Press Releases
Duckworth Touts Key Priorities Included in Committee-Passed Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—announced several of her key priorities were included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 that passed through the CST committee today. As one of the authors of the legislation, Duckworth successfully secured several provisions that will improve safety for … Continue Reading
February 08, 2024
Senate’s FAA Reauthorization Bill Includes Duckworth-Baldwin Provision to Help Improve Aircraft Evacuation Standards
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) successfully included their Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 that passed through committee today and is now expected to be considered by the full Senate. The legislation … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Adjutant General of Illinois National Guard
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—met with the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard (ILNG) Major General Richard Neely to discuss the ways we can build on our progress to support the Illinois National Guard as our nation continues to face multiple threats and global security challenges overseas. Photos of the Senator’s meeting can be found using the link here. “The Illinois National Guard plays a … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth & Durbin Sponsor Kaine Amendment to Maintain Congressional Oversight of Israel Military Assistance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and more than half of their Democratic Senate colleagues in filing an amendment to the bipartisan National Security Supplemental and Border Security compromise that would maintain the congressional notification requirement for all U.S. assistance to foreign militaries. Specifically, the amendment would strike a provision in the proposed national security supplemental funding bill … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Illinois State Police Director Kelly to Discuss Violence Prevention
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to discuss the Illinois State Police’s work and how federal efforts can help support the agency. Duckworth and Kelly discussed the importance of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding, the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. A photo from today’s meeting is available on the Senator’s website. “The work of the … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth Presses Qatari Ambassador on Importance of Securing the Safe Release of Hamas-held Hostages
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator and member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted Qatari Ambassador to the United States Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani for a meeting in her Capitol Hill office, where she raised the importance of reaching a deal to secure the safe return of the more than 100 hostages still being held by Hamas, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who has not been heard from since he was taken hostage after losing … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Great Lakes Lawmakers to Introduce Legislation to Extend Great Lake Protections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), both members of the Great Lakes Task Force, joined U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) and additional Great Lakes lawmakers in introducing the bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024, which extends the critical program for another five years through 2031, and increases annual funding levels from $475 million in 2026 to $500 million from 2027 … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Screening Committee, Application Process for Federal District Court in the Central 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 announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Central District of Illinois. The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ qualifications and … Continue Reading
February 06, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Talk Accessibility of Higher Ed, Job Training Programs with Illinois Higher Education Leaders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with the leaders and members of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) and the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities (FIICU), which represents 58 Illinois private, nonprofit colleges across the state. During the meetings, Duckworth and Durbin advocated for doubling the maximum Pell Grant and supporting other federal student aid … Continue Reading
February 02, 2024
Duckworth Statement on U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria
[WASHGINTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding today’s U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria: “I’m heartbroken that three servicemembers were killed last weekend in an Iran-backed attack, and I’m devasted for their families, who will never be able to hold their loved ones close again. Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, Sgt. Kennedy Ladon … Continue Reading
February 02, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murphy, Van Hollen, Coons and Merkley in Urging Biden Administration to Work with Israel to Do More to Get Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and 19 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden urging the administration to encourage Israeli officials to take five specific steps to significantly increase urgently needed humanitarian aid for civilians … Continue Reading
February 01, 2024
Duckworth Powerfully Speaks Out After Iran-Backed Attack that Killed 3 American Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor about the recent Iran-backed attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three American servicemembers. In her remarks, Duckworth warned her Republican colleagues who have made reckless, irresponsible comments that risk escalating tensions and putting more of our troops in harm’s way … Continue Reading
February 01, 2024
Duckworth Highlights Illinois’s Leadership in Research & Innovation with IBM Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted Illinois’s strength as a leader in research and technology with IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research Dr. Darío Gil. Duckworth discussed Illinois’s leadership in quantum investments, including The Bloch, one of the state’s two programs recently designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a Tech Hub, as well as the state’s leading Universities and National Laboratories, which contribute to … Continue Reading
January 31, 2024
Duckworth Discusses Environmental Justice with Chicago’s People for Community Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders from Chicago’s People for Community Recovery, the organization at the heart of the founding of the Environmental Justice movement. Duckworth spoke with People for Community Recovery Executive Director Cheryl Johnson and Deputy Director Courtney Hanson about how she, as a co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, can continue working with groups like People for Community Recovery to achieve health … Continue Reading
January 31, 2024
Duckworth Meets With Rock Island Mayor to Discuss Infrastructure Investments Needed to Revive Rock Island’s 11th Street Corridor
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Mayor of Rock Island Mike Thoms to discuss some of the ways we can tackle the challenges facing the City of Rock Island, such as by investing in infrastructure projects along Rock Island’s 11th Street Corridor as well as by rehabilitating the city’s older housing and building new market-rate housing developments. During their meeting, they discussed how to revive the once thriving 11th Street Corridor—which has suffered … Continue Reading
January 31, 2024
Duckworth Highlights Illinois’s Leadership in Research & Innovation with IBM Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted Illinois’s strength as a leader in research and technology with IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research Dr. Darío Gil. Duckworth discussed Illinois’s leadership in quantum investments, including The Bloch, one of the state’s two programs recently designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a Tech Hub, as well as the state’s leading Universities and National Laboratories, which contribute to … Continue Reading
January 31, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley Discuss Chicago Hub Improvement Project with Union Pacific
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today met with Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena to discuss the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP), Amtrak’s multi-phased project to revitalize Chicago Union Station (CUS) and revolutionize Midwest passenger rail. During the meeting, the congressional leaders and Vena spoke about the importance of CHIP to the Midwest, as the project is critical to … Continue Reading
January 31, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2.8 Million in Federal Support for Solar Power Throughout Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,869,784 to help businesses in rural Illinois transition to solar power. This funding, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), will help selectees purchase and install solar arrays to help power their businesses while saving recipients money on power costs, conserving energy and creating good-paying jobs. “Transitioning to solar power will help lead … Continue Reading
January 30, 2024
Duckworth Meets With Nominee to Be Next Commander of INDOPACOM
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—met Admiral Samuel Paparo, the nominee to serve as the Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), to discuss his nomination and their shared priorities to strengthen military readiness, defense strategy and interoperability with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Photos of the meeting can be found on the Senator’s website. “I was … Continue Reading
January 29, 2024
Duckworth Reaction to Boeing Withdrawing Safety Standard Waiver Request for MAX 7 Aircraft with Known Safety Defect
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement after Boeing confirmed its intent to withdraw its reckless petition requesting an exemption from safety certification standards to prematurely allow its 737 MAX 7 aircraft to enter commercial use before fixing a known safety flaw that … Continue Reading
