{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"IL\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lofgren-guti-rrez-roybal-allard-applaud-recommendation-move-dhs-away-use", "Lofgren, Gutirrez, Roybal-Allard applaud recommendation to move DHS away from use of private prisons", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-Ill.) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) today issued the following statement regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Advisory Council\u2019s (HSAC) recent recommendation that DHS move away from the use of private prisons to detain immigrants.\u00a0 HSAC acknowledged DHS\u2019s historical reliance on private prisons but concluded that the private prison model is inferior from the perspective of governance, and that a deliberate shift away from the private prison model is warranted.\n \n\t\u201cWe applaud the Homeland Security Advisory Council\u2019s (HSAC) recent recommendation that DHS move away from the use of private prisons to detain immigrants.\u00a0 After extensive debate and testimony, HSAC voted overwhelmingly (by a vote of 17 to 5) to end DHS\u2019s status quo reliance on private prisons.\u00a0\n\t\u201cWhile some may view the use of private prisons as a cost-cutting measure, private prisons often cost taxpayers exorbitant amounts of money while at the same time failing to provide safe, sanitary, and humane conditions. We believe that the private prison companies\u2019 for-profit model combined with insufficient accountability mechanisms has created an environment whereby private prison companies are able to abuse immigrant detainees with impunity.\n\t\u201cWe understand that the HSAC decision, while powerful and groundbreaking, comes at the end of DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson\u2019s tenure and the process to completely dismantle the private prison detention system will take years to complete.\u00a0 However, there are steps that Secretary Johnson can take immediately.\u00a0 First, he can enforce termination clauses in contracts with the for-profit private prison facilities, beginning with those with the worst records of abuse and neglect.\u00a0 Second, he can end family detention and expand alternatives to detention.\u00a0 Third, he can ensure that any new contracts require strong transparency provisions (including robust public access) and use ICE\u2019s most recent detention standards to protect against future abuse of immigrant detainees. Lastly, he can work with the transition team to encourage the HSAC recommendations to be followed by the next Administration.\u201d\n \nHSAC is a non-partisan expert council comprised of former high-level DHS officials, police chiefs, retired generals, business executives, law professors, national security experts, and academics.\nThe HSAC Dissent is as follows: \n \n\t\u201cBased on the review this subcommittee conducted, I respectfully dissent from the conclusion that reliance on private prisons should, or inevitably must, continue. I concede, as reflected in this recommendation, that overall enforcement policy, historical reliance on private prisons, and geographic concerns are presently driving reliance on private facilities. also acknowledge that any shift away from such reliance would take years, carry significant costs, and require congressional partnership. As a result, I understand the position adopted by the subcommittee, but I disagree that these obstacles require our deference to the status quo.\n\tFirst, in my estimation, the review undertaken by the subcommittee points directly toward the inferiority of the private prison model from the perspective of governance and conditions. To be sure, fiscal and flexibility considerations represented countervailing factors. However, on balance, my preliminary judgment, based on the evidence we actually gathered as part of this review, is that a measured but deliberate shift away from the private prison model is warranted.\n\tSecond, as the body of this report acknowledges, the short time line and tools at our disposal necessarily limited the depth of our review. As such, I emphasize the preliminary nature of my judgment above. I believe, however, that recommendation (1) likewise should have acknowledged that process constraints rendered any firm conclusion on the appropriate mix of detention models premature.\n\tThird, a number of key issues that went beyond the scope of this review are too consequential and too integral to allow\u00a0 for a fully informed decision on federal versus private detention models. A meaningful determination on the best detention model in light of all relevant factors demands deeper investigation. Any such investigation should consider a broader set of questions regarding the most effective and humane approach to civil detention as well as whether alternatives to detention could lead to diminished reliance on physical incarceration. Absent that type of thorough review, I cannot, in good conscience, agree that status quo reliance on the continuation of the private detention model is warranted or appropriate.\n\tAside from this fundamental question, I strongly concur in the remainder of the subcommittee\u2019s recommendations regarding steps that should be taken immediately to improve the conditions, inspections, and oversight of extant facilities.\u201d\n \n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-over-12-million-for-community-health-centers", "Durbin Announces Over $12 Million For Community Health Centers", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.22.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces Over $12 Million For Community Health Centers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tSPRINGFIELD \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded six community health centers in Illinois a total of $12,186,227 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often integrate access to pharmacy, mental health, substance abuse and oral health services in areas where economic, geographic or cultural barriers limit access to affordable health care services.  \u00a0  \u201cCommunity health centers provide high-quality, comprehensive medical care to thousands of Illinoisans every year,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cThis investment will help community health centers across our state continue to improve health outcomes and reduce patient costs.\u201d  \u00a0  Under this announcement, the following organizations will receive funding to support patient-centered care:  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Crusaders Central Clinic Association (Rockford): $2,628,203  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Erie Family Health Center, Inc. (Chicago): $3,068,545  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Heartland Health Outreach, Inc. (Chicago): $2,350,292  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Henderson County Rural Health Center, Inc. (Oquawka): $536,357  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Near North Health Service Corporation (Chicago): $2,952,830  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (East St. Louis): $650,000  \u00a0  Over its 50 year history, the Health Center Program has grown from two community health centers to nearly 1,400 community health centers operating over 9,800 clinic sites in every U.S. state and territory. In 2015, community health centers employed nearly 190,000 people and served over 24 million patients. One in 13 people nationwide rely on a HRSA-funded community health center for their preventive and primary health care needs.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/2016-year-review-bustos-delivers-real-results-fights-illinois-working-families-emerges-key-leader-among-house-democrats/", "2016 YEAR IN REVIEW: Bustos Delivers Real Results, Fights for Illinois Working Families and Emerges as Key Leader Among House Democrats", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ROCK ISLAND \u2013 This past year, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) has delivered real results for the families of Illinois\u2019 17th Congressional District, while continuing to focus on economic growth, manufacturing, veterans and government waste. She has also emerged as a key leader in the House Democratic Caucus as she transitions into her third term.\nBelow is an outline of Congresswoman Bustos\u2019 work in 2016:\nEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP\nIn addition to serving as a Senior Whip, late this year Congresswoman Bustos secured a key position in Democratic House Leadership. Following the 2016 election, Congresswoman Bustos\u2019 colleagues elected her to serve as a Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). In this role, she will work to improve the Democratic Party\u2019s connection to America\u2019s heartland and fight to strengthen working families in rural and industrial communities. As the only Midwesterner in House Democratic Leadership, Congresswoman Bustos will ensure that our region and Illinois\u2019 families have a voice at the decision-making table.\nINVESTING IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE\nAs a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congresswoman Bustos understands that for every dollar invested in infrastructure, about two dollars of new economic activity is generated. That\u2019s why, when Governor Bruce Rauner was stonewalling progress on the Quad-Cities to Chicago passenger rail project, she forcefully urged him to take action before the $177 million in federal funding was set to expire.\nWhen Governor Rauner refused to respond and continued to say the project was \u201cunder review,\u201d Congresswoman Bustos would not accept more obstruction with so many jobs on the line. She sent Governor Rauner the exact same letter with handwritten edits underscoring just how important it was for him to stop playing politics and start working with her to move the project forward. With public pressure from Congresswoman Bustos and the community, Governor Rauner finally relented and agreed to put the project back on track.\nIn addition to passenger rail, Congresswoman Bustos has also been a strong advocate for our region\u2019s airports. In the past two years, she has helped secure more than $6.7 million in federal funding for Quad City International Airport; nearly $6 million for General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport; and nearly $16 million for Chicago Rockford International Airport. This funding will be used to improve safety, create jobs and strengthen our region\u2019s economy.\nFIGHTING FOR A 21ST CENTURY HEARTLAND\nThis past summer, Congresswoman Bustos embarked on a 21st Century Heartland Tour to listen and learn more about the challenges facing rural families. One of the most pressing issues facing rural America is the opioid and heroin epidemic that has devastated far too many of our communities. That\u2019s why Congresswoman Bustos passed the bipartisan Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act to improve care for babies born addicted to heroin or other opioids. She has also strongly supported local initiatives \u2013 such as the \u201cSafe Passages\u201d program in Pekin \u2013 that bring communities together to tackle this epidemic.\nAs a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congresswoman Bustos has also been a strong advocate for our farmers and rural economy. She worked to convince the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase ethanol usage in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Congresswoman Bustos also joined President Obama as part of his historic diplomatic mission to Cuba, where she continued to push for increased agricultural trade that will benefit Illinois\u2019 farmers and agricultural economy.\nIn addition to agriculture, manufacturing is a critical component of our region\u2019s economy. But many manufacturers have voiced their concerns to Congresswoman Bustos that there are jobs to fill, but not enough workers with the right skills needed to succeed in today\u2019s manufacturing industry. That\u2019s why Congresswoman Bustos\u2019 Third Annual Economic Summit focused on closing the skills gap. At this event, she brought together educators, business leaders and government officials to develop solutions to this pressing challenge. By working together to tailor educational curriculums, and by establishing new internship and apprenticeship programs, we can ensure that our workforce is among the most skilled and best-trained in the world.\nGROWING OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BY MAKING IT IN AMERICA\nOur region has a rich manufacturing history, and Congresswoman Bustos is committed to growing our economy and sparking the next industrial revolution right here in Illinois. That\u2019s why she introduced the Boosting America\u2019s Exports Act, which would empower small and medium-sized businesses to grow the economy by helping them find new markets. The Boosting America\u2019s Exports Act would give more resources to Export Assistance Centers to help these businesses navigate the global marketplace and create jobs by exporting their American-made products overseas. This was one of two pieces of Congresswoman Bustos\u2019 legislation included in the House Democrats\u2019 Make It In America agenda.\nCongresswoman Bustos also introduced the bipartisan Buy America for Drinking Water Extension Act. This legislation would create jobs and grow the economy by ensuring that all iron and steel products used for projects funded by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) are made entirely in the United States. As Congresswoman Bustos enters her third term, she will continue fighting for the Make It In America agenda to build on our region\u2019s manufacturing tradition.\nPROTECTING OUR KIDS FROM LEAD EXPOSURE\nEarlier this year, Congresswoman Bustos was shocked and disturbed to learn that more than 14 percent of children tested in Knox County had lead in their blood levels above the point at which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends intervention. She also learned that recent water samples in the city of Galesburg had been testing above the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) \u201cfederal action level\u201d for lead content. While this was Galesburg\u2019s first water test to occur during her time in office, the city had exceeded this level in the majority of tests going back more than two decades.\nAs a mother, Congresswoman Bustos knows that there is no safe level of lead exposure, especially for kids and pregnant women. Despite facing resistance, she immediately urged city officials to apply for funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund so they could start replacing lead service lines throughout the city. Because of her efforts and persistence, Congresswoman Bustos was able to help secure a $4 million forgivable loan to replace approximately 2,000 lead pipes \u2013 nearly half of the lead pipes in the city.\nBut the issue of lead exposure isn\u2019t unique to one town, and it isn\u2019t just limited to old homes. Too many kids face the threat of lead exposure in schools, coming from old lead pipes and outdated water fountains. That\u2019s why Congresswoman Bustos partnered with Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01) to introduce legislation that would give schools more resources to replace lead pipes and water fountains that are putting our kids at risk. Parents should not have to worry about their children\u2019s health at schools, and schools should have the resources they need to address this issue without taking away from our kids\u2019 education.\nSTRENGTHENING THE ARSENAL FOR THE FUTURE\nAs one of our region\u2019s largest employers, Congresswoman Bustos has been a staunch and effective advocate for the 6,000 hard-working men and women at the Rock Island Arsenal. During this year\u2019s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congresswoman Bustos successfully worked with Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) to include provisions that will help ensure the long-term success of the Arsenal. Specifically, their provisions will require the Department of Defense to submit a plan for the long-term viability of the Arsenal, identify specific equipment that can be made at the Arsenal and report on the manufacturing needs to sustain the readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces.\nSERVING AS A WATCHDOG FOR OUR VETERANS\nCongresswoman Bustos strongly believes that we must honor our nation\u2019s commitment to those who have stepped up to serve, and that we have an obligation to provide them with the care and support they have earned. When she learned that some of our VA clinics were not meeting the standards that our veterans deserve, Congresswoman Bustos took action and went into watchdog mode. In addition to going to health care facilities to hear directly from veterans about the care they receive, she asked VA Leadership for a plan of action to reduce wait times. Since then, wait times have decreased and Congresswoman Bustos will continue to push for more progress to improve veterans\u2019 health care.\nMAKING GOVERNMENT WORK FOR OUR REGION\nWhether it has been workshops, roundtable discussions or other constituent services, Congresswoman Bustos has always strived to bring valuable resources to the people she serves. That\u2019s why earlier this year, she partnered with local officials in Peoria to host officials from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a minority-owned small business workshop. Because access to capital has been a steep hurdle for many minority entrepreneurs, she convened SBA officials, local lenders and entrepreneurs to discuss best practices and connect them with the resources they need to succeed. In fact, one gentleman told the story about how he\u2019d like to start an auto repair shop, and he was offered a loan on the spot.\nBY THE NUMBERS\n14 \u2013 Congresswoman Bustos visited all 14 counties in Illinois\u2019 17th District this year.\n$475,847.61 \u2013 This year, Congresswoman Bustos\u2019 office has returned $475,847.61 to constituents in our District, which they recovered from the Social Security Administration, the IRS and the VA.\n140 \u2013 As part of her aggressive outreach strategy, Congresswoman Bustos hosted or attended 140 events in 2016 in Illinois\u2019 17th Congressional District.\n32,831 \u2013 Congresswoman Bustos prides herself on having a responsive and attentive constituent services operation, and her office has replied to 32,831 messages or requests this year.\n120 \u2013 Over the course of 2016, Congresswoman Bustos has held 120 constituent meetings or discussions.\n829 \u2013 Congresswoman Bustos strives to make government work for the people she serves, and her office has closed 829 casework requests this year \u2013 helping Illinoisans cut through red tape at the VA, IRS and other federal agencies.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-carper-education-department-releases-data-showing-many-for-profit-colleges-receive-more-than-90-percent-of-revenue-from-federal-taxpayers", "Durbin, Carper: Education Department Releases Data Showing Many For-Profit Colleges Receive More Than 90 Percent Of Revenue From Federal Taxpayers", "2016-12-21", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.21.16\n\t\t\t Durbin, Carper: Education Department Releases Data Showing Many For-Profit Colleges Receive More Than 90 Percent Of Revenue From Federal Taxpayers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senators asked for data more than a year ago; have led efforts in Congress to close loophole that exempts Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs education benefits from restrictions on federal revenue and incentivizes exploitation of servicemembers and veterans by for-profit colleges\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Carper (D-DE) issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) released data providing a more accurate picture of for-profit colleges\u2019 dependence on federal funding by counting Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill and Department of Defense Tuition Assistance funding. The current federal \u201c90/10 rule\u201d bars for-profit colleges and universities from deriving more than 90% of their revenue from the Department of Education\u2019s student aid programs but does not include these additional federal sources, encouraging for-profit colleges to target veterans and members of the military. The data was released in response to a request by Senators Durbin and Carper \u2013 along with 18 other Democratic Senators \u2013 for public data on how much for-profit colleges actually receive from American taxpayers. Durbin and Carper were joined by 29 Senators in sending a similar letter to the Department in June.  \u00a0  \u201cThe data released today by the Education Department confirms what we already knew: for-profit colleges are some of the most highly-subsidized companies in America; many receive nearly all of their revenue straight from federal taxpayers. The current 90/10 rule, with its failure to include GI Bill and Defense Tuition Assistance makes our nation\u2019s servicemembers and veterans an attractive target for predatory for-profit colleges,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cToday\u2019s data should encourage Congress to close this loophole and reduce the amount of revenue these so-called private sector companies receive from taxpayers.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cNot all for-profit schools are bad actors, but all for-profit schools should demonstrate their financial well-being by securing at least 10 percent of their income from non-federal sources. We now have a crystal clear picture of which for-profit colleges are avoiding this requirement by exploiting the 90/10 loophole and relying too heavily on taxpayers,\u201d said Senator Carper. \"Unfortunately, for many students who attended the schools that have closed in the last year, including ITT Tech, the data released today comes much too late. The 90/10 loophole has also led to the disproportionate harm of our nation\u2019s veterans, servicemembers, and their families. They deserve to be treated as more than \u2018dollar signs in uniform\u2019 as Holly Petraeus said. They deserve to attain a high-quality education and meaningful degrees. Congress must finally close this dangerous loophole to protect veterans, servicemembers and taxpayer dollars.\u201d  \u00a0  Data released today shows seventeen for-profit colleges currently derive more than 90% of their total annual revenue from Title IV federal student aid. If GI Bill and Defense Tuition Assistance are considered, the number of for-profits in violation of the 90/10 rule jumps to nearly 200. The Department of Education found that if the 90% threshold was rolled back to its original 85%, 563 schools could not comply with the new rule.  \u00a0  Last year, Durbin and Carper introduced the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act of 2015 to close the 90/10 loophole by counting DoD and VA education funds in the calculation of federal revenue for purposes of the 90/10 rule. In addition, Durbin is the author of the Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act to include these other federal funding sources and reduce the amount of allowable federal revenue from 90% to 85%.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-push-for-national-popular-vote-legislation", "Durbin Announces Push For National Popular Vote Legislation", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.20.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces Push For National Popular Vote Legislation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Urges states to join compact committing to winner of the national popular vote\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a renewed effort to amend the U.S. Constitution to honor the principle of \u201cone person, one vote\u201d in the election of U.S. President and Vice President. Durbin first proposed this constitutional amendment in 2000 and has supported it regardless of the outcome in previous presidential elections. Republican Congressman Ray LaHood joined Durbin in his earlier efforts.  \u00a0   Noting the challenges of passing a constitutional amendment, Durbin also called on states to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would require each state\u2019s electors to cast a ballot in favor of the candidate who won the national popular vote.  \u00a0   \u201cTwice in recent memory, a majority of American voters cast their vote for the losing presidential candidate. This is certainly not what the Founders intended. It\u2019s time to retire this 18th century invention that disenfranchises millions of Americans,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cThe American people deserve to choose all of their leaders, and I will continue to support efforts to empower voters. We face an uphill battle in Congress, but states have the power to act now by adopting the Compact and committing their electors to the candidate chosen by the voters.\u201d  \u00a0   So far, 11 jurisdictions have entered the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact: Illinois, California, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. These jurisdictions represent a total of 165 Electoral College votes. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact will take effect when enough states have joined the Compact to represent a majority of electoral votes (270 of 538).\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3164", "Lipinski Invites Third District Residents to Upcoming Town Hall Meeting", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, January 7th, from 10-11:30 a.m., at Oak Lawn Community High School, located at 9400 Southwest Highway in Oak Lawn.\r\n\r\n\tDuring the meeting, area residents will be able to hear from Rep. Lipinski about his work on their behalf at home and in Washington, as well as ask questions about federal issues.\u00a0 Additionally, staff from the Congressman\u2019s office will be available beginning one hour prior to the start of the meeting (9 a.m.) to provide assistance with Medicare, Social Security, veterans\u2019 benefits, and other federal matters.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWith the next session of Congress about to begin and a new Administration moving into the White House, I encourage residents of the Third District to come to my upcoming Town Hall Meeting and voice their opinions,\u201d said Rep. Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cAs your representative in Washington and someone who strives to improve the quality of life in the communities I serve, it is critical that I hear from you.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tIf you are unable to attend the meeting, Lipinski\u2019s constituent offices in Chicago, Lockport, Oak Lawn, and Orland Park are open year round to meet your needs.\u00a0 If you have any questions, please call 773-948-6223.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-obama-signs-rep-quigley-s-bill-expand-small-business-voice-sec", "President Obama Signs Rep. Quigleys Bill to Expand Small Business Voice at the SEC Into Law", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Last week, the bipartisan\u00a0SEC Small Business Advocate Act of 2015 introduced by\u00a0U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the\u00a0New Democrat Coalition, along with Reps. John Carney (DE), Sean Duffy (WI-07) and Ander Crenshaw (FL-04), was signed into law by President Barack Obama. This legislation establishes the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).\n\u201cSmall businesses are a vital driver of economic growth and job creation throughout the city of Chicago and across the entire United States. Though many regulators and lawmakers work hard to support their efforts, small businesses still face challenges understanding complex securities regulations and effectively communicating their needs,\u201d said Rep. Quigley. \u201cI am pleased that the creation of this new office will open a clear avenue of communication to SEC leadership and provide our hardworking small business owners with an advocate to help them explore new concepts and further spur innovation.\u201d\nThe creation of this new office and formalization of a Small Business Advisory Committee will increase communication on issues affecting small businesses by maintaining a designated representative to advocate on their needs. This legislation will not only improve the regulatory process for small business owners, but also for the investors and consumers that depend on them.\nThis legislation is supported by a broad group of small business organizations, including Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Biotechnology Industry Association (BIO), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council), Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), National Small Business Association (NSBA), Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA), National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), and National Development Council (NDC).\nRep. Quigley is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of congressional lawmakers that promotes policies that harness American ingenuity, innovation and entrepreneurship to grow our economy. He was a supporter of the\u00a0Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act\u00a0and cosponsored an original part of this legislation that focused on helping businesses raise the capital needed to expand their operations and create more good-paying jobs. This legislation was signed into law by President Obama in April 2012. Earlier this year, Rep. Quigley celebrated \u201cStart-Up Day Across America\u201d by meeting with leaders at Chicago- based start-ups Reverb and Curiosity, two prime examples of small business success.\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-3-million-for-water-and-waste-projects-in-rural-illinois", "Durbin Announces $3 Million For Water And Waste Projects In Rural Illinois", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.19.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces $3 Million For Water And Waste Projects In Rural Illinois \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $3,029,900 in federal funding for water and waste disposal programs in rural areas of Illinois.  \u00a0  \u201cThis federal investment will create good-paying jobs in Illinois communities, and help protect public health, safety, and the welfare of our families,\u201d Senator Durbin said.  \u00a0  USDA Water and Waste Disposal Program  \u00a0  The Rural Water and Waste Disposal Loan Program is used to develop drinking water and waste disposal systems, including solid waste disposal and storm drainage systems in rural areas and towns with populations under 10,000. Funds are available to public entities such as municipalities, counties, special-purpose districts, Indian tribes, and corporations not operated for profit. Additionally, Water and Waste Disposal Grants seek to reduce water and waste disposal costs to a reasonable level for rural areas.  \u00a0  Under today\u2019s announcement, the following entities will receive funds through the Water and Waste Disposal Program:   \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0SouthWater, Inc. (Union County): Loan of $508,000 and grant of $241,900 to connect 21 new rural users to the existing system;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Village of Cerro Gordo (Piatt County): Loan of $790,000 to replace nearly 6000 feet of water mains and create an additional connection to the water plant. Village of Cerro Gordo has experienced over 62 water line breaks since the 1980\u2019s;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Village of Weldon (DeWitt County): Loan of $700,000 and grant of $790,000 to replace water main, fire hydrants, and valves, and make other necessary renovations to address high levels of arsenic in system and provide potable water to the Village\u2019s 429 residents.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-meets-with-veterans-highlights-federal-funding-to-prevent-homelessness", "Durbin Meets with Veterans, Highlights Federal Funding to Prevent Homelessness", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.19.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Meets with Veterans, Highlights Federal Funding to Prevent Homelessness \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tGRANITE CITY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Chestnut Health Systems to meet with veterans and highlight new federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to prevent homelessness. Earlier this fall, Durbin announced more than $9.5 million to prevent homelessness among Illinois veterans and their families, which included $510,116 for Chestnut.\u00a0\r\n\u201cToo often, our nation\u2019s veterans find themselves facing financial difficulties and the prospect of homelessness. This VA funding will help ensure that organizations like Chestnut Health Systems have the necessary resources to help veteran families transition to permanent housing,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cI commend the VA\u2019s efforts to end veteran homelessness, and I am proud to continue working alongside the department to keep our promise to America\u2019s veterans.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhile veteran homelessness has dropped nearly 50 percent since 2010, more than 40,000 veterans still experience homelessness on any given night, including 1,200 in Illinois. Many veterans are considered at risk of homelessness because of poverty, lack of a support network or employment, substance abuse, or because they suffer from mental health issues.\u00a0\r\n\r\nChestnut is a private, non-profit charitable organization with locations in\u00a0Belleville, Granite City, Edwardsville, and Maryville.\u00a0This is the fourth year Chestnut has received VA funds, and it will use them to employ six full-time staff members to work with veterans to help them with employment, financial planning, access to transportation, housing counseling, and offer referrals to medical, legal, and other services.\u00a0About $200,000 from the grant is also set aside to help veterans pay rent and utilities.\u00a0\u00a0As a VA SSVF provider, Chestnut expects to serve about 100 people this year with this funding.\u00a0\r\n\r\n-30-\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3161", "Lipinski Praises Congressional Passage of Bill to Boost American Innovation and Competitiveness, Create Jobs", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is praising the passage in the House and Senate of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, S. 3084, which authorizes and revises a wide-range of federal science, research, and technology development programs.\u00a0 These provisions apply to research programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the White House\u2019s Office of Science and Technology Policy, as well as government-sponsored research at universities and other institutions.\u00a0 The bill is designed to boost American innovation and competitiveness, resulting in the creation of American jobs.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tNotably, the bill authorizes the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program that teaches scientists how to turn their discoveries into entrepreneurial, job-producing businesses.\u00a0 Language in the bill directs the expansion of I-Corps to additional federal agencies and academic institutions, as well as through state and local governments which can better support their economic development goals.\u00a0 The new I-Corps authority also supports prototype or proof-of-concept development activities, which will better enable researchers to commercialize their innovations.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI've been a strong supporter of the I-Corps program since it was first introduced by the NSF,\u201d Rep. Lipinski said.\u00a0 \u201cI have helped it grow and have seen how successful it has been.\u00a0 Programs like I-Corps get university and other federally-funded research translated more quickly into new products and new companies, creating American jobs and providing taxpayers a better return on their investment in science.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI-Corps has become the standard for entrepreneurship in the federal government, having trained over 1,000 of our country\u2019s best scientists,\u201d stated serial entrepreneur Steve Blank.\u00a0 \u201cFrom its inception, Congressman Lipinski was the visionary champion of I-Corps.\u00a0 The\u00a0American Innovation and Competitiveness Act extending I-Corps\u00a0is one of the major accomplishments of the 114th Congress.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tS. 3084 also includes language that is based on Lipinski\u2019s International Science and Technology Cooperation Act, HR 1156, which would establish a working group to coordinate international science and technology activities with both science agencies and the State Department.\u00a0 Specifically, the bill directs the National Science and Technology Council at the White House to coordinate a U.S. strategy for international science and technology cooperation, which will help address key global challenges, including public health, national security, energy, and environmental matters.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cBy coordinating with international partners on scientific issues, we strengthen the U.S. scientific enterprise and promote the free exchange of ideas in other nations,\u201d Lipinski stated.\u00a0 \u201cWhile many federal agencies are engaged with international partners on science and technology projects, there is a need to coordinate these projects across our government network and to identify opportunities for additional beneficial collaborations.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe American Innovation and Competitiveness Act also includes legislation led by Lipinski that would expand and improve cyber security and related research programs at the NSF and NIST.\u00a0 It expands requirements for cyber-related research to better counter computer-based threats to American voting systems, a response to concerns about foreign influence and tampering in the 2016 elections.\u00a0 The bill also directs NIST to establish best practices for the protection of information systems from cyber intrusion and to raise public awareness about cyber threats.\r\n\r\n\tIn addition, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act makes improvements to the prize competition authority which Rep. Lipinski helped establish in 2010 via his bill in the GENIUS Act.\u00a0 The prize competition authority enables the federal government to sponsor innovation competitions to seek public solutions to challenges such as cyber security, robotics, and drug overdose treatment, among countless other fields.\u00a0 To date, over 700 competitions have been sponsored by federal agencies under this authority\r\n\r\n\tThe bill also expands a range of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, including mentoring, apprenticeships, and support for informal STEM education opportunities.\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\u201cAs co-chair of the House STEM Education Caucus, I am pleased to see the progress that this bill makes in improving and expanding federal STEM education programs,\u201d said Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve worked hard to improve STEM education, as America\u2019s economic future relies on a workforce well-educated in math, science, and engineering.\u00a0 Informal science education \u2013 investing in museums such as the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and other programs and institutions that excite children about a possible future in engineering and science fields \u2013 is something I\u2019ve put a high priority on.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tFinally, the bill includes two other provisions that Congressman Lipinski has worked on to alleviate burdens or restrictions on federally funded scientific enterprises.\u00a0 It includes provisions that reinforce the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s (OMB) new and improved guidance on scientific conferences to remove unnecessary and harmful barriers to scientific collaboration created in the wake of a General Services Administration\u00a0(GSA) scandal in 2012.\u00a0 These restrictions had impeded scientists from attending conferences to present their work and learn more about the work of their peers.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe bill also increases the threshold for federally-funded science programs at universities and other institutions for equipment procurement.\u00a0 Currently, most research institutions only have to look for multiple bids on research equipment if that equipment costs over $10,000, but the OMB had reduced this to $3000 without explanation.\u00a0 The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act sets the threshold to $10,000 and provides greater flexibility for research institutions to purchase critical equipment without multiple bids.\r\n\r\n\tOn the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Lipinski is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, and also sits on the Subcommittee on Energy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-invites-scott-pruitt-climate-change-debate", "Quigley Invites Scott Pruitt to Climate Change Debate", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today,\u00a0U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC),\u00a0released the following statement reiterating his invite to Scott Pruitt, President-Elect Trump\u2019s nominee for EPA Administrator, to come to Chicago for a debate on the science of climate change:\nScott Pruitt has said that the debate on climate change is \u201cfar from settled.\u201d He has called it a \u201ctrend,\u201d on which scientists \u201ccontinue to disagree.\u201d On his own LinkedIn page he touts his efforts to lead \u201cthe charge with repeated notices and subsequent lawsuits against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their leadership\u2019s activist agenda.\u201d These are direct quotes from the man that will be tasked to identify and help solve the environmental problems that threaten our earth and all who inhabit it.\nMr. Pruitt has also said that the debate on climate change \u201cshould be encouraged \u2014 in classrooms, public forums, and the halls of Congress.\u201d Well, Mr. Pruitt, if you really think so, let us have that debate.