Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin: Prairie State Energy Shows Job Creation Doesn't Have to Come at the Expense of Clean Air
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the President and CEO of Prairie State Energy Campus, Peter DeQuattro, who has been working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the last several years to ensure that their new coal-fueled generation plant in southwestern Illinois meets all required emissions standards. "Prairie State Energy Campus is a clean coal success story that proves job creation doesn't have to come at the expense of clean… Continue Reading
10.13.11
Durbin, Emanuel Announces $38 Million Investment to Improve Transit In Chicago
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $38,000,000 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to Chicago C… Continue Reading
10.12.11
Durbin Statement on South Korea, Panama and Columbia Free Trade Agreements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after he voted in favor of the free trade agreements with South Korea and Panama and against the free trade agreement with Colombia: "Exports can strengthen our manufacturing and agriculture sectors and create good paying jobs across Illinois. In order to help our economy grow, we need to be able to access new markets and eliminate trade barriers for U.S. exporters." "We must ensure that we eng… Continue Reading
10.11.11
Durbin: Jobs Act Will Help Illinois Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the floor of the Senate to encourage the passage of President Obama's American Jobs Act which is scheduled for a vote in the Senate later today. Durbin also used the experience of Peoria-based A. Lucas and Sons to illustrate how Congress can help small businesses better leverage resources, strengthen their outlook and create jobs. "As I traveled up and down my State of Illinois, I visited some days with those who are unemployed, d… Continue Reading
10.10.11
Environmental Law & Policy Center Benefit
I want to thank Dan Levin for that generous introduction. Dan and his wife, Ambassador Fay Levin, are good friends. I am a big admirer of the Environmental Law & Policy Center and all it does to protect our natural treasures in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. I want to recognize the center's chairman, Nancy Loeb. I also want to thank ELPC President Howard Learner. On every big environmental challenge we have faced for 20 years - from reducing the mercury in our air, to protecting Lak… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Durbin: $1.2 Million SBA Investment Will Help Illinois Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recently awarded a $1,265,477 grant to help small businesses in Illinois. Today's funding was awarded as a part of the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP) which is designed to help increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and also to raise the value of exports for small businesses that are already exporting. "Small businesses are the econo… Continue Reading
09.29.11
Durbin Meets with Community Stakeholders to Discuss Economic Impact of Amtrak Service to Western Illinois
[QUINCY, IL] - Rail service throughout Illinois - including the route between Chicago and Quincy - is at serious risk of being eliminated if the transportation spending bill proposed by House Republicans becomes law, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The funding bill for the 2012 fiscal year released last week by the House Transportation Appropriation Subcommittee prohibits Amtrak from helping states pay for state-sponsored routes, which will effectively eliminate all state-support… Continue Reading
09.26.11
Durbin Urges Passage of Bill that would Modernize Schools and Prevent Teacher Layoffs
[MORTON GROVE, IL] - With schools across Illinois struggling to upgrade their facilities and prevent teacher layoffs, passage of legislation to invest in school modernization and help keep teachers is critically important, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said this morning after meeting with administrators and teachers at Golf Middle School in Morton Grove. At Golf Middle School, Durbin met with the district superintendent, principals of the middle and elementary schools and the president of … Continue Reading
09.22.11
Durbin Commends Announcement of a Nearly $1.8 Million Federal Grant Award to Support Development of Aerospace Industry in Rockford
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Obama Administration's announcement $1,769,987 in federal funding for a project - designed by seven Rockford Area groups - that aims to strengthen the local aerospace industry. The Rockford project is one of 20 winning projects awarded a total of $38 million in funding today through President Obama's Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge which awarded funds to support a wide range of economic and workforce development … Continue Reading
09.20.11
Durbin Meets with Secretary of Transportation and FAA Administrator
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Randy Babbitt to discuss Illinois transportation priorities including the O'Hare Modernization Program and FAA Reauthorization. "Transportation is the key to creating and keeping jobs in the Midwest and Secretary LaHood understands that," said Durbin. "He also understands how important the O'Hare Modernization Prog… Continue Reading
09.20.11
Durbin Announced Nearly $2 Million Investment in Illinois Communities to Create Jobs and Boost Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that five Illinois communities - Chicago, Champaign, Macomb, Rock Island and Rockford - have received Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants to create jobs and boost economic development in the region. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Commerce Department and supports the economic development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. Its mission is to lead the federal economic development agend… Continue Reading
09.15.11
Durbin Provision Would Help Protect Jobs at Quincy Mail Processing Facility; Ensure Community Involvement in Postal Service Study
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that, in his role as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), he has inserted language in the committee's annual appropriations bill that would help protect jobs at the Processing and Distribution Annex in Quincy, Illinois and ensure community involvement in the study regarding consolidation and closure of the facility. The legislation was approved by the Senate Ap… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Durbin Statement on the President's Jobs Address
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after President Obama's address to a Joint Session of Congress on job creation: "Tonight the president challenged Congress to work together to put America back to work. His plan, the American Jobs Act, will create new jobs for teachers, veterans and construction workers. It will cut taxes for small business owners and middle class families and give tax credits to companies that h… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Durbin Announces Over $6.2 Million Investment in Illinois Housing Agencies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that Illinois Housing Agencies will receive $ 6,289,102 in grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants provide funding for housing counseling along with funding for local units of government. "Improvements to public housing will enhance the quality of life for individuals who rely on this important service - including nearly 80,000 people in Illinois," said Durb… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Bill That Preserves Essential Funding for Fermilab and Argonne National Lab
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today 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 roughly 4,800 Illinoisans. These projects were included in President Obama's FY2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. "We must reduce our spend… Continue Reading
09.08.11
Durbin Welcomes Illinois AFL-CIO President as Special Guest to Joint Session
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will welcome the President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, Michael T. Carrigan, as his guest to an address by President Barack Obama to a joint session of Congress this evening. Durbin met with his guest prior to the joint session to discuss the importance of growing the economy, creating jobs and putting people back to work in Illinois and across the country. "It's a false choice to say that government cannot create jobs and reduce the debt," … Continue Reading
09.07.11
Durbin Announces $18.7 Million Investment in Illinois Airport Infrastructure
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that three Illinois airports have received a total of $18,702,075 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for infrastructure improvements and upgrades. "Today's grants will allow airports in Illinois to make needed improvements and upgrades to help them reduce noise and serve travelers more safely and efficiently," said Durbin. The following investments in Illinois' transportation infrastructure were m… Continue Reading
08.22.11
Durbin Announces $16.3 Million in Illinois Airport Infrastructure
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that several Illinois airports have received a total of $16,328,409 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for infrastructure improvements and upgrades. "Today's grants will allow airports in Illinois to make needed improvements and upgrades to help them serve travelers more safely and efficiently," said Durbin. The following investments in Illinois' transportation infrastructure were made under this … Continue Reading
08.18.11
Durbin Lauds Obama Administration Announcement on Dream Act Deportation Cases
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, in a letter to Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 21 other Senators, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the Administration has established a new process for handling the deportation cases of DREAM Act students and other sympathetic individuals. If fully implemented, the new process should stop virtually all DREAM Act deportations. "The Obama Administration has made the right decision in changing the way they hand… Continue Reading
08.10.11
Durbin Visits Workforce Center, Discusses Need for Critical Support Services
[ELGIN, IL] - With the economic recovery lagging and unemployment still high, access for displaced workers to job retraining and career counseling is more critical than ever, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at the Elgin workNet Center. Although the national unemployment rate dipped slightly during the month of July - down to 9.1 percent - there are still five job-seekers for every job in America. In addition, 6.5 million American workers have been unemployed for six months or long… Continue Reading