Press Releases
Duckworth Calls on President Trump to Support American Manufacturing, Keep Buy American Pledge in NAFTA Renegotiation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today in urging President Trump to keep his promise to support American manufacturing and uphold his Buy American Pledge by eliminating the government procurement chapter from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "For … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Vote
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following the Senate vote to introduce new punitive measures against Russia and prevent the Trump administration from lifting sanctions against Russia without Congressional approval, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "This bipartisan agreement sends an important message to the Russian government and to anyone else who attempts to interfere in our elections: their destabilizing actions will not go unpunished. It also sends a message to … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding this morning's shooting in Alexandria, Virginia: "This is a sad day for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. We can all agree that these sorts of actions simply have no place in civil society, and we should do much more to prevent this sort of needless violence. I wish all the victims a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing my former House colleagues, Congressional … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Peoria Chamber of Commerce Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce including Chamber President Jeffrey Griffin today to discuss her vision for creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and small business development. Duckworth's meeting today follows a discussion yesterday with Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis regarding her work to spur economic development … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth, Inhofe Introduce Bipartisan Flight Act to Help Small, Rural Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in introducing the Forward Looking Investment in General Aviation, Hangars, and Tarmacs (FLIGHT) Act, which would make it easier for more than 65 small and rural airports in Illinois to undertake important infrastructure improvements. Specifically, their bipartisan legislation would give these airports greater access to funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and provide needed … Continue Reading
June 09, 2017
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Protect Disability Rights for Airplane Passengers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act this week to help improve protections for airplane passengers with disabilities, making air travel more equitable and accessible for all Americans. "Far too many Americans living with a disability - many of whom are Veterans like myself - face unnecessary challenges during … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Former FBI Director James Comey’s Senate Intelligence Committee Testimony
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning: "Mr. Comey's testimony about the President's behavior should concern any American who respects the basic rule of law and our democratic institutions. Let's be clear: the former FBI Director has now testified under oath that he believes the President lied and may be under investigation for … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin Pass Resolution Congratulating FermiLab on 50th Anniversary
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced a resolution this week, co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), which passed the Senate unanimously last night, congratulating Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) on 50 years of groundbreaking discoveries. Fermilab, a United States Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory located in Batavia, Illinois, is America's premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory. This world-renowned facility … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth Applauds Passage of VA Accountability & Whistleblower Protection Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement applauding today's Senate's passage of bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by strengthening protections for whistleblowers against retaliation and making it easier to dismiss employees who are negligent in their care for Veterans and are performing poorly. Senator Duckworth is a combat Veteran who … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth Addresses the Ninth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding, Calls on Members of Congress to Support New Moms
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed members of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine at the Ninth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding. Duckworth discussed her efforts to support the health of breastfeeding mothers and children across the country, highlighting legislation she recently introduced - the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act - to ensure women traveling through large- and medium-sized airports have accessible, clean and convenient lactation rooms. … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth: I Will Not Gamble with the Safety of the Flying Public by Privatizing Our Airspace
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Two days after President Trump announced a plan to privatize the nation's air traffic control system, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today questioned U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on the President's proposal and other key aviation issues during a Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing. "The FAA successfully manages the busiest, most complex airspace in the entire world, and, thanks to their good work, America's air traffic control … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
After Meeting With EPA Assistant Administrator Nominee, Duckworth Reiterates Need for Strong Environmental Protections
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Susan Bodine, the nominee to be Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A photo of their meeting is available here."I appreciated meeting with Ms. Bodine this afternoon and know that, at a time when both the President and the EPA Administrator seem intent on dismantling environmental protections, roles like the one she has been nominated for are as important as ever," said Senator Duckworth. "I … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth Speaks At Rally Against Trump’s Devastating Cuts to Medicaid
WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) at a rally yesterday with disability rights advocates against the reckless $1.4 trillion in cuts to Medicaid that President Trump has proposed in his healthcare repeal bill and budget blueprint. Senator Duckworth warned that the cuts would hurt students across the country who benefit from Medicaid-funded counselors and school nurses and … Continue Reading
June 05, 2017
Senator Highlights Devastating Effects of President Trump’s Discriminatory Immigration Executive Orders
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a roundtable with elected officials, community leaders and representatives of immigration and refugee organizations to discuss the issues facing immigrant communities in the Trump era. Duckworth highlighted her efforts in the Senate to combat the Trump Administration's discriminatory executive orders against immigrants and instead move towards immigration reform that is practical, fair and humane. A photo of today's discussion … Continue Reading
June 02, 2017
Duckworth Urges EPA to Strengthen Drinking Water Protections to Prevent Lead Poisoning
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, and Representative Dan Kildee (D-MI) are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen protections against lead poisoning in our nation's pipes, fittings, and fixtures that supply drinking water. In a comment on the EPA's proposed rule on the "Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water," Duckworth and Kildee emphasized … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States of America from the Paris Climate Agreement: "Climate change is one of the gravest environmental, economic and national security threats of our time, and we're already experiencing its devastating effects in Illinois and across the country. Our military leaders have long understood that increased famine and drought caused by climate … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $15 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois AmeriCorps Programs
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced over $15 million in grant funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support 16 Illinois-based AmeriCorps organizations. This funding will invest $11,053,898 in AmeriCorps programs across Illinois, along with $4,142,050 in education awards to help AmeriCorps members pay for college after they complete their service. "Expanding national service opportunities is vital to … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Express Concern over President Trump’s Cuts to Rural Development
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and 26 of their colleagues in writing to President Trump this week to express concern about how his budget proposal would dramatically reduce or eliminate critical rural development programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and cut Farm Bill programs by $231 billion. These cuts, coupled with the recently announced USDA reorganization that would abolish Under … Continue Reading
May 31, 2017
Duckworth Criticizes Trump Budget’s Cuts to Programs that Support New Moms, Curb Homelessness
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with the staff of New Moms, an organization based in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago that supports young, struggling mothers and their children. While touring their facility, Duckworth discussed how President Trump's budget proposal would hurt new mothers and their families by eliminating the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which coordinates a comprehensive response to homelessness across 19 federal … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Duckworth Pays Tribute to Fallen Servicemembers at Camp Butler on Memorial Day
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - On Memorial Day, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed American servicemembers, Veterans and military families at Camp Butler National Cemetery to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives defending our nation. A photo of the ceremony is available here. "Memorial Day offers us a somber reminder of the true cost of war," said Duckworth. "It is a time for us to remember that wars are not fought by faceless, nameless troops. They are … Continue Reading
