url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-trumps-rollback-of-clean-air-rules-will-harm-childrens-health,Duckworth: Trump’s Rollback of Clean Air Rules Will Harm Children’s Health,2018-12-29,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 29, 2018 Duckworth: Trump's Rollback of Clean Air Rules Will Harm Children's Health [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Duckworth serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. The Trump Administration is choosing to continue its attack on the public health of our children and our communities. The evidence is clear: mercury is a toxin that causes learning disabilities, loss of IQ, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature deaths. By rolling back the lifesaving standards responsible for the dramatic reduction of mercury and other toxins in our air, the Trump Administration has once again abandoned its duty to protect the public health of our babies and our children. I'll keep working to protect the right of every child and every American to breathe clean, healthy air. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-statement-on-the-passing-of-tom-weisner,Foster Statement on the Passing of Tom Weisner,2018-12-28,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Aurora, IL - ""I am deeply saddened to learn that Mayor Tom Weisner passed away. Mayor Weisner led the city through a period of great change and growth, leaving it a more vibrant place to live, work, and play. We are forever indebted to him for his years of public service and leadership as mayor of Aurora. I am grateful to have been able to call him a friend, and I am even more grateful for the counsel he offered me for more than a decade. Tom never forgot the real reason we enter into public service - to improve the lives of the people we represent. Aurora is a better place because of Tom's work, and his legacy will continue to live on in the community he worked to make a better place for the people who call it home. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3754,Lipinski Lends Support to Innovative National Security Program,2018-12-28,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Daniel Lipinski,L000563,lipinski.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON--Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers who are requesting the Department of Defense to include funding for the Hacking for Defense (H4D) program in its FY 2020 budget request. H4D combines the problem-solving techniques learned by members of the military in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan with Silicon Valley lean business startup methods to teach students how to solve national security challenges. Earlier this month, Lipinski wrote a letter to Michael Griffin, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, requesting that he support the MD5 National Security Technology Accelerator, which through its university partnerships and collaboration with the H4D program, has helped create a pipeline of new technology and engineering talent focused on national security issues. Fifteen senators and representatives joined Lipinski in requesting funding for the program, which has created more than 900 new applications, concepts, or solutions provided to end-users throughout DOD. H4D delivers solutions directly to the warfighter, supports the rebuilding of U.S. military readiness, and advances the mission of innovation in national security, Lipinski said. We're requesting that the DOD make MD5 a program of record and include funding for it in order to increase innovation in the department's acquisition process and improve U.S. military readiness. H4D is modeled after the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, which has been teaching scientists and engineers the skills they need to turn their discoveries into commercial products since 2011. As the top Democrat on the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Lipinski was an early supporter of the I-Corps program and was responsible for helping it proliferate through the federal government. It has changed how federally funded research is commercialized. Congress has recognized the importance of MD5 by adding more than $50 million for the program since its inception, including $15 million in the FY2019 defense appropriations bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-president-trump-destabilizing-and-hobbling-economy,Congressman Krishnamoorthi: President Trump Is Destabilizing and Hobbling the Economy for a Border Wall that Mexico was Supposed to Pay for in the First Place,2018-12-24,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,,,legacy,"SCHAUMBURG, IL Congressman Krishnamoorthi issued the following statement in response to new developments threatening the nation's and Illinois' economies as a result of the government shutdown predicated on President Trump's demand for a border wall that was supposed to be paid for by Mexico in the first place: President Trump is destabilizing and hobbling an already wobbly economy to fulfill only half of a campaign pledge he has made since 2015. After abandoning a bipartisan budget compromise the Senate passed last week unanimously, the President has shut down the federal government to appeal to a shrinking minority of Americans and right-wing talk show personalities. Instead of having Mexico pay for the border wall as the President has promised since 2015, he is asking for as much as $5 billion from taxpayers for a wall that will not accomplish its stated goal and which most Americans do not want. The President stubbornly keeps pushing for a wall to protect himself from the far right's criticism. America needs enhanced border security using smart technology and border agents treated with respect by not being forced to work without pay during the Christmas holidays. I am calling on President Trump to end the Trump shutdown for the health and stability of our economy. The stock market is in a record freefall, he is attacking the independence of the Federal Reserve, and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin called leading banks in an unsuccessful effort to stabilize the markets, all at a time when working families across the country are relying on a strong economy to start 2019. The Trump shutdown is a self-inflicted wound that puts our economy and these families in jeopardy and that damage will only grow worse if the President drags this shutdown out to January 3rd and into the new Congress. Some 6,200 federal workers in Illinois are being furloughed or forced to work without pay over the Christmas holidays, and tours of the Lincoln Home in Springfield have stopped during the 200th birthday of the State of Illinois. The President needs to stop playing the role of the Grinch and start showing the American people he can fulfill his responsibilities as the Commander-in-Chief.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3753,Lipinski Invites Vets to Share Their Stories for Library of Congress' History Project,2018-12-24,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Daniel Lipinski,L000563,lipinski.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is asking veterans in the Third District to share their stories so they can be preserved in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project (VHP). For any veteran that is interested, the Congressman's office will set up a recorded interview at their home or at a local site. The VHP collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of veterans so that current and future generations can better understand the contributions and sacrifices they made. All veterans are invited to call Lipinski's Chicago office at 773-948-6223 for more information or to schedule an interview. At the conclusion of the recorded interview, participants will receive a copy and one will be sent to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. I encourage all veterans who are able to take advantage of this unique opportunity to share their stories, Rep. Lipinski said. These interviews will be recorded for posterity. Our heroes are not just those we read about in the history books, but every man and woman who has served our nation in uniform. All recorded interviews will be housed in the permanent collections of the Library of Congress. They will be available to researchers, scholars, students, authors, filmmakers, and anyone else visiting the library. For more information, go online tolipinski.house.gov.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-introduces-legislation-to-end-congressional-perks-during-government,Foster Introduces Legislation to End Congressional Perks during Government Shutdown,2018-12-23,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced legislation to close the gym and sauna reserved for Members of Congress during a government shutdown. The Shutdown Prioritization Act (SPA) would prohibit the Architect of the Capitol from operating the Member gym during a government shutdown. During the Trump Shutdown, not only are Members still able to access the taxpayer-funded gym, sauna, and steam room while tens of thousands of federal employees remain furloughed, but janitorial staff are still required to clean the gym and restock it with towels and other ""essential items."" ""President Trump and Congressional Republicans' refusal to pass and sign a clean continuing resolution to reopen government is an abdication of their responsibilities as elected officials. During the Trump Shutdown, however, Republican leadership continues to deem the Congressional spa used by Members of the House of Representatives to be ‘essential.' Speaker Ryan continues to use the gym during this shutdown while federal workers face uncertainty over the holidays. The only essential task Members of Congress have during a government shutdown is negotiating an end to the shutdown,"" Foster said. ""It's time to tell President Trump and Congressional Republicans to end their Congressional perks during a shutdown and focus on getting the government up and running. We need to get federal employees back to work and to provide funding for priorities important to the American people."" Congressman Foster is also a co-sponsor of the Federal Employees' Retroactive Pay Fairness Act that would guarantee back pay to federal employees after a government shutdown.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-statement-on-washington-republican-government-shutdown/,Bustos Statement on Washington Republican Government Shutdown,2018-12-22,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Cheri Bustos,B001286,bustos.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) released the following statement after the president and Washington Republicans shut the federal government down: Let's be clear this government shutdown, driven by House Republicans and the president, was completely avoidable. Washington's constant culture of failure and ineffectiveness was on full display this week and families across the Heartland are understandably frustrated. The American people deserve better than relentless dysfunction and politicians who are more interested in scoring political points than executing the basic functions of government. I will continue working to bring both sides together to find solutions and bring the shutdown to an end as quickly as possible. To help veterans, seniors and hardworking families navigate this shutdown, our Congressional office is maintaining operations during this shutdown. We will also continue to inform the public about the shutdown and its impact at www.bustos.house.gov. Many federal agencies will close due to the shutdown. However, Congresswoman Bustos' offices will continue to respond to constituent casework issues and inquiries her offices, listed below, can be reached Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (aside from Christmas Eve and Christmas). Rock Island Office Phone: (309) 786-3406 Peoria Office Phone: (309) 966-1813 Rockford Office Phone: (815) 968-8011 ANTICIPATED IMPACT OF A FEDERAL SHUTDOWN ADDITIONAL AGENCIES, NOT LISTED, MAY ALSO BE IMPACTED. THIS LIST IS SUBJECT TO UPDATES AND CHANGES The following services will continue during a shutdown: Veterans Health Administration will remain open and continue to provide medical services. Veterans Affairs call centers, hotlines, and regional offices will remain open. Social Security beneficiaries will continue receiving checks. The U.S. Postal Service will keep delivering mail. Medicare and Medicaid claims will continue to be processed. Active military will continue serving. Air traffic controllers, prison guards, TSA agents and border patrol agents will remain on the job. NASA Mission Control will continue supporting astronauts serving on the Space Station. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices will remain open. The following services will be halted during a shutdown: Loans to rural communities will be halted. New applications for small business loans will be halted. Permits and reviews for transportation projects will be halted except in cases of emergency. Consumer protection services (child product safety, financial security, etc.) will be halted. Non-essential Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspections of chemical facilities and drinking water systems will be halted. Non-essential federal employees at unfunded agencies, including but not limited to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Homeland Security, will be immediately furloughed without pay. The following services will continue in a limited capacity but may be halted in an extended shutdown: SNAP, school lunch benefits, and other nutrition programs may be limited in an extended shutdown. Tax refunds may be delayed by the IRS. Passports will continue to be issued by the State Department, but processing of applications may be delayed or halted in an extended shutdown or at certain locations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-statement-on-government-shutdown,Foster Statement on Government Shutdown,2018-12-22,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement on the government shutdown: ""In the final days of a Republican-controlled Congress, the Republican Party could not even fulfill its duty to the American people and pass a budget. Unfortunately, the Republican Party and President Trump have failed to stop a shutdown, adding chaos and doubt to our economy and system of governance. It also creates unnecessary uncertainty for hardworking families and businesses right before the holidays. I would support an agreement that funds the government with a clean continuing resolution and that does not waste resources on a border wall. I will be ready and willing to work in the next Congress to pass a long-term budget and fund issues important to the American people, including education initiatives, infrastructure, and protections for people with pre-existing conditions in the Affordable Care Act law.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3751,Lipinski Announces $2 Million Federal Grant for Metra Train Safety,2018-12-22,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Daniel Lipinski,L000563,lipinski.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON--Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) today announced that Metra will receivemore $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail workers. This funding is good news for Metra users and every commuter in the Chicago area, said Rep. Lipinski. Representing a district with a large number of rail lines, I have always made safety a top priority on the Railroad Subcommittee. In 2008, I included language in a bill to create the Rail Safety Technology Grant program to help railroads install life-saving PTC more quickly. Last Congress, I joined with Rep. Quigley on a bill to reauthorize the grant program so that Metra could get federal help to install this critical technology. The grant will support Metra's purchase of onboard PTC equipment for recently purchased locomotives. At Congressman Lipinski's meeting with Metra and BNSF earlier this month, Metra CEO Jim Derwinski said some of the delays on the BNSF and other lines could be attributed to the need to update PTC equipment. I'm hopeful this grant money will help alleviate some of the delays and other problems with Metra trains, Lipinski said. I will continue to push my colleagues in Congress to consider a comprehensive infrastructure bill before the end of the year that includes additional dollars to help expedite the implementation of PTC both in the region and across the country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-announces-nearly-650000-award-for-the-university-of-st-francis,"Foster Announces Nearly $650,000 Award for the University of St. Francis",2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Joliet, IL – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that the University of St. Francis will receive an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the amount of $649,677. The funding will be provided through the NSF's Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program and will help support the university with retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need. Scholarships will be provided to 12 students from local high schools who are pursuing bachelor's degrees in biology and biochemistry at the University of St. Francis. ""Expanding opportunities for students in STEM fields is vital for America's future economic growth,"" Foster said. ""I am pleased that the University of St. Francis will use this award to support local students, especially those from low-income households. A person's zip code or economic background should not be a barrier to their ability to pursue their education. For America to remain a leader in science and innovation, we need to make sure we are doing our best to encourage young people of all backgrounds to work towards degrees in STEM fields and the dynamic career paths that follow."" ""This grant begins another chapter in USF's long history of success in the STEM fields,"" said USF President Arvid Johnson. ""We have invested heavily in these fields, as recently demonstrated in our new LaVerne and Dorothy Brown Science Hall, which opened this past February. This grant, coupled with our new, state-of-the-art science hall, will help USF to recruit and educate excellent STEM teachers and researchers from our community, who will be prepared to contribute to our world through service and leadership.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-president-trump-has-chosen-take-our-government-brink,Congressman Krishnamoorthi: President Trump Has Chosen To Take Our Government To The Brink Of A Shutdown Which Will Lead To Thousands Of Illinois Workers Being Furloughed During The Christmas Holidays,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Krishnamoorthi released the following in response to the impending shutdown of the federal departments of Justice, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, State, Interior, Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security: President Trump has chosen to take our government to the brink of a shutdown for the third time this year to appeal to the far right, rather than to work for the American people. Because of their reckless games, as many as 6,200 Illinois workers could be furloughed or forced to work without pay over the Christmas holidays. The saddest part of all of this is that this potential shutdown was wholly avoidable. Earlier this week, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill which would keep the government open. Rather than bring this bill to the House, where it could have easily passed, Speaker Ryan and President Trump chose to listen to the most extreme voices in their caucus and force a vote on a partisan bill that cannot and will not pass the Senate. Speaker Ryan must allow the House to work it's will and allow a vote on the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate unanimously. There is no more time to waste. We cannot let the American people be held hostage for a border wall that President Trump said Mexico would pay for in the first place.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-kelly-statement-on-the-trump-shutdown,Rep. Kelly Statement on the Trump Shutdown,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Robin Kelly, co-chair of the Democratic Budget Working Group, released this statement concerning the Trump Shutdown: I want this Trump Shutdown to end as soon as possible. We need to re-open federal government services and get people back to work quickly. I'm extremely disappointed that a Republican-controlled White House, Senate and House could not fund the government and ensure thousands of federal workers receive Christmas paychecks. Congress must come together and pass comprehensive immigration reform. However, this type of comprehensive reform requires hearings, public comment and negotiations between Members. This cannot be achieved under a manufactured Trump Shutdown that never should have happened. Building a wall is simply a Presidential vanity project that the majority of Americans and nearly all homeland security experts oppose. I'm willing to work with anyone who is serious about ending this Trump Shutdown immediately. This is a manufactured crisis and it must end, now. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-statement-impending-government-shutdown,Schneider Statement on Impending Government Shutdown,2018-12-21,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Brad Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement ahead of an impending partial government shutdown, which will begin at midnight: The American people deserve better. President Trump is once again putting politics ahead of the public good and hurting working families with his decision to shut down our government. This is not a game; it has real world consequences. By insisting on an ineffective border wall instead of accepting a reasonable bipartisan funding compromise, the President will force hundreds of thousands of families to go without pay over the holidays and create even more unnecessary economic uncertainty. We are a nation with incredible potential, being limited by our political dysfunction. I urge President Trump and my Republican colleagues to do their duty and end to this self-created crisis. Background: As he did during previous federal government shutdowns, Schneider will return his salary to the U.S. Treasury until funding is restored. He is also a co-sponsor of H.R. 1794, the Hold Congress Accountable Act, which would ensure Members of Congress are not paid during a government shutdown.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-legislation-to-support-gold-star-spouses-passes-u-s-senate-heads-to-presidents-desk/,"Bustos Legislation to Support Gold Star Spouses Passes U.S. Senate, Heads to Presidents Desk",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Cheri Bustos,B001286,bustos.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Yesterday evening, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Congresswoman Cheri Bustos' (IL-17)Gold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Actto support widows and widowers of fallen soldiers, sending the bill to the President's desk. The bill extends residential leasing protections to surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in the line of duty. The language of this legislation was included in a bipartisan package of bills to help veterans and their families, theVeterans Benefits and Transition Act, which is what ultimately passed the Senate. When I first heard from Kylie about this issue, I knew we needed to act families of our fallen heroes have already sacrificed so much for our country, and we ought to do everything in our power to make sure grieving spouses receive the support and protections they deserve,Congresswoman Bustos said. By working across the aisle, we were able to make real progress for families and Gold Star spouses like Kylie. After my husband was killed in Afghanistan, all I wanted was to move my children back home to Illinois to be closer to our family. But my landlord wouldn't allow me to break my lease without paying excessive penalties a costly burden no person should have to bear after losing a spouse in combat,said Kylie Riney, a Gold Star spouse from Farmington, Illinois.This legislation would make sure nobody has to experience what I did after losing Doug and, I want to thank Congresswoman Bustos for not only listening to my concerns but for getting results and turning this idea into law. American veterans and their families will be better off because of her efforts. TheGold Star Spouses Leasing Relief Actwas inspired by Kylie Riney, whose husband Sergeant Douglas J. Riney tragically died defending our country in Afghanistan. Kylie and her two young children, who were living in Texas due to Sgt. Riney's assignment to Fort Hood prior to deployment, chose to move back to their home state of Illinois as they mourned his passing. While trying to make the best decision for her family, Kylie was confronted with costly lease cancelation fees due to a hole in theServicemembers Civil Relief Act, which failed to extend protections to Gold Star spouses. Congresswoman Bustos' bill will fix that loophole to protect Gold Star families who have recently suffered a great tragedy. Congresswoman Bustos worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans and their families to pass this legislation. In May,she testified with her Republican colleague in front of the House Veterans Affairs Committee urging them to pass the bill to provide support to Gold Star spouses. TheHouse passed her legislation in Julyand, following the Senate's passage yesterday evening, the bill is headed to the president's desk to be signed into law.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bustos.house.gov/u-s-house-passes-bustos-bipartisan-legislation-to-improve-local-water-infrastructure/,U.S. House Passes Bustos Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Local Water Infrastructure,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Cheri Bustos,B001286,bustos.house.gov,,,legacy,"Peoria Applauds Bustos' Work on Behalf of Community, Plans to Leverage Program to Create Jobs WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17), a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, applauded House passage of the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvement Act she helped introduce. This legislation formalizes the process for communities to create integrated plans for water infrastructure improvements. Additionally, her legislation encourages green infrastructure development, paving the way for cities like Peoria to address combined sewer overflow through investments in modern, environmentally-sound infrastructure. With an aging water infrastructure, it is more important than ever to make the necessary investments in the long-term health and well-being of our communities, Congresswoman Bustos said. By making commonsense changes to how we modernize and invest in our water infrastructure, we can set up communities to succeed for the future. I'm glad that innovative cities such as Peoria will be able to leverage this program to revitalize our community to generate good-paying, green jobs. The City of Peoria is delighted that the House of Representatives passed the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act today, and we thank our Congresswoman, Cheri Bustos, for her leadership on this legislation, said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.Peoria has made green infrastructure the cornerstone of its program to reduce combined sewer overflows, revitalize City neighborhoods, and generate local green jobs.Notably, Peoria will be the first city to employ a 100% green infrastructure solution to combined sewer overflows. This bill will promote the use of green infrastructure in all EPA permitting and enforcement activities, and would require agency coordination with local governments. We appreciate that Congresswoman Bustos understands these priorities. After passing the House, the legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-danny-k-davis-statement-supporting-hr-7227-taxpayer-first-act,"Congressman Danny K. Davis Statement Supporting H.R. 7227, the Taxpayer First Act",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASH, DC - Congressman Davis released the following statement in support of the Taxpayer First Act, ""I applaud Representatives Lewis, Neal, Jenkins and Brady for leading the Taxpayer First Act that prioritizes taxpayer needs. In particular, I commend your leadership to protect low-income individuals and families from private debt collectors. I was deeply disturbed by the report of the Taxpayer Advocate that found that Private Debt Collection enforcement increased the profits of debt collectors at the expense of the disabled, retirees, and impoverished counter to IRS policy and decency. I thank you for including my bill with Mr. Curbelo to permanently authorize the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program – or VITA. The VITA program provides high-quality tax help to hard-working families so they can keep more of their hard-earned money. It offers free tax services to people who make less than 250 percent of the poverty level and to underserved taxpayers, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited English speakers. It is a prime example of smart federal investment because each federal dollar is matched by the private sector. The Taxpayer First Act also includes many other long-overdue improvements to the IRS, and I thank Ranking Member Lewis and Chairman Jenkins for their leadership.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/davis-against-department-agriculture-snap-proposal,Davis Against the Department of Agriculture SNAP Proposal,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASH, DC - Congressman Danny K. Davis today denounced in the strongest terms a new proposal from the Department of Agriculture to slash food support for hundreds of thousands of low income Americans by executive action in defiance of bi-partisan work and consensus in Congress, both the House and the Senate, to avoid any such cut backs. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is our nation's most effective anti-hunger program. The House and Senate included policies in the recently passed 2018 farm bill, which will not include stricter work requirements for SNAP recipients, as advocated by House Republicans and President Trump. Between 800,000 and 1.1 million households would have had their food stamp benefits cut, according to Mathematica Policy Research. Today the Department of Agriculture announced a regulatory proposal to circumvent the will of Congress and expand work requirements for those in the SNAP program. The proposed rule change makes it harder for states to waive work requirements in areas that have high unemployment. Davis stated, “Hunger in America remains a reality. Almost 1 in 8 Americans don’t have enough to eat because of a lack of money. Households with children are especially hard hit. The current food insecurity rate remains higher than before the Great Recession according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I denounce and oppose this cruel, heartless, senseless proposal from the Trump Administration and will work with my colleagues in the House to prevent the adoption of the rule.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-statement-on-support-for-criminal-justice-reform-bill,Foster Statement on Support for Criminal Justice Reform Bill,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced his support for the First Step Act: ""I am proud to vote for this legislation that is a good first step in reforming our criminal justice system. This legislation will go a long way to reduce recidivism and ensure that individuals who have served their time can re-enter society successfully. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Robin Kelly that made this bipartisan bill a success. I am proud that the Illinois delegation has taken the lead in this important fight to reform our criminal justice system."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-statement-on-passage-of-house-continuing-resolution,Rush Statement on Passage of House Continuing Resolution,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bobby Rush,R000515,rush.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 695, the Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2019: The President of the United States lied to the American people when he campaigned on the farce that Mexico would pay for the wall. Now he is attempting to force taxpayers to fund his immoral, expensive, and ineffective border wall. House Republican Leadership should be embarrassed that they have caved to the demands of an incompetent, irrational, and ignorant President. Instead, they have pursued a process that will trigger a government shutdown by sending a radical bill back to the Senate that they know will not pass. House Republicans should not be allowed to hold our government hostage simply because they are afraid of what Fox News will say about their actions. History will judge these feckless Republicans who are steering our nation right into Trump's Shutdown. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schakowsky.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=3784,Schakowsky Statement on the USDA Waiver Rule,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Jan Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a member of the House Hunger Caucus and Democratic Whip's Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity, released the following statement on the Trump Administration's proposed rule for stricter work requirements for SNAP recipients. Just one week after Congress passed a Farm bill that maintained funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Trump Administration has issued a proposed rule that would cut benefits for hundreds of thousands of people who rely on the program. Taking food out of the mouths of hungry Americans is far from the Christmas spirit and American values. This rule would strip states of the right to apply for a waiver for work requirements if jobs are not available and unemployment is high. Republicans in Congress failed to garner enough support for that disastrous work requirement in the Farm bill, so the President has taken another route to act unilaterally. This rule would absolutely increase food insecurity and affect up to 755,000 people. This is just another reminder that this Administration does not care about the American people. They don't care about workers who make poverty wages with inconsistent hours and must rely on SNAP to feed their families. They don't care about the thousands of seniors or disabled people who cannot work and rely on SNAP to survive. And they certainly don't care about the 1 in 6 children who are food insecure and would be affected by this senseless move. The Administration claims that this is about the dignity of work', when this is clearly about Republicans that are hell bent on punishing the poor. These are not freeloaders, they are our fellow Americans asking for help. This is not the America that I know, and I will not sit by while President Trump attempts to rob people of a basic human need.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-criminal-justice-reform-legislation-passage,Statement on Criminal Justice Reform Legislation Passage,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Brad Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement following House passage of the First Step Act, a sweeping bipartisan criminal justice reform package that now heads to President Trump's desk: Today, Congress passed truly significant legislation, tackling a politically-thorny issue in a bipartisan way to make progress for the American people. We are long overdue to reform our criminal justice system. Today's legislation is an important first step, and one I was proud to support in the Judiciary Committee. In particular, I am glad the final legislation grants judges greater leeway when enforcing mandatory minimums, reduces the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, and invests in job training and drug treatment to help inmates re-integrate into society and lower recidivism. More broadly, this legislation demonstrates what is possible when Members of Congress put aside partisan differences and are willing to compromise for the greater good. In the new year and new majority, I hope we can build on this spirit of cooperation to tackle other pressing challenges facing our nation from infrastructure to immigration to health care.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-withdrawal-american-troops-syria,Statement on Withdrawal of American Troops in Syria,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Brad Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement following President Trump's announcement that he will withdraw American forces from Syria: I am profoundly concerned by President Trump's abrupt announcement of a withdrawal of all American forces from Syriait is premature and leaves our objectives in the region dangerously incomplete. A successful mission in Syria, as outlined by the President's own Administration and military leaders, means the enduring defeat of ISIS, a political solution to the civil war, and the exit of Iranian forces and affiliated proxy militias from Syria. Instead, American withdrawal will create a vacuum that will allow ISIS to regroup and strengthen, whileopening the path for greater Russian and Turkish influence. It will leave our allies, especially the Syrian Democratic Forces who helped us put down ISIS, without support, and make it significantly harder to foster the conditions for a political resolution of the war. And without an American presence, Iran is more likely to achieve a land bridge to the Mediterranean, and continue its deadly support for terrorist proxy groups that threaten our key regional allies, in particular Israel, We all share the desire to fully defeat ISIS, end the civil war in Syria, and thwart Iran's nefarious influence. Unfortunately, the President's approach will more likely push each of these objectives further out of reach.