Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin And Krishnamoorthi Announce Bipartisan Bill To Create Youth-Vaping Prevention Programs In Schools
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) held a press conference today to announce the introduction of the Providing Resources to End the Vaping Epidemic Now for Teenagers (PREVENT) Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill with Congressman Peter King (R-NY-2) that will create youth vaping prevention programs in schools and provide resources to help teachers and administrators combat skyrocketing youth e-cigarette use. "With more than five million … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On CDC Report Of Ethylene Oxide Exposure In Waukegan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report showed higher levels of cancer-causing ethylene oxide (EtO) found in people living near Medline Industries in Waukegan, Illinois. Medline uses EtO to sterilize medical products: "For months, we've urged the U.S. EPA to conduct inspections for ethylene oxide in Region 5 facilities, including Medline in Waukegan. For … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Durbin Announces Support For FDA Commissioner Nominee Dr. Stephen Hahn
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a speech on the Senate floor, announced that he will vote to confirm Dr. Stephen Hahn, President Trump's nominee to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Durbin expressed his hope that Dr. Hahn will use the full force of the FDA to take action on the youth vaping epidemic, and work to ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors, including mint and menthol. "Dr. Hahn may find himself in a compromised … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Durbin to First Lady Melania Trump: Don't Abandon E-Cigarette Flavor Ban
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, urging her not to abandon her interest and position on protecting children from the dangers of e-cigarettes. Exactly three months ago on September 11, the First Lady joined President Trump, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and then-Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, to announce that the Trump Administration would ban all … Continue Reading
December 03, 2019
Durbin Sends Bipartisan & Bicameral Letter to President Trump Urging For Final E-Cigarette Flavor Ban
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Peter King (R-NY-02), led 25 Members of Congress in a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to stick to his promise to ban kid-friendly e-cigarette flavors, including mint and menthol. For years, e-cigarette use among children has skyrocketed nationwide, leading the Trump Administration to finally announce-on September 11, 2019-that it would soon ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette … Continue Reading
November 25, 2019
Durbin And Schakowsky Urge Residents To Get Covered Before ACA Enrollment Deadline On December 15th
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky today urged those who need health insurance for 2020 to sign up for a health plan before the December 15th deadline. Approximately 312,000 people in Illinois purchase their health insurance in the individual market and seven out of ten of them are eligible for tax credits that help keep their monthly premiums below $100 a month. People in Illinois can call (Get Covered Illinois: 866-311-1119), go online … Continue Reading
November 21, 2019
Durbin Meets With FDA Commissioner Nominee Dr. Stephen Hahn
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Stephen Hahn, President Trump's nominee to be Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to discuss the youth vaping epidemic and the Trump Administration's apparent reversal of a planned e-cigarette flavor ban. For years, e-cigarette use among children has skyrocketed nationwide, leading the Trump Administration to finally announce-on September 11, 2019-that it would soon ban all non-tobacco … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Durbin Shares Illinois Constituent Story To Highlight Stakes In Fight Against Republicans' Attacks On Families' Health Care
WASHINGTON-In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans for their continued efforts to destabilize and undermine America's health care system. Durbin also shared the story of an Illinois constituent, Stefanie from Oak Park. Stefanie's son just graduated college and has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues. Because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), her son is able to stay on her health … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Durbin To Trump: You Should Care More About Children Than Lobbying Pressure From Big Vape
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today in a speech on the Senate floor slammed President Donald Trump for seemingly reversing course on a planned e-cigarette flavor ban. Durbin called out the President for caving to lobbying pressure from Big Tobacco and Big Vape, breaking his promise to protect our nation's children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. For years, e-cigarette use among children has skyrocketed nationwide, leading the Trump Administration to … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Durbin To Trump On E-Cigarette Flavor Ban Inaction: You Broke Your Promise
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to President Donald Trump slamming his Administration for seemingly reversing course on a planned e-cigarette flavor ban. For years, e-cigarette use among children has skyrocketed nationwide, leading the Trump Administration to finally announce-on September 11, 2019-that it would soon ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors "within weeks." Now, more than two months later, it appears that President Trump is … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Durbin Statement On Trump Administration Delay Of E-Cigarette Flavor Ban
