Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Meets with Chicago's Largest Microlender to Discuss Growing Small Business
[CHICAGO, IL] - Support for microfinance organizations that give small businesses and entrepreneurs access to credit will help spur our economic recovery and create jobs, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a meeting with officials from ACCION, Chicago's largest microlender, and the owners of Gourmet Gorilla, an organic school lunch catering company that is one of ACCION's fastest growing borrowers. ACCION provides credit and other business services to small business owners who do not … Continue Reading
12.20.11
Durbin Calls on House to Maintain Unemployment Insurance Benefits
[CHICAGO, IL] - The House of Representatives must take quick action before the end of the year to ensure that millions of unemployed workers across the country do not lose access to the critical safety net provided by unemployment insurance, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. A fully offset agreement to maintain all tiers of federal unemployment benefits for two months was approved in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote by the Senate on Saturday, allowing lawmakers time to begin work on a… Continue Reading
12.18.11
Durbin Statement on Speaker Boehner's Comments on the Bipartisan Payroll Tax Agreement
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to Speaker Boehner's comments on the bipartisan payroll tax agreement passed by the Senate yesterday: "It is time for the Speaker to convene the House and approve the bipartisan Senate agreement to extend the middle class tax cut and maintain unemployment benefits for 60 days." America has had its fill this year of repeated political ultimatums from Speaker Boehner. We can … Continue Reading
12.13.11
Senators Announce U.S. Postal Service Agreement to Delay Postal Facility Closures for Five Months
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Fifteen Senators from around the country today announced that, at their request, the U.S. Postal Service has voluntarily agreed to put in place a five-month moratorium on closing postal facilities, which would give Congress more time to enact postal reform legislation. During the moratorium, scheduled to end on May 15, 2012, the Postal Service will continue to study the impact of proposed closures on service and costs and to solicit community input. Today's announcem… Continue Reading
12.13.11
Durbin Announced U.S. Postal Service Agreement to Delay Illinois Postal Facility Closures for Five Months
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Postal Service has voluntarily agreed to put in place a five-month moratorium on closing postal facilities, which would give Congress more time to enact postal reform legislation. During that period, the Postal Service will continue to study the impact of proposed closures on service and costs and to solicit community input. The moratorium is scheduled to end on May 15, 2012. "Over the last few months, I hav… Continue Reading
12.12.11
Durbin, Quinn, Costello, Emanuel, Hoechst Announce Illinois to Receive $44 Million Investment Through Tiger Grant Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Representative Jerry Costello (D-IL) joined Mayors Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Tom Hoechst of Alton today in announcing that Illinois will receive a total of $44,288,000 in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant funding for three Illinois projects in the Chicagoland area and Alton. The grants represent approximately 8 percent of total funding available through the program. … Continue Reading
12.07.11
Durbin Discusses Progress at FutureGen 2.0 Site With FutureGen Alliance CEO Ken Humphreys
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the progress of FutureGen 2.0 with the CEO of the FutureGen Alliance, Ken Humphreys. Recently, the FutureGen Alliance announced it will move forward with FutureGen 2.0 by purchasing portions of the Meredosia Energy Center from Ameren Energy Resources Company with the Department of Energy - a move that, according to the FutureGen Alliance, could save several million dollars. "The FutureGen Alliance is a strong organization … Continue Reading
12.02.11
Durbin Calls for Extension and Expansion of Middle Class Payroll Tax Cut Before End of Year
[CHICAGO, IL] - Millions of families across America will see their taxes increase by more than $1,000 next year if Congress fails to pass an extension and expansion of President Obama's middle-class payroll tax credit, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Failing to pass the payroll tax cut would also result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, and a potential 1 percent drop in GDP. On Thursday evening, Republicans in the Senate blocked an effort to pass the Middle Class Tax Cut … Continue Reading
11.30.11
Durbin, Kirk to American Airlines: Keep Illinois Routes and Projects a Priority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the Chairman and CEO of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today urged the airline to make Illinois routes and projects - such as the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and downstate air service - a priority as it moves forward with bankruptcy proceedings. "American Airlines has a long history in Illinois: American began air service in Illinois in 1926, when Charles Lindbergh carr… Continue Reading
11.30.11
Durbin Launches Interactive County-by-County Map of Savings Illinois Families Can Expect from Payroll Tax Cut Extension
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) launched an interactive map on his website today that enables Illinois families to find out how much the Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011 will save them in taxes next year. The legislation will extend President Obama's middle class tax cut-preventing a tax increase on millions of hardworking Illinoisans-and expand the cut in 2012 to put more money back in the pockets of American families. The Senate plans to vote on the measure later this week… Continue Reading
