In The News
Marine Cpl. Ryan Cummings’ family is hoping the Crystal Lake Post Office will be renamed in his honor
Four years ago, John Cummings met U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth at Abraham Lincoln Cemetery in Elwood, where Cummings' son, Marine Cpl. Ryan J. Cummings, is buried, he said. Cummings, who said he visits the gravesite at least four times a year, asked Duckworth if she was familiar with his son's story. To his surprise, Cummings recalls, Duckworth pulled a photo of Ryan out of her pocket. Family members of Cpl. Ryan J Cummings, pictured above, are trying to get the Crystal Lake Post Office … Continue Reading
March 21, 2022
New Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Take Down Crib Bumpers: 'The Key Is Keeping Our Babies Safe'
For parents getting ready to bring a new little one home, there can be a long checklist of considerations and products to get. One of the biggest items on that checklist is the crib where the baby will sleep. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a mother of two, vividly remembers this experience. She recalls being gifted bedding sets for both of her daughters' cribs. Those sets included crib bumpers, a product that line, and often pad, the perimeter of the crib. Initially, crib bumpers were … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Senators push to expand food aid for low-income troops - Roll Call
A bipartisan group of 14 senators is backing new legislation to change the rules for federal nutrition assistance so that more low-income troops and their families qualify. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a former Army helicopter pilot, told CQ Roll Call she is filing the bill today to alter the rules governing the Agriculture Department's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Her bill would ensure that a servicemember's housing allowance, a stipend to cover most of the cost of an off-base … Continue Reading
March 04, 2022
Group of Bipartisan Senators Press Biden to Expedite Arms to Poland
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators are urging President Joe Biden to expedite a sale of arms to Poland amid Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing attack on Ukraine. The senators urged Biden to direct the Department of State and the Department of Defense to "take any steps they can to accelerate" the execution of the $6 billion deal. The plea was made in a letter sent to the president on Friday and signed by Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin of Illinois, Sherrod Brown … Continue Reading
March 02, 2022
Duckworth says Biden’s State of the Union address was unifying on Ukraine, understanding on pocketbook issues
President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address Tuesday during a time of global unrest, ongoing frustration over rising costs at home and a pandemic that hasn't gone away. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth said the president delivered a message of unity against Russia and a message of understanding the challenges people in middle America are facing. Appearing on WGLT's Sound Ideas, Duckworth said she was pleased Biden reasserted U.S. support for the "heroic" people of Ukraine as … Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
Sen. Duckworth responds to Russia invading Ukraine
(WAND) - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has released a statement after Russia invaded Ukraine. Sen. Duckworth is a combat veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee. She spent 23 years in the Reserve Forces. "The human suffering caused-and any blood spilled-as a result of this unjustified and unjustifiable attack on Ukraine's sovereign territory are solely on Vladimir Putin's hands," Sen. Duckworth said. "Our nation, our NATO allies and all countries who value … Continue Reading
February 22, 2022
The Safe Crib Act is Trying to Put an End to Crib Bumpers Once and For All
When she was about 16 weeks pregnant, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth started planning for her firstborn with joy. After struggling for years with infertility and failed cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF), she felt anxious, but ready to get the baby's nursery ready. With that came tons of time researching safe sleep for infants. "Then I have a baby shower," she recalls. "I get these beautiful bedding sets as part of my baby shower and inside the bedding sets are crib bumpers. And I remember … Continue Reading
February 20, 2022
Political heavyweights come to Waukegan to tout how President Biden’s infrastructure plan will benefit harbor; ‘This will advance the entire community’
Eradicating more than a century of contamination of Waukegan Harbor's water is a 30-year project so far, and the local share of $1 billion from President Joe Biden's bipartisan infrastructure plan for Great Lakes restoration will pay for the rest. A presidential adviser, a United States senator and four members of the U.S. House of Representatives explained how the restoration funding will help northeastern Lake County, as well as others living along the Great Lakes, Friday at City Hall … Continue Reading
February 13, 2022
Duckworth talks Ukraine, Supreme Court in Springfield interview
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth reiterated her support for imposing "very strong sanctions" against Russia should it invade Ukraine, but acknowledged that any diplomatic or economic pressure may not be enough to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from such an action. "I obviously want diplomacy to work," Duckworth said. "And I think that we have applied every tool in our arsenal diplomatically. At this point, it has always been whether they truly want a diplomatic solution or … Continue Reading
February 12, 2022
Pete Buttigieg joins Illinois leaders in Normal stop
