Durbin Statement On The Release Of Alan Gross, Normalization Of Relations With Cuba

[JOINT BASE ANDREWS] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement while en route to welcome home Alan Phillip Gross, an American aid worker imprisoned by the Castro regime in Cuba, and regarding President Barack Obama's announcement on the normalization of trade and travel relations with the Republic of Cuba: I'm overjoyed to welcome Alan Gross home after five long years in a Cuban prison. Alan's supposed crime was that he provided Cuba's small Jewish community with compute… Continue Reading

President Signs Into Law Bipartisan Legislation To Name Galesburg VA Clinic After Lane Evans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced that the President signed into law bipartisan legislation that will name the veterans facility in Galesburg, Illinois the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic." The bipartisan legislation was introduced in the House by Bustos and in the Senate by Durbin and Kirk and was supported by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation. Evans - who repres… Continue Reading

Durbin: STB Stands with Illinois Communities, Extends Monitoring Period of Canadian National

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Surface Transportation Board (STB) has extended the oversight period for the Canadian National (CN) Railroad by two years until January 23, 2017. Durbin has made numerous calls for the STB to extend its oversight over the problematic rail company, most recently in a letter to the board this September. A copy of Durbin's letter to the STB is available here. In 2008, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) placed CN unde… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On FDA To Act As Teen E-Cigarette Use Surpasses Traditional Tobacco Products

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to new data showing that more U.S. teenagers are using e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes: "Thanks to decades of strong federal regulations and effective public health efforts, like the CDC's recent "Tips from Former Smokers" campaign, youth tobacco use is finally on the decline. But these hard-won gains are at risk if we fail to address a gateway to tobacco addiction: e-cigarettes," Du… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces New Chair Of Illinois Farm Service Agency

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has named Jill Appell of Altona, Illinois to be Chair of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Illinois State Committee. Ms. Appell farms in Knox County. Ms. Appell replaces Darell Sarff of Chandlerville, Illinois, a Central Illinois grain and vegetable farmer and a past board member of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Durbin first recommended both Ms. Appell and Mr. Sarff for appointment to the… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin-Corker Water For The World Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Senate today unanimously passed The Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, bipartisan legislation to significantly improve access to clean water and sanitation around the world. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Corker (R-TN), and cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ). The bill was passed earlier this month by the House of Representatives, where it is sponsored by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and T… Continue Reading

Durbin-Sponsored Ukraine Freedom Act of 2014 Heading To President's Desk

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have passed the Ukraine Freedom Act of 2014, legislation he co-sponsored that imposes additional sanctions against the Russian defense, energy and financial sectors and also authorizes military and non-military assistance to Ukraine. The measure now heads to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. "Congress has come together to send a strong rebuke to Russian leaders for their interfer… Continue Reading

Durbin: Now Is The Time To Confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy As Surgeon General

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the Senate Floor today in support of the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General. Durbin praised Dr. Murthy for his dedication to fighting obesity, tobacco related diseases, and other chronic diseases that account for 7 out of the top 10 causes for death in America and make up for 84 percent of America's health care costs. Dr. Murthy's nomination is supported by over 100 public health and medical organizations including the Am… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Priorities Included In Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed By Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act of 2015 was passed by the Senate. The bill was passed by the House earlier this week and next heads to President Obama for his signature. "I'm disappointed Speaker Boehner and the House Republicans felt compelled to give what amounts to a taxpayer handout to Wall Street just in time for the holidays," said Durbin. "By atta… Continue Reading

Durbin: Alan J.Dixon Legacy To Be Honored At Scott Air Force Base

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations Bill recently introduced in the House of Representatives includes a provision to honor the legacy and public service achievements of former U.S. Senator from Illinois Alan J. Dixon by directing the Secretary of the Air Force to designate a facility located on Scott Air Force Base in his honor. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Durbin originally inserted the provis… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Agrees To Fund Great Lakes Restoration Initiative At $300 Million

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the inclusion of $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2015 will support ongoing efforts to protect the Great Lakes including: combating invasive species, particularly Asian Carp; reducing and removing pollution, waste run-off and toxic chemicals; and restoring wetlands and other lakefront assets. The bill, which was filed in the House last … Continue Reading

Durbin: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Funds Innovation & Research At Argonne National Lab & Fermilab

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2015, which was introduced in the House of Representatives, preserves essential federal funding for scientific research and development programs that support work at both Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. Together, Argonne and Fermilab employ roughly 4,725 Illinoisans. The bill must now be voted on by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Obama. "We… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning of the death of Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. "The Illinois political scene lost its Polka Queen last night and I lost a friend. Judy Barr Topinka was one of a kind," said Durbin. "In a political world of cocker spaniels she could be a bulldog taking a bite out of both Democrats and right-wing Republicans without missing a beat. She was a blue-collar, immigrants' kid who lit u… Continue Reading

Summary: Defense Portion of FY15 Omnibus

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Defense portion of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Omnibus, or Cromnibus in some circles) provides $554.2 billion in base and overseas contingency operation funding, compared to $572 billion enacted in fiscal year 2014 and $554.3 billion in the President's budget request. The base budget appropriation is $490.2 billion with $64 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) of the Departments of Defense and State, compared to $85.2 b… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos: Omnibus Approriations Bill & National Defense Authorization Act Invest In The Future Of Rock Island Arsenal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2015 - which was introduced in the House of Representatives today - and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - which was passed by the House last week - include multiple provisions that will help solidify the future of Rock Island Arsenal and ensure its long-term health. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill must now be voted on … Continue Reading

Durrbin, Bustos: Continued Funding For Prison Activation In Omnibus Appropriations Bill is More Good News For Jobs, Economic Development in Northern Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2015, which was introduced in the House today, includes continued funding for the activation of the Thomson correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. The bill must now be voted on in both chambers and signed into law by President Obama. Though today's bill does not detail how this funding will be spent, Durbin and Bustos expres… Continue Reading

Durbin: "We Have More Work To Do"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During his final hearing as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that, though we have come a long way, there is still a problem with racism in America and we have more work to do. Today's hearing - entitled "The State of Civil and Human Rights in the United States" - examined the status of key civil and human rights issues, including criminal justice reform, voting rights, and … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Release Of Senate Intelligence Committee Report on CIA Interrogation Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence detailing the Central Intelligence Agency's interrogation practices following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: "In a democracy, where the people govern, this kind of honest report must not be concealed. The interrogation practices detailed in this report are troubling. That our own intelligence agencies refused to disclose the truth eve… Continue Reading

Bill To Honor Lane Evans By Renaming Galesburg VA Clinic Heads To President Obama

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced that the House of Representatives unanimously passed their bill to rename the veterans facility in Galesburg, Illinois the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic." The legislation was passed by the Senate last week and is now headed to President Obama to be signed into law. Evans - who represented Illinois' 17th Congressional District for more than 20 yea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Davis: Bipartisan Legislation To Honor James R. Burgess, Jr. Heads To The President's Desk

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today celebrated Congressional approval of their bipartisan legislation to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, as the "James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building." The bill - which was passed by the Senate unanimously last night - now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "Naming a post office in Champaign is… Continue Reading