Press Releases
Duckworth to Mattis: Stand Up to Trump’s Executive Order, American Troops Are at Risk
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis to stand up to President Trump's executive order (EO), which endangers both our national security and the safety of our currently-deployed troops by limiting travel from certain Muslim-majority countries. In a letter sent to Secretary Mattis this week, Duckworth recalled the Secretary's own words from last year regarding then-candidate Trump's incendiary "Muslim ban" … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, DC - After President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill a lifetime appointment as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "I take seriously my constitutional responsibility as a United States Senator to evaluate Judge Gorsuch's qualifications for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Over the coming weeks, I will thoroughly assess his rulings and writings on a range of issues, particularly on civil and … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Duckworth: DeVos Is Not Qualified to Lead the Department of Education
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced she will not support the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, citing the nominee's ignorance of important civil rights protections that ensure every student is afforded the right to a quality education, her eagerness to redirect funding away from public schools and her lack of expertise and experience in the education field. "After reviewing Ms. DeVos' record and recent Senate … Continue Reading
January 29, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin Request Immediate Investigation into Department of Homeland Security’s Implementation of Trump’s Executive Order
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Inspector General to immediately initiate an independent investigation into the agency's potentially illegal implementation of President Trump's executive order. This rushed and poorly drafted Trump Administration initiative endangers our national security by limiting travel from certain Muslim-majority countries, and it may violate long-standing … Continue Reading
January 27, 2017
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Duckworth Responds to Trump Blocking Refugees Fleeing Danger
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the executive order signed by the President today to restrict visas from several Muslim-majority countries and halting the Syrian refugee resettlement program, which offers a small number of highly-vetted human beings fleeing terrorism and a murderous regime. "As a child, I witnessed the refugee crisis borne out of people fleeing the Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao in Southeast Asia with my own eyes. I'm … Continue Reading
January 26, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin: Federal Hiring Freeze Threatens to Harm Veterans & the American People
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged President Trump to rethink his misguided federal hiring freeze which, in addition to making the entire federal government less efficient and less able to assist Americans, will hit Veterans particularly hard. The newly-implemented hiring freeze could increase wait times at agencies like Social Security Administration, and reduce government oversight by limiting staffing at Offices of Inspector Generals. It … Continue Reading
January 25, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Dangerous & Misguided Trump Executive Orders
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the executive orders signed by the President today that would cut federal funding from Illinois and divert U.S. tax dollars to build a wall on the Southern border: "President Trump's actions today are dangerous, misguided and will compromise public safety in communities across Illinois by fostering mistrust and suspicion between local law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect. We … Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets with Chicago Cubs Board Member & Deputy Commerce Secretary Nominee Todd Ricketts
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Todd Ricketts, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Cubs and the President's nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Senator Duckworth will participate in Mr. Ricketts' confirmation hearing, which has not yet been scheduled. B-Roll and a photograph of today's meeting are available here. "Mr. Ricketts and … Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets with Small Business Administration Nominee Linda McMahon
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Linda McMahon, the President's nominee to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, Senator Duckworth will also question Ms. McMahon during the nominee's confirmation hearing, which is scheduled to convene tomorrow morning. A photograph of today's meeting is available here. "Today, I spoke with Ms. McMahon about working … Continue Reading
January 23, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Women’s March Participants from Illinois
WASHIGNTON, DC - In her Capitol Hill office today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined several Illinoisans who participated in Saturday's Women's March on Washington to discuss the importance of remaining active in their communities and working to protect women's rights. Duckworth, a combat Veteran and the first female Asian American U.S. Senator from Illinois, spoke at this weekend's Women's March, calling on those in attendance to make their voices heard and to remain involved in the … Continue Reading
January 21, 2017
Duckworth Addresses Women’s March on Washington
WASHIGNTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed the 2017 Women's March on Washington, calling on those in attendance to get involved in their communities. Following her remarks, Duckworth released the following statement: "Right now, there are real threats to women's rights and civil rights in our country. However, the core values of our great nation - values for which I and countless other servicemembers risked our lives and limbs to protect - are stronger than the … Continue Reading
January 20, 2017
Duckworth Statement on the Confirmation of General James Mattis As Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the United States Senate voted to confirm General James Mattis as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense: "While I have made my concerns about the erosion of the civilian leadership role over our military clear, I believe General Mattis will be an effective Secretary of Defense. When I met him, I was impressed by his thoughtful, strategic thinking and by his deep understanding of … Continue Reading
January 20, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Inauguration Day
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement following the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America: "Today is an important day because-no matter what part of this nation we are from or which political party we belong to-we are united as Americans, as citizens of the greatest democracy on earth. Today, as we have for hundreds of years, we saw the peaceful transition of power and once again demonstrated to the world what true … Continue Reading
January 19, 2017
Duckworth to Perry: American-Made Renewable Energy Reduces Reliance on Foreign Oil, Improves National Security
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared with the nominee to be the Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE), Governor Rick Perry, how her military service in Iraq taught her about the danger of our country's dependence on foreign oil and how increasing production of American-made renewable energy sources like wind makes our country more secure. Video of Duckworth's remarks during Perry's confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources is … Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Duckworth: Commerce Secretary Nominee Should Crack Down on Unfair Trade Practices & Steel Dumping to Protect American Workers
WASHINGTON, DC - After sharing the story of 2,000 Illinois workers being laid off due to illegal Chinese steel dumping, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the need to crack down on unfair trade practices like currency manipulation and illegal dumping to protect American workers with the nominee to be the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Wilbur Ross. Ross committed to Duckworth that he would swiftly prosecute violations of international trade laws during their … Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Duckworth: I’ve Already Been to A War Fought Over Oil, EPA Head Must Keep America on Path Toward Energy Independence
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today grilled the nominee to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, over his previous positions and contradictory statements about the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which helps decrease our nation's reliance on foreign oil by requiring the use of home-grown fuel sources like biofuels, including corn-based ethanol, in gasoline. Video of Duckworth's questions at Pruitt's … Continue Reading
January 16, 2017
Duckworth Honors Dr. King’s Legacy of Service by Participating in City Year’s Day of Service to Improve Chicago Schools
CHICAGO, IL - Senator Tammy Duckworth commemorated Martin Luther King, Jr., Day by joining community leaders and City Year Chicago members donating their time to create a more welcoming environment at Curie High School in the Archer Heights neighborhood of Chicago. The Senator, who has made community service a hallmark of her public life, spent the morning with City Year members working to beautify schools with inspirational and motivational murals and paintings. A photo of the Senator working … Continue Reading
January 13, 2017
Duckworth Reacts to Department of Justice’s Report on Chicago Police Department Institutional Misconduct
CHICAGO, IL- In response to the Department of Justice's (DOJ) report on its investigation into Chicago Police Department patterns and practices, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Attorney General Lynch confirmed today in troubling detail that the Chicago Police Department has deprived Chicagoans of their constitutional rights and engaged in patterns of racial bias and excessive--even needless--use of force far too frequently for far too long. I appreciate the … Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
Senator Duckworth Discusses Illinois Infrastructure Priorities With Transportation Secretary Nominee Elaine Chao
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned Transportation Secretary nominee Elaine Chao during Chao's confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation. The hearing was Duckworth's first as a Senator. Duckworth reiterated her commitment to working with Secretary Chao, if she is confirmed, to support infrastructure projects and create good-paying jobs across Illinois that cannot be outsourced. Video of Duckworth's remarks is … Continue Reading
January 12, 2017
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
