Durbin: White House Nominates First Two to Fill Federal Judgeships in Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated the first two individuals to fill five pending vacancies on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois: Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman. "Sharon Coleman and Gary Feinerman will each bring a great depth of experience and legal ability to the bench," said Durbin. "I was honored to recommend their names to President Obama, and am pleased that he has nominated them to fill… Continue Reading

Durbin, Conyers Unveil Bill to Change Corporate Bankruptcy Laws to Put Workers, Retirees First

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced legislation today, which will curb abuses that deprive employees and retirees of their earnings and retirement savings when businesses collapse. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy."American worker… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Jobs Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after the Senate passed the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act by a vote of 70-28. "Today, on a broad bipartisan basis, the U.S. Senate passed an important jobs bill. It's not the only jobs bill we're working on; it's just the beginning. But it is a good beginning. "The bill provides incentives for small businesses to hire unemployed people across our state. We know… Continue Reading

Durbin Appointed to Bipartisan Commission to Balance the Federal Budget and Reduce the National Debt

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) was named to the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform today, becoming one of 18 members tasked with balancing the nation's budget and reducing the long-term Federal debt. The Commission, created by Executive Order earlier this month, will be co-chaired by former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Republican Senate Whip Alan Simpson. "Our national debt can threa… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $4.75 Million in Funding for Illinois Bus Facilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that several Illinois bus and bus facilities will receive a total of $4,750,000 in funding. Durbin secured this funding in 2009 as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act. Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System, Bloomington-Normal: $400,000 has been awarded for construction of a new administration / maintenance / bus storage facility. Danville Mass Transit, Danville: $255,000 has been awarded for the purchase of a 35… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Obama Health Care Proposal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding President Obama's health insurance reform proposal that was released earlier today: "The President's health reform proposal brings together the best of the current healthcare proposal - including both Republican and Democratic ideas. President Obama's plan to give access to affordable health care to over 31 million Americans who currently don't have it today, will put families not insurance companies … Continue Reading

Durbin and Whitehouse React to Report on Torture Authorizations

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today reacted to the release of a report on the Office of Professional Responsibility's (OPR) investigation of Justice Department attorneys who provided legal advice regarding waterboarding and other abusive interrogation techniques for the Bush Administration. Whitehouse and Durbin first requested the investigation in a February 12, 2008 letter to OPR and the Office of Inspector General during the previous Ad… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $600,000 in Recovery Act Funding for Emergency Preparedness in Cook and Peoria Counties

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded three Local Energy Assurance Planning (LEAP) grants to Chicago, Hoffman Estates, and Peoria totaling $598,556 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will allow local governments to expand their capabilities to respond to a variety of energy emergencies including blackouts, hurricanes, floods, ice storms, and possible terroris… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $3 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Rural Water Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $2,895,000 in loans and grants funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for two rural Illinois water system improvement projects. Today's announcement is part of a nationwide announcement of $128.1 million in funding for water and environmental projects that will help provide safe drinking water and protect the environment in … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $12 Million in Recovery Act Funding for DeKalb Broadband Internet

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Commerce (DOC) has awarded $11,864,164 to DeKalb County through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve access to broadband internet through the DeKalb Advancement of Technology Authority. The funding will be used to deploy a 130-mile high-speed, low-cost fiber-optic broadband network across DeKalb County and northern LaSalle County. "Broadband is an important economi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More than $1.1 Million in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments

[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 18 grants totaling $1,106,850 to fire departments throughout Illinois for vehicle acquisition, operations, and safety. "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 must ensure that they are equipp… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $128 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Job Creating Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that three Illinois transportation projects will receive a total of $128 million in funding through the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. Nearly $57 billion in bids were submitted nationwide for the $1.5 billion that was made available for TIGER grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Durbin was a leader in the effort to include TIGER program fun… Continue Reading

Durbin, Brown to Travel to Africa this Week

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will travel to Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Sudan this week to examine US foreign assistance programs in the region. Durbin and Brown's trip will focus on global health, maternal/infant mortality, clean water, sanitation, refugee, and economic development activities. The Senators will also discuss regional peacekeeping and diplomatic issues. Due to security c… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More than $800,000 in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments

[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 15 grants totaling $829,677 to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "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 must ensure … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces over $34 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Improve Quality and Efficiency of Health Care in Illinois

?[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $34,033,172 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to two Illinois universities and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to improve the quality and efficiency of health care in Illinois by allowing health providers to securely share and access vital health information electronically."Bec… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $500,000 in Funding for Chicago Rockford International Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $500,000 in funding to the Chicago Rockford International Airport to help recruit carriers and develop low-fare service to major business centers in the United States. Durbin sent a letter in October in support of the airport's application under the Small Community Air Service Development Program."Rockford airport has proven to be a viable commerc… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Obama Administration for Coordinated Effort to Control Asian Carp

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the release of the Obama Administration's Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework which coordinates the efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Interior Department and the U.S. Coast Guard to combat the spread of Asian Carp. "The effort to control Asian Carp received an unprecedented investment from the Obama Administration t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Promote Public Health

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Illinois $3,122,372 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support efforts to improve public health by reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and decreasing smoking - the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health. Of today's funding, $1.5 mill… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $2.2 Million in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments

[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 27 grants totaling $2,269,028 to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations throughout Illinois for vehicle acquisition, operations, and safety. "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 … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Canadian National CEO to Discuss Mitigation and Amtrak On Time Performance

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with the new CEO of Canadian National (CN), Claude Mongeau, to discuss the company's mitigation efforts along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E) and improving Amtrak on time performance. On December 24, the Surface Transportation Board approved CN's acquisition of the EJ&E Railway despite strong opposition from local communities in Illinois that will experience dramatic increases in freight traffic."With a historic invest… Continue Reading