Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Federal Approval Of Illinois As Participant In Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded the federal approval of Illinois as a participant in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program. This program, created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), provides sustainable funding to reimburse through Medicaid the full cost of services that … Continue Reading
June 04, 2024
Durbin Urges His Colleagues To Support The Right To Contraception Act Ahead Of Vote On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - During the week marking the 59th anniversary of the landmark Griswold v. Connecticut decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled that all married Americans have a constitutional right to use contraception, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support the Right to Contraception Act when it comes before the Senate tomorrow. This bill, which Durbin is a cosponsor of, would protect the rights of patients to … Continue Reading
May 29, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $8.6 Million For Medical Research And Health Center Programs In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $8,602,005 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. A large portion of the funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from neurological disorders to cancer research. This round of grant funding will also support the development of a program for Black … Continue Reading
May 24, 2024
Durbin, Rubio Urge Health Resources And Services Administration To Revise NHSC Application Process To Address Health Care Workforce Shortages
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today sent a letter to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) urging a revision to the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) application process to make it more accessible and attractive to all stakeholders as the United States faces a health care workforce shortage. More than 21,000 primary care, oral health, and behavioral health practitioners across the United States participate in this … Continue Reading
May 24, 2024
Durbin, Coons, Braun Introduce Resolution To Designate May As ALS Awareness Month
WASHINGTON - U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate ALS Caucus, today joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mike Braun (R-IN) to introduce a resolution to designate May 2024 as ALS Awareness Month. ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and often known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a debilitating disease that affects 1 in 300 people - approximately 30,000 Americans. There is no cure for this fatal disease currently. “ALS is a devastating diagnosis—one that is, … Continue Reading
May 23, 2024
During Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Stresses Importance Of Rejecting Draconian Budget Cuts And Fully Investing In Medical Research At NIH
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, today participated in a subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).” During the hearing, Durbin, a longtime advocate for funding NIH, stressed the importance of rejecting domestic budget cuts—proposed by House … Continue Reading
May 23, 2024
Durbin, Young Applaud Committee Passage Of Their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) today applauded the advancement of their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) with a strong bipartisan vote of 19-2. The legislation extends funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and … Continue Reading
May 22, 2024
Durbin Delivers Speech At American Heart Association's 100th Anniversary Event
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Caucus, today delivered remarks at the American Heart Association’s 100th anniversary event. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized the importance of strong and sustained funding increases for medical and scientific research centers to ensure that the U.S. moves medical research forward to prevent disease and improve treatments for patients. Since 2015, Durbin has successfully secured a … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing examined prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin first questioned Dr. Will Feldman, a … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee a hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin spoke on the Senate floor … Continue Reading
May 20, 2024
Durbin Previews Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor highlighting tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin began his remarks by … Continue Reading
May 15, 2024
Durbin Delivers Remarks as He Receives the Cancer Research Ally Award
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks after receiving the Cancer Research Ally Award from the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for his support of, and advocacy for, cancer research. In his remarks, Durbin shared his own family’s history with cancer, speaking about how his father passed at age 53 from lung cancer. Durbin also highlighted the importance of committing to strong … Continue Reading
May 14, 2024
Durbin Meets With Chinese American Service League
WASHINGTON - During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Paul Luu, CEO of the Chinese American Service League (CASL) in Chicago, to discuss the organization’s involvement with Change InSight, a nationwide partnership with community-based organizations that provide social services to the AAPI community. Through Change InSight, CASL has helped launch a data hub for AAPI and immigrant communities across six … Continue Reading
May 06, 2024
Durbin, Hospital Leaders Release Year 5 Report On Chicago Heal Initiative To Address Gun Violence
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined hospital leaders and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) to unveil the five-year report of the Chicago HEAL Initiative. Launched in 2018 by Senator Durbin and 10 of the largest hospitals serving Chicago, the HEAL Initiative is a collaboration to address the root causes of gun violence through economic, health, and community projects in 18 of Chicago’s neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, poverty, and health … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Joins Senate Democrats On The Floor To Call For Passage Of Veterans Families Health Services Act, Protection For IVF
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined his Democratic colleagues in speaking in support of the Veterans Families Health Services Act, which Durbin cosponsored, ahead of U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) request to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Despite the importance of providing accessible health care to female veterans and claims that Republicans support IVF, U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) objected to the passage of the bill. Durbin began his … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health & Medicaid Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and Medicaid Administrator at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Kelly Cunningham to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and public heath funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. "Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Durbin Meets With Sinai Health CEO Dr. Ezike
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the new CEO of Sinai Chicago System and former Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. During their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Ezike discussed bolstering health care resources in Illinois for violence prevention, closing racial and ethnic health disparities, and addressing workforce shortages in hospitals. Durbin and Dr. Ezike also talked about new goals for the Chicago HEAL Initiative, … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Our Health Care Workforce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing will explore how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing On Our Health Care Workforce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing explored how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and deserve. The U.S. … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $19 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $19,453,291 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding, which comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer prevention to mental health research. "Investing in the development … Continue Reading