Students in Heartland Community College's training program are at the "forefront of the electric vehicle revolution," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Saturday. Buttigieg appeared at the college in Normal along with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. The visit was meant to highlight work that the transportation department is doing to make electric vehicles accessible to more Americans. Heartland's electric vehicle and energy storage … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin and Bustos push for completion of Quad-Cities passenger rail
Illinois Democratic Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin have joined with U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, in urging the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) to finalize an agreement on the scope and costs of infrastructure upgrades needed so that construction can begin on the long awaited Quad Cities to Chicago passenger rail route. In order for passenger rail to be possible, an agreement would be needed between IDOT and IAIS that allows Amtrak … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Sen. Duckworth, Durbin request reinstatement of COVID-19 emergency paid sick and family leave
WASHINGTON, D.C. (KFVS) - Both U.S. Illinois Senators have signed a letter requesting the Biden Administration and House and Senate leaders to reinstate and expand emergency COVID-19 paid sick and family caregiving leave. The request comes after the recent spike in COVID-19 cases blamed on the highly contagious omicron variant. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin joined 13 other Democrat Senators in sending the letter. The Senators want the reinstatement of the benefits in the FY22 … Continue Reading
February 02, 2022
Metra train yard to move from Crystal Lake to Woodstock
The Crystal Lake train yard is on track move to Woodstock following the bipartisan infrastructure deal signed by President Biden in November, a project highlighted by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth in a visit to McHenry County Friday. The project is in the concept design phase and could take several years to come to fruition, Metra spokeswoman Meg Thomas-Reile said in the email. The legislation provides $8 to 10 million for engineering and design for the new full-service rail yards in Woodstock, … Continue Reading
January 29, 2022
Duckworth, Underwood’s ‘Demand Act’ Aims To Help Nursing Mothers After Natural Disasters
CHICAGO (CBS) - Taking care of infants during natural disasters like floods and tornadoes is a struggle for parents, but a bill heading to Capitol Hill is geared to help. A key element of The Demand Act would make sure nursing mothers can keep breastfeeding their babies. U.S. Congressman Lauren Underwood and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth say it will address current gaps in emergency assistance. The Demand Act would direct FEMA to develop clear guidance for how to support parents and babies … Continue Reading
January 29, 2022
Proposed bill seeks to offer breastfeeding resources after disasters
The bill seeks to 'streamline and standardize the process for those seeking breastfeeding equipment,' Rep. Lauren Underwood said. Rep. Lauren Underwood and Sen. Tammy Duckworth announced plans on Saturday to introduce legislation that would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide lactating people with more financial support following disasters. The Delivering Essentials to Mothers Amid Natural Disasters Act, or DEMAND Act, calls for FEMA to make breast pumps … Continue Reading
January 20, 2022
After January 6 attack, bill aims to help families of police officers who die by suicide
January 13, 2022
The VA's new mission: improve health of pregnant military veterans
WASHINGTON - After 20 years and nine deployments in the U.S. Army, Vivian Richards knows the importance of readiness. "Readiness is the biggest concern of any leader in the military," Richards told NBC News. "Do we have the personnel trained to the necessary level to go out and execute these combat missions?" In 2010, she took on a new mission: motherhood. But when it came time to deliver her baby while on active duty, the military health care system seemed anything but ready, Richards … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Sen. Duckworth to introduce bill that recognizes suicide as 'line of duty death'
(WSIL)-- Families of officers who died by suicide could soon get assistance in claiming federal benefits. The Public Safety Office Support Act would amend requirements for the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) program. Currently, PSOB provides financial support to families of fallen first responders who died in the line of duty or are permanently disabled due to a physical injury sustained at work. The act would recognize suicides as 'line of duty' deaths according to U.S. Sen. Tammy … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, democrats call on Amazon to review safety procedures after Edwardsville warehouse collapses
(WSIL) -- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with several other democrats sent a letter to Amazon urging the company to revisit its safety standards, emergency action plans, and employee training to protect employees during severe weather events. The request comes after an EF-3 tornado struck an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, resulting in devastating destruction and the death of six people inside the building. In their … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Sen. Duckworth on legislation to improve airline handling of mobility, medical devices
Disabled travelers in the United States often face embarrassing security pat downs, damaged or even lost mobility devices. In July, there were 834 reported incidents of damaged wheelchairs or scooters- an average of 28 a day. For more about the challenges and needed response, Judy Woodruff talks to an Illinois Democrat, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who introduced legislation to hold airlines accountable. Judy Woodruff: These are just some of hundreds of stories that are almost exactly like what … Continue Reading