Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Baldwin, Colleagues in Calling for Immediate Steps to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and Protect Civilians
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), led their colleagues in urging President Biden to work with Israel and international partners to implement a plan that will protect innocent civilian life in Gaza, deliver sustained humanitarian aid and work toward the long term goals of ending Hamas’s threat, bringing hostages home and … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Duckworth Reacts to Agreement Allowing More Fuel into Gaza to Support Lifesaving Services
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Tammy Duckworth reacted to news that an agreement has been reached to allow 140,000 liters of fuel into Gaza every other day to help restore critical lifesaving services, issuing the following statement: “This week, I hosted several Senators for a conversation with physicians who have colleagues on the ground in Gaza doing amazing work trying to provide care for innocent civilians under unimaginable … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Duckworth Demands Answers from Manufacturers of Pediatric RSV Immunization Regarding Shortage Supply So We Can Better Protect Children’s Health in the Future
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As parents across the nation continue to be frustrated by a short supply of a new FDA- and CDC-backed immunization that can be used to prevent severe disease from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in babies, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is demanding answers from two major pharmaceutical manufacturers. Sanofi and AstraZeneca, who manufacture the immunization known as nirsevimab (Beyfortus), seem to have vastly underestimated the amount of vaccine needed to help … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Introduce Legislation to Protect Domestic Abuse Survivors from Gun Violence
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the Lori Jackson - Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence. “Domestic violence is all too common across this nation, and every survivor deserves to feel safe and protected,” said Duckworth. “This means closing the senseless loopholes … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Send Recommendations to be Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division to the White House
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a list of names for the White House to consider for Federal District Court Judge vacancies in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established, Duckworth and Durbin have forwarded the names of the following individuals to President Biden for … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Schneider Release Statement on CDC Report on Public Health Impact of Sterigenics
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founder of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ethylene Oxide Task Force, today issued the following statement on the report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease … Continue Reading
November 16, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Chicagoland Predominately Black Institutions to Discuss Importance of Higher Education for All
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Chicago State University President Zaldwaynaka Scott, Prairie State College President Michael Anthony, South Suburban College President Lynette Stokes and Olive-Harvey College Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Aziza Darwish to discuss her work to make higher education more affordable, increase federal support for higher education institutions and help create more pathways for Illinoisans to jumpstart their … Continue Reading
November 16, 2023
Duckworth: I Will Not Lose Focus on Safe Release of All Hostages Held by Hamas
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After meeting with American families of hostages being held by Hamas including the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American who has not been heard from since he was taken hostage after losing his arm in the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7th despite clearly needing immediate medical attention, U.S. Senator and member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tammy Duckworth underscored the need for all parties to remain laser-focused on the safe return … Continue Reading
November 16, 2023
Duckworth Statement on Senate Passing Bill to Keep Government Open for Working Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a continuing resolution that would keep the government open and spare working families from the pain of a shutdown: “Last night, I’m relieved the Senate was able to consider a clean bill and pass it with a strong bipartisan vote to keep our government open for working families. From the beginning, Democrats made it clear our priority was avoiding a government shutdown that would … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Importance of RSV Vaccine Access, Improving Maternal Health Outcomes with Blue Shield of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois President Stephen Harris to discuss how the insurance provider can ensure the drug to help prevent RSV in babies is available with no cost-sharing, as well as the Senator’s priorities of reducing negative maternal health outcomes and health inequities, especially for Illinoisans of color and Illinoisans with disabilities, who too often experience barriers to care. “It was good to meet … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Duckworth Reiterates Need to Pass Her Bipartisan Bill to Codify Boots to Business Program, Support Entrepreneurship Among Veterans, Servicemembers and Military Spouses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) once again pushed to better support Veterans, servicemembers and military families as they transition from military service to civilian life by reiterating the need to codify the highly popular and successful “Boots to Business” (B2B) program, a small business education and training program that has already served more than 194,000 participants since its inception. During today’s Senate Small Business and … Continue Reading
November 13, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Members of Illinois Delegation in Urging President Biden to Grant Federal Disaster Declaration for Cook County Following Severe September Rainfall, Flash Flooding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led nearly every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Biden urging the White House to grant Governor JB Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Cook County recover from storm damage. In September, severe storms passed through Cook County producing nine inches of rainfall and flash … Continue Reading
November 11, 2023
In Chicago, Duckworth Underscores the Importance of Showing Up for Our Nation’s Veterans Year-Round
[CHICAGO, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, honored Veterans and their families today during the City of Chicago’s Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony. During the ceremony, Duckworth also emphasized the importance of honoring Veterans every day of the year, not just on Veterans Day, and highlighted her efforts at the federal level to support those who have served, … Continue Reading
November 10, 2023
Duckworth Reaffirms Support for Ukraine in Meeting with Illinois’s Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Chapter
[CHICAGO, IL] - In Chicago’s Ukrainian Village neighborhood, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—reiterated her support for Ukraine and Ukrainian-Americans in a meeting with several community leaders, activists and stakeholders, including members of Illinois’s Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) chapter. Today’s meeting comes as the Senate considers critical additional aid for Ukraine as they continue to fight … Continue Reading
November 10, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Illinois Tech Hubs with Chicago Quantum Exchange, Innovate Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leadership from the Chicago Quantum Exchange to discuss The Bloch, one of Illinois’s two programs recently designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a Tech Hub, which is now eligible to apply for between $40-$75 million in CHIPS and Science Act funding to help Chicagoland remain at the cutting edge of technological innovation. Duckworth and Chicago Quantum Exchange leaders, along with Innovate Illinois, also … Continue Reading
November 10, 2023
Duckworth, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Inclusion of Full Humanitarian Assistance in Supplemental Funding Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), led 20 colleagues in a letter to Democratic and Republican Senate and Appropriations leadership urging the inclusion of the full $10 billion in humanitarian assistance requested by the President in the national security supplemental. “Beyond the moral significance of continuing our country’s … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Push to Renew Expired Funding for Child Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), in leading a bicameral group of their colleagues in urging congressional leadership to renew expired funding for child care in any supplemental funding … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray, Garcia to Reintroduce Legislation to Prevent the Shackling and Mistreatment of Pregnant Women in ICE and CBP Custody
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) in reintroducing the Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act. The legislation would help protect the health and safety of pregnant, postpartum and lactating people in immigration detention by establishing a presumption of release, prohibiting any agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Ahead of Veterans Day, Duckworth Introduces Comprehensive Package to Help Stop Servicemember and Veteran Deportation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of Veterans Day, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—renewed her push to protect and support immigrant Veterans and servicemembers who have proven they are willing to make tremendous sacrifices to defend our nation. Today, Duckworth reintroduced a package of bills—the Veterans Visa and Protection Act, HOPE Act and I-VETS Act—that would prohibit the deportation of immigrant Veterans who are not … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Duckworth Chairs Aviation Safety Subcommittee Hearing, Reiterates Need to Uphold Strongest Pilot Training Certification Standards to Keep Flying Public Safe Amid Surge in Near-Misses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—chaired an Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation subcommittee hearing to address the chilling surge in near-deadly close calls involving commercial airlines that is adding serious pressure to our aviation workforce and putting the safety of the flying public at risk. As our nation continues to experience this aviation safety crisis, … Continue Reading
