Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Call for Federal Government to Reimburse States, Cities for Coronavirus Efforts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish clear guidelines for how local and state governments-including Illinois-will be reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. "We write to ask that your department establish clear guidelines for state … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Democratic Colleagues in Fighting to Protect People With Pre-Existing Conditions in FY21 Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today in leading 44 other Democratic Senators in a letter to the Administration urging President Trump to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is the law of the land and provides health care coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions including more than five million Illinoisans. Despite Trump's misleading statements … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth Tours The Hatchery, Highlighting Success of Local Entrepreneurs
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited The Hatchery, a nonprofit food and beverage production facility and business incubator in East Garfield Park dedicated to helping local entrepreneurs, especially those of color. Duckworth was joined by representatives from Accion Chicago and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago and Hatchery entrepreneurs, where she heard success stories from participants of the Hatchery. Photos from today's event are available … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth Commemorates 100th Anniversary of League of Women Voters’ Founding in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U. S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today attended the League of Women Voters 100th Anniversary Celebration, commemorating the organization's century-long legacy of education and advocacy which began in Chicago in 1920. Duckworth was joined by other local leaders including U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. Duckworth highlighted the importance of the League of … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth, Cantwell Demand Answers Following Reports that Major Child Car Seat Manufacturer Lied about Safety Testing and Requirements, Resulting in Fatalities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, wrote to U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Acting Administrator James C. Owens demanding answers about reported negligence by a booster seat manufacturer Evenflo. According to a report … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth on War Powers: Honoring Our Troops’ Sacrifices Requires Congress to Do Its Job
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting for an Iran war powers resolution that would force the President to secure a declaration of war or authorization for use of military force from Congress to legally engage in a war against Iran. Senator Duckworth, who is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, cosponsored the measure which now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote. "Ever since … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Help Deported Veterans Gain Citizenship
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a deported U.S. Marine Veteran was denied the opportunity to attend his own naturalization hearing, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced legislation to help prevent this from happening again. Her legislation would ensure that deported Veterans who have successfully completed the preliminary naturalization process-like U.S. Marine Veteran Roman Sabal who served for six years and received an honorable discharge after attaining the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $15 Million to Support Public Housing in Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $15,157,628 in federal funding to public housing authorities throughout Southern Illinois for development, financing and modernization of public housing properties. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund program. "Children and families in need across Southern Illinois rely on investments like these that help … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $8 Million to Support Public Housing in the Metro East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $8,409,873 in federal funding to public housing authorities throughout the Metro East for development, financing and modernization of public housing properties. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund program. "Children and families in need across the Metro East rely on investments like these that help improve … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $21 Million to Support Public Housing in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $21,084,252 in federal funding to public housing authorities throughout Central Illinois for development, financing and modernization of public housing properties. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund program. "Children and families in need across Central Illinois rely on investments like these that help improve … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $16 Million to Support Public Housing in Northwest Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $16,585,075 in federal funding to public housing authorities throughout Northwest Illinois for development, financing and modernization of public housing properties. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund program. "Children and families in need across Northwest Illinois rely on investments like these that help … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $74 Million to Support Public Housing in Chicagoland Area
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $74,763,733 in federal funding to public housing authorities throughout the Chicagoland area for development, financing and modernization of public housing properties. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund program. "Children and families in need across Chicagoland rely on investments like these that help improve … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Trump Administration's Failure to Include Funding for Great Lakes Shoreline Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called out the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 work plan for not including funding for two important Great Lakes shoreline programs - the Great Lakes Resiliency Study and the Chicago Shoreline Project. "As the Great Lakes shoreline faces the most serious environmental threat in decades, the Army Corps' work plan fails to provide funding for its protection," Durbin said. "Ignoring … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth Chairs Climate Crisis Committee Hearing on the National Security Risks of Climate Change
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led a hearing of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis-which is chaired by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and is affiliated with the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee-on understanding and addressing the national security risks of climate change. Duckworth discussed the unique ways climate change threatens our country's national security with Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips (United States Navy, Ret.), … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Slam Trump Administration for Stonewalling Veterans Suffering from Agent Orange
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), joined 39 other Democratic Senators in condemning the Trump Administration for stonewalling critical benefits to Veterans suffering from health conditions associated with their exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. In their letter, the Senators specifically called on the Administration to stop denying scientific evidence, and end the … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Senate Confirms John Kness To Serve As U.S. District Judge For The Northern District Of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed John Kness to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago. The Kness nomination accompanies the previous nominations of Mary Rowland, Martha Pacold, and Steven Seeger to serve on the Northern District of Illinois bench: "We are pleased that the Senate confirmed Mr. Kness to be a District … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with Community College Trustees from Across Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with members of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association about her personal experience with student loan debt and her work to make higher education more affordable, accessible and effective. The trustees were in Washington, D.C., to attend the Association of Community College Trustees' (ACCT) national legislative summit. A photo of the meeting is available here. "As someone who wasn't always sure I'd be able to go … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Duckworth Meets with John A. Logan College Trustees to Discuss Higher Education Issues
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with two members of the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees-Mandy Little and Aaron Smith-to discuss the importance of making higher education more affordable and investing in Veteran and servicemember education. Little and Smith are in Washington, D.C., attending the Association of Community College Trustees' (ACCT) national legislative summit. A photo of the meeting is available here. "Those of us who weren't always … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Legislation To Achieve Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions By No Later Than 2050
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and 30 other Senators in introducing The Clean Economy Act, legislation that would put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050. The bill heeds the call for bold climate action and at the same time boosts American competitiveness, promotes healthier frontline communities, and fosters a growing economy that works for … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
In Hearing, Duckworth Pushes to Reassert Congressional Role in Matters of War and Peace in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At today's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on our nation's strategy in Afghanistan, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned experts about the outdated 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), highlighting that Congress should vote on a new AUMF that would accurately reflect what troops are doing on the ground and authorize operations in Afghanistan. Video of Duckworth's questions at the hearing is available here. "The … Continue Reading
