Press Releases
Duckworth, Kaine, Markey Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Millions of Americans Living with Long COVID
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, on Long COVID Awareness Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in reintroducing the bipartisan Comprehensive Access to Resources and Education (CARE) For Long COVID Act, legislation to help people living with long-term COVID-19 symptoms by improving research and providing resources for people with Long COVID. U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA-08) and Jack Bergman (R-MI-01) are leading companion … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
As 20th Anniversary of Iraq War Approaches, Duckworth Urges Senate to Prove It Still Stands Behinds Our Troops by Holding Public Vote on Decades-Old War Authorizations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who is also a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations (SFRC) Committee, joined U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to call on her colleagues to help pass bipartisan legislation, led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN), to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Urge SBA to Evaluate Rule Allowing Fintech Companies to Participate In SBA’s 7(A) Loan Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Following the Small Business Administration's (SBA) November 7, 2022, Proposed Rule on "Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rescission and Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization," U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) expressed concern that the proposed changes to SBA's 7(a) Loan Program may undermine the integrity of the program. The November 7th rule would lift the moratorium on licensing new SBLCs … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Duckworth Statement on President Biden’s Latest Actions to Address Gun Control
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement in response to President Biden's newly-announced plans to prevent and reduce gun violence, including cracking down on marketing weapons to children: "With these executive actions, President Biden is proving once again that we can do better, and I'm glad that he is moving the ball forward on universal background checks, improving enforcement of current law to reduce gun violence and taking action … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Duckworth Applauds EPA Action to Protect Communities from “Forever Chemicals” in Drinking Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) historic announcement today to address additional "forever chemicals" in Americans' drinking water: "I applaud the EPA for taking historic action to protect more communities from these six chemicals that we've known for years pose a dangerous risk to our public health and the environment. Every American deserves to know that the water they drink … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Duckworth Joins Budd, Kelly, Tillis to Introduce Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to introduce the bipartisan Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act. The bill would instruct the U.S. Mint to develop a commemorative coin series honoring the critical role working dogs play in our society, while providing financial support to help raise and train service dogs for Veterans. "Working dogs provide pivotal assistance for so many people from servicemembers and … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Markey, García to Reintroduce the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act to Ensure Airport Service Workers Earn Living Wage, Benefits
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) to reintroduce the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, legislation to provide airport service workers-a predominantly Black, Brown, and immigrant workforce-with the wage and benefits that they deserve after serving on the frontlines of the nation's aviation system during the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Duckworth Statement on Temporary Conversion of USP Thomson to Low-Security Facility
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) decision to temporarily convert United States Penitentiary (USP) Thomson into a low-security prison: "Temporarily converting USP Thomson to a low-security facility is a critically important move that will allow for no loss of staffing positions and help alleviate overpopulation nationwide in the federal prison … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray, DeLauro in Re-introducing Bicameral Bill to Help Achieve Equal Pay
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Ahead of Equal Pay Day on March 14th , U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) this week in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act. This bicameral legislation would address wage discrimination and help close the wage gap by strengthening the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and ensuring women can challenge pay discriminations and hold employers accountable. "Every single day, … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $350 Million Slated for CTA Red Line Extension
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that $350 million has been slated from the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help continue the progress on the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red Line Extension project. The Red Line Extension is one of the 18 major transit projects recommended for funding today in President Biden's Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget Request to … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Ethanol Production with Illinois Farm Bureau
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Director Adam Nielsen and IFB members to discuss ethanol production and other upcoming legislative priorities as Congress is set to reauthorize the Farm Bill this year. Photos from the meeting are available here. "America has always depended on our nation's farmers and ranchers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I'm proud to advocate for them on both the national and international … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Duckworth Now Accepting Applications for Class of 2028 Service Academy Nominations
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and serves on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that her office is now accepting applications through her website from high school students seeking a Congressional nomination to a United States Military Service Academy. Each year Duckworth, along with a nomination committee, selects from the applicants a group of outstanding Illinois students to … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Ahead of the 20th Anniversary of Iraq War, Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Committee Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Repeal 1991 and 2002 AUMFs, Formally Ending Gulf and Iraq Wars
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As we approach the 20th anniversary of the Iraq war, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations (SFRC) Committee, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), today applauded committee passage of bipartisan legislation, led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN), to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), formally ending the Gulf and Iraq wars. The 1991 and 2002 … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth Calls on Colleagues to Swiftly Confirm Dilawar Syed as SBA Deputy Administrator
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE), today called on Senate Republicans to finally allow a vote on the nomination of Dilawar Syed to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), after more than two years of needless obstruction. During her remarks at today's SBE hearing, Duckworth also secured commitment from Syed that, if confirmed, he would help ensure federal … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth Meets With VFW Members, AMVETS to Discuss Veterans Issues
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders and constituents from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Illinois, as well as members of American Veterans (AMVETS), to discuss both organizations' legislative priorities and her efforts on important issues impacting Veterans in Illinois and across the nation, including VA recruitment, healthcare access for Veterans and benefits modernization. Duckworth today met VFW Department of … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S.-ASEAN Relations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jim Risch (R-ID)-Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee-and Mitt Romney (R-UT) in introducing the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Community Safety and Violence Prevention with Chicago Urban League
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Chicago Urban League CEO Karen Freeman-Wilson and COO Calmetta Coleman to discuss Chicago Urban League's efforts to help keep Chicagoans safe and achieve equity for communities of color. Duckworth discussed her support of an assault weapons ban and her efforts for more commonsense gun safety reforms, as well as support for community violence prevention efforts. A photo from today's meeting is available here. "Too often, … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth Leads Letter Calling on Walgreens to Clarify that Mifepristone Dispensing Decisions Remain Undecided and Premature as it Seeks FDA Certification
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led eleven colleagues in sending a letter to Walgreen's CEO Rosalind Brewer to express strong opposition to Walgreens' premature decision to publicly declare its intent to avoid dispensing Mifepristone-a FDA-approved medication for termination of pregnancy and used to treat miscarriages-in certain states. The letter also urges the company put patients first by quickly obtaining the FDA specialty certification to dispense this medication … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth Discusses How We Can Better Support Our Servicemembers During Fireside Chat at the Association of Defense Communities National Summit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, participated in a fireside chat at the Association of Defense Communities' National Summit in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss how we can foster more sustainable, resilient installations and defense communities that support our servicemembers and their families. During her remarks, Duckworth highlighted the importance of community involvement with … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Legislation to Restore and Protect Americans’ Right to an Abortion Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, on International Women's Day, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and other members of the Senate Democratic caucus in introducing the Women's Health Protection Act of 2023, federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for millions of Americans. The bill's introduction … Continue Reading
