Duckworth Meets with Dutch Ambassador to the United States
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—met with Dutch Ambassador to the United States Birgitta Tazelaar last week to discuss their shared priorities in strengthening the NATO alliance as well as the long-standing economic partnership among our two nations, specifically in Illinois where nearly 30,000 jobs are supported by Netherlands-U.S. trade and Dutch investments in the technological sector, quantum computing and more. Additionally, the two discussed the Netherland’s leadership in waste management and how bringing Dutch technologies and investments in innovative circular economy and energy projects to Illinois and throughout the United States could help curb climate change and support environmental justice communities while supporting landfill reduction, expand energy supply, reduce plastic waste in landfills and help businesses. Photos of the Senator’s meeting can be found using this link.
“The United States and the Netherlands have long benefitted from excellent bilateral relations with strong economic and commercial ties, dating back to the American Revolution and continuing through close cooperation as NATO allies today,” said Duckworth. “Here in Illinois, that economic partnership supports tens of thousands of jobs and I look forward to continuing to work with Ambassador Tazelaar to build on this progress through further mutual economic investments while helping each other transition toward renewable energy and curb the risks posed by the climate crisis.”
As the climate crisis continues to pose a threat to global security, transitioning toward renewable energy is as critical as ever—and there is much to learn from the Netherlands’ leadership in utilizing innovative solutions like waste management to help that transition. While landfill waste and plastic pollution continue to disproportionately impact low-income and communities of color, Senator Duckworth is committed to continuing to work with our allies to curb climate change, build on her work to support environmental justice communities and shift our country away from fossil fuels. Duckworth is co-founder and co-chair of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus. With Illinois being the number one producer of soybeans in the U.S. and the Netherlands being a major importer of soybeans as well, the two also discussed the ways our two nations can support each other through economic investments, create more jobs and expand business even further.
Additionally, Duckworth underscored her support for continued American aid to Ukraine, reiterating that supporting our Ukrainian partners does not only help Ukraine but is also vitally important for America’s own national security and the security of all NATO allies as well.
“For the sake of global security and stability, Ukraine must win this war—and Russia must lose it,” said Duckworth. “I will continue working with our partners and allies to ensure the NATO alliance is as strong and capable as possible as well as to help Ukraine push back Putin’s invasion and defeat Russia.”
Duckworth has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s invasion. Duckworth supported the Biden Administration’s decision to provide additional weapons and capabilities to Ukraine, including cluster munitions. As combat Veterans, she and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) penned an op-ed on their support in the New York Times. Additionally, she joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-MT) and six of her colleagues in introducing the Digital Asset Sanctions Compliance Enhancement Act to ensure that Vladimir Putin and Russian elites can’t use digital assets to undermine the international community’s economic sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Duckworth also urged the Biden Administration to accelerate the sale of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks to Poland. The letter asked the Biden Administration to engage with additional NATO allies to determine if the Russian Federation’s brutal act of war requires the U.S to develop and execute any additional sales to strengthen the military capabilities of other NATO members. She called on the Biden Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians in the U.S. following the Russian military invasion.
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