Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Military and Veterans
Durbin, Harkin, Cohen: Congress Should End Loophole That Encourages For-Profit Colleges To Target Veterans & Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP), today introduced legislation in the Senate that would help put an end to the for-profit industry's predatory marketing campaigns and aggressive recruiting of veterans, servicemembers and their families. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act, which U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) will introduce in the Hou… Continue Reading
10.30.13
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Advances Durbin-Sponsored Legislation to Expan Student Loan and Housing Assistance for Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A hearing today of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee made legislative advances on three bills to provide additional assistance to servicemembers and military families sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act, the Servicemember Housing Protection Act, and the Benefits Fairness for Filipino Veterans Act. The bills must receive a vote by the full Committee before proceeding to a vote on the Senate floor. "Our nation'… Continue Reading
08.30.13
Durbin Marks 2-Year Anniversary of Veteran Caregiver Program by Meeting with Participating Families
[HINES, IL] - In recognition of the two-year anniversary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited the Hines VA Hospital today to meet with veterans and their family caregivers and hear how their lives have changed as a result of the program. The Family Caregiver Program provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty. It was create… Continue Reading
08.29.13
Durbin Awards Four Medals to Highland Park World War II Veteran
[HIGHLAND PARK] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today presented Dr. Irving Distelheim, a veteran and retired physician, with four medals he earned during his service in France during World War II. Staff in the Senator's Chicago office worked with Dr. Distelheim and the Army to obtain the medals earlier this year. "Dr. Irving Distelheim is a true American hero, and it gives me great honor to recognize him with these decorations," Durbin said. "Today I presented him with four medals recogn… Continue Reading
08.02.13
Durbin and Kirk: Defense Appropriations Bill Will Help Ensure Rock Island Arsenal's Long-Term Strength
[ROCK ISLAND, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) said today that the Department of Defense appropriations bill which passed the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday will give the Rock Island Arsenal the support it needs to remain strong while transitioning into peacetime operations. The legislation, the first which Durbin has passed through the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee since being named chairman earlier this year, contains several provisions to ensure th… Continue Reading
08.01.13
Durbin, Reed, Udall Call on Defense Department to Protect Servicemembers by Plugging Payday Loan Loophole
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In an effort to protect soldiers and their families from abusive financial practices, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-CT), Mark Udall (D-CO) joined with twenty of their colleagues today in calling on Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Chuck Hagel to close a loophole that allows lenders to restructure their traditional loans to avoid a DOD rule limiting the amount of interest on consumer credit products sold to servicemembers. The Military Lending Act -… Continue Reading
07.30.13
Durbin, Duckworth: Change Needed to Help Servicemembers with Student Loan Assistance Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With average student loan debt for active-duty servicemembers at more than $25,000, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a bill that would fix a provision in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) - created in 1940 - that unintentionally discourages servicemembers from consolidating or refinancing pre-service student loans. For servicemembers with Perkins or Federal Family Education Loans, consolidation of pre-s… Continue Reading
05.15.13
Durbin Statement on Investigation Into Possible Sexual Assaults and Misconduct at Fort Hood
[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Army announced an investigation into sexual assault by a noncommissioned officer assigned to sexual assault prevention office at Fort Hood, Texas: "Reports of widespread sexual assaults in the armed services show a disgraceful culture of abuse that must be stopped. Reports of a soldier at Fort Hood, Texas, assigned to preven… Continue Reading
02.25.13
Durbin, Enyart Meet with Scott Air Force Base Leaders to Discuss Ways to Maintain Base's Long-Term Strength
[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL-12) today met with leaders at Scott Air Force Base to discuss the base's long-term strength and security. Durbin, who was recently named Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Enyart were briefed on Scott's priorities, the future needs and the support necessary for the base to sustain its long-term health by Base Commander Colonel David Almand, General Paul Silva, the head… Continue Reading
01.25.13
