WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Fire Service Association to discuss the importance of firefighter equipment grant programs, firefighter training, and crude-by-rail safety in communities where oil tank cars pass through.

“Firefighters and first-responders bravely protect Illinois’ communities when emergencies happen,” Durbin said. “It was great to see the men and women of the Illinois Fire Service Association today. I will continue doing all I can to ensure they have the resources needed to keep doing their jobs.”

Earlier this month, Durbin sent a letter with 21 other Senators calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support robust investment for a Safe Transportation of Energy Products program to address increasing safety concerns related to the transportation of Bakken crude and other energy products. The Senators also called for increased funding for crude-by-rail safety efforts conducted by agencies such as the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials and Substances Administration (PHMSA), and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).