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

Durbin Has Small Mass Removed From Stomach

[CHICAGO, IL] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today underwent surgery at the University of Chicago Medical Center to have a small gastro-intestinal stromal tumor (GIST) removed from his stomach. The tumor was not present in the lining cells of the stomach; it was completely removed and preliminary biopsy results demonstrate a favorable prognosis. According to Durbin's doctors, there was no evidence that the tumor had spread beyond the site from which it was removed. Dur… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois to Receive $415 Million Through Education Jobs Bill

[CHICAGO, IL] - A projected 5,700 education jobs in Illinois will be saved as a result of legislation passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President last night, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today at Robeson High School in Chicago. The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act delivers federal assistance to state governments, many of which are facing record budget deficits for the upcoming fiscal year, in order to protect teacher and support personnel jobs in local scho… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Regarding Coles Together Decision on FutureGen 2.0

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Sen Durbin today made the following statement in response to a decision by the economic development organization for Coles County, Coles Together, to decline participation in the FutureGen 2.0 program: "I am disappointed by the decision of community leaders in Mattoon and Coles County to forgo participation in the FutureGen 2.0 project, but as I said at the outset, I will abide by their decision. This week, I will ask the Department of Energy to solicit other Illinois… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Recovery Act Funding To Train Workers In Renewable Energy Field

[JOLIET, IL] - More than 100 area workers will receive green industry job training and a leg up in the job market as a result of a $380,000 Energy Training Partnership Grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The funding, distributed through the National Ironworkers Training Fund (NITF), will train displaced workers in the specific skills needed for wind turbine construction and maintenance. "During the past year, 3 million America… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $1.9 Million in DOT Grants for Chicago/Rockford International Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded two grants totaling $1,882,715 to the Greater Rockford Airport Authority. This funding will be used for equipment and improvements at the Chicago Rockford International Airport. "Today's grants will help expand the capacity and efficiency of the Chicago/Rockford International Airport and ensure that one of the region's premiere airports can continue to serve passeng… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses $550 Million For Illinois Medicaid Program With Local Hospital Leaders

[KANKAKEE, IL] - Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact that recently passed federal assistance to state governments, including more than $550 million for Illinois' Medicaid program, will have on local hospitals. The legislation, which will extend and phase down the Federal matching rate for Medicaid (FMAP) for an additional 6 months, passed the Senate last week and will be taken up by the House on Tuesday. "As a result of the recession, Illinois is facing a budget shortfall o… Continue Reading

Durbin Tours Rock Island Neighborhood Revitalized By Stimulus Funding

[ROCK ISLAND, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Phil Hare today visited a neighborhood that has seen vacant homes turned into affordable housing as a result of more than $21 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "The dramatic increase of foreclosures in cities and towns across America is at the heart of the economic crisis," Durbin said. "The Quad Cities competed fiercely… Continue Reading

Durbin And Hare Name Springfield Post Office After John H. Wilson, Jr.

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) celebrated today the renaming of the United States Post Office located at 2105 East Cook Street in Springfield, Illinois after Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr., the first African-American in Illinois to achieve the rank of Colonel. Durbin and Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) authored the federal legislation naming the Springfield Post Office Building at 2105 East Cook Street in Wilson's honor. The legislation was signed into law on March 9, 2009. "… Continue Reading

Durbin Helps Break Ground at New Multimodal Transportation Center in Normal

[NORMAL, IL] - Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) celebrated the groundbreaking today for a new multimodal transportation center in Upper Normal. More than 70 percent of the project was funded with federal dollars, including more than $10.6 million Durbin secured through his position on the Senate Appropriations Committee. "With the construction of this multi-modal center, funded to completion by a $22 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Normal is poised to become a sho… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Confirms Wigginton as U.S. Attorney in Southern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has unanimously confirmed Stephen Wigginton to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. "Throughout his years as a lawyer in Southern Illinois, Stephen Wigginton has shown integrity and independence that I am sure he will bring to the position of U.S. Attorney," said Durbin. "It was an honor recommending his name to President Obama and voting on his nomination today." Wigginton has … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Confirmation of Elena Kagan as An Associate Justice on the Supreme Court

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate voted to confirm Elena Kagan as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court: "Today's confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court is an historic achievement. For the first time in our nation's history, three women are serving together on the highest court in the land." "Ms. Kagan is a remarkable lawyer who has worked in private practice, clerke… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quinn Statement on New FutureGen to Move Forward at Mattoon and Other Illinois Locations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today responded to the Secretary of the Department of Energy, Steven Chu's announcement that the Department will be moving forward with FutureGen 2.0 in Illinois. FutureGen 2.0 a cutting edge clean coal repowering program and a carbon dioxide (CO2) storage network that can be a model for the nation. Governor Quinn and Senator Durbin released the following statement: "Three years ago, Illinois was announced … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Chang for Federal Judgeship in Northern 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 Edmond Chang for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. Chang is the third individual to be nominated to fill one of five vacancies in the Northern District. Earlier this summer, the Senate unanimously confirmed the President's first t… Continue Reading

Durbin: Government Reports Widespread Abuses in For-Profit College Recruiting

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) responded to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report which found widespread abuses in for-profit college recruiting. "The GAO report's findings are significant and suggest a widespread pattern of fraud and abuse. It calls into question the for-profit sector's assertions that it is the victim of a few bad actors. The GAO visited 15 for-profit colleges and at every single college found recruiters misleading students, providing inco… Continue Reading

Durbin, Webb Take Concerns About For-Profit Colleges to V.A. and D.O.D.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Concerned about reports of some for-profit colleges aggressively targeting military personnel and veterans, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jim Webb (D-VA) today asked the Secretaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, and the Department of Defense, Robert Gates, for detailed information on how veteran and military tuition assistance program funding is being spent. Specifically, Durbin and Webb asked for data on the tuition assistance used for ed… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.1 Million In Recovery Act Funding For Illinois Broadband Internet

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded three grants totaling $1,130,367 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to bring "4G" wireless broadband infrastructure to three Illinois communities - Cairo, Monmouth, and White Hall. "Broadband is an important economic tool, and too many Illinoisans lack adequate and affordable access" said Durbin. "This funding will make a significant i… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $100,000 in Grant Funding for Southern Illinois Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $100,000 grant to Illinois for the Southern Illinois Airport. This funding will be used to conduct a Safety Management System study that will help the airport determine compliance with international standards and help the Federal Aviation Administration promote better safety at all airports. "This funding will contribute to the long term ability of … Continue Reading