11.29.11
Durbin: Extending Middle Class Payroll Tax Cut Will Help Working Families and Our Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the floor of the United States Senate in support of the Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011. The legislation will extend President Obama's middle class tax cut -preventing a tax increase on millions of hardworking Illinoisans-and expand the cut in 2012 to put more money back in the pockets of Americans across the country and help get our economy moving in the right direction again. The Senate plans to vote on the measure later this… Continue Reading
11.28.11
Durbin Statement on FutureGen Alliance Decision to Take Full Control of Plant Retrofit at Meredosia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the FutureGen Alliance announced it will move forward with FutureGen 2.0 by purchasing portions of the Meredosia Energy Center from Ameren Energy Resources Company. "It is good news that the Alliance reached an agreement today with Ameren to negotiate the purchase of the Meredosia Energy Center. "With a strong FutureGen Alliance in full control of the plant retrofit, the FutureGen 2.0 proje… Continue Reading
11.17.11
Durbin Confirms Army will Preserve Nine Firefighter Jobs at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Tom Lamont, who confirmed that the nine firefighter and emergency medical positions will be preserved at Rock Island Arsenal. According to Lamont, the cuts were mistakenly included in announcement of reductions to the civilian personnel workforce at Rock Island Arsenal and Army facilities nationwide. "Today, I was assured that the Army will preserve the nine firefighter and emergency me… Continue Reading
11.14.11
Durbin Asks Committee to Include Illinois Transit Priorities in Next Surface Transportation Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to include funding for Illinois transit priorities in their bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Last week, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) voted unanimously to favorably report its portion of the legislation. The Banking Committee, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Senate Finance Committee all must address… Continue Reading
11.10.11
Durbin Statement on Passage of the Veterans Jobs Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the VOW to Hire Heroes Act - a bill that will help tens of thousands of unemployed veterans get back to work - by a wide bipartisan margin: "More than 75,000 veterans in Illinois are out of work, and as we end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, that number will likely grow. These veterans fought for America, and it's our duty to see that they are given a helping hand when they r… Continue Reading
11.02.11
Durbin, Kirk, Manzullo Stress Importance of Keeping USPS Jobs in Illinois During Meeting with Postmaster General
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Representative Don Manzullo (R-IL) stressed the importance of keeping good-paying U.S. Postal Service (USPS) jobs in Illinois communities in a meeting with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. The Illinois members requested the meeting after learning of the Postal Service's plan to review its mail processing network in the hopes of reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. Of the nearly 250 facilities being stud… Continue Reading
11.01.11
Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Justice, Others Protects Several Illinois Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved a bill to fund several federal agencies for the 2012 fiscal year that includes funding that will enhance programs and create jobs in Illinois. Many of these priorities were included in President Obama's 2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail On September 21, Durbin - a Co-Chair and founding member of the Bi-Cameral High- Speed & Intercity Passenger R… Continue Reading
10.27.11
Durbin: Republican "Jobs" Bill Guts Regulations, But Comes Up Empty on Job Creation
[CHICAGO, IL] - Legislation proposed by Congressional Republicans to delay, roll-back, or eliminate basic pollution standards will weaken our ability to ensure clean air and water, and a healthy environment for our families across the nation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the UIC Medical Center. By gutting the Clean Air Act and severely limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate toxic pollutants emitted by coal-fired… Continue Reading
10.26.11
Durbin: House Transportation Bill Wrong Approach to Amtrak Funding
[ST. LOUIS, MO] - A House transportation funding proposal would dismantle Amtrak service and stunt high-speed rail growth in spite of record ridership numbers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis, Missouri. "St. Louis is one of the most important hubs in the nation's passenger rail network and Gateway Station is the anchor of that network. Residents of the St. Louis region on both sides of the river … Continue Reading
10.24.11
Durbin Calls for Passage of Key Provisions from American Jobs Act
[DECATUR, IL] - In order to give the lagging economic recovery a boost, Congress needs to pass critical elements of the American Jobs Act that would invest in school, infrastructure, and transit modernizations while putting people back to work, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said at Johns Hill Magnet School in Decatur, Illinois. While passage of the American Jobs Act was blocked earlier this month by a Republican-led filibuster, Democrats in the U.S. Senate will try to pass individual eleme… Continue Reading