Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Military and Veterans
Durbin Statement Following President's Address Outlining Strategy in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Barack Obama outlined his strategy for the war in Afghanistan in an address earlier this evening. "President Obama asked for time to make his decision on a new policy in Afghanistan. I am going to take some time to think through the proposal he presented tonight."… Continue Reading
11.18.09
Durbin Legislation Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas was approved by the United States Senate late last night. Durbin's legislation was added as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which will now go to a Conference Committee. "Last week, I… Continue Reading
11.17.09
Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $82 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate has approved $82,257,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: • Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Facility, Scott Air Force Base. $7,400,000 in funding for a new aeromedical evacuation … Continue Reading
11.17.09
Durbin Legislation to Officially Name Lovell Federal Health Care Center Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that his language to officially name the Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago after Captain James A. Lovell was approved by the United States Senate earlier today. Durbin's legislation was added late last night as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which will now go to a Conference Committee. "While the intent to name the facility after Cap… Continue Reading
11.09.09
Following Meeting with the VA Inspector General, Durbin Offers Amendment Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a meeting with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General (IG) for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today offered an amendment to the Military Construction Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations bill that would help VA recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas. Representatives from the Offices of… Continue Reading
11.06.09
Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members to Meet With VA Inspector General on Monday
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation will meet with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, on Monday afternoon in Durbin's Capitol office to discuss the unacceptable standards and treatment of veterans found by the Inspector General at the Marion VA Medical Center. On November 3, Durbin j… Continue Reading
11.04.09
VA Secretary to Delegation: Correcting Marion VA Failures is a Department Priority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Eric Shinseki, today assured members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation that correcting the failures at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois identified in a report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is a priority for the VA and a high level Quality Management team will be sent to the facility to assess the need for further action. Shinseki vowed to report back to the Illinois Delegation w… Continue Reading
11.02.09
Durbin, Burris, Costello, Shimkus: VA Management Must Be Held Accountable for Failures at Marion Facility
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Calling the recent findings of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) "appalling" and "inexcusable", U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roland Burris (D-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) today pledged to hold the VA accountable for the failure of leadership at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois to meet VA patient safety and quality care guidelines. In a sharply worded letter, the Illinois mem… Continue Reading
10.28.09
Durbin, Bean: North Chicago Health Center Legislation Signed into Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) announced that the language necessary to complete the merger of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes was signed into law today by President Obama. "Soon, quality medical care will be available under one roof for veterans, servicemembers and their families in and around North Chicago," said Durbin. "Joining a VA Medical Center with a … Continue Reading
10.28.09
Durbin Legislation to Provide Support to Families of Severly Disabled Service Members Signed into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that his legislation to increase access to compensation for catastrophically injured service members who require assistance in everyday living was signed into law today by President Obama as part of the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation - co-sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) - improved a limited Defense Department proposal to better assist families who need financial assistance as they… Continue Reading
10.22.09
Durbin, Bean: North Chicago Health Center Legislation Approved by Congress Awaiting President's Signature
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) today announced that the language necessary to complete the merger of the North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes has cleared the final major legislative hurdle. Earlier today, the Senate passed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act by a vote of 68-29 giving authority to the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly operat… Continue Reading
10.08.09
Durbin, Bean: Lovell Health Center Legislation Nears Full Congressional Approval
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) today announced that the language necessary to complete the James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center has cleared a major legislative hurdle. Earlier today the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 281-146 the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act giving authority to the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly operate the new Federal Health Care Center. The … Continue Reading
09.23.09
Durbin, Illinois Delegation Discuss Illinois Veterans Issues with Assistant Secretary Duckworth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At the monthly Illinois Delegation Luncheon hosted by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Tammy Duckworth, discussed the importance of improving services for homeless veterans in Illinois. Other members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation attending today's luncheon include: Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL), Debbie Halvorson (D-IL), Dan Lipinski (D-IL) a… Continue Reading
09.10.09
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $52 Million in Defense Funding for Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $52,000,000 in federal funding to assist defense related facilities and projects across Illinois. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 defense spending bill includes funding for the following projects: • Columbia College Chicago, Chicago. $2,000,000 in funding for the Construct Program at Columbia College Chicago, which will deve… Continue Reading
07.30.09
Durbin Extends Impact Aid Funding Formula for Schools Serving the Great Lakes Naval Base
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Impact Aid Coalition, today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a Durbin authored amendment that will extend the practice of allowing the five public schools serving the Great Lakes Naval Training Base to pool their students to maximize federal education assistance through the Impact Aid program. This amendment - added to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services and Educat… Continue Reading
07.24.09
Durbin Amendment to Provide Support to Families of Severely Disabled Veterans Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his amendment to increase access to compensation for injured servicemembers who require assistance in everyday living was included in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate late last night. The amendment - co-sponsored by Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) -- was designed to assist families who need financial assistance as they put the brakes on their lives to care for a family member… Continue Reading
07.24.09
Durbin: Lovell Health Center Language Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin announced that language needed to complete the James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center was included in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate late last night. The language is based on legislation that was introduced earlier this year by Durbin and Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) that gives authority to the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly operate the new Federal Health Care Center… Continue Reading
07.16.09
Durbin Announces One-Year Extension for Firefighters at 183rd
[WASHINGTON, DC] - The F-16 maintenance mission and the National Guard firefighter unit at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport has been granted a one-year extension through September 2010, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today. The Director of the Air National Guard, General Harry Wyatt informed Durbin of the temporary extension of the 183rd Fighter Wing's F-16 maintenance mission which will keep open the option to find a permanent flying mission at Spring… Continue Reading
07.09.09
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves More Than $11 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 $111,037,000 for energy- and water-related projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Army Corps of Engineers: • Carlyle Lake, Carlyle. $5,171,000 in funding for operations and maintenance at Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake in Illinois, with over … Continue Reading
07.08.09
Durbin Unveils 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, today unveiled the subcommittee's appropriations package for fiscal year 2010. The bill covers $46.4 billion in overall spending for a number of agencies within the Executive Branch; the Federal Courts; District of Columbia; and independent agencies including the nation's financial services regulators. "White-collar crooks … Continue Reading