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-and-durbin-join-senate-democrats-in-urging-trump-administration-to-reverse-course_defend-affordable-care-act-in-court,Duckworth & Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Urging Trump Administration to Reverse Course & Defend Affordable Care Act in Court,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2018 Duckworth & Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Urging Trump Administration to Reverse Course & Defend Affordable Care Act in Court U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and 46 of their colleagues today in urging the Trump Administration and the Department of Justice to immediately request a stay of a Judge's recent decision in Texas v. United States to strike down the entirety of the Affordable Care Act. If that decision stands, tens of millions of Americans will lose their health insurance, healthcare costs will rise, and health insurers will once again be allowed to discriminate against the 133 million Americans who have a pre-existing condition. We are writing to express our serious concerns with the decision and to reiterate our strong objection to the Department of Justice's refusal to defend the law of the land. If the ruling stands, nearly every American's health care will be affected. The human cost of this decision is profound, the Senators wrote in a letter to President Donald Trump. The Affordable Care Act is, quite simply, the law of the land, and it is your Administration's duty to defend it. We urge you to reverse course and direct the Department of Justice to defend the law of the land and pursue a stay of this decision. Millions of Americans are relying on you. In addition to Duckworth, Durbin and Manchin, the letter was signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME) and Chris Murphy (D-CT). The full letter is available below and online here: Dear President Trump: We are writing to express our serious concerns with the December 14th decision by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in the matter of Texas v. United States and to reiterate our strong objection to the Department of Justice's refusal to defend the law of the land. Judge O'Connor's decision wrongly declares the individual mandate unconstitutional and inseverable from the remainder of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This decision is not just legally unsound, itis inhumane and cruel. If the ruling stands, nearly every American's health care will be affected. The 20 million people who receive insurance coverage through the ACA will be left without the coverage they desperately need. Furthermore, 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions will be at risk of losing access to treatment. And millions of families, women, seniors, and people with low incomes will see their health care costs rise. It is no exaggeration to say that, if upheld, this decision is a matter of life and death to many Americans. We urge you to reverse course and direct the Department of Justice to defend the law of the land and pursue a stay of this decision. It is not too late for you to condemn this decision by requesting a stay and taking steps to defend the Affordable Care Act moving forward. The ACA is, quite simply, the law of the land, and it is your Administration's duty to defend it. Further, even among the numerous, failed attempts to repeal the ACA, there was widespread recognition that simply repealing the law without a replacement would be too devastating to American families and to our economy to fathom. Yet that is exactly what this ruling, if upheld, would do. The human cost of this decision is profound. As mentioned above, tens of millions of Americans covered in the law's Health Insurance Marketplaces and by Medicaid expansion will lose their insurance, and tens of millions more with health conditions from cancer to heart disease, pregnant women, and people with costly prescriptions could lose access to care or have to pay significantly more for it. It is also alarming that in the midst of the devastating opioid epidemic, millions of Americans suffering from substance use disorders would lose access to the treatment that they need to recover. But it does not stop there. Health care makes up over one-sixth of our economy: the uncertainty for health care providers created by the dramatic upheaval that this decision will inevitably cause will have a substantial economic impact on families, rural hospitals and clinics, businesses, state governments, and more. Americans need you to work with us to defend their access to quality, affordable health care. We can work together to improve our health care system and reduce costs, but we must not let this flawed court decision stand and devastate millions of American families both physically and financially. The fight for our health care in the case of Texas v. United States is not over. We urge you and the DOJ to immediately request a stay of this order and to uphold the rule of law by defending the constitutionality of current law. Millions of Americans are relying on you.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-pens-op-ed-for-the-washington-post-im-a-combat-veteran-we-cannot-allow-our-country-to-be-turned-into-a-war-zone,Duckworth Pens Op-Ed For the Washington Post: I’m a Combat Veteran. We Cannot Allow Our Country to Be Turned into a War Zone,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2018 Duckworth Pens Op-Ed For the Washington Post: I'm a Combat Veteran. We Cannot Allow Our Country to Be Turned into a War Zone [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Reflecting on the recent anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote an op-ed for today's Washington Post about how her experiences as someone who comes from a long line of combat Veterans have shaped her perspective on our nation's gun violence epidemic. Duckworth discusses how senseless it is that semi-automatics similar to those that U.S. servicemembers carry around Fallujah are still casually sold to teenagers and how our streets have become deadlier than war zones, with more Americans killed by gun violence over the past 50 years than in every war in American history combined. Duckworth wrote: I can't even begin to comprehend how after Newtown and Charleston, Orlando and Las Vegas, Parkland and Pittsburgh, nothing has changed. You can still just walk into a gun show then leave a few minutes later with a weapon in hand without undergoing a background check. You'd never find such a casual approach to weapons in the military. There's a reason, despite all their differences, Green Berets and teachers and lieutenants and parents marched side-by-side at last spring's March for Our Lives. It's because each of them knows that something's wrong when kids walk into school every morning unsure if they're entering a combat zone. We cannot become numb to this: This is murder mass murder that we've somehow simply accepted as the new norm. Well, to hell with the status quo if that means our children could be murdered in art class. I went to Iraq because I felt it my duty to be there. I chose to risk my life, to be shot at, to serve this country. These kids didn't. A full copy of the op-ed is below: The Washington Post: I'm a combat veteran. We cannot allow our country to be turned into a war zone. Josephine Gay loved to spend her summers running her own lemonade stand. Siretha White's mother called her Nugget because she brought her family more joy than a nugget of gold. Peter Wang had his heart set on serving his country in uniform one day. Josephine was 7 when she was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Siretha was 10 when she was gunned down at her birthday party in Chicago. Peter was 15 when he sacrificed his own life to help his classmates escape a shooter at a Parkland, Fla., high school. This past week, as we mourned the anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre, I couldn't help but think about who these kids would've become if they'd been allowed to grow up if they hadn't lost their lives to gun violence before they'd even really started living. Imagine your own little girl or boy being forced to stare down the barrel of a semiautomatic. Then imagine knowing that their death was preventable if only it weren't so easy for anyone to get their hands on weapons of war, including the AR-15s used in most mass shootings in recent memory. I come from a long line of combat veterans who have taken up arms to defend this nation since before George Washington crossed the Delaware, and I spent decades in the military myself. So I understand why these kinds of weapons exist. But what I don't get is why semiautomatics that U.S. service members carry around Fallujah are being sold to teenagers at the corner gun store. What I don't understand is how some politicians can consider the National Rifle Association's dollars more important than our kids' lives. Or how our streets have become deadlier than war zones, with more Americans killed by gun violence over the past 50 years than in every war in American history combined. And what I can't even begin to comprehend is how after Newtown and Charleston, Orlando and Las Vegas, Parkland and Pittsburgh, nothing has changed. You can still just walk into a gun show then leave a few minutes later with a weapon in hand without undergoing a background check. You'd never find such a casual approach to weapons in the military. Instead, those who serve spend time learning the nuances of their rifles. They're trained by drill sergeants until they're so familiar with their weapons they could assemble them blindfolded. They take test after test. Only then can troops graduate from basic training and begin to carry weapons that tear through skin as if it's tissue paper. There's a reason, despite all their differences, Green Berets and teachers and lieutenants and parents marched side-by-side at last spring's March for Our Lives. It's because each of them knows that something's wrong when kids walk into school every morning unsure if they're entering a combat zone. We cannot become numb to this: This is murder mass murder that we've somehow simply accepted as the new norm. Well, to hell with the status quo if that means our children could be murdered in art class. I went to Iraq because I felt it my duty to be there. I chose to risk my life, to be shot at, to serve this country. These kids didn't. No child volunteers to have their neighborhood turned into a shooting gallery. But that's what this country's inaction on gun violence has allowed. As long as we keep doing nothing, we're complicit in Josephine's death. In Siretha's murder. In the fact that Peter never got to attend West Point like he dreamed. There are ways to stem the bleeding. Common-sense bills we could pass that wouldn't come close to infringing on anyone's Second Amendment rights like legislation to strengthen background checks that 97 percent of Americans support, including 91 percent of veterans and even most NRA members. So from this one mom this combat veteran, this marksman please: Tweeting out thoughts and prayers hours after another dozen people die isn't good enough. We need to honor the victims not just with moments of silence, but also with action. Because no one should kneel in their pew, sit down at their desk or dance on a Saturday night with the fear that every prayer, every lesson, every song could be their last. No other school should be better known for the blood that was shed in its classrooms than the curriculum taught there. No other place where our loved ones learn or play or pray should be turned into a war zone. For goodness' sake. It's enough. - 30 -",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/houses-passes-bipartisan-duckworth-kennedy-durbin-legislation-to-help-veteran-owned-small-businesses-succeed,Houses Passes Bipartisan Duckworth-Kennedy-Durbin Legislation to Help Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Succeed,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 20, 2018 Houses Passes Bipartisan Duckworth-Kennedy-Durbin Legislation to Help Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Succeed Legislation Now Heads to President's Desk to Be Signed into Law [WASHINGTON, D.C.] The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation today that was introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to help Veteran entrepreneurs grow their small businesses, create jobs and expand economy opportunity. The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, which unanimously passed the Senate two weeks ago, would allow Veteran small business owners to acquire equipment and personal property that the federal government no longer has a use for by adding Veterans to the list of eligible recipients for federal surplus personal property, which already includes women and minority small business owners as well as Veterans Service Organizations. Having passed both chambers of Congress, the legislation now heads to the President's desk. When our Veterans return home from their service, they deserve our full support as they transition back into civilian life, and that includes supporting their efforts to build and manage a small business,said Duckworth.Our nation should be doing much more to help our Veterans and I'm pleased Congress has overwhelmingly passed our bipartisan bill to help Veterans expand their business operations, reduce costs and create jobs across Illinois and around the country. I'm thrilled we were able to work with members on both sides of the aisle to send this legislation to the President's desk. All veterans deserve our utmost respect and support after they return home, said Sen. Kennedy. Adjusting back to civilian life can be challenging, and as policy makers, we should try to make the transition as seamless and painless as possible. As Americans, we should support and encourage those veterans who decide to start their own small businesses.This legislation will offer veteran entrepreneurs some well-deserved support. The federal surplus property program is already established, so it's just common sense that we should allow veterans to qualify for the program. I'm happy to see this legislation pass in both chambers and make it to the President's desk. Countless veterans are entrepreneurs and small business owners making contributions to their communities, but many struggle with the costs of starting a new business idea, said Durbin. With passage of the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, veterans can now access GSA'S federal surplus property program, which can help veterans save costs as they open new businesses and store fronts. Thisisa commonsense and bipartisan bill, and I was proud to join Senators Duckworth and Kennedy to help pass it through Congress. The General Services Administration (GSA) has overseen distribution of federal surplus personal property for 15 years in partnership with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and State Agencies for Surplus Property (SASP) through the Federal Surplus Property Donation Program. When there is no federal need for excess personal property, SASPs disburse the property to eligible recipients who otherwise may have been unable to acquire it. This legislation is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the National Association of State Agencies for Surplus Property (NASASP), the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), and the Military Offices Association of America (MOAA). American Legion National Commander Brett P. Reistad has previously said: The American Legion supports legislation that would give veteran-owned small businesses access to surplus federal property. Unclaimed surplus property costs the federal government millions of dollars to dispose of or maintain every year. This same surplus property may help small businesses offset the overhead expenses associated with opening a storefront or office, which benefits the United States. As a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, which passed the Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act last month, Senator Duckworth has advocated for the more than 2.5 million Veteran-owned small business across the country, including the approximately 80,700 in Illinois. As more Iraq and Afghanistan-era Veterans transition out of the military and begin their next career, this number will only increase. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-dem-senators-press-devos-to-provide-full-student-loan-discharges-to-former-itt-tech-students,"Durbin, Dem Senators Press DeVos To Provide Full Student Loan Discharges To Former ITT Tech Students",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.18 Durbin, Dem Senators Press DeVos To Provide Full Student Loan Discharges To Former ITT Tech Students Senators' letter follows court approval of claim benefitting students in ITT Tech bankruptcy WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI),Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),and Maggie Hassan (D-NH)today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVoscalling forfull federal student loan discharges for former ITT Tech (ITT)studentborrowersdefrauded by thenow-defunctschool.The Department of Education has failed to meet its responsibility to continue processing borrower defense discharges for defrauded ITT borrowers who are entitled to relief. Enough is enough. It's time for ITT students to receive the federal student loan relief to which they are entitled. We call on you to end the delay and immediately grant full federal student loan discharges to the cheated and defrauded ITT borrowers with pending borrower defense claims,the Senators wrote. Last month, a federal judgerecognizeda $1.5 billion claim by students in the bankruptcy proceedings based on the company's violations of consumer protection laws. The settlement also forgave $600 million in private student loan debt owed to ITT and refunded $3 million in student payments previously made to the company. In 2016, ITTcollapsedafter years of misconduct and misleading students, shuttering 130 campuses and declaring bankruptcy. Its failure affected nearly 45,000 students, including more than 6,000 veterans saddling them with high levels of student debt and little hope for repaying it. The Department last reported on May 1, 2018, thatmore than13,000 pending claims from ITT borrowers remain unprocessed. That number has undoubtedly grown in the following months.Through theHigher Education Act, Congress created a mechanism called Borrower Defense (BD) for students defrauded by institutions of higher education to receive federal student debt relief. The Department has broad authority and the evidence necessary to document how ITT's predatory practices give rise to a cause of action under applicable State law, and to subsequently discharge all of the underlying loans automatically on a group basis to all former ITT students with federal loans who attended between 2006 and 2016. Full text of the letter is availablehereand below: December 20, 2018 Dear Secretary DeVos: We call on you to immediately provide full federal student loan discharges to former ITT Tech (ITT) students under the Higher Education Act's borrower defense authority in light of recent developments in ITT's bankruptcy proceedings. ITT Tech had a long history of misconduct and misleading students. Numerous state attorneys general investigated or sued the company for unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices in violation of their states' consumer protection laws. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also sued the company for pressuring students into high-cost, predatory private loans by misleading them about the value of an ITT education, lying about students' job prospects, and rushing them through the loan origination process by means of high-pressure and deceptive practices. In addition, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued the company and its top executives for securities fraud. In 2016, the company collapsed under the weight of this wrongdoing, shuttering 130 campuses and declaring bankruptcy. Its failure affected nearly 45,000 students, including more than 6,000 veterans saddling them with high levels of student debt and little hope for repaying it. For many, federal closed school and borrower defense discharges were the only hope of ever getting out of the deep hole in which ITT left them. On January 13, 2017, the Department of Education (Department) under President Obama announced the first borrower defense discharges to ITT students. A memo to the Office of the Under Secretary explained that ITT's misconduct was well-documented, pervasive, and highly publicized and, as a result, the value of an ITT educationlike Corinthianis likely either negligible or non-existent. Unfortunately, under your leadership, the Department has failed to meet its responsibility to continue processing borrower defense discharges for defrauded ITT borrowers. As of May 1, 2018, the Department reported that it had more than 13,000 pending claims from ITT borrowers a number which has undoubtedly grown since that time. Meanwhile, the Department continues to pursue cheated and defrauded borrowers for repayment of their debt, including in collections. While you continue to deny relief for students through delay, a federal judge recently recognized a $1.5 billion claim by students in the bankruptcy proceedings based on the company's violations of consumer protection laws. The settlement also forgave $600 million in private student loan debt owed to ITT and refunded $3 million in student payments previously made to the company. In another sign of the clear legitimacy of student borrower defense claims against ITT, bankruptcy trustee Deborah Caruso filed a $250 million lawsuit against the company's board and top executives for failing to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities to stakeholders including creditors and active students. Enough is enough. It's time for ITT students to receive the federal student loan relief to which they are entitled. We call on you to end the delay and immediately grant full federal student loan discharges to the cheated and defrauded ITT borrowers with pending borrower defense claims. The Department has broad authority and the evidence necessary to document how the company's predatory practices give rise to a cause of action under applicable State law, and to subsequently discharge all of the underlying loans automatically on a group basis. We also call on you to proactively reach outin writingto all former ITT students with federal loans who attended between 2006 and 2016 to alert them that they may be eligible for borrower defense discharge of their federal student loans and provide them information on how to submit claims. We ask for a response to these requests no later than January 10, 2019. Thank you. Sincerely, -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-shaheen-murphy-schumer-members-press-us-ambassador-to-hungary-on-democratic-backsliding-,"Durbin, Shaheen, Murphy, Schumer, Members Press U.S. Ambassador To Hungary On Democratic Backsliding",2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.18 Durbin, Shaheen, Murphy, Schumer, Members Press U.S. Ambassador To Hungary On Democratic Backsliding WASHINGTONU.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today pressed the United States Ambassador to Hungary about their mounting concern over democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the Central European University (CEU). The CEU enjoys considerable bipartisan support in Congress given its commitment to open society and critical thinking in a former Soviet Bloc nation still consolidating its democratic gains. This petty and counterproductive move by the Hungarian government comes on the heels of increased intimidation and shrinking of the country's free press. While we appreciate the challenge of engaging the Viktor Orban regime, such moves by his government are antithetical to key American democratic values and international norms and do not go unnoticed in the United States Congress, the members wrote in a letter to Ambassador Cornstein. The last few years have seen deeply troublingly and brazen efforts to undermine the country's judiciary as well as access to independent media in Hungary. Just recently, more than a dozen owners gave 400 news websites, newspapers, television channels, and radio stations to a front group run by Orban loyalists. The members also expressed concern over Hungary's seeming leanings toward Moscow, including its refusal to extradite to the U.S. two Russians wanted for selling arms to drug cartels and harboring of pro-Russian, ex-Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, a fugitive facing prison at home over corruption charges. Full text of the letter is available here and below: December 20, 2018 Dear Ambassador Cornstein: We write to express our mounting concern over democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the Central European University (CEU). This petty and counterproductive move by the Hungarian government comes on the heels of increased intimidation and shrinking of the country's free press. While we appreciate the challenge of engaging the Viktor Orban regime, such moves by his government are antithetical to key American democratic values and international norms and do not go unnoticed in the United States Congress. The Central European University enjoys considerable bipartisan support in Congressand for obvious reasonsgiven its commitment to open society and critical thinking in a former Soviet Bloc nation still consolidating its democratic gains. As such, we were deeply disturbed by reports that you did not wield sufficientU.S. leverage over Hungary to try to achieve a better outcome and instead tried to blame the university for its ouster. Our understanding is that CEU attempted to comply with bullying legislation targeting foreign academic institutions by establishing a program at New York's Bard College, astep Orban's government refuses to acknowledge. In the end, there should have been a way for the United States to find a more suitable solution to such a government vendetta that adheres to American values and serves Hungarian students hoping for a top education. Similarly, the last few years have seen deeply troublingly and brazen efforts toundermine access to independent media in Hungary. Just recently, more than a dozen owners gave 400 news websites, newspapers, television channels, and radio stations to a front group run by Orban loyalists. Taking from the tired autocrat playbook, Orban is obviously trying to silence those critical of his government or unwilling to serve as regime mouthpieces. Lastly, we are troubled by Hungary's seeming leanings toward Moscow, including itsrefusal to extradite to the United States two Russians wanted for selling arms to drug cartels and harboring of pro-Russian, ex-Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski, a fugitive facing prison at home over corruption charges. We have many shared interests in our important relationship with Hungary. Nevertheless, we expect these shared interests to be pursued with underlying core American democratic values. Sincerely, -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-senate-passage-of-continuing-resolution-,Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.18 Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution WASHINGTONU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the Continuing Resolution, which will fund the seven Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills not yet enacted through February 8, 2019: It is unfortunate that President Trump's demand for a border wall from sea to shining sea has held up seven appropriations bills that have been debated and passed out of committee on a bipartisan basis. I'm glad this didn't end in an unnecessary government shutdown, but stopgap spending bills are no way to run a country. President Trump must drop his unrealistic demand for a medieval border wall and work with Congress to enact commonsense border security. The seven Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills not yet enacted include: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-urges-illinois-farmers-to-take-steps-to-curb-impacts-of-climate-change,Durbin Urges Illinois Farmers To Take Steps To Curb Impacts Of Climate Change,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.18 Durbin Urges Illinois Farmers To Take Steps To Curb Impacts Of Climate Change Senator sends letters to Illinois' major farm groups asking them to review new National Climate Assessment, heed warnings contained in the report WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent letters today to the IllinoisFarm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association, and Illinois Corn Growers Association urging each group to review theFourth National Climate Assessment, and heed the warnings contained in the report about the impacts climate changewill haveon farming in Illinois. Durbin urged the farmers to take steps outlined in the report to help mitigate theeffectsofshifting climate and weather patterns such as more frequent extreme weather events, increased rainfall, and hotter temperatures in the growing season could have on farming. Durbin will join the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for the 116th Congress next year. The changes outlined in the report are projected to decrease yields for corn from 5 percent to 25 percent and result in more than a 25 percent reduction in soybean yields by 2050 in the southern portions of the Midwest. More intense heat waves, extreme rains, and drought are projected to reduce yields of all crops in the region. Rainfall levels will continue to increase, creating issues with runoff, soil quality, and our waterways,Durbin wrote.I hope that you will carefully and objectively review the findings of this report and encourage your farmers and members throughout the state to meet this challenge head on by taking steps to mitigate these issues. I stand ready to help you in this effort. Our farms are an essential part of our state and our Illinois life style. We all should work together to ensure that farming has a bright future. Agriculture is key to the success of Illinois' economy, generating more than $19 billion annually.More than75 percent of the state'slands are used for production, and Illinois is home tomore than72,200 farms. But, for the past 30 years, shifts in climate and weather patterns throughout the Midwest have resulted in changes to the growing season and have delayed plantings. Full text of the letter to the Illinois Farm Bureau is availablehere. Full text of the letter to the Illinois Soybean Association is availablehere. Full text of the letter to the Illinois Corn Growers Association is availablehere. Text of the letter, whichisthe same for each group, is pasted below: December 19, 2018 Dear President Guebert: On November 24, the U.S. Global Change Research Program released its fourth National Climate Assessment, a report mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990. The report, compiled by 13 federal agencies, outlines the impacts of climate change across the United States now and throughout this century. I ask that you review this report, and share with me thoughts on how these impacts will affect farming in Illinois. The report can be found here:https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/. The National Climate Assessment predicts significant changes in climate and weather patterns that could have a significant impact on agricultural production throughout the country. The report also takes a detailed look at the impacts in the Midwest, and it predicts a significant shift in climate and weather patterns that historically have been ideal for successful corn and soybean farming in Illinois. As you are aware, agriculture production is key to the success of Illinois' economy, generating more than $19 billion annually. Over 75 percent of the state's lands are used for production, making agriculture key in every corner of our state. Illinois' 72,200 farms are critical contributors to the economic success of our rural communities. But that success faces significant threats in the near future if the projections of the National Climate Assessment hold true. For the past 30 years, shifts in climate and weather patterns have affected farming in Illinois and throughout the Midwest. During this time, the Midwest has experienced increased rain fallfrom April through Juneresulting in high soil moisture levels that, combined with less frost in the spring, have allowed some crops to withstand increasing heat stress in the short term. These changes in our growing season have delayed plantings and increased threats from pests. The report also projects that higher growing season temperatures and humidity will result in a decline in agricultural productivity. Higher carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are expected to create temporary gains in yields, but these gains will be overshadowed by losses caused by increasing extreme weather events. I recently visited Taylorville to see the tornado damage firsthand. December tornadoes in Illinois are not unheard of, but they are rare. We seem to be facing these weather extremes more frequently in Illinois, a fact pointed out in this assessment. The changes outlined in the report are projected to decrease yields for corn from 5 percent to 25 percent and result in more than a 25 percent reduction in soybean yields by 2050 in the southern portions of the Midwest. More intense heat waves, extreme rains, and drought are projected to reduce yields of all crops in the region. Rainfall levels will continue to increase, creating issues with runoff, soil quality, and our waterways. These climate stressors will not be limited to crops, but also pose threats to our livestock. Warmer temperatures are expected to impact breeding success and cause a decrease in the production of milk and eggs. The National Climate Assessment also outlines important steps that farmers can begin to implement to curb some of the impacts from projected climate changes. These recommendations could improve soil and water health through the use of cover crops, water management strategies, and implementing additional diversity in planting and chemical use. I hope that you will carefully and objectively review the findings of this report and encourage your farmers and members throughout the state to meet this challenge head on by taking steps to mitigate these issues. I stand ready to help you in this effort. Our farms are an essential part of our state and our Illinois life style. We all should work together to ensure that farming has a bright future. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this report. Sincerely, -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/illinois-congressional-delegation-supports-disaster-assistance-for-taylorville-tornado-recovery-,Illinois Congressional Delegation Supports Disaster Assistance For Taylorville Tornado Recovery,2018-12-20,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.20.18 Illinois Congressional Delegation Supports Disaster Assistance For Taylorville Tornado Recovery WASHINGTON The entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sent a letter of support for Governor Bruce Rauner's request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian County, Illinois,as a result of a tornado that touched down on December 1, 2018. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that 33 homes and one business incurred major damage as a result of the tornado in Christian County. The economic impact on the community as a result of damaged businesses and residences is dire, and the demand for state and local government resources for emergency response and the repair of public property is extraordinary. Taking care of the needs of the people and assisting them in recovery is of utmost importance. The Governor seeks timely federal assistance from the SBA,the members wrote. The letter of support was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Peter Roskam (R-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Michael Bost (R-IL-12), Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Randy Hultgren (R-IL-14), John Shimkus (R-IL-15), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), and Darin LaHood (R-IL-18). Full text of the letter is availablehere and below: December 20, 2018 Dear Administrator McMahon: We are writing in support of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian County in Illinois as a result of a tornado that touched down on December 1, 2018. An EF-3 tornado touched down in Christian Countyone of 29 to touch down in Illinois that day, a state record for Decemberand caused significant damage to property and injuries to residents. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that 33 homes and one business incurred major damage as a result of the tornado in Christian County. The economic impact on the community as a result of damaged businesses and residences is dire, and the demand for state and local government resources for emergency response and the repair of public property is extraordinary. Taking care of the needs of the people and assisting them in recovery is of utmost importance. The Governor seeks timely federal assistance from the SBA. Governor Rauner has determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments. We respectfully request that you issue an SBA Disaster Declaration for Christian County, and we request that the SBA disaster loans also be offered to the counties that are contiguous to the aforementioned county. Thank you in advance for your timely consideration of this important request. We stand ready to assist in any way appropriate. Sincerely, Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://gutierrez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/guti-rrez-asks-public-s-help-identifying-suspect-security-incident-today,Gutirrez Asks Publics Help in Identifying Suspect in Security Incident Today at his Chicago Office,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Luis Gutiérrez,G000535,gutierrez.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC Rep. Luis V. Gutirrez (D-IL) released a video shot by one of his Chicago staffers of a security incident that took place today in the office of the retiring Congressman in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood. A man entered the office today at about 2:00 pm CT, passed through the office lobby and into the first individual office of the Congressman's Chicago Congressional Office. The man identified himself as a precinct captain for Chicago City Councilman Ariel Reboyas (30th Ward). As two videos shot by the Congressman's staff and posted to Facebook show, the man proceeded to yell, curse, and insult the Congressman's staff, even going as far as to throw items around the office and at the Congressman's staff. The man left the office, but then came back to threaten the staff some more, as the second video shows. First Video: https://www.facebook.com/RepGutierrez/videos/298397997536116/ Second Video: https://www.facebook.com/RepGutierrez/videos/316024378998865/ In posting the videos on his Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/RepGutierrez/), Rep. Gutirrez said: This is battery, as the police report I filed with the Chicago Police Department indicatesPlease help us identify the individual who came into my office, assaulted my colleagues, cursed them and threatened us. The Congressman added later on Facebook that he had talked to the Chicago Police Department who assured him that detectives were already on the case to determine who the man is. The Congressman wrote on Facebook: This is outrageous. To assault federal workers in my office who are serving the constituents of the Fourth District is uncalled for. It is emblematic of the fact that some people feel it is OK to behave this way in politics these days. I am grateful to the Chicago Police Department for investigating this incident and bringing this thug to face charges. The Congressman is asking anyone who knows the identity of the individual to please comment on the Congressman's Facebook page, call the Congressman's Chicago office or call the Chicago Police. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-calls-new-sanctions-assad-regime-reports-emerge-its,"Congressman Krishnamoorthi Calls For New Sanctions On Assad Regime As Reports Emerge Of Its Execution Of Layla Shweikani, A 26-Year-Old Humanitarian Aid Worker From Chicago",2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Krishnamoorthi released the following statement regarding the Assad regime's reported execution of Layla Shweikani, a 26-year-old Chicago-native providing humanitarian relief to Syrian civilians who died in the regime's custody on December 28, 2016: I offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Layla Shweikani as it confronts these new details of her death at the hands of Bashar al Assad's regime. Ms. Shweikani was a dedicated humanitarian who followed that commitment into some of the most dangerous places in the world and lost her life amid the war crimes committed by Assad's regime that is backed by Russia and Iran. It is imperative that the United States responds to Ms. Shweikani's death, and those of so many other innocent victims, by imposing new sanctions on Assad and his supporters. The House has already passed the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act to implement this policy, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to swiftly take up this legislation and pass it.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-calls-for-firing-of-mark-zuckerberg,Rush Calls for the Firing of Mark Zuckerberg,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bobby Rush,R000515,rush.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) called on Facebook's Board of Directors to immediately terminate Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg and any other executives who have been involved in the unprecedented level of negligence resulting in the data privacy breaches, brazen lies before Congress, and collusion with a hostile foreign power: Enough is enough. Every morning, we seem to find another story detailing Facebook's negligence and outright disregard for its users. Every story continues to further erode the trust between Facebook and the American people. The ongoing and expanding level of privacy infractions at Facebook is beyond comparison. This company and its executives have continued to deliberately take advantage of consumers and misuse their information. Last April, when Mark Zuckerberg testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I heard him emphatically and repeatedly tell us that the only time Facebook shares information about its users is when they consent to it. There is not a single Facebook user who knowingly consented to having their private messages read, edited, and even deleted. Based on the reporting we have seen this week, it is now clear to me that Mr. Zuckerberg knowingly lied to Congress. The American people are tired of the excuses, the lies, and the deliberate evasion. It is utterly appalling that we are only presented with the truth when it has been exposed. Facebook is one of the world's most innovative companies. It is highly implausible its leadership repeatedly fail to understand their own policies of consent and the ways in which their product has been and continues to be manipulated and weaponized. Mark Zuckerberg sat in his Menlo Park office and watched a hostile foreign power interfere with our democracy, manipulate African-Americans with propaganda and lies, and, ultimately, suppress voter turnout. He no longer deserves the privilege of leading one of America's great success stories. I am angered that his own greed and desire for tech dominance outweighed his responsibility to and the trust placed in him by his countless users. It is time for new leadership at Facebook and it is time for Mark Zuckerberg to log out. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schakowsky.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=3783,Schakowsky statement on being named Senior Chief Deputy Whip,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Jan Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after being named a Senior Chief Deputy Whip by House Majority Whip-elect James Clyburn: What an honor. I am proud and humbled to be named as Senior Chief Deputy Whip alongside my friend and hero John Lewis, and to be appointed to this position by none other than the great Rep. Jim Clyburn. I am excited to once again join the House Democratic leadership team to represent Midwestern progressive values and fight to make sure the priorities of the American people pass the House as we enter the majority. I know that our Whip team, with the exemplary leadership of Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Butterfield, Welch, Sewell, Jackson Lee, Kildee, Aguilar, and Cuellar, will be able to deliver on our promises to the American people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-trump-administrations-new-strategy-to-address-lead-poisoning,Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s New Strategy to Address Lead Poisoning,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 19, 2018 Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration's New Strategy to Address Lead Poisoning [WASHINGTON D.C.] In response to the Trump Administration's release of a new federal strategy to address the risk of lead poisoning, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement. Duckworth, the top Democrat on the Senate Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, has been outspoken about the need to reduce exposure to lead poisoning and has been a leader in Congress on this issue, having introduced many pieces of legislation to eliminate lead in America's drinking water. It's unacceptable that in the wealthiest nation in the world, many families can get sick by drinking the water in their own homes and children can get poisoned from drinking the water in their schools because the requirements to check for lead in water aren't in place to protect them,Duckworth said.It's been 4 years since the Flint Water Crisis shocked the nation. There should have been a comprehensive strategy in place to address this sooner and I urge the Administration to also implement a strong, enforceable lead and copper rule as soon as possible so we can ensure every family in America has access to clean and safe drinking water no matter where they live or how much money they have. Before the Administration released their strategy today, Duckworth and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to several Trump Administration cabinet officials in August requesting them to quickly complete it after reports indicated it would be released by June, 2018. Duckworth recently introduced the bipartisan Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act of 2018 with Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) to protect families living in assisted housing from lead found in drinking water by requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inspect for lead in service lines and plumbing and creating a grant program to test for lead in the drinking water at child care centers, schools and public facilities. Duckworth's Get the Lead Out of Schools Act, which she introduced along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), would help ensure drinking water in schools across our nation is clean and safe from lead by requiring periodic testing for lead contamination in drinking water at schools while also providing schools with additional resources to monitor lead levels and replace outdated water infrastructure systems to remove contaminants that may be present. She and Congressman Kildee also introduced the NO LEAD Act of 2017 to protect clean drinking water by making lead testing reports more comprehensive and ensuring they are easily available to the public and, this summer, she joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and 9 of their colleagues in introducing theContainment and Lead Electronic Accounting and Reporting Requirements for Drinking Water Act, which would authorize more than $1 billion in federal funding to help small and disadvantaged communities replace contaminated water infrastructure to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. Duckworth has urged the EPA on many occasions to strengthen drinking water protections to protect against lead poisoning. She and Congressman Kildee submitted public comments to the EPA last year urging it to eliminate exemptions that allow lead to remain in pipes, fittings and fixtures and to require third party certification to ensure plumbing is lead-free. Duckworth was a harsh critic of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's failure to combat lead poisoning while he was in office, grilling him at committee hearings over his refusal to protect American children and families from contaminated water. She was also a vocal critic of the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal, which proposed the elimination of funding for anti-lead contamination programs, including the EPA's Lead Risk Reduction Program and programs associated with the Office of Ground and Drinking Water. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-urges-senate-to-finally-give-blue-water-vietnam-veterans-the-health-care-theyve-earned,Duckworth Urges Senate to Finally Give “Blue Water” Vietnam Veterans the Health Care They’ve Earned,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 19, 2018 Duckworth Urges Senate to Finally Give Blue Water Vietnam Veterans the Health Care They've Earned [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor today detailing the grave injustice that has been done to the nearly 90,000 Blue Water Vietnam Veterans who are currently unable to receive the health care needed to treat diseases linked to wartime Agent Orange exposure. Duckworth called on her fellow Senators to right this wrong by passing without delay the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which is already co-sponsored by a majority of the Senate. Video of the speech is available here. We made a promise to these Veterans: fight for us overseas, then we'll fight for you when you get back home; when you step back onto U.S. soil, we'll bandage the wounds you earned in combat, making sure you never feel that you sacrificed in vain, Duckworth said. I'm ashamed to say that that promise has been broken. It's long past time we pass legislation ensuring these heroes aren't left in pain before even one more dies a preventable death on our watch. A full copy of Duckworth's remarks as prepared for delivery are below: Right now, tens of thousands of American heroes are sufferingeven dyingwhile some folks in government are looking the other way, refusing to heed their calls for help. Our Blue Water Veterans answered the call when their nation needed them in the thick of the Vietnam War: They left their loved ones boarded ships fought the Viet Kong risking their lives hours after hour, day after day, in service to the country they loved. We made a promise to them: fight for us overseas, then we'll fight for you when you get back home. When you step back onto U.S. soil, we'll bandage the wounds you earned in combat, making sure you never feel that you sacrificed in vain. I'm ashamed to say that that promise has been broken. For more than a decade now, our government has refused to give them the health care and disability benefits needed to treat diseases linked to Agent Orange exposuredespite the fact that they serviced the very aircrafts that sprayed and spread the chemical despite that they breathed in air and brushed their teeth with water that was likely laced with the poison. Those same health care benefits have been extended to other troops who fought in the same war during the same years. But because these Blue Water Veterans fought the enemy on the water rather than on Vietnam soil itself, our government won't lift a finger to help stop their suffering. Tell me that's fair. Tell me that makes a shred of sense. Tell me that our nation should abandon the heroes who risked their lives for the rest of us that we should leave them to die from cancer, or heart disease, or the litany of other illnesses we know this chemical causes. Look, I've also gone to warand just as those Americans lost their health, I lost my legs for this country. But from the moment I woke up in Walter Reed, I knew that the VA would give me the care I needed to recover. These nearly 90,000 Veterans deserve the same. It's long past time we pass legislation ensuring these heroes aren't left in pain. Unfortunately, legislation that would recognize their sacrifice suffered a setback last week. But with the time remaining in this Congress, we still have the chance to help make these Veterans whole. To do the right thing. The obvious thing. The American thing. So to every one of my fellow Senators, please: If we actually want to honor their service, we can't just give them an ovation on Veterans Day. We need to take action to help them lead full, healthy lives every other day of the year, too. Right now that means joining me in working to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Actbefore even one more hero dies a preventable death on our watch. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-announce-2-million-for-positive-train-control,"Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million For Positive Train Control",2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.19.18 Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million For Positive Train Control WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $2,058,163 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Metra railroads. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail workers. Implementing PTC is vitally important to ensuring that our railroads have the highest level of safety for millions of riders and workers in Illinois and around the country. This technology will save lives, Durbin said. With Chicago being the largest hub in the railroad industry, Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure that our rail agencies have the federal resources needed to ensure safe and reliable transportation. I'm proud to announce today's federal investments that will improve the Chicagoland rail system's safety and reliability,Duckworth said. PTC technology will save lives and protect rail workers, and I'll keep working alongside Senator Durbin to help ensure it is implemented on every railway in Illinois and throughout the country. Under this announcement, Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (Metra) will receive funding to implement PTC for rail lines across the six-county Northeast Illinois region comprised of Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, and Cook Counties. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-praises-passage-of-the-first-step-act-,Durbin Praises Passage Of The First Step Act,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.19.18 Durbin Praises Passage Of The First Step Act Senate passed First Step Act last night by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 87-12 WASHINGTON In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, todaythanked his colleagues for their support of the revised First Step Act, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation which passed the Senate last night by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 87-12. Last month, Durbin, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the First Step Act, which combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reform provisions from the broadly bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which was authored by Durbin and Grassley and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in February by a vote of 16-5. I think we showed something last night which most American people wouldn't have believed that a bipartisan group of Senators from across the political spectrum could tackle one of the toughest political issues of our day, assemble an array of support left, right, and center from members of the Senate as well as organizations devoted to law enforcement as well as civil rights, and at the end of it have something we all felt was a fair product to send over to the House, which I hope will act on this very quickly, Durbin said. It is, however, the first step. We've got to start thinking about the second step. And we need the help of all of our colleagues when shaping that. Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate Floor are availablehere. Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate Floor is availablehere. The First Step Act is backed by a number of law enforcement groups, including the nation's largest police group. It's also supported by 172 former federal prosecutors along with sheriffs from 34 states across the country. The National Governors Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states, praised the bill. A broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups along with a host of business leaders and faith-based organizations also support the First Step Act. In February, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance comprehensive legislation led by Durbin and Grassley that focuses mandatory minimum prison sentences on the most serious drug offenders and violent criminals, while giving judges more discretion to determine an appropriate sentence for individuals with minimal non-violent criminal histories. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act is cosponsored by 43 Republican and Democratic senators, and has earned the support of numerous stakeholders from across the political spectrum, including civil rights, faith, and law enforcement groups. In 2010, Durbin worked with then-Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to pass the Fair Sentencing Act, which eliminated the five-year mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack and dramatically reduced the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Since 1980, the federal prison population has grown by over 700 percent, and federal prison spending has climbed nearly 600 percent. Today, the United States holds more prisoners, by far, than any other country in the world. Overcrowded federal prisons consume one quarter of the Justice Department's discretionary budget, which undermines other important priorities, such as preventing crime and treating drug addiction. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-landmark-criminal-justice-reform-,Senate Passes Landmark Criminal Justice Reform,2018-12-19,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.19.18 Senate Passes Landmark Criminal Justice Reform First Step Act approved by vote of 87-12 WASHINGTON The Senate tonight passed once-in-a-generation reforms to America's prison and sentencing system to reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars, and promote safe communities. The bipartisan First Step Act, introduced by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), uses evidence-based recidivism reduction programs to help inmates successfully return to society after serving their sentence. It also reduces some sentences for certain low-level, nonviolent offenders while preserving important law enforcement tools to tackle criminal enterprises. The bill was approved by a vote of 87-12. Tonight, by a vote of 87-12 the members of the Senate proved that we can work together for the good of our nation. Passage of the First Step Act is the most significant change to our system of criminal justice in decades. It was supported by an amazing coalition of unlikely partners progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans, law enforcement groups and civil rights groups, business leaders and faith-based organizations. By passing this legislation, we will now begin to relieve our overcrowded prisons, redirect funding to our most pressing crime prevention efforts, make our communities safer, and ensure the integrity of our justice system. I commend my colleagues for their spirit of cooperation on this important piece of legislation and I look forward to seeing this legislation signed by the President, Durbin said. It's been several decades since Congress made significant reforms to our nation's criminal justice and prison policies. The First Step Act takes lessons from history and from states our laboratories of democracy to reduce crime, save taxpayer dollars and strengthen faith and fairness in our criminal justice system. Today's vote is an important victory in our years-long effort, which has resulted in a broad bipartisan recognition of the need for reforms. This bill is the product of careful deliberation and input from a wide range of stakeholders and law enforcement organizations. I'm grateful for the engagement from those who joined us to pass the bill and for President Trump's leadership. I look forward to the swift passage of the First Step Act by the House, Grassley said. We did it. We passed real bipartisan criminal justice reform. Thanks to the hard work of my colleagues American families will be stronger and our communities will be safer. This is a huge win for America and President Trump, Lee said. Our country's criminal justice system is broken and it has been broken for decades. You cannot deny justice to any American without it affecting all Americans. That's why the passage of the First Step Act tonight is so meaningful it begins to right past wrongs that continue to deny justice to millions of Americans. This bill is a step forward for our criminal justice system. By no means can it be the only step it must be the beginning of a long effort to restore justice to our justice system. But for the first time in a long time, with the passage of this bill into law, our country will make a meaningful break from the decades of failed policies that led to mass incarceration, which has cost taxpayers billions of dollars, drained our economy, compromised public safety, hurt our children, and disproportionately harmed communities of color while devaluing the very idea of justice in America, Booker said. Today the Senate took a great step forward in building safer communities and a brighter future for those who have served their time and are re-entering society. By cutting recidivism, encouraging job training, education and mental health and substance abuse treatments for incarcerated individuals, and making our criminal justice system both smarter and tougher, we have taken a positive step forward tonight. I want to thank all of my colleagues for their hard work on this bill, and I look forward to House passage and the President enthusiastically signing the First Step Act into law, Scott said. This bill is the product of years of bipartisan hard work, patience, and strong advocacy by Rhode Islanders and people across the country, including those who have gone through the system themselves. Senator Cornyn and I drew on our home states' success in helping low-risk inmates return to society, stay out of trouble, and contribute to their community. The bill will also address serious issues with sentencing practices that land too many people in prison for too long. Thank you to the Rhode Islanders who contributed to this bill, and to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who joined me in this effort, Whitehouse said. The First Step Act combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reform provisions from the broadly bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which was authored by Durbin and Grassley and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in February. The comprehensive package aims to reduce crime by helping low-risk inmates prepare to successfully rejoin society through participation in proven recidivism reduction programs. It also improves fairness in prison sentences by recalibrating certain mandatory minimum sentences while expanding their application to new categories of violent felons. The bill grants greater discretion to judges in sentencing of low-level, nonviolent drug offenders who cooperate with law enforcement. It also clarifies congressional intent on sentencing enhancements for certain crimes involving firearms. The First Step Act preserves the maximum potential sentences for violent and career criminals. Finally, the legislation also allows petitions for retroactive application of theFair Sentencing Actto be considered on an individual basis to reduce sentence disparities between crack and powder cocaine offenses. Under this legislation, any savings generated by the reforms are automatically reinvested into law enforcement programs to further reduce crime and improve community safety. The First Step Act includes safeguards that prevent career and violent criminals from receiving earned time credits toward pre-release custody following completion of recidivism reduction programs. Under the bill, each inmate is evaluated using a data-driven risk and needs assessment tool to determine their likelihood of reoffending upon release. Only inmates found to be a low or minimum risk may benefit from earned time credits. Conviction for a number of serious offenses also disqualify inmates from earning time credits. The First Step Act is modeled after state-based reforms that have proven to reduce crime, prison populations and taxpayer expenses. It is endorsed by President Trump and cosponsored by more than a third of the Senate, evenly balanced among Democrats and Republicans. The First Step Act is backed by a number of law enforcement groups, including thenation's largest police group. It's alsosupported by 172 former federal prosecutorsincluding two former Republican U.S. attorneys general, two former deputy attorneys general and a former director of the FBI along withsheriffs from 34 statesacross the country. The National Governor's Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states,praised the bill. A broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups along with a host of business leaders and faith-based organizations also support theFirst Step Act. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-announces-federal-dollars-for-lead-abatement-encourages-illinoisans-to-apply-for-grant-funding/,"Bustos Announces Federal Dollars for Lead Abatement, Encourages Illinoisans to Apply for Grant Funding",2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Cheri Bustos,B001286,bustos.house.gov,,,legacy,"MOLINE Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announcedfederal funding for lead abatement that will be available to families in Galesburg and across Illinois. The funding will come through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) specifically, the Lead Hazard Reduction Program (LHRP) and HUD's Healthy Homes funding. Today's news is welcome and overdue for folks across Illinois who want nothing more than a safe and lead-free home to raise their family and I've been hard at work with local communities, the state and federal agencies to deliver funding to get to the root of this problem, Congresswoman Bustos said. Whether it's toxic lead-based paint or unsafe drinking water, we can and must work tirelessly to keep our families safe. I'll continue to be a partner to anybody who's working to keep children safe and to make our region a great place to live, work and raise a family. This grant announcement gives $3.6 million to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help families afford lead abatement in their homes. In Galesburg, the City is encouraging families who are interested in applying for funding to contact City Housing Coordinator Judy Guenseth at (309) 345-3652 orjguenseth@ci.galesburg.il.us. The City of Moline also received $2.4 million in federal funding through LHRP families can contact K.J. Whitley, Moline's Community Development Manager, at (309) 524-2044 or kwhitley@moline.il.us. Congresswoman Bustos has been a strong and consistent leader for healthy and lead-free homes working with state and local officials to keep children and families safe. She tirelessly fought to deliver $4 million in federal funding to help the City of Galesburg replace lead service lines that threatened the safety of families' drinking water. Previously, Congresswoman Bustos introduced the Safe Drinking Water Act with Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01). Their legislation would establish a $50 million grant program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow local education agencies and school districts to replace lead service lines and lead solder used in school plumbing. Congresswoman Bustos also helped introduce the WATER Act, which would provide critical federal funding for State Revolving Funds including the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund which is the source of the $4 million forgivable loan the City of Galesburg received to replace lead service lines.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3749,Lipinski Calls for New EtO Emissions Testing Method at Sterigenics,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Daniel Lipinski,L000563,lipinski.house.gov,,,legacy,"In light of theU.S.Environmental Protection Agency'srecent testing showing significantly high levels of cancer-causing ethylene oxide (EtO) in the air in Willowbrook, Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is calling on Sterigenics to implement a new testing method to measure EtO coming from its facilities in the village. Lipinski wants Sterigenics to work with the U.S. and Illinois EPA to conduct fenceline air quality monitoring to get a clearer picture of the pollution levels crossing their property boundary. Recent EPA-supervised stack testing showed how much EtO is emitted from Sterigenics' scrubber, but not how much potentially leaks out through windows, doors, its heating and air conditioning system, and other sources. Yesterday, I visited Sterigenics' main Willowbrook facility to see for myself the building and how the plant operates, as well as where the EPA has conducted ambient air testing, Rep. Lipinski said. Following up on this visit and in consultation with outside scientists, today I am calling on Sterigenics to begin as soon as possible testing for EtO around the perimeter of its two buildings in Willowbrook. This testing should be done in conjunction with the EPA and in a transparent manner that can be scientifically verified by an independent third party. I continue to stand by my statement that Sterigenics should be shut down unless we can be assured that it is not a public health threat. The EPA released another round of air sample results yesterday for EtO around the two Sterigenics facilities. The first set of results released on December 7th showed an extremely high concentration of EtO on November 19th at the two testing sites closest to the plant. The new results for testing conducted on November 23rd differ from the previous results, but only raise more questions and cannot be said to demonstrate that Sterigenics is not a public health threat. This past summer, the EPA reported disturbingly high cancer risk in communities across the country that are home to commercial sterilization facilities including Sterigenics that emit EtO, which is a gas used to sterilize medical equipment and produce other chemicals. The EPA's estimate of EtO's cancer risk had been recently updated after 30 years and the risk is now believed to be at least 30 times higher than previously thought. This means the excess cancer risk around Sterigenics is 300 cancer cases per million people, well above the level of 100 cases per million that the EPA uses as a threshold to take action. In September, Congressman Lipinski sent a letter to the EPA demanding that the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook be shut down unless air testing can demonstrate that current emissions are not a health threat. He followed that up with legislation introduced last month directing the agency's administrator to finally update its emissions regulations for EtO.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schakowsky.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=3782,"Schakowsky, Warren Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Radically Reduce Drug Prices Through Public Manufacturing of Prescription Drugs",2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Jan Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation would address market failures and increase competition in the generic drug market by establishing new Office of Drug Manufacturing Warren also callson Senate to investigate alleged price fixing among companies, driving up the cost of hundreds of generic drugs in America Bill Text (PDF)| One-Pager (PDF) | Op-ed Washington, DC -United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today introduced the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act, an ambitious proposal to address the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs. Her bill would lower prices and increase competition in the generic pharmaceutical market by establishing an Office of Drug Manufacturingwithin the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tasked with manufacturing select generic drugs and offering them to consumers at a fair price that guarantees affordable patient access. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) plans to introduce identical companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. ""In market after market, competition is dying as a handful of giant companies spend millions to rig the rules, insulate themselves from accountability, and line their pockets at the expense of American families,""said Senator Warren. ""The solution here is not to replace markets, but to fix them. The Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act will introduce more competition into the prescription drug market, and bring down prices for consumers."" ""Nearly 25% of Americans have skipped a dose of their medication or not filled a prescription due to the prohibitive cost. This includes 50% of medications for chronic disease that are not taken as prescribed. This lack of adherence is estimated to have caused approximately 125,000 deaths, and we know the names of some people who have died. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical corporations have spiked prices, stifled competition, and thickened their own wallets,"" said Representative Schakowsky. ""That's why I'm proud to unveil the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act with my friend Senator Elizabeth Warren today. It's time for Pharmaceutical companies to face real, honest competition in the marketplace and it's well past time for prescription drug prices to come down."" When patents on brand-name drugs expire, market forces are supposed to kick in to lower prices as companies rush to make generic versions. But the generic drug market-which supplies nearly 90 percent of the country's prescriptions-is broken in fundamental ways. Today, 40 percent of generic drugs are made by a single company and the majority are manufactured by only one or two companies. Many drugs whose patents have expired simply sit on the shelf with no producer at all. And some companies even buy up expired patents to corner the market and jack up prices-all to rake in cash on the backs of patients. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that forty-seven states and the Department of Justice are currently investigating a massive price fixing conspiracy that's driving up the cost of hundreds of generic drugs in America. Senator Warren is now calling on Senate committees with jurisdiction over drug pricing issues to open an investigation into these disturbing allegations. The Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act would authorize the public manufacture of generic drugs where drug companies have twisted markets to drive up prices. If passed, it would bring down costs for millions. The Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act would: Lower prices, increase competition, and address shortages in the market for prescription drugs through a newly established Office of Drug Manufacturing within HHS; Authorize the Office to manufacture generic drugsunder these key conditions, where competition is lacking: No company is manufacturing the drug; Only one or two companies produce the drug, and the price has spiked or the drug is in shortage; Only one or two companies produce the drug, the price is a barrier to patient access, and the drug is listed as an ""essential medicine"" by the World Health Organization; Further authorize the Office to manufacture any drug that has been compulsorily licensed by the federal government; Require the Office to begin production of generic insulin within one year of enactment; Allow the Office to sell publicly-produced drugs at a fair price that covers manufacturing costs while taking into account the impact of price on patient access; Improve the ability of new companies to enter the generic drug market by authorizing the public manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients; Jump-start competition by directing the Office to offer to sell its manufacturing rights to any company that commits to keeping the product on the market at a fair price; Reserve any revenue generated from the sale of publicly-manufactured drugs for the use of the Office, making the office self-sustaining. The Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act is endorsed by Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Open Markets Institute, Physicians for a National Health Program, Housing Works, Knowledge Ecology International, Center for Medicare Advocacy, CREDO, National Physician's Alliance, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, American Federation of Teachers, and the Business Initiative for Health Policy. ""With generic drug market failures increasingly prevalent, consumers are suffering from price gouging and essential drug shortages. Senator Warren's Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act offers the remedy for this disease: public manufacture of generic drugs for which there is inadequate competition or supply, for sale at a fair and reasonable price. This common sense bill will address shortages, lower prices, aid consumers and advance public health. Public Citizen applauds Senator Warren for introducing the bill and strongly endorses it,"" said Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen. ""People everywhere were rightly outraged when they learned that Mylan was selling EpiPens for around $300 each, making it impossible for many families to afford them. Without an EpiPen, which was invented with taxpayer dollars, a child with a peanut allergy is one poorly labeled cookie away from possible death. The problem is that when another company 'came to the rescue' by introducing a generic alternative they also priced it at $300, because they could. These companies are putting greed above people's lives. That is why Sen. Warren's Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act is so important. It would establish a new office to ensure that generic versions of medications like EpiPen are produced, and that they are priced so that every single person who needs them can get them,"" said Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works. ""Soaring drug prices are compromising access to needed medicines for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, our dysfunctional, profit-driven pharmaceutical system has led to critical drug shortages, hindering care in hospitals throughout the nation. By creating a public drug manufacturer, Senator Warren's bill could help address both problems, producing inexpensive drugs that will bring down costs, expand access, and shore up the drug supply chain-ensuring that every American can get the medicines they need,"" said Adam Gaffney, President, Physicians for a National Health Program. ""Big Pharma has been taking advantage of Americans for far too long. This legislation is a major contribution to the fight to ensure that all Americans are able to access and afford the life-saving prescription drugs they need and deserve,"" said Josh Nelson, Co-Director, CREDO Action. ""Absurdly high drug prices are the number one driver of runaway healthcare costs for American businesses, workers and patients,"" said Richard Master, Chair of Business Initiative for Health Policy, ""anyone who is serious about controlling costs and ensuring more patients have access to life-saving drugs should be supporting this legislation."" ""Pharmaceutical corporations price-gouge people with HIV and millions of other patients, leaving Americans forced to choose between rent and medicine for products other countries get for much less. Even when those costs are covered, they drive up the price of health care, costing taxpayers, employers and ordinary Americans, who pay far more for coverage than they would otherwise, due to high drug prices. When the pharmaceutical market isn't working, such as when the lone manufacturer of an essential product prices life-saving drugs out of reach, then it's time for the Office of Drug Manufacturing to step in and safeguard the public. Getting a handle on excessive drug pricing is crucial to efforts to get high-quality, low-cost healthcare to every person in the United States. As a healthcare provider to thousands of low-income people with HIV, and an advocate for universal healthcare, we support of measures like this that will put patients first,"" said Charles King, Co-Founder and CEO of Housing Works. ""T1International applauds Senator Warren's efforts to establish an Office of Drug Manufacturing within the Department of Health and Human Services, to increase competition, lower prices, and improve access to life-sustaining medications. We are encouraged that Senator Warren's proposal addresses the insulin price crisis directly. This adds to a growing chorus of politicians and policy-makers that are proposing actions that the #insulin4all movement and people living with diabetes have been advocating for. Bold efforts are needed to address the insulin price crisis in the USA, and drug prices in general. We hope Senator Warren's colleagues support this effort and other forward-thinking initiatives to put an end to completely avoidable deaths of people living with type 1 diabetes,"" said Elizabeth Rowley, Founder and Director of T1International. ""Senator Warren's bill, which authorises public manufacturing of vital generic drugs that are limited or concentrated in supply and high in prices, is a bold and visionary move. Creating a functional generics market that is abundant, affordable and accessible for the public goes far beyond simply fixing market failures: to safeguard the public interest of American citizens, the government as a representative of the public must become a much more proactive player in directly co-shaping and co-creating a generic market that delivers for all,"" said Mariana Mazzucato, Professor of the Economics of Innovation and Public Value and Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP). ""Senator Warren and Representative Schakowsky's bill, the Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act, is a creative and effective way to tackle the prescription drug price crisis. It proposes to create a public option to remedy the monopolistic and oligopolistic control of many generic drug markets. The bill would create an Office of Drug Manufacturing within the Department of Health and Human Services to produce generic drugs that are presently either unavailable or unaffordable due to market concentration. The bill features limits on revolving door staffing of the agency, public reporting requirements, and a mandate to produce a specified number of generic drugs each year. These provisions would ensure that the new Office fulfills its statutory duties to help tackle the economic, political, and social crisis of unaffordable prescription drugs,"" said Sandeep Vaheesan, Legal Director of the Open Markets Institute. A member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Senator Warren has been a leading voice in Washington calling for lower prescription drug prices since joining the Senate in 2013. In July 2018, she introduced the Capping Prescription Costs Act, a bill that tackles high drug costs faced by families placing a monthly cap on their out-of-pocket drug costs. The legislation caps prescription drug copays at $250 per month for individuals and $500 per month for families. The bill, which applies to all group health plans and individual market plans, ensures that individuals and families with high prescription drug costs are protected and can access their necessary medications. ?###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/waukegan-5th-grader-designs-congressman-schneider-s-holiday-card,Waukegan 5th Grader Designs Congressman Schneiders Holiday Card,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Brad Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Representative Brad Schneider announced artwork by Natalee Lizardo, a 5th grade student at North Elementary School in Waukegan was the winning design for his 2018 holiday card. Earlier this year, Schneider solicited greeting card designs from Tenth District elementary schools. Schneider with Natalee Lizardo, a 5th Grade Student at North Elementary School in Waukegan, who designed his 2018 holiday card cover. The message inside the card reads: Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled with the warm company of family and friends. May the New Year unite us all with the blessings of peace, good health and happiness. Happy Holidays from the Schneider family,",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-cotton-amendments-to-the-first-step-act-only-seek-to-shatter-bipartisan-compromise,Durbin: Cotton Amendments To The First Step Act Only Seek To Shatter Bipartisan Compromise,2018-12-18,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.18 Durbin: Cotton Amendments To The First Step Act Only Seek To Shatter Bipartisan Compromise WASHINGTON U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead Democratic sponsor of the First Step Act, today urged his colleagues to vote against the amendment to the First Step Act being offered by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and John Kennedy (R-LA). In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that this amendment is a poison pill designed to gut the prison reforms in the First Step Act and shatter this bipartisan compromise. Durbin, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), introduced the First Step Act last month, which combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reforms from the broadly bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which was authored by Durbin and Grassley and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in February by a vote of 16-5. The First Step Act is endorsed by President Trump and cosponsored by more than a third of the Senate, evenly balanced among Democrats and Republicans. Yesterday, the Senate voted to advance the First Step Act by a vote of 82-12. A final passage vote is expected today or tomorrow. When it comes to the Cotton Amendments, members of the Senate really have a very clear and stark choice. They can support a bill which has been worked on in a bipartisan basis and enjoys the support of police, prosecutors, and those groups which protect our constitutional rights all together, right and left supporting. They can support a bill that has bipartisan support here on the floor, colleagues and members who rarely come together, but we have come together on this bill because we have found a good compromise. They can support a bill which has the support of survivors and criminal victims' organizations. Or they can vote for the Cotton Amendments, which are opposed by the leading crime victims' rights groups, Durbin said. I hope my colleagues will join me in opposing the Cotton amendments. The Cotton-Kennedy amendment is opposed by dozens of organization from across the political spectrum, including Heritage Action; Freedom Works; Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a national network of more than 30,000 crime victims; Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration; and the Council of Prison Locals, which represents all federal prison guards. Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate Floor are availablehere. Audio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate Floor are available here. The First Step Act is backed by a number of law enforcement groups, including the nation's largest police group. It's also supported by 172 former federal prosecutors along with sheriffs from 34 states across the country. The National Governors Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states, praised the bill. A broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups, along with a host of business leaders and faith-based organizations, also support the First Step Act. In February, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance comprehensive legislation led by Durbin and Grassley that focuses mandatory minimum prison sentences on the most serious drug offenders and violent criminals, while giving judges more discretion to determine an appropriate sentence for individuals with minimal non-violent criminal histories. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act is cosponsored by 32 senators, divided equally between Republicans and Democrats, and has earned the support of numerous stakeholders from across the political spectrum, including civil rights, faith, and law enforcement groups. In 2010, Durbin worked with then-Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to pass the Fair Sentencing Act, which eliminated the five-year mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack and dramatically reduced the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Since 1980, the federal prison population has grown by over 700 percent, and federal prison spending has climbed nearly 600 percent. Today, the United States holds more prisoners, by far, than any other country in the world. Overcrowded federal prisons consume one quarter of the Justice Department's discretionary budget, which undermines other important priorities, such as preventing crime and treating drug addiction. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://davis.house.gov/media/press-releases/cbc-statement-russian-attempts-suppress-african-american-turnout-2016-election,CBC Statement on Russian Attempts to Suppress African American Turnout in the 2016 Election,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Danny K. Davis,D000096,davis.house.gov,davis,https://davis.house.gov/media,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Danny K. Davis joined with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – led by Chairman L. Cedric Richmond (D-LA-02), and Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Task Force Co-Chairs, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) and G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) – and issued the following joint statement in response to a new report prepared for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which reveals Russia targeted African American voters in attempts to suppress the vote in the 2016 election: “During the 2016 presidential election cycle, hundreds of thousands of minority voters were disenfranchised before they even had a chance to walk into the voting booth. As today’s report produced for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence makes clear – this was a carefully orchestrated effort by Russian actors to exploit social media platforms in order to suppress turnout among black voters. “This campaign of disinformation is extremely disconcerting because black voter turnout declined in 2016 – for the first time in 20 years. “While this next Congress gives both Democrats and Republicans an opportunity to address election security, we call upon the President to take the security of our elections seriously and work with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the FBI to stop foreign election meddling efforts. The CBC would also like to hear directly from Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook, and CEOs of other companies whose platforms were weaponized, about what they knew, and concrete steps they will implement to address future attempts at disinformation campaigns. “We cannot allow the deceit and misinformation that characterized the 2016 elections to be repeated in the future.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-statement-on-facebook-s-failure-to-stop-targeted-manipulation-of,Rush Statement on Facebooks Failure to Stop Targeted Manipulation of African-Americans in the 2016 Election,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bobby Rush,R000515,rush.house.gov,,,legacy,"CHICAGO Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), released the following statement on today's New York Times article detailing Russia's targeted manipulation of African-Americans in the 2016 election: Today's troubling report underscores the point I raised at the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing with Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook can be and has been used to unethically and unfairly target individuals based on their perceived race. It is appalling that Facebook, one of the world's most groundbreaking companies, sat idly by while African-Americans were inundated with propaganda and lies by a hostile foreign power with the intent to suppress voter turnout. It is highly implausible that no one at Facebook noticed this was happening and that it didn't ring alarm bells throughout their Menlo Park headquarters. This corporate blind spot further underscores the serious need for a more diverse workforce who would have been more likely to notice this alarming anomaly; it is not enough to have Black Lives Matters posters on the wall. Facebook callously ignored the systematic and deliberate targeting of those who, according to the New York Times, had shown interest in particular topics, including black history, the Black Panther Party and Malcolm X.' Mark Zuckerberg failed his users and has continued to erode the trust of Americans because Facebook is more concerned with their bottom line instead of defending our democracy and vulnerable and historically-marginalized populations. Our country has a long and sordid history of suppressing the black vote a brazen pattern we continue to see today and Facebook has now joined the ranks of those who have furthered that repugnant cause. Facebook and its subsidiaries must be held accountable for the egregious and negligent role they played in the 2016 election. This larger-than-life company has a moral responsibility to protect their users, not be a party to the erosion of our democracy or aid and abet hostile foreign actors. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-affordable-care-act-court-ruling,Statement on Affordable Care Act Court Ruling,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Brad Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) released the following statement responding to the ruling of a federal judge in Texas that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional: The Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans failed to repeal the Affordable Care Act legislatively, but they have not stopped working behind the scenes to weaken and undermine the law. While disappointing, it is no surprise that President Trump is now celebrating a ruling that jeopardizes health coverage and vital protections for millions of Americans. This ruling is an egregious example of activist judicial overreach that is likely to be overturned on appeal. The Affordable Care Act will stay in effect during this appeal, but the law remains under assault from an Administration willing to remove protections for people with pre-existing conditions, promote inadequate and incomplete insurance plans, and slash funding for open enrollment advertising and assistance. Americans' basic health care is at stake. The Administration has an obligation to end the sabotage and instead defend the law. More importantly, I encourage the President to work with the incoming Democratic majority to develop health care solutions that lower cost, improve care, and expand coverage to more Americans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-van-hollen-and-klobuchar-is-general-motors-getting-tax-savings-for-outsourcing-jobs,"Duckworth, Van Hollen & Klobuchar: Is General Motors Getting Tax Savings for Outsourcing Jobs?",2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 17, 2018 Duckworth, Van Hollen & Klobuchar: Is General Motors Getting Tax Savings for Outsourcing Jobs? [WASHINGTON, D.C] In light of the recent General Motors (GM) announcement of layoffs in the United States, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) wrote to GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra to request information on how the company is benefiting from new tax incentives for outsourcing U.S. jobs that were created by the recent Republican tax law. The Senators also asked GM to cancel further stock buybacks, which give a windfall to GM's executives and stockholders, at a time when they are laying off thousands of workers. We are deeply concerned about the recent actions by GM to close factories in the United States at the same time that GM is expanding production in Mexico and buying back its own stock, the Senators wrote. GM will receive a huge tax cut under the 2017 tax act in the coming years, and American taxpayers saved GM in the wake of the Great Recession. We hope you will agree that the American people deserve some basic transparency from GM to understand why it is choosing to close plants in the United States even as it expands production in Mexico. In the letter, the Senators call on the GM to share information about how the company may be benefiting from the new tax law and if it is reducing its tax rate by expanding operations overseas while it closes factories here in the United States. Specifically, the Senators asked GM for country-by-country information on GM's profits, taxes, employees, and tangible assets to understand if the company is artificially shifting its profits into tax haven countries with extremely low rates considering GM has 13 subsidiaries in tax haven countries, including three in Switzerland. If GM follows through with layoffs to workers in other states, it could impact Illinois's economy since GM spends roughly $3 billion a year on products from Illinois suppliers. Earlier this month, Duckworth and Van Hollen also helped introduce Klobuchar's Removing Incentives for Outsourcing Act, which would eliminate incentives the use of excess foreign tax credits (FTCs) that allows U.S. companies to shelter profits in tax havens put forth by the Republican tax law. The full text of the letter is available here or below. Dear Chairman Barra, We are deeply concerned about the recent actions by General Motors Company (GM) to close factories in the United States, at the same time that GM is expanding production in Mexico and buying back its own stock. We are writing to request information about how GM may be benefiting from new tax incentives for offshoring that were created by the 2017 tax act, and to ask that GM cancel further stock buybacks. The 2017 tax act gave corporations a tax exemption for their foreign profits. It establishes a territorial tax system under which corporations pay a 21% tax on their domestic profits, but generally pay no U.S. taxes on foreign profits, unless profits are taxed under other provisions. While corporations often pay foreign taxes on foreign profits, many corporations artificially shift their profits into tax haven countries with extremely low rates. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, GM has 13 subsidiaries in tax haven countries, including three in Switzerland. The 2017 tax act was supposed to limit abuse of tax havens with a minimum tax on foreign profits known as Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income, or GILTI. But the GILTI tax rate is only 10.5%. So a corporation could pay the full GILTI tax rate, and still pay only half as much taxes on its foreign tax haven profits as it does for its domestic profits. Even worse, corporations can actually reduce their GILTI tax liability by shifting even more of their factories, profits, and jobs overseas. Since the first ten percent return on foreign assets is tax free, there is an incentive in the law to increase offshore investment. Another major concern is that GILTI is not calculated on a country-by-country basis. If it were, then GM would only be able to reduce the GILTI tax on its tax haven profits to the extent that it actually paid taxes to those tax haven countries. Instead, the taxes GM pays in the foreign countries where it builds new factories can be used to reduce GM's GILTI tax from the tax havens where it owns subsidiaries. The 2017 tax act was rushed through Congress on a partisan basis without the public hearings or careful analysis that would have been necessary for real tax reform. As a result, taxpayers and businesses across the country are now asking Congress to fix the many glitches in the law, and more glitches continue to be discovered as the public studies this law. GM workers in the United States have a right to know whether the federal government is giving GM a tax break for shipping jobs overseas. An informed public debate about international corporate tax policy requires more transparency from multinational corporations like GM. Therefore, we are calling on you to release your country-by-country financial reports. We need to understand how much GM can reduce its tax rate by expanding operations overseas while it closes factories here in the United States. This requires country-by-country information on GM's profits, taxes, employees, and tangible assets. Large corporations like GM are already required to provide country-by-country reports to the IRS, so this request does not require significant additional work besides making those reports public. Furthermore, we ask that GM cancel its planned stock buybacks. These buybacks make no sense, since GM's stated purpose for closing factories is to free up cash flow for investments in electric and autonomous vehicles. GM has spent $10.6 billion on stock buybacks since 2015, and plans to continue these buybacks until it has spent $14 billion. These buybacks give a windfall to GM's executives and stockholders, while diverting cash flow that GM could use to invest in electric and autonomous vehicles without laying off American workers. GM will receive a huge tax cut under the 2017 tax act in the coming years, and American taxpayers saved GM in the wake of the Great Recession. We hope you will agree that the American people deserve some basic transparency from GM to understand why it is choosing to close plants in the United States even as it expands production in Mexico. Sincerely, -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-emanuel-announce-148-million-for-cta-red-line-improvements,"Durbin, Duckworth, Emanuel Announce $1.48 Million for CTA Red Line Improvements",2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.18 Durbin, Duckworth, Emanuel Announce $1.48 Million for CTA Red Line Improvements WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced $1,480,000 in federal funding to support improvements for the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red Line. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will support the planning of the proposed extension of the Red Line, connecting the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal to 130th Street. ""This grant funding will continue to help improve the CTA's infrastructure, which in turn helps revitalize neighborhoods and create jobs, Durbin said. Senator Duckworth and I will continue to work to bring Illinois' public transit infrastructure into the 21st century."" Federal investments like these will improve Chicago's public transit system to better connect the city's residents and visitors, improve work commutes and create the good-paying jobs that grow the region's economy,Duckworth said. I'll keep working with Senator Durbin and others to modernize Chicago's infrastructure and improve transportation systems across Illinois. The CTA is in the midst of an unprecedented modernization and this grant funding will allow us to continue with those improvements. Emanuel said. Extending the Red Line south will help move our city forward, create jobs, drive development, connect residents and secure our place as a world-class city in the 21st century. Today's funding comes from the DOT's Transit-Oriented Development Pilot Planning Program, which provides funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new fixed guideway or core capacity transit capital investment. Comprehensive planning funded through the program must examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs, and enable mixed-use development near transit stations. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-grassley-statement-on-senates-consideration-of-the-first-step-act,"Durbin, Grassley Statement On Senate's Consideration Of The First Step Act",2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.18 Durbin, Grassley Statement On Senate's Consideration Of The First Step Act WASHINGTON Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the following statement on the Senate's 82-12 vote tonight to hold debate and a final vote on the First Step Act this week: I am glad that my colleagues have voted to advance this bipartisan legislation. It is the best chance in a generation to make meaningful changes in our federal drug sentencing laws. We cannot waste it, Durbin said. I look forward to debating this bill over the next day and sharing why Congress should pass this bipartisan legislation to begin relieving our overcrowded prisons, redirecting funding to our most pressing crime prevention efforts, making our communities safer, and ensuring the integrity of our justice system. Tonight the Senate decided overwhelmingly to wrap up debate and hold a final vote on the bipartisan First Step Act this week. Years of negotiations and input from colleagues, stakeholders, advocates and law enforcement have finally culminated in a broadly bipartisan bill that is backed by President Trump as well as lawmakers and organizations from across the political spectrum. I look forward to a lively debate. This is a unique opportunity to pass once-in-a-generation reforms and to score a victory for the country and for American justice, Grassley said. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-on-first-step-act-best-chance-to-make-meaningful-changes-in-our-federal-drug-sentencing-laws,Durbin On First Step Act: Best Chance To Make Meaningful Changes In Our Federal Drug Sentencing Laws,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.18 Durbin On First Step Act: Best Chance To Make Meaningful Changes In Our Federal Drug Sentencing Laws Senate votes to advance the First Step Act, confirmation vote expected Tuesday or Wednesday WASHINGTON In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, todayencouraged his Senate colleagues to support the revised First Step Act, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation. Durbin, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the First Step Act last month, which combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reform provisions from the broadly bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which was authored by Durbin and Grassley and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in February by a vote of 16-5. The First Step Act is endorsed by President Trump and cosponsored by more than a third of the Senate, evenly balanced among Democrats and Republicans. Following Durbin's remarks, the Senate voted to advance the First Step Act by a vote of 82-12. The revised First Step Act is a bipartisan sentencing and prison reform bill that is sponsored by 34 Senators 17 Republicans, 17 Democrats. It is supported by President Trump and a broad spectrum of stakeholders, Durbin said. Congress should make this bipartisan legislation a fitting ending to this year. For all of the cynicism and skepticism about what Congress can achieve, we can prove as soon as tomorrow with one of the most historic changes in criminal justice legislation in our history that we can work together for the good of this nation. Our people who sent us to this job expect no less. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also shared the story of Alton Mills. In 1994, at the age of 24, Alton was given a mandatory sentence of life without parole for a low-level nonviolent drug offense. Durbin sent then-President Obama a letter asking him to commute Alton's sentence. In December of 2015, Alton was released after 22 years behind bars. He now works as a mechanic at Chicago Transit Authority, got married, and is a community college student, where he is pursuing an associate's degree. In February 2016, Durbin hosted Alton in Washington, D.C. to speak at a Senate forum on criminal justice reform. Video of Durbin's remarks on the Senate Floor are availablehere. The First Step Act is backed by a number of law enforcement groups, including the nation's largest police group. It's also supported by 172 former federal prosecutors along with sheriffs from 34 states across the country. The National Governor's Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states, praised the bill. A broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups along with a host of business leaders and faith-based organizations also support the First Step Act. In February, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance comprehensive legislation led by Durbin and Grassley that focuses mandatory minimum prison sentences on the most serious drug offenders and violent criminals, while giving judges more discretion to determine an appropriate sentence for individuals with minimal non-violent criminal histories. The Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act is cosponsored by 32 senators, divided equally between Republicans and Democrats, and has earned the support of numerous stakeholders from across the political spectrum, including civil rights, faith, and law enforcement groups. In 2010, Durbin worked with then-Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to pass the Fair Sentencing Act, which eliminated the five-year mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack and dramatically reduced the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. Since 1980, the federal prison population has grown by over 700 percent, and federal prison spending has climbed nearly 600 percent. Today, the United States holds more prisoners, by far, than any other country in the world. Overcrowded federal prisons consume one quarter of the Justice Department's discretionary budget, which undermines other important priorities, such as preventing crime and treating drug addiction. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-for-profit-vatterott-college-closure-,Durbin Statement On For-Profit Vatterott College Closure,2018-12-17,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.17.18 Durbin Statement On For-Profit Vatterott College Closure WASHINGTONU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Vatterott College, a for-profit college, announced its immediate closure: Another overcharging, underperforming for-profit college has closed its doors. It's the second major chain in just the last three weeks to abruptly close. And it won't be the last. With the collapse of Vatterott College, another 156 students in Illinois and 2,300 nationwide are left high and dry. Now it is the obligation of the Department of Education to do everything in its power to make sure that students are fully informed of available options, including closed school discharge, and to prevent these students from being lured into completing their studies at other predatory and financially shaky for-profit colleges. I am calling on Illinois community colleges to step up and help the students that Vatterott and the for-profit college industry have failed. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-courts-will-ultimately-uphold-constitutionality,"Congressman Krishnamoorthi: ""The Courts Will Ultimately Uphold The Constitutionality Of the Affordable Care Act, And For the Sake Of Millions, They Must""",2018-12-15,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,,,legacy,"SCHAUMBURG, IL Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on Health Care, Benefits and Administrative Rules, issued the following statement in response to a district court decision in the Texas v. United States lawsuit striking down the Affordable Care Act, including its essential protections for people with pre-existing conditions: ""Last night's ruling, issued under cover of darkness, imperils the healthcare of more than 20 million Americans while running contrary to both the legislative text and congressional intent of the Affordable Care Act. Despite this temporary setback, I am confident the courts will ultimately uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. and for the sake of millions, they must. This ruling is the result of a lawsuit filed by a radical group of State Attorneys General despite the opposition and denunciation of many of their fellow Republicans. But while their attempt to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act, and all its protections, was born of partisan political animus and a complete indifference to the millions it would harm, their efforts can be overcome with a single, simple, and bipartisan act of Congress driven by our shared dedication to putting the people we serve first. I am hopeful that the 116th Congress will quickly pass legislation to guarantee that this misguided ruling cannot be used to deprive millions of Americans of their health care. Now is a time for all Americans to come together and demand Congress pass legislation that protects the healthcare of the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schakowsky.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=3781,Schakowsky statement on district court decision in Texas v. United States,2018-12-15,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Jan Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, released the following in response to a district court decision in the Texas v. United States lawsuit striking down protections for people with pre-existing conditions and the Affordable Care Act: The Affordable Care Act has saved lives, improved health care, protected women and those living with pre-existing conditions, and given families peace of mind. It remains in place today and, despite yesterday's wrongheaded court decision, will remain in place tomorrow. I have no doubt that the Texas decision will be overturned on appeal. I am also sure that the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans will continue their campaign of ACA sabotage. As House Republicans found out when their repeal efforts were defeated, the American public will not let us go back to the days when insurance companies held all the cards -- able to restrict benefits, charge unaffordable premiums, or deny coverage altogether. The incoming Democratic majority will fight to protect the ACA and build on it to lower prescription drug prices and make health care affordable.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-introduces-legislation-to-simplify-access-to-medical-records,Foster Introduces Legislation to Simplify Access to Medical Records,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – This week, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced H.R. 7295, the Medical Records Access Fairness Act. The bill would require health care providers to give patients access to their medical records at no cost once per year if they need them. According to the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office, fees that doctor offices may charge patients can impose an unnecessary financial burden on patients who request them, potentially affecting patient care adversely. Patients who have long medical histories can incur costs of thousands of dollars depending on the fees associated with medical record copies. The study also describes a situation in which one patient was charged over $100 for an electronic copy. ""Access to medical records is an essential component of ensuring patients get the best possible health care,"" said Foster. ""Fees charged by providers for medical records vary drastically by state, and some state laws, including in Illinois, allow providers to charge a per-page fee for records access. These costs can quickly become prohibitive, especially for patients with chronic diseases or complex medical histories. This common-sense bill would allow patients to access their medical records for free up to once a year, removing an unreasonable financial barrier to health care. It will go a long way to improve the health and well-being of Americans."" The Medical Records Access Fairness Act is supported by the Chronic Disease Coalition, the National MS Society, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Text of the legislation is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-and-cook-county-board-president-preckwinkle-promote,Congressman Krishnamoorthi and Cook County Board President Preckwinkle Promote Health Insurance Open Enrollment On Eve Of Deadline With Senator Durbin and Delegation Members,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Raja Krishnamoorthi,K000391,krishnamoorthi.house.gov,,,legacy,"CHICAGO, IL Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle convened an event with Senator Dick Durbin, US Representatives from the Chicago area, and Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners to encourage health insurance enrollment throughGetCoveredIllinois.orgon the eve of itsDecember 15thdeadline. I want to thank President Preckwinkle, Senator Durbin, and all my Congressional Colleagues for joining me today on the second to last day of this year's insurance open enrollment period, said Congressman Krishnamoorthi's. We came together today tomark the tremendous progress that the Affordable Care Act brought, as well as the importance of signing up for health insurancebefore tomorrow's deadline.Enrollment for 2019 is down 11% from last year, due in large part to the Trump administration's cuts to outreach programs and advertising. I'm proud to see that so many of my Illinois colleagues are stepping up to fill this void and remind everyone to sign up for an ACA plan today. Other speakers at the event includedCongresswoman Jan Schakowsky,Congresswoman Robin Kelly,Congressman-Elect Sean Casten,Congresswoman-Elect Lauren Underwood, andDr. Claudia Fegan, Chief Medical Officer for Cook County.