Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Duckworth Convene Call With USPS And Illinois State Board Of Elections Leaders To Discuss Constituent Concerns About Voting By Mail
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with staff from the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) to discuss how constituents in Illinois can safely participate in the upcoming general election amid concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and USPS policies and practices that may impact mail-in ballot delivery. On the call, the Senators and SBOE and USPS leaders discussed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's de… Continue Reading
08.13.20
Durbin Discusses Operation Changes, Mail Delays With National Rural Letter Carriers Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with National Rural Letter Carriers Association President Ronnie Stutts about Postmaster General DeJoy's recent changes to longstanding United States Postal Service (USPS) policies, including the elimination of overtime, a reduction in sorting and processing hours, and concerns over continuing staffing shortages. The changes have come at the expense of USPS' ability to offer service to rural communities that do not have access to private m… Continue Reading
08.13.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Dems In Urging USPS To Fix Delays And Avoid Cost Increases For Election Mail
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sending a letter with the entire Senate Democratic caucus to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to provide answers regarding reports of recent changes to long-standing practices at USPS that would result in increased delivery times and costs for election mail, and urged him not take any further action that ma… Continue Reading
08.11.20
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief And USPS Service With St. Louis Regional Chamber
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a call with members of the St. Louis Regional Chamber to discuss the latest on negotiations to pass an additional COVID-19 relief bill, including unemployment insurance, small business assistance, and protecting the United States Postal Service (USPS). Durbin shared his support for maintaining the $600 per week federal enhanced unemployment benefits and his recent letter to the USPS Postmaster General DeJoy urging him to take corrective … Continue Reading
08.10.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $850,000 For Pace Suburban Bus Service
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $850,464 in federal funding awarded to Pace Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority to support its I-90 Express Bus Service. The funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. "Investing in our public transportation infrastructure helps create jobs and improves the safety and efficiency of travel for Illinoisans," Durbin said… Continue Reading
08.10.20
Durbin Leads Dem Members Of Illinois Delegation In Urging Postmaster General To Address Delays In Letter & Parcel Delivery In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led fourteen Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in urging Postmaster General DeJoy to take corrective action against the recent operational changes, including the elimination of overtime and a reduction in mail sorting and processing hours, which have led to significant delays in the delivery of letters and packages to Illinoisans. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the damaging effects the delayed packages are causing,… Continue Reading
08.07.20
Durbin And Davis Call For Immediate Funding For The U.S. Postal Service
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL-7) today held a news conference calling for the immediate funding of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), whose services are essential in ensuring Americans receive medications, paychecks, and packages, as well as allowing Americans to safely exercise their right to vote through mail-in voting. "In the months since the pandemic swept the country the post office has seen a dramatic increase in parcel volume, between 20 p… Continue Reading
08.07.20
Durbin Joins Colleagues In Criticizing Trump Administration's Maneuvers To Manipulate Census And Hamper An Accurate Count
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and 23 Senators in expressing their discontent with the Trump Administration's decision to cut the 2020 Census count short by a month, devastating the accuracy of the count and disproportionally impacting hard-to-count communities. The Senators wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging the Trump Administration to reverse the effort to end the count a month early. "We urge you to immediately reverse this decision and… Continue Reading
08.06.20
Durbin Introduces Normal Mayor Chris Koos During Hearing For Nomination To Serve On Amtrak Board Of Directors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Normal, Illinois, Mayor Chris Koos at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing for his nomination to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors. Durbin praised Koos for his understanding of the importance of Amtrak's national network to the Midwest and said he would bring a unique and needed experience to Amtrak's board. "[Chris] is an Amtrak passenger…and a small business man in the Normal community. He always wants to keep people mov… Continue Reading
08.03.20
Durbin Introduces Bill To Rename Will County Post Office In Honor Of Larry Walsh Sr.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 303 E. Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, Illinois, after former Will County Executive Lawrence M. "Larry" Walsh Sr. Walsh, who passed away at the age of 72 on June 3, 2020, after a brave fight with prostate cancer, began his career in public service at the age of 21. For the next 50 years, Walsh served on the school board, in the Illinois State Senate, and as Will County execut… Continue Reading
07.29.20
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief With Illinois Mayors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Illinois mayors from cities on the coast of the Mississippi River about the Heroes Act and its provisions to support local governments in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic's economic impact. With Illinois expecting to lose more than $10 billion in revenue by next summer, Durbin spoke about the $1 trillion in fiscal relief funding for states and localities that the Heroes Act would provide to replace lost revenues. The Rep… Continue Reading
07.27.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $700,000 For Housing Programs In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that three housing authorities across Illinois will receive a total of $696,023 in federal funding to support public housing needs in the community. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Emergency Safety and Security Grant (ESSG) program. "This federal investment will give local housing agencies in Cairo, Danville, and Belleville the ability to improve publi… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $4 Million For Southern Illinois Mass Transit Districts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that two mass transit districts in Southern Illinois will receive more than $4 million in federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act¸ will go to Rides Mass Transit District (RMTD) and Jackson County Mass Transit District (JCMTD). "This fundi… Continue Reading
06.01.20
Durbin And Davis Introduce Legislation To Increase Broadband Service
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-7) visited the Illinois Medical District Office to discuss their new legislation to improve access to broadband service and address internet access disparities, which impact education, health care, and livelihoods. "Our lives have shifted drastically amid the global coronavirus pandemic. It is clear just how essential the role of internet access has become in our country. Access to the internet allows patients … Continue Reading
05.29.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Announce Nearly $3 Million For Rock Island Mass Transit
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $2.9 million in grant funding for the Rock Island Co. Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK). The funding, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program, will be used to purchase new low-emission transit buses. "The funding announced today will not only create a better experience for the thousands of peopl… Continue Reading
05.27.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $12 Million For Metra Improvements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Metra will receive $12,482,600 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for rail improvements. The funding will support the modernization of three interlockings on the Milwaukee North Line in Illinois, which will help lead to improved reliability and fewer delays for Metra and Amtrak commuters. "For many Illinoisans, Metra and Amtrak are the only affordable and accessible trans… Continue Reading
05.19.20
Durbin Joins Bipartisan Letter Outlining Priorities To Support First Responders In The Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), and nine of his colleagues on a bipartisan letter to Senate Leadership encouraging additional support for first responders in the next COVID-19 relief package. "During a time of crisis, communities rely on local first responders as the first line of defense for protection and emergency response," the Senators wrote. "As Congress considers further legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandem… Continue Reading
05.18.20
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Normal Mayor Chris Koos To Serve On Amtrak Board Of Directors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump nominated Normal, Illinois, Mayor Chris Koos to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors: "I recommended Mayor Koos for this important position, and I'm glad the President nominated him today. Mayor Koos understands the importance of passenger rail to communities in Illinois and across the country. He will be an important voice for Illinois and the Midwest in support of growing and pr… Continue Reading
03.11.20
Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Transportation Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois public transportation officials from the Chicago Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Metra, and PACE to discuss transportation priorities in Illinois. The group discussed Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation and the importance of providing federal funding to improve surface transportation. "Investing in Illinois' public transportation infrastructure helps create jobs and improves the safety and efficiency of travel… Continue Reading
03.09.20
Durbin Meets With Association Of Illinois Firefighters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Association of Illinois Firefighters to discuss legislation to support fire departments, firefighters, and paramedics in Illinois. Durbin discussed his support for the Assistance for Firefighters grant program and SAFER grant program that provide critical resources, training, and equipment to fire departments across Illinois. Before his meeting with members of the Illinois Association of Firefighters, Durbin spoke to th… Continue Reading