Durbin, Duckworth Press Trump Administration for Testing Kit Supplies & Personal Protective Equipment for Illinois

WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to take immediate action to fulfill Illinois' personal protective equipment (PPE) request. On March 4, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requested distribution of PPE from the federal Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). These masks, respirators, gloves, and gowns are essential equipment that our front … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement on First Coronavirus-related Death in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after Illinois announced its first coronavirus-related death: "We are both saddened by the confirmation of our state's first death from COVID-19. Our thoughts go out to the victim's family and loved ones during what we know is an incredibly difficult time for them. As we have all seen, this pandemic will disrupt the way we all go about our daily lives, but this sad news is a reminde… Continue Reading

Durbin Receives Update From Illinois Director of Public Health on Coronavirus Response

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the response to the coronavirus pandemic with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. On a call with Dr. Ezike, Durbin asked what the State will need as coronavirus cases increase, and how the federal government can support state efforts to keep people healthy and safe. Durbin has urged the Trump Administration repeatedly to provide more test kit supplies and personal protective equipment to the State as … Continue Reading

Durbin: Why Are We Waiting to Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act?

WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again called on the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately. The legislation takes additional smart, strategic, and science-based measures to help protect families' economic security, food security, and health security. "There is no reason for us to delay this in any way. We should move on it quickly. Putting this off for a day or two, or whatever the plan is wit… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Federal Funding for Illinois & City of Chicago Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received $14.6 million in federal funding and the Chicago Department of Public Health received $8.7 million in federal funding in order to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, including funding for patient monitoring, lab testing, acquisition of test kits and protective equipment, and research into vaccines and therapeutics. This federal funding was a… Continue Reading

Durbin to McConnell: Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act Immediately

WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately. The legislation takes additional smart, strategic, and science-based measures to help protect families' economic security, food security, and health security. "This is a health care emergency. It's time for both parties to come to the floor and do our job tonight," Durbin said in a speech on the Senate floor. "T… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge President Trump to Immediately Maximize Telework for Federal Employees

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 24 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the Administration has issued guidance recommending agencies expand their telework capabilities, too many federal employees are still required to come to work in-pers… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Push to Ensure All Students Can Remotely Continue Education During Coronavirus Emergency

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and 12 of their colleagues, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to temporarily allow schools to utilize E-Rate program funding to provide Wi-Fi hotspots or devices with Wi-Fi capability to students who lack internet access at home. This action would help ensure that all students can remotely continue their education during the current publ… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Free Coronavirus Testing to People on Private Insurance, on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Uninsured

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR)-led a number of their Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, which would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services for individ… Continue Reading

Durbin Informs Illinois Religious Institutions of Nonprofit Security Grant Funding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent letters to religious institutions and houses of worship across Illinois to make them aware of an important federal funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations to ensure they have the necessary resources to improve their security. Durbin helped secure $90 million in nonprofit security grant funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill. "In rece… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Demand Additional Federal Resources at O'Hare From Trump Administration

WASHINGTON- After hundreds of passengers were forced to wait in close quarters for hours on end in order to clear medical screenings at customs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar demanding additio… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For Senate To Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act By Unanimous Consent Immediately

SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement about the need for the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by unanimous consent (UC) immediately: "In light of the President's emergency declaration, it is imperative that the Senate pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by unanimous consent (UC) immediately. "The House passed this measure with a 90 percent bipartisan vote. We should do the same by UC immediately… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President Trump's Federal Emergency Declaration Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump issued a federal Emergency Declaration (ED) due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump's declaration invokes the Stafford Act so states can utilize $42.6 billion currently available in the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) in their efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and protect public health. "I support President Trump's emergency declaration and strongly urge F… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Landmark Legislation to Fund PFAS Cleanup

CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in introducing legislation to help communities combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and exposure in drinking water and groundwater. The Providing Financial Assistance to States (PFAS) for Testing and Treatment Act would provide substantial federal funding for PFAS remediation in drinking water, and groundwater, includi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Urge Internet Service Providers to Suspend Service Terms Affecting Telepresence Service During Coronavirus Outbreak

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and 16 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the CEOs of eight major internet service providers (ISPs) calling on the companies to take steps to accommodate the unprecedented reliance we will likely see on telepresence services, including telework, online education, telehealth, and remote support services. In the letter, sent to the CEOS of AT&T, CenturyLink, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $3.5 Million for Maternal and Child Health Services in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $3,531,780 in federal funding awarded to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to support health care for low-income mothers, children, and families. This funding is provided through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "With this grant, the Illinois Depar… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Press Alden Global Capital on Alarming Staff Cuts at Tribune Publishing

CHICAGO-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to Alden Global Capital about its alarming strategy of staff cuts at Tribune Publishing. The company has a concerning history of dismantling local newspapers for personal gain. On January 13, two months after Alden obtained a 32 percent stake in Tribune Publishing, veteran employees of Tribune Publishing, including staff members at the Chicago Tribune, reported being offered buyouts in an effort to reduce expenses… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bill Directing VA To 'Do Its Job' And Support Veterans Suffering From Diseases Linked To Agent Orange

WASHINGTON - After years of inaction from the Trump Administration, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and more than 29 Senate colleagues, introduced the bicameral Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act of 2020, which would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide additional benefits for veterans suffering from four diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange. Currently, veterans with specific health conditions developed as a result of… Continue Reading

Durbin, Alexander, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Address Medical Supply Vulnerability Due To Coronavirus

WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus outbreak, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN), along with a group of nine Senators, today introduced the Commission on America's Medical Security, bipartisan legislation to safeguard America's medical supply chain and address shortages due to the United States' dependence on foreign-made medical equipment. Approximately 40 percent of finished drugs and 80 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients are manufactured overseas-primarily fr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Press CDC On Shortage Of Coronavirus Test Kit Supplies

WASHINGTON-Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield for information on the potential shortage of enzymes needed for CDC coronavirus test kits. Health officials in Illinois have indicated they may not have enough testing supplies to cover their diagnostic needs over the next two weeks. Further, they have not received word from the CDC about whe… Continue Reading