In The News
Noted: Sen. Duckworth introduces bill to improve internet access for people with disabilities
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced a bill Thursday that aims to improve internet access for people with disabilities. Access has been especially difficult for blind and low-vision people, who have had issues using websites and have been pushing for improvements for years. Some of the most common issues, according to advocates supporting the bill, involve images and other items, such as buttons or headings on a website, being unlabeled or mislabeled in a way that blind people cannot … Continue Reading
October 05, 2022
It's personal for Tammy Duckworth
Protections for people with disabilities haven't kept pace with the digital age, especially when it comes to ensuring online accessibility and ease of use for devices. It's a personal issue for Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who lost both her legs in Iraq when her Army helicopter was shot down in 2004. She and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) have new legislation that would require the Justice Department to issue regulations spelling out websites' responsibility to comply with the Americans with … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Sen. Duckworth introduces bill to improve internet access for people with disabilities
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced a bill Thursday that aims to improve internet access for people with disabilities. Access has been especially difficult for blind and low-vision people, who have had issues using websites and have been pushing for improvements for years. Some of the most common issues, according to advocates supporting the bill, involve images and other items, such as buttons or headings on a website, being unlabeled or mislabeled in a way that blind people cannot … Continue Reading
September 23, 2022
Illinois announces agreement in $2.6 billion agricultural deal with Taiwan
CHICAGO - Via a letter of intent, Governor Pritzker announced alongside Taiwanese leaders for the sale of about $2 million of Illinois soybeans and $600 million of Illinois corn over the next two years. The intended sales will take place over 2023 and 2024. "This is a win for our agricultural community - and a testament to the labor that our farmers put in day and day out to make us a top global producer of corn and soybeans," said Governor JB Pritzker. "I have no doubt that Illinois and … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s IVF experiences are informing her positions on abortion
Sen. Tammy Duckworth has been outspoken about how she used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to grow her family. And now that Sen. Lindsey Graham has introduced a national 15-week abortion ban, Duckworth is highlighting how abortion restrictions could make going through IVF difficult - or even impossible. Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, began considering the future of IVF in a world without Roe v. Wade even before federal abortion guarantees were overturned this summer. Ahead of the … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Sister of Lombard man freed by Taliban in hostage swap ‘stunned, very happy’ after 3 a.m. call from Biden
Charlene Cakora's cellphone rang on Monday at 3:36 a.m. On the other end was President Joe Biden, calling from Queen Elizabeth's funeral. He wanted to tell the Lombard woman that her brother, Taliban hostage Mark Frerichs, was being released after being held hostage in Afghanistan for more than two years. "He was really brief and sweet and just basically said that my brother is pretty much lucky to have me as a sister," Cakora told the Sun-Times. "I've been having my phone next to me and … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Duckworth condemns GOP's proposal to ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Sen. Tammy Duckworth is condemning the push from Republicans on abortion bans. Duckworth spoke with other Democratic senators Thursday and highlighted the work Illinois does to provide abortion care to women from other states. Duckworth says she will not let Republicans "strip away the rights of women." The proposal comes from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. He wants to ban abortions after the fifteenth week of pregnancy - with rare exceptions - and … Continue Reading
August 26, 2022
Senator Duckworth meets and greets families, students and stakeholders in southern Illinois
During the final day of her RV tour across Illinois, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth visited the Eurma Hayes Center in Carbondale today to meet with parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff at Tri County Special Education and answer students' questions about being a U.S. Senator. After the meet and greet, Duckworth held an open house with representatives from SIU; the cities of Carbondale and Murphysboro; local law enforcement; SIH and more where she discussed her efforts to help … Continue Reading
August 23, 2022
Sen. Duckworth and Ag Secretary Vilsack push ethanol incentives during LeRoy visit
A new federal investment in biofuels could impact how much you pay at the pump. U.S, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth next to the gas pumps at the Casey's General Store in LeRoy on Tuesday to promote new incentives for gas stations to retrofit so they can sell E-85, a fuel made mostly from corn-based ethanol. Duckworth, D-Ill., said greater use of biofuels should reduce gas prices. "The higher that we can blend in more ethanol, the better it is … Continue Reading
August 22, 2022
During Sen. Duckworth’s visit, Granite City mayor makes unexpected announcement aimed at helping officers
GRANITE CITY, Ill. (KMOV) - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth was in Granite City Monday talking about the needs of law enforcement. Duckworth hosted a roundtable discussion about the challenges officers face today, which include recruiting new officers, resources and a hostile public. After hearing some local officers were still suffering after the death of Pontoon Beach Officer Tyler Timmins last fall, Granite City Mayor Michael Parkinson acted. He set aside $20,000 to help with mental … Continue Reading
August 22, 2022
In visit to Cahokia Heights, Duckworth says future funding will have oversight
