Durbin Blasts Bank of America On New Checking Fee Plans. Again.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after Bank of America announced new monthly fees for its checking account holders unless they bank online, buy more products or maintain a minimum balance: "Here we go again. Four months to the day after Bank of America rolled back plans to squeeze their customers instead of serving them, they are at it again. This brazen return to new monthly fees is a challenge that cannot go una… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy, Feinstein, Menendez, Cardin and Casey Ask President Obama to Extend Temporary Protection Status for Syrians in the US

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Bob Casey (D-PA) wrote to President Obama today, asking his Administration to extend temporary protected status (TPS) to Syrian nationals currently in the United States. Such a designation would allow Syrians living in the United States to temporarily stay because violence in their home country poses a serious threat to their safety. "In light of t… Continue Reading

Durbin: Justice Department Should Move Quickly to Appeal US District Court Ruling on Cigarette Warning Labels

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the U.S. Department of Justice to quickly appeal a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today that new, graphic labels on cigarette packages and advertisements are unconstitutional. "The FDA's graphic warning labels will show consumers the dangers of tobacco use and allow them to make informed choices about their health," said Durbin. "Continuing to hide the damaging effects of cigarette smoking beh… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds University of Illinois Employees Credit Union's Decision to Adopt Fee Disclosure Form

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Greg Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of the University of Illinois Employees Credit Union, today applauding the credit union's decision to voluntarily adopt a disclosure form designed to make checking accounts terms and fees transparent and easy for consumers to understand, as he has been urging. A copy of that letter is pasted below and attached. "University of Illinois Employees Credit Union's decision to voluntarily a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Agency Should Take Action Against Westwood College

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Illinois State Approving Agency to make the criminal justice program offered by Westwood College - currently under investigation by the Illinois Attorney General - ineligible for federal funding under the GI Bill. According to Durbin, veterans in Illinois rely on the State Approving Agency for assurance of the integrity of the school they attend. "Providing veterans with education benefits makes sense when we can ensure… Continue Reading

Durbin: House Republicans Right to Drop Partisan Transportation Bill that Would Decimate Local Projects and Transit Systems

[PEORIA, IL] - After House Republicans reportedly scrapped their second attempt to pass a partisan transportation funding bill yesterday in the face of overwhelming bipartisan opposition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today called on Republican leaders to consider a bipartisan, two-year compromise-like the Senate transportation bill that passed a major procedural hurdle earlier this month by a vote of 85-11. Unless House Republicans reverse course and work in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.6 Million for Flood Protection Efforts in Woodford County

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Woodford County has been awarded a $1,579,493 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood protection efforts. "This project will protect the health, safety and welfare of Woodford County residents," said Durbin. "By supporting flood control efforts, this federal funding will help reduce costs to the local government there for emergency rescue, infrastructure repair, debris removal and emergency … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Postal Service Notifications

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after learning that the Postal Service began notifying employees of possible closures. "No postal facilities in Illinois will close before May 15, 2012, period," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). "When the Postmaster General agreed, in my office, to a five-month moratorium on postal facility closures, he made it clear that the Postal Service would have to move forward with its consolidation studies a… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Mayor Spring and Cape Air to Dedicate Newly-Opened Maintenance Facility at Quincy Regional Airport

[QUINCY, IL] - As passenger traffic at Quincy Regional Airport reaches an all-time high, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin signaled the strength and importance of the Quincy community's relationship with Cape Air today by dedicating a new facility for regular and unscheduled airplane maintenance. With this facility, Cape Air increases its presence in the Quincy community and adds three highly skilled and good-paying jobs to the area, with the potential for additional job growth. "The opening of this ma… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announce $65 Million in Tax Credits to the Chicago Development Fund

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Treasury Department has awarded $65,000,000 in New Market Tax Credits to the Chicago Development Fund which will use these tax credits to invest in projects and businesses in Chicago's low-income communities. New Markets Tax Credit Program, established by Congress in December 2000, is designed for community development organizations with the goal of saving and creating jobs and spurring … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $1.4 Million Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $1,377,472 investment in five fire departments in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department and protection district to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed Statement on CFPB Inquiry into Impact of Overdraft Fees on Consumers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) today released the following statements after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announce they are launching an inquiry into checking account overdraft programs to determine how these practices are impacting consumers. The CFPB also announced that they are developing a "penalty fee box" - a disclosure on a consumer's checking account statement that would highlight the amount overdrawn and total overdraft fee… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces New Safety and Security Measures in East St. Louis Federal Housing

[EAST ST. LOUIS, IL] - Increased security measures at East St. Louis Housing Authority properties will help protect innocent families, U.S. Dick Durbin (D-IL), an East St. Louis native, said today as he announced the installation of security cameras at six high-rise properties and the hiring of a new security coordinator. "Residents of East St. Louis suffer from one of the highest violent crime and homicide rates in the country. The people raising their families in this community deserve bet… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Accreditor to Make Details of University of Phoenix Review Public So Students Can Make Informed Decisions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) late yesterday urged the Higher Learning Commission, which reviews and accredits colleges and universities, to make public the details of their upcoming review of the University of Phoenix. According to Durbin, with the University of Phoenix being the subject of at least five state lawsuits and an investigation by the General Accountability Office, students and families should have complete access to the Higher Learning Commissions findings i… Continue Reading

Durbin: House Republicans Should Go Back to Drawing Board on Transportation Bill

[CHICAGO, IL] - The House Republicans should go back to the drawing board rather than piece together a partisan transportation bill that has little chance of passing, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said today. Federal funding for transportation agencies throughout Illinois-including the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra-is at serious risk under the House Republican proposal. The Senate's transportation funding bill-an alternative proposal which enjoys bipartisan support-passed a major procedural hu… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Federal Judicial Nominees in Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a representative from U.S. Senator Mark Kirk's (R-IL) office today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Durbin is a member, has approved by voice vote John Lee and John Tharp for federal judgeships on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. Their nominations will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "I am pleased the Judiciary Committee has approved these two outstanding Illinois nominees,… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces an Over $1.7 Million Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $1,700,759 investment in seven fire departments and fire protection districts in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department and protection district to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America'… Continue Reading

Durbin and Coburn Question Twitter on New Censorship Policy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) sent a letter to Twitter CEO, Dick Costolo, asking for detailed information about the social media giant's announcement that it would begin censoring content in particular countries. Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, and Coburn have held two hearings examining tech industry practices in internet-restricting countries and efforts to promote internet fre… Continue Reading

Durbin-Snowe Bill to Eliminate the Practice of Child Marriage Overseas Passes Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Legislation introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) which seeks to end the destructive practice of child marriage overseas was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, sending the measure to the full Senate for consideration. The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act would require that the U.S. develop an integrated, strategic approach to reduce, and ultimately end, the practi… Continue Reading

Senate Democrats Urge Chief Justice Roberts to Release Ethics Rules

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Al Franken (D-MN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to the Supreme Court's Chief Justice, John Roberts, yesterday, urging him to take steps to improve the transparency of the Court by publicly releasing all of its ethics rules and affirming that the Justices follow the same ethics code which applies to all other federal judges. "… Continue Reading