Durbin Statement Following Illinois Delegation Briefing on Thomson Correctional Center

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a briefing for members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to discuss the Thomson Correctional Center in Carroll County, Illinois as a possible site for a new federal maximum security prison. Earlier today, top Illinois law enforcement officials - including Illinois State Police Director, Jonathan Monken, who attended today's meeting - wrote a letter to the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following President's Address Outlining Strategy in Afghanistan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Barack Obama outlined his strategy for the war in Afghanistan in an address earlier this evening. "President Obama asked for time to make his decision on a new policy in Afghanistan. I am going to take some time to think through the proposal he presented tonight."… Continue Reading

Durbin: Historic Debate Begins on Health Care Reform

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the United States Senate, by a vote of 60 - 39, agreed to begin debate on The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: "Tonight the Senate voted to open one of the most important debates in its history. For the first time we will squarely face the health care crises American families face every day. We need to bring down costs; give families a fighting chance against insurance … Continue Reading

Durbins Statement on Senator Roland Burris

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today following the Senate Ethics Committee's finding regarding Senator Roland Burris: "When we met with Roland Burris in January, we made it clear that in order for him to be seated in the U.S. Senate he needed to appear before the Illinois General Assembly to testify openly, honestly and completely about the nature of his relationship with the former governor, his associates and the circumstances surrounding… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senator Lincoln

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today following press reports that imply that Sen. Blanche Lincoln has disclosed to Senate Leadership how she intends to vote on the motion to proceed to invoke cloture on the Senate health reform bill: "In a conversation with reporters earlier today, some of my remarks regarding Senator Lincoln were unclear and have been incorrectly interpreted. Let me be clear: Senator Lincoln has had a number of conver… Continue Reading

Durbin: Participation in National Logbook Initiative Will Help Combat Meth in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the State of Illinois for working to implement a multi-state electronic tracking system to monitor sales of meth precursor chemicals and identify individuals who are illegally stockpiling those chemicals. The National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) will provide law enforcement agencies across the country with free access to an electronic log of cold and allergy medicine purchases. This state effort builds u… Continue Reading

Durbin Legislation Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals Approved by Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas was approved by the United States Senate late last night. Durbin's legislation was added as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which will now go to a Conference Committee. "Last week, I… Continue Reading

Durbin Food Safety Bill Clears Senate Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that his FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) was unanimously approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) and now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Durbin's bill will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform the nation's food safety systems. "Every year, 76 million Americans suffer from a p… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $82 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate has approved $82,257,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: • Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Facility, Scott Air Force Base. $7,400,000 in funding for a new aeromedical evacuation … Continue Reading

Durbin Legislation to Officially Name Lovell Federal Health Care Center Approved by Senate

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that his language to officially name the Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago after Captain James A. Lovell was approved by the United States Senate earlier today. Durbin's legislation was added late last night as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill which will now go to a Conference Committee. "While the intent to name the facility after Cap… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Thomson Correctional Facility

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] ­ Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding the potential acquisition and activation of the state correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. "I am pleased the federal government is considering the possible acquisition of the Thomson Correctional Facility from the State of Illinois." "According to the proposal now under consideration, the Federal Bureau of Prisons would operate the facility as a maximum-security priso… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Fifth Member of FSA Illinois State Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Obama Administration has chosen Gordon Stine of St. Elmo as the fifth member of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Illinois State Committee. He will join Darell Sarff of Chandlerville; Jill Appell of Altona; Gerardo (Jerry) Jimenez of Cobden; and Joyce Matthews of Nokomis in overseeing the activities of the FSA in Illinois. "Gordon Stine has lifelong experience in Illinois agriculture,"… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $2.5 Million in Recovery Act Funnding for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in McHenry County

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2,475,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to McHenry County through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create jobs locally. "Creating jobs and securing the future of our planet are two of the aims of the Recovery Act," said Durbin. "This … Continue Reading

Following Meeting with the VA Inspector General, Durbin Offers Amendment Designed to Attract Medical Professionals to Rural VA Hospitals

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a meeting with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General (IG) for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today offered an amendment to the Military Construction Veterans Affairs (VA) Appropriations bill that would help VA recruit and retain high-quality healthcare administrators and providers in rural areas. Representatives from the Offices of… Continue Reading

Durbin and Illinois Delegation Members to Meet With VA Inspector General on Monday

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation will meet with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), George Opfer, and the Assistant Inspector General for Healthcare Inspections, Dr. John Daigh, on Monday afternoon in Durbin's Capitol office to discuss the unacceptable standards and treatment of veterans found by the Inspector General at the Marion VA Medical Center. On November 3, Durbin j… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves $3.25 Million for Illinois Projects

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved $3,250,000 for projects in the state of Illinois in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill. The Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects in Illinois: Department of Justice • Ceasefire at the University of Illinois, C… Continue Reading

VA Secretary to Delegation: Correcting Marion VA Failures is a Department Priority

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Eric Shinseki, today assured members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation that correcting the failures at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois identified in a report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is a priority for the VA and a high level Quality Management team will be sent to the facility to assess the need for further action. Shinseki vowed to report back to the Illinois Delegation w… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with New Board Chairman of the FutureGen Alliance

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the new Chairman of the Board of the FutureGen Alliance, Steve Winberg, to discuss their commitment to seeing that Mattoon, Illinois is home to the first emissions-free coal generation plant. "FutureGen is a critical research component of addressing our nation's energy needs in a cleaner, more efficient way," said Durbin. "The Illinois Congressional Delegation, the State of Illinois, the Department of En… Continue Reading

Durbin, Burris, Costello, Shimkus: VA Management Must Be Held Accountable for Failures at Marion Facility

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Calling the recent findings of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) "appalling" and "inexcusable", U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roland Burris (D-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) today pledged to hold the VA accountable for the failure of leadership at the VA Medical Center in Marion, Illinois to meet VA patient safety and quality care guidelines. In a sharply worded letter, the Illinois mem… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Approves $1.4 Million for Illinois Projects

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Congress has approved $1.4 million for Illinois projects. The legislation will now be sent to President Obama for his signature. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants … Continue Reading