Durbin: Senate Apropriations Committee Approves $63.4 Million in Defense Funding for Projects in Illinois

[Washington, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $63,400,000 in federal funding to assist defense related facilities and projects across Illinois. The bill has been reported by the Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. The Fiscal Year 2011 defense spending bill includes funding for the following projects: Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicag… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Effort to Bring Embry-Riddle to Rockford

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, John Johnson, to select Rockford, Illinois as the location for the university's new campus. Durbin also invited Johnson to meet with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C. in order to further discuss the potential for this partnership. "Rockford is the best place for you to expand your presence in the Midwest," Durbin wrote. "Rockford is home… Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Prosecutors and Public Defenders Eligible for More Than $350,000 in Student Loan Assistance

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $365,309 through the Department of Justice's John R. Justice student loan repayment program. The funding, administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, will be used to help prosecutor and public defender offices retain and attract talented attorneys by providing student loan repayment assistance to state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who ag… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks DREAM Act with Harvard University President Drew Faust and DREAM Act Student Eric Balderas

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Harvard University President Drew Faust and Eric Balderas, a Harvard University student, about the DREAM Act - a narrowly tailored, bipartisan bill which will give a select group of undocumented students a chance to earn legal status provided 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. The bill cou… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Subcommittee Passage of Legislation to Restore Fairness in Student Lending

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law for approving a bill that will restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt. Earlier this year Durbin introduced identical legislation in the Senate - the Fairness for Struggling Students Act (S. 3219) - with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Al Franken (D-MN). U.S. Repre… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Senate Committee on Central District Judicial Nominees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nominations of Sue Myerscough and James Shadid - two individuals nominated by President Obama to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Both nominees are expected to receive a vote in the committee within the next few weeks. If approved, they will receive a vote by the full Senate. Durbin established three biparti… Continue Reading

Durbin: Metro East Flood Maps Not Scheduled to Take Effect Until December 2011

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will delay the implementation of the new flood maps for the St. Louis region until December 2011. Durbin also stressed the importance of the delay in allowing more time for property owners to understand their flood risk and for legislative action to prevent residents and businesses from facing dramatic increases in flood insurance rates. "Delaying the … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.6 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Green Small Business in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $1,600,000 Small Business Phase III Xlerator grant to MicroLink, a small semiconductor manufacturer based north of Chicago in Niles, Illinois. The funding will help MicroLink increase production of a new solar power cell technology they have developed. The Department of Energy's Small Business Phase III Xlerator grant program is intended to provide small … Continue Reading

Durbin: Public Assistance Eligibility Will Help Severe Storm Recovery in Seven Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the decision by President Obama to make seven Illinois counties - Adams, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Pike, Schuyler, and Stephenson Counties - eligible for Public Assistance to help people and municipalities recover from severe storms, flooding, and flash flooding that occurred in late July. The declaration also left open the possibility that additional designations may be made after further evaluation. "The storms in July led … Continue Reading

Durbin: Peoria International Airport to Receive $1.8 Million Grant For Improvements

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $1,800,000 grant to General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. This funding will be used for the construction of a new power vault building to improve and modernize airfield lighting systems. "Today's funding will give Peoria International Airport more resources to continue an important modernization project that will help the airport be… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds President's Appointment of John Goss as Chairman of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded President Obama's naming of John Goss to be Chairman of the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee as an important step towards increasing coordination between local, state, and federal agencies tasked with keeping the invasive species from entering Lake Michigan. Durbin wrote to the Administration earlier this year calling for the appointment of a Coordinated Response Commander to lead the fight against the spread of Asian carp. … Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Needs Prsident's Transportation Plan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today stressed the need for President Barack Obama's proposal for a six-year plan to rehabilitate the nation's transportation infrastructure and vowed to work toward its approval in Congress. The President's plan calls for an initial $50 billion investment to help build and maintain 4,000 miles of rail, rebuild 150,000 miles of roads, and rehabilitate or reconstruct 150 miles of runway. In a letter to the President Durbin wrote: "Your tra… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Regarding Mayor Richard M. Daley

[CHICAGO, IL] -- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement in response to a decision by Mayor Daley to not seek re-election: "I spoke with Mayor Daley after his announcement and know this was a personal, family decision. After 21 years as Mayor and almost 40 years in public life, Rich Daley knew it was time. The job of a big city mayor is one of the hardest in America. The fact that Chicago is one of the best, most energized, most attractive places to live in our… Continue Reading

Durbin Says Illinois Must Seize Opportunities for Clean Energy Jobs

[TAYLORVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that Illinois now stands "at a crossroads" when it comes to the future of energy and the creation of good-paying jobs. He said that two projects - the Taylorville Energy Center and FutureGen 2.0 - will mean good-paying jobs, increased economic activity and provide important environmental benefits. But Durbin said federal, state and community leaders must act now before the opportunities pass us by. "Earlier today, I met with comm… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $500,000 in Funding for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Springfield Airport Authority. This funding will be used to acquire new snow removal equipment at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. "Central Illinoisans depend on the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for their air travel," said Durbin. "Today's funding will help the airport keep its runways safe year-… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Must Take Steps to Curb Exploitative Practices at For-Profit Colleges

[CHICAGO, IL] - The for-profit colleges that have raked in federal dollars while leaving students poorly trained and drowning in debt have flourished, in part, because of a lack of federal oversight, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a forum he hosted in Chicago. Durbin was joined by Michelle Zuver, a former student at Westwood College; Denise Parnell, a former student at the Illinois School of Health Careers; Chef William Reynolds, Provost, Washburne Culinary Institute, Kennedy… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Education Department for Release of $415 Million for Illinois Education Jobs Bill

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Department of Education for the release of $415 million in funding to save a projected 5,700 education jobs in Illinois. The funding was included in legislation - Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act - passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President earlier this month. On August 11, Durbin and Mayor Richard M. Daley announced at Robeson High School in Chicago that the $415 million in funding would be made av… Continue Reading

Durbin: Victims of Pakistan Flooding Need Our Help

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged area businesses and members of the public to assist relief efforts for the victims of severe flooding in Pakistan following a meeting with members of Chicagoland's Pakistani-American community over the weekend. "The devastation in Pakistan is clear in the images of entire towns under water as families flee in search of higher ground," Durbin said. "The resulting humanitarian crisis threatens the lives of thousands of Pakistanis wh… Continue Reading

Durbin: Disaster Declaration for Seven Illinois Counties will Help Severe Storm Recovery

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the decision by President Obama to declare seven Illinois counties - Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago - federal disaster areas. The President's disaster declaration triggers the release of federal funds to help people and municipalities recover from severe storms, flooding, and flash flooding that occurred in late July. "Although the flood waters have receded and the storms are long gone, resid… Continue Reading

Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members Call On President to Provide Federal Relief for Seven Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) were joined by members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today in requesting that President Obama declare seven Illinois counties - Carroll, Cook, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago - federal disaster areas. Members signing on to today's letter include Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) Representatives Melissa Bean (D-IL), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Danny Davis (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL),… Continue Reading