Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $200K in Federal Funding for Arts Programming in Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $222,400 in federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through the ArtsHERE grant program for two Illinois organizations. Free Spirit Media, which works with young creators primarily from the West and South sides of Chicago, will receive $110,000 for their Reimagining Evaluation project to create new evaluation tools rooted in storytelling, reflection, social … Continue Reading
September 26, 2024
Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Hirono Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this week. The Senator’s Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance … Continue Reading
September 26, 2024
Duckworth Joins Tillis and Blumenthal in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Help Eliminate Barriers to Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—joined U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act. This bipartisan legislation would help improve access to health care and benefits for individuals exposed to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune by making technical corrections to the … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth Statement on Senate Passage of Continuing Resolution
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024, keeping our government open and sparing working families the pain of a shutdown: “Today’s vote is good for working families, our economy and our entire nation because it prevents another damaging, needless MAGA shutdown that only hurts our servicemembers, Veterans and taxpayers. “The House GOP’s … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Moran, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—U.S. Senator and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and renewable fuels. “As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Merkley Push to Ensure Health Insurers Cover and Provide Lactation Care for Pregnant and Nursing Parents
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) to issue strong recommended guidance for private health insurance plans and insurers to comply with federal law by covering in-person lactation support, supplies and counseling for pregnant and nursing parents across the country. Most health plans are required to cover lactation services under the Patient … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth Highlights Need to Better Support Our Nation’s Military and Veteran Caregivers During Dole Foundation Annual Conference
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Yesterday, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—joined the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s 9th Annual National Convening to highlight the ways Congress can better address and respond to the challenges facing our nation’s more than 14 million military and Veteran caregivers. During a fireside chat at the … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Booker, Blunt Rochester, Tlaib, Dingell, Lee Call for Expedited Review and Implementation of Biden Administration’s Proposed Strengthening of the Lead and Copper Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—co-founders of the new U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—along with U.S. Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) are calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Ramirez, Underwood Celebrate Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) celebrated Senate passage of a resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American boy who was murdered as a victim of a hate crime in Plainfield, Illinois, on October 14, 2023. The lawmakers introduced the resolution earlier this … Continue Reading
September 24, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $11 Million in Federal Funding for Health Care Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $10,906,668 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grants for Illinois institutions. The federal funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from lung diseases to mental health research. “Investing in our … Continue Reading
September 23, 2024
Following their Letter, Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Biden Administration for Approving Illinois Disaster Declaration Following Summer Tornadoes, Extreme Weather
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Biden Administration for approving Governor JB Pritzker’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of Illinois, to support seven Illinois counties in recovering from severe storms in which more than 40 tornadoes spun through Central and Northern Illinois and downstate Illinois flooded between July 13 and July 16, … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Quigley Announce More Than $300 Million in Federal Funding for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $305,467,517 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Mega Program. With this federal funding, the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $209,877,984 for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program and $95,589,533 for the I-290/IL171 (1st Avenue) Interchange … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Duckworth, Ricketts, Bera, Wittman Launch Bipartisan, Bicameral Quad Caucus Ahead of Quad Leaders Summit
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE)—members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee— joined U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) in launching the bipartisan Senate and House Quad Caucuses. This announcement comes ahead of this weekend’s Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, where President Biden will welcome heads of state from Australia, India and Japan. The Quad is committed to supporting the … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray, Senate Democrats in Introducing Resolution to Recognize Patients’ Rights to Emergency Health Care
[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 38 of their Democratic colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution to reinforce the standard that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. The introduction comes as new reporting from ProPublica makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from … Continue Reading
September 19, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Cortez Masto in Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing a bipartisan resolution to formally recognize Hispanic Heritage Month—which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. The resolution successfully passed the Senate this week. “Hispanic Heritage Month is a chance for us to come together to celebrate the leaders, change-makers and trailblazers … Continue Reading
September 19, 2024
Duckworth, Booker Introduce Legislation to Protect Kangaroos by Ending the Sale of Commercial Products Made with Kangaroo Skin in the U.S.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation to protect the estimated two million wild kangaroos who are needlessly killed every year for the use of their leather in commercial products. The killing of kangaroos for their leather, also known as “k-leather,” is currently the largest commercial slaughter of mammals worldwide driven by demand for their skin in certain models of soccer cleats. To help reverse this inhumane trend and … Continue Reading
September 19, 2024
Duckworth, Lummis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Support Entrepreneurs with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship—and U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve reporting on entrepreneurs with disabilities so we can better understand what they need and help more of them start and grow successful small businesses. The bipartisan Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to … Continue Reading
September 17, 2024
Duckworth Excoriates Senate GOP After They Again Block Her Bill to Protect IVF and Lower Costs for Families, Despite Republicans’ Claims of IVF Support
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called out Senate Republicans’ hypocrisy on the Senate floor after they once again blocked her Right to IVF Act—which they first blocked in June—while continuing to falsely claim that they support IVF. The Senate GOP’s disheartening decision to block the pro-freedom, pro-family legislation a second time comes after Donald Trump promised that the federal government would cover IVF if he is re-elected and proves that Republicans … Continue Reading
September 17, 2024
Duckworth, Schumer, Murray, Booker Slam Republican Hypocrisy After Senate GOP Again Blocks Their Bill to Protect IVF and Lower Costs for Families, Despite Republicans’ Claims of IVF Support
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) called out Senate Republicans’ hypocrisy after nearly every single Republican blocked the Senate Democrats’ Right to IVF Act—now the second time they’ve done so after first blocking the bill in June—despite them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families. This was … Continue Reading
