Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Members of Illinois Delegation in Advocating for Chicagoland to be Home of New Medical Research Agency
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in requesting that a new medical research agency, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), proposed by President Biden and funded this past year by Congress, is headquartered in the Chicago-area. The lawmakers highlighted Chicagoland's unique position with its geographical location, array of jobs, companies, students and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Supreme Court’s Disastrous Decision to Strip EPA’s Authority to Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Tackle Climate Crisis
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in West Virginia v. EPA, stripping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s authority to help regulate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to our climate crisis: "Our climate crisis is a real and existential threat that we need to tackle immediately-and today, the Supreme Court severely limited our ability to do so by stripping away one of … Continue Reading
June 29, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $5.5 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $5,505,820 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from neurological diseases to biological chemistry research. "When we support biomedical research, we unlock opportunities to achieve … Continue Reading
June 28, 2022
Duckworth Announces Class of 2026 Service Academy Appointments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the appointments of 11 Illinois students she nominated to attend a United States Military Service Academy. Each year Duckworth, along with a nomination committee, selects from hundreds of Illinois high school applicants a group of outstanding students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy. "It takes a special … Continue Reading
June 28, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $9.8 Million For Head Start Programs in Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $9,818,557 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support Head Start services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. The funding will go to Wabash Area Development, Inc. and Parent & Child Together for West Central Illinois, allocating $5,218,606 and $4,599,951 to the … Continue Reading
June 27, 2022
At Duckworth's Request, GAO to Conduct Study into Barriers in Healthcare Access Faced by Americans with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) accepted her recent request to launch a comprehensive, wide-ranging study into the persistent barriers that Americans with disabilities of all backgrounds experience in accessing healthcare, including access to medical treatment, services, equipment and more: "Despite having strong protections under the law, Americans with disabilities face persistent … Continue Reading
June 27, 2022
At the Birthplace of the Environmental Justice Movement, Duckworth Continues Push for Clean Air, Water and Land for All
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined local advocates and public officials on a tour of the birthplace of the environmental justice movement, Chicago's Altgeld Gardens. After touring the neighborhood and discussing its legacy in the environmental justice movement, Duckworth hosted a forum with community groups to discuss her comprehensive Environmental Justice for All Act, which focuses on achieving … Continue Reading
June 24, 2022
Duckworth Responds to Dangerous, Outrageous Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade, Taking Away Constitutional Rights for Millions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after an ultra-conservative majority of the Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade: "I am outraged and horrified-this outcome is a nightmare that robs women of their right to make their own choices about their healthcare and their bodies, and it paves the way for a nationwide abortion ban that Republicans have been seeking for decades. Millions of American families-including my own-have relied on … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
In Light of White House Meeting with Big Oil CEOs, Duckworth Joins Colleagues in Urging Biden to Help Lower Gas Prices
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm met with oil executives today-and as the Biden Administration seeks new solutions to lower gas prices that have ballooned rapidly since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to urge the White House to focus on solutions to boost petroleum production output and bring down prices without … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Gun Safety Package to Help Curb Gun Violence and Save Lives
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a bipartisan package of commonsense gun safety reforms to help curb our nation's gun violence epidemic: "After decades of inaction, I'm proud to have joined both Democrats and Republicans in finally breaking the log jam and passing this bipartisan gun safety package that will enhance background checks, help states implement red flag … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Duckworth, Hirono Lead Colleagues in Calling on TSA to Address Inconsistent Enforcement of Screening Processes for New Moms
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) led 12 of their colleagues in calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to address inconsistent implementation of the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy for breastmilk and formula at airport security checkpoints as well as ensure new moms and their infants can travel safely without fear of harassment. "In … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Duckworth-supported Bill to Reduce Prescription Drug Costs Passes Senate Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, issued the following statement after the bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act passed out of committee by a vote of 19-9: "I was proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the passage of the bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency Act out of committee. While there is still much work to be done to make drugs more … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Duckworth, Casey Introduce Bill to Help More Seniors and Disabled Americans Live Independent Lives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, today introduced the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act to help ensure all newly constructed single-family homes built with federal funding include at least one accessible (or "zero step") entrance, doorways wide enough for a wheelchair, one wheelchair accessible bathroom and light switches as well as thermostats at reachable heights from a … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Proposal to Lower Cost of Insulin, Saving Lives and Money for Working Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement in response to the new bipartisan proposal-the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act-to lower the cost of insulin for working families: "Every time I hear from an Illinoisan who is facing the unbearable decision of either paying for their-or their child's-lifesaving prescription drugs or paying for rent, the same frustrating question comes to mind: how are we … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Duckworth Commemorates Juneteenth, Emphasizes Her Advocacy for America’s Working Families
[CHICAGO IL] - As our nation celebrates Juneteenth this weekend, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement to commemorate the day, which became a federal holiday last year. The Senator emphasized the importance of policies that help and empower Black families and communities, and encouraged racial justice allies to not only learn and recognize our country's complex history, but also to push for a more just union for every American. "Black communities have long … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Duckworth Provisions to Support Troops, Improve Military Readiness, Reduce Reliance on Foreign Oil Included in Committee-Passed 2023 Defense Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Airland, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the full committee on a widely bipartisan vote this week. The FY2023 NDAA, which is now set to be considered by the full U.S. … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Duckworth, Young Bill to Provide TSA PreCheck® to Disabled Veterans Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) to provide Veterans with disabilities Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Pre√® passed the Senate by unanimous consent. "Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities. For those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Duckworth Provisions to Support Troops, Improve Military Readiness, Reduce Reliance on Foreign Oil Included in Committee-Passed 2023 Defense Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Airland, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the full committee on a widely bipartisan vote this week. The FY2023 NDAA, which is now set to be considered by the full U.S. … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Duckworth Celebrates CREATE Argo Connection Rail Project Completion, Highlights Benefits for Helping Bring Down Costs for Illinoisans
[SUMMIT, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today celebrated the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program Argo Connections (B9) Project completion, a new double-track connection and crossover at Archer Avenue and 63rd Street. This will allow for increased rail speed and flexibility to reduce delays, increase capacity and lead to faster and more reliable travel times-creating jobs, making our roads safer and easing supply chain delays that can cause … Continue Reading
June 16, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Passage of Bill to Expand Healthcare for Veterans, Provide Care for Toxic Exposure
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, celebrated today's Senate passage of the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, historic legislation that will overhaul the VA's processes for toxic-exposed Veterans to include presumptions for several illnesses associated with burn pits and Agent Orange exposures to help deliver long-overdue VA healthcare and benefits … Continue Reading
