Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau to Discuss Agricultural Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a meeting with representatives from the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss climate change, food safety and renewable fuels. During the discussion, Durbin stressed the importance of passing climate legislation that benefits farmers. He listened to the questions and concerns from Illinois Farm Bureau members regarding climate change legislation in the House of Representatives and spoke about the current state of negotiations in the Senat… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on Mental Health in US Prisons

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing on "Human Rights at Home: Mental Illness in U.S. Prisons and Jails," today before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. The hearing, which focused on the high rate of mental illness among U.S. prisoners, was the Subcommittee's first hearing examining a domestic human rights issue. "Mental illness has been criminalized in our country over the last thirty years," Durbin said. "By… Continue Reading

Durbin Receives Golden Triangle Award from National Farmers Union

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), who serves on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, today received the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union (NFU) for his leadership in promoting the use and production of renewable fuels, his commitment to passing legislation to combat climate change, and his support for efforts to address the crisis in the dairy industry. "I am honored to receive the Golden Triangle Award and will continu… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Auto Manufacturers to Join Dealership Talks

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent letters to CEO's of General Motors and Chrysler today, urging them to participate in talks with the nation's leading dealership groups regarding the planned closure of over one thousand dealerships nationwide. "I write to urge [General Motors, Chrysler] to participate in a constructive dialogue with the key groups representing the hundreds of dealerships that received wind-down letters and are scheduled to close by… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $350,000 in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $350,000 in funding to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago District 299 for noise mitigation measures at Farnsworth Elementary School near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This grant will fund sound proofing efforts - including acoustic window unit, ceiling, vestibule and doorway installment, mechanical and electrical system revision and existing soundproofing related asbes… Continue Reading

Durbin: US Commerce Secretary Locke Announces $4.5 Million in Recovery Act Grant

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the decision by the U.S. Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke, to award a $4.5 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill., to help refurbish an existing building at the Institute's University Technology Park for use as a technology business incubator facility. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 20… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2.5 Million in DOT Funding for Springfield Airport

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a $2,516,560 grant to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. The grant will provide funding for a project to widen a taxiway. "Widening of this taxiway will put Illinoisans to work immediately on a project that will contribute to the long term ability of the Springfield Airport to serve travelers safely and efficiently," said Durbin. … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $52 Million in Defense Funding for Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $52,000,000 in federal funding to assist defense related facilities and projects across Illinois. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 defense spending bill includes funding for the following projects: • Columbia College Chicago, Chicago. $2,000,000 in funding for the Construct Program at Columbia College Chicago, which will deve… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes Springfield Doctor as Special Guest to Joint Session of Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his guest for tonight's address by President Obama to a Joint Session of Congress will be Springfield resident and member of the faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Dr. Janet Albers. Durbin, a member of the Senate Escort Committee, will meet with his guest prior to the joint session. "I am honored to welcome Dr. Albers as my guest to tonight's Joint Session of Congress," said… Continue Reading

Durbin Reaction to President Obama's Address on Health Care Reform

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement tonight following President Obama's joint address to Congress on health care reform: "Tonight the President laid out a clear plan to provide stability and security for those with health insurance and access to quality care for those who don't." "Months of delay and distortion have come to an end. For those interested in bringing new ideas to the table - the President has said 'welcome.… Continue Reading

Durbin: If Dismal Housing Numbers Continue, Congress May Be Forced to Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today after a new report showed the Treasury Department's Home Affordable Modification Program had a fourth consecutive month of low foreclosure modifications. Last month, only 124,000 mortgage modifications were started; 3 million homeowners are currently eligible for modifications under the program. "Waiting for banks to 'volunteer' to end this foreclosure crisis is a waste of time. … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $750,000 Homeland Security Grant to the Chicago Fire Department

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the United States Fire Administration, part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $779,520 grant to the Chicago Fire Department in Chicago, Illinois for fire prevention 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 equipped with the best tools poss… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Rockford and Harlem Township Officials

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Rockford Township Supervisor Michael Goral, Rockford Township Trustee Greg Tuite and Harlem Township Supervisor Doug Aurand to discuss local economic issues.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Cash for Clunkers Demand Allows Chrysler Plant to Hire 850 Employees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after learning of Chrysler's plan to hire 850 employees at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in anticipation of increasing consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars. "Just a few months ago, Chrysler's Belvidere plant was on the verge of a complete shut down that would have had a serious economic impact the region. Now, the company is facing a dramatic increase in demand for fuel-efficient veh… Continue Reading

Illinois to Receive More Than $200 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Unemployment Insurance Modernization

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $200,767,125 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for unemployment insurance modernization. The funds will allow the Illinois Department of Employment Security to pay unemployment benefits and to deliver employment services. Today's funding is in addition to the $100,383,562 in Recovery Act funding that Illinois received in April. "Unemployment benefits are urgently nee… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for New Carbon Sequestration Training Center at U of I

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the University of Illinois was the recipient of $994,991 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for the development of a carbon sequestration training center in Champaign, Illinois. The center will be run by the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium and will facilitate the understanding of technologies required for site development, operations, and monitoring of commercial carbon capture … Continue Reading

US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces $2 Million in Recovery Act Grant

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced a $2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the cities of Centralia and Wamac, Ill., to help make roadway updates to improve access to Centralia Industrial Park #1. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is expected to create additional jobs and private investment in the region. "Improvements to the Centralia industrial park will enhance the re… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Passing of Senator Ted Kennedy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy: "Today there is an empty chair in our Senate and an empty feeling in our hearts." "We all waited expectantly during Ted's struggle with cancer for the Senate doors to swing wide and that great Irish spirit to once again return." "His voice roared as he battled for the poor and the victims of injustice yet he had a smile that could ligh… Continue Reading

Former Rockford Mayor John McNamara Named to Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that John McNamara, former Rockford Mayor and Vice President for College Development at Rockford College, has been named to the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. The committee is an independent and bipartisan source of advice and counsel on student financial aid policy for both Congress and the U.S. Secretary of Education. "John's long history of public service and current position as a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.5 Million in Continuing Grants for Illinois Drug-Free Community Coalitions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that 14 Illinois communities would receive continuing grants as part of the Drug-Free Communities program. The grants, totaling approximately $1.5 million will assist local community coalitions as they work to prevent and reduce youth substance use. The Drug-Free Communities Support (DFC) program is directed by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. The DFC program provides coalition mat… Continue Reading