Press Releases
Duckworth Speaks with Secretary of the Air Force about Ways to Modernize Aircraft and Better Support Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, spoke by phone with Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force, about ways we can better support our servicemembers by modernizing aircraft and logistics infrastructure to ensure they have access to the best technology and tools. "I was pleased to speak with Secretary Kendall about the importance of our National Guard and … Continue Reading
January 11, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Biden Administration Action to Address Coal Ash Pollution
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife, issued the following statement in response to the action taken today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Land and Emergency Management to protect communities from the threat of coal ash. "Coal ash has led to a legacy of contamination throughout the Great Lakes, our state and the entire country. These harmful … Continue Reading
January 11, 2022
Duckworth, Kennedy introduce bill to stop bear poaching
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Kennedy (R-LA) today introduced the Bear Poaching Elimination Act, which would help protect bears from poaching by ending the trade of their internal organs. "The gruesome bear viscera commercial trade leads to unacceptable abuse of these bears, and I'm proud to join Senator Kennedy to introduce this bipartisan bill that would help put an end to this inhumane practice in the United States and help slow bear poaching and the … Continue Reading
January 04, 2022
Duckworth Highlights 2021 Accomplishments in Year-End Round Up
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As the new year begins, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year: "While 2021 was a challenging year for many Illinoisans and Americans across the nation, I'm so proud of what I was able to accomplish by working across the aisle to help cut costs for working families and create good-paying local jobs," said Duckworth. "With the start of the new year, we have new opportunities to deliver on policies that will … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Members of Delegation Call On Amazon to Review Safety Procedures Following Collapse of Edwardsville Warehouse
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Marie Newman (D-IL-03), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today sent a … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud USDA Programs Helping Ensure More Illinoisans Have Reliable Internet and Electricity
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that an infusion of support from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Community Connect Grants Program and Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to four Illinois communities and organizations. This federal support will help rural Illinois communities modernize their broadband and electricity infrastructure and make free, reliable Internet accessible for more … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud USDA Programs Helping Ensure Communities Across Illinois Have Safe, Clean Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that an infusion of support from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program will be awarded to 12 Illinois communities and organizations to help rural communities across the state modernize and protect their … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Duckworth Asks Secretary Austin for Update on Care Provided to Afghan Evacuees Housed at DoD Installations
[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), today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asking for an update on the status of the care being provided to Afghan evacuees who are currently being housed at DoD installations across the country. In her letter, Duckworth noted the anecdotal reports she has heard regarding strains to the … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Duckworth Joins Booker, Eight Democratic Colleagues in Calling on U.S. Department of Education to Suspend Wage Garnishment of Student Loan Borrowers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and eight of their U.S. Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to suspend administrative wage garnishment of student loan borrowers. The letter comes nearly a month before student loan and interest payments are set to resume on January 31, 2022. "Currently, over 9 million borrowers are in default on more than $180 billion in federal student loan debt," wrote … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $4 Million for America’s Central Port in Granite City
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $4.1 million in federal funding to America's Central Port in Granite City, Illinois, one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, will support improvements to a berth and cargo transfer location at the port's Granite City Harbor facility. "Support for America's Central Port means moving our state's economy … Continue Reading
December 20, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal’s Transportation Provisions Already Delivering For Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that just weeks after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal was signed into law, Illinois will be able to make significant improvements to roads and bridges, improving safety and reducing commute times, all while creating good-paying local jobs. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced that Illinois will have access to increased … Continue Reading
December 20, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Mayor Lightfoot, Members of Delegation, Urge Army Corps of Engineers to Prioritize Funding For Chicago Shoreline Storm Damage Reduction Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), and Marie Newman (D-IL-03), today sent a letter to the Army Corp of Engineers urging the Corps to use the funds provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to invest in the Chicago … Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
In Letter to President Biden, Duckworth, Durbin Announce Candidates for Federal District Court in 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 announced seven candidates for President Biden's consideration for current and future vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Jeffrey Cummings, Jeremy Daniel, Nicholas Gowen, LaShonda A. Hunt, Lindsay Jenkins, Nancy Maldonado, and Karen Sheley. "We appreciate the opportunity to provide assistance and input … Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
Duckworth Meets with South Suburban Mayors to Discuss Impact of Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal on Suburban Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met virtually with members of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), including SSMMA President and Thornton Village President Bob Kolosh and more than a dozen local mayors and managers, to discuss the impact the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will have on their communities and how it will help improve the lives of working families. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will spur economic advancement and help … Continue Reading
December 16, 2021
Duckworth Applauds White House Action to Begin Implementing Her New Law Through the Lead Service Line Replacement Plan
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife and author of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA)-which passed the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in April 2021 and was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal-issued the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration, alongside EPA, announced plans to immediately … Continue Reading
December 15, 2021
Duckworth Creates Nonpartisan, Independent Afghanistan War Commission as Part of 2022 Defense Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to create a nonpartisan commission to study the war in Afghanistan is set to become law after the Senate passed the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a vote of 88-11 today. This modified version of Duckworth's Afghanistan War Commission Act will establish a nonpartisan, independent commission to examine every aspect of the war in Afghanistan in order to produce actionable recommendations … Continue Reading
December 15, 2021
Senate Passes Duckworth Provision to Safeguard 182nd Airlift Wing’s Mission & Protect More Than 1,500 Peoria-area Jobs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate today with a bipartisan vote of 88-11, secured a provision that will establish a minimum inventory for the Air Force's C-130 fleet, ensuring that the Air Force has sufficient C-130 capacity to carry out critical missions domestically as well as overseas. This provision will also safeguard the mission of Peoria's 182nd Airlift Wing, … Continue Reading
December 15, 2021
Several Key Duckworth Provisions Set to Become Law as Part of 2022 Defense Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee's (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the U.S. Senate on a bipartisan vote of 88-11 today. The FY2022 NDAA, which now heads to the President's desk where he is expected to sign it into law, authorizes funding for the U.S. … Continue Reading
December 14, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Illinois AFL-CIO Leaders on Infrastructure
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Devaney in addition to members of the labor organization's Executive Board and Building Trades presidents from across the state. During their meeting, the Senators provided an update about funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the $17 billion in direct and … Continue Reading
December 13, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Urge VA Medical Centers in Illinois to Adhere to COVID-19 Protocols Following Outbreak at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), wrote to all Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) in Illinois to urge the facilities to continue to follow Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) COVID-19 guidance and protocol to ensure the health and safety of veterans and … Continue Reading
