Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Rural and Agriculture
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
March 14, 2013
Durbin, Enyart, Davis Introduce Bill to Protect Jobs by Improving Mississippi River Management and Responsiveness to Extreme Weather
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the recent record low water levels along the Mississippi River that threatened navigation and Southern Illinois commerce, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods while minimizing the economic toll on Southern Illinois. "We came close to economic … Continue Reading
December 12, 2012
Durbin: Demolition of Rock Pinnacles Could Begin Next Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the news that a contract has been awarded for the demolition of rock pinnacles in the Mississippi River and the work could begin as early as next week. In a November 29 meeting with Durbin and five other Midwest Senators, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, agreed to expedite the demolition process in order to help navigation on the Mississippi River. "The Army Corps of Engineers has wasted no … Continue Reading
December 11, 2012
Durbin Meetins with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Director of Agriculture
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson and Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Robert Flider to discuss the potential disruption of navigation on the Mississippi River due to historic low water levels, and steps that are being taken to minimize the impact this would have on Illinois farming communities. The Mississippi River is a critical transportation artery for essential commodities, such as corn, grain and … Continue Reading
December 07, 2012
Durbin: Army Corps Believes Their Efforts Will Maintain Traffic Along the Mississippi River Despite Low Water Levels
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will convene a meeting of stakeholders - including Senators from states bordering the Mississippi River, state and local officials and representatives from industries such as agriculture and shipping - for a briefing from the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss navigation on the Mississippi River through means other than releasing additional water from the Missouri River. Durbin also announced that the Army Corps … Continue Reading
November 29, 2012
Durbin, Kirk: Army Corps Will Expedite Process to Demolish Rock Pinnacles
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will expedite the demolition of rock pinnacles that will help keep water and goods moving on the Mississippi River. Additional Senators attending today's meeting include, U.S. Senator Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Amy Klobuchar … Continue Reading
November 14, 2012
Durbin, Emanuel Announces $100,000 Federal Grant to Increase Availability of Locally Grown Produce in Chicago Public Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Department of Agriculture has awarded $100,000 in funding to Chicago Public Schools District 299 to help make more locally grown produce available in their school cafeterias. This "Farm to School" grant will be used to fund a school garden program to teach students about agriculture and nutrition and to provide schools with fresh produce for healthy lunches. The funding will also be … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012
Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Farmers Union
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Farmers Union, who presented him with the Golden Triangle Award for his commitment to family farms and rural America, his leadership in promoting the use and production of renewable fuels, and his support for a strong Farm Bill reauthorization. With both groups, Durbin discussed the critical need for the House of Representatives to pass a full five-year Farm Bill. In … Continue Reading
August 15, 2012
Durbin: Secretary of Agriculture Declares Entire State of Illinois Eligible for Drought Relief
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, for declaring the remaining Illinois counties and their surrounding areas eligible for emergency USDA assistance. Last month, Durbin joined Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and eighteen members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in supporting Governor Pat Quinn's request for the entire state to receive this designation. "This designation will help Illinois … Continue Reading