Durbin, Kirk, Manzullo Stress Importance of Keeping USPS Jobs in Illinois During Meeting with Postmaster General

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Representative Don Manzullo (R-IL) stressed the importance of keeping good-paying U.S. Postal Service (USPS) jobs in Illinois communities in a meeting with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. The Illinois members requested the meeting after learning of the Postal Service's plan to review its mail processing network in the hopes of reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. Of the nearly 250 facilities being stud… Continue Reading

Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Justice, Others Protects Several Illinois Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved a bill to fund several federal agencies for the 2012 fiscal year that includes funding that will enhance programs and create jobs in Illinois. Many of these priorities were included in President Obama's 2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail On September 21, Durbin - a Co-Chair and founding member of the Bi-Cameral High- Speed & Intercity Passenger R… Continue Reading

Durbin: Republican "Jobs" Bill Guts Regulations, But Comes Up Empty on Job Creation

[CHICAGO, IL] - Legislation proposed by Congressional Republicans to delay, roll-back, or eliminate basic pollution standards will weaken our ability to ensure clean air and water, and a healthy environment for our families across the nation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the UIC Medical Center. By gutting the Clean Air Act and severely limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate toxic pollutants emitted by coal-fired… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Administration's Efforts to Help Students Manage Loan Debt

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after President Obama announced new steps to make college more affordable and make it easier for students to repay their federal student loans: "Today's announcement by President Obama is welcome news for the millions of students and recent graduates who are struggling to pay off their student loans. Plans to cap monthly payments, provide greater access to loan repayment programs, aid in the consolidati… Continue Reading

Durbin: House Transportation Bill Wrong Approach to Amtrak Funding

[ST. LOUIS, MO] - A House transportation funding proposal would dismantle Amtrak service and stunt high-speed rail growth in spite of record ridership numbers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis, Missouri. "St. Louis is one of the most important hubs in the nation's passenger rail network and Gateway Station is the anchor of that network. Residents of the St. Louis region on both sides of the river … Continue Reading

Durbin Voices Concerns Over Continued Violence in Syria

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to UN Ambassador Susan Rice today, urging continued US pressure on the Syrian regime in the face of continued violence and serious human rights concerns. Durbin also asked Ambassador Rice to push the UN Security Council to further investigate reports of murder, torture, summary executions and disappearances and refer credible allegations of crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court. Senator… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Passage of Key Provisions from American Jobs Act

[DECATUR, IL] - In order to give the lagging economic recovery a boost, Congress needs to pass critical elements of the American Jobs Act that would invest in school, infrastructure, and transit modernizations while putting people back to work, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said at Johns Hill Magnet School in Decatur, Illinois. While passage of the American Jobs Act was blocked earlier this month by a Republican-led filibuster, Democrats in the U.S. Senate will try to pass individual eleme… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President's Announcement of Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

[CHICAGO, IL] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today, after President Obama announced his decision to remove all American troops from Iraq by the end of this year: "During the President's announcement today, he stated what most Americans feel: we are so proud of what our troops have done." "We have made great sacrifices for the country of Iraq: $1 trillion has been spent on the war there, 4,400 American lives have been lost there, and… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Extend Impact Aid Funding Formula For Schools Serving The Great Lakes Naval Base

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has approved a bill that will extend the practice of allowing the five public schools serving the Great Lakes Naval Training Base to pool their students to maximize federal education assistance through the Impact Aid program. The legislation also allows North Chicago to remain eligible for heavily impacted status for the next five years. "W… Continue Reading

Durbin: Prairie State Energy Shows Job Creation Doesn't Have to Come at the Expense of Clean Air

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the President and CEO of Prairie State Energy Campus, Peter DeQuattro, who has been working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the last several years to ensure that their new coal-fueled generation plant in southwestern Illinois meets all required emissions standards. "Prairie State Energy Campus is a clean coal success story that proves job creation doesn't have to come at the expense of clean… Continue Reading

Durbin: Over 2 Million Illinois Social Security Recipients Will See Relief in 2012

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the announcement by the Social Security Administration that a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be issued in 2012. For over two million Illinois residents who receive Social Security, their average benefit will grow by $516. Social Security beneficiaries haven't received a COLA increase since 2009. "Seniors have been hit particularly hard during this economic downturn and social security has been the key to keepi… Continue Reading

Letter to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf

TO: John G. Stumpf Chairman, President and CEO Wells Fargo & Company 420 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94163 Dear Mr. Stumpf: On October 14, your bank reportedly began charging your customers a $3 monthly fee to access their own deposited money using a Wells Fargo debit card. This $3 monthly fee is being imposed on your customers in five states: Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. It is certainly surprising that your bank would pursue this fee strategy in… Continue Reading

Durbin to Wells Fargo: Your Numbers Don't Add Up

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Days after Wells Fargo announced its third quarter profits were up 21%, US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has sent a letter asking the banking giant to explain the need for a new fee for its customers to access their own money using their debit card. The new fee, currently being tested in five states, is similar to the fee Bank of America announced last month to wide criticism from its customers. "It is certainly surprising that your bank would pursue this fee strategy in li… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lautenberg, Harkin, Blumenthal Ask MLB Players Association to Voluntarily Ban Tobacco Use

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the eve of an expected 15 million viewers-including many children-tuning in to watch the first game of the 2011 World Series tomorrow, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on the Major League Baseball (MLB) Players Association to ban the use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, on the field, in the dugout, and in the locker rooms at MLB venues. "Tomorrow night, an exp… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $450,000 DOT Investment in Bloomington-Normal Transit

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System has been awarded two grants totaling $465,600 through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to purchase radios and procure Intelligent Transportation System software, hardware and other equipment for fixed route bus service. "Better communication can lead to cleaner, safer transportation that will improve the quality of life for all resident… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2.4 Million FEMA Grant for Flood Protection Efforts in Addison

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Village of Addison has been awarded a $2,467,869 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood protection efforts. "This project will protect the health, safety and welfare of Addison 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 Announces Over $26.4 Million Investment in Illinois Communities and Housing Agencies

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that Illinois communities and housing agencies will receive $26,425,768 in grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants provide local units of government with funding for community development, shelter housing and the expansion of affordable housing programs. Under this announcement, the following communities will receive funding: Community Development Block … Continue Reading

Durbin and Ardis Applaud DOT Funding to Study Passenger Rail Between Peoria and Bloomington-Normal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mayor Jim Ardis of Peoria, Illinois joined the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in celebrating the Department of Transportation (DOT)'s decision to award $160,000 in funding to study the feasibility of establishing passenger rail service from Bloomington-Normal - which is currently served by Amtrak service from Chicago to St. Louis - to Peoria. "Connecting Peoria to the high speed rail service in Bloomington-Normal opens up new… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Belleville-native Crew Member of Final Space Shuttle Mission

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with NASA Flight STA-135 Mission Specialist and Belleville, Illinois-native Dr. Sandy Magnus and Commander Chris Ferguson yesterday to discuss the International Space Station and continuing space exploration and research. The mission, which carried supplies and spare parts to the Space Station, landed on July 21, 2011, marking the end of America's 30-year Space Shuttle Program. "The Space Program is a part of our nation's past, present… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announces $38 Million Investment to Improve Transit In Chicago

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $38,000,000 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to Chicago C… Continue Reading