Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin: Senate Committee Approves Provisions That Would Require Postal Service to Prove Cost Savings Before Closing Quincy and Rockford Mail Processing Facilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved a bill that includes his provision requiring the Postal Service to conduct a new audit that shows cost savings before moving forward with plans to close or consolidate facilities that were recently found to be efficient. The provision, originally included in the comprehensive postal reform legislation passed by the Senate in April of this year, would af… Continue Reading
06.12.12
Durbin Unveils 2013 Financial Services, General Government Appropriations Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), today unveiled the subcommittee's appropriations package for fiscal year 2013. The bill covers $22.99 billion in discretionary spending for the nation's consumer and financial watchdogs; the Treasury Department; the Federal Courts; District of Columbia; White House operations; and over two dozen independent agencies. "This year's appropri… Continue Reading
06.12.12
Durbin: Attorney General Again Confirms Obama Administration Will Never Seek to Transfer Guantanamo Bay Detainees to Thomson
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to questions from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder again confirmed that the Obama Administration will never seek to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Thomson Correctional Center. Durbin is currently working with the State of Illinois and the Obama Administration to reprogram already appropriated funding within the Department of Justice (DOJ) that can be used to purchase the pris… Continue Reading
05.15.12
Durbin: Congress Approves Legislation That Will Continue to Help Illinois Businesses Succeed in Global Economy and Create Jobs Here at Home
[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 appro… Continue Reading
04.30.12
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Bill That Preserves Funding for Fermilab and Argonne National Lab
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved a bill that preserves essential federal funding for scientific research and development programs that will support work at two Illinois labs - Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab which together employ over 4,000 Illinoisans. These projects were included in President Obama's FY2013 Budget and supported by Durbin. "Science labs like Fermi and Arg… Continue Reading
04.25.12
Durbin: Senate Passes Senate Bipartisan Postal Reform Legislation That Will Save Money and Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed comprehensive legislation to reform the postal service by a vote of 62 to 37. Durbin also offered an amendment - that was accepted into the bill - which protects facilities the Postal Service recently concluded to be efficient by requiring a new audit before the Postal Service can move forward with plans to close or consolidate that facility. "Over the last year, the Post… Continue Reading
04.24.12
As Member of Conference Committee, Durbin Vows to Protect Illinois Jobs and Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he has been named by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to the joint Senate-House Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate (S.1813) version and House (H.R.4348) version of a national transportation funding bill. "As the road, rail and aviation hub of the country, Illinois depends on a robust federal investment in transportation projects to keep its economy moving," said Dur… Continue Reading
04.12.12
Durbin Statement on Nationwide Postal Workers Rally
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said the Postal Service which employs more than 30,000 people in Illinois must work with Congress and the American people to address its financial problems. Durbin, who worked to secure a five-month moratorium on postal facility closures, also noted that the U.S. Senate is expected to debate comprehensive reform legislation within the next few weeks. "The Postal Service faces serious financial challenges and it needs to work with C… Continue Reading
04.03.12
Durbin: Project Rebuild Act Would Help Turn Around Vacant Homes and Businesses
[Rockford, IL] - In an effort to stabilize neighborhoods, rehab vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses, and create jobs, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) pushed for passage of the Project Rebuild Act while visiting Rockford today. The legislation would help rehab houses and businesses that have been abandoned through foreclosure by providing targeted assistance through formula funding and new competitive grants. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that Illin… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Durbin and Franken Introduce Legislation to Reduce Tax Haven Abuse
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation today that would require Members of Congress and candidates for federal office to include in their financial disclosure filing an accounting of any financial interest in a country that is considered a tax haven. The bill would also apply to federal employees who are required to file financial disclosures and the spouses of Members of Congress or candidates. "Any individual who has or wants to hav… Continue Reading
03.28.12