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3747,Lipinski Bill Supporting American Entrepreneurs and Innovation Introduced in Senate,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Daniel Lipinski,L000563,lipinski.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressman Dan Lipinski's (D-IL)Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018, a job-creating bill boosting American innovation and aiding entrepreneurs, has been introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan pair of senators, Chris Coons (D-DE) and Todd Young (R-IN). The bipartisan bill, which Lipinski introduced in the House along with Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL), expands the highly successful National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program that educates scientists and engineers about how to turn their laboratory research into new products and services. The bill was passed in the House earlier this year. I want to thank Senators Coons and Young for their leadership in introducing this bill in the Senate, said Lipinski. Increasing the accessibility of I-Corps allows us to ensure the money we invest in research and development will spur job growth and boost our return on investment. This bill has been endorsed by a wide range of technology, venture capital, and academic stakeholders, and we're optimistic it will become law with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018 expands I-Corps to meet several pressing needs: it expands eligibility to those who are not grantees of the National Science Foundation (NSF) or other I-Corps agencies, it lets interested private citizens and companies apply to participate and cover their own costs, and it directs the NSF to establish a new course to teach scientist-entrepreneurs how to start and grow a company. Finally, the legislation requires a Government Accountability Office assessment of the I-Corps program its first comprehensive, independent evaluation since it was created. Rep. Webster said the I-Corps program will bridge the divide between the academic world and commercialization sphere, playing a critical role in the efforts to increase innovation for all Americans. I am pleased to see the Senate introduction of S. 9, the Innovation to Entrepreneurs Act, said Webster. This bill mirrors our bipartisan efforts in the House to expand upon the time-tested I-Corps program through adding a course for commercialization-ready participants. This course will focus on the essential skills of starting a successful and scalable business. A special thank you to Senators Coons and Young for leading the charge in the Senate and making this a bicameral effort. Sens. Coons and Young said the bill will assist scientists-turned-entrepreneurs with skills like business development and company formation that are taught in business schools but not in Ph.D. programs. Training our most promising entrepreneurs to navigate the transition from the laboratory to the marketplace supports U.S.-grown startups and small businesses and increases our competitiveness on the global stage,said Coons. We wisely invest billions of taxpayer dollars every year into scientific research and development, and this legislation builds a bridge for our best research to directly benefit society. Added Young, Entrepreneurs fuel Indiana's small business community and have the power to transform our lives.This legislation will support Hoosier entrepreneurs by investing in research and innovation, and empowering individuals to turn their ideas into products and businesses. The bill, S.9, awaits further action in the Senate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gun-violence-deaths-reach-record-highs-in-2017,Gun Violence Deaths Reach Record Highs in 2017,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Robin Kelly, vice chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, released this statement concerning the CDC report that gun violence deaths in 2017 climbed to the highest recorded rate in history: Thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-three American lives were taken by gun violence in 2017. Thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-three mothers, brothers, sisters and fathers lost their lives while this Republican-controlled Congress has done nothing to stop the carnage and madness. Shame on President Trump for his inaction. Shame on Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan for their willful ignorance. Shame on Congressional Republicans who refused to hold their leadership accountable and lacked the courage to act and save lives. These deaths aren't just statistics. They are real people who had real lives until gun violence cut them short. People like Nikia Betts, the Chicago mother of a 4-year old who was also shot; William ``Willie'' Cooper, a community activists working to stop the violence in Chicago; and Philando Castile, the beloved lunch man' who invested in the students of J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet School. The time to act is now, before another record-breaking year of gun violence deaths devastates American communities. When Democrats assume control of the House of Representatives in January, we can and must act on gun violence. We can start by passing universal background check legislation, legislation that's proven to reduce gun violence death and has the support of ninety percent of Americans and seventy percent of NRA members. We must also open up public health funding and research into gun violence, as we've successfully done for automobile accidents, tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse. Make no mistake, the American people are sick and tired of watching their family, friends, loved ones and neighbors die from preventable gun violence. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-137m-to-protect-illinois-families-from-toxic-lead,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce $13.7M to Protect Illinois Families from Toxic Lead",2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 14, 2018 Duckworth, Durbin Announce $13.7M to Protect Illinois Families from Toxic Lead [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $13,700,000 in federal funding today to help provide lead-free housing units to low-income families throughout Illinois. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Lead Hazard Reduction Program (LHRD), which aims to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned housing for rental or owner-occupants, and HUD's Healthy Homes supplemental funding, which focuses on researching and implementing low-cost, effective home hazard assessment methods. Federal funds like these help local communities address toxic lead-based paint, which has been proven to harm children and cause cognitive and behavioral problems, Duckworth said. I'll keep working with Senator Durbin to reduce exposure to this dangerous neurotoxin and ensure safe, healthy housing options for children and families all across Illinois. We know the damage lead can do to developing brains, and it's our responsibility to ensure that all children, regardless of their background, can grow up healthy and reach their full potential. Access to safe housing should not be determined by your zip code, Durbin said. Senator Duckworth and I will continue fighting for investments like this to help make sure that families throughout Illinois are protected from the threat of lead poisoning. The following recipients will receive funds under this announcement: City of Chicago: $4,100,000 $3,500,000 in LHRD funding; $600,000 in Healthy Homes funding City of Moline: $2,400,000 $2,240,000 in LHRD funding; $160,000 in Healthy Homes funding City of Kankakee: $3,600,000 $3,000,000 in LHRD funding; $600,000 in Healthy Homes funding Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity: $3,600,000 $3,000,000 in LHRD funding; $600,000 in Healthy Homes funding Duckworth has been outspoken about the need to reduce human exposure to toxic poisons like lead and has introduced several pieces of legislation addressing to address the issue. In September of this year, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI) joined Duckworth in introducing the Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act to protect families from lead exposure by requiring HUD to inspect for lead service lines, create a grant program to address lead contamination, and allow a cross-check for lead in water when remediating a home for lead found in paint. She also introduced the Get the Lead Out of Schools Act with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to ensure periodic testing for lead contamination in drinking water at schools while also providing schools with additional resources to monitor lead levels and replace outdated water infrastructure systems. In 2017, Durbin introduced the bipartisan Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act, which would require HUD to adopt prevention measures and update its lead regulations to protect children from the risk of lead exposure. Since the enactment of federal lead policies in the 1990s, lead poisoning rates have fallen dramatically. However, lead poisoning risk continues to fall disproportionally on minority children that live in federally subsidized housing because of outdated and ineffective federal laws and regulations. In November of this year, Durbin and Duckworth, along with eight of their Senate colleagues, wrote to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, urging the agency to immediately improve its oversight of lead-based paint hazards in federally-assisted housing to ensure that families and children are protected from exposure to lead. The letter came on the heels of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recommending that HUD take immediate action to improve all of its protocols for identifying and remediating the presence of lead-based paint hazards in federally-assisted housing. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-court-ruling-overturning-affordable-care-,Duckworth Statement on Court Ruling Overturning Affordable Care,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 14, 2018 Duckworth Statement on Court Ruling Overturning Affordable Care [WASHINGTON, D.C.] In response to a court ruling declaring the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional that has been cheered on by Donald Trump, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: This absurd ruling in a lawsuit that was brought forward by Republican Attorneys General with the support of the Trump Administration could take away healthcare from tens of millions of Americans if it is not overturned. Tonight's decision will beappealedbut we cannot and will not stop fighting to protect our health care or allow insurers to once again discriminate against the sick and those with pre-existing conditions. The Affordable Care Act remains the law of the landwhile it is appealed so Americans should continue to sign up for health insurance before the open enrollment period ends tomorrow night. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-to-epa-dont-weaken-coal-ash-rule,"Durbin, Duckworth To EPA: Don't Weaken Coal Ash Rule",2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.18 Durbin, Duckworth To EPA: Don't Weaken Coal Ash Rule Senators urge Trump Administration to keep in place the 2015 rule that sets minimum federal standards for coal ash disposal WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the agency to not weaken the federal regulation for the safe disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) or coal ash, which protects drinking water, human health, and the environment. The 2015 rule established by the EPA sets minimum federal standards for coal ash disposal. Industry reports required under the 2015 rule show that coal ash disposal ponds caused unsafe pollution levels of arsenic, cobalt, and selenium in groundwater wells at 22 of the 24 power plant locations in Illinois This contamination threatens to spread to rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources throughout the Stateincluding Lake Michigan, which provides drinking water to the Chicago area, and the Illinois River, home to diverse pool of aquatic species and wildlife and an important destination for recreational activities,the Senators wrote.The proper disposal of coal ash is necessary for protecting humans and wildlife. We strongly urge you to consider new, stronger, more protective standards to ensure public health and environmental safety. Since the rule was finalized, Congress passed theWater Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act,enabling, but not requiring, states to set up permitting programs at least as protective as federal requirements for the disposal of coal ash. However in September 2017, the Trump Administration announced that it would consider revisions to the coal ash rule, and in March 2018, the EPA issued anew proposed rule. Coal ash contains toxic metals that can cause cancer, heart damage, lung disease, kidney disease, and birth defects and even lead to premature death. More than 130 million tons of coal ash are generated each year in the United States. Although half of the coal ash produced is reused and repurposed as either a substitute for Portland concrete or gypsum wallboard, the other half must be disposed of as waste. According to an EPA Risk Assessment, people living within one mile of unlined coal ash ponds have an elevated cancer risk. The2015CCR rule represents a consensus among utilities, environmental groups, and waste facilities to implement common sense regulations for coal ash disposal.In April, Senators Durbin, Duckworth, and others wrote a letter to then-EPA Administrator Pruitt highlighting how EPA's proposed rule would weaken standards and harm the environment. Full text of the letter is available hereand below: December 14, 2018 Dear Acting Administrator Wheeler: We write to express concern about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) steps to roll back the 2015 Coal Ash Rulea crucial regulation for toxic coal combustion residualsand to urge the EPA to strengthen its standards to ensure safe disposal of coal ash, as required by the DC Circuit Court's decision in August. A recent report by several environmental groups highlighted the harmful effects of coal ash in the State of Illinois. Industry reports required under the 2015 rule show that coal ash disposal ponds caused unsafe pollution levels of arsenic, cobalt and selenium in groundwater wells at 22 of the 24 power plant locations in Illinois (as shown on the attached map). This contamination threatens to spread to rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources throughout the Stateincluding Lake Michigan, which provides drinking water to the Chicago area, and the Illinois River, home to diverse pool of aquatic species and wildlife and an important destination for recreational activities Unfortunately, the severity of this problem is not limited to Illinois. These findings are proxies for the nationwide pollution problems caused by coal ash, which can be seen in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. Given this data, it is unsurprising that the DC Circuit Court found the 2015 rule insufficient in preventing toxic pollution from leaching from inactive sites and coal ash disposal ponds into nearby groundwater. It's clear that coal ash, a brew of carcinogenic chemicals and heavy metals, is a danger to human health and the environment. The proper disposal of coal ash is necessary for protecting humans and wildlife. We strongly urge you to consider new, stronger, more protective standards to ensure public health and environmental safety. Sincerely, -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-court-decision-striking-down-affordable-care-act,Durbin Statement On Court Decision Striking Down Affordable Care Act,2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.18 Durbin Statement On Court Decision Striking Down Affordable Care Act WASHINGTONU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after a federal judge in Texas issued a ruling finding the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional: After repeatedly trying and failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act in Congress, President Trump and his Republican allies have turned to right-wing activist judges to try to overturn this vital law. Instead of working to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions and ensure that all American families have choices when it comes to affordable, quality health care coverage, the Trump Administration has made it their mission for two years to destroy the law that has given 20 million Americans quality, affordable health insurance. Today's decision by a district court judge backed by President Trump is politics at its worst and threatens access to care for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. But this misguided decision will be appealed, and I am confident that common sense will prevail. Americans across the country should continue to sign up for health insurance through Saturday's deadline. The Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as constitutional in 2012 and 2015. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-young-bill-to-support-congenital-heart-defect-research-passes-senate-,"Durbin, Young Bill To Support Congenital Heart Defect Research Passes Senate",2018-12-14,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.18 Durbin, Young Bill To Support Congenital Heart Defect Research Passes Senate WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) andTodd Young (R-IN) announced today that their bipartisan bill,theCongenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act,unanimously passed the Senate. This legislation will promote federal research on congenital heart defects (CHD) and raise awareness of the impact these health problems have throughout patients'lives. TheSenate-passedCongenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act increases the funding authorization level forthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)to $10 million per year, compared to the current funding level of $4 million, which will helpstates collect data on the prevalence of CHD and understand trends, health care needs,and disparities amongtheonemillion children and 1.4 million adultsliving with CHD. Last year, Durbinand Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced a similar version of this bipartisan bill, which was also cosponsored by SenatorsYoung,Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). If a loved one ever has the misfortune of getting sick or being born with a serious medical condition, you hope there's a treatment or care option for them. That's why I've fought to increase biomedical researchresulting in a $9 billion funding increase for our National Institutes of Health over the past four years. And that's why passing the bipartisanCongenital Heart Futures ReauthorizationActis so important. It will improve research, data collection, and awareness so we can establish a standard of care for the 2.5 million American survivors with this serious birth defect, and provide real hope for their futures, said Durbin. Gaining a better understanding of congenital heart defects is critical to the nearly 1 in 100 babies born with CHD and the millions of survivors living with this disease, said Young. That's why I helped lead the Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act with Senator Durbin, to increase research funding and awareness for congenital heart defects. I'm proud this bipartisan legislation has passed the Senate and is now one step closer to becoming law and saving lives. Durbin first introduced theCongenital Heart Futures Actin 2009 with Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Zack Space (D-OH).The bill was included in theAffordable Care Act, and supported research to build a set of best practices and understanding for how to screen and care for newborns with health defects. TheCongenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Actis supported by the Pediatric Congenital Heart Association, Adult Congenital Heart Association, American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Association, American College of Cardiology, Society for Thoracic Surgeons, Children's Heart Foundation, and Mended Little Hearts. Heart defects are the most common and deadliest form of birth defects, with one in twenty children not living to see their first birthday. Early detection of congenital heart defects can be lifesaving. Thanks to significant strides inscreening rates and surgical procedures, an estimated90 percent of youth with CHD now surviveinto adulthood. However,there is no cure. As adult survivors age, they require lifelong, specialized care, andsome patients faceongoing andadditional health challenges, including an increased risk of disability and premature death. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-announces-bipartisan-national-labs-caucus,Foster Announces Bipartisan National Labs Caucus,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that he has been named Co-Chair of the National Labs Caucus in the 116th Congress. The caucus advocates for federal investment in research at America's 17 national labs, and it will raise awareness about the importance of national labs for economic growth. Foster will co-chair the caucus with Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-NY). ""As the only PhD physicist in Congress and an employee of a Department of Energy national laboratory for over 20 years, I know firsthand the important work that our national labs perform every day to advance science and innovation in the United States. I am proud to join with my colleagues to educate Members of Congress and the public about the vital work of the men and women at our nation's national labs,"" Foster said. ""The scientific innovation that comes from their research moves our country forward and makes it possible to tackle major challenges, including fundamental scientific research, new treatments for diseases, and solutions for climate change. If we are serious about maintaining America's leadership in scientific discovery, we need to make significant and stable investments in the world-leading scientific infrastructure that is in use every day at our national labs. I would like to thank Congressman Luján, Congressman Zeldin, and Congressman Fleischmann for their leadership on this issue."" ""Our national labs are some of our country's greatest assets – from supercomputing to materials science – national labs improve the lives of everyday Americans while keeping our nation at the forefront of advancements in science and technology."" Fleischmann said. ""The National Labs Caucus is a great venue for legislators to unite in our support, and I am excited to take on a greater leadership role as Co-Chair. I look forward to joining my colleagues from both sides of the aisle – Congressman Lujan, Congressman Foster, and Congressman Zeldin – to lead the caucus in the 116th Congress."" Congressman Foster represents Argonne National Laboratory as part of the 11th Congressional District of Illinois. Prior to serving in Congress, he spent 23 years as a high energy particle physicist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, IL. He was part of the team that discovered the top quark, the heaviest known form of matter. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/news-article/quigley-msnbc-our-moral-standing-world-matters,Quigley on MSNBC: Our Moral Standing in the World Matters,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"VELSHI: I'm joined now by Mike Quigley, Democratic Congressman from Illinois, a Member of the House Intelligence Committee. Congressman, good to see you. Thank you for joining me tonight. Do you and your -- I can't really speak of the House Intelligence Committee anymore in the last two years because it feels like two separate bodies, the Republicans on the House Intel Committee and the Democrats on the House Intel Committee. So do you and your Democratic colleagues, at least, want to interview Michael Cohen? QUIGLEY: Oh, absolutely. And look, I don't hold any animosity toward Mr. Cohen. He seems to have finally come to terms with this and I take him to his word that he wants to cooperate. So if he's finally willing to open up and tell us exactly what took place particularly with meetings with Russians or information about how money flowed through the Trump organization, was there money laundering, we would absolutely love to let him speak unabated about such things. We have to remember that the Special Counsel's role is different than ours. His decision is who to bring to justice. Ours is to find out exactly what happened, how to prevent in the future and how to inform the American public. VELSHI: I think you make a good point that there are things the Special Counsel is looking into, there's things the southern district of New York, the United State attorney is looking into, there's things the attorney general in New York are looking into, and there are things you might look into. Mother Jones has published a story tonight in which it says, Flynn said he discussed with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak a grand bargain in which Moscow would cooperate with the Trump administration to resolve the Syrian conflict and Washington would end or ease up on the sanctions imposed on Russia. These sanctions imposed on Russia were sanctions that were imposed because of human rights violations, they were sanctions imposed because of the Russian incursion into a sovereign country, Ukraine. this is obviously an area that you're going to want to inquire about because these were congressionally imposed sanctions in some cases. QUIGLEY: Sure, these were also sanctions that involved the Russian attack on our democratic process. Before President Trump became President Trump, they were already trying to circumvent and coordinate with the Russians in this extraordinary mix of personal business, professional, political worlds. I once described it as a cesspool as you see the news break as you described at the opening of the show, this isn't a cesspool, this is a much larger body of water, but it is certainly just as foul. VELSHI: If it was just a cesspool, it would be manageable. Sir, I know that you had a meeting, that Gina Haspel, the head of the CIA, has briefed you on some of the matters having to do with Jamal Khashoggi and the Saudi involvement in that. I imagine you might be able to tell me some of what you heard, but you might have to kill me. So let me quote to you what Senator Corker said about this. Let me play for you what he said and then I want to get your thoughts on this. let's listen together. CORKER: We've got a crown prince that's out of control. I was in the most recent intelligence briefing, the most crisp and clear intelligence briefing I'd been a part of in 12 years by far. If he was before a jury, the crown prince, he would be convicted, in my opinion, in 30 minutes. I've never seen such compelling evidence in an intelligence briefing. Never. VELSHI: So that's interesting. Without telling us what you heard in the intelligence briefing, can you concur that the evidence is compelling? QUIGLEY: Let me be clear, I have been in several briefings, none of them with the director, but I have been briefed I think pretty thoroughly on the Saudi situation with the murdered journalist. But I also have served on the intelligence committee for four years, I have traveled to the Kingdom common sense in that wealth of experience have told me there is absolutely no way the crown prince doesn't have knowledge of this before it happens. And everything I've learned since then convinces me that he directed this and the United States needs to respond accordingly. A lot of those briefings dealt with a fact, a reminder, hey, the Saudis are really important to us. That's absolutely true. We have to remind ourselves, though, that our moral standing in the world matters. It is one of those things that makes our country special. And we start doing attacks on our moral standing when we build walls, when we pull out of treaties, when we talk about America first, that combination of things sets us apart. It isolates us. In a final analysis, if all we're talking about is America first, that doesn't work. It makes us less safe, keeps us isolated from the world, and our friends simply don't trust us. VELSHI: As it relates to Russia or Saudi Arabia or anyone else, the President seems to have a very binary view of disagreements with those countries, that these sanctions are equated to war. I mean, the whole point of sanctions is it's not war. It's not an end of all relationships with other countries. You can continue to have certain relationships but these are the signals that say that you don't share certain values or activities that have occurred. That is definitely the water that the President has muddied when it comes to both Saudi Arabia and Russia. QUIGLEY: Yes, when the Russians invade and take over large areas of Ukraine, when they have a war going on with one of our allies, the alternative to war is diplomacy and sanctions. when the Russians attack our democratic process, our first reaction must be as President Obama did, telling them to cut it out, and if they don't, we sanction them and then we take the next step. These are subtleties lost upon a President who doesn't believe in the role of the Justice Department, the independence of the intelligence community, and a healthy State Department whose actions will prevent wars. Instead what he's done is gut that State Department. Collectively all this does is make America more vulnerable to our enemies. VELSHI: Congressman Quigley, good to talk to you, thank you for joining me tonight. Congressman Mike Quigley is member of the House Intelligence Committee. QUIGLEY: Thank you.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schakowsky.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=25&itemid=3780,"Congresswoman Schakowsky joins Representative Lujn and Representatives Pocan, Lynch, and Boyle, to Introduce House Companion of Senator Warren's Accountable Capitalism Act",2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Jan Schakowsky,S001145,schakowsky.house.gov,,,legacy,"House Bill Text|Bill Summary Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Ben Ray Lujn (D-NM), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), and Mark Pocan (D-WI) introduced the House companion of Senator Warren's (D-MA) Accountable Capitalism Act. Senator Warren introduced the bill in August to help eliminate skewed market incentives and return to the era when American corporations and American workers did well together. The legislation empowers American workers and aims to reverse the harmful corporate trend over the last thirty years that have produced record corporate profits for American companies but stagnant wages for American workers. I'm proud to partner with Representatives Lujn, Pocan, Lynch, Boyle, and Schakowsky on this bill to empower American workers, said Senator Warren. With the support of this powerful group of House leaders, we're one big step closer to helping American workers get the higher wages they deserve. Throughout our country's history, the well-being of our workers has been directly linked to the prosperity we have achieved as a nation, said Congressman Lujn. Yet today, working families in my district and across the country face rising costs of living and stagnant wages. Elevating the voices of workers in our corporate boardrooms will help restore balance in our economy. The Accountable Capitalism Act is an innovative and commonsense approach to level the playing field. I thank Senator Warren for her partnership on this effort. Today, it's more important than ever that we give American workers the opportunity to have a seat at the table to make critical decisions on their rights and their future. Unfortunately, runaway corporate power is causing more benefits to flow to shareholders and CEOs, while families are struggling to make ends meet, said Congressman Pocan. I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the House companion bill to Sen. Warren's Accountable Capitalism Act to take a strong step forward leveling the playing field for America's middle class. Together, we will empower American workers and build an economy that works for everyone. American workers feel the system is rigged against them and they're right,said Congressman Boyle. Washington has only exacerbated this trend. Look no further than the Republican tax scam and the record profits, stock buybacks, and stagnant wages we've seen since. Clearly we can no longer afford to sit back and hope corporations act in the best interests of their employees. The Accountable Capitalism Act represents a great step toward making that a reality. For the past 40 years, economic growth has gone to the top one percent, and workers have seen their wages stagnate and their jobs shipped overseas, said Congresswoman Schakowsky. Even with high profile examples like General Motors announcing its intent to perversely kill roughly 15,000 American jobs leading to its stock price increasing by five percent, the Republican majority over the last eight years has done nothing to right this wrong. In fact, Republicans have made things much worse by crafting that misguided tax bill. That is why I have chosen to be an original cosponsor of the Accountable Capitalism Act, a bill that will ensure the American economy gets back on track and works for everyone, not just the wealthy. I am proud to stand with my friend and incoming Assistant Speaker, Ben-Ray Lujan, on this important bill. ""I am proud to join my colleagues Representatives Lujn, Pocan, Boyle and Schakowsky to introduce the House companion Bill to Senator Warren's legislation,"" said Congressman Lynch. ""Hopefully this Bill will help to rebalance the relationship for workers and give employees a stronger voice in the workplace."" Since the passage of the Republican tax bill earlier this year, American companies have done more than $800 billion in stock buybacks, while real wages for workers remain stagnant. There is an urgent need to end the grip of shareholder value maximization and return to the era when American corporations produced broad-based growth that helped workers and shareholders alike. The Accountable Capitalism Act: Compels company directors to consider the interests of all corporate stakeholders - including employees, customers, shareholders, and communities in which the company operates - by requiring American corporations with $1 billion or more in annual revenue to obtain a federal charter as a United States corporation.This approach is derived from the thriving benefit corporationmodel that 33 states and the District of Columbia have adopted and that companies like Patagonia, Danone North America, and Kickstarter have embraced with strong results. Empowers workers at United States corporations to elect at least 40% of Board members:Borrowing from the successful approach in Germany and other developed economies, a United States corporation must ensure that no fewer than 40% of its directors are selected by the corporation's employees. Restricts the sales of company shares by the directors and officers of United States corporations:Top corporate executives are now compensatedmostly in company equity, which gives them huge financial incentives to focus exclusively on shareholder returns. To ensure that they are focused on the long-term interests of all corporate stakeholders, the bill prohibits directors and officers of United States corporations from selling company shares within five years of receiving them or within three years of a company stock buyback. Prohibits United States corporations from making any political expenditures without the approval of 75% of its directors and shareholders:Drawing on aproposalfrom John Bogle, the founder of the investment company Vanguard, United States corporations must receive the approval of at least 75% of their shareholders and 75% of their directors before engaging in political expenditures. This ensures any political expenditures benefit all corporate stakeholders. Permits the federal government to revoke the charter of a United States corporation if the company has engaged in repeated and egregious illegal conduct:State Attorneys General are authorized to submit petitions to the Office of United States Corporations to revoke a United States corporation's charter. If the Director of the Office finds that the corporation has a history of egregious and repeated illegal conduct and has failed to take meaningful steps to address its problems, she may grant the petition. The company's charter would then be revoked a year later - giving the company time before its charter is revoked to make the case to Congress that it should retain its charter in the same or in a modified form. