Press Releases
Duckworth Applauds Implementation of Her Bipartisan Law to Help Connect Incarcerated Americans with Their Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for her actions to implement the Senator's new law to strengthen the nation's criminal justice system. The Senator's law, the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, helps families keep in touch with their incarcerated family members, which studies have shown can help reduce recidivism rates and thereby save taxpayer dollars. The … Continue Reading
February 23, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2 Million for Illinois Institute of Technology University Transportation Systems
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Illinois Institute of Technology's Center for Assured and Resilient Navigation in Advanced Transportation Systems will receive $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Today's announcement comes through DOT's University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, which supports colleges and universities' research efforts to advance safe, efficient, and … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin & Budzinski Applaud DOT for Supporting University of Illinois Urbana Champaign’s Future Transportation Experts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced that the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center will receive $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Today's announcement comes through DOT's University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, which supports colleges and universities' research efforts to advance … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Urge Biden Administration to Limit Availability Of Junk Health Care Plans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take immediate action and address short-term limited duration insurance (STLDI) plans, or junk plans, which fail to provide adequate, comprehensive health insurance coverage. "Now, more than ever, the Department of Health and Human Services … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Duckworth in Indonesia to Continue Work Strengthening Ties Throughout Southeast Asia
[JAKARTA, INDONESIA] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today arrived in Indonesia on a Congressional delegation she arranged in her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between Southeast Asia and the United States. Indonesia is the second half in Duckworth's trip to Asia this week, following a stop in Japan, her first trip abroad as a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Duckworth will meet with government and business leaders, including Association … Continue Reading
February 21, 2023
Duckworth Calls on President Biden to Expand Efforts to Keep Infant Formula Affordable and Available
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As our nation's troubling infant formula shortage continues and with yet another recall announced this week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on President Biden to expand efforts to keep formula on store shelves and keep prices affordable for working families. In a letter sent today, Duckworth urged the President to act under existing emergency authority to temporarily waive tariffs on select infant formula products to help lower prices and increase supply … Continue Reading
February 21, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $18 Million from USDA Reconnect Program to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Communities Across Rural Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $18,066,450 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) ReConnect Grant program to bring high-speed internet access to residents living and working across Warren, Henderson, Hancock, and McDonough counties. "This federal investment will have a real impact as over 1,500 Illinoisans, 41 businesses and 274 farms across four counties will soon … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023
Duckworth in Japan, Working to Expand Investments in Illinois & Strengthen Ties
[TOKYO, JAPAN] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) arrived in Japan on a Congressional delegation she arranged in her continuing efforts to strengthen economic ties and grow that country's investments in the United States, specifically in Illinois. In her first trip abroad as a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth will meet with government, trade and economic leaders as well as corporate and business officials to highlight how Illinois is uniquely positioned for … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Krishnamoorthi, Ramirez Urge Surface Transportation Board to Defer Decision on Canadian Pacific And Kansas City Southern Rail Merger Until Further Study Of Impacts On Chicago Region
[WASHINGTON, D.C]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman urging the STB to defer any decision on the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroads until the STB completes a more accurate assessment of the impacts of the merger on the Chicago … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Duckworth, Blackburn, Casey Applaud CMS Decision to Cover Seat Elevation Systems in Power Wheelchairs Under Medicare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following their bipartisan request, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bob Casey (D-PA) issued the following joint statement after the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposal to provide Medicare coverage for seat elevation systems embedded in power wheelchairs for the first time ever: "This new proposal from CMS is a big deal and will positively impact the lives of so many Americans with disabilities. We … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Japanese, Thai Ambassadors to U.S.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, this week met with Ambassador Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand to the U.S. as well as Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the U.S., to discuss ongoing priorities and strengthening relationships between the U.S. and both countries. Photos from the Senator's meeting with Ambassador Sangrat are available here, and photos from her meeting with … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Duckworth, Murkowski Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Military Hunger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led more than a dozen of their Senate colleagues today in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to support active duty military families experiencing food insecurity and prevent hunger in these families. Duckworth's Military Family Nutrition Access Act would address … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1.3 Million Grant for National Louis University to Strengthen Teacher Diversity Preparation Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Education has awarded $1,341,279 in Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Programs grants to National Louis University (NLU) in Chicago. NLU is among the first universities and colleges to receive federal funds dedicated to the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Programs. The federal funding will be used to implement three multi-pathway … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $69 Million for Variety of Illinois Health Care Programs and Initiatives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced nearly $70 million in federal funding a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "Our state is home to incredible institutions and programs that help Illinoisans prevent illness, get mental health support, receive medical treatments and so much more," Duckworth said. "I'm proud to announce this federal funding with Senator … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Reed, Collins and Senate Colleagues in Call For HHS To Release Remaining $1.5 Billion In LIHEAP Funding To States
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and 28 of their Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to swiftly release the $1.5 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that Congress delivered in fiscal year (FY) 2023. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Turkish Ambassador Following Devastating Earthquakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, met with Ambassador Murat Mercan, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S., to discuss the ways in which the United States can help Türkiye recover from the devastating earthquakes that have killed more than 35,000 people in the country. Duckworth also raised concerns over Türkiye's obstruction in approving North Atlantic Treaty Organization … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Duckworth Presses FAA Acting Administrator on Cause of January’s Nationwide Ground Stop
[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 questioned Federal Aviation administration (FAA) Acting Administrator Billy Nolen on the cause of January's nationwide ground stop-the first since September 11, 2001-and what the FAA is doing to eliminate single points of failure that can cause a systemwide shutdown. This … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Duckworth Joins Warren and Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Do More to Protect Reproductive Freedom
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and ten of their Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to take new steps to protect reproductive freedom amidst divided control of Congress and increasing efforts to restrict access to abortion across the country. "Each day, women's lives are threatened because they are denied access to essential health care," wrote the Senators. … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Thomson Prison Population Changes
[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 regarding a recent decision by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to temporarily move some inmates from USP Thomson: "We have been informed by the Department of Justice that Bureau of Prisons leadership is taking corrective action to address deeply troubling findings of a recent … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Senate Confirmation 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 voted to confirm 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, Duckworth and Durbin forwarded the … Continue Reading
