Government
Durbin says newly passed transportation bill brings certainty to businesses and government
DRIVE Act reauthorizes surface transportation programs for six years.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield, is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois, the state’s senior senator, and the convener of Illinois’ bipartisan congressional delegation.
Durbin also serves as the Senate Majority Whip, the second highest ranking position among the Senate Democrats. Senator Durbin has been elected to this leadership post by his Democratic colleagues every two years since 2005.
Durbin serves as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sits on the Appropriations and Agriculture Committees.
Elected to the U.S. Senate on November 5, 1996, and re-elected in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020, Durbin fills the seat left vacant by the retirement of his long-time friend and mentor, U.S. Senator Paul Simon.
Senator Durbin makes approximately 50 round trips a year between Washington and Illinois. He is married to Loretta Schaefer Durbin. Their family consists of three children--Christine (deceased), Paul, and Jennifer--as well as six grandchildren. They reside in Springfield.
Recent News About U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
Government
Durbin co-sponsors Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act late last week. The legislation seeks to enhance programs that assist states and local communities in suicide prevention, help children recover from traumatic events, provide mental-health awareness for teachers and other individuals, and assess barriers to integrating behavioral health and primary care.
Government
Durbin: Federal nonviolent-drug-crime sentencing needs reform
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) stressed the need on Monday to reform federal mandatory minimum sentencing laws for nonviolent drug offenses. Durbin also discussed the Smarter Sentencing Act, a bipartisan bill he introduced earlier this year, which would modernize federal drug sentencing laws by giving federal judges more discretion in sentencing defendants convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
Government
Senators Durbin, Kirk back Illinois push for federal funding to aid biofuel efforts
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Thursday to express their support for Illinois’ application for additional federal funding to advance the deployment of biofuel infrastructure across the state.
Government
Sen. Durbin urges CF Industries to stay stateside
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday urged CF Industries President and CEO Tony Will to keep the company's corporate tax headquarters in the U.S. instead of overseas, in a process called inversion.
Government
Sen. Durbin urges Kraft Heinz Co. not to displace workers
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) on Wednesday urged the CEO of the Kraft Heinz Co. to reconsider the decision to eliminate 700 jobs in Illinois.
Government
Sen. Durbin, Rep. Schakowsky announce Levee 37 project
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other local officials have announced that Levee 37 will provide protection for more than 600 existing homes and dozens of business in Mount Prospect and Prospect Heights, with an estimated average annual savings of more than $3 million.
Government
FDA response comes after call for powdered caffeine ban by Durbin, fellow senators
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday issued warning letters to five powdered caffeine distributors, requiring them to revise their labels to clarify serving sizes, potency and risks associated with the use of powdered caffeine. The FDA response comes after urgings from members of the U.S. Senate, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who called for a ban on the sale of powered caffeine.
Government
Illinois justice-system programs awarded over $3.8 million in federal grants
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded more than $3.8 million in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice-system programs in Illinois.
Government
Several Illinois counties affected by summer storms eligible for federal aid
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) said this week that President Obama issued a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Grundy and Iroquois counties, as well as these neighboring counties: La Salle, Kendall, Will, Kankakee, Livingston, Ford, and Vermilion.
Government
Chicago Transit Authority awarded $1.25 million federal grant to improve rail lines
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said on Thursday in a statement that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will receive $1.25 million in funding through the Federal Transit Authority's (FTA) Transit-Oriented Development Pilot Planning Program.
Government
Durbin, others seek federal crackdown on tax dodging by inverted firms
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) in a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew late last week, urging him to publish an annual list of inverted companies and use executive authority to crack down on tax-avoidance schemes.
Government
O'Hare, Midway awarded $6.6 million in federal funds for upgrades
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) said on Monday that the Department of Transportation has awarded $6.6 million in funding for ugrades to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport.
Government
Durbin co-sponsors Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) in introducing the Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015 on Wednesday.“In spite of the warning signs, the federal government did not step in soon enough to prevent Pell Grant funding from being wasted on the failed Corinthian Colleges system,” Durbin said.
Government
Durbin: Latest probe of ITT Tech part of 'shameful' chain of events
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) released a statement this week after ITT Tech – a for-profit college already under investigation by at least 18 state attorneys general and being sued by two federal agencies – said it is now also under investigation by the Department of Justice under the federal False Claims Act.