Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Rural and Agriculture
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Impact With Illinois Corn Growers Association
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, spoke with the Illinois Corn Growers Association today to discuss his support for farmers during the COVID-19 crisis, including assistance in rebuilding locks and dams, restoring strong ethanol production, and improving export markets. During the call, Durbin talked about the distribution to date of more than $5 billion in Coronavirus Food Assistance Program payments to livestock and row crop farmers … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $11.8 Million For COVID-19 Testing In Rural Communities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $11,821,279 in federal funding to support COVID-19 testing in rural communities. The funding comes from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act signed into law on April 24th and will help support more than 200 Rural Health Clinics around Illinois. Each clinic will receive approximately $49,000 in federal funding. Congressional Democrats fought … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Durbin Joines Colleagues To Introduce Legislation To Protect America's Food Supply
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Hunger Caucus and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to introduce legislation to help protect the food supply after the COVID-19 crisis has put an unprecedented strain on farmers, workers, food banks, and families. "For many Illinois families, this is the toughest time they've ever faced. We've seen a huge increase in demand for SNAP benefits, the use of food … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Durbin Speaks With Illinois Food Pantry Directors About Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic On Food Security
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Hunger Caucus and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today spoke with five Illinois food bank directors-who together serve food pantries, soup kitchens, and local organizations across more than half of Illinois-about rising food insecurity and the increased demand on food pantries during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the call, Durbin heard from the directors about the sharp increase in new clients, the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 With Illinois Agriculture Leaders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today discussed the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on Illinois agriculture with leaders from Illinois agricultural groups. During the call, Durbin received an update on conditions with family farm and livestock operations, the importance of maintaining stability in both agricultural markets and the food supply chain, and recommendations for additional policy changes that can help agriculture producers … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Impact On Ethanol Producers With Growth Energy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with members of Growth Energy to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Illinois ethanol producers. On today's call, Durbin, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, heard about the severe harm to ethanol production caused by the steep decline in gasoline demand and how provisions included as part of the House-passed Heroes Act will help ethanol producers. Call participants included the Illinois companies Marquis … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farm Bureau
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, met with the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss agriculture priorities in Illinois. During the meeting, farmers expressed concerns with the Trump Administration's uncertain trade approach with China and the Trump Administration's abuse of small oil refinery waivers that have hurt the biofuels market. "The decision by the Trump Administration to effectively shut down the biofuels industry has hurt … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Durbin Meets With Illinois Corn Growers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, met with the Illinois Corn Growers Association to discuss agriculture priorities in Illinois, including crop conditions, trade, lock and dam infrastructure, ethanol and biofuels, and refinery waivers. "Corn growers are an integral part of Illinois' agriculture economy, and we need to ensure they have certainty from the federal government as we head into the 2020 planting season. Additionally, the … Continue Reading
February 07, 2020
Durbin Statement On USDA Third Round Of Trade Aid Payments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of the final installment of 2019 Market Facilitation Program payments to help American farmers hurt by the Trump Administration's trade policies: "Illinois soybean farmers need this trade aid because of the financial losses they've incurred. But once again, USDA has … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Durbin Meets With Illinois Farm Credit Companies To Discuss Farm And Rural Economy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with Illinois representatives of the farm credit system. The group thanked Durbin for his support of the U.S. Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), and discussed the nationwide increase in farm bankruptcies, the importance of federal support for crop insurance during a tough 2019 crop year, and the need for more infrastructure investments in rural … Continue Reading
January 16, 2020
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of USMCA Trade Deal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after the Senate voted 89-10 to pass the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which updates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Durbin voted in support of the USMCA. "The USMCA will support the economy in Illinois by improving trade relationships with Canada and Mexico, our top trading partners. … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Durbin Discusses Illinois Agriculture With U.S. Ambassador To China Terry Brandstad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, met with U.S. Ambassador to China and former Iowa Governor Terry Brandstad today to discuss Illinois agriculture, including President Trump's recently announced "Phase One" trade deal with China. Durbin shared his concerns with the Trump Administration's haphazard trade approach with China, and how soybean farmers in Illinois previously enjoyed a productive trade market with … Continue Reading
December 20, 2019
Congress Passes Bipartisan Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations bills yesterday. The bills are expected to be signed by President Donald Trump today. "These bills invest in Illinois' environment, transportation infrastructure, health, agriculture, service members, and security. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, bringing home federal dollars … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Durbin Statement On EPA's Final Renewable Fuel Standards Blending Targets Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement expressing concern over the finalized supplemental rule establishing the Renewable Fuel Standard's (RFS) 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations and 2021 Biomass-Based Diesel Volumes: "By issuing 85 waivers that allow oil refineries to stop blending biofuels, President Trump has single-handedly delivered one crippling blow after another to … Continue Reading
December 05, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $12.8 Million To Expand Broadband Access In Southern Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested $12.8 million in high-speed broadband service in Southern Illinois. As part of the USDA's ReConnect Pilot Program, the investment will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 1,650 homes in Jefferson and Wayne counties. "Without reliable access to broadband internet, rural communities can't fully access the tools and resources they need to … Continue Reading
December 04, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth To EPA: Newly Proposed Renewable Fuel Standard Blending Targets Will Be Undermined By Abuse Of 'Hardship' Waivers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), led a public comment letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler expressing concern over the proposed supplemental rule establishing the Renewable Fuel Standard's (RFS) 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations and 2021 Biomass-Based Diesel Volumes. The RFS has proven critical … Continue Reading
November 20, 2019
Durbin Statement On FERC Approval Of Emergency Propane Shipments To Midwest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after Federal Emergency Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved temporary emergency shipments of propane to help alleviate a shortage of the fuel that Midwestern farmers need to dry the annual corn harvest: "Today's decision by FERC to deliver emergency shipments of propane to Monee, Illinois, will hopefully assist our farmers who are … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Durbin Meets With National Biodiesel Board To Discuss Biodiesel Tax Credit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, met with members of the National Biodiesel Board to discuss the biodiesel market, and its impact on energy, the environment, and agriculture. The group discussed the importance of extending the biodiesel tax credit, which expired in 2017. This is the longest lapse ever in the tax credit's history, which dates back to 2005. Durbin also brought up his effort to fight for more … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Durbin Statement On USDA Second Round Of Trade Aid Payments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of the second tranche of 2019 Market Facilitation Program payments to assist American farmers affected by the Trump Administration's trade policies: "Illinois soybean farmers have been badly hurt by the President's nearly two-year trade war with China. Worse yet, when you … Continue Reading
November 15, 2019
Durbin Calls For Increased Funding For Scientific Research
URBANA-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined researchers at the University of Illinois to discuss his efforts to restore the United States' commitment to breakthrough scientific, biomedical, and agriculture research. Research and development (R&D) funding in the United States has been lagging in recent decades. During the 1960s, the United States invested 17 percent of its discretionary budget on research and development-that number has now decreased to just nine percent. This … Continue Reading