Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Rural and Agriculture
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 overcompens… Continue Reading
02.04.20
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 communities. "Buil… Continue Reading
01.16.20
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. I'm … Continue Reading
01.14.20
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 Ch… Continue Reading
12.20.19
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 w… Continue Reading
12.19.19
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 ever… Continue Reading
12.05.19
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 s… Continue Reading
12.04.19
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 to… Continue Reading
11.20.19
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 strug… Continue Reading
11.19.19
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 tr… Continue Reading
11.18.19
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 look … Continue Reading
11.15.19
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 steady … Continue Reading
11.13.19
Durbin, Duckworth Urge Trump Administration To Improve Trade Assistance To Illinois Farmers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with 15 other Senators, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging USDA to improve its trade assistance program to better support farmers based on harm and pursue a focused trade policy to rebuild the markets American farmers have lost. Yesterday, Durbin, along with members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released a new report that details h… Continue Reading
09.25.19
Durbin Discusses Immigrant Labor And Climate Change At Agriculture Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing, asked representatives of the poultry and livestock industry about the need and value of immigrant labor. Durbin made the case that mass deportations and dramatic cuts in legal immigration in America - as proposed by the Trump Administration - would devastate many livestock and poultry processing plants that depend on immigrant labor for operations. "When you go to meat and … Continue Reading
09.24.19
Durbin Meets With Illinois Manufacturing Association To Discuss Trade And Workforce Development
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives from the Illinois Manufacturing Association to discuss the impact of the President's trade war with China and improving workforce development programs. Durbin has supported increased funding for worker training and apprenticeship programs in order to train young workers to fill in-demand jobs in manufacturing and other skilled trades. "It was good to meet with representatives of the Illinois Manufacturing Association t… Continue Reading
09.19.19
Durbin: Appropriations Bills Provide Critical Funding For Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced Illinois priorities included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; and Financial Services and General Government Appropriations funding bills. The legislation passed the Senate Appropriations Committee today and will now be sent to the Senate floor for final consideration. Durbin also … Continue Reading
09.12.19
Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farm Bureau To Discuss Farming Conditions, Disaster Aid, & Trade Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, met with the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss financial difficulties with crop conditions in Illinois due to the wettest planting season in decades. During the meeting, farmers expressed concerns with the Trump Administration's uncertain trade approach with China, and the importance of more federal investments in infrastructure, like rural broadband. They also discussed the Trum… Continue Reading
09.10.19
Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farmers Union To Discuss Farm Economy, Trade, And Biofuels
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Illinois Farmers Union to discuss financial difficulties with crop conditions in Illinois due to the wettest planting season in decades, the Trump Administration's uncertain trade approach with China, and damaging decisions to the biofuels industry. During the meeting, the Farmers Union presented Durbin with the Golden Triangle Award for his leadership in he… Continue Reading
09.10.19
Durbin Introduces Bill To Boost Agricultural Research Funding
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today introduced new legislation that would authorize a five percent annual funding increase over the next five years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With most domestic agriculture research on the decline, the America Grows Act would restore the United States' commitment to publically-funded agriculture research at USDA. Durbin announced the bill while visiting th… Continue Reading
09.05.19
Durbin Highlights Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Rural Health Workforce
GRANITE CITY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a news conference to highlight bipartisan legislation to address critical rural health workforce shortages. Introduced last month, the Rural America Health Corps Act would create a new program that builds upon the existing National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program by providing new, dedicated student loan forgiveness funding for health care providers that serve in rural communities. Twenty percent of Americans live in rural communities, yet o… Continue Reading