Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Army Secretary to Illinois / Iowa Delegation: No Proposal to Close JMTC at This Time
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The bipartisan, bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal today received assurances from Secretary of the Army John McHugh that the Army currently has no plans to close the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at Rock Island Arsenal. Today's letter was sent in response to a May 26th letter sent by the delegation called for a meeting with McHugh to discuss their concerns about the cost associated with conducting such a move as well as the impact… Continue Reading
06.07.11
Durbin Discusses Rock Island Arsenal with Secretary of Defense Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with President Obama's nominee to be Secretary of Defense and current Director of the CIA, Leon Panetta, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed his concerns about the possibility that an internal task force within Army could recommend closure of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at Rock Island Arsenal. Last week, after touring the JMTC facilities, Durbin spoke with Army Secretary John McHugh who assured him that there are no current p… Continue Reading
06.03.11
Durbin: Fighting Hunger Must Remain a Priority
[DECATUR, IL] - As the economy in Decatur continues to struggle, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited a local Summer Food Service Program site to discuss hunger and the rising demand for food pantry services with area food bank and food pantry representatives. "The struggling economy has put a strain on family budgets throughout Illinois," Durbin, a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, said. "Formerly middle-class families who have had a rough few years are increasingly turning to their … Continue Reading
06.02.11
Durbin Statement on Education Department's Gainful Employment Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after reviewing the final version of the Gainful Employment rule on for-profit colleges that the Department of Education released earlier today. "This rule may stop the worst violators among the predatory for-profit schools but it will not protect thousands of young students who are being burdened with debt by many worthless diploma mills. If we are serious about protecting taxpayers and students, we… Continue Reading
06.01.11
Durbin and Kirk Announce Federal Grant to Prevent Layoffs at Waukegan Fire Department
[WAUKEGAN, IL] - The Waukegan Fire Department will be able to retain five fully trained and qualified firefighters as a result of a $1,229,990 federal grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) said today. The Waukegan Fire Department is being awarded the grant to pay the salaries and benefit costs of five additional firefighters for two years. "The firefighters here today embody public service-they are prepared and wi… Continue Reading
05.31.11
Durbin Statement on Rock Island Arsenal's Future Following Call with Army Secretary McHugh
[ROCK ISLAND, IL] - United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after speaking to the Secretary of the Army about the future of Rock Island Arsenal: "I had a positive conversation with Secretary McHugh today about the status and future of Rock Island Arsenal. Secretary McHugh said that there are no plans to close or relocate the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center. The Army is reviewing every program within the Material Command for ways to save… Continue Reading
05.27.11
Illinois / Iowa Delegation Seeks Substantive Answers from Army on Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a letter sent today by the bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17), Bruce Braley (D-IA-01), and Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02) pushed for substantive answers to questions surrounding the future of the Rock Island Arsenal from General Ann Dunwoody, Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command (AMC). Following the letter the same … Continue Reading
05.26.11
Illinois & Iowa Delegations Call for Meeting with Army Secretary to Discuss Reports of Possible JMTC Closure at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After learning that an internal task force at the Army Materiel Command (AMC) is considering relocating Rock Island Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC), a bipartisan group of lawmakers from both the Illinois and Iowa Congressional Delegations called for a meeting with the Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, as soon as possible to discuss their concerns about the cost associated with conducting such a move as well as the impact it would have on the Rock… Continue Reading
05.26.11
Durbin, Cohen and Others Introduce Legislation to Restore Fairness in Student Lending
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Al Franken (D-MN) today joined U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Danny Davis (D-IL), George Miller (D-CA) and John Conyers (D-MI) to introduce legislation in both the Senate and the House that will restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt. Before changes were made to the bankruptcy code in 2005, only government is… Continue Reading
05.25.11
Durbin: Illinois Among Finalists in Innovative Race to the Top Education Reform Competition
