Durbin, Harkin, Cummings: More Coordination Needed in Federal Oversight of For-Profit College Industry

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation that would improve coordination between federal agencies that oversee the for-profit college industry. Through the establishment of an interagency oversight committee, the Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Improvement Act - which will be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), … Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Lucheon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the seventh bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 113th Congress. Photos of today's luncheon will be available shortly here. The luncheon today was attended by ten members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation: Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), Representative T… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Yandle for Southern District Judgeship

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has approved Staci Yandle for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois. Her nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. Upon confirmation, she will serve in the Benton Federal Courthouse. "Ms. Yandle's nomination is not only historic, it is well deserved," said Durbin. "Our bipartisan screening committee… Continue Reading

Durbin Recognizes Importance of World Autism Awareness Day

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a statement for the Senate record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today recognized the importance of World Autism Awareness Day. Approximately one million individuals in the United States have autism and according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control released last week, 1 in every 68 children have autism in the United States, making it the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. In Illinois, nearly 26,000 families live with autism.… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Limit to Campaign Contributions

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Supreme Court's decision to strike down limits to individual campaign contributions: "The Supreme Court once again has sold American elections to highest bidder. This decision may be more good news for American oligarchs, but it is bad news for voters," Durbin said. "We have to move away from the wild west of deep corporate pockets and special interest war chests and focus on creatin… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on General McDew's Senate Confirmation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement congratulating General Darren McDew on the confirmation of his appointment to the rank of General, from Lieutenant General, and for his assignment as Commander of Air Mobility Command, located at Scott Air Force Base. "General McDew's service with the 18th Air Force and understanding of the importance of Scott's mission and community make him well qualified for this position," said Durbin. "I want t… Continue Reading

Durbin to Tech Giants: Uphold Your Commitment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Washington, D.C. -Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to nine of the nation's top tech firms, asking them to renew their commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform and to reject efforts to pass stand-alone legislation increasing the H-1B visa cap. Today's letter comes on the opening day for filing H-1B visa petitions. "I write to ask you to renew your commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation and to pledge that you will not support st… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois to Receive $22 Million for School Improvement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the State of Illinois will receive $22,060,358 in funding through the Department of Education's School Improvement Grant program. A total of more than $85 million was awarded to five states that are continuing efforts to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools. "We must ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive no matter where they live and no matter what school they att… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Ukraine Aid Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's 98 to 2 vote to approve a bill that would send aid to Ukraine and place more sanctions on Russia for its acts of aggression in Crimea. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill today and the legislation is expected to be sent to the President shortly for his signature. "The United States took a serious step forward today to show the people of Ukraine that we stand with them as they work toward a mo… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends House Members for Joining Effort to Protect Children from E-Cigarettes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended six members of the House of Representatives, including U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), for introducing the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the marketing of e-cigarettes to children and teens. Durbin joined U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introducing a companion measure in th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Ask for Meeting with BP Following Oil Spill in Lake Michigan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today asked for a meeting with BP after oil from BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana spilled into Lake Michigan earlier this week. Specifically, the Illinois members asked for a report about the cause of the spill, an analysis of the impact of the Whiting Refinery's production increase on Lake Michigan and information on what is being done to prevent future spills. "Any unanticipated spill is cause for concern, but give… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following Senate Hearing on Student Loans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the federal student loan program and the growing student loan debt crisis which has, for the first time in history, surpassed the total amount of credit card debt in America. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, this growing pile of debt threatens current and future economic growth. Before 2009, young people with stude… Continue Reading

Durbin to Introduce Legislation to Coordinate Oversight of For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a speech on the floor of the Senate today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that, next week, he will be joining with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, to introduce legislation that will ensure that federal agencies are working together to oversee the for-profit college industry. According to Durbin, for-profit colleges are part of the problem when it comes to the growing student loan de… Continue Reading

Durbin and Silicon Valley Leaders Meet to Discuss Support for American Innovation & Discovery

[WASHINGTON, DC] Today, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin met with members of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, including Mountain View, California Mayor Chris Clark, to discuss efforts to maintain America's global leadership and economic competitiveness through scientific research. Earlier this month, Durbin introduced the American Cures Act, which would support the future of scientific research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Depart… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Statement on BP Whiting Refinery Oil Spill into Lake Michigan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today released the following statement after learning that an unknown amount of oil from BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana spilled into Lake Michigan. Earlier today, Durbin spoke with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman about the spill. "We cannot be too careful when it comes to protecting the health and safety of Lake Michigan which … Continue Reading

Senators: FDA Must Regulate E-Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Delivery Products

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In light of mounting evidence that the emerging market of new nicotine delivery products poses serious public health and consumer protection issues, six U.S. Senators today called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move quickly to regulate the rapidly evolving market of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products saying: "It's time for the FDA to stop the sale of these candy-flavored poisons to our children." U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Ba… Continue Reading

Gen. Mark Welsh Visits Scott Air Force Base

[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh today visited Scott Air Force Base with members of Illinois' Congressional Delegation to discuss Scott's importance to our nation's military and meet with leaders of the surrounding community to hear about the strong local support for the base. Gen. Welsh agreed to visit Scott at the invitation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees discretionary spending for our n… Continue Reading

Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for International Monitors in Ukraine

Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), today sent a letter to the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urging the international body to immediately deploy civilian monitors to eastern and southern Ukraine as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jeff Flake (R… Continue Reading

Durbin, Foster Applaud Opening of Argonne Energy Sciences Building

[ARGONNE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today attended the dedication ceremony for Argonne National Laboratory's new Energy Sciences Building. Construction on the $95 million building was funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's Science Laboratories Infrastructure Program. The facility is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building. "With its caliber of work, quality of people and boldness of mission, Argonne … Continue Reading

Durbin to CIA: Respect Separation of Powers and Declassify Torture Report

Washington, D.C. - In a strongly worded letter to CIA Director John Brennan, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the CIA to support declassifying a report on its controversial detention and interrogation program. Durbin's letter follows the highly questionable and possibly unconstitutional search of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence computers by the CIA which was revealed this week. "I write to express my grave concerns about the CIA's actions with respect to t… Continue Reading