Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $519,000 In Funding For Rural EMS Agencies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $518,916 in funding for several rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in Illinois. The funding, which was created through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, will go toward supporting EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment. "Across Illinois, rural EMS agencies are first o… Continue Reading
07.26.22
Durbin Calls On Congress To Extend ACA Tax Credits
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to extend the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) tax credits-which eliminated or reduced out-of-pocket premiums for millions of people. If Congress doesn't act soon, these tax credits will expire at the end of the year. Thanks to Democrats, who all supported the American Rescue Plan, a record 14.5 million people signed up for ACA plans during the 2022 open enrollment period. Durbin sai… Continue Reading
07.21.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $12.2 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $12,245,863 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from vascular diseases to mental health research. "Federal investments in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us new treatm… Continue Reading
07.20.22
Durbin: If Republicans Really Care About Inflation, Why Are They Opposing Plans To Lower Prescription Drug Prices?
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged Republicans to join Democrats and lower the cost of prescription drug prices. Due to Big Pharma's price gouging, Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, an average of nearly 4 times more than other Western countries for the exact same medications-many of which are developed in the United States using research paid for by American taxpayers. During his speech, Durbi… Continue Reading
07.19.22
Durbin: Democrats Propose Fairness When It Comes To Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON - Today in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against Senate Republicans' inaction as Big Pharma continues to earn astronomical profits while Americans struggle to pay for the cost of their prescription medications. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized Senate Democrats' efforts to allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription medications, mirroring laws already successfully in effect with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to ease… Continue Reading
07.18.22
Durbin Highlights Efforts By Senate Democrats To Lower Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech on the indefensible price gouging of prescription drugs and the efforts by Senate Democrats to lower these prices for American patients. In his speech, Durbin called for legislation to allow the federal government to negotiate the price of prescription drugs, which would significantly ease the cost of living for many households across the country. "I wonder if Americans think that the… Continue Reading
07.18.22
Durbin: Overturning Roe Has Unleashed A Health Care Crisis In This Country
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, detailed the unfolding health care crisis across the United States in the wake of the conservative Supreme Court's majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also continued to call on his colleagues to support enshrining into law a statutory right to an abortion. "In the weeks since the Alito-Thomas Supreme Court majority erased the … Continue Reading
07.15.22
Durbin Discusses Federal Funding For Youth Mental Health Services
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced $1,000,000 in new Congressionally Directed Spending-also known as an earmark-that he secured in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill for Thresholds to renovate their Young Adult Program building to expand their services to more youth. Their building supports young adults by offering both behavioral therapy, educational opportunities, and transitional living treatment. "There's no… Continue Reading
07.12.22
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Legal Consequences Of The Dobbs Decision
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." Durbin questioned Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, on maternal mortality and the consequences of overturning Roe. According to a study in the American Journal of Public Heal… Continue Reading
07.12.22
Abortion Provider To Congress: The End Of Roe Is A Public Health Crisis
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, during today's hearing entitled "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." McNicholas has 15 years of experience as an abortion provider and a specialist in Family Planning including academic practice, resident education, clinical research, and health care advocacy. Her testimony w… Continue Reading
07.12.22
Lieutenant Governor Of Illinois Testifies On How The Dobbs Decision Is Already Harming Individual States
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton's prepared testimony during today's hearing entitled "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." Stratton is the first Black woman to serve as Illinois's Lieutenant Governor, a position she has held since 2019. Her testimony focuses on the steps that Illinois has taken to protect access to abortion, the challenges of out-of-state patients coming to Illinois to seek care, and… Continue Reading
06.16.22
Durbin, Tillis, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Improve Coordination Between USPTO And FDA
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and… Continue Reading
06.14.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $8 Million For Cancer Prevention And Control Programs In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced nearly $7.791 million in Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants. The funding will go to three programs in Illinois that promote cancer prevention and reduce the incidence of cancer. "This federal funding will support critical work being done to treat cancer in Illinois," Durbin said. "Strong investments in medical research - which lead to new cures and treatments for… Continue Reading
06.09.22
Durbin And Bill Gates Talk Global Health, Increasing Public Health Infrastructures Worldwide
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. During their meeting, Durbin and Gates spoke about preparing for future public health crises by strengthening health systems in developing countries, enhancing integrated global disease monitoring, and addressing existing gaps in public health services. They also discussed challenges and opportunities in addr… Continue Reading
06.01.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $18.9 Million For Health Care Providers In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $18.9 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants. The funding will go to 15 providers throughout Illinois to invest in groundbreaking research, improved care, and efforts to reduce tobacco use. "Illinois is home to world-class health care providers and biomedical research institutions. If we hope to expand our understanding of diseases, better treat patien… Continue Reading
05.27.22
Durbin Discusses Toll Of Gun Violence On Children With Chicago-Area Youth & Doctors
CHICAGO - Following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Chicago-area youth and doctors from Ann & Robert H. Lurie's Children Hospital to discuss the need to act to protect our children from gun violence and the growing toll of trauma that gun violence is having on a generation of students and young adults. Durbi… Continue Reading
05.26.22
Durbin Discusses Violence Prevention, Pandemic Preparedness With CDC Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the need to address gun violence following the horrific mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Dr. Walensky expressed support to Durbin for the Chicago Hospital Engagement, Action, and Leadership (HEAL) Initiative, which was launched in 2018 by Durbin and 10 of the largest hospitals serving Chicago. The HEAL Initiative… Continue Reading
05.26.22
Durbin Questions Secretary Vilsack At Agriculture Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing titled: "Opportunities and Challenges Facing Farmers, Families, and Rural Communities." During the hearing, Durbin highlighted the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for feeding low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who are served by the Supporting Living Facility program in Illinois. This program has help… Continue Reading
05.18.22
Durbin Applauds Inclusion Of Important Dietary Supplement Provisions In Bipartisan Senate Committee's FDA User Fee Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of a modified version of his Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022 in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee's recently-released draft Food and Drug Administration (FDA) User Fee package. The Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022 requires dietary supplement manufacturers to list their products with FDA. In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), … Continue Reading
05.12.22
Durbin: We Are Sleepwalking Into The Next Potentially Deadly COVID Wave
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor on the need to quickly pass a bipartisan COVID-19 supplemental funding package, in order to ensure adequate supplies of tests, vaccines, and other medical supplies. Most urgently, it was reported last week that, without additional funding, COVID vaccines will soon be in shortage if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes second booster shots for all adults. This week, the U.S. officially hit one million death… Continue Reading