Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin and Senators Request Ban on Flavored Cigars
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in sending a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking it to ban flavored cigars. "Cigars with candy-like flavorings such as strawberry, watermelon, vanilla and chocolate attract kids to smoking and help hook them on this addictive habit," the Senators wrote. "Congress helped protect young people from the harmful … Continue Reading
November 30, 2011
Durbin, Lautenberg applaud DOJ Appeal of Ruling That Blocks New Tobacco Warning Labels
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today applauded the Obama Administration for its decision to appeal a court ruling that blocks the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from requiring new graphic warning labels on cigarette packages and advertisements. "We applaud the Justice Department for appealing this ruling and fighting for public health, especially the health of our children." the Senators said. "The FDA's new labels provide a warning about the … Continue Reading
November 22, 2011
Durbin Joins Hunger Caucus in Urging Members to Raise Awareness
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) - a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus - today joined his fellow co-chairs in encouraging members of the Senate to dedicate one hour during the holiday season to raising awareness and recognizing efforts underway in their states to combat hunger. The Hour for Hunger initiative seeks to remind members that hunger knows no boundaries and when working together, this is a fight we can win. Co-chairs of the bipartisan Hunger Caucus include: … Continue Reading
November 22, 2011
Senators Commend MLB for Taking Action Against Smokeless Tobacco Use
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) commended Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Player's Association for taking action against smokeless tobacco use both on and off the field. Under a new collective bargaining agreement announced today, players, managers, and coaches will be prohibited from using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews and Club appearances and, when fans are permitted … Continue Reading
November 17, 2011
Durbin and Kirk Introduce Legislation to Protect School Children with Allergies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced a bill to encourage schools across the country to maintain access to critical life saving medication for children with food and other allergies. The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act will encourage states across the nation to improve school access to epinephrine auto-injectors, like the EpiPen, to be used if students have life threatening systemic allergic reactions. "Every day, … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011
Durbin Announces More than $8.2 Million in DOT Funding to Reduce Illinois' Reliance on Foreign Oil
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that three Illinois transportation service providers and organizations have been awarded a total of $8,208,000 in competitive grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This funding will be used by the grant recipients to reduce their reliance on foreign oil, promote use of clean fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Increasing use of cleaner, more energy efficient vehicles in public transportation throughout … Continue Reading
November 14, 2011
Durbin and Kirk Announce Legislation to Protect School Children with Allergies
[CHICAGO] - Schools across the country should maintain access to critical life saving medication for children with food and other allergies, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) said today. The School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, which Durbin and Kirk intend to introduce in the Senate this week, will encourage states across the nation to improve school access to epinephrine auto-injectors, like the EpiPen, to be used if students have life threatening … Continue Reading
November 08, 2011
Durbin Joins Senators in Urging Justice Department, FDA to Appeal Ruling that Bars Implementation of New Tobacco Warning Labels
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging an immediate appeal of a U.S. District Court decision that halts the implementation of the FDA's new graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. The labels were set to take effect next fall. … Continue Reading
November 08, 2011
Durbin Calls for Report on FDA Enforcement of Dietary Supplement Safety Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to determine how effectively a system set up by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is protecting consumers from potentially unsafe dietary supplements is working and what steps the agency is taking steps to ensure compliance by dietary supplement manufacturers. The adverse event reporting system was required in bipartisan legislation authored by Durbin and passed … Continue Reading
November 04, 2011
Durbin: House Bill Would Undermine Most Comprehensive Reforms of Food Safety System in 70 Years
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - A recent outbreak of E. coli in the St. Louis region highlights the critical importance of the Food and Drug Administration's ability to ensure the safety of our nation's food supply and demonstrates the danger of spending cuts approved by the House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The House funding cuts, which passed in June, would halt or delay key reforms that were part of the Durbin-authored FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA), which … Continue Reading
