Durbin Discusses Legislation Allowing Student Loan Holders to Lower Their Interest Rates

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation introduced in the Senate last week which will allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. "Student debt has reached the breaking point in this country," Durbin said. "Millions of borrowers are looking at a lifetime of debt just because they wanted to do the right thing and get a college degree. The bill which I co-sponsored last week will h… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden for an update on the first confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States, being treated in Indiana. Durbin discussed how his bill, the American Cures Act, which would provide robust funding for the agency's work in biomedical research, which includes the development of vaccines to fight viruses like MERS. Durbin also talked about the … Continue Reading

Durbin Asks Committee To Help Stabilize Highway Trust Fund, Protect Illinois Priorities In Next Surface Transportation Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) to stabilize the Highway Trust Fund in its bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx wrote the Illinois Department of Transportation and State Departments of Transportation across the country today to provide an update on the status of the fund, which is likely to dip below the critical $4 billion funding level this summer. To… Continue Reading

On Senate Floor, Durbin Calls For House Passage of Marketplace Fairness Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined his colleagues U.S. Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) in calling on the House of Representatives to act on the bipartisan, bicameral Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 which passed the Senate one year ago. Video of Senator Durbin's remarks can be accessed HERE. The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 would give states the option to require both brick and mortar and online retailers to collect tax… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Early Career Funding For Young Illinois Research Scientists

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that five young Illinois scientists - from Fermi National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University - were awarded significant funding for research as part of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Early Career Research Program. The scientists were recognized by the DOE for their exceptional work in advanced scientific computing research, high energy physics, and basic energy sciences. The grants will provide … Continue Reading

Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Abduction Of Nigerian School Girls

[WASHINGTON, DC] Today, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators hailed the Senate passage of a resolution condemning the abduction of more than 200 Nigerian school girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram on April 14. Most of the abducted girls - the majority of them between 16 and 18 years old - remain missing. The resolution calling for the safe, immediate return of the girls was introduced by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chris Coo… Continue Reading

Durbin: Climate Change A Real Threat

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the release of the U.S National Climate Assessment, which highlighted the Midwest region's "agricultural lands, forests, Great Lakes, industrial activities, and cities" as especially vulnerable to climate change, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called for immediate action in response to climate variability and better preparedness for extreme weather events. More information on the U.S National Climate Assessment - and its findings relevant to Illinois - is availabl… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $1.2 Million FEMA Grant For Quincy, IL

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $1,297,179 grant to repair the Quincy Waste Water Treatment plant in Quincy, Illinois. The plant was damaged by severe storms and flooding between April and May in 2013. "This federal funding will help rebuild a critical part of Quincy's infrastructure that protects the health and safety of local residents,"… Continue Reading

Senators Durbin, Warren, Reed Introduce Legislation Giving Students A Fair Shot At An Affordable Education

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today introducing the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. Durbin, Warren, and Reed have been working together on efforts to build broad support in the Senate for legislative action to reduce new student loan debt and ma… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shock, Davis, Simon Celebrate Opening of Renovated 183rd Fighter Wing

[SPRINGFIELD] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representatives Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon today attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated 183rd Fighter Wing. Durbin is the chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees discretionary spending for our nation's military, including bases. "From defense exercises in South Korea to disaster response needs at home, the 183rd Fighter Wing … Continue Reading

Durbin To Amtrak: Don't Let Old Post Office Developer Keep Blowing Hot Air

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Joe Boardman, President and CEO of Amtrak, to fight any efforts to roll back maintenance and operations of the ventilation systems at the Old Post Office, which provide significant air quality benefits to the thousands of commuters and workers who use Union Station every day. Durbin wrote Boardman in response to papers filed in federal court earlier this week by Bill Davies, Chairman of International Property Developers and own… Continue Reading

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Abduction of School Girls In Nigeria

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced a resolution condemning the April 14 abduction of as many as 234 Nigerian school girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram. While local officials have reported that several students were able to escape, nearly 200 of the abducted girls, most of them between 16 and 18 years old, remain missing, and news reports from the … Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Chicagoan Terry Gainer, Senate Sergeant at Arms, On Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to honor Senate Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer, who is retiring after over 7 years of service to the Senate. Gainer, who was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, has served longer than any Senate Sergeant At Arms since World War II, and was unanimously elected to his position four times. "During his tenure as Sergeant at Arms, Terry has done an exemplary job of balancing security and public access to the Capi… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Glenn Poshard, President of Southern Illinois University

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a statement for the Senate record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored Dr. Glenn Poshard, President of Southern Illinois University, who is retiring after over seven years of service. Dr. Poshard has had a forty year affiliation with Southern Illinois University, and is the second longest serving president in the history of the college. Durbin and Dr. Poshard also served together for eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1989 to 1997. "Today, D… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With New President Of The Illinois Farm Bureau

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Rich Guebert, the new President of the Illinois Farm Bureau, to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois' agricultural communities. The group discussed waterways infrastructure, the Farm Bill, and renewable fuels standard (RFS). A photo of Durbin's meeting is available here. "I was pleased to meet with President Guebert. The Illinois Farm Bureau will be in good hands under his leadership," Durbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Energy Secretary to Discuss FutureGen 2.0

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following an announcement earlier this month of a labor agreement for FutureGen 2.0, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to discuss the Department of Energy's commitment to moving forward with the project. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "When I was in Illinois earlier this month, I joined members of the FutureGen Alliance and local labor unions to announce an historic labor agreement that moves FutureGen 2.0 one ste… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks on Senate Floor Prior To Senate Confirmation of Shah to Fill Federal Judgeship in Northern District of Illinois

DURBIN SPEAKS ON SENATE FLOOR PRIOR TO SENATE CONFIRMATION OF SHAH TO FILL FEDERAL JUDGESHIP IN NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has confirmed Manish Shah for a federal judgeship in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate approved Shah by a vote of 95-0. Speaking on the Senate Floor shortly before the vote, Durbin said: "Manish Shah is an outstanding nominee. He has the experie… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Fire Chiefs During Annual Fly-In

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association today to discuss the importance of funding fire safety and training programs for communities across Illinois. Among those who attended the meeting were Chief Robert Buhs, Executive Director of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, and Chief Steven Iovinelli, Franklin Park, Illinois Fire Department. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "It was great to see the men and women of the Illinoi… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Rock Island Arsenal Workforce While Chairing Hearing On U.S. Army

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Defense, today highlighted the accomplishments of the Rock Island Arsenal civilian workforce during a hearing reviewing the budget of the United States Army. "I see the value of our civilian workforce every day in Illinois at the Rock Island Arsenal," Durbin said. "When the private sector couldn't provide our troops with what they needed for the fight in Iraq, the civilian workers at Rock Island st… Continue Reading

Durbin: People Who Work Hard Everyday Should Not Have To Live In Poverty

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Opposition to raising the federal minimum wage for millions of Americans is unacceptable and wrong, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a press conference with Senate Democratic Leadership following a 54 to 42 procedural vote on the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. A 60 vote threshold was needed in order to open debate. The bill would increase the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 over the next two years. It would also raise the tipped minimum wage, which ha… Continue Reading