Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin Asks How System That Falsely Reports Deaths of Living Illinoisans Can Be Improved
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Prompted by an August 7 Chicago Sun-Times report, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael Astrue, to urge improvement of the Administration's Death Master File which has erroneously reported thousands of Illinoisans dead. Nationwide, 14,000 of these errors - which can cause problems with credit agencies, with lenders and with potential employers - are made each year. "I understand that out of the … Continue Reading
August 09, 2011
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.3 Million in DOJ Funding to Protect Illinois Youth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $2,299,205 to government agencies in Illinois for programs focused on protecting juveniles and promoting child Internet safety. "Today's funding will help combat juvenile delinquency in Illinois and strengthen and improve safeguards for our children against Internet predators," said Durbin. The following Illinois government offices and programs will … Continue Reading
July 29, 2011
Durbin, Cochran Introduce Legislation to Help Organ Transplant Patients
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Thad Cochran (R-MS), and Scott Brown (R-MA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the quality of life for people with kidney disease. The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act would assist thousands of Americans under the age of 65 who are being cut off from Medicare after 36 months by extending coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients. Also cosponsoring … Continue Reading
July 28, 2011
Durbin: Federal Government Unprepared for Growing Number of Extreme Weather Events
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee to examine the federal government's preparedness for the economic impact of weather events which are growing in frequency and severity. Traditionally, disaster relief funding has been largely unplanned for - being provided only on an as-need basis rather than through the regular annual funding cycle. After hearing testimony from the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011
Durbin Announces Funding for Public-Private Partnership Aimed at Protecting the Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) program has awarded a total of $706,350 in grants to three organizations in Illinois. The Sustain Our Great Lakes program works to protect, maintain, and restore the integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem by supporting habitat restoration, protection and enhancement projects, invasive species control, water quality improvements, and watershed planning and management. "We must ensure … Continue Reading
July 19, 2011
Durbin Seeks Explanation of Ventilation Issues at Union Station
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the President and CEO of Amtrak, Joseph Boardman, for an update on their efforts to improve air quality in and around Union Station and an explanation of how the responsibility to ensure the air ventilation systems are operating properly is shared with private land owners near the station. "Amtrak, as the owner of Union Station, has a responsibility to ensure the air ventilation systems under their control are operating properly … Continue Reading
July 19, 2011
Durbin Commends the Gates Foundation and USAID for Clean Water Initiatives in the Developing World
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for investing $8.5 million in the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) new WASH for Life grant program. WASH for Life will use USAID's Development Innovation Ventures program to seek, test, and scale cost-effective and sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) delivery systems in developing countries. USAID will match The Gates … Continue Reading
July 14, 2011
Durbin Announces $4.5 Million in School-based Health Center Grants to Help Illinois Children
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 17 school-based health centers in Illinois will receive $4,516,733 in grant funding through the Affordable Care Act. The funding will help school-based health centers to establish new sites or upgrade their current facilities to better serve Illinois children. School-based health centers offer health screenings, health promotion programs, and disease prevention activities and they help children … Continue Reading
June 30, 2011
Durbin and Blumenthal Introduce Legislation Designed to Protect Consumers of Dietary Supplements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation that would ensure that consumers have the information they need to distinguish between products that are safe and others that contain potentially dangerous ingredients which haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Dietary Supplement Labeling Act would improve the information available to consumers, and to curb the prevalence of drinks and foods that are … Continue Reading
June 27, 2011
Durbin to Introduce Legislation Designed to Protect Consumers of Dietary Supplements
[CHICAGO, IL] - With the use of heavily marketed energy drinks and other dietary supplements on the rise, more regulation is needed to ensure that consumers have the information they need to distinguish between products that are safe and others that contain potentially dangerous ingredients which haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. This week, Durbin will introduce the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act to improve the information … Continue Reading
June 23, 2011
Durbin Introduces Bill to Protect Medicare Card Holders from Identity Theft
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to require the federal government to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare identification cards and communications to Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers the Medicare program, has fallen behind most other public and private organizations in recognizing the danger of displaying Social Security numbers. The Social Security Number Protection Act … Continue Reading
June 22, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $175,000 in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded three grants totaling $178,070 to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools … Continue Reading
June 07, 2011
Durbin Statement on MWRD Vote to Support Disinfecting Sewage that Enters Chicago River
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after learning that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago voted to support the disinfection of wastewater before it enters portions of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers. "Chicago is a world-class city with an ambitious environmental agenda. But while Chicago is listed among the nation's greenest cities, the City's record when it comes to the Chicago River is … Continue Reading
June 07, 2011
Durbin: Senators Recognize National Hunger Awareness Day
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators and Hunger Caucus Co-Chairs Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) today recognized National Hunger Awareness Day and called on Americans to support local efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity in the United States. "The level of hunger in our nation is at the highest level since the government began tracking food insecurity in 1995. In Illinois, 500,000 children are living in a food … Continue Reading
June 03, 2011
Durbin: Fighting Hunger Must Remain a Priority
[DECATUR, IL] - As the economy in Decatur continues to struggle, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited a local Summer Food Service Program site to discuss hunger and the rising demand for food pantry services with area food bank and food pantry representatives. "The struggling economy has put a strain on family budgets throughout Illinois," Durbin, a co-chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus, said. "Formerly middle-class families who have had a rough few years are increasingly turning to … Continue Reading
May 29, 2011
Durbin Urges Eligible Veterans to Apply for Caregiver Benefits
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - The families of America's most seriously wounded warriors who have taken on the enormous task of caring for their loved ones can now apply through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program for assistance, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Family Caregiver Program provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty. Earlier this month, the Department … Continue Reading
May 27, 2011
Durbin Meets with Evanston Mayor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed community health centers and other local issues with Evanston Mayor, Elizabeth Tisdahl. Mayor Tisdahl was in Washington, D.C. along with Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz, and Erie Family Health Center CEO, Dr. Lee Francis. Photos from today's meeting can be seen on the Senator's website. Related Links Photo of the meeting can be found … Continue Reading
May 22, 2011
Durbin, Kirk, Quigley Tour Chicago River in Wake of EPA Decision Calling for Improved Water Quality Standards
[CHICAGO, IL] - More stringent water quality standards are needed on the Chicago River to create a safer and healthier waterway for generations to come, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said following a boat tour today. Durbin was joined on the tour by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region V Administrator Susan Hedman."Discharging sewage that has not been disinfected into the Chicago River … Continue Reading
May 18, 2011
Durbin Announces a More Than $9,000 FEMA Grant to Monmouth Fire Department
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $9,500 in a grant for fire prevention to the Monmouth Fire Department. The Monmouth Fire Department has two stations and protects 10,000 Illinoisans. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, … Continue Reading
May 18, 2011
Durbin Raises Concerns with FDA About Melatonin in Baked Goods
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today raised concerns with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about baked goods containing neurohormone melatonin that, because they are marketed as dietary supplements, do not require approval by the FDA for use as additives in food. Durbin asked the FDA to clarify its authority to regulate foods that contain additives, such as baked good that contain high doses of melatonin. "Products with names such as Lazy Cakes, Kush Cakes, and … Continue Reading