Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s New Strategy to Address Lead Poisoning
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - In response to the Trump Administration's release of a new federal strategy to address the risk of lead poisoning, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement. Duckworth, the top Democrat on the Senate Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, has been outspoken about the need to reduce exposure to lead poisoning and has been a leader in Congress on this issue, having introduced many pieces of legislation to eliminate lead in America's drinking … Continue Reading
December 19, 2018
Duckworth Urges Senate to Finally Give “Blue Water” Vietnam Veterans the Health Care They’ve Earned
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor today detailing the grave injustice that has been done to the nearly 90,000 "Blue Water" Vietnam Veterans who are currently unable to receive the health care needed to treat diseases linked to wartime Agent Orange exposure. Duckworth called on her fellow Senators to right this wrong by passing without delay the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which is already co-sponsored by … Continue Reading
December 17, 2018
Duckworth, Van Hollen & Klobuchar: Is General Motors Getting Tax Savings for Outsourcing Jobs?
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - In light of the recent General Motors (GM) announcement of layoffs in the United States, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) wrote to GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra to request information on how the company is benefiting from new tax incentives for outsourcing U.S. jobs that were created by the recent Republican tax law. The Senators also asked GM to cancel further stock buybacks, which give a windfall to GM's executives … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Court Ruling Overturning Affordable Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to a court ruling declaring the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional that has been cheered on by Donald Trump, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "This absurd ruling - in a lawsuit that was brought forward by Republican Attorneys General with the support of the Trump Administration - could take away healthcare from tens of millions of Americans if it is not overturned. Tonight's decision will be appealed but we cannot … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $13.7M to Protect Illinois Families from Toxic Lead
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $13,700,000 in federal funding today to help provide lead-free housing units to low-income families throughout Illinois. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Lead Hazard Reduction Program (LHRD), which aims to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned housing for rental or owner-occupants, and HUD's Healthy Homes supplemental … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Duckworth Votes to End U.S. Military’s Unauthorized Support of Saudi Arabia’s Brutal Military Campaign in Yemen
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting to direct the President to end unauthorized U.S. military assistance to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Today, the Senate finally took an important step towards reclaiming and fulfilling its constitutional responsibility to determine whether to declare war and send our brave men and women into harm's way. For far too long, Congress has ceded that solemn … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Bipartisan Duckworth-Hirono-Royce-Lieu Bill to Honor Chinese American WWII Veterans Passes House, Heads to President’s Desk
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following unanimous approval by the U.S. House of Representatives, bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) to recognize the tremendous contributions made by more than 18,000 Chinese American World War II Veterans now awaits the President's signature. The Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act will authorize Congress to award the highest civilian honor - a Congressional Gold … Continue Reading
December 13, 2018
Senator Duckworth to Serve on Senate Armed Services Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 116th Congress, which will be sworn in on January 3rd, 2019. Duckworth, who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was among the first Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom before her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by an RPG and she lost her legs as well … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Statement on Report of Additional Manganese Source In Southeast Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today released the following statements after a Chicago Tribune report found that air monitors recorded dangerous levels of brain-damaging manganese at Watco Transloading on Chicago's Southeast Side. The members raised concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) failure to consistently hold companies accountable for violations of the Clean Air Act, and … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s Rollback of Clean Water Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a proposal that would roll back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule under the Clean Water Act of 1972. Duckworth is the senior-most Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. "For more than 45 years, our nation has counted on the Clean … Continue Reading
December 12, 2018
Duckworth and Durbin Join Schatz, 12 Senators in Introducing New Bill to Help Protect People’s Personal Data Online
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and 12 of their colleagues today in introducing new legislation to protect people's personal data online. The Data Care Act would require apps, websites, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users' data. "People have a basic expectation that the personal information they provide to websites and apps … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Duckworth Votes for Farm Bill to Support Farmers & Illinois Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting for the farm bill, which just overwhelmingly passed the Senate. The legislation included several Illinois priorities and includes provisions that will ensure farmers receive the assistance they need, support Veteran farmers and urban agriculture efforts, improve drinking water and expand access to high-speed internet in rural communities, and create historic investments in land and … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Retired Mineworkers from Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with retired Illinois mineworkers from Coulterville, Du Quoin, Millstadt and Taylorville to discuss the critical importance of protecting their pensions. Pictures from today's meeting are available here. "Our mineworkers worked hard every day in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions because they wanted to provide a good life for their families and they knew that when they were no longer able to work, their pensions … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Duckworth Tours Tornado-Impacted Neighborhoods and Meets With First Responders in Taylorville
[TAYLORVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Taylorville today to see the impacts of the EF-3 tornado and learn more about response and recovery efforts. Duckworth met with the Christian County Emergency Management team, toured the impacted neighborhoods and visited the Multi Agency Resource Center (MARC), which will provide much-needed assistance to those affected by this disaster. Photos from today's visit are available here. "The loss hundreds of families experienced in … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Duckworth: EPA’s Confirmation of High Levels of Ethylene Oxide Near Sterigenics Proves Need for Greater Government Transparency & Further Action
[WILLOWBROOK, IL] - After U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) repeatedly called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be transparent and publicly release its data showing levels of toxic ethylene oxide (EtO) in the air surrounding Sterigenics' Willowbrook medical sterilization facility, the EPA finally announced today that it had-as suspected-found levels of the carcinogen high enough to cause a public health risk for Illinoisans living nearby. Duckworth issued the following … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Duckworth Urges VA to Fully Repay Every Veteran Impacted By GI Benefits Backlog, Ensure They Do Not Suffer Lasting Financial Harm As A Result of VA’s Failures
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie today to ensure VA fully repays every Veteran the benefits they are owed - with interest - under the post 9/11 "Forever GI Bill," but have not received due to VA's massive payments backlog. Duckworth urged VA to also assume any financial penalties Veterans incur because of VA's failure to make on-time … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Make Fitness Facilities More Accessible for People with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation to make fitness facilities across American more accessible for those with disabilities. The Exercise and Fitness for All Act would establish new federal guidelines to help ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunity to use fitness facilities as their able-bodied peers, and it would allow small businesses to use the Disabled Access Tax Credit to help cover the purchase of accessible exercise … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Duckworth Awarded U.S. International Council on Disabilities’ Dole-Harkin Award for Her Leadership in Advancing Disability Rights
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) was awarded with the United States International Council on Disabilities's (USICD) Dole-Harkin award this evening in recognition of her efforts to promote and expand rights for people with disabilities. The Dole-Harkin award honors American policymakers for their service to the global disability community in advancing the rights, opportunities and dignity or persons with disabilities, and previous recipients include Senators John Barasso … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Duckworth Urges VA to Fully Repay Every Veteran Impacted by GI Benefits Backlog, Ensure They Do Not Suffer Lasting Financial Harm As A Result of VA’s Failures
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie today to ensure VA fully repays every Veteran the benefits they are owed - with interest - under the post 9/11 "Forever GI Bill," but have not received due to VA's massive payments backlog. Duckworth urged VA to also assume any financial penalties Veterans incur because of VA's failure to make on-time … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Senate Passes Bipartisan Duckworth-Kennedy-Durbin Legislation to Strengthen Veteran-Owned Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation today that was introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to help Veteran entrepreneurs grow their small businesses and expand economy opportunity. The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, which now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, would allow Veteran small business owners to acquire equipment and property that the federal government no longer has a … Continue Reading