October 27, 2011
Durbin: Republican "Jobs" Bill Guts Regulations, But Comes Up Empty on Job Creation
[CHICAGO, IL] - Legislation proposed by Congressional Republicans to delay, roll-back, or eliminate basic pollution standards will weaken our ability to ensure clean air and water, and a healthy environment for our families across the nation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the UIC Medical Center. By gutting the Clean Air Act and severely limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate toxic pollutants emitted by … Continue Reading
October 19, 2011
Durbin: Over 2 Million Illinois Social Security Recipients Will See Relief in 2012
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the announcement by the Social Security Administration that a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be issued in 2012. For over two million Illinois residents who receive Social Security, their average benefit will grow by $516. Social Security beneficiaries haven't received a COLA increase since 2009. "Seniors have been hit particularly hard during this economic downturn and social security has been the key to … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Durbin, Lautenberg, Harkin, Blumenthal Ask MLB Players Association to Voluntarily Ban Tobacco Use
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the eve of an expected 15 million viewers-including many children-tuning in to watch the first game of the 2011 World Series tomorrow, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on the Major League Baseball (MLB) Players Association to ban the use of all tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, on the field, in the dugout, and in the locker rooms at MLB venues. "Tomorrow night, an … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Durbin: Federal Investment Will Help Metra Reduce Emissions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that a $5,288,000 investment from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program will help Metra reduce emissions and improve air quality in and around their trains. "Reducing the cloud of smoke from METRA locomotives will save fuel and help limit exposure to harmful air pollution," said Durbin. "This $5.2 million investment will help pay for this important clean-up." In February, Durbin met … Continue Reading
September 06, 2011
As a Result of Durbin-authored Law, Family Caregivers Of Veterans Start Receiving Financial Assistance
[CHICAGO, IL] - Hundreds of families who have taken on the enormous task of caring for America's most seriously wounded warriors are now receiving financial assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Family Caregiver Program provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of post-9/11 veterans seriously injured in the line of duty. To date, 36 Illinois families are participating in … Continue Reading
August 26, 2011
Durbin Announces $8.3 Million in Funding to Fight and Prevent Substance Abuse
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Illinois $8,324,317 to help fight and prevent substance abuse. The funds will be used by communities throughout Illinois to provide more comprehensive screening, prevention, and early intervention programs as well as referrals to treatment for people at high risk for substance abuse. Today's grant is part of roughly $137 million awarded … Continue Reading
August 24, 2011
Illinois Officials Announce Silver Cross Victory for Area Vets
[JOLIET, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th) today were joined by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-11th) in celebrating a long-anticipated agreement to transform the emergency room facility at Joliet's Silver Cross Hospital into a 60,000 square foot outpatient mega-clinic for area veterans. Lawmakers began lobbying for the project three years ago after Silver Cross announced it would be moving its current operations to New … Continue Reading
August 16, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $1.6 Million in CDC Funding to Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has awarded a total of $1,662,129 in funding to two Illinois state and local government offices. "We have a national responsibility to improve the anticipation, detection, and treatment of preventable infections," said Durbin. "Today's funding will help meet that goal as it makes it easier for health … Continue Reading
August 12, 2011
Durbin: Mayor's Decision to Enforce 1 A.M. Cutoff for Liquor Sales is Step In Right Direction, but More Still Needs to be Done
[EAST ST. LOUIS, IL] - The East St. Louis Mayor's decision to enforce the 1 a.m. cutoff for liquor store sales is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to reduce the violence that is plaguing the area, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), an East St. Louis native, said today. On Wednesday, Durbin talked to Mayor Alvin Parks by phone following a meeting with residents of the John DeShields Housing Development and the Working Against Violent Elements (WAVE) Task Force, a … Continue Reading
August 10, 2011
Durbin Visits Workforce Center, Discusses Need for Critical Support Services
[ELGIN, IL] - With the economic recovery lagging and unemployment still high, access for displaced workers to job retraining and career counseling is more critical than ever, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at the Elgin workNet Center. Although the national unemployment rate dipped slightly during the month of July - down to 9.1 percent - there are still five job-seekers for every job in America. In addition, 6.5 million American workers have been unemployed for six months or … Continue Reading