Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin & Fischer Introduce Legislation to Help Midwestern Farmers by Reforming Small Refinery Waiver Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) in introducing bipartisan legislation to reform the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) small refinery exemption program, which the Trump Administration has abused to exempt oil refineries from having to use legally required levels of biofuel as required by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS Integrity Act of 2019 would for the first time make applications for small … Continue Reading
June 14, 2019
Duckworth Tours 1908 Race Riot Memorial Site
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured the 1908 Race Riot excavation site in Springfield today to observe the excavation process of the site Duckworth has proposed to be a national monument. The Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act, which Duckworth introduced this February, designates the site a national monument to be managed by the National Park Service. With less than a quarter of National Parks devoted to recognizing the histories of diverse peoples and … Continue Reading
June 14, 2019
Duckworth Honors Veterans at VFW Department of Illinois 98th State Convention in Springfield
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered remarks today at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Illinois 98th State Convention, emphasizing the importance of recognizing our Veterans' sacrifices not just on Veterans Day, but every other day of the year too. She went on to discuss the legislation she's passed to help Veterans, such as the Clay Hunt SAV Act, which expanded mental health services to help reduce suicides among Veterans. Duckworth is … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Legislation to Protect Infants from Deadly “Crib Bumpers” Introduced in Senate & House
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), introduced legislation to protect infant lives by banning the sale of crib bumpers in the United States. The Safe Cribs Act (S. 1816) would also make it unlawful to manufacture and import crib bumpers, which are marketed as necessary for infant safety even though 48 babies have died as a result of … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Duckworth Helps Introduce Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act With Bucshon, Shimkus, Braun, Young and Durbin
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and John Shimkus (R-IL) as well as Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Todd Young (R-IN) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in introducing the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act (H.R. 3245)( S. 1833) today, a bill that the House of Representatives passed by unanimous consent in the 115th Congress. "Investing in Illinois's infrastructure is one of my top priorities in the U.S. Senate," said Senator Duckworth. "I'm … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $400,000 for Metro East Organizations to Help Address Opioid Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $400,000 in federal funding to two organizations in Metro East to help support treatment for and prevention of substance and opioid use disorder in rural counties. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. "The opioid epidemic has taken far too many lives, and resolving this … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1 Million for Central Illinois Organization to Help Address Opioid Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,000,000 in federal funding to five organizations in Central Illinois to help support treatment for and prevention of substance and opioid use disorder in rural counties. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. "The opioid epidemic has taken far too many lives, and … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $200,000 for Opioid Response Planning in Northwest Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $200,000 in federal funding to North Central Behavioral Health Systems in LaSalle County to help support treatment for and prevention of substance and opioid use disorder. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program. "The opioid epidemic has taken far too many lives, and … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Pai, FCC Commissioners Reaffirm Support for Clarifying FCC’s Authority to Address Predatory Prison Rates During Senate Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At today's U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee Hearing, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Michael O'Rielly, Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks reaffirmed to Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) their support for clarifying the FCC's legal authority to end predatory prison phone rates that gouge vulnerable families. Duckworth introduced the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
At Pentagon, Duckworth Delivers Remarks Honoring LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Condemning Trump Administration’s Transgender Military Ban
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at DoD Pride's eighth annual Pride Month event, where she celebrated the critical role LGBTQ+ servicemembers play in keeping our nation safe. Duckworth delivered strong, pointed remarks against the Trump Administration's transgender military ban, arguing that it's not only discriminatory but also dangerous, as it hampers troops' morale and hurts military readiness. Video of the speech is available … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Duckworth, Portman, Booker, Schatz, Markey & King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Predatory Phone Rates in Criminal Justice System
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Angus King (I-ME) today introduced the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act to strengthen the nation's criminal justice system. This bipartisan bill would help families keep in touch with their incarcerated family members, which studies have shown can help reduce recidivism rates and thereby save taxpayer dollars. This targeted … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin & Klobuchar Urge Trump Administration to Stop Undermining Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) By Abusing ‘Hardship’ Waivers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with 9 of their colleagues, demanded Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler stop abusing so-called "hardship" waivers that exempt oil refineries from having to use legally required levels of biofuel as required by the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). These waivers are intended to help small refineries, but the EPA has undermined the original intent of … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Duckworth, Hastings Introduce Bill Requiring DOD to Update Forms Containing Racially or Ethnically Insensitive Terminology
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) introduced a bill today requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to review and update any in-use form containing racially or ethnically insensitive terminology that is not in compliance with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It was recently discovered that a form containing racially insensitive terminology was still in use by DoD despite the fact that OMB revised … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Duckworth, Blumenthal, Brown, Harris, Klobuchar, Sanders, Van Hollen & Warren Demand McDonald’s Improve Sexual Harassment Policies at Locations Across the Country
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on McDonald's to improve its protections against sexual harassment at locations across the country and do more to address allegations of workplace harassment, abuse and retaliation suffered by McDonald's workers. In a letter to … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Priorities with Illinois Farm Bureau
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau (ILFB) and ILFB President Richard Guebert to discuss Illinois priorities and agriculture policies, as well as the impact on farmers from unseasonably heavy rainfall this spring. Photos from the meeting are available here. "The strength of America's farmers is a reflection of the strength of our nation," Duckworth said. "I enjoyed meeting with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to hear their … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with more than a dozen members of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce as well as local elected officials today in her Capitol Hill office to discuss increasing infrastructure investments throughout the region to facilitate new, good-paying jobs and rebuild critical roadways, recreational paths and water facilities. Photos from today's meeting are available here. "Investing and modernizing infrastructure is critical to ensuring … Continue Reading
June 10, 2019
Amid Spike of Annoying Robocalls, Duckworth & Durbin Call on Trump Administration to Protect Consumers from Abusive Debt Collection Tactics
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and 22 of their colleagues in calling on Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger to reverse a new rule that will allow debt collection companies to send unlimited texts and emails to consumers, as well as call consumers 7 times per week to harass them about debt they may owe. In 2018 alone, consumers filed over 500,000 … Continue Reading
June 10, 2019
Duckworth Commemorates 100th Anniversary of Illinois Ratifying 19th Amendment
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today honored the 100th anniversary of Illinois's ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, at a rally at the Thompson Center in Chicago. Duckworth joined Illinois Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton, Deputy Governor Sol Flores, State Senator Melinda Bush and Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, as well as the KLEO Center, Chicago Votes and League of Women Voters to honor the suffragists' legacy as she advocates for … Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $1.5 Million for Environmental Cleanup Across Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, announced $1,550,000 in federal funding today to help eliminate toxic pollutants from five contaminated sites in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods across Illinois. The cleanup and assessment grants are provided by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Program, which provides financial assistance to those working to assess and safely clean … Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
Duckworth, Crapo, Luján Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help National Labs Find Qualified Employees by Improving Workforce Training
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mike Crapo (R-ID) along with Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) introduced bipartisan legislation to prepare the next generation of American workers to work at our National Laboratories and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) by ensuring they gain the training and skills they need to succeed. With many employees of our National Laboratories and NNSA sites nearing retirement age, the DOE National Labs Jobs … Continue Reading