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Education has named Illinois among nine finalists for a continuation of its Race to the Top competition. The Race to the Top Fund provides competitive grants to encourage and reward states like Illinois that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform. In 2010, Illinois was a finalist in both rounds of competition, but did not win a grant. "Maintaining the sta… Continue Reading
05.25.11
Durbin Chairs Hearing on Funding for Programs that Aid Small Businesses and Distressed Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the FY12 budgets of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) Fund today, where he highlighted the important work these agencies do to improve our economy and our communities. "In the face of recent pressure to reduce the federal deficit, I've made it a priority to maintain investments in SBA and CDFI progr… Continue Reading
05.18.11
Durbin Announces Over $5 Million in Department of Labor Grants for Illinois Youth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded five grants totaling in $5,499,644 to YouthBuild organizations throughout Illinois. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Participants in the program include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and … Continue Reading
05.09.11
Durbin, Kirk, Quinn Announce $268 Million for High Speed Rail Cars in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn in announcing that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $268 million in high speed rail funding to Illinois for the purchase of 48 new passenger rail cars and 7 locomotives that will be equipped to travel at high speeds. Today's funding comes from the $2 billion that was rejected by the governor of Florida earlier this year. It is in addition to the $… Continue Reading
05.04.11
Durbin, Kirk, Quinn Announce $186 Million for Chicago to St. Louis High Speed Rail
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn in announcing that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $186 million in high speed rail funding to finance track and other improvements on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor between Dwight and Joliet. Earlier today, the Department of Transportation notified Congressional Appropriators that they have reprogrammed $400 million of the $2 billion in funding that was rejected … Continue Reading
04.27.11
Durbin Celebrates opening of New Terminal at Peoria International Airport
[PEORIA, IL] - The completion of construction on a new terminal at Peoria International Airport will create more capacity for commercial passenger airplanes, lower wait times for baggage, expand space for vendors, enhance security and provide the airport with the ability to handle one million passengers per year, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin joined Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and other federal and local elected officials at the ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating… Continue Reading
04.20.11
Durbin, Kirk, Illinois Delegations: High Speed Rail Funding Will Have Greatest Impact in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in expressing support for Illinois' application for the federal funding for high speed rail projects that was rejected by the Governor of Florida. In their letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, the members stressed the importance of the Chicago to St. Louis route as the backbone of the Midwest passenger rail system. "We believe Illinois offers t… Continue Reading
04.15.11
Durbin Meets with Bureau of Prisons Director to Discuss Thomson Funding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Director of the Bureau of Prisons, Harley Lappin, to urge him to identify funding for the acquisition of Thomson Correctional Center in Carroll County, Illinois, in order to open it as a federal maximum security prison. The FY2011 budget agreement that passed Congress late yesterday provided the Bureau with the funds necessary to operate for the remainder of the fiscal year. "Director Lappin assured me that the Bureau… Continue Reading
04.13.11
Durbin: Congressional Budget Agreement Will Help Fermilab and Argonne Continue Research and Avoid Major Layoffs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the agreement reached on the FY2011 budget will help both Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory continue important research and avoid the major layoffs that the House Republican Budget (H.R.1) would have required. The agreement, expected to be voted on in the House and Senate later this week, funds the Office of Science at $4.884 billion which is $866 million above the level in H.R.1."This is good news for Fermilab, Arg… Continue Reading
04.08.11
Durbin Statement On Budget Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement on funding the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year:"With an hour to spare, we have reached an agreement to avert a government shutdown. This agreement is the largest budget cut in our nation's history and it still preserves the investments needed to help our economy continue to recover. While these cuts will be painf… Continue Reading
04.05.11
Durbin Statement on the Ryan Budget Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the President's fiscal commission, released the following statement today on Congressman Ryan's budget proposal: "The Ryan Republican budget has three pillars: reduce Medicare benefits by more than half; reduce Medicaid benefits for seniors in nursing homes; and reduce taxes on the wealthiest Americans. America can resolve its budget crisis without punishing the elderly and poor while rewarding the very ric… Continue Reading