Durbin Welcomes AIPAC President as Special Guest to Joint Session of Congress with Israeli PM

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed the President of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Chicago native Lee Rosenberg, as his guest to an address by the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to a joint session of Congress. Durbin, the Assistant Senate Majority Leader, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the council that oversees the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum, met with Rosenberg prior to the jo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Quigley Tour Chicago River in Wake of EPA Decision Calling for Improved Water Quality Standards

[CHICAGO, IL] - More stringent water quality standards are needed on the Chicago River to create a safer and healthier waterway for generations to come, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said following a boat tour today. Durbin was joined on the tour by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region V Administrator Susan Hedman."Discharging sewage that has not been disinfected into the Chicago River is… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk: FERC Decision on Quincy Appeal Extremely Disappointing

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today expressed disappointment in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision to deny Quincy's appeal and stop the city from moving forward with the hydroelectric power plant at Lock and Dam 21. "The decision in February to halt the City of Quincy's work the on a hydroelectric power plant came as a shock. Though the City had been in regular contact with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Quincy was … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Aid Reforestation Efforts in Haiti

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) has introduced legislation to aid reforestation efforts in Haiti. Once covered by thick tropical forest, Haiti is now 98 percent deforested. That deforestation has caused widespread soil erosion; the destruction of natural barriers from hurricanes; and contributes to widespread and abject poverty. The Haiti Reforestation Act seeks to end the rapid and near total deforestation of the island-nation and restore Haiti's na… Continue Reading

Remarks in Support for the Nomination of Goodwin Liu

I rise in support of the nomination of Professor Goodwin Liu to serve on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Professor Liu has been nominated to fill a seat that has been vacant since January 2009. This vacancy has been declared a judicial emergency by the non-partisan Administrative Office of the United States Courts. So no one questions that this seat needs to be filled. Professor Liu is eminently qualified And no one can seriously question Professor Li… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $9,000 FEMA Grant to Monmouth Fire Department

[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 $9,500 in a grant for fire prevention to the Monmouth Fire Department. The Monmouth Fire Department has two stations and protects 10,000 Illinoisans. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $5 Million in Department of Labor Grants for Illinois Youth

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded five grants totaling in $5,499,644 to YouthBuild organizations throughout Illinois. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Participants in the program include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and … Continue Reading

Durbin Asks State of Illinois to Comply with EPA Decision on Water Quality Standards for Chicago River

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a briefing from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Lisa Jackson, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to strengthen its water quality standards for the Chicago and Calumet Rivers as soon as possible. Yesterday, American Rivers - a national environmental group - named the Chicago River among the ten most endangered rivers in the country. The group estimates that sewage comprises roug… Continue Reading

Durbin Raises Concerns with FDA About Melatonin in Baked Goods

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today raised concerns with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about baked goods containing neurohormone melatonin that, because they are marketed as dietary supplements, do not require approval by the FDA for use as additives in food. Durbin asked the FDA to clarify its authority to regulate foods that contain additives, such as baked good that contain high doses of melatonin. "Products with names such as Lazy Cakes, Kush Cakes, and L… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Four Other Senators in Asking for Investigation into Gasoline Price-Fixing

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the average gas price remains above $4.00 per gallon in Illinois and climbing to nearly $5.00 per gallon in some parts of the state, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined four other Senators in asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate potential price fixing of gasoline by U.S. refiners. Later today, the Senate will vote on a bill that would eliminate tax breaks and subsidies for big oil companies and divert the $21 billion in savings over the next … Continue Reading

Durbin: EPA Decision is an Important Opportunity to Make Chicago River Accessible for Generations to Come

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require improved water quality standards for the Chicago River is an important opportunity to make this iconic waterway accessible to generations of boaters, kayakers and even swimmers. Durbin also pledged to work with MWRD, the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois to identify federal resources that can be made available to meet the EPA's new standard. "Disch… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lautenberg, Harkin Call Tobacco CEO Comments: "Reckless and Scientifically Inaccurate"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) today set the record straight on the addictive nature of cigarettes after hearing a statement by the CEO of Philip Morris International, Louis Camilleri, claiming that while smoking cigarettes is addictive, "it is not that hard to quit." In reality, a 2010 Surgeon General's report indicates that in recent years tobacco companies have altered cigarettes to make them more addictive. "As the CE… Continue Reading

Durbin and Hinchey Introduce Bill to Protect America's Red Rock Wilderness

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In an effort to preserve 9.1 million acres of Utah's spectacular red rock country as wilderness, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today introduced legislation in the Senate and House that would ensure the public land remains in its natural, undeveloped state. Durbin and Hinchey's bipartisan America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, which was introduced with 66 cosponsors in the House and three in the Senate, would protect the land from commerc… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Rock Island Resident's Nomination for Federal Judgeship in the Central District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has unanimously approved Sara Darrow for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Central District of Illinois. Her nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate."Ms. Darrow has an impressive record of service in the Rock Island area, prosecuting some of the most challenging cases, said Durbin. "Having served with distinction as a state and … Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Sears to Remain in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged Sears Holding Corp. to remain at its headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and offered assistance as Sears' evaluation process moves forward. Citing the company's long history with Illinois and the 6,000 people employed at its headquarters, Durbin encouraged the President and CEO of Sears, Louis D'Ambrosio, to look for ways to continue to grow that partnership."Sears has had a long history with Illinois beginning with Sears and Roebu… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reid, Menendez, 30 Others Introduce the DREAM Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and 30 other Senators introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act today - a narrowly tailored bill to give undocumented students a chance to earn legal status if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Bill Aims to End Joyride for Big Oil Companies as Gas Prices Hover Near Record Highs in Chicago

[CHICAGO, IL] Unless legislation to end their "joyride" is passed, the five largest oil companies, which recorded more than $30 billion in profits during the first three months of this year alone, will continue to receive $4 billion per year in tax breaks from the federal government, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today outside a gas station in Chicago. A bill eliminating the subsidies for big oil companies and diverting the savings to offset the deficit will be introduced this wee… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Quinn Announce $268 Million for High Speed Rail Cars in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn in announcing that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $268 million in high speed rail funding to Illinois for the purchase of 48 new passenger rail cars and 7 locomotives that will be equipped to travel at high speeds. Today's funding comes from the $2 billion that was rejected by the governor of Florida earlier this year. It is in addition to the $… Continue Reading

Durbin and Manzullo Statement Following Rockford Courthouse Walk-Through

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today released the following statement after the completion of a walk-through of the Rockford Courthouse that was led by representatives from the General Services Administration and the Court. Manzullo participated in today's tour along with representatives from Durbin's office. "The new Rozkowski Courthouse is a beautiful building. Over a hundred local workers did a wonderful job constructing a state o… Continue Reading

Durbin Expansion of VA Caregiver Program Could Help Thousands More Family Members

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to expand the number of caregivers that are eligible for the Family Caregiver Program which provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty. The decision significantly improves an earlier, more restrictive draft and expands the eligibility the pool of eligible veterans from 850… Continue Reading