Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $100,000 for Research to Help Reduce Emissions and Support Ethanol Production
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $100,000 in federal funding today to help researchers find low-cost, sustainable alternatives to diesel fuel engines in the agricultural sector, including replacing half of diesel consumption with ethanol, a cleaner, more affordable alternative. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) … Continue Reading
October 12, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin & Foster Ask EPA to Fund DuPage County Public Health Efforts, Assess Ethylene Oxide Exposure Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL-11), wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today requesting federal assistance to help community groups in DuPage County understand the magnitude of the public health dangers they are facing, medical monitoring for community members who have been exposed to ethylene oxide as well as immediate actions to assess and reduce ethylene oxide exposure across the … Continue Reading
October 12, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senators Casey, Merkley, Coons & Colleagues to Press Trump Administration on LGBTQ Diplomatic Discrimination
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and 15 other Democratic Senators in calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to amend a new Department policy that will halt the provision of diplomatic visas for unmarried, same-sex partners of foreign diplomats and employees posted to the United States or at U.S.-based international organizations. "To bar LGBTQ diplomats from … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Senate Small Business Committee Passes Bipartisan Duckworth-Kennedy-Durbin Legislation to Help Strengthen Veteran-owned Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to help expand economic opportunity for Veteran entrepreneurs. The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, which will now be considered by the full Senate, would allow Veteran small business owners to acquire equipment and property that the federal government no longer has a … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Nominee to Head EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the President's nominee to be Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention today to discuss the implementation of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), which governs the use and safety of chemicals commonly used in everyday life. These chemicals can be found in dry-cleaning solvents, paint strippers, and substances used in health and beauty … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Martha Pacold, Mary Rowland & Steven Seeger to Serve As U.S. District Judges for the Northern District of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of Martha M. Pacold, Mary M. Rowland, and Steven C. Seeger to serve as District Judges on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced these three Illinoisans. They have the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Illinois Priorities Included in Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Ranking Member on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Senate Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of several of their priorities that will help Illinois in the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 99-1. The legislation will save Illinois taxpayer dollars by increasing the federal … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Jeff Sessions’ Latest Move to Block Chicago Police Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' announcement that he will oppose a Chicago Police Department consent decree that would help safeguard civil rights, improve public safety and save lives. "The Trump Administration has been out of step with the needs of the people of Chicago and Illinois since the very start-from withholding federal violence prevention funding in order to force the … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $24 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvements in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $24,000,000 in federal funding today to the Illinois Alluvial Regional Water Company, Inc. to help rebuild and repair water infrastructure in Central Illinois. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) office of Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program, which helps households and business in rural areas make infrastructure enhancements that improve … Continue Reading
October 09, 2018
Duckworth: New Federal Funding to Test for Lead in Schools Will Help Protect Health of Illinois Children
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $20 million last week for states to test for lead in drinking water at school and childcare facilities: "When families send their children to school, they should not have to worry about the school's drinking water being contaminated with a dangerous neurotoxin like lead," Duckworth said. "The threat of contaminated water is a public health … Continue Reading
October 09, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Urge DHS to Withdraw Misguided “Public Charge” Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and 18 of their Senate colleagues today in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed "public charge" rule, which would bar legal immigrants from obtaining permanent residency if they or members of their household use or have used public assistance programs like SNAP or Medicaid. In a letter to DHS … Continue Reading
October 09, 2018
Duckworth’s FAM Act to Help Nursing Mothers Signed Into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth's (D-IL) legislation to provide nursing mothers traveling through large and medium-sized airports access to private, clean and accessible lactation rooms was signed into law last week, Duckworth released the following statement: "This bipartisan bill will help moms and their children find clean and accessible spaces to express breastmilk during travel," said Senator Duckworth. "Breastfeeding has long-lasting health benefits that protect … Continue Reading
October 06, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to the Supreme Court
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate narrowly voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court: "The word 'disappointed' doesn't begin to cover what I'm feeling right now. I'm heartbroken for the survivors of sexual assault who were forced to relive their trauma over the past few weeks, and I'm deeply worried for the millions of Americans whose lives will be affected by Brett Kavanaugh's decisions on the highest court … Continue Reading
October 05, 2018
Hours Before Final Vote, Duckworth Implores Senate to Reject Kavanaugh
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor tonight outlining why she will be voting no on Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation tomorrow. Duckworth detailed Kavanaugh's record of dishonesty in his confirmation hearings, the credible allegations of sexual assault against him from Dr. Ford and others as well as his extremely partisan comments. Video of the speech is available here. "By refusing to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, we can send the message … Continue Reading
October 04, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Investigation into Rauner Administration's Response to Legionnaires' Outbreaks at IVH Quincy
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that her office has opened a criminal probe into the Rauner Administration's response to the multiple Legionnaires' disease outbreaks at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy since 2015: It appears that the Governor and his administration deliberately postponed announcing an outbreak of deadly Legionnaires' disease at IVH … Continue Reading
October 04, 2018
From the Senate Floor, Duckworth Calls on Senate to Reject Judge Kavanaugh’s Confirmation and Believe Survivors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor this afternoon detailing why Judge Brett Kavanaugh's steady stream of lies and angry partisan outbursts should disqualify him from serving on the Supreme Court. Duckworth reiterated her belief in Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, criticizing President Trump for using a political rally to mock a sexual assault survivor's trauma and try to bully her back into the shadows. Video of Duckworth's speech is … Continue Reading
October 03, 2018
Duckworth Meets with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District Commander
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the Chicago District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colonel Aaron W. Reisinger, today to discuss water infrastructure investments and plans to mitigate urban flooding in Chicago. A photo of the meeting is available here. Duckworth also met with the Army Corps of Engineers' Rock Island District Commander, Colonel Steven Sattinger, last week to discuss flood risk management and the lock-and-dam systems along the … Continue Reading
October 03, 2018
At Senate Hearing, Duckworth Applauds Metra’s PTC Implementation, Calls for Fair Distribution of Federal Funding
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded Metra, northeastern Illinois' commuter rail system, at today's U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing for working to stay on track for full implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) technologies that make trains safer for commuters, workers and communities. Duckworth also expressed her concern to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Ronald Batory that agencies like Metra, who … Continue Reading
October 03, 2018
Senate Passes Duckworth Proposals to Help Nursing Mothers, Protect Passengers with Disabilities & Make Air Travel Safer
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Nearly a dozen of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth's (D-IL) proposals passed the Senate today as part of the 5-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Duckworth's bills and amendments will make air travel safer, provide nursing mothers with private, clean and accessible lactation rooms, protect the right of passengers with disabilities and help small airports across Illinois make critical upgrades to their infrastructure. Duckworth also successfully … Continue Reading
October 02, 2018
Duckworth on Independent Investigation into Trump Administration’s Family Separation Policy: Not Only Inhumane and Cruel, but Utterly Incompetent Too
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Inspector General released its report on the Acting Inspector General's independent investigation regarding the Trump Administration's implementation of it's so called "zero-tolerance" that resulted in thousands of infants and children being separated from their parents at the border. "Once again, an independent investigation conducted by the … Continue Reading
