Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Introduction of Bicameral Legislation to Expand Protections for Migrants' Essential Personal Belongings
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) in introducing the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act, bicameral legislation to require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop guidance for the handling of personal property of individuals arrested, restrained, or … Continue Reading
November 22, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Air Traffic Controllers Ahead of Busy Holiday Travel Season
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate’s Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—held a listening session with Chicagoland members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to hear their concerns and discuss some of the challenges our passenger aviation system faces ahead of the busy holiday travel season. Thanks to provisions that Duckworth championed in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization law she helped … Continue Reading
November 22, 2024
Duckworth, Budd and Colleagues Celebrate Passage of Bill to Support Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act. This bill—which now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law—would instruct the U.S. Mint to develop a commemorative coin series honoring the critical role working dogs play in our society while providing financial support to help raise and train service dogs for Veterans. “Working … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Duckworth Statement on Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, issued the following statement after voting against Senator Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval regarding foreign military sales to Isreal: “Since this war broke out, I’ve been outspoken with my disgust over the Netanyahu government’s brutal prosecution of its war in Gaza, as well as its utter failure to prioritize securing the … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2.1 Million in Federal Funding for Health Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,104,451 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for medical research at Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from communication disorders to mental health research. “Investing in our world-renowned medical … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Duckworth Advocates for Quad Cities Jobs In Meeting with Army Chief of Staff
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—met today with General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army to discuss investments at Rock Island Arsenal and efforts to grow jobs throughout the Quad Cities region. In light of recent John Deere factory layoffs in East Moline, Rock Island Arsenal is slated to become the largest employer in the region. Duckworth and General George discussed how they can further … Continue Reading
November 15, 2024
Duckworth, Sewell, Kim Introduce Legislation to Improve Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—along with U.S. Representatives Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) and Andy Kim (D-NJ-03) introduced the Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act. The legislation would create a Department of Defense (DoD) pilot program to designate pregnancy as a Qualifying Life Event under the TRICARE program, empowering servicemembers and their spouses to … Continue Reading
November 15, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $1.5 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Road Safety
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,544,352 in total funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program for four roadway safety initiatives throughout Illinois. This funding comes through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund regional, local and Tribal initiatives that prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries through modernizing key … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly, Underwood, Announce $82 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois Port Upgrades
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today announced $82,091,644 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) administered by the Maritime Administration. PIDP grants support efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve port and related freight infrastructure to meet the … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $31.9 Million in Federal Funding for Low Carbon Construction Materials
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $31,933,577 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Fiscal Year 2022 Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive this federal funding to implement and use low carbon materials on Federal-aid construction projects … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Duckworth: Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary Would Be Dangerous for Our Country and National Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—issued the following statement reacting to President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to tap Pete Hegseth to serve as our nation’s next Secretary of the Defense Department: “This pick is dangerous, plain and simple. Being Secretary of Defense is a very serious job, and putting someone as dangerously … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Senate Confirmation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Hawley to Serve as a District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois
[WASHINGOTN, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a U.S. District Court … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Delegation Letter Urging GSA to Act to Remediate Elevated Levels of Lead and Legionella Found in Federal Buildings in Chicago, Rockford
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04) and Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) sent a letter to the leadership of the General Services Administration (GSA) requesting answers on how the agency will address the … Continue Reading
November 12, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $192 Million to Help Illinois Families Save on Home Energy Bills
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $192,607,773 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Illinoisans afford the rising cost of home heating bills this winter. This announcement includes funding appropriated from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Durbin and Duckworth both … Continue Reading
November 11, 2024
Duckworth Reflects on the 20th Anniversary of Her Alive Day, the Day She Almost Died—But Didn’t
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement ahead of her “Alive Day,” the day she almost died in a shootdown that took both of her legs and partial use of her right arm: “Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of my Alive Day, the day I almost died in a dusty field in Iraq after our Blackhawk was shot out of the sky—but didn’t. I’m only alive today because my buddies—who thought I was dead—refused to leave my body behind. As our nation marks Veterans Day, … Continue Reading
November 11, 2024
In Belleville, Duckworth Honors and Celebrates Veterans
[BELLEVILLE, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today celebrated Veterans Day. Duckworth honored Veterans and their families today during the City of Belleville’s 26th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony alongside Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory and John Lawson, Superintendent for the Veterans Assistance Commission at St. Clair County. Photos from today’s … Continue Reading
November 06, 2024
Duckworth Reacts to Election Outcome, Reaffirms Commitment to Upholding the Will of the American People
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States: “As deeply, deeply disappointed as I am by the results of the election, make no mistake: my Democratic colleagues and I—unlike many Republicans after the 2020 election—will uphold the will of the American people, fulfill our constitutional duty and do our part to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. Vice President Harris should be proud … Continue Reading
October 25, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Announce $157 Million in Federal Funding for Springfield Rail Improvements Project
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced $157,126,494 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the final segment of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project (SRIP). The multi-phased project is a large-scale effort supported by local, state and federal funding designed to alleviate rail congestion in downtown Springfield by consolidating … Continue Reading
October 25, 2024
Duckworth, Jacobs Seek to Protect IVF Coverage in Final NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) continued their push to ensure the final FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) preserves language contained in both the Senate-reported and House-passed versions of the NDAA that would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), for our nation’s servicemembers. In a letter to Senate and House Armed Services Committee leadership, the … Continue Reading
October 24, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Sanders, Peters, Stabenow and 18 Fellow Senators in Demanding Stellantis Keep Its Promises to Autoworkers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter sent yesterday to the automotive giant responsible for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and more, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and 18 of their colleagues in urging Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to honor the collective bargaining agreement signed last year with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the promises the company made to … Continue Reading
