Press Releases
Duckworth Meets with Highland Park Students and Survivors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week held a video call with Highland Park High School students to listen their stories about the July 4th shooting that shook their community and our nation. During the meeting, which comes during the same week as the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy, the Senator reiterated her commitment to passing more comprehensive gun reform, including a national assault weapons ban in order to save and protect lives. "What the … Continue Reading
December 12, 2022
Duckworth, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Meet Future Needs in Aviation Workforce
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Moran (R-KS) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help meet future needs in our aviation workforce in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aviation Workforce Development Enhancement Act would help expand the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s current Aviation Workforce Development Grant program by increasing annual funding for pilot development and mechanic development grants, as well as provide grant funding … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
New Duckworth-Baldwin Bill Would Ensure Seat Size, Other Real-Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As the holiday season continues and millions of Americans are set to board crowded flights in the next few weeks, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today announced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Nomination of Colleen Lawless to Serve as District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois
[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 released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
New Duckworth-Baldwin Bill Would Ensure Seat Size, Other Real-Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As the holiday season continues and millions of Americans are set to board crowded flights in the next few weeks, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today announced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
Duckworth to Work in Isolation After COVID Diagnosis, Mild Symptoms
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after being diagnosed with COVID-19 today: "At the guidance of the Attending Physician, I will be working in isolation through the end of this week after being diagnosed with COVID-19 today to keep my family, colleagues and staff as safe as possible. My symptoms remain mild and I am thankful that I'm fully vaccinated and double boosted, as I-and families of the more than one million Americans we've lost to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
Nominee for Duckworth-Created Position of Disability Advocate on Amtrak Board of Directors Advances out of Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today released the following statement after the Committee advanced the nomination of David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak's Board of Directors. If confirmed, Capozzi will serve in the designated disability advocate seat on the board-a position created through legislation authored by Duckworth that was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Capozzi's … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Foster Applaud Final Passage of Bill to Rename Will County Post Office in Honor of Larry Walsh, Sr.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today applauded last night's Senate passage of H.R. 700, legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 303 E. Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, Illinois, after former Will County Executive Lawrence M. "Larry" Walsh, Sr. The bill will now head to President Biden's desk for his signature. A longtime farmer, Walsh began his political career in … Continue Reading
December 05, 2022
Duckworth Joins Cortez Masto and Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Help Americans Access Reproductive Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and seven of their colleagues in introducing the Women's Health Patient Navigators Act, which would create a federal grant program to help fund patient navigators who help Americans access reproductive healthcare. Modeled on similar programs for cancer patients, the grant program would support organizations, such as abortion funds and community health clinics, that connect individuals to … Continue Reading
December 05, 2022
Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce the Spread of Toxic PFAS at Commercial Airports Heads to the President to be Signed into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law, after unanimously passing the U.S. Senate. "We've known for decades that some PFAS chemicals pose a dangerous risk to … Continue Reading
December 03, 2022
Duckworth Outlines Methods to Improve & Expand Military Recruitment at Reagan National Defense Forum
[SIMI VALLEY, CA] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today discussed how the military can expand and improve recruitment efforts as well as how increasing diversity among the ranks improves our national security. Duckworth's comments came during a panel discussion moderated by Dana Perino at the 2022 Reagan National Defense Forum in California, where she was joined by Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Commandant of … Continue Reading
December 02, 2022
Duckworth Welcomes U.S. Representative-Elect Budzinski to Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted U.S. Representative-elect Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) in her Senate office this week, where the two discussed how they can work together to support Illinoisans in the next Congress. Representative-elect Budzinski was elected last month to represent Illinois's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Photos of the meeting are available here. "I'm excited to have Congresswoman-elect Budzinski as a colleague … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth on Bill to Prevent Costs Rising for Millions of Working Americans by Averting Rail Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting to pass legislation to avert a rail shutdown that could severely harm our economy and lead to costs going up for working families: "While this agreement is far from perfect, my vote today will help protect working families from the preventable price increases and job losses that a national rail shutdown would cause. Without freight rail, many industries would be harmed, affecting our ability … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Nomination of Lindsay Jenkins to Serve As District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois
[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 released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Lindsay C. Jenkins' nomination to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established in the Northern District, Durbin and … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Fischer, Klobuchar to Introduce Bipartisan Year-Round E15 Legislation with Landmark Support
[WASHINGTON, D.C]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to introduce the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022. The bipartisan legislation would allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%. Increasing the availability of biofuels like E15 would benefit the economy and the environment. This federal legislation would also end years of regulatory uncertainty and … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
In Virtual Roundtable, Duckworth, Schakowsky Emphasize that Community Care is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who has been a strong advocate for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), joined a virtual roundtable last night with Caring Across Generations and a coalition of Illinois care advocates. The lawmakers underscored the urgent need for federal support for the array of care programs and caregivers that provide invaluable support to families … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Duckworth Reaction to Senate Passing Bipartisan Bill to Protect Marriage Equality
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples: "Today is a victory for love and a victory for equality. With a small group of far-right Justices on the Supreme Court signaling their openness to taking away right after right for millions of Americans, I'm proud that this historic legislation passed the Senate … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Duckworth, Casey, Scott, Durbin Announce Department of Justice Commitment to Conduct Web Accessibility Report
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Aging Committee Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC), as well as Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) are announcing that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has committed to prepare and submit to Congress a report on web accessibility across the federal government, after the Senators pushed for transparency. In June, Casey led a group of bipartisan colleagues who sent a letter … Continue Reading
November 18, 2022
Duckworth Joins Markey, Rep. Eshoo in Introducing Legislation to Ensure Accessibility of Video, Communication and Emerging Technologies for Individuals with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) in introducing the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) to update and amend the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) to keep pace with the proliferation of emerging technologies that have come online since 2010. It will help ensure that people with disabilities have full access to the range of … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Meet Leaders of Illinois’ Predominantly Black Institutions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the presidents of four Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) in Illinois to discuss federal support for PBI colleges and students. During their meeting, the Senators spoke with the college presidents about ensuring that PBIs receive adequate federal funding, which would help PBIs address capacity building, enrollment declines, and student success outcomes. "Predominantly … Continue Reading
