Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Announces Illinois Control Towers Previously Slated for Closure Will Remain Open
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed to him that control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will remain open. The control towers were previously scheduled to close on June 15, 2013 due to the impact of mandatory spending cuts, known as sequestration. Last month, Co… Continue Reading
05.09.13
Durbin, Kirk, Delegation Call on President to Provide Federal Relief for Flood Impacted Illinois Counties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois and to provide relief to the 11 Illinois counties affected by a flash and river flooding that occurred last month. A Presidential disaster declaration would allow people impacted by flooding to apply for federal loans and reimbursements to help p… Continue Reading
05.08.13
While Chairing a Hearing on the Air Force's Budget, Durbin Highlights Importance of Scott AFB
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke today about the critical role Scott Air Force Base has played in ongoing military actions around the globe at a hearing on the Air Force's FY2014 budget request today. "Scott Air Force Base in southern Illinois is our major air mobility hub, hosting Guard and active duty units as well as U.S. Transportation Command. Members of its Tanker Airlift Control Center have called… Continue Reading
05.07.13
Durbin Meets with Champaign County Officials to Discuss Local Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from Champaign County First who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss local economic development and transportation priorities, including job-creating high speed rail and road construction projects. A photo from today's meeting is available here. Attendees at today's meeting included: Champaign Mayor Don Gerard, Champaign County Board President Alan Kurtz, Champaign Councilman Tom Bruno, Village … Continue Reading
05.02.13
Durbin Statement on President Obama's Nomination of Penny Pritzker as Commerce Secretary
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after President Obama nominated Penny Pritzker as his next Commerce Secretary: "In the world of business Penny Pritzker has broken through the glass ceiling with her extraordinary intelligence and business acumen. I believe Penny will bring a new perspective to a Department that is charged with leading America forward in business growth and job creation. I look forward to supporting her nomination and work… Continue Reading
03.22.13
Durbin Statement on FAA Announcement of Illinois Air Control Tower Closings Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that air traffic control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will close starting April 7, 2013. "There are many in Congress still arguing that the spending cuts due to sequestration won't make a differen… Continue Reading
03.22.13
Durbin: Marketplace Fairness Act Receives Overwhelming Bipartisan Support in Senate Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 75 U.S. Senators showed their support for the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. An amendment summarizing the bill - which was introduced in February - was added to the FY2014 Budget Resolution which is currently being debated on the Senate floor. "Today's vote proves that an overwhelming majority of Sen… Continue Reading
03.14.13
Durbin, Enyart, Davis Introduce Bill to Protect Jobs by Improving Mississippi River Management and Responsiveness to Extreme Weather
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the recent record low water levels along the Mississippi River that threatened navigation and Southern Illinois commerce, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods while minimizing the economic toll on Southern Illinois. "We came close to economic catastro… Continue Reading
03.13.13
Durbin Meets with Chatham Mayor to Discuss Local Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Chatham Mayor Tom Gray and City Manager Del McCord to discuss local transportation and infrastructure priorities. "I was pleased to welcome Chatham's mayor Tom Gray and city manager Del McCord to Washington today to discuss the village's transportation priorities, including rail," Durbin said.… Continue Reading
03.01.13
Durbin: Sequester Poses Imminent Threat to Bio-Medical Research in Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - Illinois' leading research universities and hospitals stand to lose nearly $40 million in funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) as a result of the sequestration budget cuts that take hold today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said at a news conference at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Illinois received a total of $746 million in NIH funding last year. "Sequestration was meant as a budget threat, not a budget strategy, and the cuts to NIH … Continue Reading
02.25.13
Durbin, Enyart Meet with Scott Air Force Base Leaders to Discuss Ways to Maintain Base's Long-Term Strength
[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL-12) today met with leaders at Scott Air Force Base to discuss the base's long-term strength and security. Durbin, who was recently named Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Enyart were briefed on Scott's priorities, the future needs and the support necessary for the base to sustain its long-term health by Base Commander Colonel David Almand, General Paul Silva, the head… Continue Reading
02.14.13
Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Level the Playing Field for Local Merchants
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group of 53 Senators and Representatives today introduced a bill that resolves the differences between bills introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives last Congress that would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 would give states the option to require the collection of sales and use taxes already owed under State law by out-of-state busines… Continue Reading
01.25.13
Durbin to Chair Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will become the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee when the panel organizes early next month. With the exception of military construction programs, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee oversees funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. The Subcommittee also oversees… Continue Reading
12.19.12
Durbin Asks Energy Secretary to Approve Next Phase of FutureGen 2.0 Project in Meredosia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a vote today by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in favor of the power purchase agreement for the power that will be generated by the FutureGen plant in Meredosia, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu to approve the next phase of the FutureGen 2.0 project which includes preliminary design, pre-construction and engineering. "The ICC's decision today solidifies the FutureGen plant's financial viability. I thank Governor Quinn … Continue Reading
12.11.12
Durbin Meetins with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Director of Agriculture
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson and Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Robert Flider to discuss the potential disruption of navigation on the Mississippi River due to historic low water levels, and steps that are being taken to minimize the impact this would have on Illinois farming communities. The Mississippi River is a critical transportation artery for essential commodities, such as corn, grain and oils… Continue Reading
12.06.12
Durbin Meets with Illinois State Legislators to Discuss Bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Illinois State Senators Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) and Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) to discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would level the playing field for small businesses by allowing local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. The legislation was introduced by Senators Durbin, Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and a bipartisan group of 7 other Senator… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Bi-State Delegation Announces that Senate Approves Provisions from their Bill to Increase Workload at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced that major portions of their bill to help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. The bill will now go to a House-Senate Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate version and House version of the defense authorizat… Continue Reading
11.13.12
Durbin: Congress Should Honor Veterans By Passing Bipartisan Legislation to Create Jobs for Veterans and Improve Mental Health Services
Senator reports over 5,150 families nationwide - including more than 130 in Illinois - are part of the Family Caregivers Program created by his legislation Senator also honors former Joliet resident and WWI veteran, Joseph Ambrose [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that Congress can and should do more to honor those who answer the call of duty and risk everything to defend America. Specifically, Durbin called on members of the Senate to put aside partisan diffe… Continue Reading
11.09.12
Durbin Statement on a Bipartisan Solution to the Fiscal Cliff
[Washington, D.C.] Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the need for bipartisan cooperation to avoid the fiscal cliff: "The only way Congress can avoid the so-called fiscal cliff is through a balanced approach that cuts spending and raises revenue while asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share. That is the approach the American people have shown they support and it long-past time for both parties to come together and reach… Continue Reading
10.02.12
Durbin, Quinn Announce Sale of Thomson Correctional Center to the Federal Government
[THOMSON, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the Obama administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons will purchase the underutilized, state-of-the-art maximum security Thomson Correctional Center to house federal criminal offenders. More than 1,100 jobs are expected to be generated once the facility is fully operational. "At the direction of President Obama, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the federal Bureau of Prisons, file… Continue Reading