Durbin: Defense Department Needs Plan To Ensure Quality In Tuition Assistance Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today vowed to continue his efforts to stand up for members of America's Armed Forces by stopping the predatory tactics of for-profit colleges that are more interested in receiving federal funding than providing an education. At a June 12, 2013 hearing, Durbin raised serious concerns that the Defense Department's had little or no ability to effectively asses the quality of scho… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Senate Committee Hearing On Illinois Judicial Nominees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, on President Obama's nominations of Jorge Alonso to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin introduced Judge Alonso, who was recommended by Durbin after he conducted extensive interviews with the finalists chosen by a bipartisan screening committee. A photo of Senator Durbin and Judge Alonso following today's hear… Continue Reading

Durbin: Champaign-Urbana To Recieve $15.7 Million Federal TIGER Grant Investment in Transportation Network

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced today that the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (CUMTD) has been awarded $15.7 million for the Champaign-Urbana Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project to revitalize the region's transportation network. The Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project will rehabilitate busy traffic corridors that connect the cities of Champaign and Urbana with the University of Illinois. It will also increase bus service and bike capacity while making side… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For Senate Action on Student Loan Debt Crisis, Access To Affordable College Education

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stood with Senate Democrats at a press conference today to call on the Senate to address student loan debt in America, and actions Congress could take to help ease the burden for working families and students. Durbin is a co-sponsor of the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, a bill that would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates offered to new borrowers this past academic year. If… Continue Reading

Durbin: Constitutional Amendment Would Protect Rights of Millions Of Americans That Are Being Silenced By Corporate Wealth And Multimillionaires

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that a Constitutional Amendment is needed to protect and restore the First Amendment which has been distorted by five activist, conservative Supreme Court Justices. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote tonight on a Constitutional Amendment giving Congress and states express authority to regulate and limit the raising and spending of money for political campaigns. "With decisions like Citizens Un… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $2 Million Investment in Illinois Community Safety Initiatives

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $2,049,506 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding represents an important investment in the Illinois justice system and victims' services programs." said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice and will help provide vital assi… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks Hagel To Review, Reform Pentagon Programs That Transfer Military Equipment To State & Local Police Departments

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of both the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, raising several areas of concern about programs operated by the Department of Defense that provide excess military equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. These programs received national attention following the Ferguson, Missouri, police depa… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Announce Federal Disaster Declaration In Six Eastern Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared six counties in Eastern Illinois federal disaster areas following severe hail storms on May 21st that damaged the region's strawberry crop. Today's declaration ensures that farmers in Vermilion, Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Ford and Iroquois counties will be eligible to apply for loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), a division of the USDA. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A More Than $89,000 Investment In Round Lake First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $89,100 grant to the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District in the Village of Round Lake, Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensu… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $177,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[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 $177,416 to three communities in 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 and first-… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Hagel To Review Allegations of Wrongdoing at Military Hospitals, Requests Report To Defense Appropriations Subcommittee

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, urging him to examine recent allegations of wrongdoing at military hospitals and report back to the Subcommittee on his findings. A recent article in the New York Times stated that the Department of Defense's (DoD) smaller military hospitals have much higher rates of severe complications or deaths from fairly routine care than their civilian hospita… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1 Million In Funding To Support Illinois Programs Assiting Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $1,019,361 in grants to support several justice system programs in Illinois that offer support services to victims of human trafficking and sexual assault. "The funding announced today will help ensure that victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault in Illinois have a voice in our justice system and access to high-quality support services… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Newly Rebranded "CVS Health" Decision to Stop Tobacco Sales

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after CVS Health - newly rebranded from CVS Caremark - announced that it would stop selling tobacco products - including e-cigarettes - in its stores today. Earlier this year, CVS announced plans to remove tobacco products by October 2014. Today, the company announced that it would be following through on those plans more than a month ahead of schedule. "Earlier this year, CVS made a commitment to the heal… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Highlight Potential of Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute

ROCKFORD, IL - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today outlined the potential impact the new the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (or Digital Lab) will have on the Rockford region and throughout Illinois. The Digital Lab, which will officially open its doors this fall, is a first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub that will bring the future of American manufacturing to Illinois. Supported by $320 million-including $70 million in direct… Continue Reading

Durbin Stands With Amtrak, Renews Call For Surface Transportation Board To Investigate Canadian National

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to a complaint filed by Amtrak to improve the on-time-performance of trains operating in Illinois over tracks controlled by Canadian National (CN), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to investigate record levels of freight train interference and - if necessary - award damages to improve the performance of this critical Amtrak route. The STB was granted authority by Congress in 2008 to enforce Amtrak's rights to the ra… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Legislation Which Allows Student Loan Holders To Lower Their Interest Rates

[DEKALB, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation introduced in the Senate earlier this year to allow student loan holders to lower their loans' interest rates with Northern Illinois University students and alumni. The bill, which Durbin co-sponsored, allows current loan holders to refinance to a lower interest rate. A vote is expected on the bill when the Senate reconvenes the week of September 8th."Student debt has reached the breaking point in this country. Far too ma… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits McHenry County College to Discuss Closing "Skills Gap"

[CRYSTAL LAKE, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited McHenry County College (MCC) today to discuss legislation he introduced to help community colleges train workers for high-need technical jobs, many of which are currently going unfilled due to a lack of qualified employees in the workforce. Durbin toured MCC's new manufacturing and robotics labs and met with students and employers who often hire the program's graduates. The college developed many of its programs after surveying local e… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Surface Transportation Board To Closely Monitor Rail Capacity Ahead of Expected Record Harvest

DURBIN URGES SURFACE TRANSIT BOARD TO CLOSELY MONITOR RAIL CAPACITY AHEAD OF EXPECTED RECORD HARVEST [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliot asking him to monitor possible impacts to rail service capacity in Illinois ahead of an expected record harvest this crop season. Given Illinois' extensive rail network, Durbin asked the STB to prepare for any impacts on rail capacity or delays in service that cou… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $143,000 Investment In Central Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[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 $143,450 to two communities in Central 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 Announces More Than $1.7 Million For Improvements to Illinois Health Centers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $1,703,777 in funding through the Affordable Care Act to support construction and renovation projects at community health centers in Chicago, Illinois and the Chicagoland area. This funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was made available through the Patient Centered Medical Home Facility Improvement Grant program. "Community health centers serve an important purpose for fam… Continue Reading