Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Rural and Agriculture
Durbin Highlights Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Rural Health Workforce
CARBONDALE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a news conference to highlight bipartisan legislation to address critical rural health workforce shortages. Introduced last month, the Rural America Health Corps Act would create a new program that builds upon the existing National Health Service Corps (NHSC) program by providing new, dedicated student loan forgiveness funding for health care providers that serve in rural communities. Twenty percent of Americans live in rural communities, yet onl… Continue Reading
08.26.19
Durbin Calls For An End To Small Refinery Waivers And Restoring Integrity To The Renewable Fuel Standard
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, along with Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), today urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to end the harmful abuse of small refinery hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Durbin and his colle… Continue Reading
08.09.19
Durbin Holds Roundtable To Discuss How Trump's Tariffs Are Impacting Farmers
NIANTIC-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a roundtable discussion with local agricultural leaders to discuss issues impacting farmers, including the President's recent trade war with China that places tariffs on Chinese goods. China is Illinois' number one agriculture export market. "This has been a tough planting season - and when you combine it with the President's mystifying decisions like a reckless trade w… Continue Reading
08.08.19
In Peoria, Durbin Announces Bill To Boost Agricultural Research Funding
PEORIA-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today unveiled new legislation that would authorize a five percent annual funding increase over the next five years at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With most domestic agriculture research on the decline, the America Grows Act would restore the United States' commitment to publically-funded agriculture research at USDA. Durbin announced the bill while visiting the Peor… Continue Reading
08.06.19
Durbin, Duckworth, Stabenow, Peters Urge USDA To Delay Crop Insurance Premium Deadline
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and Gary Peters (D-MI) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help farmers by deferring penalties or postponing the crop insurance premium deadline to December 1, 2019, instead of October 1, 2019. In a letter to USDA Under Secretary… Continue Reading
07.24.19
Durbin Meets With Illinois Soybean Growers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today met with the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss agriculture priorities in Illinois, including crop conditions, biodiesel markets, lock and dam upgrades, and the damage done by Chinese tariffs. "This has been a tough planting season - and when you combine it with the President's mystifying decisions like a reckless trade war and secret oil refinery waivers that destroy … Continue Reading
07.08.19
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges USDA To Support State's Request For Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON - The entire Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a disaster declaration from the USDA for eligible counties in Illinois impacted by significant damage done to crops by ongoing flooding since March 2019. This season has been the second-wettest spring on record for Illinois-and the wettest in 30 years-with the State receiving 16.36 inches through late May. … Continue Reading
06.17.19
Illinois Congressional Delegation To FCC: Improve Rural Broadband Maps
WASHINGTON - Today, the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and the four FCC Commissioners urging the FCC to improve the nation's broadband maps by reforming the mapping process for broadband services. The members noted that currently the mapping process lacks detail, accuracy, and granularity, meaning many underserved areas, including many rural communities in Illinois, could go without critical funding to improve b… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Durbin, Duckworth Work To Bring Fairness to FEMA Disaster Declaration Process
WASHINGTON - Following historic and severe flooding affecting one-third of Illinois, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the reintroduction of the Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act. The bill would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster declaration process to make it more transparent and equitable to small and rural communities in larger states like Illinois. Due to FEMA's disaster declaration process, states like Ill… Continue Reading
06.11.19
Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farm Bureau To Discuss Farming Conditions, Disaster Aid, & Trade Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss financial difficulties with crop conditions in Illinois due to the wettest planting season in decades. During the meeting, farmers expressed concerns with the Trump Administration's uncertain trade approach with Mexico, and the importance of more federal investments in infrastructure, like rural broadband. "As I saw over the… Continue Reading
06.03.19
Durbin Discusses Historic Flooding With IEMA Acting Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Acting Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau to get an update on how IEMA is responding to historic and ongoing flooding throughout Illinois. Durbin thanked first responders for their bravery and pledged to do everything he can in the Senate to ensure the federal government is being responsive to the needs of Illinois counties still at-risk of dangerous flooding. "It was good to speak with Acting Dir… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Durbin Statement On E15 Gasoline Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule allowing the sale of E15 - gasoline containing as much as 15 percent ethanol-to be sold year-round. "Though I am pleased the EPA has finally issued this new rule for the sale of E15 gasoline, I remain concerned that the Trump Administration is issuing carve outs for Big… Continue Reading
04.17.19
Durbin Urges USDA To Increase Enforcement Of Illegal Puppy Mills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act to prevent operation of illegal puppy mills throughout the country. In a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, Durbin cited a recent report where a breeder in Georgia was arrested after he amassed more than 700 dogs and had been keeping them in filthy and uninhabitable conditions. Durbin questioned why USDA has begun a pilot program that gives breede… Continue Reading
04.10.19
Durbin Presses USDA Official On Food Stamp Eligibility For Illinois' Seniors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today pressed Brandon Lipps, the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), about whether he would commit to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at residential facilities for low-income elderly and disabled people, which USDA has sought to strip in recent years in Illinois. In Illinois, there are ne… Continue Reading
04.02.19
Durbin Meets With CEO Of Corn Growers Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today met with Jon Doggett, CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, to discuss agriculture priorities in Illinois. "Today, I was pleased to meet with Mr. Doggett and hear how the National Corn Growers Association is supporting our farmers in Illinois, the importance of trade with Mexico and Canada, and their work on farmer-led soil health improvements," Durbin said. "We a… Continue Reading
03.15.19
Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farm Bureau To Discuss USDA Cuts In President's Budget, Agriculture Priorities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois' agricultural communities. Durbin discussed the potential impact of President Trump's proposed 15 percent cut to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including a 31 percent cut to the Farm Bill, and a $26 million cut to crop insurance. The group also discussed how the President's trade war with China is affecting business relationships abr… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Durbin Presses Agriculture Secretary Perdue On Food Stamps, Trade, Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in the first Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing of the 116th Congress, pressed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue about access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the elderly and those with disabilities, how President Trump's trade war with China is hurting the price of soybeans in Illinois, and whether he would support comprehensive immigration reform for more than 1.… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Durbin Statement On Bipartisan Agreement To Fund The Government
WASHINGTON-Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee on Homeland Security, today released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan agreement negotiators reached to fund the nine remaining federal departments and their agencies. The bipartisan package rejects President Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall and makes responsible investments in border security long supported by Democrats. For 35 days, we said t… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Durbin Announces Agriculture Subcommittee Assignments For The 116th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will be a member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade; the Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy; and the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources. As a member of these three subcommittees, Durbin will focus on a variety of issues that directly impact Illinois' agriculture, the rural economy, and farmers. "I am honored to be a member of the Senate Committee… Continue Reading
01.16.19
Durbin: President Trump Holding 250,000 Veterans' Paychecks Hostage For His Border Wall
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans to reopen the government by passing the House-passed bipartisan bills - bills that earned the support of Senate Republicans just a few months ago. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin noted how veterans are some of the hardest hit by President Trump's shutdown. Today, as many as 250,000 veterans across the country - direct hire federal workers and contractors a… Continue Reading