Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Rural and Agriculture
Illinois Congressional Delegation Announces $3.4 Million In FY2014 Funding to Fix Metro East Levee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will allocate $3.4 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 funding to fix the portions of the Wood River Levee that have been negatively impacted by a design deficiency in the construction of the Melvin Price Dam. The funding was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 that was signed into law by President Obama in January. As part of his FY 2015 Budget which was … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Durbin Discusses Farm Bill, Renewable Fuel Standards and Agricultural Priorities with the Illinois Farm Bureau
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois' agricultural communities. The group discussed the Farm Bill, renewable fuel standards and waterway infrastructure. A photo of Durbin's meeting is available here. "I was pleased to meet with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss the new Farm Bill which gives farmers across Illinois the certainty they need to plan ahead. It … Continue Reading
February 04, 2014
Durbin: It's About Time Congress Passes a Bipartisan Farm Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Illinois farmers will finally have the certainty they need to make plans for the future, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today prior to a Senate vote on the Farm Bill conference report. The legislation will save roughly $23 billion over the next 10 years compared to pre-sequestration budget levels, and reforms several titles to help producers better manage risk, makes key investments in energy and research, ensures programs are in place to help rural communities grow … Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
Durbin Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight the President gave an optimistic speech about opportunity for American families, an economy on the rise and leveled a call to action to ensure this is a year of progress for the middle class." "From programs to grow the economy and create jobs like the launching of new manufacturing institutes and infrastructure … Continue Reading
January 23, 2014
Durbin, Senators Call on EPA to Support Rural America's Economy, Environment & Revise Fuel Standards Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Al Franken (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and twenty-six of their Senate colleagues sent a bipartisan letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy yesterday urging the agency to firmly support the future of biofuels and revise its proposed waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Senators shared their concerns regarding the proposed rule's potential impact on … Continue Reading
January 22, 2014
Durbin, Foster Announce More Than $1 Million Investment in Naperville First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $1,002,000 grant to the Naperville Fire Department in Naperville, Illinois for hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Today's grant will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur, firefighters and first-responders will always … Continue Reading
December 11, 2013
Durbin: Biofuels Critical to Achieving Energy Independence, Protecting Our Environment, and Supportin Rural Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following an oversight hearing today held by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to examine the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal reduce the renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reiterated his commitment to working with his Congressional colleagues and Illinois' industry stakeholders to improve the proposal. The biofuels industry is a major job creator, especially in rural … Continue Reading
December 03, 2013
Durbin Tours Gifford Tornado Damage
[GIFFORD, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Gifford to take a firsthand look at the damage from last month's tornado and get an update on the recovery efforts from IEMA. "The tornado damage that I saw firsthand here in Gifford and last month in Washington is some of the worst I have ever seen," Durbin said. "The rebuilding process will be a lengthy one, but I wanted to come to Gifford today to see that recovery in action and learn what more I can do to help. President … Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
Durbin: President Issues Major Disaster Declaration for State of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has made a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois triggering the release of federal funds to help communities recover from November 17, 2013 severe storms, high winds and tornadoes that ravaged areas in Central and Southern Illinois leaving local governments, charitable organizations, voluntary agencies and evacuees taking on the initial costs of the damage. The President's action makes … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Durbin Recognizes Importance of National Rural Health Day
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a statement for the Senate record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today recognized the importance of National Rural Health Day. In Illinois, 81 of the 83 rural counties are considered primary care shortage areas, impacting nearly 2 million Illinoisans. To address this problem, the Affordable Care Act includes more than $200 million in training services for primary care doctors, nurses, and physician assistants. It also expands the National Health Service Corps program by … Continue Reading
November 01, 2013
Durbin Announces $25 Million Grant to University of Illinois to Increase Food Supply in Africa
[CHAMPAIGN, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is receiving a $25 million federal grant to lead a consortium of universities and non-governmental organizations working to increase the food supply in Africa by improving soybean yields in five countries on the continent. The five-year grant is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). "Over the years, it has been my privilege to support the … Continue Reading
October 31, 2013
Durbin to Farm Bill Negotiators: Now Is Not the Time to Further Cut Food Assistance for Hard-Working Illinoisans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the floor of the Senate, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said the claims that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as 'food stamps', is growing out of control are false and that now is not the time to cut this important assistance for hard-working Illinoisans and their families. "The recent economic downturn caused hard-working people to lose their jobs. SNAP is an important safety net that caught those families while they … Continue Reading
October 29, 2013
Durbin Meets with CEO of Greater Chicago Food Depository to Discuss Importance of Protecting Food Assistance for Millions of Working Families
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Kate Maehr, to discuss the importance of protecting funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as congressional negotiators begin to work on a compromise between two different versions of the Farm Bill as part of a House-Senate Conference Committee. He is scheduled to speak with the Illinois Hunger Coalition about the same issue later this week. This … Continue Reading
September 18, 2013
Durbin Announces Nearly $8.5 Million in Workforce Development and Training Grants for Illinois Community Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a total of $8,460,255 in funding through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program to four colleges and universities throughout Illinois. The funding announced today is intended to help create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. The National … Continue Reading
July 25, 2013
Durbin Announces $1.7 Million for Rural Development Project in Sangamon County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded a loan of $1,700,000 to the Round Prairie Water Coop in Sangamon County, Illinois under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan Program. The project will construct extensions to the new water distribution system in Capital and Cotton Hill Townships that, when complete, will serve approximately 388 rural residents. The extensions will handle … Continue Reading
June 10, 2013
Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Farm Bill That Provides Certainty for American Farmers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S.954) which will save roughly $24 billion over the next 10 years compared to pre-sequestration budget levels. The farm bill, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 66-27, makes significant reforms to American agriculture policy by ending four different commodity subsidy programs and replacing them with more market-driven programs that make payments … Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
Durbin Announces Senate Approval of His Legislation to Improve Mississippi River Management and Extreme Weather Response
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods was approved by the U.S. Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013. Specifically, the legislation would authorize a study of the entire Mississippi River Basin, for the first time ever, in order to help better understand how the Basin functions as a system and how it can best be managed in order to … Continue Reading
March 29, 2013
Durbin, Schneider Announce Nearly One Million in Funding for Waukegan Harbor Dredging
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $990,000 in funding for dredging in Waukegan Harbor to clean up shoaling caused by Hurricane Sandy and allow the Harbor to reopen to navigation. The funding was awarded as part of the $821 million approved for the Army Corps of Engineers in the supplemental appropriations bill to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy and to rebuild the areas … Continue Reading
March 28, 2013
Durbin Announces $1.6 Million in Disaster Relief Funds for Harrisburg
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $1,645,200 in Disaster Relief funding to the City of Harrisburg, Illinois which suffered severe damage from flooding in 2011 and further devastation from a major tornado in 2012. Today's investment will be used to construct improvements to the Harrisburg's waste water treatment plant, support local industries and protect … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers to Discuss Mississippi River Navigation and Other Agricultural Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to discuss bipartisan, bicameral legislation he introduced last week that would help the Army Corps of Engineers better maintain navigation on the Mississippi River during extreme weather and improve the nation's water infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Both bills were endorsed by the ICGA earlier today. At a speech today to members of the national … Continue Reading