Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Energy and the Environment
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
06.25.09
Durbin Statement on FutureGen Alliance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement in regards to the changes to the FutureGen Alliance that were announced today: "A few weeks ago the FutureGen Alliance overwhelmingly voted to enter into an agreement with the US Department of Energy to build the first large-scale, integrated carbon capture and sequestration plant," said Durbin. "That commitment remains firm today. Since the Bush Administration cancelled the project … Continue Reading
06.25.09
Durbin Announces $94 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Metra Repairs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Metra a $94,222,481 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "The Recovery Act funding announced today will create good paying jobs in Illinois and increase the appeal of public transit as an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly alternative to car travel," said Durbin. Last week, Metra was awarded a $46.6 million grant for bridge rehab… Continue Reading
06.25.09
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $1.2 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 $1.2 million for Illinois projects. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants • Decatur Water Infrastructure Improvements, … Continue Reading
06.12.09
Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members: FutureGen Alliance Board Approves Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the FutureGen Alliance Board of Directors for overwhelmingly approving the agreement that was recently negotiated between the Department of Energy (DOE) and members of the FutureGen Alliance. "For nearly a year and a half, the people of Illinois have endured delays, reversals and disagreements over costs and funding of FutureGen. Today, patience and perseverance pay off - FutureGen at Mattoon is finally … Continue Reading
06.04.09
Durbin Introduces Bill to Aid Reforestation Efforts in Haiti
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation today to aid reforestation efforts in Haiti. Once covered by thick tropical forest, Haiti is now 98 percent deforested. That deforestation has caused widespread soil erosion; the destruction of natural barriers from hurricanes; and contributes to widespread and abject poverty. The Haiti Reforestation Act seeks to end the rapid and near total deforestation of the island-nation and restore Haiti's n… Continue Reading
06.03.09
Durbin, Quigley Commend EPA for Swift Action to End BP Violations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) today spoke with EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson regarding yesterday's decision by the Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 to cite BP for alleged Clean Air Act violations at its Whiting refinery. "For years, I have worked with members of the Illinois Delegation to shed a light on the companies like BP that have operated without concern for the protection of one of our nation's … Continue Reading
06.02.09
Durbin: University of Illinois Will Receive a Nearly $300,000 Grant for Aquatic Research
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has awarded $299,744 in federal grant funding to the University of Illinois to support the research, extension and outreach activities of the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (IISG). The IISG is one of 32 programs constituting the National Sea Grant network which is dedicated to promoting the wise use of coastal, ocean, a… Continue Reading
06.02.09
Durbin Announces $5.9 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Floodplain Easement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $5,946,931 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for floodplain easement in Illinois. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s floodplain easement program allows for the acquisition of private, local government or state owned lands that have been damaged by flooding at least once in the last 12 months or twice in the past 10 years. Once the easements have been established,… Continue Reading
05.11.09
Durbin Announces $3.55 Million in Recovery Act and General EPA Funding for Environmental Cleanup in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $3.55 million in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the assessment and cleanup of properties where hazardous chemical or pollutants may be present. The funding will go toward the renewal and revitalization of distressed industrial and commercial sites, with a goal of turning problem p… Continue Reading
05.07.09
Durbin On President Obama's Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the budget President Obama delivered to Congress today restores responsibility and makes critical investments in the future of the country. The President's budget will cut taxes for 4.8 million families across the state; give $1.2 billion for Illinois schools, students and teachers; and direct $4.5 billion to help families pay for college. "We've inherited a mess - the result of mistaken policies, misplaced … Continue Reading
04.28.09
Durbin Announces $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Wildlife
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,004,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. The funding is part of a larger announcement by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services of $280 million for more than 830 projects nationwide to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure and bolster conservation. Projects that will receive f… Continue Reading
04.16.09
Durbin Announces Millions in Recovery Act Funding for Hazardous Waste Cleanup
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $10-25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for hazardous waste clean-up at the Outboard Marine Corporation site located in the Waukegan Harbor area of the city of Waukegan. The funding, part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of $600 million for the cleanup of Superfund sites across the nation, will be used for the demolition … Continue Reading
04.08.09
Durbin Announces $7.4 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Environmental Cleanup
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the state of Illinois will receive $7,402,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assess and clean up underground storage tank petroleum leaks. Today's funding is part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of $197 million nationwide for environmental cleanup which the EPA estimates will create or retain a significant number of jobs and contribute to at least … Continue Reading
04.02.09
Durbin and Hinchey Introduce a Bill to Protect America's Red Rock Wilderness
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -- In an effort to preserve 9.4 million acres of Utah's spectacular red rock country as wilderness, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation in the House and Senate that would ensure the public land remains in its natural, undeveloped state. Hinchey and Durbin's bipartisan America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, which was introduced with 105 cosponsors in the House and 15 in the Senate, would protect the land from commercia… Continue Reading
03.31.09
Durbin Announces $99 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Argonne National Lab
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced on a conference call with the Director of Argonne National Laboratory, Eric Isaacs that the lab will receive $99 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate environmental cleanup work and create jobs. The Director of Fermilab, Pier Oddone, was also on today's call. "Last week, Congressman Foster and I announced forty-eight million dollars in Recovery Act funding fo… Continue Reading
03.31.09
Durbin: Illinois to Receive $166 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Public Building Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 10 Illinois public buildings will receive a total of $166,479,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the modernization and conversion of federal buildings and courthouses to high performance, energy-efficient buildings. "The General Services Administration owns roughly 1,500 federal buildings nationwide," said Durbin. "These buildings affect our natural environment, ou… Continue Reading
03.24.09
Durbin Announces $38.5 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Defense Facilities in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois Department of Defense (DoD) facilities will receive a total of $38,542,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for construction projects and repairs, quality of life improvements and energy efficiency projects. Today's funding is expected to immediately generate additional employment in communities around the defense facilities. "The Recovery Act will put people to wo… Continue Reading
03.23.09
Durbin, Foster Praise $48 Million in DOE Funding for Fermilab and Argonne
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE)'s Office of Science has awarded a total of $48 million in funding to Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory to protect jobs and support critical research. The funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was part of the $1.2 billion in funding that will be announced later today for national labs. "To continue leading the … Continue Reading
03.19.09
Durbin Announces $1.5 Million FEMA Grant for Lake County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Lake County will receive $1,577,922 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood control efforts. "This funding will support important flood control efforts in Lake County," said Durbin. "This federal funding will help reduce costs to local governments for emergency rescue, infrastructure repair, debris removal and emergency shelters. Dur… Continue Reading