Press Releases
Duckworth & Durbin Decry Trump Plan to End Protections for U.S. Troops Against Predatory Lending & Financial Fraud
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following reports that the Trump Administration is planning to end critical protections for servicemembers and military families from predatory loans, financial fraud and credit gouging, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, and every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate in urging the Trump Administration to reverse course. The Trump Administration is reportedly … Continue Reading
August 17, 2018
Duckworth & Hassan Ask VA Inspector General to Investigate Potential Legal & Ethics Violations by Trump VA Officials
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are requesting a formal investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (IG) into a report that several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at VA. Last week, a ProPublica investigation revealed how Trump's friends, who are not government employees and have little relevant experience, have inappropriately dictated a … Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Accurate Representation of LGBTQ Community in Census and ACS
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) Tom Carper (D-DE) and 15 of her colleagues in introducing legislation to require the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure the approximately 10 million Americans who identify as LGBTQ are properly counted for and represented in Census data collection efforts. The Census Equality Act would require the U.S. Census Bureau to add questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity to the decennial … Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Nomination of John Milhiser for U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Mr. Milhiser is currently serving as the Sangamon County State's Attorney. "We are pleased that the President has nominated Mr. Milhiser. Mr. Milhiser has served the people of Sangamon County as State's Attorney for nearly eight years, and … Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Duckworth and St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly Discuss Opioid Crisis and Veterans at Metro East Treatment Facility
[BELLEVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly yesterday visited an opioid treatment facility in Belleville, Illinois, where they discussed the opioid crisis and how Veterans are affected by it during a roundtable with facility staff. The facility is one of four managed by Chestnut Health Systems, which offers a comprehensive system of community health services to those affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities or … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Visits Scott Air Force Base
[Scott Air Force Base, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured the Scott Air Force Base, located in St. Clair County. During the visit, Duckworth met with and received a briefing from Col. Leslie A. Maher, Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing and Col. Joseph R. Meyer, Vice Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing. A photo from the visit are available here. “Scott Air Force Base is an important driver of our state’s economy and a critical support network … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth: VA Secretary Must Sever Ties with Mar-a-Lago Crowd & Replace VA Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following an investigation that revealed how several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to urge him to immediately cut ties with the so-called "Mar-a-Lago Crowd." A ProPublica report released yesterday exposed how Trump's friends, who are not government … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Tours America’s Central Port in Granite City
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured and met with the leadership of America's Central Port, the center of the multi-modal freight transportation system in the country, yesterday and underscored the important role that the Port plays in creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity in the region. The Senator also discussed how investing in modern transportation can help grow Illinois' economy. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "It was great to tour … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Statement on End of Proposed Tribune Media-Sinclair Broadcasting Group Merger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Tribune Media's announcement that it will withdraw from a proposed merger with Sinclair Broadcasting Group and sue Sinclair for breach of contract, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "As I've long said, this merger would have reduced competition and threatened the quality of local news that Americans rely on while providing little public benefit. The decision to withdraw from this misguided merger is a victory for the free press, … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Opens Senate Constituent Service Office in Belleville, Hosts Open House for Illinois Constituents
[BELLEVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) cut the ribbon on her new Senate constituent service office in Belleville today, located at 23 Public Square, Suite 460. The Senator also hosted an open house today to launch the new office and give community members an opportunity to meet constituent service representatives who will be working in the area. Duckworth's Belleville Office will provide a number of services to Illinoisans that include assistance with Veterans benefits, Social … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth Visits Farm on Ogden in Lawndale
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured the Farm on Ogden, a joint project between the Chicago Botanic Garden and Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC), which is located in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Duckworth discussed the Farm's work to provide job training, fresh produce, nutrition education and more to residents of the Lawndale neighborhood. Photos from the event are available here. "Community gardens like the one I visited today in Lawndale … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth, Kelly Host Small Business Development Workshop
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02) hosted a small business development workshop today in conjunction with the South Suburban Small Business Association, Chicago Southland Chamber and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce to provide tips, tools and best practices for small business owners and entrepreneurs in Chicago's South Side and south suburbs. At the workshop, which took place at Olive-Harvey College, Duckworth also discussed how … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
After Weekend of Record Violence, Duckworth and Rush Host Roundtable Discussion on Gun Violence in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - After a weekend of record violence in Chicago, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL-01) today hosted a roundtable discussion on gun violence with community members and stakeholders at the Gary Comer Youth Center in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. Prior to the roundtable, Duckworth and Rush called for the passage of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2018 alongside Blair's father, Ronald Holt. This … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth Tours Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County
[GREAT LAKES, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the leadership of Naval Station Great Lakes, the United States Navy's largest training installation and only boot camp, toured the base and observed an active training exercise yesterday. Duckworth also received a briefing from the Director of the National Museum of the American Sailor, which is operated by the Navy's Naval History & Heritage Command on their ongoing renovation and improvement project. She has previously … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth Tours Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago
[NORTH CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Rosalind Franklin University yesterday to observe University research projects and discuss the University's ongoing Innovation and Research Park project, which will connect students and graduates with biomedical companies throughout Lake County. Lake County Partners, a local non-profit, estimates the project will help create 500 jobs and spur $117 million in annual economic development for the region upon completion. "Cutting … Continue Reading
August 06, 2018
After Allegations of Child Abuse at Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors, Duckworth Tours Facility Housing Children Separated by Trump’s “Zero Tolerance” Policy
[DES PLAINES, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured Heartland Alliance's Casa Guadalupe shelter for children ripped from their families by the Trump Administration's "zero tolerance" policy and met with a number of the children housed there. Allegations of physical and emotional abuse at Casa Guadalupe have surfaced over the past few weeks, prompting Duckworth to write Heartland Alliance CEO Evelyn Diaz requesting swift and immediate action to complete its internal … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Duckworth: Why Did DOD Use Japanese Internment Camp Ruling to Justify Actions?
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to Secretary of Defense James Mattis to express alarm over the Department of Defense's (DOD) positive embrace of a long disgraced World War II-era Supreme Court ruling that allowed Japanese-American curfews and internment camps to justify Defense Department policy. In a recent court filing, DOD positively cited the Hirabayashi v United States decision - one of three infamous "anti-canon" U.S. Supreme Court rulings that led to … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration Proposal to Roll Back Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the Trump Administration's proposal to roll back federal fuel efficiency standards - which support more than 9,900 jobs in Illinois - and revoke the right of states to protect their residents from tailpipe emissions and carbon pollution, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "This proposal, which was drafted by disgraced former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt as a gift to the largest oil companies, will force families to … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Duckworth & Brown Ask Cabinet Officials for Update on Eliminating Childhood Lead Poisoning
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to several Trump Administration cabinet officials requesting an update by August 9th on the President's interagency task force on lead exposure and asking them to develop a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the risk of childhood lead poisoning. In October 2017, the Departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Environmental … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
EPA Acting Administrator Wheeler Commits to Working with Duckworth on Legislation to Improve Hiring Transparency at
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Acting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler agreed to work with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on her legislation to improve transparency in hiring practices at the EPA while appearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee yesterday. Duckworth introduced the EPA Special Hiring Authority Transparency Act with EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) in May to strengthen oversight of EPA hiring practices after disgraced … Continue Reading
