Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Statement On Completion Of Investigation At Illinois Army Reserve Unit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the completion of the investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault allegations at the 416th Theater Engineering Command (TEC), an Army Reserve unit in Darien, Illinois: "Sexual misconduct and pervasive problems that led to the mishandling of cases at the 416th TEC in … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
On Press Call, Duckworth Calls for Passage of an Inclusive, National Paid Leave Policy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this afternoon spoke about the urgent need to enact a comprehensive national paid leave policy that would support a robust economic recovery and help rebuild the American workforce. U.S. Representative Colin Allred (D-TX-32) and Paid Leave for All director Dawn Huckelbridge also participated in the press call. Key quotes: "And yet while some military families have access to paid leave through state programs or their employer, or … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Duckworth Joins Fischer in Introducing Bipartisan RFS Integrity Act of 2021
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) in introducing the bipartisan RFS Integrity Act of 2021. This legislation would provide more certainty for rural America by bringing transparency and predictability to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) small refinery exemption process. The bill would require small refineries to petition for Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) hardship exemptions by June 1st of each year. This … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Duckworth, Blackburn, Braun Re-Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Memorial Commemorating Efforts of Women On The Home Front During WWII
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran 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) Airland Subcommittee, and U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Mike Braun (R-IN) re-introduced bipartisan legislation today to establish a new memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor the contributions of the estimated 18 million women who helped keep our nation's economy and society running during World … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud DOT’s Expansion of Local Hire and Workforce Development Pilot Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) decision to expand construction hiring and workforce development pilot programs. The programs, which will be managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will give contracting agencies expanded flexibility to use hiring preferences to enhance workforce development opportunities for those in economically … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Duckworth Helps Inhofe Introduce Bill to Create Center for Aviation Advancement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) in introducing S. 1752, the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation Act, a bill to establish the National Center for the Advancement of Aviation. The National Center for the Advancement of Aviation would serve as a national, independent forum to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between all sectors of aviation and aerospace stakeholders and related partners, with a particular focus on … Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Duckworth and Boozman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Consumers by Modernizing the Online Contact Lens Marketplace and Banning Related Robocalls
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Boozman (R-AR) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation that would make purchasing contact lenses online safer and more secure. Specifically, the Contact Lens Prescription Verification Modernization Act (S. 1784) would prohibit the use of automated calls (robocalls) as a method of verifying a prescription. It would also require online contact lens sellers to allow patients to electronically upload contact lens … Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Duckworth Statement on Ceasefire in Israel and Palestinian Territories
[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) Airland Subcommittee, released the following statement after Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire: "I'm relieved that Israel and Hamas have finally agreed to a ceasefire in the wake of the recent severe and escalatory violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories. While I fully support Israel's right … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
During SASC Hearing, Duckworth Secures Commitment from DoD Official to Pursue Safe Return of Illinoisan Kidnapped in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing today about the transition of troops out of Afghanistan, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed her concern for the safe return of Mark Frerichs, a Veteran of the U.S. Navy who was abducted in Kabul in early 2020. As the administration prepares to withdraw our forces by September 11th, Duckworth expressed concern that a complete troop withdrawal will likely make it harder to subsequently … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Duckworth, Collins, Underwood Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Preventive Healthcare More Affordable for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) re-introduced bipartisan legislation to make healthcare more affordable for America's Veterans. Their Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act would stop forcing our nation's Veterans to pay out-of-pocket costs for essential preventive health medications and prescription drugs-such as vitamin supplements, certain breast cancer prevention medicines, tobacco cessation products … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Duckworth Applauds President Biden Signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a year of rising anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination against the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and others at the White House as President Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. Duckworth helped U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduce this legislation in the Senate, … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $105 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois has been awarded nearly $105 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help communities grappling with mental health and addiction challenges that have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Department of Human Services will receive $54.7 million in Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant funding and $50.2 million in Community … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Duckworth, Murphy and Bennet Lead Call for Biden Administration to Address Discriminatory and Punitive Discipline Practices in Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) led nine of their Senate colleagues in calling on the Biden administration to address discriminatory and punitive school disciplinary measures. In a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Senators asked the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education to strengthen guidance on nondiscriminatory school discipline and advise … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Duckworth, Cornyn, Garamendi, Babin Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Investments in Airport Modernization Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve airport infrastructure by allowing airport projects to access cheaper public capital financing. The TIFIA for Airports Act would expand eligibility for Transportation and Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit assistance to state and local airport projects-including passenger terminals, runways and related facilities-a change that would improve and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $12 Million for MidAmerica Airport
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Scott Air Force Base/MidAmerica Airport has been awarded $12.6 million in federal grant funding to support the final phase of the airport's terminal expansion project. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and federal COVID-19 relief packages. "MidAmerica Airport is an important economic engine for the Metro East, and investments in … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Duckworth Meets With Nominee To Be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met virtually with Rohit Chopra, President Biden's nominee to be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. They discussed their shared priorities, consumer protection for servicemembers and military families as well as addressing racial justice in our consumer protection strategy. "It is past time for us to restore the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's central mission of protecting consumers, and Rohit Chopra is … Continue Reading
May 19, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin and Carper Call on EPA to Address Recommendations from OIG Report on Ethylene Oxide Management
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Carper (D-DE), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address, develop and implement recommendations from a recent EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) report. The report detailed the Trump Administration's delayed risk communication and interference in protecting community members in Willowbrook and Waukegan, Illinois, … Continue Reading
May 18, 2021
Duckworth Meets with FTA Administrator Nominee Nuria Fernandez, Discusses Bill to Help Ensure Accessibility on Public Transit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today met virtually with Nuria Fernandez, President Biden's nominee for Federal Transit Administrator and discussed Duckworth's newly-introduced All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, legislation that would help accelerate initiatives to make public transportation systems accessible to passengers with disabilities. The two also discussed President Biden's American Jobs Plan which, if passed, would allocate $110 billion to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Postal Service Leadership with President Biden’s Selections for Postal Board of Governors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met virtually with President Biden's three selections for vacancies on the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors-Ronald Stroman, Anton Hajjar and Amber McReynolds-to discuss restoring USPS service standards and rebuilding public trust in a critical federal agency that is enshrined in the Constitution. McReynolds is originally from Kewanee, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. … Continue Reading
May 18, 2021
Duckworth Joins Rosen and Ernst in Introducing Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Expand Child Care Availability
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in introducing the Small Business Child Care Investment Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would make non-profit child care providers that are small businesses eligible to participate in all loan programs available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) - the same opportunity currently provided to for-profit providers - to help increase the availability … Continue Reading
