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.
More on Diseases and Medical Research
Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a full committee hearing with the White House Coronavirus Task Force. I specifically had some questions for the CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield.
WASHINGTON, DC - 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), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee; Congressman Francis Rooney (R-FL); Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the House Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee; and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced two pieces of bipartisan legislation to protect patients from being price-gouged on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines developed with taxpayer dollars and to strengthen oversight of federal funds invested
Over the past decade, almost every new medication brought to market was paid for by a hefty investment from taxpayer dollars. Each of these drugs was developed in the interest of a greater public good: to alleviate pain, improve health and save lives. However, accountability for public funding has not prevented pharmaceutical corporations from hiking up prices on new and existing drugs for patients, increasing the cost of prescription drugs up to 10 percent every year.
EVANSTON, IL – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is introducing the COVID Justice and Accountability Act to ensure everyone has a private right of action for a violation of COVID-19 federal laws. Schakowsky is joined by Congressmen Mark Takano (CA-41) and Jesús "Chuy" García(IL-04).
EVANSTON, IL – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Co-Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Task Force on Aging & Families (TFAF), announced the introduction of the COVID-19 Recovery for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act of 2020, H.R. 6951. She was joined by the rest of the TFAF leadership. As the pandemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on America's older Americans, their families and caregivers, this measure would make additional investments in our nation's most vulnerable populations' access to quality health care, food security and financial security. A similar version of the bill, H.R.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, voted in favor of The Heroes Act, House Democrats' latest legislation to address the continued public health crisis and provide desperately needed support for struggling families and essential workers, with funds for testing and tracing measures, key support for frontline workers and strengthened assistance for the American people. Congresswoman Schakowsky also released a new detailed estimate of the direct benefits that the Heroes Act would provide to Illinois and local communities. The legislation passed by a vote of 208-199.
WASHINGTON, DC – As tech companies and public health agencies deploy contact tracing apps and digital monitoring tools to fight the spread of COVID-19, U.S. Representatives Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Tony Cardenas (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mark Warner (D-VA), introduced the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act to set strong and enforceable privacy and data security rights for health information.