Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin To Oppose HHS Nominee Rep. Price
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced on the Senate floor that he will oppose President Trump's nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Representative Tom Price (R-GA). Senator Durbin stressed that on issue after issue-from Congressman Price's support for privatizing Medicare, to his attempts to slash funding for the Medicaid program, to his long-standing goal of repealing of the Affordable Care Act, to his misguided efforts to restrict … Continue Reading
February 08, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Demand Answers About Outrageous Price Hike For Lifesaving Anti-Opioid Drug
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are among a group of 31 Senators that are demanding answers from a leading pharmaceutical company about the dramatic price hike for a life-saving medication used to respond to opioid overdoses. Recent reports unveiled that drug maker Kaléo Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures an easy-to-use injector device containing the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, raised its price from $690 in 2014, to $4,500 currently. … Continue Reading
February 08, 2017
Durbin Joins Group Of 27 Senators To Reintroduce Family Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 25 other senators to reintroduce the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, or FAMILY Act, legislation that would create a universal, gender-neutral paid family and medical leave program. "Your bank account balance should not determine your ability to care for a loved one when illness strikes. Yet for millions of Americans, caring for an elderly parent or sick child means losing a day's wages, or … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
Durbin Meets With OSF Healthcare To Discuss Damaging Impact Of Health Care Repeal On Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Robert Sehring, Chief Operating Officer of OSF Healthcare System, to discuss Congressional Republicans' efforts to repeal health care without any replacement plan and the impact this would have on OSF's hospitals and providers across Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin and Mr. Sehring also discussed how the skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs contribute to premium increases and place a substantial burden on hospitals statewide. … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth To Rauner: Health Care Repeal Leaves Illinoisans High And Dry, Risks 95,000 Jobs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner to stand on the side of Illinoisans and oppose repeal of our health care system. Repealing health care without a replacement would have immediate and harmful impacts on hardworking Illinois families - including those with employer based insurance - such as reducing insurance coverage, increasing out-of-pocket costs, reducing the quality of health care coverage, burdening … Continue Reading
January 30, 2017
Durbin Hears from Addiction and Mental Health Providers on Impact of Repealing the ACA
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with addiction and mental health providers and advocates to discuss Republican plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the impact it would have on mental health and substance abuse treatment. This month, Republican leaders took the first step in repealing the law by approving a budget that allows for major provisions of the ACA to be eliminated by simple majority vote. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive … Continue Reading
January 27, 2017
Durbin Hears from DuPage Health Care Leaders on Local Impact of Repealing Affordable Care Act
WINFIELD, IL - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with DuPage County healthcare leaders regarding the local impact of congressional Republicans' plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This month, Republican leaders took the first step in repealing the law by approving a budget that allows for major provisions of the ACA to be eliminated by simple majority vote. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order giving federal agencies broad authority to undo … Continue Reading
January 25, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $3 Million In Federal Funding For Preventive Health Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Illinois Department of Public Health and Planned Parenthood of Illinois a combined $3,437,000 in federal funding for preventive care services. "This funding is integral in providing women and families with comprehensive family planning and preventive health services. From cancer screenings and birth control, to flu vaccines and routine … Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Over $7 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded four community health centers in Illinois a total of $7,222,617 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based organizations that improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in underserved urban and rural communities by integrating primary … Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Durbin: Repealing Health Care Would Be Detrimental To Hospitals And Rural Communities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out congressional Republicans for their efforts to repeal health care without any replacement plan to protect all Americans' access to quality health insurance, especially seniors and individuals with pre-existing conditions. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin described his meeting this week with administrators from hospitals across Central Illinois and how devastating repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be to rural … Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Senators Demand Answers After DEA Avoids Query On Enforcement Efforts Against Wholesale Opioid Distributors
WASHINGTON - After the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) failed to answer critical questions about enforcement efforts against wholesale opioid distributors that are violating DEA rules intended to prevent legal controlled substances from entering the illicit market, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and five other senators reiterated their call for a detailed response. The Senators noted alarming new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that … Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Over $4.5 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded four community health centers in Illinois a total of $4,884,191 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community … Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Durbin: Repealing Americans’ Health Care Without Replacement Would Be Total Chaos
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out congressional Republicans for initiating the process to repeal our health care system without any replacement plan to protect all Americans' access to quality health insurance. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin described how at least five Republican Senators have publically stated that repeal of our health care law should happen simultaneously with a replacement, but that Republicans in Congress have no replacement plan and … Continue Reading
January 10, 2017
Durbin Meets With Illinois Community Health Center Representatives Amid Health Care Debate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives from community health centers across Illinois to discuss the impact these centers have around the state and what could happen should Republicans in Congress repeal health care. According to Illinois Community Health Centers, repealing health care would result in Illinois community health centers seeing a 54 percent increase in uninsured patients and a loss of $83 million - leading to a 10 percent reduction in health … Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Durbin, Senators Introduce Amendment To Protect Health Care For Seniors And Families Of Modest Means
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and a group of 19 Senators in introducing an amendment to protect Medicare and Medicaid. "Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act make up the three pillars of our nation's health care system," Durbin said. "Democrats will not stand idly by while congressional Republicans - who themselves are assured good health coverage - attempt to repeal, dismantle, cut, voucherize, or otherwise throw … Continue Reading
December 22, 2016
Durbin Announces Over $12 Million For Community Health Centers
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded six community health centers in Illinois a total of $12,186,227 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often … Continue Reading
June 10, 2014
Senators Urge Department of Transportation to Finally Ban E-Cigarettes On Airplanes
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today urged the Department of Transportation to finally prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on airplanes. DOT first proposed a ban more than two years ago, but has delayed issuing a final regulation that would bar e-cigarette "vaping" on all domestic and international flights to or from the United States. In … Continue Reading
May 27, 2014
Durbin Announces Committee Approval of Legislation to Improve Prosthetic Care for Veterans
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, last week approved legislation including language he authored to improve orthotics and prosthetics care for the nation's servicemembers and veterans. Durbin inserted a section into the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which the committee approved Thursday, which would enhance research in best practices and offer competitive grant funding … Continue Reading
May 07, 2014
Durbin Meets With CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Thomas Frieden for an update on the first confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States, being treated in Indiana. Durbin discussed how his bill, the American Cures Act, which would provide robust funding for the agency's work in biomedical research, which includes the development of vaccines to fight viruses like MERS. Durbin also talked about … Continue Reading
April 24, 2014
Durbin Responds To FDA Tobacco Regulations
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of a recent investigative report that found a dramatic recent increase in the marketing of electronic cigarettes, responded to deeming regulations proposed by the Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would expand the agency's regulatory authority over tobacco products, including e-cigarettes: "Shame on the FDA. Faced with a responsibility to protect our children from an addiction to a product … Continue Reading