Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Education
Durbin, Wicker Introduce Legislation To Promote Study Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today introduced the bipartisan Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, which creates a competitive grant program for institutions of higher education to expand study abroad opportunities for American college students. Study abroad is an important component of a well-rounded post-secondary education, giving students the opportunity to engage with other cultures, enhance foreign language skills, and expand international k… Continue Reading
03.07.17
Durbin Reintroduces Bill To Give Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges Their Day In Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has reintroduced legislation designed to strengthen students' ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct. The Court Legal Access & Student Support (CLASS) Act prohibits any school receiving Title IV student aid funding from placing restrictions on students' ability to pursue legal claims, individually or with others, against higher education institutions in court. The CLASS Act aims to end the strategic use of ma… Continue Reading
02.23.17
Following Reports Jerry Falwell Jr. To Lead Presidential Task Force, Durbin Calls On Education Secretary Devos To Guard Against Potential Conflicts Of Interest
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding reports that President Trump has asked Jerry L. Falwell, Jr., President of Liberty University, to lead a new "task force" to recommend changes to federal regulations, policies, and procedures in higher education. Such a task force could make recommendations o… Continue Reading
02.13.17
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.5 Million For Head Start In Champaign County
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded Champaign County $2,570,465 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs."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 to college and beyond," said Durbin. "Today's fun… Continue Reading
02.07.17
Durbin Opposes Betsy DeVos As Education Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin issued the following statement after voting against Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education. DeVos was confirmed by a vote of 51-50, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote. "More than 50 years ago, Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law, guaranteeing every child a free and equal, quality public education. By confirming Betsy DeVos, Senate Republicans have entrusted our children's success to an indiv… Continue Reading
01.18.17
Durbin Statement On Consumer Watchdog Agency And Illinois Attorney General Lawsuits Against Delinquent Student Loan Servicer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced lawsuits against Navient, the country's largest servicer of federal and private student loans, for mishandling accounts and misinforming borrowers about their eligibility for income-based repayment. "Student loan servicers, as contractors of the U.S. Department of Education, have an obligation to provide borrowers w… Continue Reading
01.13.17
Durbin Praises Education Department Progress On Debt Relief For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised the U.S. Department of Education's continued progress in providing federal student loan debt relief through the defense to repayment process for defrauded students of for-profit colleges. Today, the Department announced that former students of Massachusetts-based American Career Institute will receive automatic discharges of their federal loans and that it has approved additional claims filed by former students of Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech… Continue Reading
05.12.14
Durbin Discusses Legislation Allowing Student Loan Holders to Lower Their Interest Rates
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation introduced in the Senate last week which will allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. "Student debt has reached the breaking point in this country," Durbin said. "Millions of borrowers are looking at a lifetime of debt just because they wanted to do the right thing and get a college degree. The bill which I co-sponsored last week will h… Continue Reading
04.29.14
Durbin Takes For-Profit Fight to Illinois Classrooms
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged high school principals across Illinois to ensure that their students are receiving honest and accurate information about their higher education options, and that they are aware of the risks associated with the for-profit college industry. Durbin wrote the principals to call their attention to the "often irresistible lure of for-profit colleges," many of which are facing increased scrutiny from federal and state regulators for a var… Continue Reading
04.07.14
Durbin Announces $2.67 Million Federal Training Grant for Chicago Education and Manufacturing Coalition
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Manufacturing Careers & College Connect (MCCC) Program in Chicago, Illinois - led by Manufacturing Renaissance, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Daley College, and local employers - has received a $2,670,909 federal grant through the Department of Labor's Youth CareerConnect Program. "This federal funding is a direct investment in our students, our schools, and… Continue Reading
04.03.14
Durbin, Harkin, Cummings: More Coordination Needed in Federal Oversight of For-Profit College Industry
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation that would improve coordination between federal agencies that oversee the for-profit college industry. Through the establishment of an interagency oversight committee, the Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Improvement Act - which will be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), … Continue Reading
04.01.14
Durbin Announces Illinois to Receive $22 Million for School Improvement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the State of Illinois will receive $22,060,358 in funding through the Department of Education's School Improvement Grant program. A total of more than $85 million was awarded to five states that are continuing efforts to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools. "We must ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive no matter where they live and no matter what school they att… Continue Reading
03.27.14
Durbin Statement Following Senate Hearing on Student Loans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the federal student loan program and the growing student loan debt crisis which has, for the first time in history, surpassed the total amount of credit card debt in America. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, this growing pile of debt threatens current and future economic growth. Before 2009, young people with stude… Continue Reading
03.11.14
Inspector General Report on Campus Debit Card Use Confirms Need to Better Protect Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative George Miller (D-CA) today said that a Department of Education Inspector General (IG) report they requested in 2012 recommends that the Department of Education should take action to better ensure that student interests are protected when colleges and universities use third-party servicers - such as Higher One and Sallie Mae - to deliver Title IV student financial aid dollars to students. "The Inspector General has e… Continue Reading
02.28.14
Durbin Asks Department of Education to Investigate ITT Educational Services
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again asked the Department of Education to investigate a for-profit college over allegations of deceptive and misleading practices. It was announced yesterday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had filed suit against ITT Educational Services for predatory lending practices that include pressuring students into high cost loans, misleading students about job prospects and misleading students about the transferability of credits to other… Continue Reading
02.12.14
Durbin Meets With Leaders From Illinois Community Colleges To Discuss Higher Education Issues
WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with leaders from Illinois community colleges to discuss higher education issues including reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, college textbook affordability, student loan debt, and the Community College to Career Fund Act. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "I was pleased to meet with representatives of the fine community colleges across Illinois," Durbin said. "Community colleges make up the largest and most aff… Continue Reading
02.06.14
Durbin: Education Department's Rejection of New Programs at Corinthian Colleges Should Prompt Action from Accreditor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a disclosure by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. that the Department of Education has denied many of the company's pending new program applications and increased scrutiny in light of deceptive job placement practices, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges -8 Corinthian Colleges, Inc.'s accreditor whose Board will discuss the issue at its meeting this weekend - to take action. "In your response [to my l… Continue Reading
02.04.14
Durbin Meets With Leaders From Illinois Colleges and Universities To Discuss Higher Education Issues
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Barbara Farley, President of Illinois College to discuss higher education issues including reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, making college textbooks more affordable, and student loan reform measures. A photo of today's meeting with President Farley is available here. Durbin also met, today, with representatives from the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. A photo of that meeting is available… Continue Reading
01.30.14
Durbin Applauds Effort to Better Track Military and Veterans Education Benefits
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Education and Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission announced the launch of a new online complaint system designed to collect feedback from veterans, service members and their families who are experiencing problems with educational institutions that receive funding from federal military and veterans educational benefits programs. … Continue Reading
01.28.14
Durbin Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight the President gave an optimistic speech about opportunity for American families, an economy on the rise and leveled a call to action to ensure this is a year of progress for the middle class." "From programs to grow the economy and create jobs like the launching of new manufacturing institutes and infrastructure investment… Continue Reading