Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin Visits Erie Family Health Center During National Health Center Week
CHICAGO - Today U.S. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a press conference with health care leaders at Erie Family Health Center to discuss recent funding cuts to Medicaid and mark National Health Center Week. “I’ve been honored to work alongside Erie Family Health Centers for years in the fight for affordable health care and lower prescription drug costs,” said Durbin. “This week is National Health Center Week, a time to recommit to protecting health centers, many of whom will suffer … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Durbin Offers Amendment To Reinstate All NIH, Other Critical Grants That Have Been Unlawfully Terminated By The Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin’s (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, submitted an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education appropriations bill to reinstate NIH and other critical grants that were arbitrarily and unjustifiably terminated by the Trump Administration. Durbin spoke about his amendment during today’s Committee markup on the Labor-HHS-Ed appropriations bill. Durbin’s amendment was voted down … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Durbin, Cassidy REMEDY Act To Lower Prescription Costs By Promoting Generic Competition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced a bipartisan bill to tackle certain efforts by the pharmaceutical industry to extend monopolies on lifesaving drugs. The Reforming Evergreening and Manipulation that Extends Drug Years (REMEDY) Act would promote competition by removing barriers to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for lower-cost generic drugs. Many high-cost, brand-name drugs are shielded from … Continue Reading
July 28, 2025
Durbin, Senators Request Answers From FDA Regarding Dangerous Decision Allowing JUUL E-Cigarettes To Stay On The Market, Addict Children
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a group of eight Senators in sending a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Makary sounding the alarm and demanding answers over FDA’s senseless decision to authorize JUUL’s e-cigarettes, including its menthol-flavored vaping pods. JUUL is the e-cigarette brand that ignited the youth vaping “epidemic”—as it was characterized by Dr. Scott Gottlieb, FDA’s Commissioner in the first Trump Administration—and … Continue Reading
July 25, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Seek Answers On So-Called One Big Beautiful Bill's Impact On Hospitals In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to every hospital in Illinois requesting information about the projected impact analysis of the Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts $1 trillion in Medicaid funding and $300 billion in Affordable Care Act funding over the next decade. As a result of the legislation, 15 million Americans are projected to lose health insurance coverage, including … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin Highlights Importance Of NIH Funding To Red States & Urges Republicans Senators To Stand Up For Medical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming the Trump Administration for its attempts to dismantle the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the harmful impacts it will have on medical research across the country, including in red states. Durbin began his remarks by highlighting the importance of NIH funding to patients nationwide. Durbin said, “There is certainty in funding medical research. Certainty in knowing that while not all … Continue Reading
March 31, 2025
Durbin Slams Republican Plans To Cut Medicaid In Order To Provide Tax Cuts To Billionaires
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Congressional Republicans for their plan to slash Medicaid funding to give tax breaks to billionaires through their budget resolution. House Republicans have proposed $880 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program in order to pay for President Trump’s tax cuts for billionaires, and Senate Republicans have similarly put this program in the crosshairs. “Why? Not because they want to lower health … Continue Reading
March 27, 2025
Durbin, In Response To Trump Admin Cuts To NIH: People Are Going to Die If We Don't Fund Medical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a roundtable forum, entitled “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer's, & Other Diseases,” which was hosted by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Peter Welch (D-VT). The forum underscored the dangerous consequences of the Trump Administration’s decision to lay off researchers and freeze funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Durbin began his … Continue Reading
March 21, 2025
Durbin Discusses Impacts Of Medicaid Cuts On Rural Hospitals
TAYLORVILLE— U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined health care administrators at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Carlinville Area Hospital & Clinics, and the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network to discuss the impact of potential Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals and their patients. Republicans in Congress have proposed funding tax breaks for billionaires by cutting $880 billion to the Medicaid program. Statewide, 3.4 million Illinoisans rely on Medicaid for … Continue Reading
March 20, 2025
Durbin Discusses Impacts Of Medicaid Cuts On Rural Hospitals, Clinics
