Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Health Care
Durbin, Young Applaud Committee Passage Of Their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) today applauded the advancement of their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) with a strong bipartisan vote of 19-2. The legislation extends funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and … Continue Reading
May 22, 2024
Durbin Delivers Speech At American Heart Association's 100th Anniversary Event
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Caucus, today delivered remarks at the American Heart Association’s 100th anniversary event. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized the importance of strong and sustained funding increases for medical and scientific research centers to ensure that the U.S. moves medical research forward to prevent disease and improve treatments for patients. Since 2015, Durbin has successfully secured a … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing examined prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin first questioned Dr. Will Feldman, a … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee a hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin spoke on the Senate floor … Continue Reading
May 20, 2024
Durbin Previews Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor highlighting tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families. Durbin began his remarks by … Continue Reading
May 15, 2024
Durbin Delivers Remarks as He Receives the Cancer Research Ally Award
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks after receiving the Cancer Research Ally Award from the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for his support of, and advocacy for, cancer research. In his remarks, Durbin shared his own family’s history with cancer, speaking about how his father passed at age 53 from lung cancer. Durbin also highlighted the importance of committing to strong … Continue Reading
May 14, 2024
Durbin Meets With Chinese American Service League
WASHINGTON - During Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Paul Luu, CEO of the Chinese American Service League (CASL) in Chicago, to discuss the organization’s involvement with Change InSight, a nationwide partnership with community-based organizations that provide social services to the AAPI community. Through Change InSight, CASL has helped launch a data hub for AAPI and immigrant communities across six … Continue Reading
May 06, 2024
Durbin, Hospital Leaders Release Year 5 Report On Chicago Heal Initiative To Address Gun Violence
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined hospital leaders and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) to unveil the five-year report of the Chicago HEAL Initiative. Launched in 2018 by Senator Durbin and 10 of the largest hospitals serving Chicago, the HEAL Initiative is a collaboration to address the root causes of gun violence through economic, health, and community projects in 18 of Chicago’s neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, poverty, and health … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Joins Senate Democrats On The Floor To Call For Passage Of Veterans Families Health Services Act, Protection For IVF
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined his Democratic colleagues in speaking in support of the Veterans Families Health Services Act, which Durbin cosponsored, ahead of U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) request to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Despite the importance of providing accessible health care to female veterans and claims that Republicans support IVF, U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) objected to the passage of the bill. Durbin began his … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health & Medicaid Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and Medicaid Administrator at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Kelly Cunningham to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and public heath funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. "Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Durbin Meets With Sinai Health CEO Dr. Ezike
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the new CEO of Sinai Chicago System and former Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. During their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Ezike discussed bolstering health care resources in Illinois for violence prevention, closing racial and ethnic health disparities, and addressing workforce shortages in hospitals. Durbin and Dr. Ezike also talked about new goals for the Chicago HEAL Initiative, … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Our Health Care Workforce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing will explore how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing On Our Health Care Workforce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing explored how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and deserve. The U.S. … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $19 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $19,453,291 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding, which comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer prevention to mental health research. "Investing in the development … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
On One Year Anniversary of FDA Failing To Meet Court-Ordered Deadline To Regulate E-Cigarette Products, Durbin Urges HHS To Step In
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra condemning the FDA for its failure to meet e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine deadlines, unwillingness to take action against companies that defy the agency's orders, and general lack of urgency when it comes to protecting children from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use. … Continue Reading
August 07, 2022
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of The Inflation Reduction Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, groundbreaking legislation that will fight inflation, make drug prices more affordable, reduce costs, and make the nation's largest investment in our share of the climate fight ever: "Senate Democrats have heard the American people: do something to fight inflation, lower prescription drug prices, and combat the climate crisis. Today's … Continue Reading
August 05, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $20.9 Million For Variety Of Illinois Health Care Programs And Initiatives
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $20,946,896 for a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "Illinois has a wide-range of programs and initiatives dedicated to Illinoisans health and well-being. To keep these programs up and running for residents, the federal government has made a significant investment in these vital services that will assist in ensuring vaccines are … Continue Reading
August 05, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $4.6 Million For Medical Research In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4,659,710 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grant funding for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support advancements in sectors ranging from maternal health care to communicative disorders. "Illinois is home to world-class medical research institutions, but they cannot reach medical … Continue Reading
August 01, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $23.8 Million For Variety Of Illinois Health Care Programs And Initiatives
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $23,826,881 for a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "The wide-range of health care initiatives and programs across Illinois are fundamental to the overall health and well-being of our state's residents," said Durbin. "Thanks to this substantial federal funding for these programs, we can do more to address everything from the … Continue Reading
July 29, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $11 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $11,061,526 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, from mental health research to cancer biology research. "Federal funding towards medical research is key in advancing the field and ensuring the … Continue Reading