Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin Discusses Broadband Access During COVID-19 Pandemic With Leadership Council Of Southwestern Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today virtually joined the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois for their monthly Board of Directors meeting to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the region and expanding access to broadband. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that 21 million Americans lack high-speed internet access, but with the FCC relying on flawed broadband mapping data, the number of Americans without internet access is likely much higher. … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $25.5 Million For Airport Improvements Around Illinois
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $25.5 million in federal funding for airport improvements around Illinois. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants and will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects. "Investing in our airports is key to Illinois' economic success, … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Fiscal Relief For State And Local Government With Southern Illinois Mayors Association
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with the Southern Illinois Mayors Association today about the estimated $7 billion loss in state and local revenue Illinois will see by next summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on municipal services and projects. While the Republicans' proposal for the next COVID-19 relief package includes no new state or local funding, Durbin has called for significantly increasing funding to state and local governments, … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $3 Million In FEMA Reimbursement Funding For COVID-19 Emergency Response In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offset costs related to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal funding was awarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) as reimbursement for implementing training and other safety measures at assisted-living, nursing, and rehabilitation facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Throughout … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Call On FCC To Bolster Lifeline Program To Keep Students Connected As The School Year Begins
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in leading a group of 22 other Senators in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to boost its Lifeline program to keep students connected as millions return to school both virtually and in person. Since 1985, the FCC's Lifeline program has made basic internet and telephone service more affordable for low-income Americans and has had bipartisan support. "As … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Durbin Examines How USPS Changes Have Affected At-Risk Communities In Getting Medications Delivered By Mail
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to a group of Illinois organizations-representing hundreds of thousands of seniors, patients with disabilities and complex conditions, and health care providers-asking how the recent United States Postal Service (USPS) changes have affected or may affect at-risk communities in getting prescription medications delivered by mail. In a letter to the Illinois chapter of the AARP, Illinois State Medical Society, Illinois Health and … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
August 03, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
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 … Continue Reading