Press Releases
In Wake of Uvalde Massacre, Duckworth Pleads with Colleagues to Save Children’s Lives By Suspending Filibuster Rule and Passing Commonsense Gun Safety Reforms
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - One day after 19 children and two teachers were murdered in yet another preventable school shooting, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) came to the Senate floor to beg her colleagues to suspend the chamber's filibuster rule to pass overdue, obvious and commonsense gun safety legislation that the majority of Americans support and that could prevent countless future massacres. A mother of two daughters, Duckworth spoke of the fear that parents across the country experience every … Continue Reading
May 25, 2022
Duckworth Calls on CDC to Protect Infant Lives by Tracking Cronobacter Infections
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is urging Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky to protect infant lives by adding Cronobacter infections in infants to the list of national notifiable conditions tracked through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). According to the CDC, most hospitals and laboratories are not required to report Cronobacter infections to public health departments, and this results in a likely … Continue Reading
May 25, 2022
Duckworth Meets with FTC Chair to Discuss Inquiry into Causes of Infant Formula Shortages
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to discuss the FTC's inquire into the infant formula shortage. This inquiry comes shortly after Duckworth urged the FTC launch a wide-ranging study of the infant formula industry. Specifically, Duckworth called in her request for an inquiry examining how that market's composition, along with the behavior and business practices of market participants, affect competition, … Continue Reading
May 25, 2022
Duckworth Applauds FTC’s New Inquiry into Causes of Infant Formula Shortages
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced the start of an inquiry into the infant formula shortage. This announcement comes shortly after Duckworth sent the FTC a letter requesting the FTC conduct a Section 6(b) wide-ranging study of the infant formula industry. Specifically, Duckworth is asking the inquiry examines how that market's composition, along with the behavior and … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Duckworth, Carper, Booker Statement on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Environmental Justice Stakeholders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), co-founders of the U.S. Senate's Environmental Justice Caucus (EJC), released the following statement on the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) efforts to respond to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC)'s May 2021 report that provided recommendations on Justice40, Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool and Executive Order 12898 Revisions. "At the … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Duckworth After Uvalde School Shooting: Senate Must Suspend Filibuster to Pass Commonsense Gun Safety Reforms, Save Children’s Lives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement in the wake of the today's horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left at least 18 children and one teacher dead. In her statement, the Senator called for a suspension of the Senate's filibuster rule to enable a majority of Senators to pass commonsense gun safety reforms that widespread majorities of Americans support to save lives. "What happened in Texas today is every parent's nightmare. I'm … Continue Reading
May 21, 2022
Duckworth Delivers Commencement Address to Harper College’s Class of 2022
[PALATINE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2022 at William Rainer Harper Community College. For the College's first in-person graduation ceremony since 2019, Duckworth reflected on the determination and hard work of today's graduates and stressed the importance of service in all forms for graduates as they move through the next phase in their lives. Photos from today's ceremony are available here. Key quotes: "Our country … Continue Reading
May 20, 2022
Duckworth, Colleagues Call for GAO Study into the Barriers Americans with Disabilities Face Accessing Healthcare
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led 5 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that the agency conduct a comprehensive, wide-ranging study into the persisting barriers that Americans with disabilities of all backgrounds experience in accessing healthcare, including access to medical treatment, services, equipment and more. Along with Duckworth, this letter was cosigned by U.S. Senator and Chair of the U.S. … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Failed Vote to Bring Critical Relief to Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the passage of the Small Business COVID Relief Act, which failed on a vote of 52-43. This legislation would have provided critical relief to restaurants, live event venues and other small businesses, including fitness facilities as a result of the legislation including provisions of the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth and Cornyn Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, which would support the families of officers who struggle with their mental health or who are lost to trauma-linked suicides. As passed, the House bill includes provisions stemming from Duckworth and Cornyn's Senate version that reflect engagement with advocates, the U.S. Department of Justice, … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Statement Following Senate Passing $40 Billion Aid Package For Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a roughly $40 billion aid package to support Ukraine during Russia's war of choice: "The human suffering caused by Putin's unjustified and unjustifiable attack on Ukraine's sovereign territory demands our continued attention, and that's why I'm so proud the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Discusses Environmental Justice Issues with President’s EPA Office of Air & Radiation Director Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, met today with President Biden's nominee for Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Office of Air and Radiation, Joe Goffman. During the meeting, the two discussed the ways we can continue to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and protect our communities from cumulative impacts of emissions to advance … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth, Blackburn, Brown, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve the Promotion Process for National Guard Servicemembers, Ensure Officers Don’t Fall Behind in Careers or Compensation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to improve and streamline the promotion process for National Guard officers and warrant officers to ensure these servicemembers can progress in their careers without needless bureaucratic delays. The National Guard Promotion Improvement Act would assess and review the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Nominee for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After meeting with General Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S. Army, ahead of his confirmation for reappointment to the grade of General and to be NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, issued the following statement: "As Russia continues its unjustifiable attack on Ukraine's sovereign territory, a united NATO and continued close coordination with our allies are … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Joins Casey, Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Empower FDA to Get Infant Formula Back on Shelves, Prevent Future Shortages
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In the wake of the nationwide infant formula shortage, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing legislation to protect families and patients who rely on infant formula and other essential sources of nutrition (ESN). The Protect Infants from Formula Shortages Act would safeguard the availability of these products by requiring manufacturers to notify the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth and Durbin-Sponsored Bill to Address the Infant Formula Shortage Passes Senate, Heads to President Biden’s Desk
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member, to help introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address the infant formula shortage for families who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The bill passed the Senate unanimously today and now … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Duckworth’s Bipartisan Bill to Codify Boots to Business Program Passes Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, the bipartisan Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship by voice vote and is now set to be considered by the full Senate. This legislation would codify the Small Business Administration's (SBA) "Boots to Business" (B2B) program into law for five years. The B2B program is an entrepreneurship education and training program for … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Duckworth Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Pandemic Relief Benefits with Will County Leadership
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with several members of the Will County board to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can support Illinoisans in the region by helping improve water infrastructure, fix local roads and bridges and create good-paying, local jobs. During the video call, Duckworth and the group also discussed economic development and substance abuse treatment and prevention initiatives supported by the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Duckworth, Inhofe, Cardin, Capito, Carper, Wicker, Cramer, Padilla Praise Senate Passage of National Public Works Week Resolution
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and praised the passage of S. Res. 641, a bipartisan resolution they introduced designating the week of May 15 through May 21, 2022, as National Public Works Week. The resolution encourages the public to recognize and celebrate the important contributions that public works officials make … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Duckworth Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Pandemic Relief Benefits with Will County Leadership
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with several members of the Will County board to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can support Illinoisans in the region by helping improve water infrastructure, fix local roads and bridges and create good-paying, local jobs. During the video call, Duckworth and the group also discussed economic development and substance abuse treatment and prevention initiatives supported by the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan … Continue Reading
