Press Releases
Duckworth: Trump Putting Veterans on Chopping Block to Jam through Repeal Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today criticized President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for including a provision in their health care repeal bill that threatens to make it harder for millions of Veterans to receive healthcare. The provision, which could harm as many as 7 million Veterans who do not receive their care through the VA, would prohibit any Veteran from receiving tax credits to help them afford private insurance coverage. "This President's habit … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Duckworth Condemns Rise of Anti-Semitism & Hate Crimes in Meeting with Chicago Jewish Federation Members
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with members of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) today and discussed the rising number of threats against Jewish schools and community centers in Illinois and across the country. Duckworth and JUF members also discussed how the Trump budget would hurt families across Illinois with its irresponsible cuts to vital programs as varied as the Emergency Food and Shelter program and the Holocaust Survivors … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Duckworth Statement on FBI Investigation into Kremlin-Trump Campaign Coordination
WASHINGTON, DC - Following FBI Director James Comey's acknowledgement that the FBI opened an investigation into whether there was coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials who were meddling in our presidential election, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Every American should be troubled by the threat of a foreign adversary interfering in our elections. The FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in our electoral process is a necessary … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Touts Public Education, College Affordability at Parent Mentor Conference in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered the keynote address at the Logan Square Neighborhood Association's annual Parent Mentor Convention, which celebrates the work of parent volunteers in public schools. During her speech, Duckworth highlighted the need for greater investments in public schools and more affordable options for higher education. A photo of Duckworth at the convention can be found here. Audio of her remarks in both English and Spanish is available upon … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Receives Quad County Urban League’s “Woman in Power” Award
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today received Quad County Urban League's "Woman in Power" award at the organization's annual Women's Empowerment Summit, which is focused on diversity in the workplace. A photo of the award ceremony is available here. "This ceremony is a time to both honor the civil rights leaders and the women who have come before us and to celebrate the American values of diversity and inclusion," said Senator Duckworth. "I am truly honored to receive the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Rescind President Trump’s Border Wall Executive Order
WASHINGTON, DC - In the wake of President Trump's budget proposal, which irresponsibly cuts countless vital programs across government in part to pay for an unnecessary border wall, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and 21 of her colleagues in introducing a bill to rescind President Trump's executive order to construct a border wall and ramp up the deportations and detentions of undocumented immigrants. "Hard-working Americans should not be forced to … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Visits Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, Highlights Infrastructure Agenda
CHICAGO, IL -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant - a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago treatment facility - today to learn more about the water treatment process, as well as the plant's efforts to reduce flooding and control pollution. Duckworth also met with local leaders at the plant to discuss her efforts to modernize Illinois's infrastructure and find common sense solutions to reduce flooding. A photo of the meeting is … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Attends Groundbreaking of New Chicago Rail Car Facility
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attended the groundbreaking of a new rail car facility today in Chicago that has committed to hiring 170 workers to assemble 400 new rail cars by 2020 for the Chicago Transit Authority. Senator Duckworth was joined by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Alderman Susan Garza. A photo of the event is available here. "Projects like this that upgrade and improve our public transit system, create good-paying jobs and invest in … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Senator Duckworth Strongly Opposes Trump Budget Cuts Eliminating Critical Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the senior Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, spoke out in opposition to the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) budget at a Senate hearing yesterday, expressing concern that it would eliminate programs that are needed to protect and preserve the Great Lakes from toxic pollution and invasive species like Asian carp. The budget … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Irresponsible Trump Budget
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to President Trump's first federal budget proposal: "The President broke more of his campaign promises today by releasing a budget that would weaken our nation, hurt the people of Illinois and reverse years of progress with its irresponsible cuts to countless vital programs. For anyone wondering who will pay for his ineffective border wall, the first Trump budget proposal makes it clear: … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Duckworth Statement on the Honorable Daniel Coats’ Confirmation Vote to be Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting against former U.S. Senator Daniel Coats' nomination to be Director of National Intelligence: "Not only is torture illegal under both federal and international law, it is also ineffective and undermines the ideals that make our nation great. Torture does not make our country safer, in fact it puts American Troops serving overseas at greater risk. It is not a tactic used by strong nations. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Duckworth and Franken Re-Introduce Bill to Train Illinoisans for Open, High-Skill Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and AL Franken (D-MN) announced the reintroduction of their legislation to close the "skills gap," which makes it difficult for small businesses and other employers to find qualified candidates for unfilled jobs by supporting innovative partnerships between community colleges, technical colleges,and businesses to train students to fill high-demand jobs. TheCommunity College to Career Fund Act (CC2C) builds off of successful … Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Duckworth, Senate Democrats Challenge President Trump to Support Paid Family & Medical Leave Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer, and U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) to unveil comprehensive paid family and medical leave legislation and challenge President Trump to support it since he has previously endorsed the concept of paid leave. The Senators' comprehensive proposal, the FAMILY Act, would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for … Continue Reading
March 13, 2017
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Rescind Discriminatory Trump Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 35 Democratic colleagues today in introducing a bill to rescind President Trump's discriminatory executive order barring immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries and suspending the U.S. refugee program. "Just like his last Muslim ban, this executive order plays into our enemy's hands by giving them a propaganda tool to spread a false narrative about the United … Continue Reading
March 10, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Leadership
MOLINE, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce including Chamber CEO Tara Barney today to discuss her vision for creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families in communities across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and small business development. Duckworth also discussed her recent efforts to upgrade Illinois locks-and-dams to speed up barge traffic near Rock Island and along the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2017
Duckworth Touts National Security, Economic Impact at Rock Island Arsenal
MOLINE, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Rock Island Arsenal today and met with its leadership headquartered there. During the Senator's meeting with Arsenal officials this morning, Duckworth discussed her efforts in Congress to support the Arsenal and its more than 6,000 employees whose work is vital to our national security. A photo of the meeting is available here. "It was great to meet with Lt. General Twitty and the leadership of the Arsenal and see how they produce … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Duckworth Responds to EPA Administrator Pruitt Questioning the Science of Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt stated during an interview with CNBC that carbon dioxide is not a primary contributor to climate change, despite claiming in his confirmation hearing-which Duckworth participated in-that he did not question the science of climate change: "I'm alarmed at what appears to be another Trump Administration official misleading Congress … Continue Reading
March 08, 2017
Duckworth & Rock Island Army Corps of Engineers Discuss Improving Lock-and-Dam Systems
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with several representatives of the Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers yesterday, including its Commander, Colonel Craig Baumgartner, to discuss the need to invest in our aging lock-and-dam systems. "Colonel Baumgartner and I had a great discussion about the need to create a stronger inland waterway system by upgrading our locks-and-dams along the Upper Mississippi River, many of which are outdated and unable to … Continue Reading
March 08, 2017
Combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth Discusses Military’s Handling of Sexual Predators with Air Force Generals
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the United States Armed Forces' handling of sexually predatory behavior in its ranks with the commanders of the Air Force's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPR) yesterday. During her meeting with Air Force Major General James Johnson and Air Force Major General Roosevelt Allen (photo available here), Duckworth also learned about the Air Force's efforts to address and prevent sexual assault in the service. "As the … Continue Reading
March 08, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Greater Chicago Food Depository, Highlights Need to Eliminate Hunger
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with representatives of the Greater Chicago Food Depository yesterday to discuss the importance of federal nutrition programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Duckworth has been a strong supporter of SNAP, which provides millions of children and families with critical support to curb domestic hunger. A photo of the meeting is available here. "The Greater Chicago Food Depository's work combines two issues … Continue Reading
