Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Meets with Northern Illinois Officials to Discuss Passenger Rail to Rockford
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with several communities leaders from Winnebago, Stephenson and Boone Counties to discuss the proposed Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque Amtrak route as part of the group's annual trip to Washington. Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) attended today's meeting which included the following officials: Mayor of Rockford, Larry Morrissey; Mayor of Freeport, George Gaulrapp; and Mayor of Belvidere, Fred Brereton. "The officials I… Continue Reading
05.19.09
Durbin Announces $6 Million in Recovery Act Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $6,000,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the City of Chicago for noise mitigation measures at public buildings near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This grant will fund sound proofing efforts - including acoustic window unit, ceiling, vestibule and doorway installment, mechanical and electrical system revision and existing soundp… Continue Reading
05.15.09
Durbin Announces $2.5 Million in Recovery Act Funding for NIH Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $2,528,063 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These National Institutes of Health grants, allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services, will support biomedical research and training. The following programs in Illinois will receive funding: • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: $230,281 in funding for a study that seeks to det… Continue Reading
05.12.09
Durbin Announces More Than $5.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Airports
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $5,281,580 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to the state of Illinois for airport improvements. "Rehabilitation of airport infrastructure will put people to work immediately on projects that will help Illinois airports serve travelers safely and efficiently," said Durbin. The following airports will receive funding… Continue Reading
05.11.09
Durbin Announces $3.55 Million in Recovery Act and General EPA Funding for Environmental Cleanup in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $3.55 million in funding through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the assessment and cleanup of properties where hazardous chemical or pollutants may be present. The funding will go toward the renewal and revitalization of distressed industrial and commercial sites, with a goal of turning problem p… Continue Reading
05.08.09
Durbin Announces $3.8 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Airport Security
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $3,860,677.60 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to streamline baggage screening and enhance security capabilities at Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport in Springfield and Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The funding distribution will be determined at a later date based on plans to be submitted by each airport. "Tod… Continue Reading
05.06.09
Mortgage Foreclosures
Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Madam President, there was a debate last week on the floor of the Senate about the mortgage foreclosure crisis facing America. It was estimated a year ago we were going to lose 2 million homes to mortgage foreclosure. The new estimate from Moody's is 8 million homes. What does that mean? It means one out of every six home mortgages will face foreclosure. That is a national crisis. It is at the heart of this recession. The problem,… Continue Reading
04.30.09
Durbin Announces $589,531 in Recovery Act Funding for NIH Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $589,531 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These National Institutes of Health grants, allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services, will support biomedical research and training. The following programs in Illinois will receive funding: • Northwestern University: $68,625 in funding to investigate whether the use of endothelial proge… Continue Reading
04.29.09
Supporting the Budget Resolution
Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Mr. President, I thank the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Conrad of North Dakota, not only for yielding but also for his leadership in the preparation of this important document. The budget resolution is a blueprint. We pass it and then we go to work with the individual parts of it in the appropriations bills. But we have to get this done first because the budget resolution tells us how much we can spend in total. Once… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Durbin Announces $3.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Rock Island Arsenal will receive $3,276,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for three repair projects. "Rock Island Arsenal plays an essential role in the region's economy," said Durbin. "This Recovery Act funding will enhance that role by creating good paying jobs for Illinoisans at the arsenal. At the same time, much needed repairs to the buildings that support our tr… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Durbin Announces $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Wildlife
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,004,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. The funding is part of a larger announcement by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services of $280 million for more than 830 projects nationwide to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure and bolster conservation. Projects that will receive f… Continue Reading
04.28.09
Durbin Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Army Corps Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $300,190,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Army Corps of Engineers projects in Illinois. It is estimated that the funding will directly create 2,400 jobs and indirectly create 6,144 jobs. "This Recovery Act funding will allow the Army Corps to address a serious backlog of important infrastructure projects in Illinois while creating thousands of jobs," said Durbin. "Chi… Continue Reading
04.27.09
Durbin's Bankruptcy Amendment to help Homeowners in Foreclosure
Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Madam President, later this week, the Senate is going to consider legislation that I have been working on for 2 years. Two years ago, it was apparent to me that we were facing a mortgage foreclosure crisis in America. It was a crisis which had just begun, but it was obvious there were many victims. I had no idea when I introduced this legislation that we would be standing here 2 years later and the state of the American economy we would … Continue Reading
04.24.09
Durbin Announces $1.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for NIH Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,275,385 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for National Institutes of Health research programs. The following programs in Illinois will receive funding: • University of Illinois at Chicago: $196,250 in funding for research that may lead to the development of a novel therapy that could reduce the risk of post-operative cognitive deficits from ca… Continue Reading
04.20.09
Durbin Announces Illinois Approved for $1.4 Billion in Recovery Act Education Funding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that $1.4 billion in Recovery Act funding is now available for Illinois to use to fill shortfalls in the state's education budget and to improve educational outcomes for Illinois students. "Investing in our children's future is an investment in our nation's future," said Durbin. "At a time when states face difficult choices about filling increasing budget gaps, today's funding will increase access to edu… Continue Reading
04.20.09
Illinois to Receive More Than $100 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Unemployment Insurance Modernization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $100,383,562 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for unemployment insurance modernization. The funds will allow the Illinois Department of Employment Security to pay unemployment benefits and to deliver employment services. "Recent job loss numbers underscore how urgently unemployment benefits are needed," Durbin said. "Putting money in the hands of unemployed families… Continue Reading
04.17.09
Durbin Announces $49.4 Million in Recovery Act Funding for EJ&E Bridge
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $49.4 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Bridge on the Illinois River near Morris, Illinois. On March 12, 2009, Durbin sent a letter to the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard requesting that the EJ&E Bridge reconstruction project be considered for Recovery Act fundi… Continue Reading
04.16.09
Durbin Announces Millions in Recovery Act Funding for Hazardous Waste Cleanup
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $10-25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for hazardous waste clean-up at the Outboard Marine Corporation site located in the Waukegan Harbor area of the city of Waukegan. The funding, part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of $600 million for the cleanup of Superfund sites across the nation, will be used for the demolition … Continue Reading
04.16.09
Durbin: Midwest is Well Positioned to Utilize High Speed Rail Funding in President's Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood for identifying the Chicago Hub Network as a potential recipient of federal funding under their new vision for high speed rail in America. Their strategic plan identifies $8 billion available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for high speed rail and an additional $1 billion per year for five years out… Continue Reading
04.15.09
Durbin Announces $6.3 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Greater Peoria Regional Airport
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $6.3 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to construct a new terminal facility at Greater Peoria Regional Airport. "Construction of a new terminal facility will put Illinoisans to work immediately on a project that will contribute to the long term ability of the Peoria Airport to serve travelers safely and efficien… Continue Reading