Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $15.2 Million for Keokuk Junction Railway Improvements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $15,268,018 forthe Keokuk Junction Railway (KJRY) through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program to develop, design, and construct activities to complete various track-related improvements in an effort to rehabilitate KJRY’s 126-mile mainline. The project will increase track safety standards, resulting in… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.8 Million for Metra's BNSF Railway

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,888,000 forthe West Cook County Rail Safety Improvement Project through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program to design and construct trespassing prevention improvements along the BNSF Railway, the busiest line for the Metra commuter rail system and a major freight corridor. “Metra’s BNSF railway, li… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Venezuelan Migrants Who Fled Maduro Regime in Chicago

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met with recent migrant arrivals in Chicago—many of whom fled the Maduro regime in Venezuela.  After visiting with migrants to hear their stories and ask questions about their experience, Durbin met with City of Chicago leadership, including Project Manager for the Department of Family and Support Services Natalia Santillan; Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponc… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins HHS, SAMHSA Officials to Announce Federal Funding and Recognition for Haymarket Center

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Haymarket Center with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Region 5 Director Michael Cabonargi and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Region 5 Administrator Jeffrey Coady to announce Haymarket’s federal approval for designation as an “FQHC Look-Alike” for its treatment of individuals experiencing homelessness. With this recognition, Haymarket will provide a comprehensive set of primary care s… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins UAW Picket Line in Bolingbrook

BOLINGBROOK – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today showed his support for striking United Auto Workers (UAW) by joining them on the picket line at General Motors in Bolingbrook, Illinois. “The ongoing strike led by UAW is a vivid reminder of the power and resilience of American workers,” said Durbin. “These men and women who build the cars and trucks that drive our country forward are the backbone of our manufacturing sector, and their dedication and skill have made America a global leader in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Wyden, 28 Senate Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Recognize September as National Voting Rights Month

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and 28 Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.” Along with Wyden, U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) led the bicameral effort. “Republicans and right-wing ideologues are dead set on making it more difficult for Americans to vote nationwide. They’re gerrymand… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to Recuse Himself from Loper Bright V. Raimondo in Upcoming Supreme Court Term

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding ProPublica’s investigative report with new details of Justice Clarence Thomas’s secret participation in donor summits organized by billionaires Charles and David Koch: “Once again, Justice Thomas’s gaggle of fawning billionaires expands and their influence on the Court grows larger. The Koch brothers are the architects of one of the largest, most successful p… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $5 Million to Support Dislocated Workers

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $5,000,000 for the Illinois Department of Commerce through the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training Dislocated Worker Grant Program to support unemployed and underemployed people access, return to, or advance in high-quality jobs in infrastructure, environment and climate, the care economy,and other critical and growing industries. “Dislocated w… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.3 Million to Support Hispanic-Serving Institutions

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,388,667 for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) through the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities and support for Hispanic students. “In Illinois, HSIs play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our diverse communities,” said Durbin. “By investing in these institutions, we are opening… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Local Chicago Business to Discuss Credit Card Competition Act

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today convened the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and local small business owners to discuss his Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. “Illinoisans are concerned about inflation and the high prices of groceries and gas. What they may not know is that the fees charged by Visa and Mastercard when th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Lead 29 Midwest Colleagues In Urging Dot To Support Chicago Hub Improvement Program For Chicago Union Station

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today led 29 Midwest colleagues in a bipartisan, bicameral letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose expressing their support for Amtrak’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program application for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) for… Continue Reading

Durbin & Schakowsky Introduce Legislation To Protect Patients, Improve The Medical Device Recall Process

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today introduced bicameral legislation to improve the medical device recall process in order to protect patients.  The Medical Device Recall Improvement Act would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish an electronic format formedical device recall notifications to streamline communication between device manufacturers, FDA, hospitals, and health care professionals.  It a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $15 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $15,128,931 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grant funding for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support advancements in sectors ranging from diabetes to aging research. “Investing in medical research through the National Institutes of Health is a commitment to the idea that every America… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Help Committee Markup Of Package To Bolster Health Workforce

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) passed a package of legislation to help bolster America’s health workforce, including reauthorizations of the mandatory funding forcommunity health centers (CHCs) and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which are set to expire on September 30.  In order to help pay for this legi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s Meeting With U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with United States Senators: “For nearly 19 months, the Ukrainian people have put up a valiant fight against Russia’s renewed aggression—a fight that few thought they could win, but here they are, still standing.  This is, in part, due to President Zelenskyy’s tireless leadership and courageous determination for his … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Department Of Education’s Move To Approve Borrower Defense Claims For Former University Of Phoenix Students

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that the Department has approved more than 1,200 borrower defense claims filed by students who attended the University of Phoenix (Phoenix) between September 21, 2012, and December 31, 2014.  The relief totals nearly $37 million in repayments to students.  Of the more than 1,200 claims discharged, 50 belonged to Illinois student borrowers, amountin… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Biden Administration Decision to Grant TPS to Venezuelan Migrants Fleeing Maduro Regime

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement applauding the Biden Administration’s decision to redesignate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).  The Administration’s original designation covered Venezuelans who had arrived in the United States by March 2021.  Today’s announcement makes a similar designation for Venezuelan migrants who were residing in the United States on or before July 31, 2… Continue Reading

Durbin Votes For General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. As New Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, voted to confirm General Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Today’s confirmation vote was held after Senate Democrats were forced to maneuver around U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) irresponsible hold of General Brown’s nomination—but his hold on more than 300 military nominations and promotions remains.  Durbin has repeatedly condemne… Continue Reading

Durbin, Marshall, Welch Call For Passage Of Their Credit Card Competition Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Peter Welch (D-VT), along with the Merchants Payments Coalition and small business owners from across the country, held a press conference calling on Congress to pass their Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Masterc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kelly Introduce Care For Moms Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced the CARE for Moms Act as maternal mortality and morbidity continues to rise across the United States, disproportionately impacting Black women.  The CARE for Moms Act builds upon key provisions from Durbin and Kelly’s MOMMA Act, parts of which were passed in bipartisan initiatives including the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, the Helping MOMS Act, and the Preventing M… Continue Reading