Richard Durbin in 2020 IL Senate race
On Education:
Create refundable tax credit for teachers in Title I schools
We were incentivizing experienced educators to work in affluent schools. The impact on students in Black and Brown neighborhoods is drastic. We can address these disparities by incentivizing teachers to make careers in areas with the most need.
My bill, the Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now Act, would create a fully refundable tax credit for teachers in Title I schools and educators in early childhood education programs.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Empower the EPA to regulate greenhouse emissions
If we want to avoid the most disastrous effects of climate change, we must rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We need to empower the EPA to regulate emissions. We must invest in alternative fuels. We should help transition to a clean energy,
carbon neutral future by putting a price on carbon. I've introduced America's Clean Future Fund Act, which would raise a carbon tax and invest the revenues in clean energy development, transition assistance for workers.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Environment:
Renovate our entire drinking water infrastructure
We need to invest in renovating the entirety of our drinking water infrastructure to ensure all Americans have access to lead-free drinking water. We need to seriously address the injustices that have required certain communities to bear the brunt of
the damage associated with industrialization. We should clean up legacy superfund and other pollution sites and invest in green spaces and necessary renovations in environmental justice communities.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Health Care:
Defend & expand ObamaCare and Medicaid
My vote for the Affordable Care Act was one of the most important votes of my career. We must do everything within our power to defend and expand on the ACA. We should expand Medicaid in all states, allow people the option to
purchase private or public health insurance plans that ensure access to mental health care, and provide access to adequate dental care. We must also reduce the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Technology:
Fund science to protect food supply, cure disease, and more
Increasing federal research funding at our government agencies is a top priority for me.
The American Cures and Innovation Acts and the America Grows Act would allow
America's smartest scientists and researchers to spend less time figuring out how to cut their budgets and more time finding new ways to protect our food supply,
find cures for deadly diseases, and tackle the challenges of the future. Continuing to support scientific research is the smartest investment we can make for our health, our future, and our economy.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Welfare & Poverty:
Educate farmers about federal programs that can help them
Q: What, if any, new action should the federal government take to increase food security?A: I supported new Farm Bill programs to expand local and regional systems that strengthen diversity (both economically and socially) of the farm sector, like
dedicated funding for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) and the new Office of Urban Agriculture. Better outreach, education, and training are imperative so more local farmers know and use these programs.
Source: ScienceDebate.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
On Corporations:
Patriot employers: reward companies that supply U.S. jobs
I have introduced legislation designed to encourage "patriot employers," which would provide tax credits as a reward to the companies that supply American jobs, pay decent wages, offer good benefits including health insurance and retirement plans, and
support their employees when they are called to military duty.The manufacturing sector of our economy is in crisis. The United States has lost 2.6 million manufacturing jobs since January 2001. This is more than 85 percent of our total private sector
job losses during that time even though manufacturing jobs account for less than 14 percent of our private sector economy.
Manufacturing is the engine of economic growth for Illinois and the United States.
Workers with basic skills who find employment in the manufacturing sector can earn a middle-class income. Senator Durbin is committed to addressing our nation's manufacturing crisis and protecting U.S. companies and workers from unfair trade practices.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Apr 3, 2008
On Drugs:
The plague of methamphetamine abuse is growing
The plague of methamphetamine abuse is growing in Illinois and across the nation, posing serious challenges for law enforcement agencies and first responders in rural areas. Meth is tearing apart our families and overwhelming our child welfare network.
As a member of the Senates Anti-Meth Caucus, I strongly support programs to provide these regions with the resources they need to keep their communities safe.In partnership with the Illinois Sheriffs Association, I secured federal funding for an ad
campaign to promote awareness and prevention of methamphetamine abuse in southern and central Illinois. I continue to support efforts to make it more difficult for meth "cooks" to obtain the chemicals needed to make meth and have introduced
legislation that will make it easier to track purchases of meth ingredients. I have also offered legislation to provide comprehensive family-based substance abuse treatment for pregnant and parenting women suffering from meth addiction.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Apr 3, 2008
On Families & Children:
Safe, affordable child care available to more families
Senator Durbin is committed to making safe, affordable child care available to more American families that need it. Parents rely on outside child care arrangements now more than ever before. Parents need to know that the child care they rely on is of
the highest quality. Yet working families at all income levels struggle to find the high quality care their children need at a cost that is affordable.
Full-day care can cost between $4,000 and $10,000 per year. In 2000, child care for a four-year-old
child in an urban area of Illinois cost an average of $5,304 per year. One out of four families with young children earns less than $25,000 per year, making such high child care payments nearly impossible for many parents.
The gap between
what research has shown us is good for children and what is put into practice is still too large, especially in the context of reasonable pay and benefits for child care professionals.
Source: Vote-USA.org on 2020 Illinois Senate race
Apr 3, 2008
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2020