Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $15 Million For Head Start Programs Throughout Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded six Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout Illinois a total of $15,656,772 in federal funding. "I'm proud to support programs like Head Start and Early Head Start that give children throughout Illinois a fairer shot at reaching their full potential," Duckworth said. "When we invest in childhood education and parental … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth Sounds Alarm on the Imminent Deportation of United States Combat Veteran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Upon learning of the imminent deportation of fellow combat Veteran Miguel Perez Jr., U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) requested an urgent update on the removal proceedings and asked U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to personally review Perez's case."I was alarmed to learn this morning that Mr. Perez Montes' removal from the United States is imminent and may be carried out today at O'Hare International Airport," Duckworth wrote in the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
New Duckworth Bill Would Require Public Disclosure of Trump Administration’s Travel Spending
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After several Trump Administration senior officials including Secretaries Zinke, Mnuchin and Pruitt violated the Federal Travel Regulation by wasting exorbitant amounts of taxpayer dollars on inappropriate travel expenses like charter jets and first class airfare, U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation today to help ensure the Trump Administration-and any future administration-spends taxpayer dollars more responsibly. Duckworth's new Federal Travel … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth: Bolton’s Bush Administration Record “All the Proof Anyone Should Need” That He Lacks Judgment Needed to be National Security Advisor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding Donald Trump's appointment of John Bolton as National Security Advisor, replacing H.R. McMaster: "John Bolton's disastrous record during the Bush Administration is all the proof anyone should need that he lacks the judgment necessary to serve as National Security Advisor. He didn't just aggressively push for war with Iraq, he was confident that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Omnibus Compromise
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After voting in favor of a bipartisan compromise to fund the United States Government through the end of the fiscal year, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement:"This bipartisan government funding legislation may not be perfect, but good governance requires compromise and leadership. There are obviously things I'd have liked to see changed, including allowing Dreamers to continue to contribute to our country and have the chance to become citizens, … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Press DHS IG To Investigate Allegations Of Separation Of Children From Asylum-Seeking Parents At U.S. Border
WASHINGTON-Following recent reports of the case of a seven-year-old girl and her mother from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who were separated for more than four months after they presented themselves at the U.S. border and sought protection in accordance with the law, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led 22 of their Senate colleagues today in pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Inspector General to investigate allegations that DHS … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Duckworth Discusses Transportation Priorities with Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth met today with Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory to discuss funding for projects that will help make Illinois's railroad infrastructure safer and more efficient. Duckworth and Batory reviewed several critical Illinois infrastructure projects, including the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, Merchants Bridge and the Chicago-to-St. Louis High Speed Rail Project. As Administrator, Batory oversees the Federal Railroad … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with members of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce to discuss economic development and infrastructure priorities, including the Chicago to Quad Cities passenger rail project. Since arriving in Congress, Duckworth has been a vocal advocate for the Rock Island Arsenal, an economic engine for the Quad Cities area, and recently joined a group of bipartisan senators to help ensure long-term success for the facility. A photo of … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Duckworth Votes to Help End Online Sex Trafficking
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today voted in favor of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, or SESTA, which clarifies and strengthens criminal and civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking. Last year, Duckworth met with the mother of slain Chicago child sex trafficking victim Desiree Robinson to discuss the legislation, which passed today on a bipartisan vote of 97-2 and fixes a portion of federal law that makes it harder for Robinson's mother, Ms. Yvonne … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Effort to Ensure Public Debate on Military’s Role in Yemen
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting in support of S.J. Res. 54, which would direct the President to remove unauthorized U.S. troops from hostilities in Yemen, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "The American military is actively assisting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and our servicemembers have been drawn into hostilities in the country, yet Congress has not provided any legal authority for these military actions nor have we held any public … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Energy Sec. Perry Commits to Working with Duckworth on Bipartisan Efforts to Train Servicemembers & Veterans for Jobs in Renewable Energy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry to work with Duckworth on bipartisan legislation she is drafting with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) that would connect servicemembers and Veterans with opportunities in the clean energy sector. At a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing this morning, Duckworth and Perry spoke about her bipartisan legislation, which would help … Continue Reading
March 16, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Fiduciary Rule Appeals Court Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) "Fiduciary Rule" that protects consumers from unscrupulous financial advisors, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on the Trump Administration to put people over politics by vigorously defending the rule that ensures retirement advisors provide consumers with financial advice that is in the clients' best interests instead of lining their own pockets first. The Senator also urged … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Help Veterans with Children Access Child Care, Reduce Veteran Unemployment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced a bill with seven of her colleagues today to support Veterans and Veteran families, as well as reduce Veteran unemployment, by helping improve access to child care services for Veterans participating in workforce and job training programs offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DOL). Duckworth's new Veteran Employment and Child Care Access Act would create a federal program modeled after the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Miguel Perez, Jr.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' decision to deny retroactive citizenship to her fellow combat Veteran, Miguel Perez Jr.: "Mr. Perez has been detained for months, separated from his family and left without access to the care he needs, deserves and has earned. If the military and our government hadn't failed Mr. Perez multiple times, he'd never have been in this predicament to … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
At Duckworth’s Request, Agriculture Secretary Perdue Commits to Fighting Efforts to Cut RFS Production, Cap Price of RINS
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to oppose any policy that undermines the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and fight efforts to impose harmful price caps on renewable identification numbers (RINs). The RFS helps decrease our nation's reliance on foreign oil by requiring the use of home-grown fuel sources like biofuels, including corn-based ethanol, in gasoline. Video … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Trump Cabinet Secretaries Struggle to Answer Duckworth’s Straightforward Questions About Infrastructure Plan at Senate Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Several Trump cabinet secretaries were unable to answer basic questions today from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) about the administration's infrastructure proposal, raising questions about how well-thought-out the Trump infrastructure plan is. At the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing, Duckworth asked Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross how the administration intends to fund its meager infrastructure … Continue Reading
March 13, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Tillerson Firing, Nominations of Pompeo & Haspel
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement this morning regarding the President's firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and the nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who has called those who engaged in torture "patriots," to replace Tillerson: "Just hours ago, Rex Tillerson became the lone Trump Administration cabinet official to stand with the United Kingdom in condemning Russia's nerve agent attack on English soil. Donald Trump's reaction … Continue Reading
March 09, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Announcement of Trump’s Agreement to Meet with Kim Jong Un
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding President Trump's announcement that he plans to meet with Kim Jong Un by May 2018: "There is no realistic military solution to the DPRK that does not involve catastrophic levels of casualties, destruction and global economic turmoil. I welcome the President's new embrace of diplomacy over his prior reckless bluster. However, I would strongly urge the Administration to remember that Kim Jong Un, … Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth met with members of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council to discuss infrastructure investments and opportunities for collaboration to advance projects for the region. The Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council aims to boost the local economy by helping businesses expand and attracting new businesses. A photo of the meeting is available here. "If we want to promote new economic opportunities for working families, … Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Rock Island Army Corps of Engineers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with officials from the Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including Colonel Craig Baumgartner, to discuss the crumbling lock-and-dam systems along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, flood risk management and the ongoing Brandon Road Lock and Dam study. A photo of the meeting is available here. "Colonel Baumgartner and I had a great discussion about the need to create a stronger inland waterway … Continue Reading
