Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $13 Million For Pullman Junction Rail Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Cook County has been awarded $12.9 million in federal funding for the CREATE (Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency) Program's Pullman Junction project on Chicago's South Side. Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, will support improvements to … Continue Reading
March 02, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Write to EPA Condemning New Proposed EtO Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus and member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) raising concerns about its new proposed rule to reduce Hazardous Air Pollutants, including ethylene oxide, from the manufacturing sector. The public comment period on the proposed Notice of Proposed Rule … Continue Reading
March 02, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Governor Pritzker’s $40 Million Allocation for Cairo Port Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that his administration plans to dedicate $40 million in funding for the development of a river port in Cairo, Illinois: "Ever since I arrived in the Senate, I've focused on not only holding accountable those responsible for creating the crises faced by Cairo's residents, but also on helping rebuild the local community and generate economic growth in the region. I … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
Duckworth Visits Diageo in Plainfield, Highlighting Importance of Illinois Manufacturing
[PLAINFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured Diageo Plainfield, a manufacturing site that houses both a technical center and production facility with more than 600 total employees in the Will County area. Duckworth was joined by Illinois State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (IL-SD-49) and Plainfield Mayor Michael Collins, and the three discussed how local, state and federal officials can continue to work together to improve local infrastructure and support economic … Continue Reading
February 27, 2020
Duckworth, Inhofe Introduce Bill to Create National Center for the Advancement of Aviation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced S. 3360 today, a bill to establish the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation. The National Center for the Advancement of Aviation would serve as a national, independent forum to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between all sectors of aviation and aerospace stakeholders and related partners, with a particular focus on aviation and aerospace workforce development. It would allow these … Continue Reading
February 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos to DoD: Diverting Border Wall Funding From National Guard to President's Border Wall Is Shortsighted & Political, Hurts 182nd Wind in Peoria
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today sent a letter to the Department of Defense (DOD) expressing their dismay about the transfer of $1.3 billion appropriated for National Guard and Reserve Equipment and $169 million appropriated for Air Guard C-130Js for the construction of President Trump's wall on our southern border. This funding was part of the recent notification of the transfer of … Continue Reading
February 26, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $65 Million for Chicago O’Hare Airport Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $65,000,000 in federal funding for runway construction at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program (AIP). "This substantial investment in Chicago O'Hare International Airport will go a long way toward enhancing safety and operations at our state's world-class … Continue Reading
February 26, 2020
Duckworth Joins Colleagues to Call for Investigation into VA’s Handling of Sexual Assault Report at DC VA Medical Center
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and four of their Democratic colleagues in demanding an investigation into the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) handling of a sexual assault reported by a Veteran at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center (DC VAMC). The letter follows recent reports alleging that VA officials, led by Secretary Robert Wilkie, actively sought to discredit a Veteran who reported being assaulted and … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Illinois Director of Veterans Affairs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Linda Chapa LaVia to discuss Veterans issues in Illinois, including disability claims, mental health, and the needs of women Veterans. They also discussed supporting operations at Illinois Veterans' Homes (IVH) and progress in the construction of the Chicago Veterans Home project. "It was great to meet with Illinois Department of Veterans … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $22 Million for Illinois Airport Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced two major grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support and improve Illinois airports. Under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the City of Chicago will receive $6,912,524 to rehabilitate approximately 7,000 square yards of existing apron pavement at Midway International Airport, and the state of Illinois will receive … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Senator Duckworth Meets with U.S. Army Secretary and Royal Thai Army Commander in Chief
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today met with U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and General Apirat Kongsompong, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army. During the meeting, Duckworth discussed American interests in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to expand military-to-military partnerships with Thailand. Photos of the meeting can be found here and b-roll can be found here. "As a Thai-American, … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Improve Oversight of Executive Branch & Increase Transparency
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced legislation to improve oversight over the Executive Branch and increase government transparency by requiring the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) to publicly disclose all past legal opinions, as well as any it produces moving forward. The Trump Administration treats the OLC's legal opinions as binding despite the fact that neither Congress nor the American public have access to all of … Continue Reading
February 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $7 Million in Grants to Head Start Programs in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $7,300,621 in federal funding to Champaign County. The funding will support access to Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the region. It comes through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that provides technical assistance and helps build strategic partnerships in order to promote the social and economic … Continue Reading
February 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Announce More Than $2.6 Million for Chicago Rockford International Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $2,699,192 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to reconstruct a deicing containment facility at Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford. "Federal investments have helped improve operations at Chicago Rockford International Airport, and today's funding will ensure the deicing facility can be upgraded. I look forward to … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senators in Demanding Answers About Reported Mistreatment of Pregnant Detainees by CBP
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 11 other senators expressing deep concerns to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following reports of serious and ongoing mistreatment of pregnant people at the hands of CBP officials. The senators demanded Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan clarify the agency's policies and provide information about the detention of pregnant individuals. "According to a … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Counteract Trump’s Exit from Iran Nuclear Deal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and four of their Democratic Senate colleagues to introduce the Iran Diplomacy Act, which calls upon the United States and Iran to return to no less than their commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. "While the JCPOA nuclear agreement was far from perfect, it was successful in halting … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Duckworth Visits Over the Rainbow’s Midtown Crossing Apartments, Discusses Affordable Housing for People with Disabilities
[DES PLAINES, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited the Over the Rainbow Association's 100 percent barrier-free independent living housing for low income adults in Des Plaines, the Midtown Crossing Apartments. While at Midtown Crossing, Duckworth met with Over the Rainbow Executive Director Eric Huffman and Chief Financial Officer Les Russo to discuss affordable housing for individuals with disabilities and the work Over the Rainbow does with the disability community in … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Duckworth, Manchin, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Give Guard and Reserve Members Equal Hazard-Duty Incentive Pay
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced a bipartisan bill to give National Guard and Reserve members equal hazard duty incentive pay (HDIP). Identical bipartisan legislation has already been introduced in the House. Hazard Duty Incentive Pay is a type of special and incentive pay used to improve recruiting and retention by increasing compensation for hazardous duty assignments or conditions. This pay is in addition to base … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Duckworth to DHS: Allow Deported Veterans to Attend Citizenship Interviews
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging immediate action to establish clear policies that allow deported Veterans to attend their citizenship interviews. Duckworth also called out DHS for ignoring a letter she sent last year demanding U.S Marine Veteran Roman Sabal-who served for six years and received an honorable discharge after attaining the rank of sergeant-be allowed to re-enter the country to attend his … Continue Reading
February 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Detection of PFAS Near Scott Air Force Base
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, today released the following statement after the U.S. Air Force detected the two main types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - PFOS and PFOA - during site inspections at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), which may be impacting … Continue Reading
