Durbin, Duckworth Release Statement on Airlines' Approval of O'Hare Terminal Area Project

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—today released the following statement regarding United and American Airlines’ approval of the City of Chicago’s revised offer to complete the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal Area Project (TAP): “After months of volleying count… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $8.3 Million to Support Youth Workforce Training in Illinois

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $8,300,870 for six Illinois organizations and institutions through the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) YouthBuild Program to provide job training and educational services for youth ages 16-24 who left school without a secondary diploma. “These investments will help provide a lifeline to those who may have fallen through the cracks of our education system, offering them a pathway to su… Continue Reading

Durbin Attends Special Olympics Chicago Opening Ceremony

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympics Chicago and Special Children’s Charities Spring Games, where more than 2,000 athletes will compete. “From the fields and courts in Illinois to the international stage, the Special Olympics Games foster respect, inclusion, and acceptance for people across all abilities,” said Durbin. “I’m honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with these athletes, their families, and the entire Special Olympics … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Biden Administration Announcement to Expand Health Care Access for DACA Recipients

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement of a final rule that will expand health care eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Under the final rule, approximately 100,000 DACA recipients will become eligible to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges. “This rule is life-changing for thousands of DACA recipients who are American in every… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Secretary Buttigieg to Conduct Oversight Over Airline Rewards Programs in Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Transportation.”  During the hearing, Durbin questioned the witness, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, about how the federal government can conduct oversigh… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses FAA Reauthorization with President of Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Toby Hauck, President of the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Illinois-based air traffic controllers from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.  During their meeting, Durbin discussed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that was released earlier this week.  The proposed bill would authorize more than $105 billion to fund FAA through Fiscal Year 2028.  Of that $105 b… Continue Reading

Durbin Previews Upcoming Judiciary Hearing on the Urgent Need to Protect Dreamers and Pass the Dream Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting next week’s Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Dream Deferred: The Urgent Need to Protect Immigrant Youth.” The hearing will emphasize the urgent need for Congress to pass legal protections for noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children.  “Dreamers are young people who were brought to the United States as children.  They grew up in this… Continue Reading

Durbin: Adeel Mangi is Eminently Qualified to be a Federal Appellate Court Judge

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his colleagues to dismiss the smear campaign against Mr. Adeel Mangi and to support his nomination to serve as a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in New Jersey.  “The Senate has confirmed 194 of President Biden’s judicial nominees to lifetime appointments.  Each of these nominees have been questioned about their qualifications and credentials… But Adeel Ma… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With The Association Of American Universities’ President

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Barbara Snyder, President of the Association of American Universities (AAU), to discuss funding for scientific research and updating our immigration laws to attract and retain top talent while protecting U.S. workers, including in STEM roles.  AAU represents America’s 71 leading research universities, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago, and Northwestern University.  During the meeti… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Regional Priorities With Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council (BNEDC), which is comprised of members of local government, labor, education, health, and business sectors.  During their meeting, Durbin and the BNEDC spoke about several projects in Central Illinois, including the East Street Basin Stormwater Management Project and construction of a new air cargo road at the Central Illinois Regional Airport.  Durbin also rece… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Puerto Rican Groups To Discuss Local Agriculture And Food Insecurity

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago-based Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC), along with representatives of the Puerto Rican Alliance (PRÁ) and the Power 4 Puerto Rico Coalition.  During the meeting, they discussed the challenges of food security in Puerto Rico, and expanding local agricultural production on the island.  Durbin is a cosponsor of the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act, legislation that would enable Puerto Rico to fully part… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Release Of Farm Bill Summary

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today issued the following statement on the release of a summary of the 2024 Farm Bill—the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act—by Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): “I commend Chairwoman Stabenow for continuing to prioritize this Farm Bill and keeping it solidly on track.  Farmers are on every page of this bill, with additional help for new and small farmers… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois Educators To Sound The Alarm On For-Profit Colleges

WASHINGTON – As high school seniors finalize their postsecondary education plans for the upcoming school year on College Decision Day, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is enlisting the help of Illinois high school principals, counselors, and teachers to warn college-bound students and their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges. In the past few years, the U.S. has experienced workforce shortages across various industries, including health care and ed… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Georgia Alexakis To Serve As United States District Court Judge Forthe Northern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Georgia Alexakis to be a United States District Court Judge forthe Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Georgia Alexakis to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.  She has the qualific… Continue Reading

On College Decision Day, Durbin Warns Students About Dangers Of Attending Predatory For-Profit Colleges

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor recognizing College Decision Day and warning students about the dangers of choosing to attend a for-profit college.  Durbin began his remarks by sharing the story of Illinoisan LaKesha Howard-Williams, who attended the for-profit Illinois Institute of Art after it pressured her to take out student loans, but shuttered before she could earn a degree. “Today is May 1.  For many students, this is… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Bank of Springfield, Community Bankers Association of Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Bank of Springfield (BOS) and the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI) to discuss various ways to support community banks in Illinois, improve our economy, and crack down on the increasing issue of check fraud.  In 2023, banks saw a seven percent increase in check fraud on top of the 84 percent spike in 2022.  Check fraud harms everyday consumers and damages the reputations of community banks who truly know… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Chicago-Quad Cities Rail Project with Federal Railroad Administrator

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose to receive an update on the Chicago-Quad Cities Rail Project, which would establish a passenger rail route running between Chicago and the Quad Cities.  Durbin urged Administrator Bose to prioritize the project and ensure that FRA continues to extend federal funding Durbin previously secured for the project. Durbin secured $177 million in federal funding for the rail project in 2010… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Congressional Delegation in Sending Bipartisan Letter Supporting National Cancer Institute Designation for University of Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led 15 members of the Illinois delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in support of the University of Illinois Cancer Center’s (UICC) application to obtain an NCI designation, an accreditation given by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to elite U.S.-based medical and laboratory institutions to demonstrate leadership in addressing the nation's can… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blumenthal Introduce Bill to Prohibit Sale of Tianeptine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced the Prohibiting Tianeptine and Other Dangerous Products Act, legislation that would prohibit tianeptine from being marketed to consumers.  Tianeptine is an unapproved drug that is marketed as a purported dietary supplement and sold under labels such as “Neptune’s Fix.” Ingestion of the drug has led to an increase in calls to poison control centers and severe adverse effects requi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Young, Garcia Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Children from Lead Poisoning

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), along with U.S. Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), today introduced the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update its lead poisoning prevention measures to reflect modern science and ensure that families and children living in federally-assisted housing are protected from the devastating consequences of lead poison… Continue Reading