Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin Announces Funding for Illinois Bike Trails
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Illinois recipients of $2,850,000 in federal transportation funding for bike and pedestrian trail enhancements and improvements. Durbin secured this funding in 2009 as part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act. "Bike trails are growing in popularity across our state," said Durbin. "Incorporating bike paths, bike lanes and sidewalks into the transportation system encourages physical activity and healthy … Continue Reading
April 28, 2010
Durbin Announces Nearly $4.2 Million 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 24 grants totaling $4,170,473 to fire departments throughout Illinois for vehicle acquisition, 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
April 23, 2010
Durbin: Legislation Supporting Families of Severely Disabled Service Members Approved by Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that legislation to provide essential support services to family caregivers of severely disabled veterans was unanimously approved by Congress. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 includes a Durbin-authored provision that establishes a program to provide technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of veterans or members of the Armed Forces seriously injured in the … Continue Reading
April 23, 2010
Durbin: Legislation to Address Quality of Care for Nation's Veterans Approved by Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that legislation to provide essential support services to family caregivers of severely disabled veterans was unanimously approved by Congress. The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009 includes a Durbin-authored provision aims to improve quality control measures at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical facilities by creating a new national quality assurance officer position. This … Continue Reading
April 11, 2010
Durbin Pushes for Overhaul of Nation's Food Safety Laws
[CHICAGO, IL] - The ability of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect the safety of the nation's food supply for American families will dramatically improve if Congress passes the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin's legislation, which has bi-partisan support, would give the FDA new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform the nation's food safety systems. "We've seen major recalls of peanut butter spiked … Continue Reading
April 09, 2010
Healthcare Reform News Conference in Normal, IL
This past week was historic for our country. The passage of the new health reform law is a great step forward. It is an expression of our commitment to ensuring that every Illinoisan and every American have the best health care possible. And it couldn't have come too soon. Our nation's healthcare crisis is pricing more and more people out of coverage. Over the past decade, family health insurance premiums for Illinois's workers rose five times more quickly than median earnings. … Continue Reading
March 25, 2010
Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Reconciliation Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's passage of legislation that makes key improvements to the historic health care reform law signed by President Obama earlier this week. The legislation also helps students by cutting out the bank industry middlemen and shifting student loans into the Direct Loan program - a measure that will save American families $61 billion over 10 years. "The final piece of healthcare legislation that was approved by … Continue Reading
March 24, 2010
Durbin: Chicago Public Schools Should be National Model for School Lunch Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to CEO of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Ron Huberman, commending him for his new commitment to higher nutritional standards in school lunches, which was addressed in a series of articles in the Chicago Tribune. "The public schools in the First Lady's home town need to lead the nation in healthy and nutritious food," said Durbin. "Chicago Public Schools has made progress, but now we need … Continue Reading
March 17, 2010
Durbin Introduces Legislation to Stem the "Brain Drain" of Health Care Workers from World's Poorest Nations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Global Healthcare Cooperation Act¸ a bill designed to stem the "brain drain" of skilled healthcare workers who emigrate from developing countries to the United States. The bill will also bolster the ranks of healthcare workers serving in developing countries by enabling American legal permanent residents to assist with overseas public health emergencies. "The brain drain of talented health … Continue Reading
March 10, 2010
Durbin: Senate Approves Legislation that Would Bring $600 Million in Medicaid Assistance to Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate approved legislation that would bring an additional $600 million in funding for the Medicaid program in Illinois. The American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 would extend the increased Medicaid federal match rate - or federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) - made available to states under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bill will now be … Continue Reading
March 09, 2010
Durbin Announces $750,000 in Recovery Act Funding for Rock Island Disaster Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has invested $750,000 in the Bi-State Regional Commission's Disaster Recovery Project, which operates in Rock Island, Illinois. This investment, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will create a new revolving loan fund to serve small businesses in Mercer County, Illinois, and Muscatine County, Iowa and is expected to create 64 jobs … Continue Reading
March 07, 2010
Durbin: Insurance Company Premiums--and Profits--Soar at Families' Expense
[CHICAGO, IL] - Illinoisans are facing up to a 60 percent increase in health insurance premiums this year at the same time that insurance companies are benefiting from some of the highest profits in their history, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said today a news conference to highlight the need for healthcare reform."Families are facing skyrocketing costs," Durbin said. "Emergency rooms are overflowing. Health centers are struggling to meet the increasing demand. Yet insurance companies continue to … Continue Reading
February 24, 2010
Durbin, Conyers Unveil Bill to Change Corporate Bankruptcy Laws to Put Workers, Retirees First
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced legislation today, which will curb abuses that deprive employees and retirees of their earnings and retirement savings when businesses collapse. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy."American … Continue Reading
February 22, 2010
Durbin Statement on Obama Health Care Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) made the following statement regarding President Obama's health insurance reform proposal that was released earlier today: "The President's health reform proposal brings together the best of the current healthcare proposal - including both Republican and Democratic ideas. President Obama's plan to give access to affordable health care to over 31 million Americans who currently don't have it today, will put families not insurance … Continue Reading
February 13, 2010
Durbin, Brown to Travel to Africa this Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will travel to Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Sudan this week to examine US foreign assistance programs in the region. Durbin and Brown's trip will focus on global health, maternal/infant mortality, clean water, sanitation, refugee, and economic development activities. The Senators will also discuss regional peacekeeping and diplomatic issues. Due to security … Continue Reading
February 12, 2010
Durbin Announces More than $800,000 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 15 grants totaling $829,677 to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations 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 … Continue Reading
February 12, 2010
Durbin Announces over $34 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Improve Quality and Efficiency of Health Care in Illinois
?[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $34,033,172 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to two Illinois universities and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to improve the quality and efficiency of health care in Illinois by allowing health providers to securely share and access vital health information … Continue Reading
February 05, 2010
Durbin Announces $3 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Promote Public Health
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Illinois $3,122,372 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support efforts to improve public health by reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, and decreasing smoking - the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health. Of today's funding, $1.5 … Continue Reading
February 03, 2010
Durbin Announces More Than $2.2 Million 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 27 grants totaling $2,269,028 to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations throughout Illinois for vehicle acquisition, 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 … Continue Reading
January 19, 2010
Durbin: Small Businesses will Benefit from Healthcare Reform Bill
[CHICAGO, IL] - Healthcare reform will give small businesses the ability to offer their employees quality, affordable healthcare coverage while remaining competitive in a challenging economy, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today while addressing local business owners at the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. There won't be an economic recovery until small businesses start growing again. Despite misinformation to the contrary, … Continue Reading