Press Releases
As Kids Return to Classrooms, Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Calling for Federal Guidance for School COVID-19 Testing Protocols
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA-08) and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona calling on them to issue coordinated guidance encouraging state and local school districts to utilize the funding and resources appropriated by Congress to establish comprehensive COVID-19 mitigation … Continue Reading
October 06, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $2.3 Million for Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,351,633 in federal funding for Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport in Lawrenceville, Illinois. This Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) investment will help Lawrenceville-Vincennes International rehabilitate an airport runway and is partially funded through President Biden's American Rescue Plan. "For the southeastern Illinois area, the … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Continuing Impact of COVID-19 on Hospitals and Healthcare Workers in Southern Illinois with Heartland Regional Medical Center
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday spoke with Heartland Regional Medical Center CEO Ed Cunningham for an update on the impacts of COVID-19 on the medical center and throughout the region. Southern Illinois has been hit especially hard by the most recent COVID surge, leading to zero percent ICU availability last month. "After more than a year and a half of living with the reality of COVID-19, our hospitals and healthcare workers are still working tirelessly to keep … Continue Reading
October 04, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Critical Water Infrastructure with Rend Lake Conservancy District Officials
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today met with Rend Lake Conservancy District General Manager Keith Thomason and Rend Lake Conservancy District General Counsel Larry Sanders to discuss critical water infrastructure projects in Southern Illinois. During the virtual meeting, Duckworth and the officials also spoke about lack of water sources in the region and the federal programs and projects available to help the district. "I had a good discussion with Rend Lake Conservancy … Continue Reading
October 04, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Foreign Policy Priorities, Voting Rights During SIU Paul Simon Institute Fireside Chat
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Southern Illinois University's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Director John Shaw for a virtual fireside chat to discuss Senator Duckworth's current actions in Congress including her nonpartisan Afghanistan War commission legislation and the importance of the economic relationship between Illinois and Southeast Asia. Duckworth also discussed the need to protect voting rights at the federal level, how the American Rescue … Continue Reading
October 04, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $35 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding For Illinois Health Centers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and today announced that 42 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout Illinois have been awarded a total of $35.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding to modernize their health care infrastructure and enhance their work to address health disparities in underserved communities. CHCs will use this funding for COVID-19-related capital needs, constructing new facilities, renovating and expanding existing … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
In Illinois, Duckworth Commemorates National Manufacturing Day 2021 During MedGyn Tour
[WESTMONT, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today commemorated National Manufacturing Day 2021 during a tour of MedGyn's new manufacturing facility in Westmont, Illinois. During her visit to the women's medical device company, Duckworth also participated in a roundtable with several manufacturing industry leaders including MedGyn CEO and Founder Lakshman Agadi, MedGyn COO Aarathi Singh and Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center President Dave Boulay. Photos from today's tour and meeting … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Success of Shuttered Venues Operators Grant Program with Chicago Music Venue Leaders
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders of the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) to discuss how the Shuttered Venues Operators Grant (SVOG) program that she supported the creation of is helping Chicago's performance venues, as well as the successes and challenges for venue owners as live performances have resumed. Duckworth also toured Schubas Tavern, one of Chicago's historic venues that received funding through the SVOG program. Duckworth met with … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
In Chicago, Duckworth Highlights Importance of Welcoming Afghan Allies And Partners Who Assisted US Mission
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, today met with leaders of several Chicago-area organizations focused on the efforts to resettle Afghan partners and allies who sacrificed for the United States' mission in Afghanistan. Duckworth met with Heartland Alliance Human Care, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Catholic Charities of Chicago, RefugeeOne, World … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Duckworth, Booker, Ossoff, Schatz, Padilla, and Feinstein Lead 25 Senators to Promote Access to Solar Energy for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today led a group of 25 Senators to urge the inclusion of a direct pay option for residential renewable energy property tax credits in Section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (25D). In a letter, the Senators detailed how a direct pay option would help low- and moderate-income (LMI) households install solar energy systems … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Duckworth Honors Chinese American WWII Veterans at Congressional Gold Medal Award Gala
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, spoke at the Chinese American WWII Veterans' Congressional Gold Medal Award Gala tonight. The gala honors the Chinese American Veterans who received a Congressional Gold Medal for serving our nation in World War II despite facing outright discrimination at home, an honor made possible after Duckworth's Chinese American … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Duckworth Reiterates Need for Independent, Nonpartisan Review of Afghanistan War at SASC Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During today's U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted the need for a comprehensive, independent review of our nation's 20 years of involvement in Afghanistan as well as the importance of capturing lessons learned and applying those lessons to current and future operations. In her discussion with Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Duckworth also … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
New Duckworth Bill Would Create Nonpartisan, Independent Afghanistan War Commission to Help Ensure Our Nation Never Makes the Same Mistakes Again
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, along with U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), today introduced the Afghanistan War Commission Act of 2021 to establish a … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Following Duckworth Request, DoD and State Improve SIV Employment Verification to Help Process Afghan Allies More Quickly
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, commended the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State for responding to her request and taking steps to more swiftly verify employment and process Afghan allies who have applied for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. "I'm pleased that the Department of Defense-in coordination with the Department of … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Duckworth Emphasizes the Urgency of Addressing the Maternal Mortality Crisis at IDPH’s Virtual Maternal Health Summit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) stressed the need to address the nation's maternal mortality rates and the importance of supporting policies for new and expecting parents during today's Illinois Department of Public Health Maternal Health Summit. In the virtual event, Duckworth spoke about her years-long efforts to help improve and save the lives of new mothers-especially Black mothers-who are disproportionately impacted by this crisis. "It's simple: we're one of the … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Duckworth, Grassley, Wyden Lankford Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Whistleblowers at DOE & NRC
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and James Lankford (R-OK) reintroduced bipartisan legislation today to make sure federal law provides U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) civil servants with the same due process rights provided to corporate employees who experience retaliation for blowing the whistle on nuclear safety violations. The bipartisan Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Duckworth Highlights Importance of Supporting Veterans’ Mental Health During Operation Enduring Service Panel Discussion
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) emphasized the importance of helping our nation's Veterans protect and improve their mental health as part of an Operation Enduring Service panel discussion hosted by The Mission Continues. During the virtual question and answer session, Duckworth spoke with Army Veteran and Wounded Warrior Project Chief Program Officer Jennifer Silva about her years-long efforts to support the wellbeing of Veterans in Illinois and … Continue Reading
September 28, 2021
As School Restarts, Duckworth Hosts Virtual Town Hall On COVID-19 and Kids
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a virtual town hall tonight to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 in kids and how we can best keep our children safe as they resume in-person learning. Duckworth was joined by a panel of experts from Lurie Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago to help answer questions, including Dr. John Walkup, MD, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health; Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, MD, Interim Division Head of Infectious Disease; … Continue Reading
September 28, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $590,000 to Chicago State University
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $587,729 in federal funding to Chicago State University. This funding from the U.S. Department of Education's Predominantly Black Institutions Program will assist the university in implementing their Resiliency and Capacity Expansion for Student Success in the Health Professions (RECESS-HP) program. Chicago State, located on Chicago's South Side, is Illinois' only four-year U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
September 28, 2021
Duckworth Joins Bustos, Axne, Craig, Klobuchar in Urging Administration to Increase Biofuels Usage
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), Angie Craig (D-MN-02) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in a letter urging the Administration to increase biofuels usage and reject any reduction in biofuel blending requirements. "We have strong reservations about the potential for the Administration to destroy over 5 billion gallons of biofuel volume from the 2020, 2021, and 2022 RVOs. This action would … Continue Reading
