Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging SBA To Grant Economic Injury Disaster Declaration For Ford County
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting that Ford County be granted an Economic Injury Disaster Declaration following severe flooding earlier this month. The letter comes in support of Governor J.B. Pritzker's request after his office determined that the severity of flood damage was beyond the capacity of sta… Continue Reading
08.16.21
Durbin Discusses Illinois' Position As Electric Vehicle Leader With EVBox
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the leadership of EVBox to discuss the Amsterdam-based company's new headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois. On the call, Durbin spoke about the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the $7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure that will help the U.S. and Illinois invest in the future of cleaner, electric transportation. Durbin reiterated his commitmen… Continue Reading
08.11.21
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Budget Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed a budget resolution, the first step in consideration of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation proposal and President Biden's Build Back Better agenda later this year: "Senate Democrats stood together to take the first step towards consideration of a bill that would make generational investments in our future-investments that address climate change, close the income and opportunity… Continue Reading
08.10.21
Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos' Protecting Roadside First Responders Act In Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designed to reduce crashes involving distracted driving and prevent first responder roadside deaths. Authored by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act requires the implementation of life-saving, crash avoidance safety technologies including a… Continue Reading
08.04.21
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills for Energy and Water, Agriculture, Rural Development and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these appropriations bi… Continue Reading
08.03.21
Durbin: We Must Protect Communities From "Forever Chemicals" Contamination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about a recent story in the Chicago Sun-Times that revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - in water systems in Chicago, Lake Forest, Waukegan, and South Elgin. Durbin called on the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which includes $10 billion to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater, wit… Continue Reading
08.02.21
Durbin: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Makes Smart And Necessary Investments In America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. The deal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-build our nation's roads, railways, transit, and bridges; to make high-speed internet and clean water a reality for every household in America; and to create millions of good-paying, family-supporting union jobs across the country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is currently being debated on the Senate floor.… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Durbin Discusses Electric Vehicle Infrastructure And Production With Ford And Lion Electric
WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Ford North America CEO Kumar Galhortra and Lion Electric CEO Marc Bedard to discuss federal priorities in electric vehicle (EV) production and infrastructure. Durbin spoke about his efforts to secure federal funding for EVs in the bipartisan infrastructure deal and a potential reconciliation bill. He also urged the companies to consider Illinois as a location for future battery plants and EV production. "President Bid… Continue Reading
07.29.21
Durbin: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Will Keep Illinois Families Safe, Make Historic Investments In America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. The deal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-build our nation's roads, railways, and bridges; to make high-speed internet and clean water a reality for every household in America; and to create millions of good-paying, family-supporting union jobs across the country. During his speech, Durbin spoke about a recent bridge collapse in Seneca, Illinois, due to … Continue Reading
07.27.21
Durbin Sits Down With Illinois Speaker Of The House Emanuel "Chris" Welch
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel "Chris" Welch to discuss federal and state priorities for Illinois. During their discussion, Durbin and Welch spoke about the ongoing infrastructure negotiations and maintaining Illinois' position as a leader in the electric vehicle industry. Also joining today's meeting was Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner (D-IL-26). "Our government works best when it works together. I'm grat… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Statement On Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the failed Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework: "For months, Senators negotiated this bipartisan infrastructure framework. It is unfortunate we could not agree to merely start debate today. "Illinois needs the federal funding promised in this bipartisan infrastructure framework right now. We are ready to put people t… Continue Reading
07.15.21
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Bring Fairness To FEMA Disaster Declaration Process
WASHINGTON - Following a stretch of severe weather events in Illinois - such as flooding and tornadoes - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the introduction of the Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act. The bill would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster declaration process to make it more transparent and equitable to small and rural communities in larger states like Illinois. Due to FEMA's di… Continue Reading
06.30.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Newman Announce $19 Million For Archer Ave Grade Separation Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-IL-03) today announced $19.13 million in federal funding for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to support the Archer Avenue and the Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC) Grade Separation Project, which will help eliminate road-rail conflicts, avoid first responder delays, and reduce traffic congestion on Chicago's Southwest Side. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Departme… Continue Reading
06.29.21
Durbin Visits Metrolink, Discusses Future Of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
ROCK ISLAND - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District's (MetroLINK) Bus Depot to learn about their electric bus fleet and charging infrastructure and call for an increased federal investment in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. MetroLINK's electric bus expansion has been funded by nearly $10 million in federal funding, including a $2.9 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration that Durbin helped secure last year. "… Continue Reading
06.17.21
Durbin, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Establish Rural Transportation Infrastructure Office
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today introduced the Rural Transportation Equity Act of 2021, which would improve federal support for transportation and infrastructure needs of rural communities in America. Current programs to assist rural areas are handled by various offices and agencies throughout the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Durbin and Bra… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Meets With South Suburban Coalition About Local Infrastructure Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with members of the South Suburban Coalition (SouthCom) to discuss the impact of the pandemic in their municipalities and the local government funding included in the American Rescue Plan. They talked about the need for increased federal investments in their communities through the American Jobs Plan. On the call, Durbin also provided an update about the ongoing infrastructure negotiations in the Senate and heard from … Continue Reading
06.03.21
Durbin, Duckworth Join 18 Senators In Calling On Federal Agencies To Share Data, Work Together To Expand Access To High-Speed Internet
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in leading a group of 17 additional Senators in calling on the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to share data to identify communities without high-speed internet access and work together to improve broadband connectivity. "The COV… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Durbin, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Children From Lead Poisoning
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) today introduced the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2021, which would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update its lead poisoning prevention measures to reflect modern science and ensure that families and children living in federally-assisted housing are protected from the devastating consequences of lead poisoning. "Children continue to be at risk from lead poisoni… Continue Reading
05.21.21
Durbin To Reintroduce Measure To Combat Lead In Federally Assisted Housing; Discusses Funding In American Jobs Plan To Replace Lead Pipes
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today held a news conference to draw attention to several efforts at the federal level to combat lead exposure and contamination in Illinois and across the country. Next week, Durbin will be reintroducing bipartisan legislation to protect children living in federally assisted housing from lead poisoning. Durbin is also pushing for the passage of President Biden's American Jobs Plan, which includes $45 billion to replace 100 percent of the nation's lead pipe… Continue Reading
05.19.21
Durbin Joins Colleagues In Introducing Electrifying America's Future Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and 14 Senate Democrats in introducing the Electrifying America's Future Resolution to advance the vision of widespread electrification across every sector of American life. "As we experience the disastrous effects of climate change, we know we must invest in cleaner forms of energy," said Durbin. "With the Electrifying America's Future Resolution, we are reaffirming our commitment to building more s… Continue Reading