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was reported that President Donald Trump is reversing course on a planned e-cigarette flavor ban. For years, e-cigarette use among children has skyrocketed nationwide, leading the Trump Administration to finally announce-on September 11, 2019-that it would soon ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors "within weeks." Now, more than two months later, it appears that President Trump is … Continue Reading
November 15, 2019
Durbin, Colleagues Unveil Bipartisan Bill To Examine Scope Of Insulin Affordability Crisis And Bring Relief To Americans With Diabetes
WASHINGTON - In association with World Diabetes Day, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) in introducing bipartisan legislation to create a national study to more fully understand the scope of the insulin affordability crisis in America and its impacts on rationing and patient health outcomes. One recent study found that one in four Americans with diabetes is rationing … Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
Illinois Congressional Delegation Presses USDA To End Hostility Toward State's Food Stamp Program At Senior Living Facilities
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of Illinois Congressional Delegation members today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the Department to continue its decades-long practice of authorizing and re-authorizing supportive living facilities (SLFs) as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to ensure consistent nutritional support for 8,000 low-income elderly and disabled individuals in Illinois. The members, in their letter, … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Durbin Calls On Congress To Pass Legislation To Require Disclosure Of Prescription Drug Prices In TV Ads
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made a unanimous consent (UC) request to immediately pass his bipartisan Drug-price Transparency in Communications (DTC) Act, a bill he introduced in May with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that would require pharmaceutical companies to disclose the prices of their prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements. Durbin's bipartisan legislation would … Continue Reading
November 08, 2019
Durbin Introduces Bill To Lower Price Of Insulin & Ensure Americans Pay No More Than Patients In Other Countries
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), introduced the End Price Gouging for Insulin Act, legislation that would tackle drug companies' exorbitant price hikes on insulin that have made it difficult for millions of Americans to afford the drug. Americans pay drastically higher prices for insulin than patients in other similar, developed countries. Americans who drive across the border to Canada can buy some brands of insulin for one tenth of the … Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Durbin Pushes For Legislation To Require Disclosure Of Prescription Drug Prices In TV Ads
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted plans to seek Senate passage for his bipartisan Drug-price Transparency in Communications (DTC) Act, a bill he introduced in May with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that would require pharmaceutical companies to list prices of their prescription drugs in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements. Durbin's bipartisan legislation would empower patients and … Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Durbin: NAFTA 2.0 Is A Trojan Horse Giveaway To Big Pharma
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today on the Senate floor, as part of his "Pharma Fleece Awards" series of floor speeches highlighting egregious cases of pharmaceutical industry greed, slammed PhRMA and the Trump Administration for a giveaway tucked into NAFTA 2.0 that will keep drug prices high for Americans. Durbin highlighted provisions in the NAFTA 2.0 trade agreement that cement monopoly protections for pharmaceutical corporations by blocking generic competition, resulting … Continue Reading
November 01, 2019
Durbin, Kennedy Urge DEA To Use Its New Authorities To Lower Opioid Quotas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John Kennedy (R-LA) today, in a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon, called on DEA to use its new authorities-passed into law by Durbin and Kennedy last year-to prevent and limit opioid diversion by properly regulating the pharmaceutical industry and appropriately reducing opioid production quotas for 2020. In its 2020 proposal, DEA explained it would only lower opioid production quotas based upon … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Durbin, Kennedy Secure Amendment In Appropriations Bill To Ensure DEA Uses Its Authority To Reduce Opioid Production Quotas For Pharmaceutical Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John Kennedy (R-LA) today secured an amendment in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Commerce, Justice, and Science funding bill to ensure the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is properly regulating the pharmaceutical industry by providing the tools necessary to limit the over-production of prescription painkillers that fueled the nation's opioid epidemic. The FY 2020 Commerce, Justice, and Science funding bill passed the Senate today along with … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce New Bipartisan Bill To Help Reduce Police Officer Suicides
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to introduce a new bipartisan bill to track law enforcement suicides. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act requires the FBI to collect voluntary, anonymous data on police suicides and attempted suicides from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Collecting this data will help inform … Continue Reading