Durbin: Senate Confirms Illinois' Szabo and Rivkin for DOT Positions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Senate approval of Joseph Szabo to be the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Bob Rivkin to be the Department of Transportation General Counsel. "Joe Szabo has a long and distinguished career as an advocate for sound rail transportation policy," said Durbin. "He now brings his passion for the railroad industry and his experience with rail labor to the national stage. I am h… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Wildlife

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,004,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. The funding is part of a larger announcement by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services of $280 million for more than 830 projects nationwide to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure and bolster conservation. Projects that will receive f… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Army Corps Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $300,190,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Army Corps of Engineers projects in Illinois. It is estimated that the funding will directly create 2,400 jobs and indirectly create 6,144 jobs. "This Recovery Act funding will allow the Army Corps to address a serious backlog of important infrastructure projects in Illinois while creating thousands of jobs," said Durbin. "Chi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Rock Island Arsenal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Rock Island Arsenal will receive $3,276,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for three repair projects. "Rock Island Arsenal plays an essential role in the region's economy," said Durbin. "This Recovery Act funding will enhance that role by creating good paying jobs for Illinoisans at the arsenal. At the same time, much needed repairs to the buildings that support our tr… Continue Reading

Durbin Comments on Specter Party Switch

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following remarks after receiving news that Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) intends to change his party affiliation and align himself with Senate Democrats. Durbin has served with Specter on both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee. "For some time now, many of us in the Senate have approached Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and asked him to consider joining the Democr… Continue Reading

Durbin's Bankruptcy Amendment to help Homeowners in Foreclosure

Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Madam President, later this week, the Senate is going to consider legislation that I have been working on for 2 years. Two years ago, it was apparent to me that we were facing a mortgage foreclosure crisis in America. It was a crisis which had just begun, but it was obvious there were many victims. I had no idea when I introduced this legislation that we would be standing here 2 years later and the state of the American economy we would … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Illinois' Swine Flu Prevention

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued a statement following a briefing on the ongoing effort to protect the health and safety of Illinoisans from the threat of swine influenza. Earlier today, Durbin was joined by members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation on a telephone briefing with the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. Damon Arnold and the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), Andrew Velasquez.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Bipartisan Screening Committees for Federal Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the formation of three bipartisan screening committees to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges, U.S. Attorneys, and U.S. Marshals for the State of Illinois. The committees will be based in the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois. The screening committees will be comprised of 22 distinguished Illinoisans drawn from various aspects of the legal profession and include former judges, prominent litigators… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schumer, Kennedy Ask Treasury to Support Creation of a Financial Product Safety Commission

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) released a letter to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner today, encouraging him to include their proposed Financial Product Safety Commission in the Administration's plans for financial market reforms. "[T]here is no reason for us to have regulations that prevent toasters from exploding into flames, but no protections to prevent mortgages and credit cards from doi… Continue Reading

Durbin Praises Nomination of Tom Lamont for Army Assistant Secretary

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised President Obama's choice of Thomas R. Lamont to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs within the Department of Defense. "Tom Lamont is a decorated veteran who will be able to draw on his twenty-five years of experience with the Illinois National Guard in this position," said Durbin. "He is also a dedicated public servant with exceptional knowledge and expertise in both the legal and legislative process… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for NIH Research in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,275,385 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for National Institutes of Health research programs. The following programs in Illinois will receive funding: • University of Illinois at Chicago: $196,250 in funding for research that may lead to the development of a novel therapy that could reduce the risk of post-operative cognitive deficits from ca… Continue Reading

U.S. Policy toward Cuba

Delivered on the Floor of the United States Senate Mr. President, last month during the vote on the omnibus bill we heard the beginnings of a discussion on the best way to encourage change in Cuba. Shortly thereafter several of my colleagues, including Senators Dorgan, Lugar, Dodd, and Enzi spoke about their bill, the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act, which I am pleased to cosponsor. And last week President Obama announced an easing of U.S. policy toward Cuba--one that allows for, am… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Legislation to Reform H-1B Visa Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today introduced the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act - narrowly-tailored bipartisan legislation that would reform the H-1B and L-1 guest-worker programs to prevent abuse and fraud and to protect American workers. "The H-1B visa program should complement the U.S. workforce, not replace it," Durbin said. "Congress created the H-1B visa program so an employer could hire a foreign guest-worker… Continue Reading

Durbin Nominates Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Muhammed Yunus for Congressional Gold Medal

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) today nominated Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus for a Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Yunus, who was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, is recognized as a leading figure in the effort to fight poverty and promote economic and social opportunity. Through his Grameen Bank, he pioneered the microcredit movement and helped people around the world break out of poverty. "Dr. Muhammad Yunus believes o… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Confirms Duckworth for VA Position

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Senate approval of Tammy Duckworth to be Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the Department of Veterans Affairs. "President Obama and America's veterans now have Tammy Duckworth as their advocate and champion," said Durbin. "I know Tammy will bring the same level of commitment to the VA that she has shown in fighting for her country and representing Illinois veterans." … Continue Reading

Illinois to Receive More Than $100 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 $100,383,562 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. "Recent job loss numbers underscore how urgently unemployment benefits are needed," Durbin said. "Putting money in the hands of unemployed families… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois Approved for $1.4 Billion in Recovery Act Education Funding

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that $1.4 billion in Recovery Act funding is now available for Illinois to use to fill shortfalls in the state's education budget and to improve educational outcomes for Illinois students. "Investing in our children's future is an investment in our nation's future," said Durbin. "At a time when states face difficult choices about filling increasing budget gaps, today's funding will increase access to edu… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $49.4 Million in Recovery Act Funding for EJ&E Bridge

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $49.4 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Bridge on the Illinois River near Morris, Illinois. On March 12, 2009, Durbin sent a letter to the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard requesting that the EJ&E Bridge reconstruction project be considered for Recovery Act fundi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Millions in Recovery Act Funding for Hazardous Waste Cleanup

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $10-25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for hazardous waste clean-up at the Outboard Marine Corporation site located in the Waukegan Harbor area of the city of Waukegan. The funding, part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of $600 million for the cleanup of Superfund sites across the nation, will be used for the demolition … Continue Reading

Durbin: Midwest is Well Positioned to Utilize High Speed Rail Funding in President's Plan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood for identifying the Chicago Hub Network as a potential recipient of federal funding under their new vision for high speed rail in America. Their strategic plan identifies $8 billion available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for high speed rail and an additional $1 billion per year for five years out… Continue Reading