Press Releases
GAO Accepts Duckworth Request for an Independent Review of “Less-Lethal” Weapons
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, released the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) officially accepted her request to have the congressional watchdog conduct an independent review of how federal agencies assess the safety, appropriateness and effectiveness of so-called 'less-lethal' weapons intended for crowd … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $10 Million for Springfield Rail Improvement Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the City of Springfield has been awarded $10 million in federal funding for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project. Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, will fund the replacement of two existing rail bridges at the South Grand Avenue and Cook Street underpasses with … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin: Trump Administration Rollback Of Toxic Metals Pollution Regulation Could Further Harm Lake Michigan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration's recent rollback of Obama-era pollution standards, specifically a 2015 rule that regulates how coal-fired power plants dispose of toxic metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium in wastewater that flows into U.S. bodies of water, including Lake Michigan. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Duckworth and … Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Duckworth Statement on EPA Decision to Deny Small Refinery Exemptions Under Renewable Fuel Standard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent decision to deny small refinery exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): "Thanks to Donald Trump, farmers across Illinois and throughout the Midwest have been hurting and ethanol plants have been idled while this administration continued to abuse the small refinery exemption program to undermine the bipartisan renewable fuel standard," … Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Schumer, Warren To Introduce Resolution Calling On President To Cancel Student Loan Debt For Federal Borrowers
[WASHINGTON], D.C. - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today to introduce a resolution outlining a bold plan for the President of the United States to use existing authority under the Higher Education Act to cancel up to $50,000 in Federal student loan debt for Federal student loan borrowers. The resolution outlines how the President should use executive authority to cancel … Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Duckworth Statement in Response to Reports Military Considered Using ‘Heat Ray’ Devices Against D.C. Protestors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, released the following statement in response to reports that the military considered using 'heat ray' devices against D.C. protestors in June: "I am alarmed by reports that military police considered using a 'heat ray' device-which has never been used aside from testing purposes due to safety concerns-and … Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1.6 Million for National Runaway Safeline
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $1,600,000 in federal funding today for the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), located in Chicago. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will assist the NRS in fulfilling its mission to keep runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the street. "Every child should have access to a safe place to sleep at night, yet, far too many young Americans end up … Continue Reading
September 14, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Urge Federal Reserve And Treasury To Increase Access To Main Street Lending Program
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin to establish more favorable terms for businesses and nonprofits participating in the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP). In a letter to Chair Powell and Secretary Mnuchin, Duckworth and Durbin highlighted that many businesses and nonprofit organizations across Illinois - especially in Black and Brown communities that have been … Continue Reading
September 11, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with Northwest Illinois Mayors on COVID-19 Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual meeting with six mayors from across Northwest Illinois to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their communities. Duckworth and the local leaders also discussed what communities are looking for in future federal relief packages and how her office can help Northwest Illinois with recovering from both the economic and health impacts of the pandemic. "Our local governments have been hit especially hard during this … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth Statement after Voting No on the Republican “Skinny” COVID-19 Relief Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting no on the Republican "skinny" COVID-19 relief proposal. "If you were drawing a caricature of what a bad COVID-19 'relief' proposal looks like, it wouldn't be as bad as what Senate Republicans proposed this week. In the midst of a deadly pandemic that has already killed more than 190,000 Americans in a matter of months, Republicans are insulting hardworking Illinoisans struggling to weather … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Pritzker Announce $20 Million Federal Grant For Joliet Transportation Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the City of Joliet has been awarded $20 million in federal funding to support the I-55 at IL 59 Access Project. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) BUILD grant program. "This significant infusion of federal funding to the City of Joliet will help move our state's economy in the right direction, improve our regional … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $20 Million For Metro East Port Improvements
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $20.8 million in federal funding for the St. Louis Bi-State Regional Ports Improvements Project, which will upgrade ports in the Metro East and St. Louis region. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) BUILD grant program. "This significant infusion of federal funding to America's Central Port will help move our state's economy in the right direction and improve our port … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Menendez Introduce Legislation to Ensure U.S. Pushes Back Against Russia Reportedly Placing Bounties on American Troops
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today in introducing the Russia Bounty Response Act of 2020. With the Trump Administration's failure to respond to the Russian Federation's reported program to pay … Continue Reading
September 09, 2020
Duckworth Leads Senate Democrats in Introducing Resolution Honoring Our Troops and Condemning Trump’s Recent Comments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, spoke on the Senate floor this evening as Senate Republicans objected to passing her Senate resolution to honor the service and sacrifice of our troops, Veterans and Gold Star families and condemn Trump's disgraceful denigration of military service that has dishonored the office of the Presidency. Duckworth's … Continue Reading
September 08, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen in Bipartisan Push for Answers on Administration’s Implementation of the Payroll Tax Deferral for Federal Employees, Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 20 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought urging them to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump last month optional for federal employees and servicemembers. In their letter the Senators also push for answers on how the Administration … Continue Reading
September 08, 2020
Duckworth, Schakowsky, Clay Seek Answers on Availability of Accessible Public Housing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee and Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chair of the Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a report on the availability of affordable, accessible housing in the twenty-five largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Specifically, this … Continue Reading
September 03, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Casten, Davis Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging HHS To Expand Use Of University of Illinois’s COVID-19 Saliva-Based Testing Initiative
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) today led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging federal resources to support the expansion of SHIELD T3, an innovative system of COVID-19 testing and tracing, developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). In a letter to HHS Secretary … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $25.5 Million For Airport Improvements Around Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $25.5 million in federal funding for airport improvements around Illinois. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants and will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects. "These federal investments at airports across Illinois will go … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Hassan in Urging School Nutrition Program Extension for 2020-21 School Year
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and 26 of their Senate colleagues in calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fully extend school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-21 school year so that schools have the flexibility that they need to fully serve students whether or not they are attending school in person. Last week, Duckworth also urged the USDA to make sure these meals are available for … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen, Inhofe & Colleagues in Bipartisan Push to Expand Aviation Workforce Training
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Aviation and Space Subcommittee and a former Army Black Hawk pilot, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and a bipartisan group of 28 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging them to fully implement two aviation workforce grant programs authorized in the 2018 FAA … Continue Reading
