Fellow Illinoisan,

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am proud to secure important federal funding for Illinois. I was able to do just that in the spending bills that passed the Senate last week.

From protecting the Great Lakes, to investing in our transportation infrastructure and working to lower the cost of prescription drugs, this funding is an investment in Illinois’ future and will fund critical functions and programs within our government. Here’s an example of where some of this federal money will be spent:
  • Investing in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $310 million in funding for the GLRI to support the inter-agency program to address issues affecting the Great Lakes, including invasive species and pollution. 

  • Protecting SNAP benefits for Illinois seniors: The bill includes my language to protect SNAP nutrition assistance benefits for 8,000 low-income seniors and elderly people in Illinois.

  • Investing in Amtrak: $2 billion in nationwide Amtrak funding, as well as language urging the Federal Railroad Administration to provide a multi-year extension of the current grant agreement to establish the new Quad Cities to Chicago State-supported Amtrak route.

  • Helping lowering the cost of prescription drugs: The bill includes my report language to lower the cost of prescription drugs by speeding up the FDA approval process for lower-cost generic insulin and studying efforts by pharmaceutical companies to block competition by abusing the patent system.
  • Protecting against first responder roadside deaths & distracted driving: The bill includes my efforts to combat roadside personnel deaths, specifically $5 million for testing technology, barriers, and other solutions to improve driver awareness and protect roadside personnel. 

  • Investing in research and development: The bill includes $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Research Service.  This amount ensures continued funding for research labs across the country, including the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, where more than 250 scientists and staff are conducting important research to create new markets for food waste, biofuels, and plant-based biochemicals. 
These are important investments in Illinois’ future. You can find more detailed information on how these funds will be used here. And, as always, I will keep fighting in Washington to bring home federal dollars to Illinois.

Sincerely, 

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)

 

 

 

 Click here to open a plain text version of this email    Click here to forward this email    Click here to open this e-mail in its own browser window    Click here to comment on this email