\nMr. Pruitt\u2019s words are not only incorrect; they are dangerous. The warming of our planet is not a trend, and the evidence of its existence is indisputable. Top scientists, as well as the over 12,000 peer-reviewed studies on the issue, do not vary on their acceptance of this life-threatening crisis or acknowledgement of its man-made causes. The climate crisis posses severe risks to every aspect of our way of life. Extending beyond the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, climate change endangers our public health, our economic competitiveness, and our national security.\nWe cannot sit on our hands for the next four years as the pressing environmental threats of today continue into tomorrow. These dangers will only grow and expand. That is why we need immediate action and constructive, bipartisan policy to combat these realities and protect our world for future generations. As we look forward to 2017, we must begin a new conversation with the leaders President-Elect Trump has chosen to help address the challenges that face our nation. This debate is a good place to start.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-highlights-10-million-federal-investment-in-illinois-co2-projects", "Durbin Highlights $10 Million Federal Investment in Illinois CO2 Projects", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.16.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Highlights $10 Million Federal Investment in Illinois CO2 Projects \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tDECATUR \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded two grants totaling $10 million to the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), housed at the University of Illinois\u2019 Prairie Research Institute (PRI). The grants will fund projects to research commercial-scale geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.\r\n\r\n\u201cAny meaningful strategies for addressing the causes and dangers of climate change must include reduced carbon emissions,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cThat\u2019s why we are here today to announce a $10 million investment by the United States Department of Energy to study if 50 million tons of carbon dioxide can be stored deep underground here in Illinois. Split between two projects, the grants will support work that builds on the knowledge gained from Department of Energy\u2019s previous carbon sequestration pilot-project.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe two grants are part of the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Carbon Storage Assurance and Facility Enterprise initiative to assess the viability of carbon storage technologies and geological storage sites in Illinois. These projects will help demonstrate how carbon emissions from power plants can be safely sequestered, and could provide Illinois with an advantage in job training and technology deployment.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe ISGS received $8.9 million to address the feasibility of a commercial-scale CO2 geologic storage complex within the Mt. Simon sandstone formation located in Macon County.\u00a0 This work will build upon the success of the previous ADM-led pilot project, which sequestered over one million metric tons of CO2, to store over 50 million metric tons of CO2. The ISGS received an additional $1.2 million to study the challenges, opportunities, and risks involved in building a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage project at another location in East-Central Illinois.\r\n\r\nRichland Community College, PRI\u2019s Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, the Indiana Geological Survey, Schlumberger Carbon Services, Industrial Economics Incorporated, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Brigham Young University, Trimeric Corporation, and the University of Wyoming are partners in the projects. \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/senator-elect-tammy-duckworth-to-serve-on-committees-handling-infrastructure-transportation-small-business-energy-and-manufacturing-policy", "Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth to Serve on Committees Handling Infrastructure, Transportation, Small Business, Energy & Manufacturing Policy", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 15, 2016\n\t\t\t Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth to Serve on Committees Handling Infrastructure, Transportation, Small Business, Energy & Manufacturing Policy \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \r\nOn Senate Committees, Duckworth will advance critical Illinois priorities that put Illinoisans back to work improving infrastructure, grow small businesses and continue her life's mission of advocating for Veterans\r\n \r\nCHICAGO, IL - After being sworn into the U.S. Senate on January 3rd, 2017, U.S. Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will serve on several influential committees: Environment & Public Works; Energy & Natural Resources; Commerce, Science, & Transportation; and Small Business. These committee posts will give the Senator-elect an important platform to push for Illinois priorities like rebuilding our state's infrastructure, keeping the water system safe and lead-free, helping grow minority- and Veteran-owned small businesses, investing in advanced manufacturing and championing Illinois' crown jewels of scientific innovation: Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab.\r\n\"I am eager to get to work in the Senate--with members on both sides of the aisle--to help Illinois families with common-sense policies that grow manufacturing jobs, invest in communities that have been ignored for too long, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and help make college more affordable for all Americans,\" said Duckworth regarding her priorities in the upcoming Congress. \"I'm also going to work to continue my life's mission of supporting, protecting and keeping the promises we've made to our Veterans and ensuring we fully stand behind the troops we send into danger overseas.\"\r\nThe Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee has jurisdiction over the nation's interstate highway system and other infrastructure projects like bridges and dams, giving Senator-elect Duckworth an important role in bolstering Illinois' status as a world-class air, road, rail and water transportation hub. EPW also handles important policies dealing with public construction projects, floods and natural disasters, economic development, nuclear power and the environment. Duckworth currently serves as Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets.\r\n\"As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I look forward to advocating for policies that put Illinoisans back to work rebuilding our state's infrastructure to secure Illinois' role as the nation's transportation hub and supporting policies that grow our country's economy by promoting advanced clean energy and biofuels which reduce our reliance on foreign oil and strengthen our national security,\" said Duckworth regarding her appointment to the EPW Committee. \"I am also committed to making access to clean, lead-free water a reality for all Americans--including my beautiful baby Abigail--because everyone deserves an opportunity to lead a healthy life.\"\r\nThe Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation oversees issues that Senator-elect Duckworth has focused on during her time in the House including aviation and federal highways, consumer protection, economic development and competitiveness, tourism and the internet.\r\n\"Whether increasing manufacturing to create good-paying jobs, protecting American consumers from unscrupulous corporations or helping rebuild our nation's roads, bridges, waterways and airports, I look forward to being the strong voice for hardworking people that Illinoisans deserve on the Senate Commerce Committee,\" Duckworth said regarding her appointment to the Commerce Committee.\r\nThe Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources oversees the nation's energy policy, conservation, our strategic petroleum reserve, water resources and public lands.\r\n\"I risked my life and limb--as did countless other brave Americans--serving in Iraq and I saw firsthand the painful price this nation pays because of our reliance on foreign oil,\" said Duckworth regarding her appointment to the Energy Committee. \"I'll bring that unique perspective to the Energy and Natural Resources panel in the Senate and I'll be a strong supporter of policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard that strengthen American-made energy. Not only because it's good for our economy--though it is--but also because it means importing less oil from unstable foreign adversaries like Russia, and that's good for our national security.\"\r\nThe Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship has jurisdiction over all legislation dealing with the U.S. Small Business Administration we well as many proposals affecting minority-owned, women-owned and Veteran-owned businesses, access to capital, broadband internet, business development, federal contracting, innovation, trade, taxes and disaster assistance. Senator-elect Duckworth has developed a strong record of helping small businesses during her time in the House.\r\n\"Small businesses are the backbone of our nation's economy, spark the innovation that drives us forward and hire hardworking Illinoisans across the state,\" said Duckworth said regarding her appointment to the Small Business Committee. \"They are critical to the strength and resilience of our country. Our government should do everything it can to cut red tape and open up innovative sources of capital that can help small businesses get off the ground--and those will be my goals on the Senate Small Business Committee.\"\r\n###\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-joins-bill-to-require-president-vice-president-to-fully-divest-personal-financial-conflicts-of-interest", "Durbin Joins Bill To Require President, Vice President To Fully Divest Personal Financial Conflicts Of Interest", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.15.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Joins Bill To Require President, Vice President To Fully Divest Personal Financial Conflicts Of Interest \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Calls on Trump to Comply with Constitution's Emoluments Clause\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t CHICAGO\u2014On the day President-elect Donald Trump was supposed to inform the American people about his future with the Trump Organization, a group of Democratic U.S. senators announced they will introduce a bill in January that would require the President and Vice President to disclose and divest any potential financial conflicts of interest. It would also require presidential appointees to recuse themselves from any specific matters involving the President's financial conflicts of interest that come before their agencies.  \u00a0  The bill is cosponsored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).  \u00a0  \"President-elect Trump's financial entanglements are unprecedented in American history, and the American people are still waiting to hear what steps he will take before January 20th to guard against conflicts of interest and corruption in his Administration. Just this week, the President-elect cancelled a scheduled announcement about severing his business ties, taking time instead to meet with Kanye West,\" said Senator Durbin. \"The American people deserve to know that their President is putting the United States' interests before his own, his family's, or that of any foreign government.\"  \u00a0  \"The American people deserve to know that the President of the United States is working to do what's best for the country - not using his office to do what's best for himself and his businesses,\" said Senator Warren. \"The only way for President-elect Trump to truly eliminate conflicts-of-interest is to divest his financial interests and place them in a blind trust. This has been the standard for previous presidents, and our bill makes clear the continuing expectation that President-elect Trump do the same.\"  \u00a0  A fact sheet about the bill is available here. The legislation will be introduced when the Senate returns to session in January.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-repealing-affordable-care-act-would-disrupt-lives-of-millions", "Durbin: Repealing Affordable Care Act Would Disrupt Lives of Millions", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.15.16\n\t\t\t Durbin: Repealing Affordable Care Act Would Disrupt Lives of Millions \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Durbin and Health Care Experts Discuss the Illinois Impact of Republican Plan to Repeal Affordable Care Act\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t CHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with doctors and health care experts to discuss the local impact of congressional Republicans plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) \u2013 without replacing the law \u2013 in early January. Repealing the ACA will threaten health care for all Americans, drive up costs, and let insurance companies place arbitrary limits on benefits and deny coverage for pre-existing conditions or gender. More than one million people in Illinois would lose their health insurance in 2019 if the ACA is repealed, including 470,000 newly eligible or enrolled in Medicaid.\r\n\u201cWhen congress passed the ACA in 2010, health care costs were skyrocketing and health insurance companies were not being held accountable for their unfair practices. The law addressed some of the most glaring gaps in America\u2019s health care system and now, thanks to the ACA, the uninsured rate in Illinois has fallen by 49 percent,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cACA is not perfect \u2013 no law is. But instead of working together on improvements, Republicans have instead voted over 60 times to outright repeal the law \u2013 without offering any ideas for how to replace it. Repealing our law \u2013 throwing our health care system, providers, and patients into chaos \u2013 is dangerous and will immediately disrupt the lives of millions. I will fight in Washington to protect the gains we have made under the ACA, and continue to support patients in need and the programs that serve them.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nRepublican leaders in Congress plan to move quickly next year to repeal the ACA without enacting a replacement plan to prevent a disruption of the U.S. healthcare system or to protect the millions of Americans who depend upon the law for their medical care. This approach could result in nearly 30 million Americans losing their health insurance, doubling the number of uninsured (from 29 million to 59 million) to a level even higher than before the law was passed.\r\nThis week, Durbin is sending letters to seven Illinois provider and patient associations, asking them to measure the impact that repealing the ACA without any replacement would have on hospitals and patients in Illinois.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhat the ACA Has Meant in Illinois:\u00a0 \r\n \r\nThe uninsured rate in Illinois has fallen by 49% since the law\u2019s enactment\u2014850,000 previously uninsured Illinoisans now have health insurance.\r\n \r\n \r\nMore than five million Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged higher premiums.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nMore than four million Illinoisans with employer-sponsored insurance no longer have annual or lifetime caps on their benefits.\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n197,000 Illinois seniors on Medicare saved $205 million on drugs in 2015, an average saving of $1,041 per beneficiary.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nMore than 90,000 young adults in Illinois have benefitted from being able to stay on their parents\u2019 health plan up to age 26.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\nAccording to research by the Urban Institute, repealing without replacing the ACA would result in 1.2 million people in Illinois losing their health insurance in 2019. Illinois would lose $1.1 billion in federal marketplace spending in 2019 and $12.5 billion between 2019 and 2028. The state would lose an additional $3.1 billion in federal Medicaid funding in 2019 and $37.4 B between 2019 and 2028.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWhat the ACA Has Meant Nationwide:\r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\n20 million people have gained health insurance. In 2015, the uninsured rate fell below 10% for the first time in our nation\u2019s history.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nThere are no longer pre-existing condition denials or annual/lifetime caps on benefits. Young people up to age 26 can stay on their parent\u2019s health plans. Insurance companies must cover important preventive care for free.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\nPremiums for employer coverage and Medicare spending have grown more slowly since ACA was enacted. For employer premiums, the past five years included four of the five slowest-growth years on record. Medicare spending was $473 B less than projected from 2009-2014 compared with pre-ACA cost growth trends.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\nNationwide, repealing ACA without an adequate replacement plan could result in nearly 30 million Americans losing their health insurance, doubling the number of uninsured. This increase would cause demands for uncompensated care to skyrocket by $1.1 trillion over 2019-2028, placing heavy new burdens on state and local governments and health care providers.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/va-applies-bipartisan-provision-to-enhance-va-medical-care", "VA Applies Bipartisan Provision To Enhance Va Medical Care", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.15.16\n\t\t\t VA Applies Bipartisan Provision To Enhance Va Medical Care \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t New policy will improve staffing at Veterans Administration health clinics\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) welcomed the news that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will implement one of the key proposals from the bipartisan Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, helping to ensure veterans can get the care they need from Advance Practice Registered Nurses.\r\nThe VA will now allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. This will help enable the VA to find enough medical professionals to fill the need for health care services for veterans. This is particularly important for primary care services in rural areas, where veterans struggle to find access to medical care.\r\n\u201cAllowing these highly-qualified registered nurses to put their training to practice will help address delays at VA hospitals and clinics across the country,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cI commend Secretary McDonald and Under Secretary Shulkin for taking steps to remove barriers to health care access by increasing the number of qualified medical professionals providing primary care to our nation\u2019s veterans, and hope the VA can extend full practice authority to CRNAs in the future as well.\u201d\u201cAfter a lifetime of service to our nation, veterans deserve nothing but the best medical support. But unfortunately, all too many of our wounded warriors face significant hurdles to accessing the health care they need to thrive upon their return to civilian life,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cIn order to support our veterans to the best of their ability, our medical professionals must be able to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. When it comes to our veterans, there should be no holding back. I\u2019m thrilled that the VA heeded our call to improve VA health care staffing today and will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight for our veterans who have fought for us.\u201d\u201cIt\u2019s maddening that our nation\u2019s veterans are forced to wait for care due to a shortage of medical personnel when trained APRNs are standing by, ready to help but blocked by needless bureaucracy,\u201d said Rep. Peter DeFazio. \u201cThankfully, the VA has recognized the exceptional training and ability APRNs possess, and I urge them to quickly approve the ability of Nurse Anesthesiologists to practice at the same level as other APRNs. I\u2019m proud to have sponsored the House version of the Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate next Congress to continue to push the VA to address unnecessary personnel shortages that are hurting our veterans.\u201d  \u00a0  The Members of Congress praised the step forward, but expressed disappointment that the VA had excluded Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) from their final rule.\u201cWhile this is a major step forward in supporting our veterans, I would have liked to see the VA grant nurse anesthetists full authority to practice as well. I\u2019ll keep working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to ensure that CRNAs gain full practice authority so that they can provide our wounded warriors with care to the full extent of their abilities,\u201d said Merkley.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3158", "Lipinski Applauds NHTSA for Taking Next Step on Life-Saving Vehicle Technology", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is praising the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposal to establish a standard for potentially life-saving vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology and to require this equipment for all new light duty vehicles manufactured after 2023.\u00a0 V2V uses dedicated short-range communications to exchange basic information about the operational status of vehicles in close proximity to one another.\u00a0 It is primarily used to improve safety and increase efficiency.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAs co-chair of the Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is a highly anticipated step forward for the emerging connected vehicle industry,\u201d said Rep. Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cThe NHTSA has worked collaboratively with stakeholders on all levels to develop a very good proposal.\u00a0 V2V communications can enable many life-saving functions like collision and blind spot warnings, as well as intersection assistance.\u00a0 This technology can significantly reduce the number of traffic deaths each year and help the development of autonomous vehicles.\u00a0 In addition, the proposal mandates a cybersecurity framework that protects the system from hackers and guards privacy by ensuring that no personal data is collected or transmitted.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tFor many years, Congressman Lipinski has been a leader on connected and automated vehicle policy.\u00a0 The comprehensive transportation bill known as the FAST Act, that became law a year ago, contained a number of provisions he authored that will help our nation continue to lead on this emerging technology, which will increase safety, ease congestion, cut down on energy usage, expand mobility, and create new manufacturing jobs.\u00a0 The FAST Act also included language from Lipinski\u2019s Future TRIP Act, which specifically directs the University Transportation Centers program to focus research on connected and automated vehicles.\u00a0 Rep. Lipinski also pushed the NHTSA to release proposed guidance for improving motor vehicle cybersecurity.\u00a0 The guidance, released this past fall, serves as a set of best practices for automakers and component suppliers to ensure their products are secure from cyberattacks.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cAs V2V technologies become mainstream, they will further leverage the many safety systems already being developed for installation in the next generation of vehicles,\u201d said Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cV2V is one of the key components of automated vehicle systems that will ultimately increase traffic safety, enhance mobility, and make cars more efficient and environmentally friendly.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3156", "Lipinski Calls for a Full Investigation into Russia's Alleged Hacking and Attempts to Influence Election", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) issued the following statement after recent reports on Russia\u2019s hacking of Americans and interference with the 2016 Presidential Election:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI am deeply troubled by reports coming from the CIA regarding possible Russian interference in our recent elections.\u00a0 Based on Russia\u2019s actions taken against other nations, including Estonia, Georgia, and Ukraine, it is of little surprise that President Putin would attempt to influence our democratic process.\u00a0 It is vital that we examine what occurred, and whether Russia sought to influence or more directly tamper with our elections.\u00a0 I support the calls for a special investigation into this, not to cast doubt on the results of the election so much as to identify the scope and consequence of Russia\u2019s attempted influence, and to assure we put in place measures to prevent this from occurring again.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI will continue to make cybersecurity a top priority, but this will require cooperation that we don\u2019t see enough of in Washington.\u00a0 Democrats and Republicans need to work together with the outgoing Obama Administration and the incoming Trump Administration to develop a bipartisan proactive approach to protecting Americans from cyber thefts and attacks.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-nomination-rex-tillerson-secretary-state", "Quigley Statement on Nomination of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the announcement that Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, will be President-Elect Trump\u2019s nominee for Secretary of State:\nThe Secretary of State has the immense responsibility of being America\u2019s top diplomat, tasked with putting the interests and security of the United States and its people above all else. Unfortunately, the selection of Rex Tillerson, who serves as CEO of ExxonMobil and has close ties with Vladimir Putin, calls into question the glaring conflicts of interest he will bring with him into his position. His lack of diplomatic experience and questionable business dealings with foreign governments should be a serious cause for concern for all Members of Congress as the confirmation process begins.\nMr. Tillerson\u2019s personal and professional relationship with Vladimir Putin has been widely reported, and is particularly alarming at a time when significant evidence is pointing to Russia\u2019s interference in our presidential election. As our intelligence communities continue to assess this incident, President-elect Trump\u2019s nomination of Mr. Tillerson sends very mixed messages on our commitment to uphold and protect our democracy from those who wish us harm.\nAnother one of the Secretary of State\u2019s important functions will be representing the United States in the United Nations climate change talks and in bilateral environmental agreements with other countries. While Exxon Mobil has publicly praised the landmark Paris Agreement, Mr. Tillerson\u2019s past statements raise serious doubts on his commitment to combat the immediate threats of the climate crisis. As climate change has severe national and economic security implications, it\u2019s imperative that the future Secretary of State gives climate change the attention it deserves here at home and around the globe.\nAdditionally, human rights observers have sounded the alarm on Mr. Tillerson\u2019s past actions as CEO and his history of ignoring human rights abuses in places where Exxon has business interests. It is critical that our nation's leaders, especially those leading our dedicated U.S. diplomatic corps, craft a foreign policy that places the well-being of workers before their own bottom line.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-nomination-rick-perry-energy-secretary", "Quigley Statement on Nomination of Rick Perry for Energy Secretary", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, released the following statement on the announcement that Former Governor of Texas Rick Perry will be President-Elect Trump\u2019s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Energy:\nI am deeply disappointed and concerned that President-Elect Trump has selected Former Texas Governor Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy. In addition to having almost no relevant experience to prepare him to oversee a department charged with shaping the way we power our society moving forward, Perry once vowed to completely eliminate the vital cabinet department he is now being tapped to head. The Governor cannot be trusted or expected to effectively lead an agency that he doesn\u2019t believe should even exist.\nUnder President Obama, the Department of Energy has been led by two distinguished physicists who have helped guide advanced scientific and technological innovation and catalyze the proliferation of clean and renewable energy. By contrast, Perry has repeatedly questioned the settled science of climate change and championed the oil industry during his time as Governor of the state with the most renewable power in the country. Perry now hopes to lead an agency charged with regulating nuclear technology and running hundreds of research institutions and laboratories across the country despite having accused scientists of manipulating data to secure more funding for their work.\nI am a strong believer in the mission of the Department of Energy and grateful for the life-changing inventions and innovations that have occurred under its guidance. The Department of Energy is vital in our efforts to support a robust and sustainable clean energy economy, and I will fight to ensure that the agency is able to continue its good work and stay true to its duties, regardless of its leadership.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-more-than-3-million-in-hud-funding-for-illinois-housing-and-community-development", "Durbin Announces More Than $3 Million In HUD Funding For Illinois Housing And Community Development", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces More Than $3 Million In HUD Funding For Illinois Housing And Community Development \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Chicago Housing Authority and The Village of Oak Park, Illinois will receive a total of $3,452,000 in grant funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Village of Oak Park received $3 million through the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program to spur business development and economic growth in the community. The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) received $452,000 through the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency (PH-FSS) Program to provide public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient.  \u00a0  \u201cThese programs will help families gain the skills necessary to land good-paying jobs and affordable housing, and will give local development agencies the ability to help small business owners in their communities grow and thrive,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cI will continue fighting for federal funding that promotes the health and well-being of Illinois residents and businesses.\u201d  \u00a0  Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program Grant  \u00a0  The Village of Oak Park will establish a business loan fund focused on lending to small and medium sized businesses. The Village will use these funds to spur expansion of existing businesses, promote neighborhood revitalization, create and retain jobs and deliver key services to the community. The Village plans to make loans to businesses for working capital, acquisition and rehabilitation activities as well as for machinery, equipment, furnishings and fixtures.  \u00a0  Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 provides for a loan guarantee component of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. The Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program (Section 108) provides communities with a source of financing for economic development, housing rehabilitation, public facilities, and other physical development projects, including improvements to increase their resilience against natural disasters. The funds can be used by a designated public entity to undertake eligible projects, or, alternatively, can be loaned to a third party developer to undertake the projects. This flexibility makes it one of the most potent and important public investment tools that HUD offers to local governments.  \u00a0  Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency  \u00a0  The Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Public Housing Family Self-Sufficiency (PH-FSS) Program promotes the development of local strategies to coordinate the use of assistance under the public housing program with public and private resources, enable participating families to increase earned income and financial literacy, reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-business-leaders-highlight-new-bill-to-protect-dreamers", "Durbin, Business Leaders Highlight New Bill to Protect DREAMers", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.16\n\t\t\t Durbin, Business Leaders Highlight New Bill to Protect DREAMers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition (IBIC) today highlighted Senator Durbin\u2019s new legislation to ensure that the young undocumented immigrants known as DREAMers remain shielded from deportation if the Trump Administration ends the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Like DACA, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act would provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to more than 740,000 young people who were brought to the United States as children.\r\n\r\nThe bipartisan bill was introduced by Durbin and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), are original cosponsors of the bill.\r\n\r\n\u201cThe DACA program has given DREAMers a chance to come out of the shadows and contribute more fully to the only country they\u2019ve ever called home. These DREAMers have demonstrated their commitment to the United States in countless ways \u2013 by opening businesses, becoming doctors, lawyers, teachers and more,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cI urge President-elect Trump to keep DACA in place, but if he does not my bipartisan legislation will ensure that DREAMers are protected from deportation until we are able to provide a permanent fix for our broken immigration system.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nIBIC released a statement on the BRIDGE Act, which said, \u201cWe welcome the bipartisan legislative solution provided by Senators Graham and Durbin to grant temporary relief from deportations and work permits for more than 740,000 DREAMers who came to America as children. The bill provides a pathway for these young people to keep living, working and paying taxes in the United States. If passed, teachers, nurses, engineers and entrepreneurs will continue to work, create jobs, pay taxes, buy homes, and contribute to our economy and country. Without Congressional action, it\u2019s likely these young people, who have known no other home, would be deported to a country that is unfamiliar to them. Recipients are heavily vetted \u2013 to qualify for BRIDGE, like DACA, young immigrants must pass a rigorous background check and screening. In addition to growing our tax base, they strengthen our national security. BRIDGE is economically important, morally right, politically smart and will strengthen our national security. We hope members in both parties will support this critical legislation.\u201d \r\n\u00a0\r\nThe BRIDGE Act would provide \u201cprovisional protected presence\u201d and employment authorization to DACA-eligible individuals.\u00a0 A current DACA recipient would receive provisional protected status until the expiration date of his or her DACA status and could apply for provisional protected presence prior to this expiration.\u00a0 An individual who is not a DACA recipient but who is eligible for DACA could also apply for provisional protected presence.\u00a0 As with DACA, applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, be subject to criminal background checks, and meet a number of eligibility criteria indicating that they came to the United States as minors, grew up in this country, have pursued an education, have not committed any serious crimes, and do not pose a threat to our country.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\nSenator Durbin has been the leading voice in Congress in the fight to protect young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In April 2010, he was the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of DACA. Durbin has shared the stories of more than 75 DREAMers on the Senate floor since he introduced the original DREAM Act fifteen years ago. He was also a member of the \u201cGang of 8\u201d Republicans and Democrats who authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-urges-education-department-to-provide-debt-relief-to-former-westwood-college-students-in-illinois", "Durbin Urges Education Department To Provide Debt Relief To Former Westwood College Students In Illinois", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Urges Education Department To Provide Debt Relief To Former Westwood College Students In Illinois \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to work with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to provide prompt federal student loan debt relief through the Department\u2019s borrower defense to repayment rule for more than three thousand former Westwood College students in Illinois.  \u00a0  Last year, Attorney General Madigan settled a lawsuit with the company for $15 million after finding that Westwood misled students about the accreditation and cost of its criminal justice program. The settlement award provided some private student loan relief to Westwood students but did not cover federal student loans.   \u00a0  \u201cAttorney General Madigan\u2019s suit and underlying evidence make clear that Westwood\u2019s deceptive practices give rise to a cause of action under Illinois law, thereby qualifying approximately 3,600 Westwood criminal justice students in Illinois to federal student loan relief under the Department\u2019s borrower defense to repayment regulation,\u201d wrote Senator Durbin in a letter to Education Secretary John King. \u201cI urge the Department to work with Attorney General Madigan to promptly provide loan discharges and notifications of discharge to those students identified by the Attorney General.\u201d  \u00a0  Last week, Senator Durbin met with Secretary King to discuss how the Obama Administration can continue to protect students and taxpayers from predatory for-profit colleges until January 20th. They also discussed federal student loan relief for defrauded students, including those who attended Westwood, Computer Systems Institute, and Corinthian Colleges.  \u00a0  Full text of the letter is available here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senators-call-for-national-intelligence-estimate-of-russian-tampering-in-us-election-request-confirmation-of-justice-dept-investigation", "Senators Call For National Intelligence Estimate Of Russian Tampering In U.S. Election, Request Confirmation Of Justice Dept. Investigation", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.13.16\n\t\t\t Senators Call For National Intelligence Estimate Of Russian Tampering In U.S. Election, Request Confirmation Of Justice Dept. Investigation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t In letters to Director James Clapper, Attorney General Lynch, Senators push Administration on Russian hacks\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Ed Markey (D-MA) today called for a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to determine the extent of Russian intervention in the 2016 United States presidential election, accompanied by an unclassified summary of its key judgments by January 20th, 2017. An NIE is the formal, authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence related to a particular national security issue, which reflects the collective judgment of the nation\u2019s sixteen intelligence agencies.  \u00a0  The senators also called on Attorney General Loretta Lynch to publicly confirm that nonpartisan career Justice Department officials are conducting a criminal investigation into the matter, and if not, to open one immediately. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the election to assist Donald Trump.   \u00a0  \u201cDirect and deliberate interference in our election is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security\u2014it is absolutely critical that information about these matters be disclosed to the public and to Congress,\u201d the senators said. \u201cWe strongly support calls for bipartisan investigations by Congress\u2014this issue requires the full attention of the executive and legislative branches alike, and a conclusive, public national intelligence estimate will lay out the facts for the American people. The public also needs transparency and reassurance that federal law enforcement is actively investigating these matters and that, if the investigation finds evidence that Russian officials perpetrated or directed such acts, appropriate criminal charges will be announced.\u201d  \u00a0  Full text of the senators\u2019 letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper:  \u00a0  December 13, 2016  \u00a0  The Honorable James Clapper  Director of National Intelligence  Washington, D.C. 20511  \u00a0  Dear Director Clapper:  \u00a0  We request an immediate National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) regarding Russian efforts to manipulate the recent U.S. presidential election, including public release of its key judgments no later than January 20, 2017.\u00a0 Recently disclosed U.S. intelligence findings as publicly reported that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election and sought to undermine our democratic institutions \u2013 and the consequences thereof (including possible future such attacks on the United States) \u2013 are deeply concerning.\u00a0 They make it imperative that information be provided to the public and Congress.\u00a0 Quite simply, deliberate interference in our election to favor a particular candidate is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security.   \u00a0  On Saturday, December 10, 2016, the Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to help a particular candidate win the election.\u00a0 It further reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clinton\u2019s campaign chair.\u00a0 Russia was also reported to have had a role in cyber intrusions in at least two U.S. state election systems.\u00a0 These were described as individuals or actors known to the intelligence community and part of a wider Russian operation to boost one candidate over the other.\u00a0 The Post quoted a senior U.S. official briefed at an intelligence presentation made to some U.S. senators as saying, \u201cIt is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia\u2019s goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected.\u201d\u00a0 Also reported was that intelligence agency briefers told some senators as recently as last week that it was now \u201cquite clear\u201d that electing Trump was Russia\u2019s goal.\u00a0 In fact, you were quoted in early October as saying, \u201cWe believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia\u2019s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.\u201d  \u00a0  Under President Putin, Russia has taken aggressive actions that are contrary to American interests and those of its key allies.\u00a0 Its military has seized land in Georgia and Ukraine and aggressively tried to sow disinformation and instability in European democracies.\u00a0 It plants false news, promotes a distorted and false narrative about threats to Russia and ethnic Russians in border states, funds political parties sympathetic to Russian interests, and reportedly conducts cyberattacks against key Western interests.\u00a0 Its proxies were recently implicated in a coup plot in Montenegro and were involved in murdering more than 300 innocent civilians in a downed commercial airline over occupied eastern Ukraine.\u00a0 Russian military forces have aggressively probed NATO-member airspace and waters, and conducted reckless intercepts of U.S. aircraft in international airspace.\u00a0 It has reportedly tried to manipulate upcoming German elections.\u00a0 Finally, Russian State TV host and Putin confidant Dmitry Kiselyov \u2013 also known as the Kremlin\u2019s Chief Propagandist \u2013 warned this year that \u201cimpudent\u201d U.S. behavior towards Russia may have \u201cnuclear\u201d consequences.\u00a0 Quite simply, Russia is determined to foster political chaos and institutional mistrust in the West and may have alarmingly succeeded in the United States.   \u00a0  Given the serious nature of these matters, with unprecedented national security implications, we believe that our intelligence community must prioritize a conclusive, public NIE to lay out the facts of this serious matter for the American people.\u00a0 Threats to our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process must not become hostage to partisanship and narrow political interests.\u00a0 We know that Russia continues to make a concerted effort to undermine democratic institutions in the West and we fear we have fallen victim to their agenda.\u00a0 Such an attack on the United States must not go undisclosed. \u00a0  \u00a0  Thank you for your attention to this important issue.  \u00a0  --  \u00a0  Full text of the senators\u2019 letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch:  \u00a0  December 13, 2016  \u00a0  The Honorable Loretta Lynch  Attorney General  U.S. Department of Justice  Washington, D.C. 20530  \u00a0  Dear Attorney General Lynch:  \u00a0  We urge the Department of Justice to publicly confirm that objective career Department professionals are conducting a criminal investigation into whether officials in the Russian government intervened in, or directed others to intervene in, the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help one candidate over the other.\u00a0 If such an investigation is not ongoing, we urge you to open one without delay.  \u00a0  On September 28, 2016, Director James Comey of the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified before the House Judiciary Committee and was asked about the Department\u2019s standard for commenting on whether an investigation is underway.\u00a0 Director Comey stated that \u201c[o]ur standard is we do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations,\u201d but he cited examples of \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d that he said justified commenting on the existence of investigations, including \u201cwhen there is a need for the public to be reassured\u201d and \u201cwhere the public needed transparency.\u201d[i]  \u00a0  Surely this is just such an exceptional circumstance.\u00a0 On December 9, the Washington Post reported that the CIA has concluded that Russia moved deliberately to help elect one candidate as president of the United States.\u00a0 The Post further reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to Russia\u2019s government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from one U.S. party\u2019s national political committee and campaign chairman.\u00a0 Deliberate hacking of national political party and campaign staff email systems in order to tilt the election results in favor of the candidate deemed more sympathetic to Russian interests is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security.\u00a0 The public needs transparency and reassurance that the Department of Justice is actively investigating these matters and that, if the investigation finds evidence that Russian officials perpetrated or directed such acts, appropriate criminal charges will be announced.   \u00a0  The American people need to know that threats to our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process will not go unexamined and unchallenged by the Department of Justice.\u00a0 We must ensure that a foreign government cannot undermine our democratic institutions and elections as a means to serve its own interests.\u00a0 We urge you to publicly confirm that a criminal investigation into these matters is underway or will immediately be opened.   \u00a0  Thank you for your attention to this important issue.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kelly-calls-for-congressional-investigation-into-russia-s", "Congresswoman Kelly Calls for Congressional Investigation into Russias Role in 2016 Election", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Robin Kelly", "K000385", "robinkelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee\u2019s subcommittee on Information Technology (IT) Security, sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Oversight Committee chairman, Congressman Jason Chaffetz calling for a full and thorough investigation of Russia\u2019s efforts to sway the 2016 Presidential election.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cVoting is the bedrock of our democracy. As members of Congress, we have a responsibility to investigate and deliver real answers for the American people,\u201d said Congresswoman Kelly. \u201cThe intelligence community has done their job and made it clear, we need to get to the bottom of this.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSpecifically, her letter requests a full committee investigative hearing on \u201cRussia\u2019s actions in the 2016 Presidential race and its efforts to undermine our election.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe letter continues: \u201cNow that CIA sources have indicated that there was indeed Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential contest, we must act swiftly to defend our democratic elections and hold the Putin Regime accountable for their actions.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFailure to investigate these serious allegations is nothing short of a violation of the public trust,\u201d added Congresswoman Kelly.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCongresswoman Kelly also serves on the Oversight Committee's National Security subcommittee and is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/remarks-2016-national-immigrant-integration-conference-nashville-tn", "Remarks at the 2016 National Immigrant Integration Conference, Nashville, TN", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL)\n\tNot many Members of Congress get to be part of a movement.\u00a0 Not many get to help organize the nation for genuine, progressive social change.\u00a0 For that privilege, I want to thank all of you because working together, we are doing work that matters.\u00a0\n\tYour work makes life for my constituents better and it makes fighting much easier when it is arm in arm with good people like you.\u00a0\n\tThere is no one I would rather share a fox hole with than Josh Hoyt [Executive Director of the National Partnership for New Americans] who is a national leader, a Chicago institution, and a personal friend.\u00a0 My biggest critics are at home in Chicago and so are my most stalwart friends.\n\tAnd outside of my family, the people who keep me going and keep me fighting are either in Chicago or they are here in this room or part of this movement.\n\tAnd this movement has now sent one of its own to Congress.\n\tSo I want to say thank you to Seattle and to the pro-immigrant movement for sending Representative-elect Pramila Jayapal to us in Washington.\u00a0\n\tWe will take good care of her and I\u2019m proud to know she is joining me in our fight for immigrants, for fairness and for justice.\n\tThe new class in Congress \u2013 and the last several classes of young leaders who are coming to Washington to fight for immigrants \u2013 from Phoenix and Florida, Los Angeles, Nevada and New York \u2013 there are new leaders in the House who will join with us.\n\tI wish we had a better two or four years ahead of us, but Rep. Jayapal, thank you for stepping up and continuing the fight in your new role.\n\tI cannot sugar coat things, we are looking at a very dark time.\n\tEven when we had a President who said he was for immigration reform, we lost more than three-million people to deportation.\n\tSo with all due respect to the topic of integration that brings us together at this conference, we know that we cannot integrate immigrants into our community if they have been deported and I think the next several years present a challenge like no other we have faced in recent memory.\n\tI\u2019d like to talk about our three challenges right now inside and outside of Washington.\n\tWe have to organize.\n\tWe have to lock arms with our allies.\n\tAnd we have to keep our eyes on the prize.\n\tLet me explain what I mean.\n\tRight now, we need to organize ourselves and build the power of this movement to resist the onslaught of the Trump Administration and his army of flying monkeys opposed to legal immigration and legal status for immigrants \u2013 Ann Coulter, Jeff Sessions, Kris Kobach Numbers USA, FAIR and all the rest of them.\n\tWe do not know for sure that they will pull the strings in the new Administration, but we have to prepare for the worst.\n\tWe should assume they are coming for immigrants and our posture should be that if they try to come for DREAMers or their moms or their neighbors or try to register Muslims or put people in camps or criminalize immigrants, they will have to go through us.\n\tTrump says he wants to deport 2 or 3 million people starting on Day One and he claims that he wants to deport criminals.\u00a0\n\tAnd we know that the idea that 2 to 3 million undocumented immigrants being serious, violent, or dangerous criminals \u2013 like a lot of things Trump says \u2013 is pure baloney.\n\tA mom who is picked up by ICE while driving without a license because her kid is sick and needs to go to the doctor\u2026Trump would label her criminal, but we would not.\n\tIf she came back after she was deported so that she could raise her family, Trump would label her a criminal, but no reasonable person would label her a criminal because every reasonable person who was in the same position would probably do the same thing.\n\tWe have to organize ourselves to fight for that mom and all the others like her who live and work here and raise families \u2013 who work two jobs or pick garlic in the hot sun and contribute to strong communities in so many ways.\n\tIn Chicago, the organizing work has already started.\u00a0 We are going to train people to help defend members of their own communities \u2013 and leverage the leadership of the Mayor, Senator Durbin myself and others to help prepare and organize a crew of community defenders.\u00a0\n\tIt is not enough to fund the downtown lawyers, although they will be a very important part of the effort.\u00a0 It is not enough to have very solid sanctuary policies that create a firewall between the City and ICE.\n\tWe need to build the power of the community to defend itself.\n\tAnd guess what?\n\tWhatever we do in Chicago makes the Mayor in New York and Houston and Los Angeles and a lot of other people take notice because, in case you haven\u2019t heard, politicians can be a bit competitive.\n\tSo, Bill De Blasio, Jerry Brown, Governors, Mayors, City Council people \u2013 the competition is on to see who can be the most helpful in working with this movement to build the best, most inclusive and successful model for community defense.\n\tEven if we are on our own in cities and communities, every organization and congregation can play a role in getting ready.\n\tIf every person targeted by Trump has a lawyer or a BIA certified defender \u2013 or both \u2013 they will have a much better chance of winning their case.\u00a0\n\tPlus, dragging out the process for any individual deportation case will make it harder and harder to bring millions and millions of cases.\u00a0\n\tInside the Congress, we also need to organize, and that work has begun with Zoe Lofgren and Lucille Roybal-Allard as my partners and with a broad group of supporters \u2013 hopefully including Rep. Jayapal just as soon as she is sworn in.\n\tInside Congress, the resistance is starting with the DREAMers because we cannot stand idle as Trump and his ilk try to take away one of our key victories under Obama.\u00a0 We fought so hard for it, we can\u2019t roll over when there\u2019s a move to take it away.\n\tSo I am working to introduce a bill like the bill that Senator Graham and Senator Durbin introduced \u2013 The BRIDGE Act \u2013 and to identify a Republican leader to work with us so that it is truly bipartisan on both sides of the Hill.\u00a0 But that\u2019s just the beginning.\n\tBecause we can\u2019t just defend the DREAMers.\u00a0 We have to move to defend the whole immigrant community\u2026 in coalition; A coalition that says if you come for the DREAMers, if you come to deport Moms and Dads, if you want to register Muslims, if you want to cut-off legal immigration, you have to go through us.\n\tAnd by us, I don\u2019t just mean the immigrant and refugee and Asian, Latino, progressive coalition, but women, young people, environmental defenders, the LGBT community \u2013 whoever might have a target on their backs, we have to join arms with them.\n\tIf they come after young people who have been organizing for Black Lives Matter, we have to lock arms with them so that if anyone is getting thrown under the bus, they must try to throw us all under the bus.\u00a0\n\tWhen they come to shut down Planned Parenthood, we need to be on the picket line with our allies too.\n\tWe can\u2019t have this, \u201cwell, I feel bad for them but at least they are not coming for me,\u201d stuff.\n\tThey are coming for us, sooner or later and the more of \u201cus\u201d that there are \u2013 the more people who think of themselves as part of \u201cus\u201d \u2013 the harder it is for them to target any of us individually.\n\tI have told my colleagues in the CHC that we need to be walking arm-in-arm with the Black Caucus and the NAACP and the LGBT Taskforce and the Human Rights Campaign.\u00a0\n\tAnd many of us already do that, but we have to be more intentional and more institutional and more conspicuous.\n\tSo we organize, we link with our allies, and the last and most important thing we need to do is keep our eyes on the prize.\n\tThe majority of the country \u2013 even if not a majority of the Electoral College \u2013 are with us and this is a minority President taking office.\u00a0\n\tWe cannot forget that and we cannot let others forget that.\n\tBut while we fight against deportation and fight to protect those with DACA, we cannot lose sight of what we are for.\n\tIt is good to introduce the BRIDGE Act, but it has to be a bridge to something, a bridge to somewhere.\u00a0 If we are able to protect the people who signed up for DACA, we need to have them work with us towards something.\n\tThat\u2019s why I am announcing today my intention to file a bill early next year that encapsulates our vision for legal immigration and legal status for immigrants.\n\tA bill that shows that we want people to come with a visa and not a smuggler and that says that we envision an America where immigrants are fully incorporated into society -- not left to float outside of society in legal limbo, here and working for decades but not fully part of the communities \u2013 not fully welcome in the country that our community is embracing with hard work, sweat and contributions.\n\tWe have to have a vision of legal immigration that stands next to the vision that Jeff Sessions and Kris Kobach \u00a0are selling which is walls and deportation and reducing or eliminating legal immigration.\n\tWe need to show America that the choice is between a modern immigration system that makes people play by a common set of rules so that immigration works for and is controlled by the American people for the benefit of the American people and those who come to join us\u2026.\n\t\u2026Which stands in counterpoint to a system that encourages the black market to flourish, that keeps families waiting decades, that relies on criminalization, marginalization and deportation rather than inclusion and integration.\u00a0\n\tOur bill must establish the functioning courts and appeals process we need for a modern immigration system, but unlike previous incarnations of comprehensive immigration reform, we do not need to craft all of the enforcement mechanisms.\n\tFor two reasons:\u00a0 Number 1, the U.S. has already implemented a lot of the enforcement stuff we have proposed over the years in our comprehensive legislation already and we have nearly the lowest level of illegal immigration we have had in three- or four-decades.\u00a0\n\tAnd secondly, Republicans will be coming up with all of the enforcement-only and deportation-only and militarization and criminalization bills they can think up\u2026 so we better be clear about what we want.\n\tYou look on my Facebook or Twitter and you\u2019ll see a lot of haters telling me to go back to Mexico, even though I am Puerto Rican and born in Chicago.\n\tAnd there are many, many people who are blessing me and encouraging me.\n\tBut you get a lot of average folks who say \u2013 and probably really believe \u2013 that they are FOR legal immigration and AGAINST illegal immigration.\u00a0 They really believe that about themselves and we have to show them that we are on their side.\n\tThat what we have been fighting for gives us more control at the border because people are coming on buses during daylight hours using their real names carrying a visa \u2013 not hiring a smuggler to risk their lives coming in the dark of night.\n\tThat we are the side that wants to protect the labor rights of all working people because we want one set of labor laws for one labor market, not segmented into legal and illegal or above board and under-the-table.\n\tThat we will update the visa system \u2013 which right now has people coming with visas that they applied for when Bill Clinton was President if they can apply at all \u2013 so it becomes modernized to regulate and facilitate immigration for families, for employers, for asylum seekers, for refugees or for people who want to build America up.\n\tThat we are for immigrants putting down deep roots that benefit their own families, but that also benefit the communities they help make stronger and safer and healthier.\n\tWe must articulate that vision and I look forward to working with you \u2013 all of you \u2013 in crafting that vision, introducing legislation, giving Democrats, fair-minded Republicans \u2013 if they have the courage \u2013 and most importantly, the American people and our community a place to stand and ideals and a vision to stand up for. \u00a0\n\tThank you very much.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3153", "Lipinski Honors 2016 Senior Citizens of the Year", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) announced the winners of the 2016 Senior Citizen of the Year Award during a special program in Hickory Hills.\u00a0 The winners were chosen based on their contributions to their communities in the Third Congressional District.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI am honored to recognize these seniors who have selflessly donated their time and energy to causes and pursuits that teach us all the value of service.\u00a0 They have truly made our neighborhoods and communities a better place to live.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe 2016 Senior Citizen of the Year Award winners are:\u00a0 Tom Ballard, Lemont; Dolores Barnes, Palos Park; Phyllis Churulo, Romeoville; John Coleman, Burbank; Rich Davis, Lockport; Mary DeMarco, Chicago (Canaryville); Bruce Haugen, Willow Springs; Anita Kieca, Hickory Hills; Sharon Skala, Chicago (Archer Heights); Arlene Norton-White, Chicago (Garfield Ridge); Robert Wilcox, Oak Lawn; and Joyce Wisniowicz of Orland Park.\r\n\r\n\tTo be eligible for this award, a senior must be nominated by the leader of an organization or an official from their community.\u00a0 Only a select few are chosen to receive this honor.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-durbin-announce-chicago-post-office-be-renamed-after-officer", "Quigley, Durbin Announce Chicago Post Office to Be Renamed After Officer Joseph P. Cali", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the Senate passed legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office facility located at 6300 N. Northwest Highway in Chicago, Illinois as the Officer Joseph P. Cali Post Office Building. Vietnam War Veteran and Chicago Police Officer Joseph P. Cali was shot and killed on May 19, 1975, at the age of 31 while writing a parking ticket in the 2100 block of West Lake Street. He was survived by his wife, Neva, and two young daughters, Jennifer and Carolyn.\n\u201cWith the naming of this post office, I am proud to honor the bravery and service of Chicago police officer, Joseph P. Cali,\u201d\u00a0said Quigley.\u00a0\u201cOfficer Cali made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and I know that this post office will pay tribute to his dedication to the City of Chicago and all its residents.\u201d\n\u201cOfficer Cali was a true public servant, putting his life on the line in Vietnam and paying the ultimate sacrifice as a Chicago police officer at a tragically young age. He could not be more deserving of this recognition and honor,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI am proud to join Congressman Quigley in this effort to recognize Officer Cali\u2019s years of public service.\u201d\nRep. Quigley introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to rename the U.S. Post Office in honor of Officer Cali in July. In September, Senator Durbin sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs calling for legislation to designate this facility to be passed as soon as possible.\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-investigation-russian-hacking", "Quigley Statement on Investigation Into Russian Hacking", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today,\u00a0U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in support of a Congressional investigation in response to reports that Russian hackers attempted to influence the election:\nThe recent findings of Russian interference in our presidential election should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation. A thorough, bipartisan, bicameral investigation should be convened as soon as possible in order to provide the American people with the facts and answers they deserve in regards to the scope and timing of this alleged involvement.\nAs a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I believe that it is time for us to come together and put our country first by fulfilling our responsibility to uphold the democratic foundation on which nation was built. Congress\u2019s response to this incident could have major foreign policy implications in the weeks, months, and years to come. The world is watching, and we must do all we can to deter future intrusions into our institutions, from Russia or any other actors who wish us harm. \u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-kirk-announce-illinois-post-offices-to-be-renamed-after-abner-j-mikva-officer-joseph-p-cali", "Durbin, Kirk Announce Illinois Post Offices To Be Renamed After Abner J. Mikva, Officer Joseph P. Cali", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.12.16\n\t\t\t Durbin, Kirk Announce Illinois Post Offices To Be Renamed After Abner J. Mikva, Officer Joseph P. Cali \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced the Senate passed legislation to name two U.S. Post Office facilities after Illinois' Abner J. Mikva and Officer Joseph P. Cali.  \u00a0  \u201cAbner Mikva was always my North Star for integrity, independence, and progressive values. And Officer Cali was a true public servant, putting his life on the line in Vietnam and paying the ultimate sacrifice as a Chicago police officer at a tragically young age. Both men could not be more deserving of this recognition and honor,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI am proud to join my colleagues in this effort to recognize their years of public service.\u201d\r\n\u201cAbner Mikva and Officer Cali served the people of Illinois with integrity and honor,\u201d said Kirk. \u201cAbner Mikva was the embodiment of an honorable public servant, sharing his independent voice with each branch of government during his long career. Officer Cali bravely defended our country in the military and then fought to keep the streets of Chicago safe as a Chicago Police Officer, only to have his life stolen by the very violence he worked to prevent. These designations are a small token of gratitude for the sacrifice these men made for our state and our Nation.\u201d\r\nEarlier this year, Senators Durbin and Kirk introduced legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office facility located at 1101 Davis Street in Evanston, Illinois, as the Abner J. Mikva Post Office Building. Abner Mikva, who passed away on July 4th at the age of 90, was a five-term Democratic congressman from Illinois, chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and White House Counsel for President Bill Clinton.  \u00a0  The U.S. Post Office facility located at 6300 N. Northwest Highway in Chicago will be designated as the Officer Joseph P. Cali Post Office Building. Vietnam War Veteran and Chicago Police Officer Joseph P. Cali was fatally killed on May 19, 1975, while writing a parking ticket in the 2100 block of West Lake Street.  \u00a0  In September, Senators Durbin and Kirk sent letters to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs calling for legislation to designate these two facilities to be passed as soon as possible. Copies of the letters can be found here and here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-quigley-announce-chicago-post-office-to-be-renamed-after-officer-joseph-p-cali", "Durbin, Quigley Announce Chicago Post Office To Be Renamed After Officer Joseph P. Cali", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.12.16\n\t\t\t Durbin, Quigley Announce Chicago Post Office To Be Renamed After Officer Joseph P. Cali \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) announced the Senate passed legislation to designate the U.S. Post Office facility located at 6300 N. Northwest Highway in Chicago, Illinois as the Officer Joseph P. Cali Post Office Building. Vietnam War Veteran and Chicago Police Officer Joseph P. Cali was shot and killed on May 19, 1975, at the age of 31 while writing a parking ticket in the 2100 block of West Lake Street. He was survived by his wife, Neva, and two young daughters, Jennifer and Carolyn.  \u00a0  \u201cOfficer Cali was a true public servant, putting his life on the line in Vietnam and paying the ultimate sacrifice as a Chicago police officer at a tragically young age. He could not be more deserving of this recognition and honor,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI am proud to join Congressman Quigley in this effort to recognize Officer Cali\u2019s years of public service.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cWith the naming of this post office, I am proud to honor the bravery and service of Chicago police officer, Joseph P. Cali,\u201d said Quigley. \u201cOfficer Cali made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and I know that this post office will pay tribute to his dedication to the City of Chicago and all its residents.\u201d  \u00a0  In September, Senator Durbin sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs calling for legislation to designate this facility to be passed as soon as possible. Rep. Quigley introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to rename the U.S. Post Office in honor of Officer Cali in July.  \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbins-bipartisan-bill-to-reauthorize-leasing-authority-at-arsenals-passes-senate", "Durbins Bipartisan Bill To Reauthorize Leasing Authority At Arsenals Passes Senate", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.12.16\n\t\t\t Durbin\u2019s Bipartisan Bill To Reauthorize Leasing Authority At Arsenals Passes Senate \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement after the Senate passed their bipartisan legislation, the Arsenal Installation Reutilization Authority, to reauthorize the leasing authority at Department of Defense arsenals and military instillations for unused office space to outside tenants:\r\n\"This legislation provides the kind of thoughtful, engaged approach we need to ensure the continued health of Rock Island Arsenal since lease revenue is an important piece of its long-term economic sustainability,\" said Durbin. \"I\u2019m proud to have worked alongside my colleagues in the Illinois and Iowa Congressional Delegations on this important legislation, and I will continue to fight for federal investment for Rock Island in order to provide the Arsenal with the necessary tools to unlock its own economic potential\u200e.\"  \u00a0  \"The Arsenal will now have the flexibility to attract more jobs to the Quad Cities as unnecessary bureaucratic red tape is eliminated,\u201d said Kirk. \u201cThis legislation will encourage private investment and provide the Arsenal with more resources and personnel to maintain its strength and role as a leader in the defense industry.\"  \u00a0  \u201cI am pleased the Senate passed this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to reduce government costs, which boosts our local economies,\u201d said Ernst. \u201cImportantly for the Quad Cities, this would allow the Rock Island Arsenal to resume their leasing authority, which expired in 2012, and continue attracting new businesses and jobs to the region. While I am disappointed this will not get a vote in the House this year, I will continue to fight through all possible routes to restore this authority for Rock Island Arsenal. This includes introducing this legislation again next year if necessary.\u201d\r\n\u201cIt took a lot of work and negotiation by our bi-state delegation to get to this point,\u201d said Grassley. \u201cI\u2019m glad the Senate has now acted on our legislation to allow the Rock Island Arsenal to continue leasing unused office space to tenants that bring value to the arsenal while offsetting costs. I look forward to working with our House counterparts and the Army to see workable leasing authority implemented in the near future.\u201d  \u00a0   \u201cI am very pleased that the Senate passed this bill to protect the Watervliet Arsenal and its relationship with the community,\u201d said Gillibrand. \u201cThe Watervliet Arsenal is a key part of the Capital Region\u2019s history and economy and a very important tool in our national defense. I will continuing pushing for this legislation so that the Watervliet Arsenal can continue to thrive for many years to come.\u201d \u00a0  \u00a0  Senate passage of the Arsenal Installation Reutilization Authority follows its introduction in September. Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives is no longer in session, and therefore, the legislation is unable to receive a vote in the chamber.About the Arsenal Installation Reutilization Authority:\r\n \r\nAffords Department of Defense arsenals the flexibility to reutilize excess space through leases or contracts with private sector entities under the following conditions:\r\nContracts or leases help maintain the viability of manufacturing arsenals and any military installations on which they are located.\r\nContracts or leases eliminate or reduce the cost of government ownership of the manufacturing arsenals, to include cost of operations/maintenance, environmental remediation or other costs.\r\nContracts or leases leverage private investment at manufacturing arsenals through long-term facility use contracts, property management contracts, leases, or other agreements.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://foster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-foster-d-il-statement-on-reported-trump-survey-of-0", "Congressman Foster (D-IL) Statement on Reported Trump Survey of Department of Energy Scientists", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bill Foster", "F000454", "foster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The report that President Elect Trump wants to identify civil servants at the Department of Energy who work on climate change and international diplomacy is deeply disturbing. It harkens back to an era when politicians sought out individuals for partisan politics with little basis of any wrongdoing. The United States has always been at the forefront of scientific inquiry and innovation. These Cold War era tactics threaten to undo the decades of progress we have made on climate change and to dissuade a new generation of scientists from tackling our world\u2019s biggest problems. No one should have to work in fear of political retaliation. Our leaders should encourage an atmosphere of open research and scientific inquiry without political obstruction.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/guti-rrez-encouraged-bipartisan-bridge-act-seeks-house-measure-daca", "Gutirrez Encouraged By Bipartisan BRIDGE Act, Seeks House Measure for DACA DREAMers", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Chicago \u2013 Today, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan BRIDGE Act to protect DREAMers with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) by extending the program for three years.\u00a0 Rep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) issued the following statement:\n\tI am going to do whatever I can to protect the children and young adults who signed up for DACA. Period.\u00a0 They came forward because the President and many other leaders, including myself, asked them to register, go through the process, and trust that by following the rules they would be rewarded with the opportunity to stay in the only country they have ever known.\u00a0 The DREAMers I know are worried about what a Trump Administration means for their future and their ability to work, study, and remain connected to their families.\u00a0 This bill is a start and I plan to work with colleagues in both parties to introduce a similar effort in the House of Representatives.\n\tObviously, the young people who have complied with the DACA program have stepped up as leaders for the entire immigrant community.\u00a0 While this bill focuses on this specific group of DREAMers with DACA, the broader immigrant community deserves reassurance that the lives they have built in the United States \u2013 in most cases over decades \u2013 will not be erased.\u00a0 I am committed to resisting any attempts at mass deportation, mass criminalization, mass registration, or mass demonization of immigrants who work hard and have contributed so much to America.\n\tI am very proud of Senator Graham and my Senator, Dick Durbin, who once again have stepped up in the Senate to lead the way.\u00a0 There are dozens of men and women in the Republican Party in the House who have stepped up in the past and I expect to work with anyone who will join me and other Democrats in putting America\u2019s immigrants in a safe place.\nRep. Guti\u00e9rrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-visits-chicago-union-station-tour-infrastructure-discussion", "Quigley Visits Chicago Union Station for Tour, Infrastructure Discussion with Amtrak", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), joined Amtrak leadership at Chicago Union Station to discuss transportation infrastructure plans, improvement projects and accessibility priorities for the city of Chicago\u2019s railways as part of his \u201cMike on the Move\u201d initiative.\n\u201cSafe, reliable, and affordable transportation options are essential in ensuring the continued prosperity of our city and our nation,\u201d said Rep. Quigley. \u201cHaving the opportunity to see the progress on improvement projects for Chicago transportation firsthand highlights how critical these long-term, forward-thinking investments are in our efforts to modernize our infrastructure, which will help people and goods travel more safely and efficiently, all while reducing congestion, creating jobs, and stimulating local economies.\u201d\n\u201cWe are proud of the progress we\u2019ve made with improvements for all the users of the station, Amtrak customers and Metra passengers alike,\u201d said Ray Lang, President of the Amtrak-owned Chicago Union Station Co. \u201cWe are in a Master Plan process to study the next steps toward remaking the transportation elements of the station, in partnership with the city of Chicago, Metra and the RTA.\u201d\nDuring his tour, Rep. Quigley discussed the master plan for Chicago Union Station renovations with station leadership and toured the recent restoration of the Burlington Room, which previously served as the women\u2019s lounge, as well as the new metropolitan lounge and the transit center. Currently, the design phase of the master plan is thirty percent complete.\nRep. Quigley joins Suzanne Mosher, Senior Manager of Infrastructure Planning at Amtrak, and Paul Sanders, Senior Manager Facilities Management for Amtrak to discuss upcoming plans to continue expanding Union Station\u2019s accommodations.\n\u201cOur increase in passenger counts mean we\u2019ve outgrown the 1990\u2019s configuration of the concourse level and we need to better accommodate both our ridership and Metra\u2019s, today and in the future,\u201d said Lang,\u00a0 who is also a Senior Director of Government Affairs at Amtrak.\nAmtrak operates more than 300 trains each day to more than 500 destinations across 21,000 route miles. Last year, Amtrak hosted over 30.8 million passengers \u2013 with an average of 84,600 each day \u2013 representing the fifth straight year in which ridership has exceeded 30 million.\nRep. Quigley\u2019s \u201cMike on the Move\u201d initiative emphasizes how the federal government can support transportation and infrastructure investments. Previous \u201cMike on the Move\u201d events highlighted Pace Route 301\u2019s integration of Chicago suburbs, commercial transportation through UPS\u2019 Chicago Area Consolidation Hub, the 606 bike and pedestrian trail shortly after it re-opened, Chicago\u2019s Metra system\u2019s century old switching tower, and Chicago\u2019s notorious rail congestion.\nAs Illinois\u2019 only member on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Quigley has pushed for a long-term surface transportation bill and prioritized Chicago-area infrastructure investments as a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD). He has helped secure $100 million in Core Capacity Grants to benefit CTA, $450 million in TIGER grants to help reduce congestion and create ad 21st century highway and public transit system in Illinois, and nearly $200 million to help complete installment of Positive Train Control safety systems for commuter railroads\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-on-senate-colleagues-to-support-bridge-act-to-protect-dreamers", "Durbin Calls On Senate Colleagues To Support Bridge Act To Protect Dreamers", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Calls On Senate Colleagues To Support Bridge Act To Protect Dreamers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about new bipartisan legislation to ensure that the young undocumented immigrants known as DREAMers remain shielded from deportation under a Trump Administration. Like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act would provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.  \u00a0  \u201cIf DACA is eliminated, what happens to [DREAMers]? That\u2019s been a concern and a fear, not just on this side of aisle, but on the other side as well. I\u2019m happy to report that Senator Lindsey Graham has stepped forward. We\u2019re working together on a measure we call the BRIDGE Act, which we are going to introduce today,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cThis is an effort by Senator Graham and myself to have a bipartisan answer to the question about what happens to these 800,000 and others like them while we debate the future of immigration.\u201d  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.  \u00a0  Audio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.  \u00a0  Footage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition and standard definition.  \u00a0  The BRIDGE Act would provide \u201cprovisional protected presence\u201d and employment authorization to DACA-eligible individuals. A current DACA recipient would receive provisional protected status until the expiration date of his or her DACA status and could apply for provisional protected presence prior to this expiration. An individual who is not a DACA recipient but who is eligible for DACA could also apply for provisional protected presence. Applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, be subject to criminal background checks, and meet a number of eligibility criteria indicating that they came to the United States as minors, grew up in this country, have pursued an education, have not committed any serious crimes, and do not pose a threat to our country.   \u00a0  Senator Durbin has been a leading voice in the fight to protect young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In April 2010, he was the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of DACA. Durbin has shared the stories of more than 75 DREAMers on the Senate floor since he introduced the original DREAM Act fifteen years ago. He was also a member of the \u201cGang of 8\u201d Republicans and Democrats who authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/graham-durbin-announce-bipartisan-bridge-act-to-protect-young-individuals-from-deportation", "Graham, Durbin Announce Bipartisan Bridge Act To Protect Young Individuals From Deportation", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.09.16\n\t\t\t Graham, Durbin Announce Bipartisan Bridge Act To Protect Young Individuals From Deportation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced they are introducing bipartisan legislation to protect young undocumented individuals should the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program be discontinued. U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) are original cosponsors of the bill.  \u00a0  Like DACA, the Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy (BRIDGE) Act would provide temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to young undocumented individuals who were brought to the United States as children.  \u00a0  \u201cIt\u2019s my firm belief most Americans want to fix a broken immigration system in a humane manner,\u201d said Graham.\u00a0 \u201cIn my view, the DACA Executive Order issued by President Obama was unconstitutional and President-elect Trump would be right to repeal it.\u00a0 However, I do not believe we should pull the rug out and push these young men and women -- who came out of the shadows and registered with the federal government -- back into the darkness.\u00a0 Our legislation continues to provide legal status to them for three years as Congress seeks a permanent solution.\u00a0 These young people have much to offer the country and we stand to benefit from the many contributions they will make to America.\u00a0 I\u2019m confident that if President-elect Trump were to support this measure we can repeal the unconstitutional Executive Order and Congress will provide temporary legal status through the proper constitutional process.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cDREAMers have so much to contribute to this country, their country, and they\u2019ve demonstrated their commitment to the United States in countless ways \u2013 by opening businesses, becoming doctors and teachers, and serving in uniform,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Graham to ensure that DREAMers are protected from deportation until we are able to provide a permanent fix for our broken immigration system. These kids are Americans at heart and deserve to remain in the only country they call home.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cIn the highly contentious world of immigration policy, one of the least controversial propositions is that the children of undocumented individuals, who were brought to the United States by their parents and were educated here, should have the opportunity to pursue their dreams in America,\u201d said Senator Murkowski. \u201cAlong with members of Alaska\u2019s faith community, I share the strong moral conviction that the Dreamers should be free from fear of deportation.\u00a0 The introduction of this measure is timed to remind the Dreamers that there are people in Congress who have their backs.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cMore than 350,000 Dreamers live, work and are educated in California\u2014nearly half the young people nationwide who have been admitted to the deferred action program. Giving these young people an opportunity to go to college, pursue careers and give back to their communities has been tremendously beneficial for my state,\u201d said Senator Feinstein. \u201cWe have a moral obligation to do all we can to shield them from deportation and keep their families together.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cCongress needs to pass legislation to lawfully ensure that children who were brought here by their parents, through no fault of their own, are able to stay and finish their education and continue to contribute to society,\u201d said Senator Flake.  \u00a0  Key points of the BRIDGE Act:  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A current DACA recipient would receive provisional protected status until the expiration date of his or her DACA status and could apply for provisional protected presence prior to this expiration.   \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An individual who is not a DACA recipient but who is eligible for DACA could also apply for provisional protected presence.   \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, be subject to criminal background checks, and meet a number of eligibility criteria indicating that they came to the United States as minors, grew up in this country, have pursued an education, have not committed any serious crimes, and do not pose a threat to our country.   \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An individual\u2019s provisional protected presence and employment authorization would be subject to revocation by DHS if the individual no longer met the eligibility criteria.  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The BRIDGE Act would provide provisional protected presence and employment authorization for three years after the date of enactment of the legislation  \u00a0  Find out more about the BRIDGE Act below.  \u00a0  The BRIDGE Act\r\nThe BRIDGE (Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy) Act would provide temporary relief from deportation and employment authorization to individuals who are eligible for the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (\u201cDACA\u201d) program.\r\nDACA provides temporary protection from removal and work authorization to young students and veterans who grew up in the United States if they register with the government, pay a fee, and pass a criminal background check.\u00a0 More than 740,000 young people have received DACA.\u00a0 Temporary protection under the BRIDGE Act would ensure that these young people can continue to work and study and be protected from deportation while Congress debates broader legislation to fix our broken immigration system. The BRIDGE Act would provide \u201cprovisional protected presence\u201d and employment authorization to DACA-eligible individuals.\u00a0 A current DACA recipient would receive provisional protected presence until the expiration date of his or her DACA status and could apply for provisional protected presence prior to that expiration.\u00a0 An individual who is not a DACA recipient but who is eligible for DACA could also apply for provisional protected presence. Applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, undergo criminal background checks, and meet a number of eligibility criteria indicating that they came to the United States as minors, grew up in this country, have pursued an education, have not committed any serious crimes, and do not pose a threat to our country. An individual\u2019s provisional protected presence and employment authorization would be subject to revocation by DHS if the individual no longer met the eligibility criteria.The BRIDGE Act would provide provisional protected presence and employment authorization for three years after the date of enactment of the legislation.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-rush-senator-booker-introduce-concurrent-resolution-to-address", "Rep. Rush & Senator Booker Introduce Concurrent Resolution to Address Exorbitant Prison Phone Rates", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bobby Rush", "R000515", "rush.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), joined by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), introduced a Concurrent Resolution to address exorbitant prison phone rates between the imprisoned and their loved ones. Since the 109th Congress, Rep. Rush, a senior member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, has introduced federal legislation and advocated nationally for dramatically reducing exorbitant rates that are charged for phone calls between inmates and their families.\nIn 2005, Rep. Rush first introduced the Family Telephone Connection Protection Act to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate exorbitant, interstate calling rates for prison phone calls between parents, spouses and families with children. Rep. Rush has reintroduced this legislation in every subsequent Congress to put an end to the kickbacks \u2014 also known as site commissions \u2014 received by prisons based on incoming and outgoing calls between inmates and their loved ones. A diverse coalition of both liberal and conservative groups has also called for regulatory action to resolve this matter. The exorbitant and costly fees that American families incur to phone incarcerated loved ones are financially draining. According to Prison Legal News, more than two million Americans are housed within prison walls.\n\u201cFor last decade, I have sought to end the \u2018family divide,\u2019 a term analogous to the \u2018digital divide\u2019 that exists with regard to unequal access to communication services between incarcerated members of our society and their loved ones,\u201d said Rep. Rush. \u201cI firmly believe that communication, along with the ability to express love toward family, is a fundamental need, and one\u2019s humanity does not perish when they enter the prison system.\u201d\nSenator Booker, a long time champion for prison reforms understands the dire need for solutions to decreasing prison populations. The U.S. makes up about five percent of the world\u2019s population, but comprises nearly 25 percent of the world\u2019s prison population. In an effort to steer U.S. prison systems toward rehabilitation, Senator Booker introduced the Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment (REDEEM) Act to reduce recidivism among both children and adults in U.S. prison systems.\nSenator Booker said, \u201cImplementing fair and reasonable prison phone rates is the right thing to do and plain common sense. This resolution supports recent efforts by the FCC to protect those serving their time and their families from exorbitant and unfounded calling fees imposed on some of America\u2019s most financially fragile households. These excessive fees are not only baseless attempts to profit off of vulnerable families, they undermine the financial security of those trying to stay in touch with a partner, parent, or child behind bars. In addition, excessive fees on inmate calls can pose a substantial barrier to successful reentry once individuals have paid their debt to society. That debt should not include paying excessive fees per minute to speak with your child.\u201d\nAlthough this is an issue that affects families from all backgrounds (over 2.7 million children in the United States have at least one parent in prison), more than 60 percent of incarcerated prisoners are African- or Latino-American. In addition, many prison offenders come from economically vulnerable communities where unreasonable prison phone rates severely harm and exploit prison populations.  \n\tResearch proves that there is a significant decline in recidivism rates for inmates who communicate with family members while incarcerated compared to those who do not. Expensive phone call rates deter such communication and result in costly re-incarceration. Scores of states receive hundreds of millions of dollars in commissions from companies to land exclusive contracts to provide prison phone services without facing competition from other lower-cost providers; a possible reason for why prison phone call rates have skyrocketed. Bloomberg reports the lucrative market for prison phone services, which totals approximately $1.2 billion dollars in annual revenues, is currently dominated by two companies, Global Tel Link and Securus Technologies.\nEnsuring that prison phone rates are adjusted to reasonable levels will not only increase affordability of service for families, but will also help keep families intact as much as possible while reducing recidivism.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-introduces-two-legislative-initiatives-the-laquan-mcdonald-camera", "Rush Introduces Two Legislative Initiatives: The Laquan McDonald Camera Act and the Family Reconstruction Act", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bobby Rush", "R000515", "rush.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) introduced two legislative initiatives that address social and economic injustices in policing and public policy. Rush introduced the Laquan McDonald Camera Act which will require state and local law enforcement agencies to have in effect, and enforce, a policy regarding the use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras in order to receive federal funds. Rush also introduced the Family Reconstruction Act that seeks to establish a commission to study family reconstruction proposals for African-Americans unjustly impacted by the \u2018\u2018War on Drugs\u2019\u2019.\nThe Laquan McDonald Camera Act comes as result of the countless incidents of police violence that are lacking camera footage, even when body cameras and/or dashboard cameras were available on-scene. Rush named the bill to honor 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. When McDonald, who was shot 16 times by Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014, was shot, dashboard cameras were on scene and functioning but the audio functionality had allegedly been disabled. In the past five years, dozens of cases of police shootings from across the country depicted murders of individuals for routine traffic stops or minor infractions.\nThe Family Reconstruction Act will create a commission to acknowledge the fundamental injustice and the subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African-Americans impacted by the \u2018\u2018War on Drugs\u2019\u2019. Rush believes the War on Drugs has played a disparate and discriminatory role in the mass incarceration that has focused too harshly on African-American families. The responsibilities of the commission are to determine the role that the government and private corporations played in the prison industrial complex, make recommendations to Congress on appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.\nThe \u201cWar on Drugs\u201d launched by former President Richard J. Nixon began nearly 40 years ago and disproportionately impacted African-American families. Despite roughly equal rates of drug use and sales, African-American men are arrested at 13 times the rate of white men on drug charges in the U.S. with rates of up to 57 times in some states. African-Americans and Latinos together make up 29 percent of the total U.S. population, but make up more than 75 percent of drug law violators in state and federal prisons.\nRush\u2019s bills highlight the social and economic disparities in the distribution of law and law enforcement where African-American communities are over-policed, underserved, and under-protected while being overly incarcerated. Rush\u2019s legislation seeks to address failed policy enforced by governmental bodies that marginalize minority communities.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-lipinski-jones-introduce-bipartisan-buy-america-legislation/", "Bustos, Lipinski and Jones Introduce Bipartisan Buy America Legislation", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-03) and Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-03) introduced the Buy America for Drinking Water Extension Act. This bipartisan legislation would create jobs and grow the economy by ensuring that all iron and steel products used for projects in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) are made entirely in the United States.\n\u201cGrowing our local economy and boosting the manufacturing industry in our region have always been among my top priorities \u2013 that\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing this bipartisan, common-sense \u2018Buy America\u2019 legislation,\u201d Congresswoman Bustos said. \u201cOur state and federally funded construction projects should use American-made steel and iron while benefitting American workers. I\u2019m proud to join Representatives Lipinski and Jones in this effort, and I will continue to fight for Illinois\u2019 manufacturers and working families.\u201d\n\u201cWe must strengthen Buy America laws and close the loopholes that allow our tax dollars to employ foreign workers rather than Americans,\u201d Congressman Lipinski said.\u00a0 \u201cBuying American is one of the fastest and most effective ways to create jobs and give the overall economy a boost.\u00a0 This legislation would help ensure that we are supporting American workers, especially the hard-working middle class.\u201d\n\u201cI believe that taxpayer dollars should solely support American-made infrastructure. Unfortunately, current provisions in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund are weak and Buy America text is only written for FY 2017,\u201d Congressman Jones said. \u201cRepresentatives Cheri Bustos, Dan Lipinski and I introduced this legislation to ensure Congress never puts a limit on supporting this country\u2019s economy.\u201d\nMany infrastructure projects are subject to \u201cBuy America\u201d provisions that require the use of American-made iron and steel. This fall, the Senate passed their version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), including a permanent \u201cBuy America\u201d requirement for projects funded by the DWSRF. Last week, Representative Lipinski led members, including Representatives Bustos and Jones, calling on Speaker Ryan to include \u201cBuy America\u201d provisions into the final WRDA bill, which is expected to be voted on tomorrow. Unfortunately, the provision was not included. Their legislation would make the \u201cBuy America\u201d provisions permanent for any DWSRF projects.\nOriginal co-sponsors of the legislation include Representatives Bobby Rush (IL-01), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Rick Nolan (MN-08), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), John Garamendi (CA-03), Bill Foster (IL-11) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3145", "Lipinski, Bustos, and Jones Introduce Bipartisan \"Buy America\" Legislation", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3), Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), and Congressman Walter Jones (NC-3) have introduced the Buy America for Drinking Water Extension Act.\u00a0 This bipartisan legislation would create jobs and grow the economy by ensuring that all iron and steel products used for projects in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) are made entirely in the United States.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWe must strengthen Buy America laws and close the loopholes that allow our tax dollars to employ foreign workers rather than Americans,\u201d said Rep. Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cBuying American is one of the fastest and most effective ways to create jobs and give the overall economy a boost.\u00a0 This legislation would help ensure that we are supporting American workers, especially the hard-working middle class.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cGrowing our local economy and boosting the manufacturing industry in our region have always been among my top priorities \u2013 that\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing this bipartisan, common-sense 'Buy America' legislation,\u201d Congresswoman Bustos said.\u00a0 \u201cOur state and federally funded construction projects should use American-made steel and iron while benefitting American workers.\u00a0 I\u2019m proud to join Representatives Lipinski and Jones in this effort, and I will continue to fight for Illinois\u2019 manufacturers and working families.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI believe that taxpayer dollars should solely support American-made infrastructure.\u00a0 Unfortunately, current provisions in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund are weak and Buy America text is only written for FY 2017,\u201d Congressman Jones said.\u00a0 \u201cRepresentatives Cheri Bustos, Dan Lipinski, and I introduced this legislation to ensure that Congress never puts a limit on supporting this country\u2019s economy.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tMany infrastructure projects are subject to \u201cBuy America\u201d provisions that require the use of American-made iron and steel.\u00a0 In the fall, the Senate passed their version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), including a permanent \u201cBuy America\u201d requirement for projects funded by the DWSRF.\u00a0 Last week, Representative Lipinski led members, including Representatives Bustos and Jones, in calling on Speaker Ryan to include permanent \u201cBuy America\u201d provisions for any DWSRF projects in the final WRDA bill.\u00a0 As of right now, the current WRDA bill only contains a one year application of \u201cBuy America\u201d to the DWSRF.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3149", "Lipinski Helps House Pass Water Infrastructure Bill to Boost Economy and Protect the Environment", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) helped the House pass the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WINN), formerly known as the Water Resources Development Act or WRDA.\u00a0 The bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop and maintain America\u2019s vital inland water infrastructure, including the locks and dams that mitigate flooding and facilitate commerce along the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal which runs through the Third Congressional District.\u00a0 It also contains a number of important provisions Lipinski supported to help clean up the Great Lakes and prevent the spread of invasive species.\r\n\r\n\tIn addition, the bill includes an amendment led by Rep. Lipinski in the House Transportation Committee that requires the Corps of Engineers to publish an annual report on the amount of foreign goods they are procuring for use in civil works construction projects.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cNot only do American taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent, but my amendment allows domestic manufacturers to analyze the Corps\u2019 needs and find ways to work with them to keep American manufacturing competitive,\u201d said Rep. Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cOverall, WIIN invests in one of our greatest resources, our vast transportation network served by ships and barges.\u00a0 It modernizes critical parts of this network, which will help lead to economic growth and middle-class jobs for the district and the nation.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe bill also includes legislation Lipinski co-sponsored to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which enables projects that clean up the Great Lakes basin, restore habitat, and prevent the spread of invasive species.\u00a0 Additionally, the bill sets aside money for the Great Lakes Navigation System to improve harbors.\r\n\r\n\tAs Co-Chair of the Buy American Caucus, Lipinski worked to include a permanent Buy America provision in the bill that would apply to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).\r\n\r\n\t\u201cUnfortunately, we were only able to get a one year application of Buy America requirements to the drinking water fund in the final bill,\u201d stated Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cNext Congress I will continue to push for permanent Buy America language for this fund to give a boost to American manufacturing and the middle class.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tLipinski also led a provision which directs the Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of the McCook reservoir flood control project and enables agencies like the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District to leverage credit for projects they construct on the Corps\u2019 behalf for future infrastructure projects. This will help alleviate local flooding problems.\r\n\r\n\tFinally, WIIN directs $170 million to improve drinking water infrastructure in places such as Flint, MI.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-nomination-andy-puzder-labor-secretary", "Quigley Statement on Nomination of Andy Puzder for Labor Secretary", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today,\u00a0U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement on the announcement that Andy Puzder, the CEO of CKE Restaurants, is President-Elect Trump\u2019s nominee for Labor Secretary:\nThe President-elect\u2019s selection of Andy Puzder for Labor Secretary proves that the incoming administration has no intention of being a friend to the American worker. As CEO of CKE Restaurants, Mr. Puzder has openly voiced his opposition to increasing the minimum wage, providing paid sick leave, and expanding overtime pay requirements. Just as troubling are the reports of years of labor violations that have occurred at Carl\u2019s Jr. restaurants, of which CKE is the parent company. Our country deserves a Labor Secretary that will stand up for workers rights, strengthen our unions, and fight to close the widening income inequality gap so that our economic recovery is felt by all Americans. Instead the President-elect has chosen a person that will be more focused on enriching billionaire executives than growing and supporting the middle class. That is unacceptable, and I stand ready to hold Mr. Puzder accountable to his responsibilities on behalf of the hard-working families he will be obligated to protect.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/senator-elect-tammy-duckworth-announces-senior-staff-appointments", "Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth Announces Senior Staff Appointments", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 08, 2016\n\t\t\t Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth Announces Senior Staff Appointments \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tHOFFMAN ESTATES, IL- Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced she will appointment several senior staff members in her new U.S. Senate office next year. Her leadership team will retain the entire senior staff from her Eighth District Congressional Office. Duckworth will be sworn in as Illinois' junior U.S. Senator on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017.\r\n \r\n\"I'm so pleased to have Kaitlin, Kalina, Cameron and the rest of my incredibly strong leadership team joining me as senior advisors in the Senate next year,\" said Senator-elect Duckworth. \"Their experience and talent will help them hit the ground running in their roles and go a long way toward ensuring that my work to help Illinois families, grow small businesses and support our Veterans is successful.\"\r\n \r\nThe following Senate office senior staff members were announced today:\r\n \r\nKaitlin Fahey, Chief of Staff - An Elmhurst native, Fahey has served Senator-elect Duckworth since 2006 in several roles, including as Chief of Staff in her House office, as a senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and--most recently--as Campaign Manager of Duckworth's successful Senate race.\r\nKalina Bakalov, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director - Bakalov currently serves as the Congresswoman's House Chief of Staff. She has more than 7 years of experience on Capitol Hill, including as Legislative Director in Senator-elect Duckworth's House office, which she joined in 2013.\r\nCameron Joost, State Director - A Springfield resident, Joost joined Senator-elect Duckworth's campaign as Political Director this year. She served as Downstate Political Director on U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) successful 2014 re-election campaign and in his Springfield Senate office for more than 4 years. She also spent nearly 3 years on staff at the Illinois State Senate Democratic Caucus in Springfield.\r\nMarina Faz-Huppert, Chicago Director - Faz-Huppert joined Senator-elect Duckworth's Congressional staff as District Director in 2015 from United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union's Local 881 in Rosemont, where she worked for nearly a decade and served as Legislative & Political Director.\r\nBen Rhodeside, Policy Director - An alumnus of AmeriCorps' City Year Chicago, Rhodeside joined Senator-elect Duckworth's Congressional staff as Legislative Director in 2015 after serving as Senior Policy Advisor on oversight and government reform issues for Congressman Gerry Connolly (VA-11) for three years. Rhodeside also served as a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, joining that office in 2008.\r\nBen Gash Garmisa, Communications Director - A Highland Park native, Garmisa joined Senator-elect Duckworth's Congressional staff as Communications Director in 2015 after serving as Press Secretary and in several other roles during his more than 6 years in U.S. Senator Dick Durbin's (D-IL) office.\r\nKelsey Druckman Becker, Scheduling Director - A Schaumburg native and Peace Corps alumnus, Becker joined Senator-elect Duckworth's team in 2012 after internships in the offices of both U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (IL-08). She currently serves as the Congresswoman's Scheduling and Operations Director.\r\nPaul Kohnstamm, Administrative Director - Kohnstamm joined Senator-elect Duckworth's team in 2011 and has served in various roles over the last 5 years, including Campaign Manager for her successful 2014 Congressional re-election campaign. He most recently served as Operations Director of Duckworth's successful Senate race.\r\n \r\n###\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bipartisan-senators-call-on-pres-elect-trump-to-stand-against-russian-aggression-support-nato-ukrainian-sovereignty", "Bipartisan Senators Call On Pres.-Elect Trump To Stand Against Russian Aggression, Support NATO, Ukrainian Sovereignty", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.08.16\n\t\t\t Bipartisan Senators Call On Pres.-Elect Trump To Stand Against Russian Aggression, Support NATO, Ukrainian Sovereignty \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Call for increased political, economic, and military support for Ukraine\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), co-chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today led a bipartisan group of 27 senators to call on President-elect Donald Trump to continue America\u2019s tradition of support for the people of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.   \u00a0  \u201cIn light of Russia\u2019s continued aggression and repeated refusal to respect Ukraine\u2019s territorial integrity and sovereign right to choose its own destiny, we also renew our call for the United States to increase political, economic, and military support for Ukraine,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cThis includes defensive lethal assistance as part of a broader effort to help Ukrainians better defend themselves, deter future aggression, and implement key structural reforms.\u00a0 Similarly, we believe that Russia\u2019s illegal annexation of Crimea should never be accepted, nor should we lift sanctions imposed on Russia for its behavior in eastern Ukraine until key provisions of the Minsk Agreement are met.\u00a0 Accordingly, U.S. leadership on maintaining such transatlantic sanctions should remain a priority.\u201d  \u00a0  Full text of the senators\u2019 letter:  \u00a0  December 8, 2016  \u00a0  President-elect Donald J. Trump  Trump-Pence Transition Team  1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  Washington, DC 20006  \u00a0  Dear President-elect Trump,  \u00a0  As Members and friends of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, advocates for a strong US-Ukrainian relationship, and backers of NATO, we write to convey strong, bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States Senate.\u00a0 We look forward to working with you and your new administration to support our ally Ukraine and help it secure a peaceful and democratic future.  \u00a0  Almost three years after Russia\u2019s illegal annexation of Crimea and military aggression in eastern Ukraine, daily ceasefire violations along the line of contact make a mockery of the Minsk Agreement and demonstrate that this conflict in the heart of Europe is far from over.\u00a0 Russia has yet to withdraw its heavy weapons and continues its sabotage and subversion efforts.\u00a0 It has not halted its disinformation war against Ukraine and the West, nor stopped its economic and political pressure aimed at undermining the Ukrainian government.\u00a0 According to conservative estimates from the United Nations, approximately 10,000 people have been killed, over 20,000 wounded, and more than two million internally displaced since the conflict began.\u00a0 And, unfortunately, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observers still do not have full, unimpeded access to the Ukrainian-Russian border while Russia continues to supply weapons, equipment, and personnel to the separatists.  \u00a0  Quite simply, Russia has launched a military land-grab in Ukraine that is unprecedented in modern European history.\u00a0 These actions in Crimea and other areas of eastern Ukraine dangerously upend well-established diplomatic, legal, and security norms that the United States and its NATO allies painstakingly built over decades \u2013 a historically bipartisan global security framework that has greatly served US security and economic interests.\u00a0 We believe it is in our vital national security interest to uphold these norms and values, and prevent America\u2019s commitment to its allies and ideals from being called into question.  \u00a0  In light of Russia\u2019s continued aggression and repeated refusal to respect Ukraine\u2019s territorial integrity and sovereign right to choose its own destiny, we also renew our call for the United States to increase political, economic, and military support for Ukraine.\u00a0 This includes defensive lethal assistance as part of a broader effort to help Ukrainians better defend themselves, deter future aggression, and implement key structural reforms.\u00a0 Similarly, we believe that Russia\u2019s illegal annexation of Crimea should never be accepted, nor should we lift sanctions imposed on Russia for its behavior in eastern Ukraine until key provisions of the Minsk Agreement are met.\u00a0 Accordingly, US leadership on maintaining such transatlantic sanctions should remain a priority.  \u00a0  We look forward to continuing the tradition of bipartisan support for Ukraine in Congress, which has authorized meaningful assistance programs through the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and other pieces of legislation.\u00a0 We stand ready to work with you and your new administration on strengthening the US-Ukrainian relationship and look forward to learning more about your plans to engage on this important issue.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://foster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-foster-d-il-responds-to-reported-nomination-of-epa-head", "Statement: Congressman Foster (D-IL) Responds to Reported Nomination of EPA Head", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bill Foster", "F000454", "foster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This reported nomination is just another example of the Republican Party\u2019s difficult relationship with science. As the only PhD scientist in Congress, I am deeply concerned at the long-term damage this decision will have on our environment. The science is very clear \u2013 climate change is real, and human activity is a major contributor. This pick threatens to undo the progress President Obama has made on climate change and protecting our natural resources. Scott Pruitt has a long history of representing the interests of the fossil fuel industry at the expense of the long-term health of our planet and our fellow Americans. The American people deserve leaders who will work for their best interests, not the promotion of special interests. The natural beauty that makes this world so wonderful, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the livelihoods of our children and grandchildren are all at risk if we fail to remain vigilant to threats to our environment.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/icymi-congresswoman-bustos-elected-critical-role-democratic-party-leadership/", "ICYMI: Congresswoman Bustos Elected to Critical Role in Democratic Party Leadership", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bustos will have a \u201cKey Voice\u201d in House Democrats\u2019 Effort to Reach Working Families in America\u2019s Heartland\nWASHINGTON \u2013 In case you missed it, Congresswoman Bustos\u2019 election to join Democratic House Leadership as the new Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) has garnered major coverage across our country. Below are several stories about her new role:\nNBC Chicago:\nAfter being elected to a leadership role in the House Democratic Caucus Monday, Rep. Cheri Bustos is primed to shape outreach and communications efforts for a party that suffered a series of pivotal losses in November\u2019s election.\nBustos was tapped to co-chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee after winning every county in her downstate swing district last month.\u201d\n\u2026\nBustos stressed the importance of continuing to incorporate jobs and the economy into Democratic messaging and outreach, encouraging members of her party to talk about those issues \u201cin a way people understand.\u201d\n\u2026\n\u201cI can\u2019t predict exactly what\u2019s going to happen under the Trump Administration, but I do know this, we have to continue talking to working families,\u201d Bustos said. \u201cWe have to continue to talk about our solutions, and we\u2019ve got great ones.\u201d\nQuad-City Times:\nAnd as Democrats across the country try to figure out what went wrong on Election Day, one of the questions they\u2019re asking is how to appeal again to rural and small-town voters. \nIt appears Bustos, in particular, will be a key voice on that.\nDispatch Argus:\nOn Tuesday, Rep. Bustos said Democrats must talk about what they are doing to make things better for working families.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to talk about jobs and the economy,\u201d she said.\u00a0That includes equal pay for equal work, Rep. Bustos said, and providing tax incentives to companies that keep jobs in the U.S. and denying them to companies that would move them out.\nNPR Morning Edition:\nBustos: \u201cYou know, we\u2019ve got to make this about families and working families. That is my family\u2019s background. I come from a long line of farmers. I\u2019m a granddaughter of a hog farmer. My father-in-law\u2019s a UAW retiree, built combines at \u2013 for John Deere. And we\u2019ve got to be able to relate to those people. How you do it? You talk to them. You listen. You know, I\u2019m a former newspaper reporter. It\u2019s what I did for 17 years. And, you know, what do you do as a good reporter? I mean, you are one, you listen to people.\u201d\nMeet the Press Daily:\n\u201cThis week, Nancy Pelosi nominated Bustos as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee to hone the Democrats\u2019 message to working class voters.\u201d\nQuad-City Times: \n\u201cU.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., has been elected to a leadership post by fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives.\nAt a meeting late Monday, House Democrats picked Bustos and two others to co-chair the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, a group that aims to communicate the party\u2019s agenda and how it is different from House Republicans.\u201d\n\u2026\n\u201cBustos is one of only a handful who won on Election Day in districts that President-elect Donald Trump also won. This isn\u2019t the first time she has been chosen to take a leadership role among House Democrats. In the 2016 cycle, she was vice-chair for recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.\u201d\nRockford Register Star:\nU.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, re-elected Nov. 8 in a 20 percentage-point landslide, is now poised to get a promotion into the ranks of Democratic Party leadership in the House of Representatives.\n\u2026\nNow, that may sound bureaucratic and boring, but it is a critical job for the party that is out of power in the White House, the U.S. House, the Senate, most state legislatures and governors\u2019 offices throughout the land.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/64-democrats-call-president-obama-pardon-dreamers-daca", "64 Democrats Call on President Obama to Pardon DREAMers with DACA", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Video and Photo Links Below\nWashington, DC \u2013 Rep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) was joined by more than a dozen of his House Democratic colleagues at a press conference this morning where a new letter to President Obama, signed by 64 Members of Congress, was released.\u00a0 The letter asks President Obama to \u201cexercise your Constitutional authority to provide pardons to young people who are American in every way but on paper.\u201d\u00a0 A presidential pardon for DREAMers with DACA, those brought to the United States as children who signed up for the President\u2019s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative, could make it harder for President Donald Trump to deport them and could open up for certain DREAMers a path to legal status under current law.\u00a0\nLast month, in response to a similar plea from Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez and his two key pro-immigrant allies \u2013 Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) \u2013 the White House rejected the pardon idea by stating the President could not grant legal status and that pardons are primarily used for criminal violations, not civil violations of immigration law.\u00a0 But the three lawmakers, joined by scores of House colleagues, are pushing back, saying in the new letter:\n \n\tThe Constitution specifically does not limit the pardon power to criminal offenses.\u00a0 We ask for the narrow reprieve of a retroactive and prospective pardon of categorical civil immigration violations for a unique group of young immigrants who have placed their trust in both you as their President and us as their lawmakers.