Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on Administration’s Threat to Eliminate EPA Region 5
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today criticized reports that the Trump Administration is considering closing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Main Office in Chicago, where more than 1,000 dedicated civil servants work. Duckworth met with many of the EPA's Region 5 staffers in Chicago last week to discuss the critical work they do to protect the health and safety of Americans living in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Duckworth … Continue Reading
April 18, 2017
On Tax Day, Senators Ask Government Watchdog to Review Tax-Time Products
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) today in asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of the tax-time financial products most commonly used by taxpayers, as well as the transparency of and fees charged for these financial products. "An overwhelming majority of Americans rely … Continue Reading
April 18, 2017
Duckworth & St. Louis Army Corps of Engineers Discuss Improving Lock-and-Dam Systems
[ALTON, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with the Commander of the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colonel Anthony Mitchell, at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam. While at the Melvin Price Locks and Dam, Duckworth toured the facility and highlighted the need to invest in our aging lock-and-dam systems. A photo from today's tour can be viewed here. "Melvin Price Locks and Dam is an example of how improving our lock-and-dam systems today supports our … Continue Reading
April 17, 2017
Duckworth Discusses Investments in Workforce Development at Southwestern Illinois College
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with the President of Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC), Dr. Georgia Costello, and other college leaders and students while touring SWIC's Sam Wolf Granite City Campus. Together, they discussed SWIC's workforce development programs and legislation Senator Duckworth helped introduce, the Community College to Career Fund Act (CC2C), which wouldencourage companies and community colleges to develop workforce training programs to … Continue Reading
April 17, 2017
Duckworth in Granite City: Trump’s Broken Promises Hurt Illinois Manufacturers
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Icon Mechanical, a mechanical engineering and construction contractor, to discuss the importance of making investments to support American manufacturers as they create good-paying jobs and contribute to the local economy. President Trump's proposed budget would slash funding from programs like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, which helps manufacturers innovate and improve their productivity so they can compete in … Continue Reading
April 17, 2017
Duckworth Calls on Secretary Chao to Explain Delay of DOT Rule to Assist Disabled Air Travelers
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao today, calling on Secretary Chao to explain why the Department of Transportation is delaying implementation of a rule that will protect the rights of disabled commercial air travelers. Duckworth also underscored the need for increased consumer protections for air travelers in light of recent events at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, when a ticketed passenger was … Continue Reading
April 14, 2017
Duckworth Discusses Nuclear Waste Management with Local Leaders in Zion
[ZION, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with local leaders from Zion yesterday to discuss the importance of ensuring communities responsible for storing nuclear waste have the resources they need to support emergency planning, law enforcement and security at nuclear waste sites. In recent months, Duckworth addressed issues surrounding nuclear waste management with Energy Secretary Rick Perry and with students from the Zion community. A photo of the event is available … Continue Reading
April 14, 2017
Duckworth, Lake County Mayors Discuss Infrastructure Priorities
[NORTH CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with several mayors and leaders from Lake County communities yesterday to discuss their efforts to support local infrastructure projects and the importance of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant program, a competitive grant program that funds innovative, job-creating transportation projects. Duckworth also highlighted the Senate's recent passage of the first bill she proposed in the chamber, … Continue Reading
April 14, 2017
Duckworth Visits UI Labs, Highlights Importance of Illinois’s Advanced Manufacturing Capacity
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited UI Labs and the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) with Million Women Mentors Illinois State Chair Jenny Kopach to discuss DMDII's critical work to support advanced manufacturing in Illinois. Duckworth also discussed her efforts to expand Illinois's manufacturing sector and strengthen a skilled workforce prepared for 21st Century manufacturing jobs, highlighting a bill she recently helped introduce in … Continue Reading
April 14, 2017
Duckworth: Trump Budget Would Harm Illinois Manufacturers
[BENSENVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the leadership of ACE Metal Crafts and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center today to discuss how President Trump's budget would harm Illinois manufacturers. The President has proposed eliminating funding for programs like the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that helps manufacturers innovate and improve their productivity in order to stay competitive in the global 21st century economy. A photo of Duckworth's … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Duckworth, Senators Demand Answers From United Airlines Following The Forcible Removal Of A Passenger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and a group of 21 Senators in demanding answers from United Airlines following the forcible removal of a ticketed passenger on Flight 3411 from Chicago, Illinois to Louisville, Kentucky. "Consumer trust and confidence are critical to ensure this industry continues to thrive, and we hope United Airlines will work diligently to immediately address this incident and make … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Duckworth Hosts Town Hall Meeting at Harper College in Palatine
[PALATINE, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a town hall meeting at Harper College to meet with constituents, answer questions and discuss her work to serve Illinois in the U.S. Senate. A livestream video of the event is available on the Senator's Facebook page here. "I understand that many people feel like the President and other leaders in Washington aren't listening to them, but I want them to know that I'm here and I'm listening," said Senator Duckworth. … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Duckworth, Senate Democrats Challenge Attorney General’s Review of Consent Decrees
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) yesterday in urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reconsider his recent decision to review the use of consent decrees in cases of police violence, which could thwart efforts to protect civil rights and improve public safety. Existing consent decrees serve to support sweeping police reform with the intention of putting a stop to civil rights abuses, … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Urge Commerce Secretary to Strengthen Antidumping Measures & Protect American Workers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the U.S. Department of Commerce reviews antidumping margins on foreign imports, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to crack down on unfair trade practices and strengthen protections against the dumping of foreign-made products in American markets. In their letter, the Senators brought attention to the 2,000 Illinois steelworkers who were laid off after the temporary idling of blast furnaces and … Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Duckworth Statement on U.S. Missile Strike in Syria
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on last night's U.S. military strike in Syria: "Last night's cruise missile strike sends a clear and measured message to Bashar al-Assad that his horrific, unacceptable and illegal use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians will not go unanswered by the United States of America. While our Armed Forces effectively carried out their orders with utmost professionalism, the United States now … Continue Reading
April 07, 2017
Duckworth Meets with VA Secretary Shulkin, Highlights Need to Protect Veteran Access to Health Care
[WASHIGNTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces and still receives her own healthcare services through VA, this week met with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin to discuss the importance of ensuring America's Veterans have access to the quality care and support they have earned. A photo of the meeting is available here. "It's important we … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Senate Republicans’ Elimination of 60-Vote Standard for Supreme Court Nominees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following Senate Republicans' decision to overturn decades of Senate precedent and eliminate the 60 vote threshold for Supreme Court nominees, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "In their haste to give President Donald Trump's nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court, Senate Republicans have engaged in an unprecedented abuse of power and unraveled a vital check and balance that ensured Supreme Court Justices are in … Continue Reading
April 05, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $4 Million in Transportation Funding for Emergency Relief in Illinois
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration has awarded a total of $4,714,092 to the Illinois Department of Transportation to repair and reconstruct Federal highways and roads on Federal lands in Illinois damaged by natural disasters. Repairing these transportation systems will help normalize traffic flows and protect against future deterioration. "These investmentswill … Continue Reading
April 04, 2017
Duckworth, Cohen, Clay Introduce Bill to Help Prevent Police-Involved Deaths, Provide Justice to Impacted Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Police Training and Independent Review Act to help prevent police-involved deaths and encourage independent and impartial investigations into law enforcement officials' use of deadly force. The legislation, introduced as a companion to identical House legislation drafted by Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice Congressman Lacy Clay … Continue Reading
April 04, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Syrian Chemical Weapons Attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria that has claimed the lives of dozens of Syrians, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "The Syrian government's use of poisonous gas on their own people, including innocent children, is a clear violation of international law and I am utterly disgusted. It is also a reminder that Basher al-Assad is a murderous butcher and yet more evidence he cannot be allowed to stay in power. It is time … Continue Reading