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined health care administrators from Touchette Regional Hospital, Jersey Community Hospital, Sparta Community Hospital, Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, and the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network to discuss the impact of potential Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals and their patients. Republicans in Congress have proposed funding tax breaks for billionaires by cutting $880 billion to the Medicaid … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Republicans AGAIN Reject Durbin's Unanimous Consent Request To Pass Resolution In Support Of Medical Research At NIH As Elon Musk, President Trump Continue To Slash Funding
WASHINGTON - Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), as well as 21 other Senators, that would support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as President Trump and Elon Musk continue to illegally cut funding and resources for researchers discovering cures at NIH. The resolution simply states that the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois Health Director As Trump Administration Threatens Public Health Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), to discuss protecting public health resources in Illinois as the Trump Administration continues to dismantle support for public health. In their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Vohra spoke about the potential $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid proposed by congressional Republicans in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires, which could endanger health … Continue Reading
March 05, 2025
Durbin Hosts Call With Rural Illinois Hospitals On Harms From Republicans' Proposed Cuts To Medicaid
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today convened a call with the leadership of nine rural hospitals based in central and southern Illinois to discuss the impact of the potential $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid proposed by congressional Republicans in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires. During the call, the rural hospital leaders underscored that critical role that Medicaid plays in providing coverage for their patients and sustaining hospital budgets. Without … Continue Reading
February 28, 2025
Durbin Visits UW Health Women And Children's Hospital To Highlight $1 Million Earmark For NICU
ROCKFORD — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited UW Health Women and Children’s Hospital to tour their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus bill, Durbin secured a $1 million earmark to expand the NICU and increase available maternal and infant health services in Rockford. The NICU operated by UW Health is the only NICU in Winnebago County that provides services to all Medicaid patients. With the earmark secured by Durbin, the … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Republicans Block Durbin-Murray Amendment To Reverse Devastating And Illegal Cuts To NIH Medical Research
SPRINGFIELD - Last night during the Senate’s vote-a-rama, Senate Republicans blocked U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) amendment that would reverse massive, arbitrary cuts to lifesaving medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to make earlier this year by freezing federal grant funding and setting the maximum reimbursement rate … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Durbin, Marshall Introduce Protecting Patients From Deceptive Drug Ads Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect public health and close regulatory loopholes by having the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) address false and misleading prescription drug promotions by social media influencers and telehealth companies. The prevalence of online promotions and direct-to-consumer advertisements … Continue Reading
February 07, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Demand Answers About Trump's Efforts To Restrict & Undermine NSF-Funded Scientific Research
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), along with 22 of their colleagues, in sounding the alarm over the Trump Administration injecting partisanship into scientific studies, obstructing critical research, potentially derailing the careers of promising American researchers, and attempting to undermine the U.S. scientific research ecosystem. With several major sources of federal research … Continue Reading
January 31, 2025
Durbin, Grassley Urge PhRMA To Embrace Their Bill To End Price Secrecy In Prescription Drug Advertisements
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today sent a letter to the President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) urging them to embrace their bipartisan legislation, the Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, to empower patients and providers and commit to voluntarily disclosing list prices in DTC advertisements. The … Continue Reading
January 27, 2025
Durbin: RFK Jr. Is Dangerously Unqualified To Serve As HHS Secretary
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke out against the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), citing the nominee’s false and irresponsible views on vaccines. In his remarks, Durbin pointed to specific examples of Kennedy spreading lies about vaccines, fluoride, and other measures with proven scientific history of safety and improving health. “Every day HHS makes … Continue Reading
October 30, 2024
ICYMI: Durbin Holds Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing In Chicago On Reducing Prescription Drug Costs
CHICAGO - In case you missed it, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, held a Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing in Chicago entitled “Reducing Prescription Drug Prices: How Competition Can Make Medications Affordable for Patients.” During the hearing, Durbin examined the pharmaceutical industry’s anti-competitive tactics and highlighted the success of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in addressing high prescription drug prices for Medicare … Continue Reading