Durbin Chairs Hearing on Treasury Department Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing today to review the FY2013 budget request for the Department of the Treasury and to discuss the impact of the foreclosure crisis and our nation's growing student loan debt on the economic recovery. President Obama's FY2013 budget request for the Treasury Department is $14.072 billion which includes funding for the Internal Revenue Service and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Treasury… Continue Reading
03.14.12
Durbin: Bipartisan Senate Transportation Bill Best Route for Illinois Jobs, National Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate passed legislation by a vote of 74-22 that will create and protect millions of jobs nationwide while preventing crippling cuts to Illinois' highways and public transit agencies. Durbin urged the House of Representatives to take up and pass the legislation as soon as possible. "This transportation bill is the real jobs bill and it passed today with overwhelming bipartisan support," said Durbin. "This bill … Continue Reading
03.08.12
Durbin: Bipartisan Senate Transportation Bill is Best Route for Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With Senate Democrats and Republicans having reached an agreement to advance a national transportation funding bill that would protect public transit, highways, and jobs in Illinois and across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed House Republican leaders to take up the Senate's bipartisan compromise that will create and protect millions of jobs nationwide while preventing crippling cuts to Illinois' highways and public transit agencies. Reports suggest … Continue Reading
02.24.12
Durbin: House Republicans Right to Drop Partisan Transportation Bill that Would Decimate Local Projects and Transit Systems
[PEORIA, IL] - After House Republicans reportedly scrapped their second attempt to pass a partisan transportation funding bill yesterday in the face of overwhelming bipartisan opposition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today called on Republican leaders to consider a bipartisan, two-year compromise-like the Senate transportation bill that passed a major procedural hurdle earlier this month by a vote of 85-11. Unless House Republicans reverse course and work in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation a… Continue Reading
02.13.12
Durbin: President Obama's Budget Would Create Jobs in Illinois and Maintain a Path Towards Reducing Our Debt
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the budget that President Obama delivered to Congress today makes tough choices to get us back on a stable financial footing while investing in three key areas - education, innovation and infrastructure - that will create jobs and strengthen the United States' role as a global leader in the 21st century. "America owes over $15 trillion to our creditors and we still have millions out of work," said Durbin. "The Pre… Continue Reading
02.08.12
Durbin: Both Parties Must Work Together to Prevent Looming Tax Increase on Working Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With last year's bipartisan payroll tax cut extension compromise set to expire at the end of this month, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today detailed the additional take-home pay that Illinois workers and families can expect if Congressional negotiators reach an agreement to extend the Middle Class Tax Cut Act through the end of the year. The expected savings, released in a new Congressional Joint Economic Committee report, highlight the importance of preventing the tax cu… Continue Reading
02.02.12
Durbin Says Secretary of the Army Confirms No Decision Yet on Rock Island Arsenal's Future
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After months of speculation and rumor about the future of Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced, after a personal call with Army Secretary John McHugh, that no decisions have been made and no changes will occur at the Rock Island Arsenal without the Illinois / Iowa Congressional Delegation and the Quad Cities region being fully engaged. "I have heard a lot of speculation and rumor over the last few months about the future of Rock Island Ar… Continue Reading
01.31.12
Durbin: Illinois in Need of Increased Rail Investment Under New Transportation Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to increase funding for job creating Illinois rail and multimodal priorities - including rail line relocation grants, Amtrak and the TIGER grant program - in its bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Durbin also urged the Committee to reject the proposals in the House Transportation bill that would eliminate or dramatically reduce funding for programs that are ess… Continue Reading
01.25.12
Durbin Meets with Quad Cities Officials to Discuss Rock Island Arsenal and Other Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with officials from the Quad Cities area to discuss their priorities for Rock Island Arsenal and the region. Participants in today's meeting included: Rock Island County Board Chairman, Jim Bohnsack and Moline Mayor Dan Welvaert. "The Quad Cities region has a great history of coming together to build the economy of the entire region," said Durbin. "Meeting with local leaders like Chairman Bohnsack and Mayor Welvaert we can prod… Continue Reading
01.24.12
Durbin Reaction to President Obama's State of the Union Address
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. "Tonight we heard the President lay out a plan for an American economy that values hard work, promotes fairness and rewards responsibility. He spoke about an economy based on American energy and manufacturing and built by the highest skilled workers in the world." "I support that plan and the President's vision for an America that he… Continue Reading