Press Releases
Duckworth Meets with EPA Inspector General Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today met with the Trump Administration's nominee to be the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Inspector General, Sean O'Donnell. Duckworth and O'Donnell discussed issues including allegations of political interference related to ethylene oxide inspections in Region 5 and claims that former-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt weakened public health … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Duckworth to Boeing: “You Haven’t Told Us the Whole Truth”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a general aviation pilot and combat Veteran, today condemned Boeing for the company's decision to remove a critical safety function without adding an offsetting feature and its failure to inform pilots of the change or provide new training for them. Duckworth's criticism of the company's decisions came during remarks addressed to Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg and John Hamilton, Vice President and Chief Engineer of Boeing Commercial … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Duckworth Once Again Presses the FAA to Publish Advisory Circular on Best Practices for Manufacturing, Testing and Operating Angle of Attack Sensors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of today's Senate hearing with Boeing executives and on the one year anniversary of the deadly Lion Air Flight 610 crash, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is once again calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to publish a set of standardized best practices for how to ensure airlines and flight crews are complying with all federal safety standards and regulations. Duckworth's call for the FAA to reconsider her May 21, 2019 request follows the FAA's … Continue Reading
October 28, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $3 Million in Funding to Prevent Lead Hazards in Winnebago County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a $3.4 million federal grant to help the Winnebago County Health Department identify and eliminate lead-based paint hazards in Rockford-area low- and very low-income private housing where children under the age of 6 reside or are likely to reside. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes' Lead Hazard … Continue Reading
October 28, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Raid that Killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: "Yet another terrorist leader being brought to justice proves, once again, the professionalism of our military and intelligence community is unparalleled. Thanks to the bravery of U.S. Armed Forces, the world is a safer place today. I am, however, troubled by the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2019
Duckworth, Colleagues Request Information on Trump Organization’s Business in Turkey
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Udall (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to Trump Organization Executive Vice President Jill Martin requesting information on the potential conflicts of interest that President Trump's financial dealings in Turkey may pose following Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Northern Syria and the subsequent Turkish offensive. Specifically, the Senators are calling attention to the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2019
Senator Duckworth Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – After President Trump’s devastating and reckless decision to abandon our Kurdish allies in Syria, which has destabilized the region and cleared the way for a Turkish offensive, Senator Duckworth (D-IL) delivers this week’s Weekly Democratic Address. In the address Senator Duckworth, a combat Veteran and Army pilot who flew missions in Iraq, expresses alarm over the President Trump’s decision to abandon our Kurdish allies, who have fought … Continue Reading
October 24, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Introduce New Bill To Protect Roadside First Responders
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today introduced new legislation designed to reduce first responder roadside deaths. The bill would establish a new national safety priority within an existing federal grant program to increase public awareness of "Move Over" laws and encourage implementation of life-saving vehicle technology. "The troubling pattern of first responder roadside deaths … Continue Reading
October 24, 2019
Senators Duckworth and Gillibrand Call For Repeal of 2002 AUMF
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), sent a letter to SASC Chairman James M. Inhofe (R-OK) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) calling for a repeal of the outdated 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF). The 2002 AUMF authorized U.S. military operations against Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and in the years since, expansive interpretations have been used to … Continue Reading
October 24, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $39 Million to Support Illinois Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today $39,228,631 in federal funding to Illinois communities through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was allocated through HUD's Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) programs, which help state and local governments expand economic opportunities and provide suitable … Continue Reading
October 23, 2019
Duckworth Advocates for Increased Federal Inland Waterways Cost Share to Help Expand the Quad Cities Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the need to improve federal cost-sharing for major inland waterways projects with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ryan Fisher at a U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) hearing today focused on improving American economic competitiveness through water infrastructure. Increasing the federal cost-share for inland projects, which currently receive a smaller portion of federal … Continue Reading
October 23, 2019
Duckworth, Isakson Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Fix Immigration Policy for Children of U.S. Servicemembers and Civil Servants
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today introduced the Citizenship for Children of Military Members & Civil Servants Act, bipartisan legislation that would fix a problem in current law that disadvantages certain children whose parents are serving our nation abroad in uniform or in the civil service. The bipartisan bill would modernize Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to cut burdensome red tape that harms those willing … Continue Reading
October 23, 2019
Duckworth Votes to Eliminate the Trump Administration’s Burdensome Regulations that Double-Tax Middle Class Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting to eliminate the Trump Administration's burdensome regulations that force Illinoisans and Americans across the country to be double-taxed on their state and local taxes, even if states have enacted laws to prevent it. "One of the primary reasons I voted against the Republican tax law was that it harmed middle class families in Illinois by weakening the state and local tax deduction that … Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Duckworth, Peters Re-Introduce Good Government Legislation to Require Public Disclosure of Trump Administration’s Travel Spending
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Gary Peters (D-MI) re-introduced legislation today to help ensure the Trump Administration-and any future administration-spends taxpayer dollars more responsibly. The Federal Travel Transparency Act would increase transparency and oversight by making the air travel activities of cabinet secretaries and agency leaders available to the public online and requiring that the data be in an open, easily accessible format. Peters serves as … Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Duckworth Meets with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander Colonel Steven M. Sattinger to discuss the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), a long-term ecological restoration and navigation program for the Upper Mississippi River System, as well as the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project as priorities for the upcoming Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Reauthorization that will be considered by the … Continue Reading
October 18, 2019
Duckworth Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Impose Strong Sanctions on Turkey
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Turkey's invasion of northern Syria, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in introducing the Countering Turkish Aggression Act. The legislation would immediately impose serious sanctions against Turkey, senior Turkish officials, including President Erdogan, key Turkish banks, military transactions and their energy sector activities. "In the days since President Trump's reckless decision to … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Duckworth, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers Improvement Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act, which ensures small airports support nursing moms and promote breastfeeding-friendly environments by providing accessible, clean and convenient lactation rooms for travelers. The bill builds on Duckworth's success in enacting legislation that ensures all large and medium airports provide a clean, private space where moms can … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Duckworth Statement on the Passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings: "Elijah Cummings loved his community and his country so much that he devoted his life to public service, championing justice, unity, accountability and, most importantly, human decency. When I was first elected, I was honored with the opportunity to work with him on the House Oversight Committee, where I witnessed firsthand what a generous and … Continue Reading
October 15, 2019
Duckworth, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Drinking Water Infrastructure in Distressed Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mike Braun (R-IN) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help improve the quality of drinking water for millions of Americans living in distressed communities. The bipartisan Voluntary Water Partnerships for Distressed Communities Act would make it easier for community water systems to engage in voluntary partnerships that drive efficiency and improve water treatment and infrastructure. “Every American has a right to drink … Continue Reading
October 09, 2019
Duckworth Tours Illinois Fire Service Institute, Highlighting Support for First-Responders
[CHAMPAIGN, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), touring its facility and meeting with IFSI leadership. During her visit, Duckworth met with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert J. Jones, IFSI Director Royal Mortenson and IFSI Deputy Director Jim Keiken, to discuss the work IFSI does training more than 60,000 to-be first-responders per year across Illinois. Photos from today's tour are available here. "Firefighters … Continue Reading
