Durbin, Gutierrez Urge Cooperation to Expedite Bubbly Creek Restoration

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) today urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work together to expedite the restoration of the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River - known as "Bubbly Creek". "It's important for communities in and around Chicago that this cleanup of Bubbly Creek moves forward," said Durbin. "In order to do that, we need the Army Corps and EPA wo… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Luncheon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the fifth bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 114th Congress. Started by the late U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon, the Delegation Luncheon has been held regularly in Washington, DC at no expense to the federal taxpayer for more than 25 years. Photos of today's luncheon are available here. The luncheon today was attended by eight members of the … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.16 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois First-Responders

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded grants totaling $3,161,281 to communities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters a… Continue Reading

Durbin & Professor Muhammad Yunus Meet to Discuss Global Anti-Poverty Efforts

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Professor Muhammad Yunus to discuss ongoing global anti-poverty efforts. Through his Grameen Bank, Professor Yunus has pioneered the microcredit movement and helped millions of people around the world break out of poverty. In 2010, Durbin authored legislation awarding Professor Yunus the Congressional Gold Medal for his work to fight poverty and promote economic and social opportunity. The medal was formally awarded at a ceremon… Continue Reading

Durbin Supports Agreement to Prevent a Nuclear-Armed Iran

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Assistant Democratic Leader, today announced his support for the Iran Nuclear Agreement recently concluded by the United States, our allies, and Iran. "We know the cost of war," said Durbin. "We know it in human lives. We know it in the casualties that return. We know it in the cost to the American people. Given a choice between the invasion of Iran or working in a diplomatic fashion toward a negotiation so that we can lessen this threat to t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed Welcome Additional Tools to Crack Down on Predatory Lending Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI), applauded a new rule announced today by the Department of Defense that will close loopholes in the Military Lending Act (MLA) and better protect servicemembers from predatory lending practices. Last year, Durbin and Reed led a letter to then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel expressing strong support for the proposed rule to help prevent lenders from charging excessive fees and taking advantage of military families. … Continue Reading

As Recovery Efforts Continue in Quincy, Durbin Commends Community for Pulling Together

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As recovery efforts continue in response to severe winds and rains that damaged communities in Quincy, Illinois last week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) submitted a Statement for the Congressional Record to offer condolences to Illinois families impacted by the storms, and to commend the state and local response to the devastation. "I have represented Quincy, Illinois, and Adams County since coming to Congress in 1983 as a Member of the House of Representatives," Dur… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Need for Long-Term Transportation Bill with Metro East Leaders

[EAST ST. LOUIS, IL] - Without Congressional action by the end of this month, transportation funding to states and mass transit agencies will be slowed down or stopped, jeopardizing infrastructure projects and good paying jobs in Illinois and across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a construction site near the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. It's been nearly two months since the Senate passed a stop-gap measure to keep the country's major transportation and infras… Continue Reading

Senators: 'Terrible Failure of our Promise to Veterans and Taxpayers' when GI Bill Benefits Wasted on Questionable Institutions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following yet another shocking report by Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) today called on the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald, to investigate allegations that a number of questionable unaccredited educational institutions have received G.I. Bill benefits d… Continue Reading

For First Time, Disinfected Water Begins Flowing to Chicago River System from MWRD's Calumet Plant

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman and other community leaders joined the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) in unveiling the new disinfection facility at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) on Friday. The new facility is designed to improve the water entering the Chicago Area Waterways (CAWS) from the treatment facility that serves more than one million people in a 300-square-mil… Continue Reading

Durbin Vows to Continue Fight for Increased Funding for Food Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill that fell short of providing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the resources it needs to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today vowed to continue working to fully fund the effort. An amendment - offered by Durbin - that would have increased funding for food safety activities by nearly $69 million failed along party lines to receive the votes needed to be included in the … Continue Reading

Durbin Supports Legislation to Crack Down on Flow of Illegal Guns to Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced his support of legislation aimed at cracking down on the daily flow of illegal guns on our nation's streets. The Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act of 2015 would make gun trafficking a federal crime and provide tools to law enforcement to get illegal guns off the streets, away from criminal networks and street gangs, and to prosecute those who traffic firearms. Durbin joine… Continue Reading

Bipartisan Senators Urge President to Highlight Ongoing Violence in South Sudan on Upcoming Visit to Africa

WASHINGTON-A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators today called on President Barack Obama to use his upcoming visit to Africa to highlight the tragic ongoing violence in South Sudan. In a letter led by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), the senators underscored the need for the Administration to address the regional divisions responsible for human suffering on a horrific scale. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), John Barrasso… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) long-delayed proposal to set production levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other agricultural priorities. A photo of Durbin's meetings will be available shortly here. "Illinois' economy begins on the farm," Durbin said. "Today, I was pleased to meet with members from two o… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with the Illinois Farm Bureau to Discuss Renewable Fuel Standard & Agricultural Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois' agricultural communities. The group discussed the impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) long-delayed proposal to set production levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and other agricultural priorities. A photo of Durbin's meeting will be available shortly here. "The EPA's decision on proposed bi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Top Ukrainian Officials, U.S. Ambassador Pyatt

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with top Ukrainian ministers and U.S. lawmakers at the Capitol to continue discussions on the situation in Ukraine. These discussions come amid reports of ongoing Russian-backed military buildups in Eastern Ukraine and concerns that Russian President Putin will continue to fail to comply with the Minsk agreement and sanction further aggression in the region. Durbin also met privately with America's Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt for an u… Continue Reading

Durbin & Peters Introduce Bill to Study Effects of Petroleum Coke

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced legislation today to address the concerns of petroleum coke on a national level and open the door for federal environmental safety regulations on the tar sands byproduct. The Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Act of 2015 would for the first time require a federal study into the health and environmental impacts of pet coke. Based on the results of the study, the bill would also require federal safety… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Monsanto CEO to Reconsider Inversion Strategy that Would Cost U.S. Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions Each Year

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with the CEO of Monsanto, Hugh Grant, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the company to keep its tax address in the United States if its intended acquisition of Syngenta AG is successful. Durbin also reiterated his commitment to passing the Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2015 which would lower the 80% continuity of ownership test under Section 7874 of the tax code to 50%, effectively preventing Monsanto from moving forward with its plan to avoid U.S.… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Announcement of Iran Nuclear Agreement

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the announced agreement reached by international negotiators to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran: The United States, working with our allies, has reached a historic agreement with Iran that, according to President Obama and Secretary Kerry, will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I commend our negotiators for this critical effort. Finding a diplomatic solution will make our country,… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President's Clemency Announcement

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after President Obama announced that he had granted clemency to 46 incarcerated men and women: The President took an important step by commuting the sentences of these men and women. In far too many cases in our justice system, the punishments don't fit the crimes. This has led to an explosion of the U.S. prison population and is oftentimes unfair, fiscally irresponsible, and even a threat to public… Continue Reading