Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Call For Federal Government To Reimburse States, Cities For Coronavirus Efforts
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish clear guidelines for how local and state governments-including Illinois-will be reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. "We write to ask that your department establish clear guidelines for state and … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Three Months From E-Cigarette Review Deadline, Durbin & Bipartisan Senators Urge FDA To Protect Kids, Hold Industry Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 16 other bipartisan Senators, today urged Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Dr. Stephen Hahn to comply with the agency's requirements to reject e-cigarette applications that do not protect the public health, upon the FDA's May 12 deadline for e-cigarette product review. The Senators, in a letter to Commissioner Hahn, highlighted concerns with FDA's ongoing lax oversight of e-cigarettes and tobacco … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Durbin Meets With Rural Illinois Health Care Leaders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) to discuss legislation to support rural hospitals and address rural health workforce shortages. Durbin also discussed his work to lower prescription drug pricing, the SIREN Act, and President Trump's Fiscal Year 2021 proposal to cut Medicaid by $900 billion. Before his meeting with ICAHN, Durbin spoke to the National Rural Health Association and accepted their 2020 … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's FY21 Budget Request
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump submitted his fiscal year 2021 budget request to Congress: "After Congress has repeatedly rejected funding his 'big, beautiful' border wall, the fact that President Trump would request $2 billion for a campaign promise that Mexico was supposed to pay for - while cutting funding from programs like Medicare, Medicaid, … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Durbin: If President Trump Wants To Help Those With Pre-Existing Conditions, Stop Trying To Eliminate The ACA
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on President Trump to end his attacks on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and stand with patients with pre-existing conditions. In last week's State of the Union address, President Trump falsely claimed that he's trying to protect patients with pre-existing conditions - all while his Administration is actively fighting in court to strike down the entire ACA. "Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can no longer deny … Continue Reading
February 06, 2020
Durbin Joins Bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mike Braun (R-IN), announced the creation of the bipartisan Senate ALS Caucus. Founding members also include: U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Boozman (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Martha McSally (R-AZ). "I'm proud to join my … Continue Reading
February 05, 2020
Durbin Briefed On U.S. Response To Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration briefed U.S. Senators about the ongoing response to the outbreak of coronavirus. There have been two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Illinois and eleven confirmed cases in the United States: "This morning, our nation's public health agencies briefed Senators about the ongoing response to the coronavirus outbreak in China. I am thankful to the Centers for Disease Control and … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's State Of The Union Address
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on President Donald Trump's State of the Union address: "He brought us to the brink of war with Iran. He continues to sow deep divisions by inciting violence, hate, and mistrust in our democracy. He has put Dreamers on notice for deportation. He continues to threaten health care for millions of people with pre-existing conditions. He diverts money from our service members and their families in … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Durbin Meets With Illinois State Police And Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan Kelly and other representatives of the Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association (IDEOA). Durbin and the group discussed the importance of funding for the Byrne-JAG federal grant program, which supports state and local drug enforcement and public safety efforts. Durbin also discussed his bipartisan effort to make significant reductions in Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) opioid … Continue Reading
January 30, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Confirmation Of Second Case Of Coronavirus In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the second case of novel coronavirus in Illinois, the sixth confirmed case in the United States: "Despite the risk to Americans remaining low, the CDC expected that the novel coronavirus could spread from one person to another in this country, as it has in other countries. Federal and state officials have been … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Durbin Honored By Head Start Association As Champion For Children And Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was recognized today by the National Head Start Association for his continued support of Head Start and children who have experienced trauma with the PROMISE (Protecting Our Most Important Students Early) Award. This year, Durbin, along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-07) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08), introduced the Resilience Investment, Support, … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Receive Update On Coronavirus From The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today received an update on the novel coronavirus outbreak from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat. On a call with Dr. Schuchat, the Senators asked about the agency's response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, China, and asked for information on the steps being taken to keep Illinois families safe. This week, the CDC recommended that … Continue Reading
January 24, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Confirmation Of Coronavirus In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the second case of coronavirus in the United States is in Chicago: "We are monitoring the second confirmed U.S. case of novel coronavirus being treated at a Chicago hospital. First, we commend the Chicago hospital personnel for identifying this quickly. And we commend Mayor Lightfoot and others who chose to … Continue Reading
January 23, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Chicago Mayor Lightfoot
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot to discuss Chicago priorities and how they can assist her in the Senate. Durbin, Duckworth, and Lightfoot talked about reducing gun violence, the Chicago HEAL Initiative, the 2020 Census, public housing, transportation infrastructure funding, and cannabis. Durbin and Duckworth hosted Mayor Lightfoot, along with nine other mayors from across Illinois who are in Washington, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Illinois Mayors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with a group of Illinois mayors who are in Washington, D.C. for the United States Conference of Mayors' 88th Winter Meeting. Durbin, Duckworth, and the mayors discussed Illinois priorities, including transportation infrastructure, rural broadband, affordable housing, improving Amtrak service throughout Illinois, and marijuana. "Senator Duckworth and I will continue to support our Illinois mayors in any way we … Continue Reading
January 10, 2020
Durbin, Senators Introduce Comprehensive Legislation To Address Youth Tobacco Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), introduced the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2020, comprehensive legislation to get kid-friendly e-cigarette flavors off the market, stop tobacco companies from targeting youth with marketing schemes, and to curb the rise in the use of tobacco and e-cigarette products among youth. The bill follows Congressional action to increase the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 … Continue Reading
January 08, 2020
Durbin: For The Sake Of Our Children, FDA Must Get Off Sidelines To Address Vaping Epidemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a speech on the Senate floor, discussed the Trump Administration's back-tracking on a plan to ban all e-cigarette flavors-including mint and menthol-and called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take additional steps to curb our nation's youth vaping epidemic. With five million children nationwide now vaping-a 135 percent increase over the last two years of this presidency-urgent, comprehensive action is needed now … Continue Reading
January 02, 2020
Durbin Statement On Trump Administration's New E-Cigarette Flavor Policy
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that it will ban the sale of some flavored e-cigarette pods and cartridge products, such as those used in JUUL devices. However, in a major reversal, menthol flavored pods will be exempt from this ban and vape shops will be mostly exempt by being allowed to continue selling flavored liquid nicotine used in "open tank systems"-these products often come in … Continue Reading
December 20, 2019
Durbin, Lankford, Kinzinger, Loebsack Introduce Bill To Support Rural Hospitals
WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and James Lankford (R-OK), along with U.S. Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), introduced a new bill to support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure. The Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act would update Medicare's "Critical Access Hospital" (CAH) designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Durbin, Cramer, Smith Applaud Inclusion Of Bill To Lower Cost Of Insulin For Patients In Year-End Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Tina Smith (D-MN) today applauded the inclusion in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations bill of their Affordable Insulin Approvals Now Act, a bipartisan bill to speed up approvals of lower-cost, generic insulin products in order to help reduce prices of this life-saving medication for patients. Approximately 7.5 million Americans with diabetes rely on insulin every day to survive, yet the drug has experienced a price … Continue Reading