Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin Meets With Illinois Broadcasters Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with members of the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) to discuss the importance of preserving competition in local broadcasting. Additionally, Durbin spoke with IBA about diversifying newsrooms and strategies to hire and retain local journalists as regional outlets face narrow profit margins. "Local Illinois broadcasters are essential to keeping our citizens informed about important issues, and it's crucial for … Continue Reading
March 03, 2022
Durbin, Bustos Push IDOT Secretary For Progress On Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today met virtually with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Omer Osman to discuss the need for progress on the Quad Cities to Chicago Passenger Rail Project after years of delay. Durbin, Bustos, and Secretary Osman also spoke about how to best use the more than $17 billion in funding allocated to the state through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $912 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding For CTA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $912.1 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help the agency continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Reliable and affordable public transportation is critically important for Chicago residents and essential for our region's economic recovery. This American Rescue Plan funding … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Rename Will County Post Office In Honor Of Larry Walsh, Sr.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 303 E. Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, Illinois, after former Will County Executive Lawrence M. "Larry" Walsh, Sr. U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives A longtime farmer, Walsh began his political career in 1970, at the age of 21, when he was elected to the … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Urge IDOT And IAIS To Finalize Agreement To Begin Construction On Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) urging them to finalize an agreement on the scope and costs of infrastructure upgrades needed so that construction can begin on the long awaited Quad Cities to Chicago passenger rail route. Without an agreement between IDOT and IAIS, … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $513 Million In American Rescue Plan Funds For Metra
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $513.6 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to Metra by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help the transit agency continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Public transit agencies were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why we worked to include this funding in the American Rescue Plan last year," Durbin said. "This federal support will … Continue Reading
January 26, 2022
Durbin Highlights New Funding Available For Illinois Rural EMS Agencies
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged rural communities in Illinois to apply for a new grant opportunity to support fire and emergency medical services (EMS). The funding, created through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, supports EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment-for everything from naloxone and personal protective equipment (PPE), to power stretchers or new … Continue Reading
January 25, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Urge Treasury To Provide Additional Federal Rent Relief To Keep Most Vulnerable Americans Housed
WASHINGTON- As our country continues to face the impacts of the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) in leading a group of Senators in calling on the Treasury Department to reallocate federal rent relief funding to communities most in need. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the Senators requested new guidelines for the distribution of reallocated Emergency … Continue Reading
January 21, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce New Upcoming Funding Opportunities For Infrastructure Improvements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced 25 upcoming infrastructure grant opportunities for local governments as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Local governments throughout Illinois will be able to apply for funding to improve roads, bridges, public transit, water infrastructure, broadband access, and more. In addition to these grant opportunities, Illinois will receive more than $17 billion in dedicated funding as … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Mayor Lightfoot, Members Of Chicago Delegation Announce $1.5 Million In Funding From Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal To Restore Chicago Shoreline
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), and Marie Newman (D-IL-03) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has allocated $1.5 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to the Chicago Shoreline Storm Damage Reduction Project. The funding will … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, Members Of Delegation Call On Amazon To Review Safety Procedures Following Collapse Of Edwardsville Warehouse
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Marie Newman (D-IL-03), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4 Million For America's Central Port In Granite City
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4.1 million in federal funding to America's Central Port in Granite City, Illinois, one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, will support improvements to a berth and cargo transfer location at the port's Granite City Harbor facility. "America's Central Port is integral to the Metro East economy and our … Continue Reading
December 13, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, Davis, Bost Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging White House To Support Emergency Declaration For 28 Counties Following Severe Weather
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) and Mike Bost (R-IL-12) today led every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Biden urging the White House to support Governor J.B. Pritzker's request for an Emergency Declaration for 28 counties. The letter follows severe weather and tornadoes this past weekend that led to six fatalities from the collapse of … Continue Reading
December 09, 2021
Durbin Speaks With Nominee For U.S. Army's Assistant Secretary For Acquisition, Logistics, And Technology
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Doug Bush, who has been nominated by President Biden to be the U.S. Army's Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ALT). During their conversation, Durbin received an update on the Army's Make/Buy Guidance, which helps boost work for arsenals across the country, and how the program is helping inform equipment purchasing. Durbin also encouraged Bush to utilize the Rock Island Arsenal to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Durbin Briefs Illinois State Senators On Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Wins
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with members of the Illinois State Senate Democratic Caucus to provide more details about the funding for Illinois included in the newly-signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Durbin spoke in detail about the bill's $17 billion included for Illinois and the additional billions in competitive grants that Illinois will be eligible for. Durbin and the lawmakers discussed using the funding to accelerate … Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, LaHood, Bost, Bustos, Davis Urge FEMA To Review Levee Reimbursement Methodology Across Regions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL-18), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting that the Agency's headquarters revisit the formulas being used across its regions to calculate Public Assistant reimbursements with regards to pumping costs. In their letter, the lawmakers said … Continue Reading
November 19, 2021
Durbin: Infrastructure Bill Puts Illinois On Path To Lead Nation In EV Manufacturing
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined workers from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 134 to discuss how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help Illinois become a leader in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and the importance of passing the Build Back Better Act to bring even more opportunities to Illinois. "Illinois has the workforce, institutions, and leadership to play an important role in the EV revolution and with the passage … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $13.5 Million For Springfield Rail Improvement Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the City of Springfield has been awarded $13.5 million in federal funding for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project, which will alleviate rail congestion and improve safety. Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) RAISE grant program, will support new underpasses at Madison and Jefferson Streets along the new Transportation Center. The project will … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Durbin Statement On 50th Anniversary Of Local Amtrak Service In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement commemorating the 50th anniversary of the daily Illinois Zephyr, the longest operating state-sponsored Amtrak train in the Illinois network. The train connects Quincy, Macomb, Galesburg, Kewanee, Princeton, and Mendota with Chicago and its suburbs: "The Illinois Zephyr means a lot to the communities it serves, especially for college students, tourism, and economic development. For 50 years, … Continue Reading
November 01, 2021
Durbin: Build Back Better Will Save Middle-Class Families Money, Address Climate Change
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda. During his speech, Durbin highlighted key components of the framework that can help middle-class families save money and build a bright future for their children. "To our Republican friends, if you're really concerned about the economic strain on middle-class and working families, you've got an opportunity to prove it this week. … Continue Reading