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said during a visit to the Metro East community on Monday that $37 million coming to Cahokia Heights to address the local stormwater system will come with more oversight. The Illinois Democrat toured homes in the area to see the damage from chronic flooding during heavy rains that often contains raw sewage. She was joined by representatives of other federal agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency and Housing and Urban … Continue Reading
August 19, 2022
Sen. Tammy Duckworth touts Democrats' prescription drug price reductions and how it will benefit Illinoisans
Gathering Friday at the family-owned Illini Clinic Pharmacy in Silvis, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., discussed how the Inflation Reduction Act will help lower prescription prices. Before having media availability, Duckworth participated in a roundtable discussion about the IRA with local pharmacy owners, local senior services directors and coordinators, the Illinois Pharmacists Association and Illinois' American Association of Retired Persons. "Not only are we providing more … Continue Reading
August 17, 2022
Biden signs bill making benefits available to families of officers who die by suicide
President Biden on Tuesday signed a bill into law which extends disability and death benefits to families of officers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or die by suicide in the line of duty. The Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022 is part of a larger effort to recognize the emotional impacts of traumatic events on first responders nationwide. Erin Smith fought for months for death benefits after her husband - Washington, D.C., Metropolitan police officer Jeffrey Smith - … Continue Reading
August 08, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth heap praise on Inflation Reduction Act passage
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) praised the Senate's passage on Sunday of the Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to address climate change, prescription drug prices, Obamacare subsidies and corporate taxes. "This plan is fully paid for by finally cracking down on Big Pharma greed and tax cheats, and closing tax loopholes exploited by wealthy corporations to avoid paying their fair share of taxes-and no one earning less than $400,000 a year will pay more in taxes because of our plan," Durbin said … Continue Reading
August 04, 2022
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth shares her experience with assault weapons as she advocates for ban
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Senator Tammy Duckworth's background and position provide a stepping off point for ABC7's "Our Chicago: Stop the Violence" special coverage that begins Friday morning. Duckworth brings a unique and unusual vantage point on one of Chicago's most pressing issues: gun violence. The Democratic senator - who describes herself as the daughter of a marksman and a marksman herself - is also mother of two young girls, an Iraq War veteran, and a Purple Heart recipient. She is also a … Continue Reading
August 04, 2022
Senators introduce bill to help people with disabilities access reproductive health care
Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Patty Murray introduced legislation Thursday to help bridge the gap in reproductive health care access for people with disabilities in the wake of the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. The bill, called the Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act, would provide funding for training and education programs focused on reproductive health care specifically for this group of people. It also would add more doctors and nurses with disabilities to the … Continue Reading
July 31, 2022
Senator warns mounting airline wheelchair breakages destroy people's freedom of movement. 'Wheelchairs are complex medical devices, not just suitcases to be tossed around.'
Senator Tammy Duckworth has told Insider that "we cannot rest" as many wheelchairs are being broken every day amid the airline chaos. The Democratic senator from Illinois, who uses a wheelchair, was commenting on the numerous reports of wheelchairs being broken and damaged as airlines struggle to cope with the summer demand. In an email to Insider, Duckworth said: "We would never accept airlines breaking the legs of 1 in 65 passengers, and yet, that is essentially what is happening when 1 … Continue Reading
July 29, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth pressure Walgreens on birth control policy
Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are putting pressure on Walgreens Boots Alliance to revise a policy they say allows Walgreens employees to refuse to sell contraceptives to customers based on workers' religious or moral beliefs. The two lawmakers sent a letter to Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer yesterday, inquiring about the policy and asking for a meeting. The letter follows reports that customers have been denied contraceptives at Walgreens locations, including a recent incident in … Continue Reading
July 27, 2022
Senator Tammy Duckworth calls on Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban
At least 371 mass shootings have been recorded since the start of 2022, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which has led to a growing debate in Congress over how to keep Americans safe. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth joins CBS News to discuss the action she is proposing to reduce gun violence nationwide. WATCH … Continue Reading
July 26, 2022
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth suggests a 'national FOID card,' assault weapons ban as remedies for mass shootings
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) says while this year's bipartisan firearms legislation was a good first step, a lot more needs to happen to tamp down on gun violence in America in the wake of a July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park, Ill. "I would like to see a nationwide reinstatement of the assault weapons ban, which was allowed to expire in 2004," she said. Duckworth said the biggest killer of children under the age of 16 is gun violence in the United States. "A big portion of what's … Continue Reading
