Press Releases
Duckworth Joins Coons, Colleagues in Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort Urging Education Secretary to Discharge Outstanding Student Loans for Americans with a Permanent Disability
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI-3) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) in urging U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to move swiftly with rulemaking to automatically discharge the outstanding student loans of more than 517,000 Americans with a total and permanent disability (TPD). "While the Department has made improvements to the TPD … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Duckworth Re-Introduces Bill to Expand Campus Child Care & Help Student Parents Graduate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today re-introduced a bill to help increase access to on-campus child care for low-income student parents and ensure the U.S. Department of Education is meeting the needs of our student parent populations. The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would reauthorize and fully fund the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services. Duckworth originally introduced this … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Duckworth Statement on the Passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the passing of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: "I'm deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden passing of Richard Trumka. Working families across our nation have lost a fierce advocate, one who never shied away from standing up for what was right and who worked every single day to improve the lives of millions of hard-working Americans. His legacy as a champion of working people will live on and I will … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Duckworth Discusses the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, Climate Change and Environmental Justice with League of Conservation Voters
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the first-ever U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus and author of the water title in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, today held a virtual meeting with members of the League of Conservation Voters to discuss the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, good-paying union jobs, clean energy, environmental justice and the opportunity to make once in a generation progress on climate change. "To truly 'Build … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $8 Million for Airport Improvements around Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $8,335,191 today in federal funding to three Illinois airports. These Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investments are funded through President Biden's American Rescue Plan and will provide some economic relief for costs associated with operations, staffing, cleaning, sanitization and combating the spread of COVID-19. "Making sure airports across Illinois continue to have the support … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1.6 Million for Youth Runaway Support and Prevention
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $1,600,000 today in federal funding to the Chicago-based National Runaway Safeline (NRS). This investment, allocated through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), will assist the NRS in fulfilling its mission to keep runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the street. "Every child should have access to a safe place to sleep at night, yet, far too many young Americans, … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Duckworth, Booker, Carper Reiterate Call for Environmental Justice Priorities in Reconciliation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Thomas R. Carper (D-DE), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) founders and co-chairs of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement: "For too long, our nation's communities of color and low-income communities have shouldered a disproportionate burden of the consequences of climate change and pollution. Throughout our history, Indigenous, Black, Brown AANHPI and low-income Americans have been left out of our … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Duckworth Bill to Make Public Transit More Accessible Included in Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) celebrated how the inclusion of a modified version of her All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help Americans with disabilities and improve their lives by helping make transit stations more accessible. According to the Federal Transit Administration, as of 2019 nearly 20 percent of all transit stations were not ADA accessible. Duckworth's provisions will provide $1.75 billion over … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $5.7 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding To Increase Vaccine Access
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announce a total of $5.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding awarded to six Chicagoland health care providers to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved communities. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will go to community-based organizations that are working to build vaccine confidence, … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Duckworth Meets With Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to Discuss U.S.-Indonesia Relations
Meeting Follows Duckworth's Announcement of 3.5 Million More American Vaccines to Indonesia as Part of Biden Administration's Global Vaccination Efforts [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the Embassy of Indonesia to discuss multiple important issues, including vaccine distribution, trade and national security. Duckworth lived in Indonesia as a child before serving in the United States Reserve Forces for 23 … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Duckworth and Durbin Highlight Clean Water Initiatives in Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal That Would Help Illinois
[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 U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted billions of dollars in funding for clean water infrastructure and projects included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that will help protect Illinoisans and improve water safety across the state. Currently, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal fully authorizes … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Duckworth, Booker Re-introduce Bill to Improve Disaster Response and Recovery Plans in Prisons
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) re-introduced legislation that would ensure prison disaster response and recovery plans protect the health, safety and civil rights of incarcerated individuals during natural disasters and public health emergencies. The legislation follows a U.S. Government Accountability Office report-which is part of Duckworth and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan's (D-NH) requested review of the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) emergency … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Duckworth Helps Welcome Afghans Who Supported American Troops to the United States
Senator thanks Afghans who risked their lives-and their families' safety-to support U.S. mission in Afghanistan during bipartisan Congressional Delegation visit to Fort Lee [FORT LEE, VA] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today after joining a bipartisan Congressional Delegation visit to Fort Lee, Virginia, to help welcome Afghan interpreters and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients relocated to the United States after they put … Continue Reading
July 31, 2021
Duckworth Announces Additional Shipment of 3.5 Million American Vaccine Doses to Indonesia as Part of Biden Administration’s Global Vaccination Efforts
New donation brings total American doses sent to Indonesia to 8 million [WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the shipment of another 3.5 million American doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Indonesia as part of the Biden Administration's global vaccination efforts, bringing the total to 8 million American doses donated to Indonesia. Duckworth spoke about this additional donation last week with the Indonesian Chargé d'Affaires in … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth & Cohen Re-Introduce Legislation to Improve School Bus Safety Ahead of Students Going Back to School
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As students across Illinois prepare to return to school for the beginning of the new school year, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Committee, and Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) re-introduced the School Bus Safety Act to help keep students safe as they travel to and from school while also helping prevent accidents involving school buses. Their legislation would implement safety recommendations from … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth Urges SBA to Assist Minority Owners Shut Out of Restaurant Revitalization Fund
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is calling for more assistance for minority owned-businesses as they recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. In a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabel Guzman, Duckworth asked Guzman to use any and all available authorities to assist the more than 2,900 women-, minority- and Veteran-owned small businesses that were denied Restaurant Revitalization Fund assistance that Congress intended for them to … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Pass the Bipartisan Compromise to Reimburse National Guard & Capitol Police for Insurrection Response Costs, Improve Afghan SIV Program
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting yes on the emergency supplemental bill to reimburse the National Guard, the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and other law enforcement for costs incurred responding to the January 6th insurrection, repair damage to the Capitol and invest in security upgrades to be better prepared for a future attack and improve the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program to help bring Afghani interpreters and … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth, Gillibrand and Casey Lead Call For Greater Investment in Care Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Bob Casey (D-PA) led a group of 15 Senators today in calling for greater investment in the care economy. In a letter today to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Committee on Budget Chair Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chair Ron Wyden and U.S. Senate HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray, the Senators called for investments in the care economy to be part of the Build Back … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Expand Charitable Deduction Rules for Veterans Organizations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La) introduced the Charitable Equity for Veterans Act to overturn a provision that prohibits veteran organizations from accepting tax-deductible donations if their membership contains over 10 percent peacetime veterans. "Veterans organizations provide vital support, assistance and community programming for those who served our nation," said Senator Duckworth. "I'm proud to co-lead this legislation to reform … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $4 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funding to Chicagoland Health Centers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $4,803,500 in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to four Chicago-area primary care healthcare centers. This ARP investment, allocated through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will help these healthcare providers both respond to the ongoing pandemic through equity-based vaccine efforts and enhance their services and … Continue Reading