\u00a0 To be clear we are not asking you to \u201ccreate legal status.\u201d\n \nIn his remarks at the press conference, Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez said:\n \n\tWe fought our own President for the [DACA] initiative and we fought hard.\u00a0 We have a responsibility to stand with the DREAMers and we feel the President has a responsibility to stand with us and with the DREAMers.\u00a0 The message [to President-elect Donald Trump] is simple, if you come for DREAMers, if you come for immigrant families, if you register Muslims, if you put in motion plans to deport millions and try to shut down or eliminate legal immigration, you will have to go through House Democrats and we are standing together.\n \nReps. Guti\u00e9rrez, Lofgren and Roybal-Allard led the letter, which was signed by 64 Democrats in total.\u00a0 The full text of the letter to President Obama is here:\u00a0\u00a0120716 Letter to Obama with Signatures.pdf\nIn addition to Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez, Reps. Lofgren and Roybal-Allard spoke at the press conference.\u00a0 They were joined at the press conference by Democratic colleagues Joaquin Castro (TX), Judy Chu (CA), David Cicilline (RI), Raul Grijalva (AZ), Grace Napolitano (CA), Beto O\u2019Rourke (TX), Jared Polis (CO), Mike Quigley (IL), Dina Titus (NV), Norma Torres (CA), and Juan Vargas (CA).\nPhotos of the press conference can be found below.\nA video of the press conference is here (courtesy of the Democratic Caucus): https://youtu.be/DE2iJ22TPRY\nDuring the press conference, Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez was asked to respond to comments by President-elect Trump to Time Magazine apparently regarding the disposition of DREAMers after Trump takes office.\u00a0 The question and answer can be found here: https://youtu.be/DE2iJ22TPRY?t=37m37s\nRep. Guti\u00e9rrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-nomination-scott-pruitt-epa-administrator", "Quigley Statement on Nomination of Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today,\u00a0U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC),\u00a0released the following statement on the announcement that Scott Pruitt, the attorney general of Oklahoma, is President-Elect Trump\u2019s nominee for EPA Administrator:\nProtecting our land, water, and air is a critical responsibility and our solemn duty to present and future generations. Doing our part to battle the ever-worsening impacts of man-made climate change is vital to ensuring a future where Americans have a place to live, food to eat, and a high standard of living fueled by a robust economy.\nGiven his previous statements rejecting the overwhelming science supporting the fact that climate change is man-made, his record opposing the Obama Administration\u2019s efforts to address the climate crisis, his hostility toward common-sense environmental regulations on the oil and gas industries, as well as his previous ties to those corporations, I have grave reservations about Scott Pruitt\u2019s ability to run the Environmental Protection Agency.\nEPA is legally required to regulate climate-warming carbon emissions and a variety of other pollutants in order to protect America\u2019s precious natural resources. I hope Mr. Pruitt will have a change of heart and demonstrate that he is willing to take the positive steps needed to usher in a low-carbon, environmentally responsible future and champion smart policies that help seize the opportunities of a clean economy and preserve the health and well-being of all Americans. However, if he chooses to fight environmental protections, ignore the potential of clean energy, and prioritize fossil fuel exploration at the expense of the planet, I stand ready to challenge his actions and hold the EPA accountable to its mission and its responsibilities on behalf of the American people.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-urges-president-obama-protect-dreamers-president-elect-trump-s", "Quigley Urges President Obama to Protect DREAMers from President-Elect Trumps Deportation Pledges", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), joined House Democratic colleagues at a press conference on their joint letter to President Obama asking him to carefully consider a presidential pardon as part of a strategy to protect DREAMers from President-Elect Trump\u2019s deportation pledges. Rep. Quigley has previously hosted immigration action information sessions to help immigrants prepare for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) application periods. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery.\n\u201cI applauded President Obama when he created the DACA program in 2012. The program represented a crucial first step towards reforming a broken system and providing a reprieve to the people directly impacted by Congress\u2019s failures.\n\u201cWhile the program has benefited approximately 750,000 young people, giving them the ability to come out of the shadows; it has also required them to put their trust in the government\u2013submitting detailed personal information about themselves and their families, including fingerprints, addresses, employment records, and more.\n\u201cWe do not yet know what changes the DACA program faces with the new administration.\n\u201cHowever, the inflammatory rhetoric we\u2019ve seen from President-elect Trump suggests that he could exploit the information DREAMers have provided to the government, in order to deport these hard-working young people and their families.\n\u201cBy protecting DREAMers with a pardon from civil immigration violations, we can send a clear message to young undocumented immigrants living in fear that President Obama and many members of Congress continue to stand with them during these uncertain times.\n\u201cAmerica is stronger when we give young immigrants, who have known no other home than the United States, a chance to succeed in the country they love.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-graham-statement-on-trump-comments-on-dreamers", "Durbin, Graham Statement on Trump Comments on DREAMers", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.16\n\t\t\t Durbin, Graham Statement on Trump Comments on DREAMers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released the following statement on comments made to Time magazine by President-elect Donald Trump, who said, \u201cWe\u2019re going to work something out that\u2019s going to make people happy and proud. They got brought here at a very young age, they\u2019ve worked here, they\u2019ve gone to school here. Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs. And they\u2019re in never-never land because they don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cWe\u2019re encouraged by these comments by President-elect Trump \u2014 they present an opportunity to do the right thing for more than 744,000 young people who grew up here. There is bipartisan support for this in the Senate and we will soon have a legislative response ready if needed.\u00a0 They have much to contribute to the country they love.\u201d  \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pays-tribute-to-vice-president-joe-biden-on-senate-floor", "Durbin Pays Tribute To Vice President Joe Biden On Senate Floor", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Pays Tribute To Vice President Joe Biden On Senate Floor \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014In a Senate floor speech Wednesday, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) paid tribute to Vice President Joe Biden, with whom he served in the Senate for 12 years:  \u00a0  \u201cMr. Vice President, for more than 40 years you have taken all the strength and wisdom you learned from your family, and all of your own experiences with loss and hardship, and you have used those lessons to give countless millions of people in Chicago, in America, and around the world, reasons to hope and ways to heal. You are a public servant in the best sense of that term,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cYou may be leaving public office soon, but I know that you will never leave your calling to help others in every way you can.\u00a0 It\u2019s part of being a Biden. On behalf of a grateful nation and world, I want to say to you \u2013 and to Jill and all of your family \u2013 thank you for making hope and history rhyme.\u201d  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.  \u00a0  Audio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.  \u00a0  Footage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition and standard definition.  \u00a0  Durbin\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery are available below:  \u00a0  Remarks of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin  Honoring Vice President Joe Biden  December 7, 2016  \u00a0  Mr. Vice President: For eight years, seeing you in that seat has always filled many of us with hope. It almost always meant that something big, something historic, was about to happen--  \u00a0  Seeing you seated in the Senate President\u2019s desk today evokes different emotions for many of us: Regrets that a momentous chapter in America\u2019s history is about to close; Pride at what we have achieved during these last eight years; and most of all, respect and gratitude to you for the essential role you played in those achievements and so many others.  \u00a0  The highest praise your old friend Ted Kennedy could give a person in our line of work was to say:\u00a0 \u201cYou have the Irish love of politics and great words.\u201d  \u00a0  Mr. Vice President, you have both of those gifts in abundance, and America \u2013 and the world \u2013 are better because of it.  \u00a0  I know that you are a great admirer of the Irish poet Seamus Heaney (\u201cHaney\u201d) \u2013 and particularly of these lines that he wrote\u2026\u00a0 I quoted them on the evening of your inauguration eight years ago.  \u201cHistory says, Don\u2019t hope  On this side of the grave,  But then, once in a lifetime  The longed-for tidal wave  justice can rise up,  And hope and history rhyme.\u201d   \u00a0  You and President Obama left this Senate eight years ago with an audacious belief that we could, indeed, make hope and history rhyme.  \u00a0  Together, we could heal some of the terrible wounds of our past and together, we could create a better, more just, more prosperous America \u2013 not just for ourselves, but for our children and grandchildren.  \u00a0  And let the record show: Under the leadership of President Barack Obama, America achieved great progress.  \u00a0  We stopped America\u2019s slide into a Second Great Depression that could have brought down the entire global economy.  \u00a0  When others said \u201cSave Wall Street but let the American auto industry, the heart of American manufacturing, die,\u201d the Obama-Biden Administration said no.  \u00a0  Today, American auto companies are recording their biggest profits in years,  \u00a0  Car and truck plants that had been idled are running two and three shifts.  For more than 70 years, Presidents from both parties \u2013 Republicans and Democrats \u2013 tried to make health care affordable and available for most Americans.  \u201cObamacare\u201d \u2013 the Affordable Care Act \u2013 finally achieved that goal.  Twenty million Americans have health care today because of Obamacare,  Many of those 20 million Americans have never had health insurance in their lives.  \u00a0  They are good, hard-working people like Judy, the housekeeper in a small hotel in Illinois, where I sometimes stay. At the age of 60, because of Obamacare, she finally had the security to know that she could see a doctor if she gets sick.  \u2003  And every American who has health insurance has better, more reliable care because of the patient protections in Obamacare.  \u00a0  No more annual or lifetime caps on coverage. No more discrimination because of pre-existing conditions. No more of insurance companies calling all the shots and making all the rules.  \u00a0  Believe that further shore  Is reachable from here,\u201d  Seamus Heaney wrote in that same poem.  \u00a0  \u201cBelieve in miracles  And cures and healing wells.\u201d  \u00a0  Because of Obamacare, millions more Americans can now believe that \u201ccures and healing wells are within their reach.\u201d  \u00a0  Achieving that security was what your dear friend, Teddy Kennedy, called \u201cthe fight of [his] lifetime.\u201d And you saw it through.  \u00a0  And you didn\u2019t stop there. You accepted the President\u2019s challenge to direct the \u201cCancer Moonshot\u201d research effort \u2013 to try to find the causes and cures for a rapacious disease that had brought so much pain to so many families, including, sadly, your own.  \u00a0  I look forward to continuing to work with you in the coming years to keep searching for new understandings, new treatments and new cares \u2013 not just for cancer but also for Alzheimer\u2019s and addiction and other diseases.  \u00a0  Mr. Vice President, when you took office eight year ago, America was losing 800,000 jobs a month.  \u00a0  Today, America has the lowest unemployment rate in nine years.  \u00a0  I know that to some people, job-creation numbers are just statistics \u2013 but not to Joe Biden.  You have never forgotten that basic truth your father taught you when you were a boy. Your dad taught you that a job is more than a paycheck. A job is hope, it is dignity and purpose.  \u00a0  You never forgot how it crushed your dad to tell you that the bank refused to lend him the money to send you to college.  \u00a0  That is why, for 40 years, you have worked to make college more affordable for every family, including working-class and poor families.   \u00a0  The daily struggles of ordinary Americans are not something that you have ever had to be briefed on. They are realities that you lived and have never forgotten.  \u00a0  You are as home in a union hall as you are in the great halls of state and the palaces of monarchs.  There\u2019s a story about an Irishman walking down a street.\u00a0 He passes two guys fighting and asks:\u00a0 \u201cIs this a private fight, or can anyone get in on it?\u201d  \u00a0  You know a little about that, don\u2019t you, Mr. Vice President? \u00a0  \u00a0  For 40 years or more, you have always been ready to fight for those who needed a champion \u2013 whether they were victims of genocide overseas or victims of discrimination here at home.  Your public career has been marked by nearly unbearable losses and sorrows. But it has also been filled with joy, passion, determination and immense accomplishment.  \u00a0  The list of your legislative achievements is long and broad, filled with courage and vision.  \u00a0  One of the legislative achievements of which you are most proud, and rightly so, is the Violence Against Women Act.  \u00a0  That federal law was passed in 1994 to help reduce domestic violence and sexual assault, and to help victims of these crimes.  \u00a0  As you know, women and children make up the vast majority of the victims of both domestic violence and sexual assault in America.  \u00a0  VAWA is helping to change that.  \u00a0  The law you helped pass as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee is helping victims of those soul-crushing crimes to heal and to go on and live healthier, safer lives.  \u00a0  The numbers show that VAWA works.  \u00a0  Listen to this:\u00a0 Between 1993 to 2010, the rate of violence against intimate partners \u2013 almost all women \u2013 declined by two-thirds, 67 percent.  \u00a0  At the same time, the rate of US women killed by their intimate partners dropped by 35 percent. And the rate of men killed by intimate partners dropped 46 percent.  \u00a0  But the numbers don\u2019t tell the whole story.  \u00a0  One of my favorite organizations is called Mujeres Latina en Accion. In English: Latina Women in Action. It is located in Chicago.  \u00a0  It opened its doors in 1973 and it is the oldest organization in the United States serving Latina women and children who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence, or both.  \u00a0  The director of the organization is a dynamo named Maria Pesqueira.  \u00a0  Ask Maria what difference the Violence Against Women Act has made for the women and children her organization serves, she will start by telling you a story.  \u00a0  A few years ago, a woman came to their office.  \u00a0  They first noticed her standing outside their building.   \u00a0  She was a young mother. She was holding the hand of her 5-year-old daughter and she was nine months pregnant with her second child \u2013 ready to deliver any day.  \u00a0  This woman and her little girl had been thrown out of their home by her husband.  \u00a0  Someone told her about Mujeres Latina en Accion. She went to their old building and found it empty and locked.  \u00a0  She didn\u2019t know that the organization had moved to a new facility.  \u00a0  For several minutes, she just stood outside that old building, frozen in fear that that there was nowhere and no one in the world who could help her.  \u00a0  At first, she and her little girl just stood outside the building, until some staff members saw them and welcomed them inside.  \u00a0  Maria says that what she remembers most about that mother was that her eyes were filled with fear \u2013 for herself, for her little girl, and for the baby she was about to bring into this world.  \u00a0  Mujeres Latinas en Accion was able to help that young mother, largely because of support from the Violence Against Women Act.  \u00a0  About two months later, Maria says, she walked into work and a confident young woman told her \u201cgood morning.\u201d  \u00a0  Then, beaming with pride, she held up a little infant and said, \u201cThis is my son.\u201d  \u00a0  For a few moments, Maria didn\u2019t recognize the woman.   \u00a0  Then it struck her: This is the same mother who had stood outside her office, abandoned and terrified just two months earlier. The look of terror in her eyes had been replaced by pride and love and hope -- hope for a better future for herself and her children.  \u00a0  Today, that young mother supports herself and her children as an entrepreneur. She sells some of the best sweet-corn tamales you\u2019ve ever tasted.  \u2003  She still goes back to Mujeres Latinas en Accion, but today she goes to help other women who are hurt, frightened and lost, as she once was. She shows them how to heal and grow strong in the broken places so that they can care for themselves and their families.  \u00a0  Mr. Vice President, for more than 40 years you have taken all the strength and wisdom you learned from your family, and all of your own experiences with loss and hardship, and you have used those lessons to give countless millions of people in Chicago, in America, and around the world, reasons to hope and ways to heal.  \u00a0  You are a public servant in the best sense of that term.  \u00a0  You may be leaving public office soon, but I know that you will never leave your calling to help others in every way you can.\u00a0 It\u2019s part of being a Biden.  \u00a0  On behalf of a grateful nation and world, I want to say to you \u2013 and to Jill and all of your family \u2013 thank you for making hope and history rhyme.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-thanks-education-secretary-king-pushes-for-relief-for-corinthian-westwood-and-other-defrauded-students", "Durbin Thanks Education Secretary King, Pushes For Relief For Corinthian, Westwood, And Other Defrauded Students", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.07.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Thanks Education Secretary King, Pushes For Relief For Corinthian, Westwood, And Other Defrauded Students \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Secretary of Education John B. King, Jr. to thank him for his dedication and service to students at the U.S. Department of Education. They also discussed high-priority issues that still need to be addressed by the Department before the end of the Obama Administration, including student loan debt relief for Corinthian, Westwood, and other defrauded students.  \u00a0  \u201cFor the past year, I have had the honor of working with Secretary King to bring accountability to a for-profit college industry that once exploited students and fleeced taxpayers with near impunity. With the leadership of President Obama and Secretary King, we\u2019ve made great progress in the effort to give parents and students more information about these schools and to ensure there are consequences when schools are not living up to their promises,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI encouraged Secretary King to make relief for defrauded students, including those who attended Corinthian and Westwood Colleges, a top priority in the remaining days of this Administration. Providing the relief to which these students are legally entitled is the right thing to do.\u201d  \u00a0  A photo of today\u2019s meeting is available here.  \u00a0  In February 2011, King was appointed by United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to serve on the U.S. Department of Education's Equity and Excellence Commission. In the fall of 2015, when then-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that he would resign at the end of the year, President Obama announced that King would succeed Duncan. On March 14, 2016, King was approved to be Secretary of Education by the United States Senate after a 49-40 vote.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/congresswoman-cheri-bustos-elected-democratic-house-leadership/", "Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Elected to Democratic House Leadership", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bustos Will Serve as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee where she will work to Deliver Democrats\u2019 Working Families First Agenda to America\u2019s Heartland\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Late last night, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) was elected by her colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to join the ranks of leadership. Congresswoman Bustos will serve as one of three Co-Chairs of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) in the next Congress. In this new leadership role, Congresswoman Bustos will work to improve the Democratic Party\u2019s outreach and communications efforts to underscore the values Democrats are fighting for and hear the frustration that\u2019s being felt in rural communities.\n\u201cI\u2019m honored the Democratic Caucus has elected me to serve in this new leadership position, and I want to thank my colleagues for their commitment to a thriving 21st Century heartland,\u201d Congresswoman Bustos said. \u201cOver the years, rural America has seen too many small businesses on Main Street board up their windows and too many manufacturing jobs shipped overseas. In many of these communities, there\u2019s a very real sense that they\u2019ve been left behind, and we saw that frustration on Election Day. As a party, Democrats have always believed in a vision for our country that puts working families first, but it\u2019s clear we need to do a better job listening and speaking with hard working men and women to earn their trust. Right now, President-elect Trump and House Republicans are talking about proposals to take health care coverage away from millions of Americans, end Medicare as we know it and allow greed on Wall Street to put the economic security of all Americans at risk. These types of proposals would take our country in the wrong direction and would be devastating to our communities. As we head into 2017, we will be drawing a clear contrast between Washington Republican\u2019s billionaires-first platform and the working families-first agenda Democrats are fighting for each and every day.\u201d\nFirst elected to a largely rural swing seat in 2012 when she beat a Republican incumbent, Congresswoman Bustos has proven how Democrats can be successful in the heartland by staying focused on an agenda that puts working families first, doing extensive outreach to hear from constituents across the 7,000-square miles of her district and delivering real results. During her last election, Bustos won by 20 points, which included wins in all 14 counties in the 17th Congressional District. Donald Trump won the district narrowly and carried 11 of the 14 counties.\nThe Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) is tasked with developing a message that forcefully communicates how House Democrats are fighting on behalf of working families. In this new role, Congresswoman Bustos will be serving as a Co-Chair with Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and David Cicilline (RI-1).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/two-state-solution-still-path-peace-middle-east", "Two State Solution Is Still The Path To Peace In The Middle East", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) spoke this morning on the floor of the House of Representatives about Middle East policy, Israel\u2019s turn to hardline policies, and the jeopardy this poses for the \u201ctwo state solution,\u201d a path towards a Palestinian and Israeli state coexisting.\u00a0Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez said:Comparing Netanyahu\u2019s leadership to that of a \u201cstrongman,\u201d Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez cited moves in the Israeli Knesset to legalize settlements in the West Bank, destroy Palestinian homes, and restrict the Muslim call to prayer in Jerusalem as examples of recent actions, saying \u201cstrongman politics in Israel have the impact of making a long-lasting solution that brings peace to the Middle East harder to achieve.\u201d\u00a0The full text of the speech (as prepared for delivery) is below.Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\n\tMr. Speaker, I am very concerned about what is going on in Israel and I think it has implications both for U.S. foreign policy and for domestic policy and for our great ally, Israel.\n\tAs the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu consolidates power and becomes in many ways the one-party rulers of Israel, a number of things are changing that should be of concern to all Americans.\n\tSpecifically, the increasing dominance of the Likud Party as the one-party in Israel jeopardizes the two state solution that I and many others in the United States and Israel feel is the only way to achieve long-term peace in the Middle East.\n\tThere is a retrenchment of hard line policies \u2013 aimed at solidifying alliances with smaller religious and hardline parties that keeps Likud in power -- that will make it harder for Israelis and their allies in America \u2013 and anyone who seeks a lasting peace \u2013 to maintain progress towards a two state solution.\n\tRight now, the Knesset is considering legislation to legalize all Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory on the West Bank, even those constructed on private Palestinian land.\u00a0\n\tBoom, 400,000 people in settlements across the West Bank, it\u2019s all legal because they say it is legal.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not.\n\tAnd Israel is destroying Palestinian homes at a pace faster than we have seen before.\u00a0\n\tIt is provocative, sweeping, and designed to make it harder to ever reach an agreement with the Palestinians.\n\tThe plan to restrict the Muslim call to prayer in Jerusalem has been revived, again to placate hardline religious constituents, by Prime Minister Netanyahu.\n\tThere is no clearer statement to people of the Islamic faith that they do not matter, they do not belong, and they will not be tolerated than to restrict the Muslim call to prayer in Jerusalem, a city that has heard the Muslim call to prayer for thousands of years.\n\tI think what is going on in Israel with Prime Minister Netanyahu presents a cautionary tale about the consequences of following a political strongman.\u00a0 The strongman has to keep proving that he is a strongman over and over.\u00a0\n\tLike other strongmen who ride fear into leadership \u2013 when you base your political career on injecting fear and resentment into political affairs \u2013 when you use the backdrop of terrorism and the understandable fear of the Israeli people as a political tool for years and decades \u2013 this is the kind of policy that results.\n\tThere is an appetite for constant escalation of what you are doing to stand up to the enemy you have constructed \u2013 an enemy based on, but not the same as the enemies that fight against the state of Israel and tolerance and peace in real life.\u00a0\n\tStrongmen construct a foil \u2013 in this case based on the Palestinians, but sometimes exaggerated beyond recognition \u2013 and they need to feed the thirst for more and more action to attack the caricature that has been constructed.\n\tBut strongman politics in Israel have the impact of making a long-lasting solution that brings peace to the Middle East harder to achieve.\u00a0\n\tThe fundamental rights of Palestinians to have their own state, a state alongside the Israeli state where they have the basic rights and dignity to govern themselves and raise their families in peace \u2013 that is what many Israelis, many Palestinians, and many around the world have been fighting for.\n\tIf we are ever going to achieve the permanent peace that allows Israel to exist without fear and Palestine to exist without occupation, we must continue to fight for the two state solution.\n\tWhen I was just a freshman, almost 25 years ago, we celebrated the accomplishments of Rabin and Arafat and President Clinton to build towards a peace that recognizes the rights and dignity of Israelis and the rights and dignities of the Palestinian people.\u00a0\n\tFor decades, the United States -- under different leaders in different parties from Carter to Reagan to Bush and Obama \u2013 have recognized that peace will only come with mutual respect and tolerance.\u00a0\n\tThat is what we have based our foreign policy on and should continue to base our foreign policy on.\u00a0\n\tHaving talked with average people and with leaders on both sides of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict \u2013 I am convinced that it is the only path to peace.\u00a0\n\tAmerica has been a catalyst \u2013 a constructive influence from outside \u2013a nation based on religious freedom and democracy that has served as a model for both Palestinians and Israelis \u2013 and we have worked towards helping parties continue to move in the direction of two separate but mutually respectful countries, two nations that are not at war with each other or subservient to one another.\u00a0\n\tI fear, Mr. Speaker, that Israel herself is moving away from the two state solution as a goal and that we as her closest ally must remind her \u2013 and ourselves \u2013 of what is at stake if we lose sight of this important goal.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/democratic-senators-urge-education-department-to-protect-students-and-taxpayers-should-for-profit-accreditor-lose-federal-recognition", "Democratic Senators Urge Education Department To Protect Students And Taxpayers Should For-Profit Accreditor Lose Federal Recognition", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Democratic Senators Urge Education Department To Protect Students And Taxpayers Should For-Profit Accreditor Lose Federal Recognition \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senators have been leading critics of deadbeat ACICS which accredited now defunct Corinthian, ITT Tech, and Westwood Colleges\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to take steps to protect students and taxpayers in the event that the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), currently the nation\u2019s largest accreditor of for-profit colleges, loses federal recognition. ACICS losing federal recognition would require the approximately 250 schools currently accredited by ACICS to receive new accreditation from a federally recognized accreditor in order to remain eligible for Title IV federal student aid.  \u00a0  \u201cIt is likely some of these schools may not seek or may not receive new federally-recognized accreditation, leading to eventual loss of Title IV eligibility and potential closure, which could leave thousands of remaining students in the lurch,\u201d wrote the senators in a letter to Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell. \u201cAlso concerning is the potential for some former ACICS-accredited institutions, while provisionally certified, to attempt to amass as much federal student aid funding as possible to pad the pockets of executives and shareholders without any possibility or intention of continuing once the provisional period has expired.\u201d  \u00a0  In September, the Department made a decision to withdraw federal recognition from ACICS following a recommendation from the independent National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. That decision is now pending appeal to the Secretary.  \u00a0  In the letter, the senators outlined steps the Department can take using its current authority to protect students, families, and ultimately taxpayers in the aftermath of withdrawal of ACICS\u2019 recognition. Recommendations include:  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Halting new student enrollment at institutions not making progress obtaining new federally-recognized accreditation and placing limitations on institutions that pose substantial risks;   \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prohibiting institutional growth and expansion;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requiring teach-out agreements;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prohibiting the use of mandatory arbitration clauses in student enrollment agreements;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prohibiting bonuses and other excessive compensation;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Immediately placing institutions on Heightened Cash Monitoring;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requiring letters of credit;  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requiring clear disclosures to students; and  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Requiring disclosure of a denial of accreditation.  \u00a0  Full text of the letter is available here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-protecting-dreamers-is-the-right-thing-to-do", "Durbin: protecting dreamers is the right thing to do", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Durbin: protecting dreamers is the right thing to do \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Continues to Tell the Stories of Undocumented Youth in America\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today returned to floor of the U.S. Senate to share the story of Chicago lawyer Laura Alvarado, another young undocumented immigrant at risk of deportation if President-elect Donald Trump discontinues the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. He also called on his Senate colleagues to work in a bipartisan manner to keep DREAMers from being deported to countries where they haven\u2019t lived since childhood.  \u00a0  Last week, Durbin announced that he is working with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to craft a potential legislative solution that would provide a temporary legal status to these young immigrants while Congress works on legislation to fix our broken immigration system.  \u00a0  \u201cNow the choice is up to Congress. Are we going to step in and give Laura the chance that she asks for, to prove herself again as she has so many times in her young life? I\u2019m glad to say that Lindsey Graham, the senator from South Carolina, and I are joining in an effort to draw up legislation to achieve that goal and at least to give those eligible for DACA a temporary reprieve so if there is elimination of this executive action, we don't eliminate the protection that keeps them here in the United States, where they cannot be deported, and they have a chance to work. That\u2019s something we need to do not just for Laura, but for 744,000 others as well, young people who grew up in this country and just deserve a chance to make this a better nation,\u201d said Durbin.  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.  \u00a0  Audio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.  \u00a0  Footage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition and standard definition.  \u00a0  Senator Durbin has been a leading voice in the fight to protect young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In April 2010, he was the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of DACA. Durbin has shared the stories of more than 75 DREAMers on the Senate floor since he introduced the original DREAM Act fifteen years ago. He was also a member of the \u201cGang of 8\u201d Republicans and Democrats who authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-education-department-decision-to-end-federal-student-aid-for-two-more-acics-accredited-schools", "Durbin Statement On Education Department Decision To End Federal Student Aid For Two More ACICS-Accredited Schools", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Statement On Education Department Decision To End Federal Student Aid For Two More ACICS-Accredited Schools \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced it would terminate the participation of Globe University and Minnesota School of Business in the Title IV federal student loan program. The announcement comes after a Minnesota judge ruled in September that the for-profit colleges defrauded and misled students.  \u00a0  \u201cIt\u2019s no surprise that Globe University and Minnesota School of Business, found guilty in Minnesota court of deceptive practices, were both accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools \u2013 the same deadbeat accreditor that accredited the now-defunct Corinthian, ITT Tech, and Westwood Colleges,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cToday\u2019s decision by the Department of Education to withdraw Title IV eligibility from these schools shows that even in the waning days of this Administration the commitment to protecting students and taxpayers remains strong. I call on Secretary King to provide automatic federal student loan discharges to Globe and Minnesota School of Business students on the basis of the court\u2019s findings.\u201d  \u00a0  In 2014, Globe and Minnesota School of Business each received over $25 million in financial aid dollars from the federal government. \u00a0  \u00a0  Today, Senator Durbin joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in calling on the Department of Education to take steps to protect students and taxpayers in the event that the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) loses federal recognition. ACICS losing federal recognition would require the approximately 250 schools currently accredited by ACICS to receive new accreditation from a federally recognized accreditor in order to remain eligible for Title IV federal student aid.  \u00a0  In September, the Department made a decision to withdraw federal recognition from ACICS following a recommendation from the independent National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. That decision is now pending appeal to the Secretary.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-thanks-attorney-general-lynch-discusses-need-for-action-on-high-priority-issues", "Durbin Thanks Attorney General Lynch, Discusses Need For Action On High-Priority Issues", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Thanks Attorney General Lynch, Discusses Need For Action On High-Priority Issues \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to thank her for her dedication and service in the Department of Justice.\u00a0 They also discussed high-priority issues that still need to be addressed by Congress and the Department of Justice, like reforms to federal sentencing law.  \u00a0  \u201cI want to thank Loretta Lynch for her outstanding service as our nation\u2019s 83rd Attorney General. She has been a dedicated advocate for the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI have appreciated working with her on many issues important to Illinois, including reforming our criminal justice and prison systems and combating the scourges of gun violence, opioid abuse, and hate crimes. She broke down barriers as America\u2019s first African-American woman to lead the Department of Justice, serving as an inspiration to young people across the country of all backgrounds.\u201d  \u00a0  On November 8, 2014, President Obama nominated Lynch to succeed Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General. On April 23, 2015, Lynch was confirmed by the Senate by a 56\u201343 vote, making her the second African-American, the second woman, and the first African-American woman to be confirmed for the position.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-thanks-transportation-secretary-pushes-for-critical-illinois-priorities", "Durbin Thanks Transportation Secretary, Pushes For Critical Illinois Priorities", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Thanks Transportation Secretary, Pushes For Critical Illinois Priorities \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to thank him for his dedication and service in leading the Department of Transportation (DOT). They also discussed the need for DOT to fund priority Illinois projects as the Obama Administration draws to a close, including a full funding agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority\u2019s (CTA) Red and Purple Modernization Program, FASTLANE grants, Chicago Union Station Emerging Projects Agreement (EmPA), and more.  \u00a0  \u201cSecretary Foxx\u2019s previous job as the Mayor of Charlotte gave him personal experience and an understanding of the importance of federal transportation funding to local communities,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cHe was instrumental in securing the bipartisan, five-year highway and transit reauthorization bill last year, which will allow our communities to make significant, long term investments in our national infrastructure. Illinois\u2019 neighborhoods are at the heart of our national transportation network, and it has been an honor to work with Secretary Foxx on many of our local transportation projects.\u201d  \u00a0  President Obama nominated Foxx to be the Secretary of Transportation in April 2013, and he was confirmed by a 100-0 vote in June 2013.  \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/congresswoman-cheri-bustos-announces-internship-opportunities-illinois-offices/", "Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Announces Internship Opportunities in Illinois Offices", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ROCK ISLAND \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos announced that she is accepting internship applications for her offices in Rock Island, Peoria and Rockford.\n\u201cInternships are an invaluable opportunity for young people from our community to learn more about the work we do on behalf of families across Illinois\u2019 17th Congressional District,\u201d said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. \u201cIt\u2019s also a chance to give back to our region and to become involved in public service. I encourage all those interested to apply for an internship in one of my offices today.\u201d\nApplicants should send a cover letter and resume to Lucie.VanHecke@mail.house.gov with \u201cIntern Application\u201d in the subject line. Admissions to the internship program are rolling. More information on Bustos\u2019 internship program can be found HERE.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/106-members-congress-call-obama-protect-immigrants-private-data", "106 Members of Congress Call on Obama to Protect Immigrants Private Data", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, 106 Members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he take action to protect the names and private information of those who enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) programs. The letter, led by Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27), Zoe Lofgren (CA-29), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), and Luis Gutierrez (IL-04), specifically suggests an Executive Order that would prohibit the use of DACA enrollees\u2019 information for purposes other than originally intended, including for purposes of deportation. The letter was endorsed by National Immigration Law Center (NILC), the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), and Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). The authors of the letter released the following statements:\n\u201cWhen the government offered protection to immigrants if they worked hard, laid roots, went to school, and followed the laws, thousands acted on trust. Now that they\u2019ve handed us names, addresses, birth certificates, and biometric information, we have to honor that trust,\u201d said Rep. Judy Chu. \u201cFurther, President-elect Trump has said that his priority is to deport those who are a danger to our country. By qualifying for DACA or DAPA, these immigrants are by definition not a threat to our country, but rather assets. I urge President Obama to take immediate executive action to protect these Dreamers before he leaves office.\u201d\n\u201cThe President, along with many Democratic Members of Congress, urged these young immigrants to come out of the shadows, and to register with the government on the premise that they may live without fear of deportation,\u201d said Rep. Lofgren. \u201cNow, with that assurance shattered, those of us who urged for and help implement the DACA program have a moral responsibility to do what we can to protect these young people from deportation under a Trump administration.\u201d\n\u201cTo misuse personal DACA information to tear away young men and women from the only home they know, the United States, would be more than legally misguided: it would be categorically wrong,\u201d said Rep. Roybal-Allard. \u201cThe DACA application, which recipients signed in good faith, clearly states that no information \u2018can be shared for the sole purpose of removal.\u2019\u00a0 It would be unconscionable to remove young Americans covered under DACA from the U.S.\u00a0 I strongly urge President Obama to use his executive authority to protect them.\u201d\n\u201cWe are going to do everything we can to protect the DREAMers who came forward to register under DACA, but that is only the beginning,\u201d said Rep. Gutierrez. \u201cIf the new President is contemplating mass deportation of immigrants, he will have to go through us first.\u201d\nThe letter was signed by: Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27), Luis Gutierrez (IL-04), Lucille Roybal \u2013 Allard (CA-40), Mike Honda (CA-17), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Jerold Nadler (NY-10), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Mike Doyle (PA-14), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-23), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Susan Davis (CA-53), Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Grace Meng (NY-06), Joseph Crowley (NY-14), Katherine M. Clark (MA-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Beto O\u2019Rourke (TX-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Ruben Kihuen (NV-04) (Elect), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Jim Costa (CA-16), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Karen Bass (CA-37), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Bill Foster (IL-11), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Jared Polis (CO-02), Mark Takano (CA-41), Juan Vargas (CA-51), Tony Cardenas (CA-29), G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), David Price (NC-04), John Conyers (MI-13), Adam Schiff (CA-28), Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Alcee Hastings (FL-20), Al Green (TX-09), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Donna Edwards (MD-04), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Alma Adams (NC-12), Joseph Kennedy Jr. (MA-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ben Ray Lujan (NM-03), Earl Perlmutter (CO-07), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), John Garamendi (CA-03), Elliot Engel (NY-16), Gene Green (TX-29), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Ted Deutch (FL-21), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Anna Eshoo (CA-18), John Lewis (GA-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Gregorio Sablan (N. Mariana-DD), Filemon Vela (TX-34), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01), Cedric Richmond (LA-02), William Lacy Clay (MO-01), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Brad Sherman (CA-30), Jose Serrano (NY-15), Adam Smith (WA-09), John Yarmuth (KY-03), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Norma Torres (CA-35), Mike Quigley (IL-5), Sam Farr (CA-20), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Bobby Rush (IL-01).\nThe letter can be found here and is pasted below:\n \n\tThe Honorable Barack Obama\n\t\tPresident of the United States\n\t\tThe White House\n\t\t1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW\n\t\tWashington, DC 20500\n\tDear President Obama:\n\tWe write to express our concerns about the potential misuse of the personal information of enrollees in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. \u00a0We urge you to consider taking executive action to prevent DACA enrollees\u2019 personal information from being used for purposes other than originally intended, including for the purposes of removal.\n\tWhen your Administration first introduced the DACA program in 2012, it gave hope to many children of immigrants\u2014commonly referred to as \u201cDreamers\u201d\u2014who were brought to this country at very young ages.\u00a0 Since the implementation of DACA, we have been able to see firsthand the profound effect that the program has had on the lives of the children and young adults it protects. Over 740,000 young Dreamers have been issued Social Security numbers and work permits, and many have used the benefits provided under DACA to seek job opportunities openly for the very first time. The DACA program allowed these individuals to enjoy many of the essential benefits, privileges, and responsibilities of American society that they had been denied for so long. Dreamers granted deferred action under DACA were freed from the constant fear of deportation to countries that many of them do not even know and do not call home; they responded by enriching their communities and becoming civically engaged in American life.\n\tAs a condition of receiving the guarantees of DACA, these children and young adults submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) numerous sources of information to verify identity, including fingerprints and other biometric data. \u00a0They also underwent background checks and provided their home addresses, where family members may also reside. \u00a0Other sensitive information, such as documentation of an arrest or charge of a misdemeanor in the United States or any other country, was also requested of applicants for DACA. \u00a0In asking these undocumented youth for extensive personally identifying information, the Administration effectively asked them to place their trust in the government. \u00a0Now many of those same Dreamers are wondering whether their trust was misplaced, fearing for their future in the United States, and questioning whether they can or should seek protection under DACA.\n\tCountless community advocates, organizers, and public servants have promoted the DACA program to Dreamers on the premise that the information they supply to DHS would not be used to deport them in the future. \u00a0We cannot stand by and allow the Trump Administration to exploit the trust these young Americans placed in us and the government.\n\tWe believe that when government makes promises it should keep them. \u00a0We urge you to do everything within your power to safeguard the personal identifying information of DACA enrollees, including issuing an Executive Order prohibiting the use of DACA enrollee information for purposes other than originally intended. \u00a0While this program is a significant part of the Administration\u2019s legacy, it is more importantly a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of young Dreamers looking to lead productive and peaceful lives as members of American society.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3141", "Lipinski Reacts to USDOT Approval of Norwegian Air Scheme That Will Destroy American Jobs", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approved Norwegian Air International's (NAI) petition to operate long-haul flights to the U.S.:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThe DOT\u2019s decision puts domestic airlines at a competitive disadvantage and threatens the livelihoods of thousands of American workers.\u00a0 NAI\u2019s flag-of-convenience business model undermines international labor standards and fair competition.\u00a0 Despite the Norwegian name, NAI seeks to operate aircraft registered in Ireland by crews working under Singaporean employment contracts.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cSince 2014, I have been working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to oppose NAI\u2019s petition.\u00a0 This approval is not in the public\u2019s best interest and could result in serious consequences for the American airline industry and its employees.\u00a0 I strongly urge President-elect Trump to stand with the hard-working men and women that are the foundation of American aviation and reopen the DOT\u2019s decision as one of his first actions in office.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-21st-century-cures-vote", "Durbin Statement On 21st Century Cures Vote", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.05.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Statement On 21st Century Cures Vote \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate voted 85-13 to advance the 21st Century Cures Act.  \u00a0  This bill represents the promise of an investment we should be making\u2014a down payment in the future for medical research. Its success depends on the support of Republican majorities in the years to come. However, we cannot overlook the fact that this bill is paid for in large part by cuts in the Prevention Fund\u2014money we currently use for reducing the prevalence of diseases such as diabetes and lung cancer. Reducing prevention efforts invites more disease, suffering, and death. This legislative \u201cbargain\u201d is hard to explain or understand, but at least the prevention funds are being dedicated to medical research. This bill also includes legislation I added to expand treatment for mental health and counseling services on college campuses and launch an awareness campaign to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://foster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/press-release-foster-takano-introduce-resolution-to-establish-national", "Press Release: Foster, Takano Introduce Resolution to Establish National 3D Printing Day", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bill Foster", "F000454", "foster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced a House resolution to designate December 3rd as National 3D Printing Day. In addition, the resolution would recognize the positive economic impact of 3D printing in the United States and encourage the promotion and celebration of 3D printing technology.\n\u201cAdvancements in 3D printing technology provide a vital opportunity for businesses and entrepreneurs to compete in the modern economy and bring new products to life,\u201d Foster said. \u201cFrom bio-technology, to food production, to advanced manufacturing, the 3D printing industry continues to grow in communities across this country, and the possibilities for innovation could be endless.\u201d\n\u201cWhat used to be only available to universities and large corporations is now in our libraries, schools, and homes,\u201d Takano said. \u201cHobbyists and professionals alike are printing everything from airplane parts to cheap prosthetics, and the potential for 3D printing has only grown as more people gain access to the technology. 3D Printing Day is a time to celebrate how far the technology has come and imagine what we\u2019ll be able to use it for in the future.\u201d\nBy enabling rapid production of innovative products, 3D printing has the potential to create thousands of new businesses and jobs in the U.S. and give domestic companies an edge in global markets. The Department of Energy estimates that 3D printing could save 50% on energy costs compared to more traditional manufacturing processes.\nText of the resolution is available here.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-applauds-passage-energy-bill-save-thousands-illinois-jobs-1-2-billion-annual-economic-activity/", "Bustos applauds passage of Energy Bill to save thousands of Illinois Jobs and $1.2 billion in annual economic activity", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bustos led bipartisan letter urging leaders in Springfield to protect Illinois jobs and help\u00a0 break our addiction to foreign fossil fuels\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today Congresswoman Cheri Bustos applauded the Illinois State legislature for working together to pass an energy bill that will keep Exelon\u2019s plants in the Quad-Cities and Clinton open for business. According to a January 2015 study from the Illinois Commerce Commission, losing these plants would have cost Illinois thousands of jobs and more than $1.2 billion in annual economic activity.\nBecause of the damage this would have on Illinois\u2019 economy, Bustos led a bipartisan Illinois delegation letter to Governor Rauner and leaders in the State legislature urging them to work out their differences and protect good-paying jobs by investing in non-carbon energy.\n\u201cLike a lot of Illinoisans, I\u2019ve been disheartened by the dysfunction in Springfield, but I think they deserve to be recognized when they do the right thing,\u201d said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. \u201cBy coming together to pass a compromise energy bill that will protect thousands of good-paying Illinois jobs, continue the production of non-carbon energy and help break our addiction to foreign fossil fuels, we\u2019re building a better future for all of our families.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-duckworth-loebsack-applaud-passage-national-defense-authorization-act/", "Bustos, Duckworth and Loebsack Applaud Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Lawmakers Worked Together to Include Bipartisan Provisions to Strengthen the Rock Island Arsenal \nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Senator-Elect Tammy Duckworth and Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) voted in favor and applauded the passage of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This was the final House passage of the bill, which will now go to the Senate for approval before the President can sign it into law. Representatives Bustos and Loebsack worked with Duckworth, who led this successful effort through the House Armed Services Committee, to include several provisions that will help ensure the long-term success of the Rock Island Arsenal and the more than 6,000 hard working men and women who work on Arsenal Island.\n\u201cAs one of the largest employers in our region, the Rock Island Arsenal is the economic engine that drives our community\u2019s success, and I\u2019m incredibly pleased that Congress was able to come together to pass this bipartisan legislation to strengthen the Arsenal for years to come,\u201d Congresswoman Bustos said. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank Congressman Loebsack for his dedicated partnership working to strengthen the Quad-Cities community and Congresswoman Duckworth for her work on the Armed Services Committee to include language benefiting the Arsenal in this year\u2019s national defense authorization. This bill will support Rockford\u2019s defense industry, Peoria\u2019s Air National Guard base and the more than 6,000 hard working men and women on Arsenal Island. By passing today\u2019s defense authorization, we\u2019re strengthening our national security and helping to ensure a brighter future for all of our communities.\u201d\n\u201cCongress should do whatever it can to keep our nation safe and create jobs, especially manufacturing jobs, so working with Representatives Bustos and Loebsack to help the Rock Island Arsenal is always an easy decision,\u201d said Duckworth. \u201cAmerican workers have the talent, skill and capability to produce high-quality goods at facilities like the Rock Island Arsenal. As the only member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation serving on the House Armed Services Committee, I was proud to push these amendments through the National Defense Authorization process. They will help support our nation\u2019s defense, enhance readiness, protect thousands of jobs in our state, and reduce over-reliance on foreign goods in sensitive weapons systems.\u201d\n\u201cThe Rock Island Arsenal not only supports the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, but also plays a critical role in the Quad Cities economy. I am proud to continue my work with Congresswomen Bustos and Duckworth to ensure the Arsenal has the resources it needs to remain strong,\u201d said Congressman Loebsack. \u201cThe Arsenal is vital to the Quad Cities economy and we must continue to work together to secure and strengthen its future. This provision plays a critical role in equipping our troops and spurring job growth in the Quad Cities region and I will continue to advocate for the Arsenal and its workforce.\u201d\nRepresentatives Bustos, Duckworth and Loebsack worked together to include several provisions similar to the bipartisan\u00a0Army Arsenal Revitalization Act\u00a0and the\u00a0Make It At Home Act. Specifically, the legislation will strengthen the Arsenal by requiring that the Army:\n \nCompile and submit to Congress a plan to ensure the long-term viability of federal military manufacturing facilities, including Army arsenals.\nIdentify equipment, weapons, and other items purchased from foreign entities that could be manufactured in Army arsenals and other facilities.\nReport on the manufacturing skills that are needed to sustain the readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-votes-yes-on-hr-34-the-21st-century-cures-act", "Rush Votes YES on H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bobby Rush", "R000515", "rush.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power voted in favor of H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act. The bill seeks to prevent and cure disease and improve health for all Americans. The 21st Century Cures Act also requires that public, private and research institutions around the country takes bold action to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of promising new treatments and cures for patients and to maintain our nation\u2019s standing as the biomedical innovation capital of the world. H.R. 34, also includes a provision sponsored by Rush that will improve minority inclusion in clinical trials.\nAccording to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), of \u00a0 \u00a0the 10,000 known diseases, 7,000 of which are considered rare, there are treatments for only 500. Yet, there are many diseases affecting minority communities that often fall by the wayside because minorities are underrepresented in clinical trials. Rush introduced five provisions for adoption into the Energy & Commerce Committee\u2019s 21st Century Cures bill that sought minority inclusion in clinical trials. \u00a0Two of Rush\u2019s amendments were adopted into the full bill which will boost the biomedical workforce in in unrepresented communities to address ending health disparities among minority populations and improve outcomes in maternity health.\u00a0\nThe first provision will require the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to include within its strategic plan for biomedical research ways to increase representation of underrepresented communities in clinical trials. The second provision will ensure that it remains a priority at NIH that the biomedical workforce of the future includes groups from traditionally underrepresented communities. \u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cResearch professionals tend to work toward solutions to diseases that they have a personal connection with,\u201d said Rush. \u201cThat enforces the need for minority participation in order to foster research that gets to the root causes of diseases not only affecting other communities, but cures for underrepresented minority groups. This is why I offered an amendment that will address these disparities by requiring that the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) within the National Institute of Health include within its Strategic Plan ways to increase representation of underrepresented communities in clinical trials.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/50-dems-call-obama-dismantle-discriminatory-special-registration-system", "50+ Dems call on Obama to dismantle discriminatory NSEERS "special registration" system", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Note: Rep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) and several other senior Democratic Members led an effort to gather 51 House Democrats on a letter to President Obama asking him to dismantle the NSEERS system, a system crafted by Kris Kobach and used by the Bush Administration to call in and register immigrant men from certain countries.\u00a0 \u201cEliminating the regulatory framework for this awful program will make it harder for the new President to begin similar roundups based on national origin or religion,\u201d Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez said, a Member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Co-Chair of the Task Force on Immigration of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\nThe press release with the text of the letter is below.\nOVER 50 HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL ON OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO COMPLETELY DISMANTLE \nDISCRIMINATORY NSEERS REGISTRATION SYSTEM BEFORE NEW ADMINISTRATION BEGINS\n\u00a0\nWashington, DC \u2013 In the wake of reports about the Trump Administration\u2019s plans to create a special registration program for Muslims, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Representatives Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) today led over 50 House Democrats in calling for President Barack Obama to completely dismantle the regulatory framework behind the discriminatory National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) before his administration ends.\u00a0 The Obama Administration effectively ended the program in 2011; however, the apparatus remains. House Democrats are calling for the NSEERS regulatory framework to be eliminated.\nThe letter was signed by Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Beto O\u2019Rourke (D-TX), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Allen Lowenthal (D-CA), James A Himes (D-CT), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Jos\u00e9 E. Serrano (D-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), David E. Price (D-NC), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), James McGovern (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Mark Takano (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Linda T. S\u00e1nchez (D-CA), Tony C\u00e1rdenas (D-CA), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (D-VA), Michael F. Doyle (D-PA).\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n \n\tDear President Obama:\n\tWe urge you to rescind the regulatory framework behind the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) located at 8 CFR 264.1(f).\u00a0 While we commend your Administration for effectively ending the program in 2011, we believe that eliminating the apparatus of NSEERS is consistent with our country\u2019s fundamental values of fairness and equality.\n\tThe NSEERS program was announced in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.\u00a0 The most controversial portion of the NSEERS program involved a \u201cdomestic\u201d registration system that targeted certain males who entered the United States on nonimmigrant visas from primarily Arab, Muslim-majority, African, and South Asian countries.\u00a0 The program was fundamentally flawed in its false assumption that people of a particular religion or nationality pose a greater national security risk and should be subject to racial profiling.\u00a0 The program is reminiscent of \u2013 and indeed has been compared to \u2013 the dark time in our history when innocent people were interned based on their Japanese ancestry.\n\tWhen instituted in 2002, the program caused widespread and palpable fear in affected communities, separated families and caused much harm to people affected by it.\u00a0 Boys and men were required to register with local immigration offices, were interrogated, and subjected to serious due process violation.\u00a0 Communities saw family members and neighbors disappear in the middle of the night, held in overcrowded jails and deported without due process.\u00a0 More than 13,000 people were placed in removal proceedings, businesses closed down, and students were forced to leave school with degrees uncompleted.\n\tIn addition to the harm that NSEERS caused to communities, the program was ineffective as a counter-terrorism tool.\u00a0 A 2012 Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General report found the program to be inefficient and a waste of resources, costing American taxpayers more than $10 million annually.\u00a0The report characterized the data collected through the program as unreliable.\u00a0 No known terrorism convictions have resulted from the program.\n\tWe stand together in opposition to policies that would target people based on their religion, race, ethnicity or national origin.\u00a0 We urge the Administration to immediately rescind the NSEERS regulation as a re-affirmation of its commitment to equal protection under the law.\n\tSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3134", "Lipinski Helps Pass Life-Saving 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) joined with colleagues from both sides of the aisle last night to pass the 21st Century Cures Act.\u00a0 The bill will boost funding for biomedical research, and streamline and update the approval process for medical innovations, improving the quality of life for many Americans.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThis legislation will help speed the development and delivery of life-saving cures,\u201d said Rep. Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cIt provides a critical infusion of resources for medical research, as I have long advocated for.\u00a0While not compromising patient safety, it will speed up the process by which medications and medical devices are approved in order to get new treatments to patients faster.\u00a0 While this bill is not perfect, I am glad the House could come together to get legislation passed that will improve the lives of so many people.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tHighlights from the bill include:\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Special National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration\u00a0(FDA) innovation accounts to support special biomedical research projects and streamlined approval for new drugs and medical devices.\u00a0 NIH would receive $4.8 billion over 10 years, while the FDA would receive $500 million.\u00a0 These funds would support important priorities set out by the current administration, including research on personalized medicine and Vice President Biden\u2019s \u201cCancer Moonshot\u201d initiative.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The formal reauthorization of the NIH through FY2020.\u00a0 The reauthorization requires the NIH to support prize competitions to promote biomedical research for serious health conditions, improve transparency by allowing the NIH Director to require grant recipients to share data generated from NIH-funded research, and focus on supporting young emerging scientists.\u00a0 In addition, a new pediatric research network will help pool resources and improve coordination for efforts related to pediatric rare diseases and birth defects.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 New efforts to streamline FDA reviews.\u00a0 Breakthrough medical devices will now receive priority review.\u00a0 The rare pediatric disease priority review voucher program which incentivized the development of new drugs for kids with rare diseases will be renewed until October 1, 2020.\u00a0 The bill also gives the FDA the flexibility to approve antibiotics for life-threatening infections based on smaller clinical trials and allows them to use accelerated approval pathways for regenerative therapeutic products such as cell therapy and gene therapy.\u00a0 The FDA will also have more flexibility to hire staff at rates competitive with the private sector and academia.\u00a0 Currently, the FDA has trouble recruiting enough scientists as employment in the private sector is much more financially lucrative for them.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The creation of a fund for states to respond to the opioid abuse crisis.\u00a0 This funding provides resources for the opioid abuse initiatives Congress passed and the President signed into law in July.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Important provisions to reorganize and expand federal mental health efforts.\u00a0 Mental health research grants will now be subject to closer evaluations and oversight, and federal agencies will be able to better disseminate information about research findings and best practices to providers and consult with stakeholders to improve community-based mental health services.\u00a0 The bill also directs Health and Human Services to clarify situations when medical providers can disclose the private health information of patients with mental illness with their responsible caregivers.\u00a0 Congressman Lipinski supported related mental health legislation when it was first considered as a standalone bill in the House this past summer.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 An Affordable Care Act (ACA) fix that Lipinski cosponsored to aid small employers who want to help pay for their workers\u2019 health insurance plans.\u00a0 Under the ACA, small employers were not allowed to reimburse their workers for any insurance they purchased on their own, even if the employer did not have the resources to sponsor its own job-based health plan.\u00a0 This provision once again allows small employers to help workers with their health costs in this way.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Legislation Lipinski cosponsored to better track the epidemiology of neurological diseases.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Healthcare price transparency for Medicare.\u00a0 Because Medicare pays for some services both in hospital outpatient departments and in ambulatory surgical centers, Medicare patients may have different out-of-pocket costs depending on where they go for the service. The bill includes a provision to create a website that would make it easy for Medicare beneficiaries to compare providers\u2019 costs and the resulting out-of-pocket expenses for these procedures.\r\n\r\n\t\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Provisions based on Lipinski\u2019s University Regulation Streamlining and Harmonization Act.\u00a0 The bill reduces the time and resources spent by researchers and universities in complying with excessive, duplicative, and inefficient federal regulations.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWhile there are many positive aspects to this legislation, passing this bill is only the first step,\u201d stated Rep. Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cI am disappointed that we could not vote to increase NIH and FDA funding even more, as we did in July of 2015 when the initial version of the 21st Century Cures Act was passed in the House.\u00a0 Furthermore, unlike the bill I supported last year, the legislation we passed last night does not provide a funding guarantee.\u00a0 Continued vigilance from patient advocates and researchers will be needed to ensure that the funding promises in this bill are kept.\u00a0 Congress must also exercise its oversight duties to ensure that the new streamlined FDA approval processes in this bill work as intended and do not facilitate the entry of unduly risky drugs and devices into the market.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pays-tribute-to-us-senator-mark-kirk-on-senate-floor", "Durbin Pays Tribute To U.S. Senator Mark Kirk On Senate Floor", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.01.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Pays Tribute To U.S. Senator Mark Kirk On Senate Floor \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) paid tribute today to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), on the United States Senate Floor:  \u00a0  \u201cFor the last six years, Senator Mark Kirk and I have had a very positive and professional relationship. I thank him for his service to our state, the service he\u2019s given our nation as an officer in the Navy Reserve, for the years that he put in as a staff member to Congressman John Porter, for the work that he did in the House of Representatives representing the 10th Congressional District, and for his term here in the United States Senate,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cIt has been a pleasure and an honor to serve with him despite our political differences. I count him as a friend, as an ally, and a true champion for the state of Illinois. I wish my colleague Mark Kirk the very best in his future endeavors.\u201d  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks is available here.  \u00a0  Durbin\u2019s remarks as prepared for delivery are available below:  \u00a0  Remarks of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin  Honoring U.S. Senator Mark Kirk  December 1, 2016  \u00a0  For the last six years, Mark and I have had a close personal and working relationship.   \u00a0  We didn\u2019t always agree on the issues, but there is a mutual respect for each other\u2014a respect that is often lacking in our politics today.   \u00a0  In 1985, my mentor\u2014Senator Paul Simon\u2014launched the Illinois Hospitality Breakfast series.\u00a0 For one hour, every Thursday morning the Senate\u2019s in session, Senator Simon invited his constituents visiting Washington, D.C., for coffee and a conversation.   \u00a0  And there\u2019s only one rule.\u00a0 If you want to make a speech, you have to run for office. A rule that Mark quickly reminds me to share with the audience when I forget.   \u00a0  Today, we simply call it constituent coffee. And in 2011, when Mark was sworn into the Senate, despite party differences, we kept the tradition alive.   \u00a0  But this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Mark. After all, one of his legacies will surely be his bipartisanship approach to politics. Just ask his good friend\u2014Senator Joe Manchin\u2014a Democrat from West Virginia.   \u00a0  Mark and Joe entered the Senate together and decided this place could use a little more reaching across the aisle.   \u00a0  So, they decided to meet every Thursday for lunch in the Senate dining room. They understood that making real progress, on real issues, meant talking to each other. And their efforts should be applauded.   \u00a0  Mark\u2019s been a strong advocate for people in Illinois\u2014and after going through the health crisis he endured several years ago\u2014a source of inspiration.   \u00a0  You see, in 2012, Mark had a stroke. It came as quite a shock. I remember his doctor coming out and telling us what we could expect.   \u00a0  I\u2019ll spare the details, but it wasn\u2019t encouraging. But I knew that Mark would fight back. After all, he\u2019s a Navy Reserve officer. \u00a0  \u00a0  During his recovery, Mark drew strength from one of our former colleagues\u2014Tim Johnson, who suffered a similar accident.   \u00a0  While in rehab, he would spend much of his time asking himself, \u201cWhat would Tim Johnson do?\u201d   \u00a0  Mark will be the same source of inspiration for future generations. When many may have called it quits, Mark never did.   \u00a0  I remember one of our phone calls during his rehab.   \u00a0  He said he asked his staff to count the steps from where he would park outside up to the Senate Chamber. It was 45 steps back to the Senate Chamber.   \u00a0  I will never forget that day when Mark returned to those steps to make the climb.   \u00a0  As Mark made his way to the main staircase, I stood waiting to greet him with Vice-President Biden and Senator Manchin. It was a great day.   \u00a0  His return brought out the humanity of the Senate.   \u00a0  We put aside the fighting and party labels, and we showed that when it gets down to it we are part of a family that really cares about one another.   \u00a0  Even more importantly, his return marked an amazing recovery.   \u00a0  And I, along with all of his colleagues, were grateful.   \u00a0  He carried on and never stopped working on his recovery\u2014and never stopped working for the people of Illinois.   \u00a0  Let me close with this. When Mark entered the Senate, he said in his maiden speech\u2014quote:\u00a0 \u201cIn times of great uncertainty, we need to come together\u2014Republicans\u2026Democrats\u2026 independents\u2014to build consensus, find solutions and improve the lives of the people we represent.\u201d   \u00a0  I agree.   \u00a0  Once again, we find ourselves in uncertain times.   \u00a0  Well, I know Mark isn\u2019t done yet. He has plenty more to do.   \u00a0  I\u2019ll miss Mark\u2019s company in the Senate and at constituent coffees next year, but this is not his final act. Not by a long a shot.   \u00a0  I know Mark will continue to serve the people of Illinois and all Americans with the same passion and intensity he displayed in this chamber.   \u00a0  And I wish him all the best in the next chapter of his life.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pushes-to-protect-dreamers-from-deportation", "Durbin Pushes to Protect DREAMers from Deportation", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.01.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Pushes to Protect DREAMers from Deportation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Begins to Craft Bipartisan Legislation to Shield DREAMers until Congress Passes Immigration Reform\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today continued his push to ensure that the young immigrants known as DREAMers remain shielded from deportation under a Trump Administration. Every day this week, Durbin has gone to the floor of the United States Senate and shared the stories of DREAMers at risk of deportation if the President-elect does not continue President Obama\u2019s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  \u00a0\u00a0   Durbin also announced that he is working with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to craft a potential legislative solution that would provide a temporary stay of deportation for young immigrants while Congress works on legislation to fix our broken immigration system.  \u00a0\u00a0   \u201cMy concern and the concern shared by millions across America is what is going to happen to these young kids \u2013 744,000 of them who are currently in college, in high school, currently in professional schools, medical schools, and law schools. They're doing amazing things with their lives and yet things can happen immediately that change their status,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to a number of my colleagues on the floor, on both sides of the aisle about this, and there are strong emotions in favor of helping these young people. One of the leaders on this has been my friend and ally on some immigration issues \u2013 and that\u2019s Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. He and I talked about introducing legislation that would give a temporary stay so that these young people could be protected until Congress does its work and comes up with an immigration bill that addresses this issue and many more. Senator Graham and I discussed it again this morning, and we hope to even have this bill ready before we leave next week, a bipartisan effort to say to the new president, \u2018give these young people a fighting chance. At least protect them until we've had a chance to act on the larger immigration issues before us.\u2019 I hope that colleagues on both sides will join us.\u201d  \u00a0\u00a0   Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.  \u00a0\u00a0   Audio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.  \u00a0\u00a0   Footage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition and standard definition.  \u00a0\u00a0   Senator Durbin has been a leading voice in the fight to protect young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In April 2010, he was the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of DACA. Durbin has shared the stories of more than 75 DREAMers on the Senate floor since he introduced the original DREAM Act fifteen years ago. He was also a member of the \u201cGang of 8\u201d Republicans and Democrats who authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pushes-to-protect-dreamers-from-deportation-120116", "Durbin Pushes To Protect DREAMers From Deportation", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.01.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Pushes To Protect DREAMers From Deportation \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Begins to Craft Bipartisan Legislation to Shield Dreamers until Congress Passes Immigration Reform\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today continued his push to ensure that the young immigrants known as DREAMers remain shielded from deportation under a Trump Administration. Every day this week, Durbin has gone to the floor of the United States Senate and shared the stories of DREAMers at risk of deportation if the President-elect does not continue President Obama\u2019s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  \u00a0  Durbin also announced that he is working with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to craft a potential legislative solution that would provide a temporary stay of deportation for young immigrants while Congress works on legislation to fix our broken immigration system.  \u00a0  \u201cMy concern and the concern shared by millions across America is what is going to happen to these young kids \u2013 744,000 of them who are currently in college, in high school, currently in professional schools, medical schools, and law schools. They're doing amazing things with their lives and yet things can happen immediately that change their status,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI\u2019ve talked to a number of my colleagues on the floor, on both sides of the aisle about this, and there are strong emotions in favor of helping these young people. One of the leaders on this has been my friend and ally on some immigration issues \u2013 and that\u2019s Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. He and I talked about introducing legislation that would give a temporary stay so that these young people could be protected until Congress does its work and comes up with an immigration bill that addresses this issue and many more. Senator Graham and I discussed it again this morning, and we hope to even have this bill ready before we leave next week, a bipartisan effort to say to the new president, \u2018give these young people a fighting chance. At least protect them until we've had a chance to act on the larger immigration issues before us.\u2019 I hope that colleagues on both sides will join us.\u201d  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.  \u00a0  Audio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.  \u00a0  Footage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition and standard definition.  \u00a0  Senator Durbin has been a leading voice in the fight to protect young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. In April 2010, he was the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of DACA. Durbin has shared the stories of more than 75 DREAMers on the Senate floor since he introduced the original DREAM Act fifteen years ago. He was also a member of the \u201cGang of 8\u201d Republicans and Democrats who authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-cosponsors-resolution-urging-trump-to-comply-with-emoluments-clause", "Durbin Cosponsors Resolution Urging Trump To Comply With Emoluments Clause", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.30.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Cosponsors Resolution Urging Trump To Comply With Emoluments Clause \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Calls for Trump to honor promise to sever ties to his businesses\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and a group of 22 Senate Democrats in introducing a resolution calling on President-elect Trump to follow the precedent established by previous presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustee, or take other equivalent measures in order to ensure compliance with the United States Constitution.  \u00a0  The resolution notes that in the absence of such actions by the President-elect before he assumes office or without specific authorization by Congress, Congress will regard dealings by Trump-owned companies with any entity owned by a foreign governmental actor as potential violations of the Constitution\u2019s Emoluments Clause. President-elect Trump has promised to leave his position \u201cin total\u201d but hasn\u2019t offered any specifics and continues to run the Trump Organization less than two months before Inauguration Day. \u00a0\r\nArticle I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution provides that \u201cno Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the United States], shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.\u201d\r\n\u201cI urge President-elect Trump to honor his promise and effectively sever ties with his business empire while he is in office, letting the American people know with certainty that he is putting the United States\u2019 interests before his or that of any foreign government,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cFailing to do so, or taking half measures, like turning over his company to family members without the proper legal framework, will lead to, at best, the appearance of impropriety, and at worst, entanglements that put our country at risk.\u201dJoining Senators Cardin and Durbin are Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Harry Reid (D-NV), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tom Carper (D-DE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Al Franken (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).  \u00a0  The text of the resolution is available here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-meets-with-national-breast-cancer-coalition-president-to-discuss-biomedical-research-funding", "Durbin Meets With National Breast Cancer Coalition President To Discuss Biomedical Research Funding", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.30.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Meets With National Breast Cancer Coalition President To Discuss Biomedical Research Funding \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with National Breast Cancer Coalition President Fran Visco to discuss efforts to protect and increase funding for innovative, breakthrough research at the Department of Defense \u2013 funding that has led to discoveries and treatments for cancer and other diseases. They also talked about Durbin\u2019s American Cures Act, a bill that would increase funding at our nation\u2019s top four biomedical research agencies, as well as the Accelerating the End of Breast Cancer Act of 2015, which would establish the Commission to Accelerate the End of Breast Cancer to help end breast cancer by January 1, 2020.  \u00a0  \u201cThree years ago, military researchers at the Army\u2019s Cancer Vaccine Development Program completed a federally funded 10-year study of a vaccine which, in trials, halved the risk that a woman\u2019s breast cancer will return,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cThis vaccine is just one example of how federal investment in biomedical research has real consequences for real people. I am proud to meet with Fran Visco and continue my efforts with the National Breast Cancer Coalition in fighting to make sure that biomedical research is prioritized in Washington.\u201d  \u00a0  A photo of today\u2019s meeting is available here.  \u00a0  The American Cures Act would augment federal appropriations for biomedical research with a mandatory trust fund dedicated to steady growth in research conducted at National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Defense Health Program (DHP), and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program. Each year, the bill would increase funding for each agency and program at a rate of GDP-indexed inflation plus five percent. This steady, long-term investment would allow the agencies to plan and manage strategic growth while maximizing efficiencies.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3129", "Lipinski Announces Support for Ryan", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) released the following statement ahead of tomorrow\u2019s House Democrat leadership vote:\r\n\r\n\t\u201cHouse Democrats are at our lowest number since the presidency of Herbert Hoover.\u00a0 That means that more than 98% of Americans have not seen House Democrats with fewer members.\u00a0 This year was supposed be a great opportunity to pick up a significant number of seats - maybe even regain the majority - by focusing the campaign on Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump.\u00a0 But after another bitterly disappointing election, House Democrats must finally acknowledge that something needs to change if we are once again going to become a majority party in the House of Representatives.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cNancy Pelosi has been a very strong Speaker and Leader for House Democrats.\u00a0 Her drive and determination made it possible for her to make history by becoming the first female Speaker of the House.\u00a0 Although I have not always agreed with her, I have always respected her great ability to rally Democrats together in the chamber.\u00a0 But the Democratic Caucus needs to take an honest look at the last few elections and recognize that the party\u2019s brand does not play well in the House districts we need to pick up to gain the majority.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cToo many Americans feel that the Democratic Party no longer prioritizes fighting for hard-working Americans struggling to survive in our country today.\u00a0 Though I do not represent a rural district where Democrats have suffered our biggest losses, I do hear from some of my Democratic constituents that they don\u2019t trust that the national leadership of the party understands them and is addressing their concerns.\u00a0 That is one of the main reasons that Bernie Sanders won the Democratic Primary in my district this year.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI believe that without changes, including at the top of our House leadership, the voters we need in 2018 will not consider voting for Democratic House challenger candidates.\u00a0 Tim Ryan comes from a Rust Belt community that shares some similarities with my district and is very much like many of the districts Democrats need to win.\u00a0 He understands the perspective of workers and families who feel left behind.\u00a0 With Tim as our leader, I believe that we can begin to rebuild some of the trust that we have lost.\u00a0 Therefore, I'll be casting my vote for Tim Ryan on Wednesday to be our Democratic Leader.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-for-sessions-nomination-hearings-to-be-thorough-transparent-and-fair", "Durbin Calls For Sessions Nomination Hearings To Be Thorough, Transparent, And Fair", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.29.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Calls For Sessions\u2019 Nomination Hearings To Be Thorough, Transparent, And Fair \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee to call for an objective and thorough confirmation hearing for U.S. Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III of Alabama to be Attorney General of the United States. Given Senator Sessions\u2019 extensive record on critical issues within the Committee\u2019s jurisdiction, the senators requested testimony from outside witnesses on each of the following issues, at a minimum: immigration; violence against women; civil rights, including LGBT protections, racial justice, and hate crimes; workers\u2019 rights; national security and civil liberties; voting rights; criminal justice; and government conflicts of interest, transparency, and oversight.  \u00a0  \u201cOne of the most solemn responsibilities that falls to the Judiciary Committee is our duty to fairly and thoroughly consider nominations to positions in the Department of Justice, most prominently the position of Attorney General of the United States. We write today to ask that you ensure the hearings on this important nomination be fair and thorough,\u201d wrote the senators in a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA). \u201cWe all have personal and cordial relationships with Senator Sessions and know him to be a strong advocate for his political positions. But as you know, his job as Attorney General, if he is confirmed, will be different: he will have to be an independent Attorney General who is willing to set aside personal beliefs and political positions in service of larger obligations. When our country is struggling with so many divisions, the Committee and the entire Senate must ask whether Senator Sessions is the right man to lead the agency charged with securing and protection the constitutional and civil rights of all Americans.\u201d  \u00a0  The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).  \u00a0  Full text of the letter is available below:  \u00a0  November 28, 2016  \u00a0  The Honorable Charles E. Grassley  U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee  224 Dirksen Senate Office Building  Washington, D.C. 20510  \u00a0  Dear Chairman Grassley:  \u00a0  One of the most solemn responsibilities that falls to the Judiciary Committee is our duty to fairly and thoroughly consider nominations to positions in the Department of Justice, most prominently the position of Attorney General of the United States. We write today to ask that you ensure the hearings on this important nomination be fair and thorough.  \u00a0  President-elect Trump has indicated his intent to nominate our colleague, Senator Jeff Sessions, to this important position in our government. We all have personal and cordial relationships with Senator Sessions and know him to be a strong advocate for his political positions. But as you know, his job as Attorney General, if he is confirmed, will be different: he will have to be an independent Attorney General who is willing to set aside personal beliefs and political positions in service of larger obligations. Specifically, the Attorney General must be the people\u2019s lawyer, not the President\u2019s lawyer, and must enforce the laws with a dispassionate and even hand. That is particularly important as we see hate crimes on the rise nationwide and many people becoming more and more fearful of what the incoming Administration will mean for them and their families. When our country is struggling with so many divisions, the Committee and the entire Senate must ask whether Senator Sessions is the right man to lead the agency charged with securing and protection the constitutional and civil rights of all Americans.  \u00a0  The responsibility to thoroughly vet nominees to our nation\u2019s highest law enforcement post is one this Committee has taken seriously, regardless of the party of the President, control of the Senate, or identity of the nominee. For example, John Ashcroft was a Senator for only six years, serving on this committee until just before he was nominated to be Attorney General. His confirmation hearings required four days, and included testimony from four Members of Congress and 19 additional outside witnesses.  \u00a0  Senator Sessions has served nearly 20 years in the Senate, more than three times longer than Attorney General Ashcroft. Senator Sessions also served as a federal prosecutor and state attorney general, and ran for both state and federal political office. Over the past year, he served as a top political surrogate for President-elect Trump. His nomination will present a voluminous record spanning tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of pages. Moreover, the last time Senator Sessions appeared as a nominee for a confirmation hearing in this Committee was 30 years ago, when the Senate was under Republican control. At that time, the Committee held four days of hearings on his nomination alone, calling numerous outside witnesses to testify.  \u00a0  Senator Sessions has developed an extensive record on important issues with this Committee\u2019s jurisdiction, and over which he would yield significant power as Attorney General. The Committee must devote adequate time to examining those issues. Therefore, the Committee should hear from outside witnesses for, at a minimum, each of the following areas: immigration; violence against women; civil rights, including LGBT protections, racial justice, and hate crimes; workers\u2019 rights; national security and civil liberties; voting rights; criminal justice; and government conflicts of interest, transparency, and oversight.  \u00a0  Early this year, you decided to deny Chief Judge Merrick Garland a hearing on his nomination to the Supreme Court, and deprived the Senate and the American people of the opportunity to hear from the nominee and outside witnesses. This time, we urge you to ensure that the nominations process is thorough, transparent, and fair \u2013 not just a rubber stamp. Accordingly, we look forward to working with you to ensure that this Committee continues its practice of allowing all members to have sufficient time at the upcoming confirmation hearings to thoroughly question and consider all of the Justice Department nominees of President-elect Trump, especially his nominee to be Attorney General.  \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-dreamers-should-not-be-deported", "Durbin: DREAMers Should Not Be Deported", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.29.16\n\t\t\t Durbin: DREAMers Should Not Be Deported \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Repeats call for President-elect Trump to protect DREAMers\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is once again calling on President-elect Donald Trump to pledge to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides temporary reprieve from deportation to young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that by saving DACA, Trump could begin to bind the divisions that characterized this year\u2019s presidential election.  \u00a0  Senator Durbin also highlighted the social and economic contributions of DREAMers and shared the story of Father Rey Pi\u00f1eda, who thanks to DACA was able to fulfill his goal of becoming a Catholic priest.  \u00a0  \u201cI believe now that America [will] stand behind these young people. We will not allow them to be deported after what they have been through. We will not say to them by complying with the requirements of our government, you have penalized yourself in the future. We want to give them a chance,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cNow is the time for America, this nation of immigrants, to heal the wounds that divided us during this election. Let\u2019s start with the DREAMers. Let\u2019s start with DACA. Let\u2019s start with the young people that will make America better and stronger in years to come. They are the best in this country. Let\u2019s make them the best of America\u2019s future. I hope and pray that the President-elect's words and actions in the coming weeks and months will in fact bring us together.\u201d  \u00a0  Video of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor are available here.  \u00a0  Audio of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.  \u00a0  Footage of Durbin\u2019s remarks on the Senate floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition and standard definition.  \u00a0  In April 2010, Senator Durbin was the first member of Congress to call for the establishment of DACA. Durbin has shared the stories of more than 75 DREAMers on the Senate floor since he introduced the original DREAM Act fifteen years ago. He was a member of the \u201cGang of 8\u201d Republicans and Democrats that authored comprehensive immigration legislation that passed the Senate in 2013.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-praises-epas-top-10-list-for-study-under-tsca-reform", "Durbin Praises EPAs Top 10 List For Study Under TSCA Reform", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.29.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Praises EPA\u2019s \u201cTop 10\u201d List For Study Under TSCA Reform \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Durbin called on EPA to include asbestos and flame retardants among top priority chemicals\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first ten chemicals it will evaluate for potential risks to human health and the environment under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which reforms the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Among the chemicals selected for study are asbestos and flame retardant Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD). In September, Durbin called on EPA to include asbestos and flame retardants in its \u201cTop 10\u201d list, arguing the agency should \u201cuse [its] full authority to prevent any future exposures.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cToday\u2019s announcement signals a major change in the way we address potentially hazardous chemicals. The EPA\u2019s review of these ten substances, and the many more to come, will save lives and protect the most vulnerable among us,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI commend Administrator McCarthy for taking this critical step, and I urge the next Administration to protect American families by critically evaluating the safety of chemicals and removing them from the public, if necessary.\u201d  \u00a0  Under the new chemical safety law, EPA must complete its evaluation within a three year window. If the chemicals are found to present an unreasonable health or environmental risk, the EPA must mitigate the risk within two years.  \u00a0  Senator Durbin has strong record of protecting children and families from exposure to toxic chemicals. In response to a 2012 Chicago Tribune investigative report, Durbin, then Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, chaired a hearing on the safety and effectiveness of flame retardant chemicals and co-sponsored the Children and Firefighters Protection Act to ban toxic flame retardants from upholstered furniture and children\u2019s products. In 2015, Durbin introduced the Reducing Exposure to Asbestos Database (READ) Act, legislation that would help Americans avoid exposure to asbestos by creating a transparent, up-to-date, and searchable EPA database listing the known locations of asbestos and asbestos-containing products.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3128", "Lipinski Successful in Effort to Reduce Regulations and Improve University Research Opportunities", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Daniel Lipinski", "L000563", "lipinski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Provisions based on Congressman Dan Lipinski\u2019s (IL-3) legislation, the University Regulation Streamlining and Harmonization Act, HR 5583, have been included in the broader health research and funding bill, the 21st Century Cures Act.\u00a0 Lipinski\u2019s bill, developed on recommendations from a National Academies report, would reduce the time and resources spent by researchers and universities in complying with excessive, duplicative, and inefficient federal regulations.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThe federal government plays a leading role in funding research that keeps our nation on the forefront of science,\u201d Rep. Lipinski stated.\u00a0 \u201cUnfortunately, this funding comes with some unnecessary regulatory burdens.\u00a0 As a political science grad student and professor, I had my own experiences with federal research regulations, and now as a member of the Science Committee, I hear from former colleagues and leading researchers across the country about the excessive regulations, reporting, and monitoring they must deal with.\u00a0 While some of this is important to oversee the use of taxpayer dollars, increasingly these requirements take up an inordinate amount of researchers\u2019 time that could otherwise be devoted to cutting-edge research.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe 21st Century Cures Act, which the House is expected to consider this week, includes language parallel to Lipinski\u2019s bill establishing the Research Policy Board, a new advisory board at the Office of Management and Budget comprised of 10 Federal members and up to 12 representatives of academic research institutions, and other private, non-profit research groups.\u00a0 This advisory board will provide information on the effects of regulations on federal research requirements, including analysis of regulations and policy; identifying adverse consequences of policies and recommendations to improve them; conducting ongoing assessments of regulatory burdens, establishing metrics to measure them, and identifying process and policy improvements.\u00a0 The board must submit a report containing its initial formal recommendations within two years of enactment.\u00a0 The 21st Century CURES Act also includes language to prevent redundant grant monitoring and reporting, similar to Lipinski\u2019s bill.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI\u2019m pleased that this important Research Policy Board language has been included in the CURES Act,\u201d said Lipinski.\u00a0 \u201cThis legislation will lead to more resources for finding treatments for cancer and other deadly and life-altering diseases, and I\u2019m glad to support its progress through Congress.\u00a0 Reducing researchers\u2019 regulatory burdens while also increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and other health research will be a win-win for the research community.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-highlights-importance-blood-safety-procedures-and-fair-donor", "Quigley Highlights Importance of Blood Safety Procedures and Fair Donor Policies During LifeSource Tour", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CHICAGO \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, visited a LifeSource blood bank in Rosemont, IL to learn more about blood safety, procedures, processing and how new policies are impacting the blood donor community.\n\u201cIt is imperative that we prioritize the highest level of blood product safety while also promoting a fair and equitable blood donor policy for all donors wanting to help save lives,\u201d said Rep. Mike Quigley. \u201cI thank LifeSource for today\u2019s tour and the opportunity to learn more about the transfusion medicine practices and procedures used to connect Chicagoans with quality health care. In Congress, I will continue to push for updated blood donor policies that are based on science and individual risk factors instead of fear, so that we do not prevent healthy Americans from donating to life-saving centers like LifeSource.\u201d\n\u201cWe are very pleased that Congressman Quigley visited our facilities and took time out of his busy schedule to learn more about blood donation,\u201d said LifeSource Regional Executive Director, Eva Quinley. \u201cGiving blood is a selfless act. Human blood cannot be substituted, and every day, lives are saved in our community because of the generosity of our blood donors.\u201d\nRep. Quigley visits the LifeSource Processing Lab in Rosemont, IL and discusses supply procedures and safety with Manager of Product Manufacturing Kathy McKibben.\nRep. Quigley discusses new blood policies with Regional Executive Director Eva Quinley.\nRep. Quigley views questionnaires and standard blood-giving procedures for donors with staff member Camille Lemaich and Marketing Lead Kodi Khadivar at the LifeSource Donor Center in Norridge, IL. \nSince 1987, LifeSource has provided the Chicago area with a responsible and reliable source for donor recruitment, blood collection, component manufacturing, testing and product management. They have 18 community donor centers located throughout Chicagoland, three of them in Illinois\u2019 Fifth Congressional District. After the Pulse Nightclub Massacre this past June, LifeSource spoke to the Chicago Tribune about blood processing and shipped a large amount of blood to Orlando for victim support.\nIn June 2016, Rep. Quigley led a bipartisan letter signed by over 100 House colleagues calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert M. Califf to end the blood donation deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM) once and for all. The current policy, effective May 23, 2016, prohibits individuals from donating blood if they have engaged in male-to-male sexual contact in the past 12 months. Rep. Quigley also led a bipartisan, bicameral push, urging HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell to reevaluate the discriminatory, inconsistent blood, organ and tissue\u00a0donation policies for MSM.\nSince his election to Congress in 2009, Rep. Quigley has been a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ community. Rep. Quigley currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus and is a founding member of the Transgender Equality Task Force. He has hosted numerous Equality Caucus briefings around the \u201ceconomics of equality,\u201d which explore economic equality in the LGBTQ community and how Congress can better address this critical issue. In the fall of 2009, Rep. Quigley was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for his work as a Cook County Commissioner to extend benefits to LGBT employees.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-13-million-in-hud-grants-to-reduce-homelessness-among-chicago-veterans", "Durbin Announces $1.3 Million In HUD Grants To Reduce Homelessness Among Chicago Veterans", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.22.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces $1.3 Million In HUD Grants To Reduce Homelessness Among Chicago Veterans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) will receive a total of $1,366,200 in grant funding for rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. This funding, provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, will assist homeless veterans around Chicago with affordable housing and an array of supportive services.   \u00a0  \u201cLast night, in Illinois alone, almost 1,000 homeless veterans were on the street. Nationally, the number of homeless veterans nears 40,000,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cThis country can do better\u2014and must do better\u2014for the brave men and women who have served our nation honorably. This funding makes a statement to our veterans that their country will help them find housing and the health services they need and deserve.\u201d  \u00a0  This award is part of approximately $18 million in HUD-VASH funding and will support nearly 2,000 units of Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) assistance across the country.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-3-million-to-support-business-development-in-illinois", "Durbin Announces $3 Million To Support Business Development In Illinois", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.22.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces $3 Million To Support Business Development In Illinois \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $3 million in federal funding to support business development efforts in Illinois, primarily in manufacturing and minority-owned businesses. This funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce, will help support product development, innovation, and technical assistance.  \u00a0  \u201cIllinois is home to some of the world\u2019s leading businesses and manufacturing companies, which support thousands of jobs and generate tremendous economic activity in our state,\u201d Durbin said. \u201cThis funding will help equip them with development and technical services that will keep Illinois on the cutting-edge of innovation and growth.\u201d  \u00a0  Under this announcement, the following organizations will receive funding:  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Catalyze Chicago: $500,000 in funding through the Economic Development Administration to support the creation of a full-scale technology incubator that focuses primarily on physical product development and hardware innovation for manufacturers and entrepreneurs. mHub will provide a focal point for hardware and advanced manufacturing communities in the Chicagoland region; and,  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ACG Chicago, Inc.: $2,500,000 in funding through the Minority Business Development Agency\u2019s (MBDA) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) grant to provide technical assistance and business development services that result in awarded financial transactions to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs).\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-bipartisan-senators-call-for-immediate-passage-of-miners-protection-act", "Durbin, Bipartisan Senators Call For Immediate Passage Of Miners Protection Act", "2016-11-22", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.22.16\n\t\t\t Durbin, Bipartisan Senators Call For Immediate Passage Of Miners Protection Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined 21 bipartisan Senators in a letter to Senate and House leadership calling for the passage of the Miners Protection Act by the end of this year. Without a change to current law, 12,500 of the country\u2019s retired coal miners will lose their healthcare on December 31, 2016. \u00a0  \u00a0   \u201cDuring the month of October, approximately 12,500 of our nation\u2019s retired coal miners received notices informing them that their healthcare benefits will be terminated at the end of this year. The funding provided for Patriot Retirees Voluntary Employee\u2019s Beneficiary Association (Patriot VEBA) will be exhausted by December 31, 2016, leaving these miners and their families without the essential healthcare benefits they earned through a lifetime of hard work. On November 1st, another 3,600 miners began to receive notices.\u00a0 And next year, 6,500 more will suffer the same fate. Additionally, the pension fund that these miners and their widows rely on for life\u2019s basic necessities will reach the point of no return shortly thereafter. Therefore, we ask that you pass the Miners Protection Act of 2016 (S. 3470) by the end of this year,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u00a0  \u00a0  Full text of the letter is available here.  \u00a0  The letter was also signed by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Al Franken (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Richard Burr (R-NC), Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jim Risch (R-ID), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).   \u00a0  Retired miners are facing uncertainty because the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) 1974 Pension Plan is severely underfunded. Unlike other public and private pension plans, the 1974 Pension Plan was well-managed and funded prior to the 2008 financial crisis, which hit at a time when this Plan had its highest payment obligations. This \u2013 coupled with the fact that 60% of the beneficiaries are \u201corphan\u201d retirees whose employers are no longer in the coal business, and the fact that there are only 10,000 active workers for 120,000 retirees \u2013 has placed the Plan on the road to insolvency. If the Plan becomes insolvent, these beneficiaries face benefit cuts and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will assume billions of dollars in liabilities.  \u00a0  To address these issues, the Miners Protection Act would:  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act to transfer funds in excess of the amounts needed to meet existing obligations under the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) fund to the UMWA 1974 Pension Plan to prevent its insolvency.  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make certain retirees who lose health care benefits following the bankruptcy or insolvency of his or her employer eligible for the 1993 Benefit Plan. The assets of the Voluntary Employee Benefit Association (VEBA) created following the Patriot Coal bankruptcy would be transferred to the 1993 Benefit Plan to reduce transfers from the AML fund.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-announces-4-million-federal-funding-illinois-manufacturing-excellence-center/", "Bustos Announces $4 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced $4 million in federal funding for the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center in Peoria. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Labor\u2019s \u201cAmerica\u2019s Promise\u201d program, will be used to grow regional partnerships between workforce agencies, education and training providers and employees.\n\u201cOur region has a rich manufacturing history, and nothing is more important than creating good-paying jobs that can support a family,\u201d Congresswoman Bustos said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to announce federal funding to support workforce development programs because we need to ensure that people have the skills to succeed in today\u2019s 21st century economy. Together, we must continue working to create jobs and grow Illinois\u2019 manufacturing future.\u201d\nCongresswoman Bustos has been a strong proponent of our region\u2019s manufacturing economy. In January, she hosted her annual Economic Summit, which focused on closing the skills gap facing many manufacturers. She also has introduced the Boosting America\u2019s Exports Act, aiming to give small and medium sized businesses and manufacturers the tools they need to sell their American-made products in new markets.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20161208101046/http://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/discrimination-in-the-facebook-era", "Discrimination in the Facebook era", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Robin Kelly", "K000385", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Kankakee City Hall\n\n304 South Indiana Avenue\nlower level\n\n\nKankakee, IL 60901\n\n  The office is located in Kankakee City Hall, on the lower level, at 304 South Indiana Avenue. It will be open on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. \nConstituents can receive assistance with Social Security and Veterans Administration claims and other issues involving federal agencies as well as get information on federal grants and programs. \nTo schedule an appointment at the Kankakee office, please call (708) 679-0078.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-4-million-in-federal-funding-to-strengthen-manufacturing-job-skills-of-illinois-workers", "Durbin Announces $4 Million In Federal Funding To Strengthen Manufacturing Job Skills Of Illinois Workers", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.21.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces $4 Million In Federal Funding To Strengthen Manufacturing Job Skills Of Illinois Workers \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO  U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $4 million to Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to help develop and grow regional partnerships between workforce agencies, education and training providers and employers in manufacturing. This funding is provided through DOL's H-1B America's Promise Grants, which are funded through fees paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the U.S. under the H-1B temporary visa program. These grants are intended to raise the technical skill levels of American workers and, over time, help businesses reduce their reliance on temporary visa programs.    This funding will increase opportunities for Americans through tuition-free training for middle-to high-skilled occupations and industries. Investments in job-training programs will diversify and expand our nation's workforce, and help grow our economy from the middle class out, said Durbin.    Nationally, over $111 million of H-1B America's Promise Grants were awarded to 23 regional workforce partnerships providing services in 28 states.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-4-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-health-and-well-being-of-illinoisans", "Durbin Announces $4 Million In Federal Funding To Support Health And Well-Being Of Illinoisans", "2016-11-21", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.21.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces $4 Million In Federal Funding To Support Health And Well-Being Of Illinoisans \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO  U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Illinois institutions with $4,026,032 in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration for Children and Families. This funding will go to support children's hospitals, Head Start programs, and HIV emergency relief programs throughout Illinois. This infusion of federal dollars will strengthen our state's health and early education programs and make Illinois a healthier and happier place to live and raise a family, said Durbin. I will continue working to secure federal investments that level the playing field for families of modest means, keep our children healthy, and assist those living with HIV/AIDS lead productive and full lives.    Children's Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program (CHGME Program) Grants    Under this announcement, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago will receive $1,087,780 in funding and LaRabida Children's Hospital in Chicago will receive $19,944 in funding.    The CHGME program improves the lives of families by providing federal funding to children's teaching hospitals. Hospitals receiving CHGME money train approximately half of our nation's pediatricians and pediatric specialists. Since the CHGME program was initially established, the number of residents trained by children's hospitals has increased by 40 percent and the program has helped broaden the training experiences of pediatric residents  providing more opportunities for residents to practice in underserved urban and rural areas.    Head Start    Under this announcement, B.C.M.W. Community Services, Inc. in Centralia, Illinois, will receive $1,888,530 in funding.    Head Start promotes the school readiness of young children from low-income families through agencies in their local community. In addition to education services, programs provide children and their families with health, nutrition, social, and other services. These services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage.    Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A HIV Emergency Relief Grant Program    Under this announcement, the City of Chicago Department of Public Health will receive $1,029,778 in funding.    The purpose of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A HIV Emergency Relief Grant Program is to provide direct financial assistance to an Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) or a Transitional Grant Area (TGA) that has been severely affected by the HIV epidemic. With this funding, Chicago's Department of Public Health will provide intensive case management; enhance Partner Services, Early Identification Services (EIS) and Re-engagement in Care; and continue collaborations to identify newly diagnosed, to increase access to care, and to reduce the number of people who become infected with HIV in the targeted populations.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://foster.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/climate-change-real-cost-of-doing-nothing-enormous-foster-warns", "Climate change real, cost of doing nothing 'enormous,' Foster warns", "2016-11-20", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bill Foster", "F000454", "foster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Gobal climate change is the \"most serious long-term problem this country will face,\" but until legislators begin to believe and act, the only option available is to raise public awareness and urge public pressure, U.S. Rep.\u00a0Bill Foster\u00a0said Saturday.\nFoster, joined by WGN-TV meteorologist\u00a0Tom Skilling; Doug Sisterson, a research meteorologist who works at\u00a0Argonne National Laboratory; and Mary Gade, president of the Chicago-based Gade Environmental Group, gathered at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora to discuss the issue in front of an audience of more than 300 people.\n\"Our average global temperature has risen 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, and while that may not seem like much, the cost of these changes has already been enormous,\" said Foster, D-Naperville, who worked as a scientist before being elected to Congress. \"The cost to act now is nothing compared to the millions of dollars we're going to have to spend in the future if we do nothing.\"\n\"Especially young voters need to understand how important this is as they are the ones who are most likely to be affected, given this is their future,\" he added.\n\u00a0\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\nSkilling, an Aurora native and 1970 graduate of West Aurora High School, said the issue is not a \"hoax,\" as some believe.\n\"I'm outraged when I hear that, and if you look at the issue, you can see what's going on,\" Skilling said. \"I've been studying weather for about a half a century, and I didn't come to these conclusions quickly. There are these huge domes of air above the arctic that are increasingly warmer, and the sea ice and the oceans are changing.\"\n\"And the tax effects of climate change are larger,\" he added. \"We spent $200 billion in weather-related incidents in this country since 1980, and this year, we've had nine floods.\"\nGade said many feel global warming is something happening far away, but there is proof right here in Illinois.\n\"For the farmers, there are more wet springs followed by drought and insects,\" she said. \"Fishermen in Lake Michigan aren't able to catch as many, as the fish have moved out farther to the cooler waters. There is flooding. To me, time is the issue because this is real, and it's happening now.\"\nSisterson attempted to localize the issue by explaining events that have happened at his own home.\n\"Back in 1986, my wife and I built a house in Homer Glen, and we wanted to landscape it with all native species,\" Sisterson said. \"Because of the emerald ash borer, we've had to cut down five trees, and the increased blight since then has also affected our Austrian pine. There are other trees with fungus developing on their leaves. Clearly, the native species aren't surviving anymore.\"\nThose in the audience at the two-hour event expressed similar concerns, particularly regarding the future and the fact that President-elect\u00a0Donald Trump\u00a0has said climate change is not real.\n\"I don't know that I've personally seen the effects of global warming yet, but I'm concerned for the future and my grandchildren,\" Naperville resident Merv Stover said. \"I do have questions about what the Trump administration might do.\"\n\"To me, awareness is the best option at this point,\" added Carol Stover, Merv's wife. \"We need all of it we can get.\"\nWaubonsie high school senior Alex Schram, of Aurora, said he believes vehicle emission gases are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to climate change.\n\"There are changes to the atmosphere that are affecting our everyday life,\" he said. \"I am somewhat worried about the future.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://foster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/press-release-foster-hosts-panel-on-climate-change", "Press Release: Foster Hosts Panel on Climate Change", "2016-11-19", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bill Foster", "F000454", "foster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Aurora, IL - Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) hosted a panel on climate change with leading experts on environmental policy and meteorology. An estimated 400 people attended the event.\nThe panel featured Tom Skilling, WGN Chief Meteorologist, Doug Sisterson, Research Meteorologist at Argonne National Lab, and Mary Gade, President of Gade Environmental Group. The panel discussed the need to take action on climate change and the effects it will have locally.\n\u201cNow more than ever, we need informed constituents who understand the facts and the solutions that are needed to combat this growing threat,\u201d Foster said. \u201cThat\u2019s what is so great about our district \u2013 we have people who are willing to take the time to come to events like this one to learn about climate change and what we can do.\u201d\nTom Skilling discussed climate change and meteorology. \u201cEither we take the lead in combating climate change\u2014which is costing our country billions in increasingly\u00a0frequent weather disasters\u2014or we'll\u00a0lose an opportunity to lead efforts to develop\u00a0next generation fuels and energy sources,\u201d Skilling said.\u00a0\nMary Gade spoke about the local effects of climate change in Illinois. \u201cIf you don't think climate change has come to Illinois talk to a farmer fighting wetter springs, hotter summers and more insects and disease. Talk to a homeowner experiencing basement flooding or a fisherman on Lake Michigan. Climate change is real, it\u2019s here now, and it\u2019s already causing problems for the Land of Lincoln,\u201d Gade said.\nRecently, the Paris Agreement was ratified by more than 100 countries to hold average global temperature increase to less than two degrees Celsius.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/representatives-rush-bustos-introduce-safe-drinking-water-act/", "Representatives Rush and Bustos Introduce Safe Drinking Water Act", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (IL-01) and Cheri Bustos (D-17) introduced the Safe Drinking Water Act, a bill that would establish a $50 million grant program within EPA that would allow local education agencies and districts to replace lead service lines and lead solder used in school plumbing. This bill is a companion to an earlier bill Rush introduced that would provide grants to schools to replace older water tanks manufactured prior to 1988.\n\u201cAs the Ranking Member of the Energy and Power Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Bustos and myself represent both Chicago and downstate Illinois within the two committees of jurisdiction over this issue,\u201d said Rush. Rep. Bustos currently sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. \u201cThis is a problem that predates all of our tenures, but we understand how widespread this issue is and what resources are going to be needed to address it from the local, state, and federal levels to turn this issue around.\u201d \nLast month, Rush and Bustos hosted a fact-finding, informational water infrastructure listening session at Avalon Park field house in Chicago. The October session included members from the Chicago Mayor\u2019s Office, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Water Management, Environment and Economy Subcommittee, Illinois EPA and the Illinois Public Water Supply. The discussion covered the issue of lead in schools, in parks, and other public entities. As a result of the discussion, Rush and Bustos introduced this legislation in order to address the needs of their constituencies. \u00a0Avalon Park is significant due to the fact that\u00a0 Chicago Park District officials found some of the highest lead levels therein samples collected during the summer.\n\u201cI worked hard to secure several million dollars to replace lead pipes in one of our communities, however the problem of lead contamination in drinking water is widespread and must be addressed comprehensively,\u201d said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. \u201cThere is no safe level of lead, particularly for young children, so we cannot rest until every school has safe drinking water. I\u2019m proud to partner with Congressman Rush as we work to solve this challenge to protect children in all of our communities.\u201d\nLead in drinking water is a problem made prominent in the news with the situation in Flint, but one that is much more widespread, nationally. Not only is the nation seeing lead in drinking water fountains in schools in Chicago, but the problem is now creeping up in other areas such as in our parks.\nEnergy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) stated, \u201cThis bill will provide essential funds to schools struggling to replace lead infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water for schoolchildren nationwide. I applaud Congressman Rush and Congresswoman Bustos for their continued dedication to ensuring access to safe drinking water.\u201d \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-guti-rrez-disturbed-anti-immigrant-anti-civil-rights-selection-us", "Rep. Gutirrez Disturbed by Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Civil Rights Selection For US Attorney General", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Rep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) issued a statement today in reaction to the news that Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions of Alabama would be President-elect Trump\u2019s pick as Attorney General.\n \n\tIf you have nostalgia for the days when blacks kept quiet, gays were in the closet, immigrants were invisible and women stayed in the kitchen, Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions is your man.\u00a0 No Senator has fought harder against the hopes and aspirations of Latinos, immigrants, and people of color than Sen. Sessions.\u00a0 He is a staunch opponent of legal immigration and someone who has blocked every effort to improve, modernize, and humanize our immigration system, which is two or three decades out-of-date.\u00a0 He ran for the Senate because he was deemed by the Senate Judiciary Committee as too racist to serve as a federal judge.\u00a0 He is the kind of person who will set back law enforcement, civil rights, the courts, and increase America\u2019s mass incarceration industry and erase 50 years of progress.\n \nRep. Guti\u00e9rrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/special-registration-asians-and-africans-was-bad-idea-when-bush-tried-it", "Special Registration Of Asians And Africans Was A Bad Idea When Bush Tried It And A Bad Idea Today", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 It has been reported that President-elect Trump is considering reinstituting NSEERS, or \u201cSpecial Registration\u201d \u2013 a program that required people from certain countries with large Muslim populations to come forward and be registered with the federal government.\u00a0 A senior Trump advisor and a leader of the transition team, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, designed the plan when he was a key lieutenant to Attorney General John Ashcroft in the months after 9/11.\u00a0 It was a moral, civil rights, due process, and law enforcement disaster.\nRep. Luis V. Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) issued a statement today in reaction to the news that Trump is considering reviving the failed and offensive policy. \u00a0Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\u00a0 He is a former Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.\n \n\tThe roundup of men from mostly Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries was one of the darkest chapters of the George W. Bush years.\u00a0 It was a strategy to scare immigrants and yielded zero concrete terrorism leads that led to conviction.\u00a0 Racial, ethnic, religious, and gender profiling is exactly the wrong approach to law enforcement and counter-terrorism.\u00a0 President Trump is assuming office in 2017, not 1947 when red-scare hysteria gripped America.\u00a0 Whenever the United States has used fear of an outside aggressor to round up immigrants \u2013 every single time \u2013 it has been an embarrassment, a travesty, and a dark stain on America not to be repeated.\n \n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-announces-620-million-in-federal-funding-for-economic-and-community-development", "Durbin Announces $620 Million In Federal Funding For Economic And Community Development", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Announces $620 Million In Federal Funding For Economic And Community Development \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tCHICAGO \u2013 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $620 million in federal funding to spur economic and community development in distressed and low-income communities across Illinois. This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of the Treasury\u2019s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), will provide resources for local jobs, community facilities, and safe and affordable housing.  \u00a0  \u201cInvesting in economic and community development in some of Illinois\u2019 hardest hit communities will boost small businesses, diversify and expand our nation\u2019s workforce, and help grow our economy, especially in underserved communities. A tremendous number of organizations across Illinois are doing great work to assist local businesses, in turn creating jobs, building healthy neighborhoods, and helping provide economic stability for families across this great state,\u201d said Durbin.  \u00a0  Under this announcement, the following organizations will receive CDFI Fund funding:  \u00a0  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Central States Development Partners, Inc. (Rock Island): $45 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chase New Markets Corporation (Chicago): $80 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago Development Fund (Chicago): $75 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (Chicago): $25 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 FirstPathway Community Development (Chicago): $25 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 IFF (Chicago): $80 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 M & I New Markets Fund (Chicago): $55 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Northern CDE Corp (Chicago): $60 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 National Community Investment Fund (Chicago): $65 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Southside Community Optimal Redevelopment Enterprise (Chicago): $65 million  \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Business Valued Advisor Fund (Chicago): $45 million  \u00a0  This announcement awards 120 organizations nationwide, which will receive a total of $7 billion in New Markets Tax Credit funding. This is the largest single award round since the New Markets Tax Credit Program was created in 2001.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-vows-to-fight-reinstatement-of-federal-muslim-database", "Durbin Vows To Fight Reinstatement Of Federal Muslim Database", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Vows To Fight Reinstatement Of Federal \u2018Muslim Database\u2019 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Durbin led post-9/11 fight against failed federal registry of Muslims\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding reports that President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s transition team is considering a reinstatement of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program, a post-9/11 program which required travelers to the United States from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation.  \u00a0  \u201cReinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our country is exactly what ISIS was cheering on election night\u2014when America, a beacon of freedom in the world, gives in to fear and begins chipping away at civil rights, our enemies are emboldened and their ranks swell with new recruits. Back in 2002, I called for this program to be terminated because there were serious doubts it would help combat terrorism. Terrorism experts have since concluded that this program wasted precious homeland security funds and alienated Arab- and Muslim Americans. How many terrorists did it identify? Zero. Failed programs like this are the exact wrong approach to combating terrorism, and I\u2019ll fight to ensure it never returns.\u201d   \u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-resolution-honors-2016-world-series-champion-chicago-cubs", "Senate Resolution Honors 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs", "2016-11-18", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.18.16\n\t\t\t Senate Resolution Honors 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution congratulating the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. The resolution, introduced by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), is cosponsored by Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Dan Coats (R-IN).  \u00a0  \u201cIn the early morning hours of November 3rd\u2014in the 10th inning of the final game against the resurgent Cleveland Indians\u2014the Chicago Cubs made the final out and won the 2016 World Series. The city of Chicago and baseball fans around the world erupted in celebration as the longest championship drought in baseball history was broken,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cGone are the Curse of the Billy Goat and the Omen of the Black Cat. At long last, the Chicago Cubs are back on top. Congratulations once again to the players, coaches, management, and the best fans in baseball.\u201d  \u00a0  \u201cAfter 108 years it seems very fitting that our Chicago Cubs would overcome a three games to one deficit and finally Fly the W in November to bring home a World Series Championship. The resilience that Cubs fans have shown year after year exemplifies the can-do spirit of Illinois. No one deserves this championship more than the best fans in the country. Over 5 million Chicagoans came out to watch the championship parade and show their support for this one of a kind Cubs team. Congratulations to the 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs, Chicago baseball fans, and to everyone involved in making this season an unforgettable one,\" said Kirk.  \u00a0  \u201cI am proud to recognize the Cubs, who brought tremendous pride to the City of Chicago, as well as many fans in Indiana and across the country,\u201d Donnelly said.  \u00a0  \"Like so many Cubs fans, I have been waiting for this season my entire life,\u201d said Coats. \u201cI'll never forget being in the stands at Wrigley Field as the Cubs celebrated winning the National League pennant. This Cubs team riveted the nation with slick fielding, a powerful lineup and a talented pitching staff. It is only fitting that we honor the 2016 World Champion Chicago Cubs with the Senate's version of Flying the W.\"  \u00a0  Full text of the resolution:  \u00a0  Commending and congratulating the Chicago Cubs on their 2016 World Series victory.  \u00a0  Whereas, on November 2, 2016, the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series with an 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in Game 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs came back from a 3-1 World Series deficit to win 3 thrilling games in a row and became World Series Champions for the first time in 108 years;  \u00a0  Whereas all 25 players on the World Series roster of the Chicago Cubs should be congratulated, including Albert Almora Jr., Jake Arrieta, Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Aroldis Chapman, Chris Coghlan, Willson Contreras, Carl Edwards Jr., Dexter Fowler, Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, Jason Heyward, John Lackey, Jon Lester, Miguel Montero, Mike Montgomery, Anthony Rizzo, Hector Rondon, David Ross, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, Pedro Strop, Travis Wood, and Ben Zobrist;  \u00a0  Whereas, in addition to the World Series roster, all Chicago Cubs players who contributed to the 2016 regular season should be congratulated, including Jake Buchanan, Trevor Cahill, Jeimer Candelario, Gerardo Concepcion, Tim Federowicz, Jason Hammel, Ryan Kalish, Munenori Kawasaki, Tommy La Stella, Brian Matusz, Joe Nathan, Spencer Patton, Felix Pen6a, Joel Peralta, Neil Ramirez, Clayton Richard, Joe Smith, Matt Szczur, Adam Warren, and Rob Zastryzny;  \u00a0  Whereas the front office, the clubhouse, and all supporting staff and team members of the Chicago Cubs should be congratulated;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs won an incredible 103 games during the regular season, which earned the team the best record in Major League Baseball;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs overcame the American League winning the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which gave the Indians home field advantage for the World Series;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs had 7 players selected to the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, who should be congratulated, including Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler, Jake Arrieta, and Jon Lester;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs infield of Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, and Addison Russell were the first foursome to start an All-Star Game since 1963 and the second one ever;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs bounced back from a disappointing loss in the 2015 playoffs to win the National League Championship pennant for the first time since 1945;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler became the first African-American Chicago Cubs player to play in a World Series and went on to hit a lead-off home run in Game 7 of the World Series;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Montero hit a grand slam in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series and drove in the final, winning Chicago Cubs run in the 10th inning of Game 7 of the World Series;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell tied the single-game record for runs batted in (referred to in this preamble as \u201cRBI\u201d) for a World Series game after he batted in 6 runs in Game 6 of the World Series, including a grand slam in the third inning;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross, in the final game of his 15-year Major League Baseball career, hit a home run in Game 7 of the World Series;  \u00a0  Whereas Kyle Schwarber, after severely injuring his knee during the third game of the regular season, recovered through perseverance and determination and was added to the World Series roster, where, in one of the greatest sports comeback stories of all time, he\u2014  \u00a0  (1) hit .412 and had a .500 on-base-percentage in the World Series; and  \u00a0  (2) following a 17-minute rain delay, ignited the 10th inning rally in Game 7 of the World Series with a lead-off single;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez and pitcher Jon Lester were corecipients of the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, after\u2014  \u00a0  (1) Javier Baez hit .318 in the 6-game National League Championship Series, stole 2 bases, including home plate, and made a number of incredible defensive plays; and  \u00a0  (2) Jon Lester had a 1.38 earned run average in 2 starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the National League Championship Series, allowing just 2 runs over 13 innings and striking out 9 batters;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs utility man and Eureka, Illinois, native Ben Zobrist received unanimous support for and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, the first Chicago Cub ever to win the award, after\u2014  \u00a0  (1) hitting .357 in the World Series;  \u00a0  (2) driving in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of Game 7 with an RBI double; and  \u00a0  (3) leading the Chicago Cubs to an eventual World Series win;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and outfielder Jason Heyward received Gold Glove Awards for their 2016 defensive accomplishments;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and pitcher Jake Arrieta received Silver Slugger Awards for their 2016 offensive accomplishments;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant received the 2016 National League Hank Aaron Award for his offensive accomplishments and is a candidate for the 2016 National League Most Valuable Player Award after having been unanimously named the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester are candidates for the 2016 National League Cy Young Award, following pitcher Jake Arrieta having received the 2015 National League Cy Young Award;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is a candidate for the 2016 National League Manager of the Year Award, after having received the 2015 National League Manager of the Year Award;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein joined the Chicago Cubs front office in 2011 and succeeded in building a World Series Champion team;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs fell short in the 2015 National League Championship Series, fueling a determination\u2014  \u00a0  (1) to return to the playoffs; and  \u00a0  (2) to win a World Series in 2016;  \u00a0  Whereas Chicago Cubs fans followed the triumphs of the 2016 season by tuning into games called by Chicago Cubs television broadcasters Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies and Chicago Cubs radio broadcasters Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs played 3 excellent teams in the 2016 postseason that deserve congratulations for their achievements, including\u2014  \u00a0  (1) the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series;  \u00a0  (2) the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series; and  \u00a0  (3) the Cleveland Indians in the World Series;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series since 1908, filling people in Chicago and Chicago Cubs fans everywhere with pride;  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs showed extraordinary steadiness, teamwork, focus, and love of the game in proving again to be an organization of great character, determination, and heart, a reflection of the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois;  \u00a0  Whereas on November 4, 2016, an estimated 5,000,000 fans gathered in Chicago to fly the W flag and celebrate the Chicago Cubs victory in the largest parade and rally in United States history; and  \u00a0  Whereas the Chicago Cubs are the 2016 World Series champions: Now, therefore, be it  Resolved, That the Senate\u2014  \u00a0  (1) commends the Chicago Cubs on their\u2014  \u00a0  (A) 2016 World Series championship title; and  \u00a0  (B) outstanding performance during the 2016 Major League Baseball season;  \u00a0  (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, management, and support staff of the Chicago Cubs and the operations staff of Wrigley Field, the dedication and persistence of whom made victory possible;  \u00a0  (3) congratulates\u2014  \u00a0  (A) the city of Chicago;  \u00a0  (B) the entire Chicagoland area;  \u00a0  (C) Chicago Cubs fans everywhere;  \u00a0  (D) the mayor of the City of Chicago, the Honorable Rahm Emanuel;  \u00a0  (E) Chicago Cubs Chairman, Mr. Tom Ricketts, and the Ricketts family;  \u00a0  (F) Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Mr. Theo Epstein;  \u00a0  (G) Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President and General Manager, Mr. Jed Hoyer;  \u00a0  (H) Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations, Mr. Crane Kenney; and  \u00a0  (I) Executive Vice President of Community and Government Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Michael Lufrano; and  \u00a0  (4) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to\u2014  \u00a0  (A) Chicago Cubs Chairman, Mr. Tom Ricketts;  \u00a0  (B) Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations, Mr. Theo Epstein; and  \u00a0  (C) Chicago Cubs Manager, Mr. Joe Maddon.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-rush-and-bustos-introduces-safe-drinking-water-act", "Representatives Rush and Bustos Introduce Bill to Amend Safe Drinking Water Act", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bobby Rush", "R000515", "rush.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) introduced a bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act. \u00a0This bill would establish a $50 million grant program within EPA that would allow local education agencies and districts to replace lead service lines and lead solder used in school plumbing. This bill is a companion to an earlier bill Rush introduced that would provide grants to schools to replace older water tanks manufactured prior to 1988.\n\u201cAs the Ranking Member of the Energy and Power Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Bustos and myself represent both Chicago and downstate Illinois within the two committees of jurisdiction over this issue,\u201d said Rush. Rep. Bustos currently sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. \u201cThis is a problem that predates all of our tenures, but we understand how widespread this issue is and what resources are going to be needed to address it from the local, state and federal levels to turn this issue around.\u201d\nLast month, Rush and Bustos hosted a fact-finding, informational water infrastructure listening session at Avalon Park field house in Chicago. The October session included members from the Chicago Mayor\u2019s Office, Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Water Management, Environment and Economy Subcommittee, Illinois EPA and the Illinois Public Water Supply. The discussion covered the issue of lead in schools, parks and other public entities. As a result of the discussion, Rush and Bustos introduced this legislation in order to address the needs of their constituencies. Avalon Park is significant due to the fact that Chicago Park District officials found some of the highest lead levels therein samples collected during the summer.\n\u201cI worked hard to secure several million dollars to replace lead pipes in one of our communities, however the problem of lead contamination in drinking water is widespread and must be addressed comprehensively,\u201d said Bustos. \u201cThere is no safe level of lead, particularly for young children, so we cannot rest until every school has safe drinking water. I\u2019m proud to partner with Congressman Rush as we work to solve this challenge to protect children in all of our communities.\u201d\nLead in drinking water is a problem made prominent in the news with the situation in Flint, Michigan but one that is much more widespread, nationally. Not only is the nation seeing lead in drinking water fountains in schools in Chicago, but the problem is now creeping up in other areas such as in our parks.\nEnergy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) stated, \u201cThis bill will provide essential funds to schools struggling to replace lead infrastructure to ensure safe drinking water for schoolchildren nationwide. I applaud Congressman Rush and Congresswoman Bustos for their continued dedication to ensuring access to safe drinking water.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/congresswoman-cheri-bustos-statement-explosion-canton/", "Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Statement on the Explosion in Canton", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cI want to express my deep condolences to the family of the individual killed in the explosion in Canton last night. I also want to offer my heartfelt prayers for those who were injured. Our office has been in close contact with state and local officials, as well as community and business leaders, since this incident occurred and we will continue to gather additional information as it becomes available. Canton is a great community that has overcome adversity before and I know we\u2019ll pull together to heal and rebuild after this tragedy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/press-conference-rep-guti-rrez-colleagues-call-president-obama-protect", "Press Conference: Rep. Gutirrez & Colleagues Call On President Obama to Protect DREAMers", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Luis Guti\u00e9rrez", "G000535", "gutierrez.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Rep. Luis Guti\u00e9rrez (D-IL) joined Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) in releasing a letter they wrote to President Obama asking him to use his pardon authority to protect DREAMers with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).\u00a0 \u201cWe urge you to exercise your Constitutional authority to provide pardons to DREAMers both retroactively and prospectively,\u201d the three lawmakers wrote.\u00a0 The full text of the letter is here:\u00a0Ltr to President on DACA and Pardon Authority - 11-2016 FINAL.pdfThey were joined at a press conference in the Capitol by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA).In his opening statement at the press conference, Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez said:Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez went on to say:The text of the opening remarks at the press conference (as prepared for delivery) is below.Rep. Guti\u00e9rrez represents the Fourth District of Illinois, is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, and is the Co-Chair of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\u00a0\n\tWe are here because we all need to take a stand.\u00a0 We need to stand up for what is right and make sure our communities do not despair or feel alone.\n\tThere are 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country.\u00a0 There are 5 million U.S. citizen children who have a parent who is undocumented.\u00a0 And there are almost 750,000 young people who came forward, registered with the government and passed background checks as part of the DACA program.\n\tThat is the group we are talking about today, but let us be clear, the entire community is vulnerable and this is just the first of many strategies we are evaluating and calling for\u00a0 to do what we can to help make sure everyone is in a safe place.\n\tRight now, immigrant communities are frightened, and by that I mean citizens, legal immigrants, and undocumented immigrants, most of whom have lived here for one or two decades.\u00a0 They are worried that their families will be destroyed, that they will lose their businesses and their livelihoods.\u00a0 They are worried that the education they worked so hard for for their children \u2013 almost all of whom are American citizens \u2013 will go up in smoke.\u00a0 They have no options to become legal in the United States or to leave and come back legally, and yet their lives and their children\u2019s lives are here in this country.\n\tThey are not the only communities that are frightened by the election of Donald Trump.\u00a0 Children in Muslim families, LGBT families, across communities of color, low-income families, even women who have been victimized by sexual assault and violence \u2013 there is very widespread fear among people who are worried they will be targeted with violence, punitive policies, discrimination and harassment.\u00a0\n\tAnd the greatest impact is on children.\u00a0 This week I spoke at a press conference at Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital in Chicago with officials from the state, county and city who have seen a 200% increase in calls to suicide prevention and counseling services in the City of Chicago and 250% nationwide.\u00a0\n\tThe fear is widespread and dangerous.\n\tWe will be working over the coming months to identify as many ways as we can to help our fellow Americans protect themselves and make their families and their children safe.\n\tFor us, action is a matter of life and death.\n\tWe are starting by calling on President Obama to provide relief while he is still in office for one particular group, DREAMers who came forward and registered with the government.\u00a0\n\tWe are asking the President to pardon them for their undocumented status, which by definition happened when they were juveniles.\n\tThis would not give them a permanent safe place, but it is a start.\u00a0\n\tThis group has already been vetted by the federal government.\n\tThey are more at risk because they registered and gave up their addresses and fingerprints.\n\tAnd everybody knows that they are leaders and the line of first defense in immigrant communities.\u00a0\n\tTheir brave advocacy \u2013 by coming forward and declaring that they are here and are proud to fight for their community and their families \u2013 it has energized immigrant communities and lit a fire under old people like all of us in the U.S. Congress.\u00a0\n\tThey have become role models for rest of the community\u2014role models for all of us, for the nation, really.\n\tWhen President Obama ran for reelection in 2012, he ran an ad in Spanish \u2013 maybe you remember it.\u00a0 In the ad he said he granted DACA to DREAMers because he saw the same values and aspiration inculcated in DREAMers as he saw in his own two daughters.\n\tAll we are asking is for the President to continue his commitment; to continue seeing in these young American children the same hopes as he sees in his daughters.\u00a0 To follow through on his promise to put them in a safe place where they can work hard and achieve everything they can achieve in life.\n\tLook, in 2012, President Obama embraced the DREAMers, put them on in prime time at his convention, and Democrats continued to place DREAMers in prominent roles in the Clinton and Sanders campaigns.\n\tAs Democrats, as parents, as leaders, as Americans, we simply cannot let those who trusted their government and came forward to now twist in the wind.\u00a0\n\tWe will fight for our community and not just the DREAMers.\n\tIf you ask the DREAMers themselves, they will tell you it is not just about us, we need our families too and we agree with them.\n\tWe need a broad, unified, multi-faceted plan to keep families together and push back on Donald Trump\u2019s mass deportation plan.\n\tAnd let\u2019s be clear, when Trump says 2 to 3 million immigrants are criminals and gangbangers, he is lying and it means he intends to do massive sweeps in immigrant communities.\u00a0 This is no different than when Trump during the campaign called Mexicans rapists and drug dealers.\u00a0 He wants to paint us all with the same brush.\n\tWhen he appoints Steve Bannon, Kris Kobach, Jeff Sessions, Jan Brewer or Joe Arpaio to senior positions, he means that mass deportation is coming.\n\tWhat we are saying is we will use every peaceful, political, and social means necessary to keep families together and stand up for fairness and justice.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-statement-delegation-trip-rome-support-archbishop-cupich", "Quigley Statement on Delegation Trip to Rome in Support of Archbishop Cupich", "2016-11-17", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Mike Quigley", "Q000023", "quigley.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "CHICAGO \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement in advance of his trip to Rome with Mayor Emanuel and other city leaders to support Archbishop Blase Cupich as he is elevated to Cardinal in the Catholic Church:\n\u201cIt is an honor to join this delegation in Rome for what will be a\u00a0historic and celebratory moment not just for Archbishop Cupich, but for the entire City of Chicago. Regardless of faith or denomination, Archbishop Cupich\u2019s example of service and solicitude inspire us to be better stewards of this earth and all those who inhabit it. I thank him for his unrelenting efforts to promote tolerance, defend equality, and stand up for the most vulnerable in our society.\n\u201cDuring a time when our nation is deeply divided, I reflect on Pope Francis\u2019 historic address to Congress last year, where he discussed our moral obligation to rise above politics and party. From economic inequality and social justice to climate change and immigration, we must continue our work to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges we face. By working together we can ensure America remains a beacon of freedom, hope and opportunity for all who seek it.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 822, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "IL", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 822, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=IL&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 822, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL&year=2016&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "IL", "label": "IL", "count": 822, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 822, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2016-11-17,https~3A~2F~2Fquigley~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fquigley-statement-delegation-trip-rome-support-archbishop-cupich", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=IL&year=2016&_next=2016-11-17%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fquigley~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fquigley-statement-delegation-trip-rome-support-archbishop-cupich&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 399.7537763789296, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}