Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin, Duckworth To Rauner: We Need More Than Vague Assurances That Next Steps Are Coming At IVH Quincy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today once again urgently requested Governor Bruce Rauner's detailed plan of action for ensuring the safety of residents, family, and staff at the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy. They also pressed Rauner's Administration to accept the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) offer of technical assistance-including a site visit to IVH Quincy-in tandem with ongoing VA financial support as well as expert assistance … Continue Reading
February 20, 2018
Durbin, Rock Island Leaders Discuss Initiatives to Combat Opioid Epidemic
ROCK ISLAND - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Rock Island County Sheriff Gerry Bustos and other local leaders for a briefing about Rock Island County's new program designed to help people addicted to opioids get the treatment they need without facing arrest or prosecution. The Safe Passage Program began in January and the first person to use it is now going through treatment. "Every day, more than 100 Americans die from an opioid overdose. Tackling this crisis requires a … Continue Reading
February 16, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Press IDPH For Additional Information On The Latest Three Cases Of Legionnaires' At IVH Quincy
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to once again take every available precaution and pursue every available option in order to prevent and mitigate further outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease at the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy. Durbin and Duckworth also pressed IDPH to uphold a commitment to transparency so that residents, families, and staff at IVH Quincy, as well as the public, can have … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Given Failure By Rauner Administration, Durbin, Duckworth Urge CDC To Take Greater Leadership Role In Mitigating Legionnaires' Disease At IVH Quincy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take a greater leadership role in helping to address the public health crisis at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy. Since 2015, more than 60 people have contracted Legionnaires' disease at IVH Quincy and 13 people have died as a result. Just this week, three more laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease were confirmed among IVH … Continue Reading
February 13, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On new Legionnaires' Disease Cases Confirmed At illinois Veterans' Home Quincy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after two new cases of Legionnaires' disease were confirmed at the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy: "Last month, the Governor stated that his goal was 'zero instances of Legionella infection' at IVH Quincy. However in the month that has passed, we have seen nothing from the Governor's office - no final plan of action, no formal funding request, just more publicity stunts and … Continue Reading
February 06, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Effort To Immediately Fund Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and 63 other members to call on Senate leadership to immediately reauthorize funding for our nation's community health centers. In a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), Durbin, Duckworth, and 65 of their Senate colleagues expressed their strong support for community health centers, … Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Durbin Statement On President's State Of The Union Address
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on President Trump's first State of the Union address: If the President chooses to follow through on his prepared remarks tonight, he will find Democrats ready to work with him on lowering prescription drug prices, making massive new investments in America's crumbling roads and bridges, passing meaningful paid family leave legislation, and protecting … Continue Reading
January 19, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Dems Slam Trump Administration For Unprecedented, Harmful Medicaid Changes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and 29 Senate Democrats sent a letter to Acting Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Eric Hargan expressing serious concern with recent administrative actions and calling into question the Trump Administration's decision to approve state Medicaid waivers that would eliminate health coverage for tens of thousands of Americans. Last week, Governor Bruce Rauner expressed support for these new federal rules that would … Continue Reading
January 18, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth To Rauner: Where's Your Plan For IVH Quincy
WASHINGTON - Following Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner's press conference on January 10, 2018, where he stated that his new goal for the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy was to reach "zero instances of Legionella infection," U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Gov. Rauner for a copy of his Administration's plan of action to reach his stated goal. "This goal, and the need for a detailed plan of action, is critical and long overdue given the multiple … Continue Reading
December 21, 2017
Durbin Speaks With CDC Director About Deadly Situation At Quincy Veterans' Home
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald about the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy and the continued outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, which have taken the lives of 13 veterans and residents over the past three years. During today's call, Dr. Fitzgerald noted that CDC staff visited IVH Quincy in early December and took samples. The laboratory results from those tests will be completed … Continue Reading
December 21, 2017
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges CMS To Approve Illinois's 1115 Medicaid Waiver
WASHINGTON - The Illinois Congressional Delegation today pressed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to promptly approve Illinois's Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver. Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waivers provide states an avenue to test new approaches in Medicaid, and Illinois's waiver would help provide more tools to address mental illness and combat the opioid epidemic. Illinois's waiver application has been stuck at CMS review for … Continue Reading
December 18, 2017
Durbin Blasts Trump Administration for Reported List of Seven Forbidden Words
WASHINGTON-Following a Washington Post report that the Trump Administration is prohibiting officials and staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from using a list of seven commonly accepted words and phrases, U.S. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed CDC Director Brenda Fitzgerald to provide immediate clarification and a commitment that the agency's critical activities are not being compromised by extreme political ideology. "Imposing a gag order on our … Continue Reading
December 10, 2017
Durbin Urges Residents to Get Covered Before ACA Enrollment Deadline on Friday
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged those who are uninsured to take action before the December 15th deadline in order to get health care coverage that begins in January. Despite uncertainty in Congress and efforts from President Trump to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), millions have signed up so far this year. About 350,000 people in Illinois purchase their health insurance in the individual market and nearly 300,000 of them are eligible for tax credits that help … Continue Reading
December 07, 2017
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Support Leading Rehab Facilities
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in research, serve the highest need patients, and provide the most medical training to students. U.S. Representatives Pete Olson (R-TX-22) and Gene Green (D-TX-29) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. "Facilities like the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago are leading the nation in bringing … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Durbin: New Legislation Will Require Disclosure Of Drug Prices In Advertising
Drug Advertising Steers Patients Toward Expensive Drugs, Drives Up Health Care Costs Drug Industry Spent More Than $100 Million in Direct-to-Consumer Advertising for Each of the Top 16 Brand-Name Prescription Drugs in 2015 WASHINGTON-In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today previewed new legislation, which will be introduced this week, that will empower patients and promote transparency by requiring the pharmaceutical industry to provide more … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Durbin Statement On New GOP Tax Plan That Strips Health Care From 13 Million Americans
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the latest version of the Senate Republican tax plan, which now repeals the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates will strip health insurance from 13 million Americans: Republicans now want to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy by taking health care away from 13 million Americans. Tax breaks for the wealthy, higher taxes on working … Continue Reading
November 13, 2017
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Make The VA Smoke-Free
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), joined by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Patty Murray (D-WA), announced legislation to prohibit smoking at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would repeal an antiquated 1992 law that requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to furnish and maintain designated indoor or outdoor smoking areas. Supported by the Department of Veterans … Continue Reading
November 08, 2017
Durbin, Schatz, Degette Reintroduce Legislation To Raise Smoking Age To 21
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO-01) reintroduced the Tobacco to 21 Act, bicameral legislation that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21. Five states, the District of Columbia, and more than 200 localities in an additional 13 states have raised the minimum tobacco age of sale to 21 - including Chicago, Lake County, and ten other localities in Illinois. Studies have shown that … Continue Reading
November 08, 2017
Durbin Marks Critical Win In Fight For Increased Medical Research Funding In Defense Authorization
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act conference report, which removed four provisions which posed a direct threat to the Pentagon's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program: There comes a point in your life where you get a diagnosis-or news about someone you love-and all you can do is hope and pray that someone, somewhere has done … Continue Reading
November 03, 2017
Durbin Statement On Trump's Opioid Commission Recommendations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump's commission on the opioid crisis released a draft report of more than 50 recommendations needed to curb the opioid epidemic. The prescription opioid and heroin crisis kills nearly 100 Americans every day. "The President's Opioid Commission has provided an important roadmap-including the removal of an outdated Medicaid rule that restricts access to addiction treatment, and mandatory … Continue Reading