WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Sean Casten, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL06) released the following statement regarding this week's votes on antiESG legislation: "On the verge of a government shutdown, House Republicans wasted time this week forcing votes on bills that, if enacted, would fundamentally weaken the foundation of America's free markets and limit Americans' freedom to make their own investment decisions without interference from the government," said Rep. Sean Casten.  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Sean Casten, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (DIL06) and Congresswoman Lori ChavezDeRemer (ROR05) introduced the bipartisan Mental Health in Aviation Act, legislation to eliminate barriers to mental health care for aviators. "Pilots and air traffic controllers should not be unfairly penalized for seeking mental health care by a system that perpetuates a culture of silence," said Rep. Sean Casten. "The Mental Health in Aviation Act bolsters mental health c more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation to protect the estimated two million wild kangaroos who are needlessly killed every year for the use of their leather in commercial products. The killing of kangaroos for their leather, also known as "k-leather," is currently the largest commercial slaughter of mammals worldwide driven by demand for their skin in certain models of soccer cleats. To help reverse th more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)--a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship--and U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve reporting on entrepreneurs with disabilities so we can better understand what they need and help more of them start and grow successful small businesses. The bipartisan Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act would direct the Small Business Admi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Due to errors in calculating patent terms, pharmaceutical companies are able to improperly delay generic competition & continue charging monopoly prices, potentially costing consumers & taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in excess costs Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of five Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director Kathi Vidal r more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: ROCKFORD Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) hosted a House Ways and Means Committee American Workforce Tax Team roundtable in Rockford this week with small business, workforce, and community stakeholders. The roundtable is a part of an effort by Ways and Means Committee Republicans to get outside of D.C. and study key tax provisions from the 2017 Trump tax cuts, also known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), that are set to expire in 2025 and identify legi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 -- Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Ranking Member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on today's vote on the Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded before the end of the fiscal year: "With Republicans in the majority, they have the power to pass reasonable funding bills and avoid a government shutdown. Instead, they have spent nearly two years e more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), the Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, blasted Republicans for using their committee time to uplift a chart filled with mis and disinformation on immigration. During a joint hearing of the Subcommittee (link is external)on Border Security and Enforcement and the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence(link is external), Congresswoman Ramirez pointed out six mi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12) today introduced the Upending Secret Postal Shutdowns (USPS) Act to prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from shutting down a post office under the guise of an "emergency suspension" without first notifying impacted communities and providing a full justification for the closure. Under current law, postal operations can be suspended due to emergencies ranging from staffing shortages to natural disasters, with a loose  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: Last night, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski's Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Actunanimously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation will make it easier for veterans to access the benefits they've earned by requiring the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) to eliminate overcomplicated language in written communications with veterans. Budzinski introduced the legislation with Congressman John Duarte (R-CA-13 more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on Sept. 19, 2024: Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced her support for the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act which would prohibit large Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from manipulating drug prices and restricting network access and patient choice in federal healthcare plans. Under the current system, PBMs act as middlemen between manufacturers, insurers and pharmacies - inflating drug prices at the expense of patients, communi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has passed the Baby Changing on Board Act, Rep. Lauren Underwood's legislation that would require new Amtrak trains to be equipped with baby changing stations in all accessible restrooms. The legislation would provide essential amenities for families traveling across the country. The bill is co-led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), and Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Amtrak se more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) led 190+ Members of Congress across the House and Senate in writing to Congressional leadership and calling on them to act before enhanced Premium Tax Credits (PTCs) expire in 2025. Extending these tax credits would protect millions of Americans who are counting on these savings for affordable health care. The savings have led to record breaking enrollment in the Affordable Care  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of April Perry to serve as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois and U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley to serve as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois:  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 18, 2024: In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today addressed the particularly vile lie being circulated by former President Trump, his Vice-Presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, and their supporters, and the real-life consequences of spreading this lie--that the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio, are ab more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of five Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director Kathi Vidal regarding recent research that found pharmaceutical companies may be benefitting from errors in USPTO's calculation of patent term adjustment (PTA). Those errors can extend the lives of drug patent more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 19, 2024: U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the rise in anti-Semitism on college campuses, following the brutal October 7 attack on Israel. In May 2024, Graham led all Committee Republicans calling on Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) to hold a hearing on the civil rights violations of Jewish students and the  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Congressman Eric Sorensen released the following statement on his decision to vote against the House GOP's proposed legislation to fund the government. "Congress has an important responsibility to keep the government open for the American people," said Sorensen. "I just spent the last month traveling the district meeting with veterans, first responders, law enforcement, seniors, and farmers. The proposal in front of us is $12 billion short for veterans more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 -- Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: MOLINE, IL Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $8 million in federal funding for Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK) through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This grant will be used to make land-side improvements along the Mississippi Riverfront and for a new, zero-emissions, battery-electric ferry and charging eq more PR