Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin: Committee Recommends More Than $126 Million in Funding for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the final Omnibus Appropriations Act which includes $126,432,544 in funding for several Illinois projects was approved by a joint House and Senate Conference Committee of which Durbin is a member. The House and Senate are expected to take up and pass the legislation before the end of the year. The bill will then go to the President for his signature. SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS: CHICAGO TRANSIT ($9,30… Continue Reading
12.09.09
Durbin, Hoyer Announce Plan to Resolve Disputes with Terminated Auto Dealers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) today announced new legislative language to address the ongoing dispute between GM, Chrysler and dealerships that were closed during the companies' restructuring. The Durbin-Hoyer language expands the binding arbitration offer GM and Chrysler presented to dealers last week by requiring the arbitrator to balance the economic interests of the terminated dealership, the company … Continue Reading
12.09.09
Durbin Announces Over $21 Million for Community Health Centers in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that four community health centers in Illinois will receive $21,847,551 in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Facility Investment Program grants, allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are one-time grants to help support major construction and renovation projects at 85 community health centers across the country and assist networks at the cent… Continue Reading
12.07.09
Durbin Urges Illinois Residents to Apply Now for Spring Census Taker Jobs
[WASHINGTON] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the U.S. Census Bureau in Chicago is recruiting temporary, part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. As many as 1000,000 people throughout Illinois will be needed to work as census takers for the 2010 Census between January and June of next year. Durbin said these short-term jobs pay between $10 and $18 dollars an hour, allow for flexible hours, paid training and reimbursement for authorized work-related expenses, such as mile… Continue Reading
12.02.09
Durbin: Chicago Small Business Owner is Testament to the Credit Crunch We Must Solve
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Ivan Matsunaga, a small business owner from Chicago, Illinois, to the Democratic Policy Committee during a hearing to examine barriers to job creation for small businesses. "Ivan Matsunaga owns two Connie's Pizzas in Chicago that are in two of the highest areas of foot traffic in the city - Navy Pier and McCormick Place," said Durbin. "Ivan graduated from Cornell and is the former chairman of the Illin… Continue Reading
12.02.09
Durbin to Host Delegation Briefing on Thomson Correctional Center
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that TODAY, December 2, he will host a briefing for members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to discuss the Thomson Correctional Center in Carroll County, Illinois as a possible site for a new federal maximum security prison. If the Thomson Correctional Center is purchased by the federal government, the seven-county area surrounding the facility is expected to experience an estimated increase in employme… Continue Reading
12.02.09
Durbin Statement on Agreement Between GM and Groups Representing Closed Dealerships
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today applauding an agreement between GM, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) regarding the restructuring of GM's dealer network. Their announcement outlines a comprehensive and transparent review of termination decisions and formal reinstatement process should individual dealerships meet or exceed GM's dealer… Continue Reading
11.18.09
Durbin Legislation Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas was approved by the United States Senate late last night. Durbin's legislation was added as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which will now go to a Conference Committee. "Last week, I… Continue Reading
11.17.09
Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $82 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate has approved $82,257,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: • Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Facility, Scott Air Force Base. $7,400,000 in funding for a new aeromedical evacuation … Continue Reading
11.14.09
Durbin Statement on Thomson Correctional Facility
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the potential acquisition and activation of the state correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. "I am pleased the federal government is considering the possible acquisition of the Thomson Correctional Facility from the State of Illinois." "According to the proposal now under consideration, the Federal Bureau of Prisons would operate the facility as a maximum-security priso… Continue Reading
11.13.09
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.5 Million in Recovery Act Funnding for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in McHenry County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2,475,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to McHenry County through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create jobs locally. "Creating jobs and securing the future of our planet are two of the aims of the Recovery Act," said Durbin. "This … Continue Reading
11.09.09
Following Meeting with the VA Inspector General, Durbin Offers Amendment Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a meeting with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General (IG) for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today offered an amendment to the Military Construction Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations bill that would help VA recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas. Representatives from the Offices of… Continue Reading
11.06.09
Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members to Meet With VA Inspector General on Monday
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation will meet with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, on Monday afternoon in Durbin's Capitol office to discuss the unacceptable standards and treatment of veterans found by the Inspector General at the Marion VA Medical Center. On November 3, Durbin j… Continue Reading
11.05.09
Durbin: Senate Approves $3.25 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved $3,250,000 for projects in the state of Illinois in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill. The Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects in Illinois: Department of Justice • Ceasefire at the University of Illinois, C… Continue Reading
10.27.09
Durbin Announces Nearly $11 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Smart Grid Technology in Naperville
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the City of Naperville will receive $10,994,000 in Recovery Act funding for energy grid modernization technologies that will spur the nation's transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. Earlier today, President Obama and the Department of Energy announced $3.4 million in Smart Grid grants nationwide that are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs and a strong… Continue Reading
10.27.09
Durbin Remarks on Unemployment Insurance Extension
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the floor of the United States Senate today about the need to help families that are still searching for work by extending unemployment insurance. Without an extension of unemployment insurance this week, 200,000 American families will be in a position of not being able to put food on the table - 20,000 of those families live in Illinois. "We have tried - more than once - to bring to the Senate floor a bill to … Continue Reading
10.22.09
Durbin, Costello Announce New Carrier to Provide Air Servie to Downstate Communities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today announced that two new air carriers will begin providing air service from three downstate Illinois communities to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport before the end of the year. Cape Air was awarded the Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts in Marion/Herrin and Quincy, while Air Choice One will serve Decatur. There will be no interruption in service during the transition to a … Continue Reading
10.21.09
Durbin Announces $3 Million in Recovery Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $3,190,000 in loan guarantees through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to two rural Illinois businesses. Today's funding announcement is part of a nationwide announcement of $71.7 million in funding to help 20 rural businesses nationwide gain access to the capital they need to launch and expand their businesses and help create additional job… Continue Reading
10.15.09
Durbin: Congress Approves More Than $94 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Congress has approved $94,396,000 for energy- and water-related projects in Illinois. The bill will now go to President Obama for his signature. The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Army Corps of Engineers: • Carlyle Lake, Carlyle. $4,914,000 in funding for operations and maintenance at Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake… Continue Reading
10.09.09
Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in DOT Grants for Illinois Scenic Byways
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,039,722 in grants to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the National Scenic Byways Program. Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. There are 126 such designated Byways in… Continue Reading