Durbin to Chair Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will become the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee when the panel organizes early next month. With the exception of military construction programs, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee oversees funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. The Subcommittee also oversees… Continue Reading
01.23.13
Durbin Meets with Secretary of Defense Nominee, Senator Chuck Hagel
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin met yesterday with President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, former Senator Chuck Hagel, to discuss his nomination and the challenges of supporting our troops and maintaining a strong national defense while reducing the national security threat of our budget deficit. They also discussed the important role the defense installations in Illinois, such as Rock Island Arsenal, Scott Air Force Base and Naval Station Great Lakes,… Continue Reading
01.09.13
Illinois, Missouri Delegation Disappointed by Air Force's Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) expressed concern with the Air Force's decision not to select Scott Air Force Base as a candidate for its next generation aerial refueling tanker. The Air Force selected five candidate locations after a review of existing refueling bases and may consider Scott for later tranches of the KC-46A aircraft. The joint Illinois and Missouri delegation will review the details surr… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Bi-State Delegation Announces that Senate Approves Provisions from their Bill to Increase Workload at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced that major portions of their bill to help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. The bill will now go to a House-Senate Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate version and House version of the defense authorizat… Continue Reading
12.04.12
Durbin: Senate Passes Defense Authorization Bill that Includes Provisions to Improve Mental Health Services for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed today by a bipartisan vote in the U.S. Senate, includes portions of the Mental Health ACCESS Act, cosponsored by Durbin, which will improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s suicide prevention, counseling, and mental health staffing while expanding eligibility for some services to family members. "The Army says that when you draft a soldier today, you draft a… Continue Reading
11.13.12
Durbin: Congress Should Honor Veterans By Passing Bipartisan Legislation to Create Jobs for Veterans and Improve Mental Health Services
Senator reports over 5,150 families nationwide - including more than 130 in Illinois - are part of the Family Caregivers Program created by his legislation Senator also honors former Joliet resident and WWI veteran, Joseph Ambrose [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that Congress can and should do more to honor those who answer the call of duty and risk everything to defend America. Specifically, Durbin called on members of the Senate to put aside partisan diffe… Continue Reading
08.17.12
Durbin Encourages Post-9/11 Vets Families to Apply for Family Caregiver Program
[DECATUR, IL] - Over the past year, thousands of families who have taken on the enormous task of caring for America's most seriously wounded veterans have received financial assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Family Caregiver Program, which began one year ago, provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty.… Continue Reading
07.07.12
Durbin Celebrates Rock Island Arsenal's 150th Anniversary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) entered a statement into the Congressional in honor of the Arsenal's impressive history and its impact on the Rock Island community and the nation. "I thank those who serve at the Arsenal today and those who have served in the past. And also to those who have join me in honoring Rock Island Arsenal in its 150 year anniversary celebration," said Durbin. "Rock Island is about … Continue Reading
06.25.12
Durbin, Emanuel: City of Chicago to Receive More Than $3 Million to Hire Veterans for Law Enforcement Positions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that seven Illinois agencies including the City of Chicago will receive a total of $5,250,000 in funding from the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters. Today's funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $111 million in COPS grants that will be given to 220 different law … Continue Reading
05.09.12
Illinois / Iowa Senators Introduce Bill to Require Strategic Plan for Workload Increases at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation that would help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal. The Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act of 2012 would require the Army to create a strategic plan to increase workload and ensures arsenals around the nation are considered for military contracts Defense-wide rather than just within the … Continue Reading
02.02.12
Durbin Says Secretary of the Army Confirms No Decision Yet on Rock Island Arsenal's Future
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After months of speculation and rumor about the future of Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced, after a personal call with Army Secretary John McHugh, that no decisions have been made and no changes will occur at the Rock Island Arsenal without the Illinois / Iowa Congressional Delegation and the Quad Cities region being fully engaged. "I have heard a lot of speculation and rumor over the last few months about the future of Rock Island Ar… Continue Reading