Diseases and Medical Research
I am a strong supporter of medical research. Chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease affect 1 out of every 2 adults and kill nearly 2 million Americans every year. Funding through the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Department of Defense provides the possibility of medical breakthroughs in the detection, treatment and ultimately cures for diseases that are creating so many hardships for individuals and families – and that cost our nation enormously in high medical costs and lost productivity.
I have joined with my colleagues to urge that we provide at least $32 billion in funding for NIH in FY2013, which will give us the opportunity to continue research into diseases from Alzheimers and AIDS to vision care and women's health.
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WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and a senior member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed S. Con. Res. 5, a budget resolution that lays the groundwork for passing President Biden's American Rescue Plan:
WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Chair of the Energy and Commerce Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Pandemic Emergency Manufacturing Act of 2021 to publicly manufacture personal protective equipment, prescription drugs, and other medical supplies necessary to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation authorizes the federal government to manufacture medical products, including by contracting with existing manufacturers, to ensure the nation has an adequate supply of critical materials to avoid rationing during this unprecedented crisis.
EVANSTON - As tech companies and public health agencies deploy new tools to fight the spread of COVID-19 – including contact tracing apps, digital monitoring, home tests, and vaccine appointment booking – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mark Warner (D-VA) and U.S. Representatives Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act to set strong and enforceable privacy and data security rights for health information.
EVANSTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Energy and Commerce Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee; Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee; and, Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reintroduced legislation to strengthen oversight of federal funds invested in COVID-19 research and development, and to protect patients from being price-gouged on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines developed with taxpayer dollars.
According to a November 2019 Gallup poll, approximately 58 million Americans were unable to pay for prescribed medicine in the last 12 months. And, at least 34 million people know of at least one friend or family member in the last five years who died after not receiving medical treatment, due to their inability to pay for it. Thousands of seniors die each year prematurely because they cannot afford their medications, with that number projected to hit 112,000 by 2030. Prescription drug prices are literally killing Americans.
In my weekly constituent update, I discuss President Trump's COVID-19 treatment, the latest on stimulus relief and details on voting in Chicago and Suburban Cook County.
EVANSTON – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus Providers and Clinics Task Force, reacted to news that President Trump is receiving treatments for his COVID-19 infection that have been made possible with the use of fetal stem cells. Recently, Schakowsky was joined by Congressman Mark Pocan and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin in leading a letter with 37 other House members and 4 Senators to the Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar demanding that the Administration withdraw its misguided and ideologically driven rule that bans the use of fetal tissue in medical research and stand behind proven science and scientific integrity.
Here's my weekly video update for my constituents. I address President Trump's COVID diagnosis, the latest Coronavirus numbers, votes by the House to condemn QAnon and the forced sterilization of women in ICE custody, and other updates.
EVANSTON— Today, Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), and other Democratic members of the Illinois delegation urged Illinois' leading health insurers to provide financial relief to Illinois individuals, families, and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. According to recent reports, the nation's leading health insurers are experiencing unprecedented profits as enrollees continue to pay premiums while forgoing medical care during the pandemic.
EVANSTON, IL – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) joined fellow Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Katie Porter (CA-45), Donna E. Shalala (FL-27), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) in sending a letter to Vice President Mike Pence demanding details on the administration's plan to develop, manufacture, produce, and distribute a coronavirus vaccine.