Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $100 Million in Federal Funding to Upgrade Public Transit in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $100 million in federal funding to support the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program and improve accessibility and safety on CTA public transit. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Capital Investment Program (CIP), which provides roughly $2.3 billion each year to support light rail, heavy rail, commuter rail, streetcar and bus … Continue Reading
September 21, 2017
Duckworth Hosts Local Homelessness and Housing Organizations Roundtable
[CHICAGO, IL] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a roundtable where she heard from homelessness advocates and local housing leaders, yesterday. Duckworth discussed the President's proposed cuts to eliminate U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) funding and slash the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget. A photo of the discussion is available here. "USICH and HUD do important work to fight homelessness, but the ACA is also a critical component … Continue Reading
September 21, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Federal Highway Administration Nominee Paul Trombino
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Paul Trombino, the President's nominee to be the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), this week. As a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Duckworth will participate in Mr. Trombino's anticipated confirmation hearing on October 5. A photograph of the meeting is available here. "I spoke with Mr. Trombino about our nation's roads and highways to ensure that they remain safe and … Continue Reading
September 20, 2017
Duckworth: Investments in Workforce Development Key to Growing Good-Paying Illinois Jobs
[PARK FOREST, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted her efforts to support workforce development programs throughout Illinois at a roundtable today with community leaders from the greater Chicago area. Duckworth discussed her Community College to Career Fund (CC2C) Act, which would encourage collaboration between small businesses and community colleges to develop workforce training programs and curricula that reduce the "skills gap" that makes it harder for graduates to find … Continue Reading
September 20, 2017
Duckworth Statement in Opposition to Graham-Cassidy-Heller Healthcare Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on the Graham-Cassidy-Heller healthcare bill, which Senate Republicans just announced they intend to bring up for a vote next week: "It's a shame that Senate Republicans have abandoned bipartisan efforts to improve our healthcare system and are once again trying to rush through legislation to overhaul one-fifth of our economy before the American people have even had a chance to look at it. Like … Continue Reading
September 19, 2017
Senate Passes Several Duckworth Amendments to Help Small Businesses, Make Government More Efficient & Prevent Low-Income Servicemembers from Going Hungry
[WASHINGTON, DC] - The Senate tonight overwhelmingly passed four proposals authored by combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) as part of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). If the NDAA - which passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 89-8 - becomes law, Duckworth's provisions will help prevent low-income Servicemembers from going hungry, make it easier for small businesses to get Department of Defense contracts, make government federal contracting … Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Duckworth Champions Voting Rights Expansion Amid Attacks on the Right to Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) criticized the Trump Administration's efforts to disenfranchise American citizens and reiterated her call for Congress to strengthen voting rights by passing the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE Act), which she recently introduced to help reduce the barriers to voting for young Americans. "President Trump's so-called 'election integrity' commission has led an unprecedented attack on our voting rights by manufacturing … Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
After Meeting with Mother of Murdered Chicago Trafficking Victim, Duckworth Calls on Congress to Help Stop Child Sex Trafficking
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After meeting with the mother of slain Chicago child sex trafficking victim Desiree Robinson, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on Congress to do more to address sex trafficking and protect victims by providing law enforcement and prosecutors with additional tools they need to effectively prosecute offenders and traffickers. At a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing this morning, Duckworth highlighted her support for the Stop … Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Duckworth Amendment to Help Prevent Troops from Going Hungry Passes Senate as Part of NDAA
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth's (D-IL) amendment to address food insecurity among active duty Servicemembers and help prevent troops from going hungry passed the Senate today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Duckworth, who relied on food stamps as a teenager before serving for 23 years in the Reserve Forces, proposed her amendment requiring the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to finally begin collecting data on Servicemembers … Continue Reading
September 17, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin, Grassley, Ernst NDAA Amendment Will Help Ensure Long Term Success of Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), filed a bipartisan amendment, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), that will help reduce government waste and ensure the long-term success of the Rock Island Arsenal. The senators' bipartisan amendment will ensure the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) first seeks out existing government owned … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
Duckworth Welcomes Servicemembers and Veterans as New Citizens at Naturalization Ceremony
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today welcomed nine Servicemembers and Veterans to our country for the first time as citizens and highlighted the value of civilian and military service at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony. A photo of the event is available here. "For you to step forward even before you became citizens to defend the values enshrined in the Constitution is the courage that makes our military and country stronger," … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Families Have Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) to help ensure low- and middle-income American families have access to affordable and high-quality child care. Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the … Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
With Application Deadline Approaching, Duckworth Seeks Additional Student Applications for U.S. Military Service Academies
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reiterated her call to have Illinois high school students interested in attending one of the four U.S. Military Service Academies submit their applications to her office before the Friday, September 29 deadline. Each year the Senator, along with a panel of judges, selects from the applicants a group of outstanding Illinois students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Effort to Ensure Public Debate on a New Authorization for the Use of Military Force
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting to continue debate on the need to provide our troops with clear guidance and legal authority for their operations with a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Since Congress passed the current Authorization for the Use of Military Force in 2001, the war on terror and the nature of conflict has changed. The leadership of our country and our … Continue Reading
September 11, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Advancement of House Bill That Would Undermine Key ADA Protections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to the House Judiciary Committee's advancement of the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620), a bill that would undermine protections included in the Americans with Disabilities Act: "27 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act became the law of the land, the notion that businesses in this country need more time to provide people with disabilities access to their services … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Duckworth, Van Hollen, Beyer and Ellison Introduce Legislation to Support Civic Participation and Strengthen Voting Rights
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act today to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens' participation in their democratic process. The PROVE Act would enable citizens who are 16 and older to preregister to be added to voter rolls when they turn 18. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) also introduced companion … Continue Reading
September 06, 2017
Duckworth, Van Hollen, Beyer and Ellison Introduce Legislation to Support Civic Participation and Strengthen Voting Rights
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act today to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens' participation in their democratic process. The PROVE Act would enable citizens who are 16 and older to preregister to be added to voter rolls when they turn 18. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) also introduced companion … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Trump DACA Announcement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the Trump administration's announcement that they will rescind DACA, leaving nearly 800,000 DREAMers vulnerable to deportation, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Make no mistake-this decision is not about 'rule of law,' as Attorney General Sessions claims. This is a gut-wrenching betrayal of American values that leaves nearly 800,000 of our neighbors vulnerable to deportation and tears families and communities … Continue Reading
September 04, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Reports Trump Will Rescind DACA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to reports that President Trump will announce tomorrow that he is rescinding DACA, leaving nearly 800,000 DREAMers vulnerable to deportation, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "If the President makes the heartless and irresponsible decision to rescind DACA, it would be more than another broken promise from a President who is infamous for not keeping his word. The President would be betraying American values, leaving … Continue Reading
August 30, 2017
Duckworth Urges FBI to Investigate Former Trump Advisor Carl Icahn for Potential Violations of Federal Anti-Corruption Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is requesting the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launch a criminal investigation into whether former Special Advisor to President Trump Carl Icahn violated federal anti-corruption law by attempting to use his government position to enrich himself by hundreds of millions of dollars. Icahn is a billionaire and longtime Trump supporter who was appointed to a White House position by President Trump but recently resigned under increasing … Continue Reading