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/bipartisan-duckworth-hirono-royce-lieu-bill-to-honor-chinese-american-wwii-veterans-passes-house-heads-to-presidents-desk,"Bipartisan Duckworth-Hirono-Royce-Lieu Bill to Honor Chinese American WWII Veterans Passes House, Heads to President’s Desk",2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 13, 2018 Bipartisan Duckworth-Hirono-Royce-Lieu Bill to Honor Chinese-American WWII Veterans Passes House, Heads to President's Desk [WASHINGTON, DC] Following unanimous approval by the U.S. House of Representatives, bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to recognize the tremendous contributions made by more than 18,000 Chinese-American World War II Veterans now awaits the President's signature. The Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act will authorize Congress to award the highest civilian honor a Congressional Gold Medal to these dedicated Veterans, including the approximately 190 Chinese-American WWII Veterans who call Illinois home. Congressmen Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) introduced the legislation in the U.S. House. The bipartisan legislation unanimously passed the Senate in September of this year. Despite facing outright discrimination, more than 18,000 brave Chinese Americans volunteered to risk their lives to protect their fellow Americans during World War II, said Duckworth. I'm proud my colleagues from both sides of the aisle have chosen to recognize this brave group of Veterans' unwavering commitment and honor them with a Congressional Gold Medal. More than 18,000 Chinese Americans served our country during World War II, while also facing discrimination here at home, Hirono said. Like other minority service members, their contributions were not appropriately recognized during or immediately after World War II. The passage of the Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act goes a long way to right that wrong and express our gratitude for Chinese American veterans' distinguished service. The United States remains forever indebted to the bravery and sacrifice that the Chinese American veterans of World War II displayed. From the Flying Tigers, to their service in the Pacific and across Europethese heroes answered the call of duty when our nation needed them the most and are worthy of recognition, said Royce. To these brave veterans of World War II, thank you for your sacrifice. We are a grateful nation, and we honor your service by working to build a better world. I'm proud to have co-led the introduction of this bill to award Chinese American WWII veterans with the Congressional Gold Medal, said Lieu. We will finally have the chance to honor the service and sacrifice of Chinese Americans who fought for the U.S. in WWII. By proudly serving their country, even in the face of the shameful Chinese Exclusion Act, Chinese American veterans exemplified patriotism and demonstrated a deep commitment to the United States. As a veteran, I'm grateful to have worked on this legislation, along with Rep. Royce, and Sens. Duckworth, Cochran and Hirono, to honor the lives and legacies of these WWII heroes."" The heartfelt considerations for this group by House Lead Co-sponsors Rep. Ed Royce (CA) and Rep. Ted Lieu (CA) and Senate Lead Co-sponsors Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL), Thad Cochran (ret.) (MS), and Mazie Hirono (HI) mark a significant milestone for the nearly 20,000 Chinese American Veterans, said Samantha Cheng, Project Director, the Chinese American WWII Veterans Recognition Project. These Veterans and their families, as well as surviving family members of our departed, deem this recognition a most high honor from a grateful nation. ""Having Congress approve the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American Veterans of World War II is momentous and the timing truly historic, said Davace Chin, National President of Chinese American Citizens Alliance. This month, as the nation reflects on the 75th Anniversary of the Magnuson Act, which ended 61 years of discrimination towards Chinese Americans, it is poignant and bittersweet. Tens of thousands of Chinese American men and women enlisted at a difficult juncture in American history, when the Chinese Exclusion Act was still in effect. We are grateful and appreciative for Congress's recognition of service and sacrifice made by Chinese American veterans."" We commend Congress for honoring the dutiful service and role of the Chinese American Veterans of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal, said Ed Gor, past president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. Senators Duckworth and Hirono introduced the bipartisan legislation in May of last year with former Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS). Since the American Revolution, Congress has issued gold medals to express its gratitude on behalf of the entire nation for distinguished achievements. The medal has been awarded to Veterans who served admirably in military conflicts as well as to civilians whose contributions have had a lasting impact on American history and culture. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-votes-to-end-us-militarys-unauthorized-support-of-saudi-arabias-brutal-military-campaign-in-yemen,Duckworth Votes to End U.S. Military’s Unauthorized Support of Saudi Arabia’s Brutal Military Campaign in Yemen,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 13, 2018 Duckworth Votes to End U.S. Military's Unauthorized Support of Saudi Arabia's Brutal Military Campaign in Yemen [WASHINGTON, D.C.] After voting to direct the President to end unauthorized U.S. military assistance to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: Today, the Senate finally took an important step towards reclaiming and fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to determine whether to declare war and send our brave men and women into harm's way. For far too long, Congress has ceded that solemn responsibility, allowing the executive branch to commit our troops in engagements around the world without public debate or congressional approval. That has had painful consequences, particularly in Yemen, where the Saudis are responsible for perpetuating one of the worst humanitarian situations in the world. Untold numbers have been killed, starved to death and have died of cholera. With this in mind and recognizing Saudi Arabia's clear responsibility for the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Kashoggi, the Senate was right to send a message today that American military assistance for this coalition must end. Since she was elected to the Senate, Duckworth has urged her colleagues to replace our outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), which set the legal framework, parameters and constitutional basis for our ongoing military engagements. Last September, Duckworth joined a bipartisan group of Senators to urge the Senate to debate a new AUMF and she penned an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal chastising her colleagues for neglecting their constitutional responsibility to debate a new AUMF, arguing that failing to act enables a seemingly endless conflict overseas without an honest, sober accounting of the true costs of war. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/senator-duckworth-to-serve-on-senate-armed-services-committee,Senator Duckworth to Serve on Senate Armed Services Committee,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 13, 2018 Senator Duckworth to Serve on Senate Armed Services Committee [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 116th Congress, which will be sworn in on January 3rd, 2019. Duckworth, who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was among the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom before her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by an RPG and she lost her legs as well as partial use of her right arm. She served on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee for 4 years before joining the Senate. My buddies in Iraq refused to leave me behind, and I want to make sure that they don't ever regret those sacrifices that gave me a second chance at life. That's why ever since I woke up at Walter Reed, I've made serving our nation's servicemembers and Veterans my life's mission. I'm proud to be able to continue that mission as a member of the Armed Services committee. I'm eager to get to work on the many critical national security issues our nation faces as well as to ensure our troops have the resources, support and moral authority they deserve. The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has jurisdiction over the nation's common defense, military operations, servicemember pay and retirement, military family benefits and the selective service system. SASC also oversees the Department of Defense, the United States Armed Services and several other national security-related issues at home and abroad. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-pushes-president-trump-to-prioritize-addressing-chicago-gun-violence-in-next-years-budget-,Durbin Pushes President Trump To Prioritize Addressing Chicago Gun Violence In Next Year's Budget,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.18 Durbin Pushes President Trump To Prioritize Addressing Chicago Gun Violence In Next Year's Budget WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to support strategies and programs that can help reduce gun violence in Chicago in hisfiscal year2020 budget request to Congress. Durbin pushed the President to prioritize federalresourcesacross several grant programs, such as increased funding in housing and economic development, job training and youth programs, quality early childhood education, public health prevention and behavioral health treatmentprograms, and community policing initiatives. The number of shootings and homicides that Chicago continues to experience is tragic and unacceptable. But while it may be easy to tweet about the problem, generating real and measurable solutions to help Chicago reduce gun violence requires more than 140 characters. Reducing violence in Chicago requires a comprehensive approach involving partnerships with local education and health officials, law enforcement, community stakeholders, and the federal government, Durbin wrote. The President's Budget Request is an important reflection of the Administration's priorities and the direction that the President hopes to take the country. You have routinely cited the tragedy of gun violence in Chicago during your tweets and public comments, but now is the time for action. Durbin's letter outlined five specific areas where increases in funding could help reduce violence in the city. Those areas include: housing and economic development, job opportunities, education, public health, and community policing. Full text of today's letter is available here and below: December 13, 2018 Dear President Trump, As you prepare your Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request, I urge you to use this budget framework as an opportunity to support efforts to help reduce gun violence in Chicago, rather than scapegoating the city's challenges to promote ideological political agendas. I urge you to prioritize federal support and resources that will help Chicago reduce violence by expanding economic opportunities and addressing health and education disparities in the hardest-hit communities. The number of shootings and homicides that Chicago continues to experience is tragic and unacceptable. But while it may be easy to tweet about the problem, generating real and measurable solutions to help Chicago reduce gun violence requires more than 140 characters. Reducing violence in Chicago requires a comprehensive approach involving partnerships with local education and health officials, law enforcement, community stakeholders, and the federal government. Through sustained and targeted investment of federal funding in underserved communities, the federal government can play an integral role in addressing the economic and societal issues that contribute to violence. Housing and Economic Development Violence in Chicago is often located in communities with higher unemployment and years of neglect and disinvestment. Two of the most important ways the federal government can help break the cycle of violence and provide stability in these neighborhoods is by ensuring access to safe, affordable housing and encouraging economic and community development. Increasing funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships Programthe largest federal block grant designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low-income householdswill help provide housing in areas where there is access to quality education and jobs. In 2016, the HOME program was projected to provide more than 8,000 low-income and moderate-income families in Chicago with affordable housing. Further investment in programs like the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative and Community Development Block Grants can help revitalize neighborhoods, attracting businesses and creating much needed jobs. Providing reliable access to job opportunities is also crucial, which is why more federal funding for programs like Core Capacity Grants is needed to modernize and expand public transportation. Job Opportunities When young people are chronically unemployed, it increases the likelihood that they will become involved in crime. I urge you to prioritize important youth mentoring and job training programs at the U.S. Departments of Labor, Justice, and Education that pursue innovative strategies for connecting young people to career pathways. The Department of Labor's 2016 Summer Jobs and Beyond Grant Program helped Chicago expand its summer employment program and provide extended work opportunities for 300 at-risk youth. Increasing funding for job training, including youth programs under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, will prepare more young adults to successfully transition into the workforce. Importantly, youth employment programs in Chicago also have been found to dramatically reduce violent crime arrests. I also urge you to strengthen mentoring and violence prevention initiatives at the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and boost funding for recidivism reduction programs under the federal Second Chance Act. Education Quality education is the cornerstone of economic opportunity, and it is vital to start early to be cost-effective and have the most impact. I urge you to make strong federal investments in high-quality early childhood education, such as the Child Care and Development Block Grant, Head Start, Early Head Start, IDEA Part B-619 and Part C, and the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five. These core programs support continuous access to high-quality early childhood education from birth through age five that prepares at-risk children with a strong foundationthrough academic, physical, cognitive, and social-emotional developmentto succeed in school and life. Knowing their child is safe and learning in a high-quality early learning program also allows parents to complete their higher education and thrive in the workforce. In 2014, these programs served over 630,000 Illinois children under age six and employed more than 69,000 people in full-time jobs. I also urge you to support resources for Chicago's highest-need K-12 students through expanded investments in Titles I and IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Title I provides federal resources to schools with high concentrations of students in poverty, who are more likely to suffer toxic stress including from violence, racial discrimination, family separation, and food insecurity. Title IV provides resources to ensure all students are safe, healthy, and have access to a holistic well-rounded education, which includes trauma-informed classroom management, school-based mental health programs, mentoring and school counseling, and computer science. Increasing the investment in mentorship programs under ESEA and the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act would broaden the support system for at-risk students to help them successfully transition to high school, college, and the workforce. Together, more resources for these programs will equip students, families, and communities with the necessary tools to heal from trauma and break the cycle of violence. Public Health Combating Chicago's community violence is not just an economic or education issueit is also a serious public health matter. One of the best ways to tackle this crisis is by supporting strong families, building environments that promote health, and starting early to prevent and mitigate the effects of experiencing trauma. In order to address these social determinants of health, I urge you to provide in your budget tools for communities to promote health through the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), including robust funding for Community and Social Service Block Grants. Harmful childhood environments can shape lifelong health and behaviors, which is why I also urge you to invest in maternal and child health promotion programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), including providing strong funding for the Maternal & Child Health Block Grant. I urge you to increase support for mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), including the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, Project AWARE, and the new Interagency Task Force on Trauma-Informed Care. In addition, improving data collection and research by supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and Youth Violence Prevention Program is vital to understanding how best to target our efforts. Community Policing And finally, we cannot reduce violence in Chicago unless we have an effective community policing strategy where law enforcement officers are properly trained and resourced, where there is a relationship of trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and where we close gaps in our gun laws that make it easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns. For too long your administration has attempted to use federal law enforcement grant funding as a bargaining chip in an effort to force unrelated policy changes. These attempts have repeatedly been rejected by federal courts, and they must stop. It is time for your administration to provide Chicago with the law enforcement funding that the City is owed under formulas set by Congress. Further, I urge your administration to stop standing in the way of critical policing reforms and gun safety reforms that enjoy broad support and that would help enhance community policing and public safety. The President's Budget Request is an important reflection of the Administration's priorities and the direction that the President hopes to take the country. You have routinely cited the tragedy of gun violence in Chicago during your tweets and public comments, but now is the time for action. I urge you to use your Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request to reflect support for real solutions to this urgent problem by increasing investment in federal programs that will help stop violence, save lives, and lift people out of poverty. Thank you for your consideration of this important request. Sincerely, -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-passage-of-sexual-harassment-bill,Durbin Statement On Passage Of Sexual Harassment Bill,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.18 Durbin Statement On Passage Of Sexual Harassment Bill WASHINGTONU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Congress passed legislation to update and strengthen the procedures available to victims of harassment and discrimination and other violations of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. The bill now heads to President Trump for his signature. The alternatives available to victims of harassment and discrimination in Congress were in obvious need of reform. Thanks to the efforts of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, Congressional staff who experience harassment and discrimination will now have access to improved support and protections, and there will be clear accountability. This legislation makes it clear that harassment will not be tolerated in the halls of Congressand I hope that after enacting this legislation, we will extend our efforts to improve the protections available for all American workers. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-statement-on-senate-passage-of-resolution-to-halt-unauthorized-us-military-involvement-in-yemen,Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Resolution To Halt Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Yemen,2018-12-13,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.13.18 Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Resolution To Halt Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Yemen WASHINGTONU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today voted for the bipartisan joint war powers resolution, of which he is a cosponsor, to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen. The resolution passed the Senate 56-41. The Constitution is clear Article 1, Section 8 states The Congress shall have Power: To declare War.' But there was never a vote to authorize U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, Durbin said. Not only was this war never authorized by the elected representatives of the American people it is a humanitarian disaster. An estimated 85,000 children have already died of malnutrition. And in a country of 28 million, nearly half are facing famine. On top of it all, we also know that the Saudi coalition is being led by a reckless crown prince who I believe had direct knowledge of the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Durbin continued, This debate and vote were long overdue. Not another taxpayer dollar or American life should be put on the line in support of this Saudi-led disaster in Yemen. The joint resolution would halt U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen pursuant to the 1973 War Powers Act. In March, Durbin supported a similar bipartisan joint war powers resolution to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen, which was the first-ever vote in the Senate to withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from an unauthorized war. Durbin has a long history of defending Congress's constitutional role in matters of war, regardless of who was in the White House. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bustos.house.gov/bustos-helps-lead-efforts-to-pass-bipartisan-farm-bill/,Bustos Helps Lead Efforts to Pass Bipartisan Farm Bill,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Cheri Bustos,B001286,bustos.house.gov,,,legacy,"The 2018 Farm Bill Bustos helped craft as a Conferee passed the House and is expected to be signed into law WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, who served as a Farm Bill Conferee, voted to pass the 2018 Farm Bill. The final version of the Farm Bill was negotiated by a select group of House and Senate members to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill into bipartisan legislation. The Farm Bill is an essential piece of legislation that provides our family farmers with the support they need to continue putting food on the plates of Americans across our nation, said Congresswoman Bustos. Although this process was far from perfect, I am glad we were able to pass a long-term bipartisan Farm Bill that provides our growers and producers with the certainty they need during these turbulent times. Now that the Farm Bill has been passed by both the House and the Senate, it will move to the President to be signed into law. Several bills Congresswoman Bustos wrote have been included in the final version of the Farm Bill, including: The Farmers of Tomorrow Act: If signed into law, this legislation would change regulations to make it easier for young farmers to buy land and put roots down. Specifically, with rising farmland real estate prices, this bill would modernize requirements so that more young farmers can access USDA loans. There's a specific provision in here to ensure that more veterans have the opportunity to go into farming too. Congresswoman Bustos introduced this bill last December. The Rural Health Liaison Act: This would create a new rural health liaison at the USDA to improve coordination and funding mechanisms to improve the delivery of healthcare to rural America. The USDA continues to be on the frontlines in the battle against opioid addiction and the Rural Health Liaison would be in position to spread best practices across small town America to address this ongoing challenge. Additionally, the USDA has the ability to finance the construction of hospitals and the implementation of programs for telehealth and health education. The Rural Health Liaison would promote the awareness and availability of these resources, and provide guidance and technical assistance to USDA field offices and staff on how to best serve their communities. The Rural Health Liaison would also coordinate with other government agencies on rural health issues. Congresswoman Bustos introduced this bipartisan legislation in February. The Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act: This bill would help rural Americans better leverage USDA Rural Development programs to combat opioid and heroin use. Specifically, the legislation would set aside 20 percent of the USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program grant funding for substance abuse treatment. It would also prioritize USDA Community and Facilities Direct Loan and Grant applications focused on substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services which will help incentivize the establishment of new treatment centers. Finally, it will prioritize USDA Rural Health and Safety Education grant funding for applicants seeking to improve education and outreach on opioids and other substance abuse issues. Congresswoman Bustos introduced this legislation in July 2017 with Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly. The Farm Bill also includes $350 million to help the 23 million rural Americans without service. Bustos helped lead The Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Act, which seeks to close the digital divide by awarding loans grant combinations for rural broadband projects. Click here to read the full text.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases/foster-endorses-nancy-pelosi-for-speaker-of-the-house,Foster Endorses Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bill Foster,F000454,foster.house.gov,foster,https://foster.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - ""Today, I formally announce my support for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House for the 116th Congress. I am confident that the agreement we reached will position the Democratic Party to successfully lead in next Congress and for generations to come. As a businessman, I know that a transition plan is critical for any institution. Leader Pelosi has signaled her commitment to transfer her knowledge and experience to the next generation of leaders so that they may effectively lead the Party into a new era. As we take the Majority in the new year, Democratic unity will be an invaluable force as we join together to fight for hardworking Americans and for an economy that works for everyone."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-27T23:11:43Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/open-enrollment-deadline-reminder,Health Care is a Right Get Covered Before the Dec. 15 Deadline,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, Did you know Open Enrollment for 2019 ends this Saturday, December 15? That makes this week the last opportunity for you, your family, and friends to purchase health insurance through the marketplace for the New Year. Illness and injury can happen when you least expect it, so I encourage all of my constituents to get the peace of mind that comes with getting covered. Whether renewing a current plan or shopping for a new plan, please take a few minutes to explore your options. You can visit Healthcare.gov to sign up for quality, affordable care today; and as always, feel free to reach out to my district office if you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, Mike Quigley",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/news-article/washington-blade-rep-kennedy-leads-trans-rights-meeting-house-dems-prepare,Washington Blade: Rep. Kennedy leads trans rights meeting as House Dems prepare for majority,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"A link to thisarticle can be foundhere. Ahead of Democrats assuming control of the U.S. House in the next Congress, the Congressional Transgender Task Force led by Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-Mass.) held a meeting on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with transgender rights supporters to outline priorities amid continuing anti-LGBT policies from the Trump administration. The meeting was closed to the public, but Kennedy and other participants held a conference call immediately after the discussion to highlight key points, including oversight of the Trump administration's anti-LGBT policies and advancement in the House of the Equality Act, legislation that would bar discrimination against LGBT people. Kennedy said after the call he's excited for Democrats to take the majority and to be able to dictate, or help dictate and agenda for Congress and to put out an alternative narrative for some of the opportunities and challenges we're confronting as a country. I hope and expect that one of the primary areas of focus for the 116th Congress is going to be ensuring that every single American gets treated fairly, and a big piece of that is obviously around our LGBTQ community, particularly given the target that they have been labeled with by the Trump administration, Kennedy said. While the target applies to multiple aspects of the LGBTQ community, no one has been targeted like the trans community has. As examples, Kennedy pointed to President Trump's transgender military ban that was sent out by tweet, the reported proposal within the Department of Health & Human Services to erase transgender people from federal laws, Immigration & Customs Enforcement policy that allowed Roxsana Hernndez to be beaten to death while in detention and the revocation of Obama-era guidance requiring schools to allow transgender students to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity. A Kennedy aide said other attendees at the meeting aside from Kennedy were Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash), top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and gay Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.). LGBT advocates in attendance, the aide said, were Luc Athayde-Rizzaro, policy counsel for the National Center for Transgender Equality; Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center; Sharon McGowan, chief strategy officer for Lambda Legal; Ian Thompson, senior legislative representative for the American Civil Liberties Union; Diego Miguel Sanchez, director of advocacy, policy and partnerships for PFLAG National; and David Stacy, government affairs director for the Human Rights Campaign. Athayde-Rizzaro said during the conference call two key questions for the new House Democratic majority in oversight of the frankly, lawless and reckless administration are 1) How do officials justify the anti-trans policy? and 2) What special interests and hate groups are informing this policy, and do any internal briefings and memos reflect that? I know that millions of Americans, including the 1.4 million transgender adults and hundreds of thousands of transgender youth in this country who have been frightened by attacks on who we are will be really be relieved to finally have a check on a president who has been nothing short of hostile to our rights and liberties, Athayde-Rizzaro said. Belkin spoke to Trump's transgender military ban, warning the U.S. Supreme Court could allow the policy to go into effect at any time if the judiciary buys the claim the policy isn't really a ban because it allows certain transgender people to serve. In arguing before the courts, the administration has tried to pretend that the Mattis policy is not a ban, Oh, it's just an even-handed health regulation that applies to every single service member, oh it allows transgender troops to serve, Belkin said. No. That's not true. The Mattis policy is a ban. Period. Full stop. It is a ban on transgender service. It is a ban on transgender people. It is Don't Ask, Don't Tell' for transgender troops. Stacy said passing the Equality Act would end the patchwork of legal protections for LGBT people throughout the United States that currently exists in the form of state law and non-discrimination ordinances. We have states that have laws, states that don't have laws, we have federal protections in that some cases have been interpreted to include protections for LGBTQ people and transgender people specifically, and others where they have not, and we really need a comprehensive solution to that problem to clarify that federal law does protect people on the basis of their gender identity as well as ensuring that those areas that are not currently protected by federal law, we add those protections, Stacy said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-applauds-passage-bipartisan-bill-aimed-reversing-rising-maternal,Quigley Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Bill Aimed at Reversing Rising Maternal Mortality Rates,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as Illinois' only Member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement applauding passage of H.R.1318, Preventing Maternal Deaths Act: I join families across the country in applauding passage of the lifesaving Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, ensuring that sates have access to the resources needed to investigate every maternal death, said Rep. Quigley. In order to understand the problem and develop preventive solutions, we must continue to expand our research into America's unacceptably high maternal mortality rate. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this critically important piece of legislation so it can be signed into law without delay. Introduced by Reps. Herrera Beutler and DeGette, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act would establish and support state-based Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRC) to review every pregnancy-related or pregnancy-associated death, and based on those findings, develop recommendations for how to prevent future mothers' deaths. During the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations markup this July, Rep. Quigley and Rep. Herrera Beutler (WA-03) successfully secured $2 million in funding for the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's (CDC) efforts in preventing maternal deaths through MMRCs. Approximately thirty-five states, including Illinois, currently have an established MMRC. This new funding is intended to continue scaling CDC's partnership with states to establish and expand these committees. The United States has the worst rate of maternal death in the developed world, with an estimated 700-900 annual deaths and thousands of women experiencing near fatal complications after childbirth. The numbers are approximate in large part because reporting data is incomplete and not-federally mandated. In September, Rep. Quigley convened medical professionals and advocates for a roundtable discussion on maternal health and what needs to be done to better protect new mothers.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-schakowsky-send-letter-secretary-pompeo-addressing-potential,"Quigley, Schakowsky Send Letter to Secretary Pompeo Addressing Potential Closure of Chicagos Refugee Resettlement Agencies",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) sent a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo advocating for the United States' role as a global leader in protecting refugees and asking for further information on the Administration's plans for refugee resettlement agencies and resources in the Chicago metropolitan area. You can read the full letter here or see excerpts below. It is our understanding that due to the Trump Administration's historically low refugee ceiling for FY 2019 of 30,000, resettlement agencies will be forced to close local affiliates and reduce staffing and other capacity even further than they already have, wrote the Members. Given those extremely low numbers, the Department of State has identified the Chicago area as one of the several metropolitan areas with excess capacity and has asked the national refugee resettlement agencies to work with each other to develop a plan to close three of the six offices in Chicago, along with staffing reductions, and other cuts. We urge you to reconsider these short-sighted cuts and instead maintain the full capacity of those agencies so that our area will be able to handle what will certainly be higher numbers of refugees in the future. Earlier this year, President Trump announced his plan to cap the number of refugees that can be resettled in the United States next year at 30,000, further cutting an already drastically scaled-back program that offers protection to foreigners fleeing violence and persecution. Historically, the United States has admitted an average of 80,000 refugees annually, and in moments of urgent need has significantly increased that number, as evidenced by record high refugee arrivals under both the Reagan and Bush Administrations Refugee resettlement has been a cornerstone of American policy for decadesOur districts have benefitted tremendously from refugees who have made Illinois their home and who have received assistance from our refugee resettlement offices. Illinois alone has resettled over 129,000 refugees from 86 countries since 1975. The resettlement agencies in Chicago have been critical in helping refugees find jobs, establish new businesses, enroll their children in schools, receive culturally appropriate health services, and successfully obtain citizenship. These agencies work hard to ensure that each refugee becomes economically self-sufficient, and proud, contributory American citizens, the letter continues.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-supports-select-committee-green-new-deal,Quigley Supports Select Committee on Green New Deal,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as Vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC), released the following statement in support of the creation of a House Select Committee on a Green New Deal to combat our climate change challenges: As a member of the Sierra Club since I was 16 years old, environmental stewardship was my introduction to public service. From clean jobs to renewable energy and emissions reductions, meaningful action to combat climate change has been a top priority throughout my years in local government, education, and Congress. Today, as we mark the third anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, I'm proud to take this next step for our environment, economy, and public health by supporting a Select Committee on a Green New Deal.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-kelly-statement-on-report-of-additional-manganese,"Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Statement on Report of Additional Manganese Source in Southeast Chicago",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today released the following statementsafter aChicago Tribunereportfoundthat air monitors recorded dangerous levels of brain-damaging manganese at Watco Transloading on Chicago's Southeast Side. The members raised concernsaboutthe Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) failure to consistently hold companies accountable for violationsof theClean Air Act, andhighlighted the EPA'sability to force facilities to monitor and test their air emissions for manganese air pollutiona known neurotoxinon the Southeast Side of Chicago. The health and safety of our neighbors is one of my top priorities in Congress. I'm disappointed to again learn that many of our neighbors are being exposed to unsafe levels of manganese; swift and immediate corrective action, coupled with accountability, is absolutely imperative, said Kelly. A few years ago, we were able to address an unsafe petcoke deposit in this community and ensure a healthier environment for Chicagoland families. We can and must do that again immediately. The EPA must use its full authority under theClean Air Actto protect human health and the environment, and time after time we've seen it fail to do so on Chicago's Southeast Side. The report of an additional source of manganese at another facility is troubling and requires swift action in order to protect countless families that live in the area. I'll be demandingEPAtake immediate steps to stop this pollution and hold those responsible accountable,Durbin said. It's unacceptable that children in Chicago or anywhere else could get sick by spending too much time outside in their own neighborhood. Unfortunately, that experience is far too common in neighborhoods across America, particularly in communities of color,said Duckworth.Whether it involves Watco on the Southeast Side or Sterigenics in DuPage County, it appears the Trump Administration is failing to protect families from toxic chemicals and hold polluters accountable and that is absolutely unacceptable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of manganese dust exposure can cause serious neurological effects, learning difficulties, and memory loss. Recent studies have shown a link between manganese exposure and lower child IQ scores. Researchers at University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health found that children in Southeast Chicago have higher levels of manganese in their toenails than children in other partsof the City. In May, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kellywroteto then-EPA Administrator Pruitt about the agency's failure to consistently hold facilities accountable for dangerous emissions of manganese. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://rush.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rush-opening-statement-on-federal-energy-management,Rush Opening Statement on Federal Energy Management,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Bobby Rush,R000515,rush.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Ranking Member of the Energy Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at the Public Private Partnerships for Federal Energy Managementhearing: Rush Opening Statement as Prepared for Delivery: ""Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this markup today examining Public Private Partnerships for Federal Energy Management. ""Mr. Chairman, like Members on both sides of the aisle, I fully support the objectives of both the Energy Savings Performance Contracts, or ESPCs, and the Utility Energy Service Contracts, or UESCs. ""However, we must also take heed to the warning by both the Government Accounting Office and the Congressional Research Service, that a lack of consistency in reporting across agencies for projects makes it challenging to document the actual savings achieved solely from ESPCs or UESCs. ""Mr. Chairman, ESPCs and UESCs allow the federal government, the nation's largest energy consumer, to leverage public/private partnerships in order to improve energy efficiency and save taxpayer money, while also increasing the use of renewable energy in the nearly half a million facilities it maintains and supports. ""ESPCs and UESCs consist of contracts between a federal agency and another third party, either an energy service company or a utility, to finance options that employ private sector resources and capabilities in order to facilitate investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy at federal facilities. ""Through ESPCs, private contractors finance the upfront costs of efficiency updates, which may include modifications such as transformer upgrades, the installation of high-efficiency lighting, rainwater harvesting equipment, or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning improvements. ""The contractor assumes the risks of the energy improvements and certifies that the upgrades will generate savings that cover the initial costs, and the agency pays a yearly amount for a fixed period of time. ""Under the ESPC program, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded 400 projects, invested $6 billion in energy improvements, and saved an estimated $14 billion in cumulative energy costs since 1998. ""In regards to UESCs, more than 1,800 projects have been reported with $3.3 billion leveraged through utility partnerships, since 2000. ""Mr. Chairman, EPSCs are headed by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program, or FEMP, which also provides training, guidance, and technical assistance to help federal agencies achieve their energy and water conservation objectives. ""Based on FEMP data, ESPCs funded $5.7 billion, and UESCs funded $1.5 billion in energy efficiency improvements, between FY2005 and FY2017 alone. ""Mr. Chairman, the data suggests that there has been an overall trend of declining energy and water use, and an increase in renewable energy consumption as a share of overall energy usage due to these programs. ""However, I look forward to further engaging each of our witnesses on the implementation of the ESPCs and UESCs, as well as their recommendations on how best to address the lack of consistency in reporting across agencies for these types of projects in order to get a more accurate sense of the direct savings enjoyed from these programs. ""Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and with that I yield back the balance of my time.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-and-durbin-join-schatz-12-senators-in-introducing-new-bill-to-help-protect-peoples-personal-data-online,"Duckworth and Durbin Join Schatz, 12 Senators in Introducing New Bill to Help Protect People’s Personal Data Online",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2018 Duckworth and Durbin Join Schatz, 12 Senators in Introducing New Bill to Help Protect People's Personal Data Online [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and 12 of their colleagues today in introducing new legislation to protect people's personal data online. The Data Care Act would require apps, websites, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users' data. People have a basic expectation that the personal information they provide to websites and apps is well-protected and won't be used against them. Just as doctors and lawyers are expected to protect and responsibly use the personal data they hold, online companies should be required to do the same. Our bill will help make sure that when people give online companies their information, it won't be exploited, said Senator Schatz. With major hacks or data leaks of private user information at Facebook, Marriott, Google, Equifax and Uber in just the last year or so,it's abundantly clear that Congress must do more to protect Americans' personal data online, Senator Duckworth said. Health professionals and financial advisors have long been responsible for handling personal information with the consumer's best interests in mind, it's time we extend this commonsense principle to websites and online providers. I'm proud to join Senators Schatz and Durbin in introducing this important legislation to do just that. In today's era of big data,' Americans are using the internet every day without fully understanding the consequences of every click and whether that click just handed over their personal data for unwanted uses. This is simply unacceptable. Websites, apps, and other online providers should be required to protect their users personal data. This bill is a sensible step in protecting consumers' personal data and I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing it, said Senator Durbin. Doctors, lawyers, and bankers are legally required to exercise special care to protect their clients and their information. While online companies also hold personal and sensitive information about the people they serve, they are not required to protect consumers' data. This leaves users in a vulnerable position; they are expected to understand the information they give to providers and how it is being used an unreasonable expectation for even the most tech-savvy consumer. By establishing a fiduciary duty for online providers, Americans can trust that their online data is protected and used in a responsible way. In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the Data Care Act is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Doug Jones (D-AL) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The Data Care Act establishes reasonable duties that will require providers to protect user data and will prohibit providers from using user data to their detriment: Duty of Care Must reasonably secure individual identifying data and promptly inform users of data breaches that involve sensitive information; Duty of Loyalty May not use individual identifying data in ways that harm users; Duty of Confidentiality Must ensure that the duties of care and loyalty extend to third parties when disclosing, selling, or sharing individual identifying data; Federal and State Enforcement A violation of the duties will be treated as a violation of an FTC rule subject to civil enforcement actions by the FTC. States may also bring civil enforcement actions, but the FTC can intervene. Limited Rulemaking Authority FTC is granted rulemaking authority to implement the Act. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-kelly-statement-on-report-of-additional-manganese-source-in-southeast-chicago,"Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Statement on Report of Additional Manganese Source In Southeast Chicago",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2018 Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Statement on Report of Additional Manganese Source In Southeast Chicago [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) andDick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today released the following statementsafter aChicago Tribunereportfoundthat air monitors recorded dangerous levels of brain-damaging manganese at Watco Transloading on Chicago's Southeast Side. The members raised concernsaboutthe Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) failure to consistently hold companies accountable for violationsof theClean Air Act, andhighlighted the EPA'sability to force facilities to monitor and test their air emissions for manganese air pollutiona known neurotoxinon the Southeast Side of Chicago. It's unacceptable that children in Chicago or anywhere else could get sick by spending too much time outside in their own neighborhood. Unfortunately, that experience is far too common in neighborhoods across America, particularly in communities of color,said Duckworth.Whether it involves Watco on the Southeast Side or Sterigenics in DuPage County, it appears the Trump Administration is failing to protect families from toxic chemicals and hold polluters accountable and that is absolutely unacceptable. The EPA must use its full authority under theClean Air Actto protect human health and the environment, and time after time we've seen it fail to do so on Chicago's Southeast Side. The report of an additional source of manganese at another facility is troubling and requires swift action in order to protect countless families that live in the area. I'll be demandingEPAtake immediate steps to stop this pollution and hold those responsible accountable,Durbin said. The health and safety of our neighbors is one of my top priorities in Congress. I'm disappointed to again learn that many of our neighbors are being exposed to unsafe levels of manganese; swift and immediate corrective action, coupled with accountability, is absolutely imperative, said Kelly. A few years ago, we were able to address an unsafe petcoke deposit in this community and ensure a healthier environment for Chicagoland families. We can and must do that again immediately. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of manganese dust exposure can cause serious neurological effects, learning difficulties, and memory loss. Recent studies have shown a link between manganese exposure and lower child IQ scores. Researchers at University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health found that children in Southeast Chicago have higher levels of manganese in their toenails than children in other partsof the City. In May, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kellywroteto then-EPA Administrator Pruitt about the agency's failure to consistently hold facilities accountable for dangerous emissions of manganese. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-trump-administrations-rollback-of-clean-water-rule,Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s Rollback of Clean Water Rule,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 12, 2018 Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration's Rollback of Clean Water Rule [WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a proposal that would roll back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule under the Clean Water Act of 1972. Duckworth is the senior-most Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. For more than 45 years, our nation has counted on the Clean Water Act to move us towards a future where all of our waters are clean enough to drink and enjoy recreationally. This move by the Trump Administration puts that future in jeopardy, and makes it easier for corporate polluters to contaminate our streams and waterways that hardworking families rely on for clean water and safe food. Our public health, our environment and our economy will suffer. We should be moving forward with protections for our water systems, not backwards. -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-a-border-wall-will-not-reduce-cartel-violence-or-stop-fentanyl-from-flooding-into-our-country-,Durbin: A Border Wall Will Not Reduce Cartel Violence Or Stop Fentanyl From Flooding Into Our Country,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.12.18 Durbin: A Border Wall Will Not Reduce Cartel Violence Or Stop Fentanyl From Flooding Into Our Country WASHINGTONDuring a Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on Mexican cartels, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the Trump Administration to reduce brutal cartel violence and drug, gun, and human smuggling by deploying more technology and personnel at ports of entry, working to address the drug epidemic at home, stopping the weapons and cash that flow south to cartels, and collaborating more effectively with regional nations to strengthen their economies and decrease the cartel violence not by building an expensive and ineffective border wall or punishing innocent victims of cartel violence who are seeking safety. Instead what the President is telling us now is we have to shut down our government if he doesn't get $5 billion for a wasteful and ineffective wall. We need modern technology to stop the drug cartels from importing the poison that is killing our kids, not a medieval solution like a wall from sea to shining sea, Durbin said. Video of Durbin's remarks in the Judiciary Subcommittee hearing are available here. Audio of Durbin's remarks in the Judiciary Subcommittee hearing is available here. During the hearing, Durbin stressed that the government should be allocating resources to modern technology, such as drive-through inspection systems, known as Z-portals. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), these drive-through inspection systems examine 98 percent of rail cars but only 18 percent of cargo, passenger vehicles, and sea containers combined. Yet the Fiscal Year 2019 President's Budget request includes just $44 million for these systems. Durbin also called for Congress to finally prohibit straw purchasing and gun trafficking under federal law. Right now, U.S. Attorney offices have to prosecute those crimes as paperwork violations. Durbin has joined with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) on a bill that would create federal offenses for this conduct. In 2017, drug overdoses killed a record 70,237 Americans. Last year 28,466 overdose deaths involved fentanyl an increase of more than 45 percent over the previous year. Much of this fentanyl comes from China through the mail. But fentanyl is also being shipped from China to Mexico before being trafficked across the U.S. border. The DEA has found that the cartels transport the bulk of their illicit goods over the Southwest Border through legal ports of entry using passenger vehicles or tractor trailers. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-duckworth-kelly-statement-on-report-of-additional-manganese-source-in-southeast-chicago-,"Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Statement On Report Of Additional Manganese Source In Southeast Chicago",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.12.18 Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Statement On Report Of Additional Manganese Source In Southeast Chicago WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today released the following statementsafter aChicago Tribunereportfoundthat air monitors recorded dangerous levels of brain-damaging manganese at Watco Transloading on Chicago's Southeast Side. The members raised concernsaboutthe Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) failure to consistently hold companies accountable for violationsof theClean Air Act, andhighlighted the EPA'sability to force facilities to monitor and test their air emissions for manganese air pollutiona known neurotoxinon the Southeast Side of Chicago. The EPA must use its full authority under theClean Air Actto protect human health and the environment, and time after time we've seen it fail to do so on Chicago's Southeast Side. The report of an additional source of manganese at another facility is troubling and requires swift action in order to protect countless families that live in the area. I'll be demandingEPAtake immediate steps to stop this pollution and hold those responsible accountable,Durbin said. It's unacceptable that children in Chicago or anywhere else could get sick by spending too much time outside in their own neighborhood. Unfortunately, that experience is far too common in neighborhoods across America, particularly in communities of color,said Duckworth.Whether it involves Watco on the Southeast Side or Sterigenics in DuPage County, it appears the Trump Administration is failing to protect families from toxic chemicals and hold polluters accountable and that is absolutely unacceptable. The health and safety of our neighbors is one of my top priorities in Congress. I'm disappointed to again learn that many of our neighbors are being exposed to unsafe levels of manganese; swift and immediate corrective action, coupled with accountability, is absolutely imperative, said Kelly. A few years ago, we were able to address an unsafe petcoke deposit in this community and ensure a healthier environment for Chicagoland families. We can and must do that again immediately. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high levels of manganese dust exposure can cause serious neurological effects, learning difficulties, and memory loss. Recent studies have shown a link between manganese exposure and lower child IQ scores. Researchers at University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Public Health found that children in Southeast Chicago have higher levels of manganese in their toenails than children in other partsof the City. In May, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kellywroteto then-EPA Administrator Pruitt about the agency's failure to consistently hold facilities accountable for dangerous emissions of manganese. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-and-house-lawmakers-release-updated-first-step-act-,Senate & House Lawmakers Release Updated First Step Act,2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.12.18 Senate & House Lawmakers Release Updated First Step Act Majority Leader, House Speaker pledge to consider criminal justice reform package this year WASHINGTON A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers today released revised text of the First Step Act to continue building support for criminal justice reform. This update was brokered by the White House and a bipartisan group of lawmakers in both chambers of Congress. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan have pledged to take up the revised package before the end of the year. Last month, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the First Step Act, which combines prison reform proposals that overwhelmingly passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year with sentencing reform provisions from the broadly bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, which was authored by Durbin and Grassley and passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in February by a vote of 16-5. The bipartisan First Step Act is a once in a political lifetime aligning of the stars. Republicans, Democrats, President Trump, Fraternal Order of Police, and ACLU have all thrown their support behind our bill. This bipartisan compromise could be one of the most important things we do when it comes to criminal justice not only this year but for a long time. I commend my colleagues for their spirit of cooperation on this important piece of legislation and I look forward to getting this job done in the closing weeks of this session, Sen. Durbin said. Over the last several years, we've expanded support for comprehensive criminal justice reform by listening to stakeholders and lawmakers to strike a balance that reduces crime and recidivism, and the associated taxpayer burden, while ensuring that dangerous and career criminals face steep consequences for their actions. Today's update represents the latest in our effort to achieve this goal. I appreciate the engagement from many of my colleagues to fine tune the most significant criminal justice reform in a generation, and I applaud President Trump and the White House for bringing everyone to the table to make this happen. Following these changes and the growing demonstration of support for this bill, Leader McConnell is keeping his word by pledging to hold a vote this year, Sen. Grassley said. After listening to many of our colleagues, this updated First Step Act addresses each of the concerns we've heard from stakeholders across the country. It is solid common-sense reform that will make our families stronger and our communities safer and I look forward to debating it on the Senate floor, Sen. Lee said. Our broken criminal justice system is a cancer on the soul of our nation that's disproportionately preyed upon low-income Americans, the addicted, and people of color. This bill is a meaningful step in the right direction that will help correct the ills of the failedWar onDrugs. It will have a profound effect on thousands of families suffering under the burden of our broken system, Sen. Booker said. This bill does two important things: lowers the recidivism rate and reduces sentences for nonviolent offenders which allows us to direct resources towards truly dangerous criminals. For a nonviolent offender to be released early, the offender has to acquire a necessary skill-set to be more productive once released. The bill also gives more latitude to judges to make sure lengthy sentences are not mandated for multiple nonviolent offenses. This has produced a great burden on the system and has taken a lot of people out of the workforce that could be productive. Finally, I very much appreciate Jared Kushner's tenacity when it comes to making sure the criminal justice reform legislation becomes law. I also appreciate President Trump's bold and energetic leadership on this issue. It was also an honor working side by side with Senator Tim Scott on another important reform. Senator McConnell's announcement that the Senate will take up criminal justice reform was music to my ears. Now, let's pass it into law, said Sen. Graham. We know the reforms in this bill can yield real improvement in our criminal justice system because they've worked in states like Rhode Island and Texas. Now, we are poised to pass those reforms into law across the federal system. I am proud of the bipartisan work that has led us to this moment, and grateful to all the people law enforcement, civil rights groups, former inmates, state and local officials, community leaders, and so many more who helped us get here, Sen. Whitehouse said. During my chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee, I have made reform of our federal criminal justice system a top priority. It is clear that reforms are necessary to protect Americans from crime, to help ensure that offenders become productive members of society after they serve their time, and to adjust some sentences that are currently excessive. I am extremely pleased that we have reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation to accomplish these goals, and I urge immediate consideration of this legislation so that we can send it to President Trump to sign into law, Rep. Goodlatte said. I am pleased to join with my colleagues in introducing the First Step Act, an important bill that will advance criminal justice reform. This bill includes critical changes to our sentencing laws that will reduce the impact of some mandatory minimum sentences, notably with retroactive application of the reduced crack cocaine sentences under the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. The bill's reauthorization of the Second Chance Act is also a measure that is long overdue. We will continue to work in Congress to oversee the implementation of these reforms as well as the new system to allow some federal prisoners to earn early entry into pre-release custody. There is still more work to be done to ensure our criminal justice system is equally fair and just for every American; however, this bill is its namesake: a positive first step, Rep. Nadler said. Seventeen months ago, the People's House partnered with the White House to improve public safety by lowering recidivism and prioritizing evidence-based rehabilitation, and we've continued moving forward with the Senate since the House passed this bill 360-59 last May. Lawmakers across both chambers and both parties agree that the time to act is now, and we agree on what that action looks like. Today, I stand with my colleagues in the House and Senate as we take strides that move the First Step Act closer to the president's desk,"" Rep. Collins said. The First Step Act is a historic piece of legislation that strikes a forceful blow against the mass incarceration epidemic in America. This bill will meaningfully reform our broken criminal justice system, enact fairer sentencing laws, reduce recidivism and save taxpayer dollars. It is a significant step toward redemption for thousands of non-violent drug offenders harshly treated by unjust crack-cocaine laws. The FIRST STEP Act represents the beginning of the end of over-criminalization in America, Rep. Jeffries said. The revised legislation further clarifies eligibility for earned time credits following successful completion of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs, and expands on the existing list of disqualifying offenses. The changes address points raised by some law enforcement groups and provides for additional transparency in the Bureau of Prisons' risk assessment framework. A summary of the update can be found here. Text is available here. The First Step Act is endorsed by President Trump and cosponsored by more than a third of the Senate, evenly balanced among Democrats and Republicans. Here's a complete list of current Senate cosponsors: Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) Mike Lee (R-Utah) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Cory Booker (D-N.J.) Tim Scott (R-S.C.) Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) Chris Coons (D-Del.) Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) Doug Jones (D-Ala.) Susan Collins (R-Maine) Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) Rand Paul (R-Ky.) Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) Rob Portman (R-Ohio) Angus King (I-Maine) Todd Young (R-Ind.) Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) Bill Cassidy (R-La.) Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Steve Daines (R-Mont.) Tina Smith (D-Minn.) Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) Ted Cruz (R-Texas) Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) The First Step Act is backed by a number of law enforcement groups, including thenation's largest police group. It's alsosupported by 172 former federal prosecutorsincluding two former Republican U.S. attorneys general, two former deputy attorneys general and a former director of the FBI along withsheriffs from 34 statesacross the country. The National Governor's Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states,praised the bill. A broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups along with a host of business leaders and faith-based organizations also support theFirst Step Act. More information on the revised First Step Act -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-durbin-duckworth-resolution-honoring-victims-of-shooting-at-mercy-hospital-,"Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth Resolution Honoring Victims Of Shooting At Mercy Hospital",2018-12-12,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.12.18 Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth Resolution Honoring Victims Of Shooting At Mercy Hospital WASHINGTON U.S. Senators DickDurbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Senate has unanimously passed a resolution honoring the memory of the victims of last month's shooting at Mercy Hospital in Chicago, in which a gunman killed Chicago Police Department Officer Samuel Jimenez, Dr. Tamara O'Neal, and Dayna Less. Officer Jimenez, Dr. O'Neal, and Ms. Less were all doing work that mattered and mattered greatly. All three were dedicated to helping others Officer Jimenez as a protector, and Dr. O'Neal and Ms. Less as healers. Their deaths have left their friends and families, the Chicago Police Department, and all of the city of Chicago stunned and grieving.This resolution honors their memory and contributions to the community, and our hearts remain with their family and friends during this difficult time,Durbin said. The strength of our nation comes from Americans like Officer Jimenez, who ran toward danger to protect others, and Dr. O'Neal and Ms. Less, who devoted their lives to healing others. My heart is with their families, the Chicago Police Department and the city of Chicago. Far too many Chicagoans, Illinoisans, and Americans have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. I'm proud this resolution honoring these victims' lives and commitment to serving their neighbors and their community has been passed by the Senate, and we must take action to help stop these preventable deaths, Duckworth said. Full text of the resolution is available here and below: Title: Expressing the condolences of the Senate and honoring the memory of the victims of the shooting at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, on November 19, 2018. Whereas on November 19, 2018, a gunman opened fire in the parking lot and lobby of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois; Whereas the gunman took the lives of 3 individuals who had dedicated themselves to serving others as members of the law enforcement and medical communities; Whereas Chicago Police Officer Samuel Jimenez, age 28, of the Second Police District, responded to the emergency call with bravery and made the ultimate sacrifice in an effort to protect the lives of others; Whereas Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said that (1) Officer Jimenez and the other officers who responded to the shooting did what heroic officers always dothey ran toward the gunfire; and (2) the actions of Officer Jimenez and the other officers who responded to the shooting saved a lot of lives; Whereas Officer Jimenez was (1) a dedicated law enforcement officer; (2) a loving husband; and (3) a loving father of 3 young children; Whereas Officer Jimenez was the second police officer of the Chicago Police Department to be fatally shot in the line of duty in 2018, after Commander Paul R. Bauer, the commander of the 18th Police District, was fatally shot while attempting to apprehend an armed suspect on February 13; Whereas Dr. Tamara O'Neal, age 38, a physician at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, was fatally shot by the gunman in the hospital parking lot; Whereas Dr. O'Neal, a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, had worked in the emergency department at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center treating others and was devoted to her church and to charitable causes; Whereas Dr. O'Neal was described by the director of the emergency department at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center as a wonderful individual who was dedicated to caring for her community; Whereas Dayna Less, age 24, a pharmacist at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, was fatally shot by the gunman; Whereas Ms. Less, a graduate of Purdue University, had overcome health challenges as a youth and had decided to become a pharmacist to help serve the health needs of others; Whereas Ms. Less, who was engaged to be married to her childhood sweetheart, was described by her father as the strongest person I know; Whereas the city of Chicago suffers from our nation's epidemic of gun violence, with nearly 2,700 people killed or injured by gunfire in Chicago in 2018; Whereas the medical community in the United States works tirelessly every day to provide professional and dedicated care to individuals affected by gun violence across the nation; Whereas the law enforcement community in the United States works tirelessly every day to respond to incidents of gun violence and protect others from harm at the risk of their own safety; and Whereas the nation owes a debt of gratitude to members of the law enforcement and medical communities in Chicago and across the United States for the service they provide in helping others, including in the response to the shooting at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center on November 19, 2018: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate (1) expresses sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Officer Samuel Jimenez, Dr. Tamara O'Neal, and Dayna Less, the victims of the tragic shooting on November 19, 2018, at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois; (2) honors the lives and memory of the victims, with gratitude for the service the victims provided as members of the law enforcement and medical communities; (3) extends support to the individuals subjected to the trauma of the shooting; (4) thanks the law enforcement officers, medical personnel, emergency responders, and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center workers who responded to the shooting with professionalism, dedication, and bravery; and (5) stands in solidarity with the victims of senseless gun violence in Chicago and in communities across the United States. -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://bustos.house.gov/congresswoman-cheri-bustos-signs-farm-bill-conference-report/,Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Signs Farm Bill Conference Report,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Cheri Bustos,B001286,bustos.house.gov,,,legacy,"Bustos, who is serving as a Conferee, signed the final version of the Farm Bill Conference Report paving the way for legislation to be signed into law WASHINGTON, DC Yesterday, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos completed her duties on the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee by signing the final conference report. This report, negotiated by a select group of House and Senate members, merges House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill into a final piece of legislation. With this obstacle overcome, the Farm Bill is set to be passed in both Houses and signed into law in a matter of days. I am glad that we were able to come together and negotiate a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports our family farmers and strengthens our rural economy, while stripping away partisan provisions that would have left millions of Americans hungry. While it's by no means perfect, this five year Farm Bill will give our agricultural producers the certainty they need and protect the existing crop insurance program. I am also proud to have included several of my provisions to help young farmers and veterans launch first generation family farms. I also included language in the bill to strengthen our rural communities by giving them the resources they need to combat the opioid epidemic and grow our rural economy through expanded rural broadband,said Congresswomen Bustos.However, the fight for our family farmers is far from over. As our producers continue to grapple with a downturn in the agricultural economy, the impact of President Trump's trade war and the Administration's undermining of the Renewable Fuel Standard, a lot of work remains to be done. I am committed to fighting for our hardworking Illinois farmers. Once the Farm Bill Conference Report is signed by both the House and Senate Conferees, it will be voted on by the full House of Representative and Senate before moving to the President's desk to be signed into law. Several bills Congresswoman Bustos wrote have been included in the final version of the Farm Bill, including: The Farmers of Tomorrow Act: If signed into law, this legislation would change regulations to make it easier for young farmers to buy land and put roots down. Specifically, with rising farmland real estate prices, this bill would modernize requirements so that more young farmers can access USDA loans. There's a specific provision in here to ensure that more veterans have the opportunity to go into farming too. Congresswoman Bustos introduced this bill last December. The Rural Health Liaison Act:This would create a new rural health liaison at the USDA to improve coordination and funding mechanisms to improve the delivery of healthcare to rural America. The USDA continues to be on the frontlines in the battle against opioid addiction and the Rural Health Liaison would be in position to spread best practices across small town America to address this ongoing challenge. Additionally, the USDA has the ability to finance the construction of hospitals and the implementation of programs for telehealth and health education. The Rural Health Liaison would promote the awareness and availability of these resources, and provide guidance and technical assistance to USDA field offices and staff on how to best serve their communities. The Rural Health Liaison would also coordinate with other government agencies on rural health issues. Congresswoman Bustos introduced this bipartisan legislation in February. The Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act: This bill would help rural Americans better leverage USDA Rural Development programs to combat opioid and heroin use. Specifically, the legislation would set aside 20 percent of the USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program grant funding for substance abuse treatment. It would also prioritize USDA Community and Facilities Direct Loan and Grant applications focused on substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services which will help incentivize the establishment of new treatment centers. Finally, it will prioritize USDA Rural Health and Safety Education grant funding for applicants seeking to improve education and outreach on opioids and other substance abuse issues. Congresswoman Bustos introduced this legislation in July 2017 with Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly. The Farm Bill also includes $350 million to help the 23 million rural Americans without service. Bustos helped leadThe Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Act, which seeks to close the digital divide by awarding loans grant combinations for rural broadband projects. Click here to read the full text. Background: Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17)announced her appointment to the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committeethis past July and thenspent the month of August getting input from farmers across the 17thCongressional District. The Conference Committee, made up of a select group of House and Senate members, will merge the House and Senate versions of the bill into a final version. After the conference completes its work, the final version of the Farm Bill will be voted on in both chambers of Congress before going to the President's desk to be signed into law. In June,House Republicans passed a highly partisan Farm Billwithout a single Democratic vote. Their bill would take way free school lunch programs from 265,000 households while taking food assistance away from one million households. It would also zero out Farm Bill funding for Rural Development and Conservation programs. The Senate version of the Farm Bill does not include these controversial provisions that's why Congresswoman Bustos is working to achieve a final Farm Bill that is much closer to the Senate' Farm Bill than the House Farm Bill.