Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $206 Million for Illinois Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Infrastructure
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced over $206 million in support for Illinois to help clean up drinking water and upgrade water infrastructure throughout the state. The funding is part of the more than $50 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades thanks to Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which she … Continue Reading
February 21, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Nominations of Judge Nancy Maldonado to the Seventh Circuit, Georgia Alexakis to Serve as United States District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House announced its intent to nominate Judge Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, and Georgia Alexakis to be United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. “We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Nancy … Continue Reading
February 20, 2024
Duckworth Reacts to Alabama Court IVF Ruling, Urges Colleagues to Help Pass Her Legislation to Protect Access to IVF
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—lead sponsor of the Access to Family Building Act, which would protect every American’s right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services—issued the following statement after Alabama’s State Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created during the IVF process are “children” under state law, threatening access to IVF for those who need it to start or grow their family: “Since the … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Duckworth Reacts to Death of Alexei Navalny
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—issued the following statement after learning that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died while imprisoned by Vladimir Putin: “Alexei Navalny stood for freedom, democracy and human dignity in the face of Vladimir Putin’s tyranny, corruption and cruelty—and he was poisoned, imprisoned and killed because of it. While his death … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Duckworth Emphasizes Her Support for Early Childhood Education, Working Families with Illinois Parents & Head Start Leaders
[BENSENVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Metropolitan Family Services of DuPage Head Start providers and families to reiterate her support to early childhood education and hear from working families on the struggles they face in accessing childcare services. As Congress once again approaches a government funding deadline that could threaten these critical services at the beginning of next month, Duckworth highlighted the importance of continuing full funding for … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
After Senate Passes Critical Ukraine Aid, Duckworth Helps Prepare Emergency Equipment Shipment for Ukraine
[SCHILLER PARK, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine and its nonprofit partner, UA Resistance Foundation, both of which are dedicated to delivering ambulances, fire engines, medical supplies and firefighting equipment to Ukraine, and helped volunteers prepare the next shipment of eight donated emergency vehicles to help the Ukrainian people amid Putin’s unjustified and unprovoked war of choice. This shipment comes as the Senate this week passed a … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Urge Department of Education to Address FAFSA Rollout Issues
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the traditional May 1st “college decision day” approaches, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with more than 100 of their congressional colleagues, in writing to Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) to call on the Department to urgently address the operational issues with the new Free Application for Federal … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Secure Over $44 Million for Chicago O'Hare, Crawford County and St. Louis Airport Renovations
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a combined $44,250,000 million in federal funding for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Crawford County Airport and St. Louis Downtown Airport from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminal Program (ATP). “Thanks to the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Illinois is on a path to rebuild our aviation infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs for … Continue Reading
February 14, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Ossoff, Colleagues in Support of Ongoing U.S. Diplomacy to Free Hostages, Restore Mutual Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and 24 of their Senate colleagues in expressing urgent support for the Administration’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages in tandem with the restoration of a mutual ceasefire agreement in Gaza. “Since the … Continue Reading
February 14, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Booker, Colleagues in Calling for Swift Action to Aid American Citizens and Families Trapped in Gaza
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in leading 13 colleagues in calling on Secretary Antony Blinken and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to expand assistance for relatives of U.S. citizens stranded in Gaza. The Senators expressed concerns about the current limited eligibility criteria for State Department assistance, and advocated for the State Department to press all conflicting parties … Continue Reading
February 13, 2024
Duckworth, Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Emergency Communication Technology That Could Help Saves Lives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today introduced legislation to improve emergency communication technology that could help save lives. The ITS Codification Act would codify the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS), which currently serves as the research and engineering laboratory at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) … Continue Reading
February 13, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Urge Federal Approval of Illinois Application for Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Director Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressing their support for Illinois’ application for a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver. If accepted, the waiver would accelerate efforts in Illinois to use the Medicaid program to address the opioid epidemic, maternal mortality, violence prevention, mental health challenges, … Continue Reading
February 13, 2024
Duckworth Reacts to Senate Passing National Security Supplemental
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to bolster U.S. national security and provide additional support for our partners and allies by a bipartisan vote of 70-29: “After months of delays demanding policy changes they apparently didn’t even want, I’m relieved that Senate Republicans have finally joined Democrats … Continue Reading
February 12, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee—met with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara to discuss their shared priorities in building on the over 190 years of diplomatic relations between our two nations—an alliance that both have mutually benefitted from militarily, diplomatically, economically and culturally. B-roll of the Senator’s meeting is available at this link and … Continue Reading
February 12, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Dutch Ambassador to the United States
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—met with Dutch Ambassador to the United States Birgitta Tazelaar last week to discuss their shared priorities in strengthening the NATO alliance as well as the long-standing economic partnership among our two nations, specifically in Illinois where nearly 30,000 jobs are supported by Netherlands-U.S. trade and Dutch investments in the technological sector, quantum … Continue Reading
February 09, 2024
Ahead of Lunar New Year, Duckworth Highlights Chinatown Small Businesses
[CHICAGO, IL] - Ahead of Lunar New Year, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led a tour through Chicago’s Chinatown to highlight its vibrant Asia American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander-owned small business community. Duckworth, along with Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director Christy George, the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce and local leaders discussed the challenges these small businesses face, as well as the economic opportunity that Chicago hosting the 2024 Democratic … Continue Reading
February 09, 2024
Duckworth Hosts Briefing for Senate Colleagues with Doctors Who Recently Returned from Medical Mission in Gaza
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week hosted a briefing for several of her Senate colleagues with Dr. Zaher Sahloul and other doctors who recently returned from a medical mission in Gaza so that the Senators could hear directly from the doctors on the state of the humanitarian crisis there and the urgent need for life-saving medical supplies, equipment and treatment to assist the innocent civilians who are suffering in Gaza. “This briefing underscored the urgent … Continue Reading
February 09, 2024
Duckworth, Booker, Tlaib, Dingell Lead Colleagues in Urging EPA to Strengthen Lead and Copper Rule Improvements Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), co-founders of the new Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, alongside U.S. Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), co-chairs of the House ‘Get the Lead Out’ Caucus, led 86 of their colleagues in applauding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) while also urging them to strengthen … Continue Reading
February 08, 2024
Duckworth Applauds Committee Passage of Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Bill She Helped Author
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After successful bipartisan negotiations, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) today favorably reported the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 that U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—the chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—helped author alongside CST Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) and CST Aviation Safety Subcommittee Ranking Member … Continue Reading
February 08, 2024
Duckworth Statement on Senate Vote to Proceed on National Security Supplemental
[WASHGINTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—issued the following statement after the Senate voted to proceed on the package to bolster U.S. national security that will provide additional support for our partners and allies: “With our nation confronting increasingly complex and escalating threats to global security, I’m relieved that Senate Republicans have finally joined Democrats … Continue Reading
