Durbin and Kirk Announce $50 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Runway Construction

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $50 million grant to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for runway construction. This announcement comes after the $1.17 billion agreement in March of this year between the City of Chicago and American and United Airlines that allowed the O'Hare Modernization Program to move forward. "The O'Hare Modernization Program is a project of national e… Continue Reading

Durbin Forwards Recommendations for Federal Judges in the Northern District to White House

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Based on recommendations made by a bipartisan screening committee, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House for consideration when filling vacant judgeships on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin forwarded the names of the following four individuals to President Obama for consideration: Julie Bauer, Edward Feldman, John Lee and Sheldon Zenner. "Making recommendations to the White House on federa… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves More Than $146 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $146,742,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. These projects were included in President Obama's FY2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. The Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Great Lakes Naval Station, Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Costello, Shimkus Request Meeting with Army Corps of Engineers to Discuss Plans for Metro East Levee Upgrade

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) today requested a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, to discuss a plan to upgrade the levee systems in Metro East, Illinois and concerns from the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council about securing approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Illinois Members wrote: "While we want to ensure … Continue Reading

Durbin and Blumenthal Introduce Legislation Designed to Protect Consumers of Dietary Supplements

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation that would ensure that consumers have the information they need to distinguish between products that are safe and others that contain potentially dangerous ingredients which haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Dietary Supplement Labeling Act would improve the information available to consumers, and to curb the prevalence of drinks and foods that are ma… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $650,000 FEMA Grant to Lincolnshire Firefighters

[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 a $658,294 grant to the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, in Lincolnshire, Illinois, for recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and wom… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Introduction of Bill to Protect Taxpayer Investment in House

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today commended Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and others for introducing companion legislation to Durbin's Protecting Taxpayers in Transportation Asset Transfers Act. Both bills aim to protect taxpayer investment and require increased transparency and public involvement before local and state governments can lease or sell major transportation projects such as roads, airports and other facilities. "The strong support that has been expressed … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Final Federal Reserve Rules on Interchange Fees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Federal Reserve's announcement of their final rules reforming the debit interchange system: "The rules announced by the Federal Reserve today will finally make swipe fee reform a reality and help bring fairness, transparency and competition to a debit card system that for years has operated without them. The rules, which will take effect on October 1st, will give small b… Continue Reading

Highland Park Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Highland Park resident Joey Berk will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings … Continue Reading

Lincoln Park Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Chicago resident Courtney Lang will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of… Continue Reading

Annandale Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Annandale resident Jeremy Thompson will spend seven weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-working… Continue Reading

Evanston Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Evanston resident Catherine Rolfe will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings… Continue Reading

Hyde Park Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Hyde Park resident Kate Reott will spend seven weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of … Continue Reading

Belleville Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Belleville resident Jamie St. Eve will spend nine weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. offices. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings… Continue Reading

Jackson Park Highlands Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Chicago resident Julian Miller will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 student intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings o… Continue Reading

Senators Condemn For-Profit Colleges' Mistreatment of America's Veterens

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following last night's PBS Frontline segment documenting the mistreatment of America's veterans by some for-profit colleges, a group of Senators condemned the practices brought to light. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), called for greater oversight of military education benefit dollar… Continue Reading

Winnetka Student Interns In Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Winnetka resident Colton Staab will spend nine weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of … Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Decision to Keep Joliet Post Office Open

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the decision to keep the downtown Joliet Post Office open. According to Joliet Mayor Tom Giarrante, a study conducted by the U.S. Postal Service showed that the demand for postal service in downtown Joliet remains strong and is expected to grow in the near future. "Closing post offices in Illinois would not only impact mail service, but would also hurt local economies," said Durbin. "The Postmaster General's decision to … Continue Reading

Durbin, Maloney Introduce Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act today, which will allow employees to take unpaid leave to care for a same-sex spouse or partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent. "Regardless of the make-up of one's family, all employees should be given the same rights to care for a sick loved one in a time of need," Durbin said. "For 20 years, … Continue Reading

Opening Remarks at the First-ever Senate Hearing on the DREAM Act

Thousands of immigrant students in the United States were brought to the United States as children. It was not their decision to come to this country, but they grew up here pledging allegiance to our flag and singing our national anthem. They are American in their hearts. The DREAM Act would give these young people a chance to earn legal status if they have good moral character and go to college or serve in the military. The DREAM Act would make America a stronger country by giving the… Continue Reading