Press Releases
Duckworth: Eroding Civilian Leadership of Our Armed Forces Is a Dangerous Precedent
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after voting against a measure that further erodes the legal requirements set in place to ensure civilian leadership of-and superiority over-our nation's military: "One of the foundational principles of our country-a principle I've risked my life to defend-is civilian control of the military. As a combat Veteran, I am disappointed that the legal … Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets with Energy Secretary Nominee Rick Perry
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Governor Rick Perry, the nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy, yesterday. As a member of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, Senator Duckworth will question the Governor at his upcoming confirmation hearing. "In Iraq, I saw firsthand the painful price this nation and her military heroes pay because of our reliance on foreign oil," said Senator Duckworth. "I know that increasing production of … Continue Reading
January 11, 2017
Duckworth: When Your Coverage Is Cut and Your Costs Skyrocket, Think Back to This Vote
During late night Senate session, Duckworth worked to protect Veterans and working mothers from healthcare cost increases & reduced coverage WASHINGTON, DC- After voting against legislation that could strip protections and health benefits hardworking Illinoisans rely on, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth issued the following statement: "When I was sworn in as a U.S. Senator last week, I wanted to get to work-with people on both sides of the aisle-enacting policies that help hardworking … Continue Reading
January 10, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets with Defense Secretary Nominee General James Mattis
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with General James Mattis, the nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense, yesterday and issued the statement below. Duckworth, a combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, has been outspoken in support of the bedrock American principle of a civilian-led military. Photographs and b-roll of their meeting can be accessed here. "Though I've made my concerns clear about eroding the civilian leadership or our … Continue Reading
January 10, 2017
Tammy Duckworth Statement on the Nomination of Dr. David Shulkin to be VA Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - 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 the VA, issued the following statement regarding Dr. David Shulkin's nomination to be the next U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. A photo of Senator Duckworth meeting with Dr. Shulkin and current VA Secretary Bob McDonald last year when she was a Congresswoman is available … Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets With Transportation Secretary Nominee Elaine Chao
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Elaine Chao, the nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which Senator Duckworth serves on, is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Secretary Chao this Wednesday. Photos and video footage of the Senator's meeting with Secretary Chao are available here. Following the meeting, Senator Duckworth released the following … Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Duckworth Questions Workers Formerly Employed By Department of Labor Nominee Andrew Puzder
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned several workers who have been employed or are currently by Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Puzder's fast food corporation and listened to their testimony about the nominee's labor practices. In today's witness testimony, the employees described their experiences working at companies owned by Mr. Puzder, including being denied paid leave and being required to work in food service and preparation while ill. Workers without paid … Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets with Commerce Secretary Nominee Wilbur Ross
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Wilbur Ross, the nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, yesterday. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which Senator Duckworth serves on, is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Mr. Ross this Thursday. Senator Duckworth released the following statement regarding her meeting with Mr. Ross: "Mr. Ross and I had a good conversation about how the Commerce Department can support … Continue Reading
January 09, 2017
Durbin and Duckworth meet to discuss legislative priorities for Illinois
U.S. Senators meet for the first time since Duckworth was sworn in to serve alongside Durbin WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met to discuss priority issues for the state of Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin and Duckworth discussed short- and long-term goals and priorities for Illinois, including ways to create jobs, invest in infrastructure and grow the state's economy. "Senator Duckworth's journey to the Senate is an inspiration to me and people … Continue Reading
January 08, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth introduce bill to require President and Vice President to fully divest personal financial conflicts of interest
Senators Also Reiterate Their Demand for President-elect Trump to Comply with Constitution's Emoluments Clause WASHINGTON D.C.- Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Democratic members of Congress, introduced the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 in the United States Senate and House that would require the President and Vice President to disclose and divest any potential financial conflicts of interest. It also would require presidential … Continue Reading
January 08, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth announce more than $117 million in federal funding for rural community development in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $117,920,000 in federal funding for Edgar, Kankakee, Madison, Perry Counties to support rural community development projects. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Community Development Initiative Grant, will provide assistance to benefit the City of Paris, Illinois, Olivet Nazarene University Foundation, the Village of St. Jacob, Illinois, and Pinckneyville Community … Continue Reading
January 08, 2017
Ahead of Attorney General Confirmation Hearing, Duckworth Highlights Importance of Disability Rights and All Civil Rights
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released a statement describing how her experience informs her views about disability rights and civil rights for all Americans. In particular, Senator Duckworth discussed Senator Jeff Sessions' troubling record on disability issues, which raises concerns about his nomination to be Attorney General of the United States. "My life isn't like many of my colleagues in Congress,"said Senator Duckworth."Getting around can be difficult. I … Continue Reading
January 05, 2017
Duckworth Urges Republicans To Stop Trying To Defund Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON, DC -Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined 31 of her fellow U.S. Senators in urging Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to reconsider his harmful, hyper-partisan new effort to take away women's access to critical health services like mammograms and physical screenings provided by Planned Parenthood. Duckworth did not grow up in a wealthy family. She worked her way through college as a waitress and relied on Planned Parenthood for personal health care services at the … Continue Reading
January 02, 2017
Tammy Duckworth sworn in as Illinois’s newest United States Senator
***PHOTO & VIDEO AVAILABLE HERE*** [WASHINGTON, DC] - Just a few minutes after noon in the U.S. Capitol today, former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth was sworn in as Illinois's newest United States Senator by Vice President Joe Biden. Following the official swearing in ceremony, Senator Duckworth and the Vice President were joined by her family for a traditional re-enactment inside the … Continue Reading
December 15, 2016
Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth to Serve on Committees Handling Infrastructure, Transportation, Small Business, Energy & Manufacturing Policy
On Senate Committees, Duckworth will advance critical Illinois priorities that put Illinoisans back to work improving infrastructure, grow small businesses and continue her life's mission of advocating for Veterans CHICAGO, IL - After being sworn into the U.S. Senate on January 3rd, 2017, U.S. Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will serve on several influential committees: Environment & Public Works; Energy & Natural Resources; Commerce, Science, & Transportation; and Small … Continue Reading
December 08, 2016
Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth Announces Senior Staff Appointments
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL- Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced she will appointment several senior staff members in her new U.S. Senate office next year. Her leadership team will retain the entire senior staff from her Eighth District Congressional Office. Duckworth will be sworn in as Illinois' junior U.S. Senator on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2017. "I'm so pleased to have Kaitlin, Kalina, Cameron and the rest of my incredibly strong leadership team joining me as senior advisors in … Continue Reading
