Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin Celebrates President's Signing of 9/11 First Responders Bill
[CHICAGO, IL] - Rescue workers who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at ground zero following the September 11 attacks will now receive medical care as a result of legislation just signed into law by the President, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The James Zadroga 9/11 Health Compensation Act authorizes the World Trade Center Health Program, which would provide screenings and treatment for World Trade Center-related conditions for people who were in … Continue Reading
December 22, 2010
Durbin Commends EPA for Swift Action on Chromium-6 Report
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for taking swift action to provide communities cited in the Environmental Working Group study on chromium-6 in tap water with assistance for additional testing. Earlier today the EPA announced a series of actions that the agency will take over the coming days to address chromium-6 in our drinking water. This announcement follows a meeting in Durbin's Washington, DC, office between … Continue Reading
December 21, 2010
Durbin Food Safety Bill Passes House, Goes to President for Signature
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act passed the House today marking most comprehensive reform of the nation's food safety system in over a decade. The bipartisan bill, initiated by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities and resources to ensure the safety of our food supply. The bill now goes to the President for his signature. "Today's vote will finally give the FDA the tools it needs to … Continue Reading
December 20, 2010
Durbin, Kirk to Meet With EPA Administrator Tomorrow to Discuss Tribune Report on Chromium In Chicago Drinking Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Stressing the importance of Lake Michigan as a vital resource to the millions of Illinoisans who rely on it for drinking water, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced that they will be meeting with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson tomorrow to discuss their concerns over a Chicago Tribune article on high levels of Chromium-6 in Chicago area drinking water. The Tribune referenced a study by the Environmental Working Group … Continue Reading
December 15, 2010
Durbin Announces More Than $41,000 in FEMA Grant Funding 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 grants totaling $41,710 to two Illinois fire protection organizations for operations and safety. "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 … Continue Reading
November 30, 2010
Historic Bipartisan Food Safety Bill Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act passed the Senate today marking most comprehensive reform of the nation's food safety system in over a decade. The bipartisan bill, initiated by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new authorities and resources to ensure the safety of our food supply. "Today's vote will finally give the FDA the tools it needs to help ensure that the food on dinner tables and store … Continue Reading
November 29, 2010
Chamber of Commerce Endorses Durbin Food Safety Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin's (D-IL) FDA Food Safety Modernization Act today, saying it will "improve America's ability to prevent food borne illness and boost consumer confidence in U.S. food supplies while minimally burdening small farms and consumers," "This legislation would improve food safety by requiring all food manufacturers to develop a food safety plan, providing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration … Continue Reading
November 08, 2010
Durbin Calls on Federal Agencies to Investigate Air Quality on Passenger Rail
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent letters to the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), asking them to review the findings of an investigative report by the Chicago Tribune which showed that Metra commuters and workers may be exposed to excessively high levels of diesel soot. Diesel exhaust contains many air … Continue Reading
July 15, 2010
Durbin: Senate Appropriates Committee Approves Nearly $6.3 Million for Illinois Agriculture Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $6,268,000 for Illinois projects with the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Durbin is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA includes funding for the following Illinois projects and programs: • Biotechnology Research Development Center, … Continue Reading
June 30, 2010
Durbin and Missouri Senators Send Letter to VA Regarding St. Louis Veterans Facility
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the recent revelation that almost two thousand St. Louis area veterans may have been exposed to dangerous diseases through contact with improperly sterilized dental equipment at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Kit Bond (R-MO) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki outlining their disappointment and deep concern over the incident. "Veterans receiving care … Continue Reading
June 17, 2010
Durbin Announces a More Than $675,000 FEMA Grant for Addison Firefighters
[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 a $677,250 grant to the Addison Fire Protection District #1 in Addison, Illinois, for the hiring of new firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put … Continue Reading
June 17, 2010
Durbin, Lautenberg Warn Tobacco Companies Not to Engage in Misleading Cigarette Advertising
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today urged four major tobacco companies not to engage in any effort to mislead customers to believe they are buying safer cigarettes. Last year, Congress passed landmark legislation that banned using descriptors in cigarette labeling - such as "light," "mild," or "low-tar" - which insinuate or imply that certain products are healthier or lower risk than regular cigarettes. Research has definitively shown that … Continue Reading
June 04, 2010
Durbin: Shedd Aquarium to Receive Over $630,000 in Funding for Great Lakes Education
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has awarded $630,038 in federal grant funding to the Shedd Aquarium for an ongoing initiative that educates visitors about the Great Lakes and encourages better stewardship of the marine environment. This funding will help the Shedd Aquarium's Center for the Great Lakes to better engage citizens in making positive change to help … Continue Reading
May 26, 2010
Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in FEMA Grants for 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 8 grants totaling $992,001 to fire departments throughout Illinois for operations and safety."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 resources … Continue Reading
May 20, 2010
Durbin Announces a More Than $360,000 FEMA Grant to the Milledgeville Fire Protection District
[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 a $360,810 grant to the Milledgeville Fire Protection District in Milledgeville, Illinois, for operations and safety. "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 … Continue Reading
May 19, 2010
Durbin Commends FEMA for Decision to Offer Deeply Discounted Insurance to Metro East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offering property owners in Metro East deeply discounted insurance rates for two years beginning January 1, 2011. This administrative change - implemented without legislation - allows more time for repairing the levees while ensuring that residents and businesses are financially protected in the event of a flood. "In these … Continue Reading
May 19, 2010
Durbin and VA Secretary Discuss Homelessness Among Veterans in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Eric Shinseki, to discuss how to meet the needs of the estimated 1,500 veterans that go homeless every night in Illinois. Secretary Shinseki is scheduled to testify tomorrow at a joint hearing of two Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on his plan to reduce the number of homeless veterans in the United States by half over the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2010
Durbin: Family Caregivers of Disabled Service Members to Receive Training, Stipend
[CHICAGO, IL] -Family caregivers for veterans and service members seriously injured in the line of duty will receive training and education, a monthly stipend and counseling services as a result of legislation authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and signed into law last week. The Durbin-authored provision was included in the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. "Families across America are caring each day for the 720 men and women who come … Continue Reading
May 12, 2010
Durbin Announces More than $600,000 in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire Protection Services
[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 5 grants totaling $602,555 to fire departments and protection services throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "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 … Continue Reading
May 11, 2010
Durbin Leads Effort to Improve School Meals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to fund a competitive program that would bring together nutritional and academic experts, members of the community and local schools to produce innovative ideas to improve food quality, student choices in food and healthy school environments. Earlier today, Durbin met with Chef Rachel Ray to discuss reauthorization of child nutrition programs and her effort to help children … Continue Reading