Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $1 Million for River Transportation Improvements in the Metro-East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,268,800 in federal funding to America's Central Port, located in Granite City, IL, and one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest, to support the purchase of a 275-ton crane, the installation of 18 cameras and a Container Tilter to help increase container-on barge movement and support a strong heritage of river transportation. This funding is part of America's Marine Highway Grant and comes … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth at AAPD Disability Vote Summit: “The Fight is Not Over.”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today participated in the American Association of People with Disabilities' (AAPD) Summit "Power: The Disability Vote" where she discussed how critical expanding Vote by Mail during this pandemic is for disability community, biases against people with disabilities in the criminal justice system and the importance of the disability community not letting up as it celebrates the 30th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth Speaks on Senate Floor in Support of Democratic Proposal for Bold, Comprehensive Police Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Democratic Justice in Policing Act, of which she is a co-sponsor, and to highlight the areas where the Republican proposal, the JUSTICE Act, falls far short of providing the accountability and transparency necessary to bring about systemic change to law enforcement. Today's floor speech comes after weeks of protests across the country following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud USDA Office Relocation from Goodfellow Federal Complex After Continued Concerns for Worker Safety
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) decision to relocate 1,000 USDA Rural Development employees in St. Louis currently working in the Goodfellow Federal Complex, many of whom are Illinoisans living in the Metro East region, to office space at One Metropolitan Square. This move comes after years of calls from Federal employees and the American Federation of Government Employees about health … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Bill to Make Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) to introduce the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, bipartisan legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. "Juneteenth", observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as "Emancipation Day", "Jubilee Day", and "Juneteenth Independence Day". On June … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth, Van Hollen, King Introduce Bill to Significantly Enhance Domestic Production of Life-saving Medical Supplies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced legislation today to strengthen the national response to pandemics by modernizing the production of critical medical supplies for frontline healthcare providers. The Public Health Emergency (PHE) Production Act would ensure the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) fully leverages its allocation authorities under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to respond to current … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Democrats In Demanding Trump Administration Reverse Its Barrage Of Policies Targeting Asylum Seekers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In recognition of World Refugee Day last Saturday, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) in a letter from a group of 77 Democratic Members of Congress condemning the Trump Administration for its harmful policies that have dismantled the United States' asylum system and demanded the reversal of these harmful measures. The lawmakers listed nearly a dozen … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges Small Business Administration To Approve State’s Economic Injury Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a SBA Economic Injury Declaration for qualifying counties in Illinois amid occurrences of looting, arson, and rioting of small businesses across the State. Earlier this month, Governor Pritzker issued a State Disaster Proclamation for Cook and contiguous counties that experienced … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats In Introducing Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. The resolution also recognizes how the … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth joins Durbin, Senate Democratic Caucus in calling on Leader McConnell To Bring Bipartisan House-Passed Dream & Promise Act To Floor For A Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following last week's historic Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Donald Trump's repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, as he led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calling on him to immediately … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Duckworth Tours Small Businesses in Auburn Gresham
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured businesses in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side to connect with local business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duckworth was joined by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (IL-SD-16), State Representative Mary Flowers (IL-HD-31), Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation CEO Carlos Nelson and Brewer Coffee and Custard Owner Elijah Brewer. Photos from today's tour are available here. "Small … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Duckworth Celebrates Juneteenth at Chicago Demonstration, Calls for Racial Justice
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Pastor Chris Harris of Bright Star Church and Bright Star Community Outreach for a faith-led peaceful demonstration to commemorate Juneteenth and to call for racial equality for Black Americans. Juneteenth celebrates the day enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation two years after the abolition of slavery. Photos from today's demonstration are available here. In honor of Juneteenth, Duckworth … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth Demands Additional Materials Related to Low-Flying Military Helicopters over Peaceful Protesters from Esper
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote a follow-up letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting a briefing on the findings of a preliminary investigation into the use of low-flying military aircraft over peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. On June 4, Duckworth sent letters requesting investigations by and information from both the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Aviation Administration … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth Demands Answers from EPA on Rollback of Pollution Protections During COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, co-founder of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler this week about the agency's non-enforcement policy that encourages companies to operate without regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could severely impact environmental justice communities. This letter is a follow up to Duckworth's questioning of Wheeler during a U.S. Senate Environment and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth, Blackburn Call on Department of Agriculture to Help Servicemembers and Military Families Struggling with Hunger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) take swift action to cease considering monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as earned income when determining a military household's eligibility for USDA nutrition programs. This action would be consistent with how BAH is treated by other federal … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Uphold DACA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:“Today’s decision reaffirms the truth that Donald Trump and his Administration have tried to deny for years: Dreamers belong in America. Despite relentless efforts to undercut this truth, today’s ruling from the Supreme Court has brought long-awaited certainty for the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, landmark legislation to preserve and protect our country's public lands. The bipartisan legislation provides permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addresses the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks and other land management agencies. Durbin and Duckworth are … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth Pushes FAA Administrator about the Dangers of Low-Flying Military Helicopters over Peaceful Civilian Protestors, Demands Answers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee hearing this morning, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) pushed Stephen Dickson, Administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), about the dangers of low-flying military aircrafts over large gatherings of peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., following Donald Trump’s threats of military action against those protesting the killing of George Floyd. … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Give Americans the Freedom to Purchase Health Insurance During COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill to provide uninsured Americans in Illinois and throughout the country the freedom to purchase health insurance coverage through the federal health insurance marketplace exchange by establishing a one-time special enrollment period (SEP) beginning on July 1, 2020 and ending on October 1, 2020. This one-time three-month SEP would also streamline the process for newly unemployed Americans to bypass … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Join Protect Our Care to Raise Alarm over Glaring Racial Disparities in Trump Administration’s Handling of COVID-19 Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today joined founder and chair of Protect Our Care Leslie Dach on a press call to discuss the disproportionate effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Black Illinoisans and how the Trump Administration's failure to adequately respond to the crisis has contributed to this disparity. "The awful truth is that in Illinois, COVID-19 isn't yesterday's … Continue Reading
