Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin Discusses Impact Of FAA Reauthorization Act On Decatur Airport And Additional Federal Funding For Local Infrastructure Projects
DECATUR - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe to discuss the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was recently signed into law by President Biden. The legislation, among other things, provides increased investment for Essential Air Service (EAS) program airports, like Decatur Airport. The EAS program was established to ensure that smaller communities maintain a sufficient level of air service. Durbin also discussed additional … Continue Reading
May 24, 2024
Durbin Secures Illinois Priorities In Senate's Committee Passed Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today announced that the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) advanced the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) out of Committee with several key provisions he secured for Illinois. These provisions - ranging from adjusting the cost share for the Brandon Road Project to improving water infrastructure in Cahokia Heights, Illinois - aim to accelerate and fund … Continue Reading
May 08, 2024
Durbin Meets with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's (MWRD) leadership to discuss the department’s ongoing projects and top priorities. In their meeting, Durbin received an update on the design and construction of Thornton Reservoir, which was built to reduce chronic flooding. In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), Durbin secured a $20 million for MWRD to address excessive flooding in historically underserved communities in the Chicagoland … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi, Ramirez Statement on Surface Transportation Board's Decision To Approve Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Merger
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's (STB) decision to allow Canadian Pacific (CP) to acquire Kansas City Southern (KCS): "We are deeply disappointed that the Surface Transportation Board has sided with corporations over our constituents in the Chicago region. As we … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Durbin Meets With Amtrak Board Of Directors Nominee And Mayor Of Normal, Illinois, Chris Koos
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Normal, Illinois, Mayor Chris Koos during his visit to Washington for his nomination hearing, in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, for the Amtrak Board of Directors. As a result of Durbin's recommendation, President Biden nominated Mayor Koos to the Amtrak Board earlier this year. "Mayor Koos has long been a powerful voice in Illinois' transportation industry. He understands the importance … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Durbin Meets With Springfield Community Leaders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a resident of Springfield, Illinois, today met with Springfield community leaders, including Mayor Jim Langfelder, to discuss the city's upcoming infrastructure projects. During their meeting, Durbin received an update about the Springfield Rail Improvement Project (SRIP), which will alleviate rail congestion in the city by building new underpasses and overpasses at critical rail crossings, and the construction of the … Continue Reading
August 17, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Lightfoot Announce $3 Million FRA Grant For Chicago Union Station
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced that Chicago Union Station will receive $3,000,000 in federal funding, awarded by the Federal Railroad Administration, to complete the design process for planned renovations to the train station's concourse level, which serves Amtrak and Metra passengers. "Chicago Union Station has been a central transportation hub in the Midwest since its original construction in 1925. … Continue Reading
August 12, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $71 Million In Funding For Illinois Transit Systems From Department Of Transportation's Low-No And Buses And Bus Facilities Grant Programs
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $71,009,648 in grant funding awarded to Illinois transit systems by the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Programs. The Low-No Program will support the transition of the nation's transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles by providing funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of … Continue Reading
August 10, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $83.5 Million In Funding For Illinois From Department Of Transportation's RAISE Grant Program
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $83,500,000 in grant funding awarded to Illinois communities by the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program to help communities around the country carry out infrastructure and transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. "Investments in rebuilding and modernizing Illinois' … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
Durbin Secures Key Illinois Priorities In Water Resources Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured several Illinois provisions in the Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). These provisions include an increase in the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project to 90 percent that will save Illinois tens of millions in project costs. The project will construct a new engineered channel at Joliet's Brandon Road Lock, which will be used to test and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $519,000 In Funding For Rural EMS Agencies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $518,916 in funding for several rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in Illinois. The funding, which was created through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, will go toward supporting EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment. "Across Illinois, rural EMS agencies are first … Continue Reading
July 27, 2022
Durbin: With The CHIPS And Science Act, We Can Kick-Start A New Generation Of Discovery
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Senate passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. During his speech, Durbin highlighted the need to increase domestic microchip production, as microchips are used in everything from refrigerators to smartphones to cars. In 1990, … Continue Reading
July 27, 2022
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bipartisan CHIPS And Science Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research capabilities: "America needs to be at the forefront of innovation and scientific research once again. This once-in-a-generation, bipartisan bill makes strategic investments to … Continue Reading
July 25, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi, Newman Urge Surface Transportation Board To Oppose Canadian Pacific And Kansas City Southern Rail Merger
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) and Marie Newman (D-IL-3) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman urging the STB to oppose the Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad merger as proposed because of concerns about noise pollution, blocked crossings, safety conditions, and commuter rail delays. "We write to express … Continue Reading
July 22, 2022
Durbin Announces $1 Million For Chicago River Habitat Restoration And Conservation Efforts
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined officials from the Shedd Aquarium and Chicago Park District to announce $1 million in new federal funding he secured in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill to address habitat restoration and conservation needs in the polluted ecosystem on the South Branch of the Chicago River-commonly known as "Bubbly Creek." "For more than 100 years, this area was a dumping ground for animal waste, industrial waste, and sewage from … Continue Reading
July 21, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Newman, Quigley Urge FRA To Consider Illinois For Location Of Future University Rail Research And Development Center Of Excellence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Marie Newman (D-IL-3) and Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) today sent a letter to Federal Railroad Administrator (FRA) Amit Bose urging him to consider Illinois as a home for the future University Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence. The Members authored language in the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requiring FRA to establish the rail … Continue Reading
July 19, 2022
Durbin Urges His Colleagues To Pass the CHIPS Act Without Delay
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to pass the CHIPS Act of 2022, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. In 1990, the U.S. produced 37 percent of the world's semiconductors. Today, just 12 percent of semiconductors are manufactured in the United States. Durbin began his speech by highlighting the impacts … Continue Reading
July 18, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Casten, Quigley, Newman Urge Postmaster General DeJoy To Protect Letter Carriers After Uptick In Mail Carrier Robberies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-6), Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), and Marie Newman (D-IL-3) today sent a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to take action to protect letter carriers after crimes against U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees tripled since 2018. In their letter, the lawmakers call on Postmaster General DeJoy to implement an alerting policy to ensure that all … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Durbin, Schakowsky, Chicago Delegation Urge EPA To Expand Eligibility Guidelines For Clean School Bus Program
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) today led 12 of their Illinois colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging him to expand eligibility for the new EPA Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) to improve its accessibility to Chicago-area schools and correct additional oversights in the implementation process. The program, a $5 billion effort established under the bipartisan … Continue Reading
June 16, 2022
Durbin, Illinois Congressional Delegation Meet With Census Bureau Director On Illinois Count
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today met virtually with U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert L. Santos about the results of the 2020 Decennial Census after Illinois was found to likely have been undercounted at a rate of 1.97 percent. During their meeting, Durbin pressed Director Santos to correct the undercount by incorporating the Census Bureau's Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) data into the Bureau's annual … Continue Reading