Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin Meets With President Biden's Nominee To Lead FDA, Robert Califf
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with President Biden's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Robert Califf. During their meeting, Durbin pressed Dr. Califf on his thoughts regarding FDA's overall tobacco strategy and its delays in several public health oversight policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use; Durbin's bipartisan drug pricing legislation, the Drug-price Transparency for Competition (DTC) Act; how to help terminally ill … Continue Reading
12.08.21
Durbin: We Are More Prepared To Fight COVID-19 Variants Because Senate Democrats Passed The American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today outlined the historic steps Senate Democrats have already taken to improve our ability to combat the new COVID-19 Omicron variant-including passing the American Rescue Plan, which funded the production and distribution of life-saving vaccines and enhanced detection and tracking of new variants like Omicron. "Today we received preliminary findings that patients are better protected against Omicron… Continue Reading
11.10.21
Durbin, Senate, And House Dems Object To Johnson & Johnson Bankruptcy Maneuver, Demand Answers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with House Oversight and Reform Committee Chair Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) and Chair of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), today sent a letter to Johnson & Johnson objecting to the company's efforts to manipulate bankruptcy laws to evade accountability… Continue Reading
10.27.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Federal Grants For Chicago And Quincy Police Departments To Support Mental Health Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the cities of Chicago and Quincy were awarded $233,893 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to support mental health and wellness services for law enforcement officers. The funding is part of the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program, which supports suicide prevention programs, training and technic… Continue Reading
10.21.21
Durbin To HHS And FDA: More Accessible And Affordable At-Home Rapid Tests Can Help Our Pandemic Response
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra and Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Janet Woodcock to help expand rapid at-home COVID-19 testing. Durbin highlighted that despite the dramatic expansion of vaccinations by the Biden Administration, the nation's testing infrastructure remains an important and under-developed aspect of our public health emergency response. "In Sept… Continue Reading
10.20.21
Durbin: Biden's Vaccine Policy Is Our Path To Recovery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the promising developments stemming from President Biden's COVID-19 vaccine policy. Over the past month, coronavirus case numbers have fallen by more than 40 percent as the average number of daily vaccinations has increased by more than 25 percent. "Millions of American families have already suffered the consequences of vaccine denial, deception, and inaction. A report released earlier this month fou… Continue Reading
10.12.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1.5 Million In Telehealth Funding For Illinois Health Care Providers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that four Illinois health care providers have been awarded more than $1.5 million in federal funding to improve and expand telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are part of Round 2 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was established as part of the CARES Act and continued under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The following Illin… Continue Reading
10.07.21
Durbin: The President's Vaccine Policy Is What Our Country Needs To Put The Pandemic Behind Us
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor in support of the Biden Administration's move to implement vaccine mandates for a majority of American workers. Since vaccination mandates have been announced, Illinois has experienced a nearly 40 percent decrease in new COVID-19 cases. Durbin went on to highlight how Illinois-based companies like United Airlines are benefitting from implementing a vaccine mandate despite skeptics questioning … Continue Reading
10.05.21
Durbin Statement On NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), announced he has decided to end his tenure at NIH by the end of the year: "We should measure the legacy of Dr. Francis Collins not in years served, but in lives saved and suffering spared. From his breakthrough work in mapping the human genome to his tireless battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Francis Collins has show… Continue Reading
10.04.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $35 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding For Illinois Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that 42 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout Illinois have been awarded a total of $35.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding to modernize their health care infrastructure and enhance their work to address health disparities in underserved communities. CHCs will use this funding for COVID-19-related capital needs, constructing new facilities, renovating and expanding existing facilities to enhance r… Continue Reading
09.30.21
Durbin Delivers Speech On MOMMA Act At Illinois Maternal Health Summit
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday joined the first-ever Maternal Health Summit sponsored by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to deliver a speech on his efforts to reduce and close the racial disparity gap in maternal and infant mortality. After being introduced by Director of the IDPH Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Durbin spoke to doctors, health care providers, health researchers, public health officials, midwives, and doulas about the MOMMA Act and its provisi… Continue Reading
09.29.21
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban And The Role Of The Shadow Docket
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket." The hearing will examine the consequences of Texas's S.B. 8 abortion ban and the increasing use of the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" to make drastic changes to legal and constitutional rights without full briefing, deliberation, or transparency. Key quotes… Continue Reading
09.23.21
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Legislation To Support Leading Rehab Facilities
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in medical research and complex treatment. The Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act recognizes the unique role that a leading class of rehabilitation facilities play in our health care system, by driving innovative research for the entire field, providing medical training to… Continue Reading
09.22.21
Durbin, Bill Gates: We Must Focus On Global Vaccine Equity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, about global COVID-19 vaccination efforts and barriers to achieving the Global Vaccine Alliance's distribution goal of 1.9 billion shots, including supply shortages, vaccine hoarding, and inadequate health care infrastructure in many nations. In particular, Durbin and Gates discussed the importance of preparing for the next pandemic and establishing… Continue Reading
09.16.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Million To Support Mental Health Services In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $1.02 million in federal funding for mental health awareness training and school-based mental health centers in the Chicago area. The funding, awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will go to seven schools, health centers, and community organizations in Chicago and the suburbs. "Too many kids in … Continue Reading
09.10.21
Durbin Presses Acting FDA Commissioner Woodcock To Finish Review Of E-Cigarette Products
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Janet Woodcock to receive an update on yesterday's announcement that FDA has rejected millions of e-cigarette applications for failing to show a public health benefit, but would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market. Durbin pressed Woodcock for swift action on JUUL and other flavored e-cigarette produc… Continue Reading
09.09.21
Durbin Statement On FDA Review Of E-Cigarette Products
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market: "While I am pleased FDA has rejected all e-cigarette applications to date for failing to show a health benefit, it is unacceptable to delay evaluation of e-cigarettes most responsible for hooking children, like JUUL. FDA's years… Continue Reading
09.02.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Million Telehealth Grant For Mercy Health System In Rockford
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Mercy Health System in Rockford was awarded $1 million in federal funding to improve and expand telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant, awarded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and established as part of the CARES Act, will allow Mercy Health Systems to purchase devices that will enable audio/video interaction between providers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic… Continue Reading
09.01.21
Durbin Talks E-Cigarettes, COVID-19 Relief, And Assistance For Afghan Refugees With HHS Secretary
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra about pressing public health priorities, including preventing youth e-cigarette use, addressing trauma and community violence, ensuring frontline hospitals and other health providers receive federal funding to assist with COVID-19 efforts, and the importance of swiftly assisting Afghan refugees with access to health and social services. In particular, … Continue Reading
08.27.21
Durbin Discusses New Cancer Treatment Center With University Of Chicago
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Dr. Kenneth Polonsky, President of UChicago Medicine Health System, and Dr. Kunle Odunsi, Director of UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the University of Chicago's new Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCMC). On the call, Durbin spoke about federal funding to support the hospital's mission and the institution's National Institutes of Health (NIH) designation as a comprehensive cancer center. UCMC is… Continue Reading