Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Entire Senate Dem Caucus To Trump Administration: Don’t Rip Away Health Care For Millions During Public Health Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Trump Administration moves full-steam ahead to dismantle the Affordable Care Act that provides coverage for millions of Americans, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus today to introduce a resolution condemning the Administration's reckless effort, demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) to defend existing law in court and halt its efforts to repeal the health care … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce NDAA Amendment To Increase National Production of Testing Supplies And PPE As COVID-19 Cases Rise
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to introduce an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021 (NDAA) that would require President Trump to unlock the full authority and power of the Defense Production Act to scale up nation-wide production of the testing supplies, personal protective equipment, and medical equipment needed at the local level to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Trump's … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Warren, García and Lee to Introduce Legislation to Extend Nationwide Moratorium on Evictions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Representatives Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) and Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) to introduce legislation to extend and expand the eviction moratorium for renters that ends on July 24, 2020. The Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act extends the federal eviction moratorium to March 27, 2021, one year after the date of enactment of the CARES Act, and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Senate Environmental Caucus Co-Chairs Welcome Development of Historic National Economic Transition Platform for Coal Country
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tom Carper (D-DE), co-founders of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the National Economic Transition (NET) Platform published by local, regional and national organizations today to give policymakers recommendations for an ambitious national transition program that supports the people and places hit hardest by our changing energy landscape. "As our national … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Duckworth, Kelly, Davis & Rush Discuss Police Violence in the Black Community at Virtual Roundtable
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Danny Davis (D-IL-07) and Bobby Rush (D-IL-01) today hosted a virtual roundtable with local leaders to discuss legislative solutions to help make systemic changes to policing and better support the Black community, including the Justice in Policing Act, of which Duckworth is a co-sponsor. The Members were joined by New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Stephen Thurston, My Block, My … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Effort to Urge EPA to Reject Retroactive Biofuel
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) helped to lead a bipartisan letter with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject petitions for Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for past compliance years. In the letter, the Senators warn that granting these petitions would worsen the unprecedented economic challenges facing the biofuels … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Senate Environmental Caucus Co-Chairs Welcome Development of Historic National Economic Transition Platform for Coal Country
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tom Carper (D-DE), co-founders of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the National Economic Transition (NET) Platform published by local, regional and national organizations today to give policymakers recommendations for an ambitious national transition program that supports the people and places hit hardest by our changing energy landscape. "As our national … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Duckworth Demands Answers on Russian Bounties for Killing American Troops
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, spoke on the Senate floor today on the reports that Donald Trump has known for months that Russia secretly offered bounties to militants for the killing of American troops, but has done nothing to protect those troops. Yesterday, Duckworth sent a letter to SASC Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) to demand a Senate … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Supreme Court Protecting Women’s Constitutional Right to Choose
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down a restrictive attempt by Louisiana to further limit women's access to reproductive healthcare and protected every woman's Constitutional right to choose: "For nearly 50 years, every woman in America has had a Constitutionally-protected right to make her own healthcare decisions without the government getting between her and her doctor. While I'm pleased that today's … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Duckworth Commends Marine Corps for Banning Confederate Battle Flag and Navy for Following Suit
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today wrote to General David Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, commending his leadership on prohibiting the public display of the Confederate Battle Flag on United States Marine Corps (USMC) installations. Duckworth recently penned an op-ed in TIME about the need to stop honoring traitors to our country and the important role that renaming these bases and military assets could play in promoting unit cohesion. Duckworth … Continue Reading
June 28, 2020
Duckworth Demands Senate Armed Services Hearing on BountyGate
[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, is demanding a Senate hearing to get to the bottom of reports that Donald Trump has known for months that Russia secretly offered bounties to militants for the killing of American troops, but has done nothing to protect those troops. In a letter to SASC Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK), Duckworth wrote: “I … Continue Reading
June 27, 2020
Duckworth to Demand Senate Hearing on BountyGate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, will demand a Senate hearing to get to the bottom of reports that Donald Trump has known for months that Russia secretly offered bounties to militants for the killing of American troops, but has done nothing to protect those troops. The Senator issued the following statement regarding the reports: "First, Donald Trump … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Duckworth Joins Reps. Garcia and Schakowsky As They Lead IL Delegation In Urging Trump to Continue Funding COVID-19 Testing Sites
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Representatives Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) as they led Illinois delegation members in a letter to President Trump urging him to continue funding COVID-19 testing sites. The administration previously announced it would stop funding coronavirus testing sites in five states including Illinois. "From the man who says, 'I don't kid,' Trump is showing us exactly what he means when he says he … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s Attempt to Strike Down ACA and Rip Healthcare Away from Millions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Trump Administration filed a brief to the Supreme Court calling for it to invalidate the Affordable Care Act. "Trump has lied to the American people for years, talking out of both sides of his mouth by saying he will protect coverage for people with preexisting conditions while actively working to scrap the law that does exactly that. To file detailed briefs with the Supreme Court seeking to … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues To Introduce “No Check, No Sale” Bill To Close Loophole Allowing Gun Sales Without A Completed Background Check
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Ahead of the five-year anniversary of the funeral service for the victims of the mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to introduce legislation with 18 of their Senate colleagues to close a current loophole that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Trump Decision to Cut Federal Funding from Illinois Testing Sites
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after it was reported that the Trump Administration will end federal funding for testing sites across five states, including Illinois. "From the man who says 'I don't kid,' Trump is showing us exactly what he means when he says he wants to slow down testing-by actually doing it. On the very day that our nation experienced one of the biggest spikes in new COVID-19 cases since the beginning of this public … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $4 Million For Southern Illinois Mass Transit Districts
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that two mass transit districts in Southern Illinois will receive more than $4 million in federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act¸ will go to Rides Mass Transit District (RMTD) and Jackson County Mass Transit District … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with National Guard Bureau Chief Nominee LTG Hokanson About Trump’s Efforts to Politicize the Military
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke with LTG Dan Hokanson, the nominee to be the next Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Duckworth and Hokanson discussed his vision for leading the National Guard Bureau and his views on key issues, including banning displays of the Confederate Battle Flag and Trump's politicization of the D.C. National Guard. "LTG Hokanson and I had the opportunity to discuss … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Warren & Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Rename All Military Bases & Other Assets Named for Confederacy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 33 Senate Democrats in introducing legislation to require the Pentagon to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America and anyone who voluntarily served it from all military bases and other assets … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth Joins Van Hollen, Colleagues in Call for Robust Funding for Background Checks, Gun Safety in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with eight of their Senate colleagues, in urging Senate leadership to provide robust funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in future COVID-19 relief packages to ensure the continued processing of background checks and to uphold gun safety laws. Despite efforts … Continue Reading
