Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Rubio, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage Of Resolution Condemning Arrest And Detention Of Russian Dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded the Senate's passage of their bipartisan resolution honoring Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza and condemning his unjust detention. The bipartisan resolution pays tribute to Kara-Murza's advocacy for human rights in Russia and support for the anti-war movement. Additionally, it urges the U.S. and its allies to secure his release and that of Alexei Nava… Continue Reading
05.13.22
Durbin Calls On DOT To Prevent Cape Air From Terminating Passenger Flights To Quincy
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging him to ensure that Quincy Regional Airport maintains passenger air service through the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Essential Air Service (EAS) program. The letter follows Cape Air's recent filing with DOT notifying that the airline plans to halt passenger flights to Quincy Regional Airport. In his letter, Durbin emphasizes the ripple effect the decisio… Continue Reading
05.12.22
Durbin, Duckworth Urge Boeing CEO To Maintain Strong Presence In Chicago
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun requesting a meeting following Boeing's announcement on May 5 that the company will relocate its global headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. In the letter, the Senators emphasize the impact Boeing's relocation would have on Illinois' economy. Currently, Boeing's headquarters, which has been in Chicago since 2001, employs abo… Continue Reading
05.10.22
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With United Counties Council Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the United Counties Council of Illinois to discuss how the American Rescue Plan is impacting communities in Illinois. During their conversation, the Senators received an update on the $14 billion allocated to Illinois through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLRF) Program to aid counties and municipalities in covering pandemic costs, replacing lost revenue, and investi… Continue Reading
05.10.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4.8 Million For Runway Improvements At Quincy Regional Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4.85 million in federal funding awarded to Quincy Regional Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to support the airport's runway reconstruction project. "Today's funding will help improve service, safety, and efficiency at Quincy Regional Airport, which is a critical economic engine and transportation link for Western Illinois," Durbin said. "Senator Du… Continue Reading
05.09.22
In Speech On The Senate Floor, Durbin Highlights Impact Of American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law In Creating American Jobs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor praising the Biden Administration for the uptick in American jobs shown in the April 2022 jobs report and the unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, which reflects pre-pandemic levels. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted the efforts of Congressional Democrats and President Biden in passing the American Rescue Plan to provide relief to families and small businesses and Democrats' leadership succes… Continue Reading
05.05.22
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Boeing Decision To Move Headquarters From Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding Boeing's plans to move its headquarters from Chicago to Washington, D.C.: "Boeing's decision to leave Illinois is incredibly disappointing-every level of government in our state has worked to make Chicago and Illinois the perfect home for Boeing's headquarters for the past 20 years. We are working together to ensure Boeing leadership both understand… Continue Reading
05.04.22
Durbin, Duckworth, Stabenow Secure Increase In Federal Cost Share For Brandon Road Project In The 2022 Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced that they secured another increase to the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Project in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that was passed out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today. Under the provision, the federal government will fund 90 percent of the construction of the project designed to prevent As… Continue Reading
04.30.22
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Normal Mayor Chris Koos To Amtrak Board Of Directors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden nominated Normal, Illinois, Mayor Chris Koos to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors: "Mayor Koos has been a powerful voice in Illinois' transportation sector for years. He understands the importance of passenger rail to communities in Illinois, the Midwest, and across the country, which is why I recommended him for this position. I look forward to supporting his nominati… Continue Reading
04.29.22
Durbin Announces $2.5 Million In Federal Funding For EV Infrastructure And Workforce Training
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2.5 million in new federal funding he secured to support electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and workforce training that will lead to good paying jobs in the electrical industry. In the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus appropriations bill, Durbin secured $500,000 for IBEW to support its career training program at local high schools and $2 million for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to upgrade its 103rd Street bus garage to accommodate elect… Continue Reading
03.18.22
Durbin Meets With Amalgamated Transit Union, Discusses New Resources For Worker Safety
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leadership of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which represents thousands of Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace Suburban Bus workers, to discuss new safety measures included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to better protect transit employees while on the job. ATU has seen an increase in attacks on its members since the start of the pandemic, including a bus driver who was stabbed late last year. IIJA prov… Continue Reading
03.15.22
Durbin Meets With Illinois Municipal League, Illinois Mayors To Talk Infrastructure, COVID-19 Recovery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Municipal League and Illinois mayors to discuss federal funding for Illinois infrastructure projects allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). During their meeting, Durbin broke down the $17 billion in direct and guaranteed funding for Illinois from the IIJA. Durbin also spoke about COVID-19 recovery funding for local governments through the American Rescue Plan and received updates f… Continue Reading
03.10.22
Durbin Talks Infrastructure With Champaign County First
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Champaign County First to discuss county infrastructure priorities now that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has been signed into law. During their conversation, Durbin and Champaign County leaders discussed potential federal funding for several current projects in the region, including The Yards development at the Illinois Terminal of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD); the Curtis R… Continue Reading
03.07.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $118 Million In Additional American Rescue Plan Funding For CTA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $118 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This funding is in addition to $912.1 million in ARP funds previously awarded to the CTA and will help the transit agency continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, support operating expenses, and prevent cuts to the CTA workforce. "As the country's second la… Continue Reading
03.04.22
Durbin Meets With Illinois Broadcasters Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with members of the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) to discuss the importance of preserving competition in local broadcasting. Additionally, Durbin spoke with IBA about diversifying newsrooms and strategies to hire and retain local journalists as regional outlets face narrow profit margins. "Local Illinois broadcasters are essential to keeping our citizens informed about important issues, and it's crucial for the… Continue Reading
03.03.22
Durbin, Bustos Push IDOT Secretary For Progress On Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today met virtually with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Omer Osman to discuss the need for progress on the Quad Cities to Chicago Passenger Rail Project after years of delay. Durbin, Bustos, and Secretary Osman also spoke about how to best use the more than $17 billion in funding allocated to the state through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJA). … Continue Reading
02.08.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $912 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding For CTA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $912.1 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help the agency continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Reliable and affordable public transportation is critically important for Chicago residents and essential for our region's economic recovery. This American Rescue Plan funding builds… Continue Reading
02.04.22
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Rename Will County Post Office In Honor Of Larry Walsh, Sr.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 303 E. Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, Illinois, after former Will County Executive Lawrence M. "Larry" Walsh, Sr. U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives A longtime farmer, Walsh began his political career in 1970, at the age of 21, when he was elected to the Elwoo… Continue Reading
02.04.22
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Urge IDOT And IAIS To Finalize Agreement To Begin Construction On Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) urging them to finalize an agreement on the scope and costs of infrastructure upgrades needed so that construction can begin on the long awaited Quad Cities to Chicago passenger rail route. Without an agreement between IDOT and IAIS, construct… Continue Reading
02.01.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $513 Million In American Rescue Plan Funds For Metra
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $513.6 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to Metra by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help the transit agency continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Public transit agencies were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why we worked to include this funding in the American Rescue Plan last year," Durbin said. "This federal support will he… Continue Reading