mills selling puppies via the internet to escape regulation and avoid inspection. This rule, which will specifically apply to large breeders, is an important step towards ensuring that pets sold over the Internet are treated humanely and receive proper care. Last year, Durbin and Vitter introduced the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act, which would close the same loophole and require previously unregulated breeders to be licensed and to undergo inspections.

Durbin, Lautenberg, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Close Tobacco Tax Loopholes

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:30:00 EST

Legislation follows CDC Report that found $1.3 billion in lost revenue for state and federal governments as a result of roll-your-own tobacco relabeled as pipe tobacco...

Looking Forward to Senator Kirk's Recovery and Return to the US Senate

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 EST

Illinois / Iowa Senators Introduce Bill to Require Strategic Plan for Workload Increases at Rock Island Arsenal

Wed, 09 May 2012 08:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation that would help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal. The Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act of 2012 would require the Army to create a strategic plan to increase workload and ensures arsenals around the nation are considered for military contracts Defense-wide rather than just within the Army.

“Rock Island’s highly-skilled workforce has a proven track record. For more than ten years now, they have made critical weapons, parts and materiel to our men and women on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. Very often, they’ve produced items in a crisis, when no one else can do it. And they’ve made it affordable,” said Durbin. “It is in the best interest of our military and our nation to open up competition and help the Rock Island Arsenal increase its workload. I thank my colleagues for their work on this bipartisan bill which will help secure the Arsenal’s future.”

“This legislation builds on last year’s successful effort by the Illinois and Iowa delegations to expand Public-Private partnerships at Rock Island Arsenal to ensure it remains a vibrant part of the Quad Cities,” said a spokesperson for Senator Kirk. “Opening the nation's arsenals to the entire Department of Defense and requiring the Army to provide sufficient workload will help preserve a national security asset and keep the Rock Island Arsenal's skilled workforce ready to support our security needs.”

“The Rock Island Arsenal provides an essential capability to respond rapidly to urgent wartime needs so the American warfighter gets the equipment necessary to complete the mission and come home safely. The production at Rock Island of armored doors for Humvees in Iraq and Afghanistan is a good example of that,” Grassley said. “However, it is essential to have a plan in place to ensure that this capability is kept ready and viable during peacetime so it will be available the next time it is needed. Our legislation will accomplish just that.”

“Time and time again, Rock Island’s talented workforce has proven its ability. This effort is about ensuring the workforce has the opportunity to stay competitive and continue to thrive for years to come,” said Harkin. “The changes proposed in this legislation are a win-win, both for our nation’s military and for Rock Island Arsenal.”

The Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act of 2012 would require the Army to create a strategic plan to ensure arsenals, including Rock Island, receive the workload they need to keep workers’ skills sharp. The Army does this type of systematic planning for some of its subdivisions but not arsenals. The bipartisan bill would also promote the use of arsenals, defense-wide. Currently, arsenals are primarily utilized for Army contracts a division that doesn’t make sense in a modern military.

Today’s bill builds upon a bipartisan effort last year by the Illinois and Iowa Congressional Delegations to expand the Arsenal’s ability to enter into public-private partnerships which are necessary for the Rock Island Arsenal to maintain and improve their workload. Specifically, they secured – as part of the National Defense Authorization Act – an unlimited number of public-private partnerships for the Arsenal and the opportunity for the Arsenal to be designated as a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence which will permit the Army to automatically assign work to Rock Island based on their expertise.

Additional Senators signing on to today’s legislation include: Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Senator Mark L. Pryor (D-AR) and Senator Charles E. Schumer.

Durbin Chairs Hearing on FCC Budget

Wed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing today before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and Government on the President's FY13 budget request for the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).

Durbin: Transportation Secretary's Visit Underscores Importance of Transportation Bill

Wed, 09 May 2012 07:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the transportation bill Conference Committee, today spoke with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood about the importance of passing a transportation bill that includes funding for a new competitive grant program for projects of regional and national significance. This grant program would give Illinois and Iowa the opportunity to seek additional federal funding for the I-74 Bridge project which Secretary LaHood is scheduled to visit on Friday.

Honoring Little York's Flag Man and Our Veterans

Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) came to the floor of the United States Senate today to honor the efforts of Larry Eckhardt, the "Flag Man" of Little Rock, Illinois, who has driven hundreds of flags to more than 80 funerals for fallen servicemembers across the region.

Durbin Calls on Members of Illinois Senate to Support Bill to Improve Security in East St. Louis

Wed, 09 May 2012 01:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on members of the Illinois Senate to support legislation introduced by Illinois State Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne that would strengthen local policing efforts and help improve the safety and security of East St. Louis and three nearby Metro East communities. Durbin added that, as a member of Congress, it is extremely rare for him to advocate for the passage of state legislation – a move he does not take lightly.

League of American Bicyclists

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Durbin, a Co-Chair of the Senate Bike Caucus, was joined by Senator Ben Cardin and Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Tom Petri, Co-Chairs of the House Bike Caucus, to announce new polling data on widespread, bipartisan support for funding bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Durbin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen about the Chicago 2012 NATO Summit. More than 7,500 people from 60 national delegations are expected to attend the event, which is the first NATO summit in the United States held outside of Washington, DC. Visit chicagonato.org for updates and information on the summit.

Affordable Higher Education is Good for Students, Their Families, and Our Country

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:30:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After Senate Republicans blocked legislation that would prevent student interest rates from doubling in July, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the United States Senate floor about the importance of extending current interest rates for more than 7.4 million students across the country.

Confirming Bipartisan Judicial Nominees for Illinois

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the floor of the United States Senate prior to the confirmation of John Lee for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin also spoke about the nomination of John Tharp, who is expected to receive a confirmation vote later this month to fill a second vacancy in the Northern District.

Durbin Calls for Illinois Postal Facilities to Remain Open GIving House of Representatives More Time to Act on Bipartisan Senate Bill

Tue, 08 May 2012 07:00:00 EST

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to keep Illinois post offices and mail processing facilities open in order to give the House of Representatives additional time to act on the comprehensive bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate to reform the postal service. Durbin cited the important role these facilities play in the Postal Service’s operations and Illinois' economy.