Press Releases
Duckworth Blasts Republican Effort to Strip Servicemembers of Their Reproductive Rights in Upcoming NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth-member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years-condemned Republican efforts to overturn an existing Department of Defense policy that allows servicemembers to seek the care they need and protects their reproductive rights. On the Senate floor, Duckworth delivered an impassioned speech underscoring how this Republican endeavor would hurt military readiness and … Continue Reading
June 17, 2023
In Southern Illinois, Duckworth Commemorates Juneteenth
[CARBONDALE, IL] - Ahead of Monday's Juneteenth holiday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) celebrated and honored the holiday in Carbondale today. Duckworth began the day with a breakfast hosted by Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey at the African American Museum of Southern Illinois, where the Senator emphasized her commitment to policies that prioritize justice, health and equity for Black communities. Duckworth specifically discussed her work to address the maternal mortality crisis and … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Duckworth Joins Markey, Hirono in Re-Introducing Legislation to Codify Right to Contraception, Safeguard 60 Years of Settled Precedent
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) in re-introducing the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would codify and strengthen the right to contraception-which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its Griswold v. Connecticut decision. Enshrining the right to contraception into federal law would reverse efforts already made by Republicans in states across the country to … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
After Securing More Than $18 Million in Federal Funding, Duckworth, Durbin Break Ground on Southern Illinois Multimodal Station
[CARBONDALE, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Amtrak and local leaders to break ground on the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS). Duckworth and Durbin helped secure a total of $18.3 million in federal funding for this project and have been long-time champions of the project. Photos from today's event are available here. "Projects like the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station are great examples of the multiplying effect federal resources … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Ahead of Dobbs Decision Anniversary, Duckworth Reinforces Commitment to Protecting Reproductive Rights
[CARBONDALE, IL] - Nearly one year after the disastrous Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Southern Illinois's CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health to learn more about the clinic's work. CHOICES, an abortion service provider, is one of the closest clinics for Americans in states across the South where abortion has been banned after last year's Supreme Court ruling. With Illinois as a leader in protecting the … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Duckworth Visits Sesser to Discuss $750,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending Secured for Water Infrastructure Improvements
[SESSER, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Sesser to meet with the city's leadership and discuss the $750,000 she secured through a Fiscal Year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending Request for City of Sesser for the rehabilitation of its sanitary sewer collection system. The funding Duckworth secured will be used to update and renovate the City's severely outdated sewer collection system, addressing a vital public health threat. In 2014, the Illinois Environmental … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
New Duckworth-Collins Bipartisan Legislation Would Improve Maternal Care at VA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years-and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced new bipartisan legislation to help improve maternal care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Building on their bipartisan Protecting Moms Who Served Act, which was signed into law in 2021, the Maternal Health for Veterans Act would strengthen … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Duckworth Urges Colleagues on Floor: Uphold Highest Standards for Pilot Training to Keep Flying Public Safe
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation-delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor on the importance of upholding the strong pilot certification standards, such as the 1,500-hour rule, in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 and warned her Senate colleagues of the … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Duckworth Reinforces Support for Working Families with United Steelworkers District 7 Members
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of United Steelworkers (USW) District 7 to discuss federal efforts to support working families and protect strong union labor. Duckworth and the USW members also discussed the impacts of unfair trade practices on their industries. A photo from today's meeting is available here. "Every American deserves to work in a safe, good-paying job that allows them to support their families and save for a secure retirement," … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Duckworth Discusses FAA Reauthorization Priorities with Airlines for America CEO & President Nick Calio
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation-met with Airlines for America (A4A) CEO and President Nick Calio to discuss some of her priorities that were included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023, many of which A4A supported. As one of the authors of the legislation, Duckworth successfully secured … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Cut Taxes for Illinois Workers & Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in reintroducing the Working Families Tax Relief Act. At a time when costs are higher than ever for parents and wages have failed to keep up with inflation, the Working Families Tax Relief Act would cut taxes for workers and families by expanding … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Duckworth, Fischer, Ernst, Klobuchar, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Solidify Future of American-Grown Sustainable Aviation Fuels
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) along with U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are introducing the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023, comprehensive bipartisan legislation to identify the … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Duckworth Touts Key Priorities Included in Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—today announced several of her key priorities were included in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023. As one of the authors of the legislation, Duckworth successfully secured provisions that will improve safety for consumers, expand the aviation workforce and enhance … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Statement on Completion of Springfield Race Riot Site Special Resource Study
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today released the following statement in response to the National Park Service releasing its Special Resource Study for the proposed national monument site memorializing the 1908 Springfield Race Riot: "We are pleased to receive such positive feedback from the National Park Service in its study of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot national monument site. We are … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Duckworth Joins Cantwell, Cruz and Moran to Introduce Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST), Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 to ensure the United States has safe, reliable and resilient air travel, stronger consumer protections for the flying public, advanced research in … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
Duckworth-Baldwin Provisions to Help Ensure Real-Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards Included in FAA Reauthorization Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation-and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) successfully secured a modified version of their legislation, the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act, in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023. This version of the EVAC Act will require the Federal Aviation Administration … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce High Speed Rail Service from Chicago to St. Louis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Illinois Department of Transportation's new schedule changes for Amtrak's Lincoln Service trains following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project. Having supported the testing and implementation of high-speed rail for more than two decades, Durbin secured roughly 80 percent of the project's nearly $2 billion cost, including … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Duckworth, Fischer Lead Legislation to Retool FAA’s Ability to Regulate Advanced Aviation Tech
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation and Deb Fisher (R-NE), this week introduced the Advanced Aviation Integration Act. The bill would re-designate a portion of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) so the agency is better equipped to tackle the regulatory challenges of emerging aviation technologies. This … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Duckworth Meets with General Brown, President Biden’s Nominee to be the Next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after meeting with General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: “As a trailblazing Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., is exceptionally qualified to serve as our nation’s most senior military officer: the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It was a pleasure … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Duckworth Joins Klobuchar, Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Aviation Workforce Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, along with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Thune (R-SD), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today introduced the Aviation Workforce Development and Recruitment Act. This bipartisan … Continue Reading