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/news-article/chicago-tribune-trump-pelosi-and-schumer-square-cameras-border-wall,"The Chicago Tribune: As Trump, Pelosi and Schumer square off before the cameras on border wall, government shutdown Quigley weighs in",2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Mike Quigley,Q000023,quigley.house.gov,,,legacy,"A link to thisarticle can be foundhere. From the Washington Post: President Donald Trump, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer clashed on camera Tuesday over funding for the border wall, an explosive Oval Office encounter that ended with Trump declaring he'd be proud to shut down the government to get what he wants. Read more here. Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, the sole Illinois member of the House Appropriations Committee, told The Spin: President Trump is picking this fight in search (of) a problem that doesn't exist. Apprehensions are nearing historic lows, yet border security spending is at an all-time high. Even after passing over $1 billion for border security last year, only 6 percent has been used. He also told CNN: We want to avoid a government shutdown. As you know, though, unfortunately the president has been predictably unpredictable and reliably unreliable. There was funding for border security that passed in last year's budget over a billion dollars that they haven't used yet. If they want to compromise and continue that funding on into this year, let's not hold up the other six appropriations bills that need to get done and, oh, by the way, passing a bill to protect women against violence, a farm bill, disaster relief, the list goes on.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-mceachin-introduce-paris-climate-act,"Schneider, McEachin Introduce P.A.R.I.S. Climate Act",2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Brad Schneider,S001190,schneider.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (IL-10) and A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) introduced the Produce All Relevant Information to Safeguard (P.A.R.I.S.) Climate Act. The timing of the bill introduction coincides with the United Nations Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) in Poland. The Trump Administration is stubbornly set on ignoring the science of climate change and slowing our transition to renewable sources of energy, said Congressman Schneider. The recently released National Climate Assessment illustrates that time is running out to curb emissions and address the climate threat to our economy, nation, and planet. Our legislation would require the Administration to answer for its wrong-headed decision to unilaterally withdraw from the international Paris Agreement. I will continue to work with Congressman McEachin and my colleagues to put the United States on a path to lower emissions and reengagement with the international community. Climate change poses an existential threat to the world as we know it, and preventing that change is one of the most pressing issues we face. Public health, environmental quality, and our economy are at risk if we do not act. Several international and domestic reports have confirmed the urgency of our situation, and this administration must use the facts we have to protect the American people and everyone with whom we share this one Earth, said Congressman McEachin. Three years after the signing of the Paris Agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference, Congressman Schneider and I introduced the P.A.R.I.S. Climate Act because we know the Paris Agreement was a crucial step toward ensuring our world is livable and healthy, and science shows our withdrawal endangers that precious goal. The P.A.R.I.S. Climate Act makes clear Congress is concerned about consequences of climate inaction outlined in the National Climate Assessment. This legislation would also require the Secretary of State to regularly publish a public assessment that highlights the damaging consequences of the Trump Administration's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. The bill would require the Administration to answer: How many parties have formally indicated an intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement? Does the State Department have a reasonable expectation that any parties may pursue withdrawal in the next year? If so, which, and for what reasons? Has the U.S. established specific terms for re-engagement with the Paris Agreement, per stated administration policy? Bill text of H.R. 7220 is available here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-meets-with-retired-mineworkers-from-southern-illinois,Duckworth Meets with Retired Mineworkers from Southern Illinois,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2018 Duckworth Meets with Retired Mineworkers from Southern Illinois [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with retired Illinois mineworkers from Coulterville, Du Quoin, Millstadt and Taylorville to discuss the critical importance of protecting their pensions. Pictures from today's meeting are available here. Our mineworkers worked hard every day in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions because they wanted to provide a good life for their families and they knew that when they were no longer able to work, their pensions would be there for them, said Senator Duckworth. Now, their pensions are at risk through no fault of their own. Congress needs to fix this crisis immediately and protect the pensions these workers were promised. The mineworkers, who are retired members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), traveled to Capitol Hill today to ask Congress to help save the UMWA 1974 Pension Plan, which provides monthly benefits to retired miners, to miners who are disabled as a result of workplace injury, and to their surviving spouses. The pension plan provides benefits to roughly 91,000 retirees and, in 2015, Illinois retirees received $64 million in pension payments from the plan. However, because of the 2008 financial crisis and the surge of bankruptcies in the coal industry, the plan is no longer on sound financial footing through no fault of the workers who paid into it for decades. In the Senate, Duckworth has been an advocate for addressing the miners' pension crisis and has cosponsored long-term solutions like the Miners Pension Protection Act, which would protect miners' pensions and secure retirees' health care benefits in the event their employer goes bankrupt or insolvent, and the Butch-Lewis Act, which would protect multi-employer pension plans without cutting a single cent that retirees have earned. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.duckworth.senate.gov//news/press-releases/duckworth-votes-for-farm-bill-to-support-farmers-and-illinois-families,Duckworth Votes for Farm Bill to Support Farmers & Illinois Families,2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,,,legacy,"December 11, 2018 Duckworth Votes for Farm Bill to Support Farmers & Illinois Families [WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting for the farm bill, which just overwhelmingly passed the Senate. The legislation included several Illinois priorities and includes provisions that will ensure farmers receive the assistance they need, support Veteran farmers and urban agriculture efforts, improve drinking water and expand access to high-speed internet in rural communities, and create historic investments in land and water conservation through climate-smart agricultural practices. The strength of America's farmers is a reflection of the strength of our nation. This bipartisan legislation will give Illinois farmers the support they need and help them remain competitive while supporting millions of jobs, making important investments in rural America and protecting our environment, said Duckworth. I'll continue to work in the Senate to ensure our farmers have the resources and certainty they need to support our nation's food supply, fuel our cars and grow our economy. Today's Senate-passed legislation rejects harmful proposals to limit food assistance for military families, which was a Duckworth priority. It also helps Veterans transition from active duty to civilian life by providing Veterans with training and making farm programs, loans, and risk management tools more affordable for Veterans. The bill also establishes historic new support for urban farmers and funds initiatives to help farmers find new markets across the world to export their goods. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-democrats-want-border-security-but-will-not-support-administrations-hardline-anti-immigrant-agenda-,"Durbin: Democrats Want Border Security, But Will Not Support Administration's Hardline Anti-Immigrant Agenda",2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.18 Durbin: Democrats Want Border Security, But Will Not Support Administration's Hardline Anti-Immigrant Agenda WASHINGTONU.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today rebuked President Donald Trump's claims that Democrats do not want border security. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan, Durbin reminded Commissioner McAleenan that earlier this year, a bipartisan majority of the Senate supported Durbin's bipartisan immigration and border security agreement but it failed to reach the 60 votes it needed because of the Trump Administration's opposition. On the same day, a bipartisan supermajority of the Senate rejected the President's hardline anti-immigrant plan. Democrats support it [border security] and we stand ready to work on bipartisan immigration reform legislation. But we are not going to support the Administration's hardline agenda, which would slash legal immigration and family reunification, and unfortunately dramatically cut protections for women and children fleeing persecution, Durbin said. In today's hearing, Durbin stressed that the Trump Administration is not addressing the root causes that drive migrants to the U.S. border and instead is further destabilizing the region by: Slashing security and humanitarian assistance by more than one third; Terminating Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador and Honduras, forcing more than a quarter million people back to these countries; and, Shutting down legal avenues for migration like the Central American Minor program. He also reminded his colleagues that it was a Democratic Senate that passed bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform in 2013 to provide $40 billion in border security funding and it was Republican leaders in the House of Representatives who refused to advance that bill. Video of Durbin's remarks in the Judiciary Committee hearing are available here. Audio of Durbin's remarks in the Judiciary Committee hearing is available here. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-reed-leahy-schatz-press-secretary-mattis-on-plans-to-build-barriers-along-arizona-border-,"Durbin, Reed, Leahy, Schatz Press Secretary Mattis On Plans To Build Barriers Along Arizona Border",2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.18 Durbin, Reed, Leahy, Schatz Press Secretary Mattis On Plans To Build Barriers Along Arizona Border Pentagon looking into building more than 31 miles of barriers along Barry M. Goldwater Range near Yuma, Arizona WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee: Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee; and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee today pressed Secretary of Defense James Mattis about planned activities on the Barry M. Goldwater Range near Yuma, Arizona, including building more than 31 miles of barriers along the Range. In a letter to Secretary Mattis, the Senators stressed that assessing further upgrades of the Range's fencing would be a wasteful and unjustified expenditure, which only serves to take away from more important priorities, namely military readiness and lethality. The Navy has recently initiated studies on building more than 31 miles of barriers along the Range, despite its inability to provide congressional oversight committees with a clear justification or a compelling argument for diverting as much as $450 million in future funding to this project. We believe the Department of Defense lacks any authorization or appropriations needed to move this project into any stage of construction during fiscal year 2019, the Senators wrote. Lacking this authorization for such a project, and in light of the Department's understanding that such a project would be controversial, the planned expenditures would be better focused on meeting the readiness and lethality needs that you requested Congress to support in your budget request. This would preserve the Department's promise to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and our congressional oversight responsibility. Full text of today's letter is available here and below: December 10, 2018 Dear Secretary Mattis: We write to you with concerns about planned activities on the Barry M. Goldwater Range now that the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019, and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019 have been signed into law. Assessing further upgrades of that Range's fencing remain a wasteful and unjustified expenditure, which only serves to take away from more important priorities, namely military readiness and lethality. The Navy has recently initiated studies on building more than 31 miles of barriers along the Range, despite its inability to provide our Committees with a clear justification or a compelling argument for diverting as much as $450 million in future funding to this project. Information provided by the Department of Defense to the congressional oversight committees indicates that construction of additional barriers to the portions of the Range that adjoin the border are of low priority: one section rates only tenth in priority out of seventeen projects considered by Customs and Border Protection, and the other section rates substantially lower. This appears to directly contradict guidance you issued to the Department on March 26, in which you acknowledge the Department's significant appropriation increase and required that, every decision we make must focus on lethality and affordability as we rebuild readiness and provide the combat capabilities required to provide for the security of our Nation. Moreover, it is unclear why the Navy should spend $4.4 million on environmental studies, and millions more on surveys and other reports to be furnished by military contractors, when the Department of Defense made no proposals, and made no effort, to have this matter addressed in any of the authorizing or appropriating legislation that was recently signed into law. We believe the Department of Defense lacks any authorization or appropriations needed to move this project into any stage of construction during fiscal year 2019. Nowhere in the Department's 2019 budget plans was there any proposal to spend nearly half a billion taxpayer dollars to increase security at a bombing range that is already protected by a barrier. Therefore, none of the authorizing or appropriating legislation provides for such a construction project to move forward. Lacking this authorization for such a project, and in light of the Department's understanding that such a project would be controversial, the planned expenditures would be better focused on meeting the readiness and lethality needs that you requested Congress to support in your budget request. This would preserve the Department's promise to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars and our congressional oversight responsibility. We note that other controversial construction projects were duly presented in the Department's budget proposals to Congress, where the projects were the subject to scrutiny and debate in particular, your 2019 request included $69 million for a new detention facility at Guantanamo. While this item was not funded by the Congress, we commend you for proposing this project in a manner that embraced regular order, rather than seeking extraordinary waivers, reprogrammings, or other maneuvers intended to short-circuit a thorough review by a co-equal branch of Government. Additionally, we understand that the Department is currently examining other authorities for this roughly $450 million project outside of the budget request process, specifically the potential use of 10 U.S.C. 2808 and 10 U.S.C 284. As you know, outside of a few small locations requiring security measures for weapons of mass destruction shortly after 9/11, 10 U.S.C. 2808 has never been used inside the United States. We urge you in the strongest possible fashion to refrain from considering using this authority or 10 U.S.C. 284 for this potential $450 million border wall project. We appreciate your attention to these matters, and look forward to receiving your fiscal year 2020 budget request in the coming months. Sincerely, cc: The Honorable Mick Mulvaney -30- Print Email Tweet Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-durbin-roberts-legislation-to-support-rural-ems-agencies-as-part-of-final-farm-bill,"Senate Passes Durbin, Roberts Legislation To Support Rural EMS Agencies As Part Of Final Farm Bill",2018-12-11,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.18 Senate Passes Durbin, Roberts Legislation To Support Rural EMS Agencies As Part Of Final Farm Bill Bipartisan legislation will provide funding for rural fire and ambulance crews to fight opioid epidemic, strengthen workforce WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) applauded Senate passage of theAgriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill, which includes their bill to reauthorize a federal grant program that directly supports rural emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting courses to satisfy certification requirements, and purchasing equipmentfor everything from naloxone and first aid kits, to power stretchers or new ambulances. Durbin and Roberts, along withSenators DebbieStabenow(D-MI)andTammyBaldwin(D-WI), originally introduced the bipartisanSupporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Actin May 2018, which will provide grant funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for public, tribal, and private non-profit agencies in rural communities nationwide. Once the House of Representatives passes this version of the Farm Bill, it will head to the President's desk for signature. Rural EMS agencies are the backbone of theircommunities. When I met with EMTs and fire chiefs across Illinois this year, they explained how they're asked to do so much responding to the opioid crisis and the needs of an aging America often with scarce resources and tight budgets. The bill I sponsored with Senator Roberts will provide rural EMS agencies withnewfunding that will help them better serve their communities. Whether it's training and recruiting staff, purchasing new equipment, or providing courses to employees that can help them gain more certifications,includingthis billin the final Farm Billis a boost to local emergency response efforts,Durbin said.I'd also like to applaud my colleagues on coming to a bipartisan agreement on the Farm Bill. Farmers across the nation depend on this legislation so they can plan ahead and support the economy through their hard work. The President should waste no time signing this bill into law. Including the SIREN Act in the Farm Bill conference report will provide critical resources for extending emergency medical services to patients in rural and remote areas,Roberts said. A recent decline in primary care and hospital service availability, great distances between health care facilities, and low insurance reimbursement for transport and emergency treatment have all strained rural EMS agencies. At the same time, EMS agencies today are tasked with ever-greater responsibilitiespreparing for natural and manmade disasters and bioterror threats, supporting the chronic and emergency care needs of an aging population, and responding on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. These first responders are often the only health care providers in their area and face difficulty in personnel recruitment and retention, and securing expensive equipment. In Illinois, up to 500 distinct rural EMS agencies would be eligible to apply for federal grant funding under theSIREN Act. TheSIREN Actis supported by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians,International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Association of Counties, National Association of Towns and Townships, and National Volunteer Fire Council. -30- Print Email Tweet Previous Article Next Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://lipinski.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=91&itemid=3740,Lipinski Remarks From Metra BNSF Community Meeting,2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Daniel Lipinski,L000563,lipinski.house.gov,,,legacy,"""Thank you for coming out. I want to start by wishing you Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. I am hopeful 2019 will be a better year for everyone. ""We're here tonight because 2019 needs to be a better year for all Metra BNSF riders. ""I don't take Metra to work every day like many of you do, but I am an occasional rider and I have family members who rely on it every day. When it's working well, it's an incredibly fast and efficient way to get downtown, especially during rush hour. Last Tuesday, I arrived downtown in less than 30 minutes from Western Springs. ""This is the type of service public transit riders deserve. ""We all understand that problems can occur, but this year the Metra BNSF line has failed all too often. There have been repeated delays, cancellations, broken air conditioners, and other problems. ""I've told Metra and BNSF that this is unacceptable and the problems must end. ""I've called on the Surface Transportation Board, the federal railroad regulator, to increase its oversight. ""And tonight we have the CEO of Metra and the VP of Passenger Operations for BNSF because I went to the top of both railroads and said that they must come out to hear from riders and to explain what they are doing to fix the problems. ""The role that BNSF plays here may surprise you. They operate not only the freight trains on this line they own, but they also operate the Metra service. I will let these two men explain more of that. ""As I said, I have asked the Surface Transportation Board to oversee the fixing of issues on this line. However, the power of this Board is limited. That is something I would like to change. ""What I have been able to do on the House Transportation Committee is to help bring more federal funding to public transit. I'm co-chair of the Congressional Public Transit Caucus and a strong advocate for public transportation. I'm a frequent rider, especially in Washington. In the last Highway and Transit funding bill, I helped raise the funding for public transit by 20% between 2015 and 2020. The federal government provides over 85% of the capital funding for Metra which pays for locomotives, passenger cars, and some of the rail infrastructure. ""Right now I am working on getting a new federal infrastructure bill passed in Congress early next year. I am helping the new governor's transition team on transportation and I'm hopeful the state will also step up. ""But tonight you have the opportunity to hear from Metra and BNSF, and you have the opportunity for these two railroads to hear from you. I want to thank CEO Derwinski and VP Mitchell for coming out here tonight. And they both know that I will continue to hold their feet to the fire until we get the service that we deserve.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/passage-of-dental-health-act-a-rare-act-of-bipartisanship,Passage of Dental Health Act a rare act of bipartisanship,2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,,,legacy,"The Action for Dental Health Act of 2018 has been described as a modest piece of legislation. But supporters have also hailed the measure as a heartening acknowledgment by federal legislators of the need to respond to the long-unmet dental needs of millions of Americans. In a rare show of bipartisanship, Congress last week passed the legislation, which is headed to President Trump's desk to be signed into law. The measure amends the Public Health Service Act to enable more groups and organizations to qualify for federal grants that develop programs and expand access to oral health education and care in states and tribal areas. Grantees are expected to include dentistry and hygiene programs working in rural and underserved locales; organizations helping to increase oral health literacy and disease prevention in low-income and minority communities; and mobile and portable dental projects to deliver care to patients in settings such as nursing homes and schools. The Congressional Budget Office estimates implementation could cost $133 million over the next four years. A broad majority of the House approved the original bill in February, with slightly amended version unanimously passing the Senate in October. The House approved the amended bill on November 28. This bipartisan bill means that more families will have access to oral and dental healthcare, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, an Illinois Democrat and key backer, said in a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, an Idaho Republican, that announced the measure's passage The two worked together across party lines to introduce the bill and to ensure its passage. Ultimately, the real winners are patients who need improved access to resources to enhance early diagnosis, intervention and preventive treatments which can stop the progress of oral diseases, said Simpson, who is a dentist. Along the way, the bill won support from a range of professional organizations and health care advocacy groups that included the American Dental Association, the National Dental Association and the American Dental Education Association, Oral Health America and Families USA. Families USAExecutive Director Frederick Isasi praised the measure's passage while still stressing the enormity of the nation's dental needs. Despite its limited scope, the Action for Dental Health Act represents the most significant legislation on dental health passed during this hyper-partisan Congress, Isasi said in a statement. There is much more work to be done. Read the original at HealthJournalism.org.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://robinkelly.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kelly-to-introduce-cybersecurity-legislation-for,Congresswoman Kelly to Introduce Cybersecurity Legislation for Government-Purchased Internet-Connected Devices,2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Robin Kelly,K000385,robinkelly.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - This week, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, ranking member of the IT subcommittee, will introduce legislation to address cyber vulnerabilities created by the adoption of Internet-connected devices, commonly called IoT' or the Internet of Things.' As the government continues to purchase and use more and more internet-connected devices, we must ensure that these devices are secure. Everything from our national security to the personal information of American citizens could be vulnerable because of security holes in these devices, said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. It's estimated that by 2020 there will be 30 million internet-connected devices in use. As these devices positively revolutionize communication, we cannot allow them to become a backdoor to hackers or tools for cyberattacks. The legislation would require basic cybersecurity standards to be baked into government-purchased IoT devices. Congresswoman Kelly originally released a discussion draft of the legislation in August 2017. Over the last sixteen months, she has received and incorporated extensive feedback from advocates, government agencies, lawmakers and other key stakeholders to craft the final legislation. For the last 16 months, I've actively sought feedback on my federal IoT cybersecurity discussion draft. My goal was to create the best possible legislation to harden government-purchased and used IoT devices, added Congresswoman Kelly. In many ways, Congresswoman Kelly's legislation is similar to the Senate's Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act, introduced by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). The bills differ in their definition of IoT devices and the Kelly bill further empowers agency CIOs with additional waiver powers. The legislation has already won the support of academics and industry leaders. ""This bill makes important progress on one of the most pressing cybersecurity threats of our time. It leverages federal purchasing power to create pro-security market pressure and, equally important, serves as a model for the implementation of similar standards elsewhere,"" said Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law and Professor of Computer Science, Harvard University. ""The bill commits to engaging with academic and private-sector security experts to help craft specific agency guidelines. Casting a wide net during the advisory phase will both yield better policy and, if done fully, meaningfully enfranchise non-governmental partners."" Unsecured IoT devices are an enormous and growing risk. But it does not have to be that way; IoT devices can be secured, and the federal government can set an example for the private sector, Jeff Greene, VP, Global Government Affairs & Policy, Symantec. We applaud Congresswoman Kelly for taking action to address this threat and to improve the Federal government's IoT security. We look forward to working with her as this legislation moves forward. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-takano-carper-cohen-call-on-department-of-education-to-protect-military-and-veteran-students-,"Durbin, Takano, Carper, Cohen Call On Department Of Education To Protect Military And Veteran Students",2018-12-10,2018,2018-12,Democrat,House,IL,Richard Durbin,D000563,www.durbin.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.18 Durbin, Takano, Carper, Cohen Call On Department Of Education To Protect Military And Veteran Students Members ask Sec. DeVos to release federal 90/10 data for for-profit colleges that includes all federal education funding WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Mark Takano (D-CA-41), U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), andsix of their colleaguestoday sent a letter toEducationSecretary Betsy DeVosurgingthe Departmentof Education toprotect military and veteran students by publishing, as part of the federal 90/10 rule,the amount and percentage of revenue received by for-profit colleges from all federal educational programs. The 90/10 rule was designed to limit the amount of revenue for-profit colleges could derive from federal sources to 90 percent. Unfortunately, because of the way the law was written, only Department of Education student aid funds are counted as federal revenue. This leaves billions in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) GI Bill and Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance funds unaccounted for. By enrolling service members and veterans, for-profit colleges are able to receive an unlimited percentage of their revenue directly from federal taxpayers flouting the law's intent to ensure that these companies were not solely reliant on federal funds for operation. The loophole creates a powerful incentive for for-profit colleges to use high-pressure and often deceptive and misleading marketing tactics to aggressively recruit service members and veterans,the members wrote.We understand that closing the 90/10 loophole requires Congress to change the law. But in the meantime, we ask that the Department continue to publish 90/10 data which counts accurately as federal revenue all revenue received by for-profit colleges from federal taxpayer-funded educational assistance programs.The data is critical for taxpayers and lawmakers to better understand where federal investments in education are being spent and for military and veteran students to make better informed decisions about their educational futures. Today's letter wasalso signed by: U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), and Susan A. Davis (D-CA-53). This year, Durbin andCohenintroducedtheProtecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act(S. 2037 and H.R. 4181), which would prohibit for-profit colleges and universities from receiving more than 85 percent of their revenue from the federal government and change the calculation of federal revenue to include all federal funds, including Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill and Department of Defense Tuition Assistance benefits.Carper and Durbin also introduced theMilitary and Veterans Education Protection Act(S. 2109),which maintains the current 90/10 level, but closes the loophole which excludes VA and DoD funds. In 2015, Durbin and Carper led a group of 17 Senators inwritingto then-Secretary Arne Duncan with a similar request. Then-Secretary John Kingreleasedthe data in response to the request in December 2016. Full text oftoday'sletter is availablehereandbelow: December 10, 2018 Dear Secretary DeVos: We write today to urge the Department of Education (Department) to protect military and veteran students by publishing the amount and percentage of revenue received by for-profit colleges from all federal educational programs. As you know, the 90/10 rule is a federal law designed to ensure that for-profit colleges demonstrate their financial soundness and educational quality by attracting revenue at least 10 percent from sources other than federal taxpayers. However, a loophole allows all non-Title IV federal educational benefits such as Department of Defense (DOD) Tuition Assistance and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 GI Bill to be counted as private, non-federal revenue. This allows institutions to receive as much as 100 percent of their revenues from federal taxpayers flouting the law's intent. The loophole creates a powerful incentive for for-profit colleges to use high-pressure and often deceptive and misleading marketing tactics to aggressively recruit service members and veterans. The uptick in aggressive marketing to service members and veterans, particularly since the establishment of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, has been well-documented in Congressional investigations and reports. In the words of Holly Petraeus, for-profit colleges that engage in these practices see our service members and veterans as lucrative targets and nothing more than dollar signs in uniform. As a result, the institutions profit while, too often, military and veteran students end up wasting their hard-earned, finite educational benefits at schools that do not provide high-quality education and career training. As required by 20 U.S.C. 1094, the Department publishes an annual report that details the amount and percentage of federal and non-federal revenues received by each for-profit college. In December 2016, at the urging of Congress , the Department calculated and published 90/10 data for the 2013-2014 academic year which included DOD and VA educational assistance funds. The results were staggering. The data showed that without the loophole 186 institutions, including some of the largest recipients of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, received more than 90 percent of their revenue from federal taxpayers amounting to $8 billion collectively. Further, without the loophole, 566 institutions received more than 85 percent of their revenue from federal taxpayers amounting to an astonishing $12.6 billion. By comparison, only 14 institutions exceeded the 90 percent revenue cap in 2013-2014 when calculated using only Department of Education federal student aid dollars. Unfortunately, this data comes much too late for the students, including service members and veterans, whose lives were severely disrupted by the financial collapse of Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech. For years, these institutions engaged in a variety of predatory practices and, thanks to the 90/10 loophole, were able to hide their high dependence on federal funds to sustain their operations. For example, according to the Department's estimate, ITT Tech may have received 100 percent of its revenues from taxpayers in 2013-2014. However, because of the 90/10 loophole, ITT Tech reported that it only received 82.67 percent of its revenue from taxpayers. This helped obscure ITT Tech's shaky financial condition from enforcement agencies, lawmakers, taxpayers, and students. The aftermath of these closures for both students and taxpayers clearly show the consequences of allowing for-profit institutions to evade the 90/10 rule and be too heavily subsidized by taxpayers. We understand that closing the 90/10 loophole requires Congress to change the law. But in the meantime, we ask that the Department continue to publish 90/10 data which counts accurately as federal revenue all revenue received by for-profit colleges from federal taxpayer-funded educational assistance programs. The data is critical for taxpayers and lawmakers to better understand where federal investments in education are being spent and for military and veteran students to make better informed decisions about their educational futures. We ask for a written response no later than January 10. Thank you for your consideration of this matter. Sincerely, -30-",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z