Illinois

Funds Being Directed to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Rend Lake College

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Rend Lake College in Ina, IL will be receiving $100,000 in Brookwood-Sago grant awards from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Funding will support the development and implementation of training materials for mine emergency preparedness and haulage safety. The following are descriptions of the funds being allocated to Illinois:    » read more »

September 15, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that $21,834,600 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program will be allocated to the Illinois State Energy office.    » read more »

Seniors, People with Disabilities Can Apply Early for LIHEAP

CHICAGO – August 31, 2009. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today urged seniors and people with disabilities to take advantage of tomorrow’s early application date for winter heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“Seniors and individuals with disabilities are especially vulnerable to the cold weather,” said Governor Quinn. “I encourage people to apply for assistance through LIHEAP so that they can stay safe, warm and healthy this winter.”    » read more »

Greater Protections Safeguard Citizens from Tainted Water Following Crestwood Well Contamination

CHICAGO – August 23, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill to help ensure Illinois citizens have safe drinking water and prevent future incidents like the water contamination discovered earlier this year in Crestwood.

“The people of Illinois have a right to know when their water could be contaminated,” said Governor Quinn. “This bill helps prevent terrible incidents like what happened in Crestwood from happening again.”    » read more »

Chicago (August 7, 2009) – “Solar Flowers” reaching up to 18 feet high are blossoming on Chicago’s Navy Pier and not only are they good for reviving spirits, they’re good for reviving computers and cell phones too.

The oversized flower sculptures are partially powered by solar panels on the back of their petals and the base of their stems. Each of the five Solar Flowers provides seating for up to 10 people, access to free Wi-Fi service and power to charge cell phones and laptops. Daily hours of operation are 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.    » read more »

July 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $82,257,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects:    » read more »

Calls for $1 billion in cuts; says legislators, other constitutionals must share sacrifice

CHICAGO – July 7, 2009 -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today vetoed House Bill 2145 saying the General Assembly’s bill fails to make any significant cuts in state operations. Instead, the Governor proposed passing a responsible “Tough Choices” budget, which calls for cutting an additional $1 billion in state costs.

“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because it favors preserving the government status quo and fails to make the necessary cuts and reductions in state government operations,” said Governor Quinn. “It does not reflect the spirit of shared sacrifice that must prevail throughout our state government, particularly during these harsh economic times.”    » read more »

Bi-state Governors sign memorandum outlining cooperative efforts to compete for recovery act funds for Chicago-to-St. Louis line

June 22, 2009 -- ST. LOUIS - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today visited the St. Louis Gateway Amtrak Station to detail their shared priorities for competing for federal recovery funds to establish a high-speed passenger rail line between Chicago and St. Louis.    » read more »

Governor Quinn Signs Bill to Make Health Insurance More Affordable for Unemployed Workers; Bill extends 65% health insurance subsidy in federal Recovery Act to former employees of small businesses

June 18, 2009 -- CHICAGO – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today signed a law that will make health insurance more affordable for laid-off workers of small businesses and their families.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), those who formerly worked at companies of 20 employees or more are eligible for a subsidy that reduces by 65 percent the cost of COBRA health care coverage. The bill signed by Governor Quinn provides a 65 percent health insurance payment subsidy to those who worked for companies with fewer than 20 employees.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded $90,983,282 in preparedness grants to Illinois. Today’s funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $1.8 billion in grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disasters. Illinois will receive the following funding:

* Chicago, Illinois: $321, 221 in funding for Metropolitan Medical Response System which will improve regional mass casualty incident preparedness and response capabilities;    » read more »

June 8, 2009 -- CHICAGO – Senator Richard Durbin and Congresswoman Melissa Bean today urged Illinois small business owners facing credit problems to consider the U.S. Small Business Administration’s lending programs, and announced the imminent start of a new loan program to help businesses pay down their debt.

After meeting with local small businesses and officials from the SBA, Bean (IL-08) and Durbin (IL) said the small business provisions contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have had a measurable benefit to small businesses working to retain and create jobs during the economic slump.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn joined Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in calling on seven Midwestern Governors to increase their efforts and regional coordination on high speed rail through a regional Rail Summit held in Chicago – the Midwest rail system’s hub – this summer.

Today’s announcement followed a meeting between Durbin and Quinn where they also discussed moving forward with Illinois’s bid for the $8 billion available in funding for high speed rail through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $15,978,467 in grants to five Illinois airports.

“Today’s grants will allow airports in Illinois make needed improvements and upgrades to help them serve travelers more safely and efficiently,” said Durbin. “These important projects will also create good paying jobs throughout Illinois during the current construction season.”

The following airports will receive funding under today’s announcement:

* Quad City International Airport: $3,750,000 in funding for runway rehabilitation;    » read more »

Testifies Before House Committee to Get Reform Measure on Ballot

SPRINGFIELD – May 28, 2009. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is backing a proposed constitutional amendment empowering the people of Illinois to recall a governor. The Governor stressed his support in testimony before a House committee, which unanimously approved the measure and passed it to the full House for a vote.

“We need governors to be accountable to the public, not just on Election Day, but every day of their term,” said Governor Quinn. “Approving recall is the very best way to say that reform is alive and well in Illinois.”    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- CHICAGO, IL – Community health centers throughout the state of Illinois such as Alivio Medical Center in Chicago will be able to add new providers, increase hours of operations and expand services for patients thanks to funding included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Health centers provide a valuable service to communities by administering health care to low-income families, many without health insurance,” said Durbin. “Last year alone, over 1.1 million people in Illinois were treated at community health centers. This funding will support this critically important work and lead to economic growth in many underserved communities as health centers also serve as a key source of local employment and economic activity.”    » read more »