Press Releases
Senate Committee Unanimously Passes Duckworth’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to Rebuild our Nation’s Water Systems
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today aimed at modernizing and investing in our nation's crumbling water infrastructure. The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA 2021) was introduced yesterday and comes after water crises earlier this year across the South-including in Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi-left millions of American … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Duckworth Calls on SBA to Ensure PPP Application Process is Simple and Timely
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today called on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that the Paycheck Protection Program's (PPP) loan forgiveness process is as simple as possible. In a letter to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, Duckworth urged the SBA Administrator to ensure the agency was asking only for documentation required under the law, and noted the importance of … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Duckworth, United CEO Discuss Transportation Industry Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) virtually met with Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, yesterday to discuss the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the airline industry. Duckworth and Kirby also discussed President Biden's recently-enacted American Rescue Plan and how it will help the transportation industry, as well as the importance of future infrastructure legislation and investment. "Our airline industry workers have been hit hard by this pandemic, but I'm proud of … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Duckworth & Warner Urge Biden Administration to Address Pervasive Food Insecurity among Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) last week sent a letter to the Biden administration urging it to develop concrete steps to tackle the alarming rate of food insecurity many military families currently face. In their letter, the Senators also urge the administration to appoint an individual from within the Department of Defense (DoD) to lead efforts to tackle the issue of food insecurity as it affects mission readiness as well as troop … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Duckworth Leads Introduction of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to Rebuild our Nation’s Water Systems
[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, today introduced bipartisan legislation to invest in our nation's crumbling water infrastructure. Duckworth was joined by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chair of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ranking Member of the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
GAO Accepts Duckworth, Casey and Hassan Request for Review of Child Care Accessibility for Parents and Children with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions' Subcommittee on Children and Families; and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), member Subcommittee on Children and Families issued the following statements after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) accepted their recent request to study the barriers parents and children with disabilities face in accessing child care. The GAO study is set to begin … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Marty Walsh as Labor Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today voted to confirm Mayor Marty Walsh as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Walsh was confirmed as President Biden's Labor Secretary with a 68-29 vote. He will be the first union member to serve in this role in nearly 50 years. "Our nation is in crisis-millions of hardworking Americans have lost their jobs, while workers and middle-class families have borne the brunt of this pandemic and economic crisis," said … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Duckworth Hosts Roundtable to Help Illinois Families with Diaper Needs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a virtual roundtable with several leaders to discuss her End Diaper Need Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide resources to assist working families in addressing their diaper needs. Duckworth also discussed provisions from the End Diaper Need Act being included in the American Rescue Plan, as well as how government and organizations can work together in making sure families have access to diapering supplies. She was … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Duckworth Meets with Illinois Municipal League to Discuss American Rescue Plan’s Relief Funding for Local Governments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual meeting with the Illinois Municipal League (IML) to share updates on local government relief as part of President Biden's recently-enacted American Rescue Plan. Duckworth was joined by IML Preside Brad Cole; IML Board President Ricky Gottman, Mayor of Vandalia; and IML members from across the state to discuss how relief dollars can be spent by municipalities, as well as the need for swift guidance from the Treasury … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $380 Million for Illinois Schools for COVID-19 Testing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $381.6 million in federal funding for the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago to support COVID-19 screening testing for teachers, staff, and students to assist schools in re-opening safely for in-person instruction and to support essential worker testing. With funding provided through the American Rescue Plan, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded $300.5 … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth to DOJ and FBI: Take Immediate Steps to Prevent & Improve Investigations of Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent letters to FBI Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland urging them to direct their agencies to take immediate action to strengthen federal criminal investigations, law enforcement and prosecution of federal criminal cases against perpetrators of Asian American hate crimes. In her letter to Wray, Duckworth wrote: "Now is the time to mobilize nationwide the full force of Federal law enforcement's … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth Addresses Recent Surge in Discrimination and Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans at House Judiciary Committee Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After six Asian American women were murdered in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) served as a witness at the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing this morning, discussing the spike in hate crimes and violent acts perpetrated against Asian Americans since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Duckworth testified to the centuries-old, tragic history of this brand of discrimination, arguing … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Becerra as HHS Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting to confirm Xaiver Becerra as Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Becerra was confirmed by a 50-49 vote to serve as HHS Secretary under President Biden. "More than 530,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. It's clear we need a Health and Human Services department that is laser-focused on getting this pandemic under control and quickly administering the vaccine in an equitable way to … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth, Cornyn Re-introduce Bipartisan Bill to Allow Servicemembers Time to Grieve Deceased Children
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Cornyn (R-TX) re-introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow servicemembers time to grieve the death of their newborn babies. The Elaine M. Checketts Military Families Act-named after the deceased daughter of Major Matthew Checketts, an Active Duty Airman based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland-amends current leave policy for servicemembers so their pre-approved parental leave is not terminated in the tragic event of a child's … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth Introduces Sweeping Bill to Help Bring Environmental Justice to Every American
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Environmental Justice for All Act, comprehensive legislation to achieve health equity and climate justice for all, particularly underserved communities and communities of color that have long been disproportionately harmed by environmental injustices and toxic pollutants. This legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-03), Chair of the House … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth Meets with President Biden’s EPA Deputy Administrator Nominee Janet McCabe
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, held a virtual meeting this week with Janet McCabe, President Biden's nominee to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During their conversation, they discussed the importance of strengthening protections against lead in drinking water, how achieving environmental justice continues to be a … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce For the People Act to Strengthen Democracy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined their colleagues in introducing S.1., the For the People Act-a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption of our politics and make government work for the people. The introduction comes as Republican lawmakers in 43 states continue to use unfounded election conspiracies regarding the 2020 presidential election to push to restrict Americans' … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Duckworth Calls for Extension of PPP Program and Simplification of Loan Forgiveness Process at SBE Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, today highlighted her support for extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) beyond its current deadline of March 31, 2021. Many large nonprofits were just recently made eligible for PPP funding in the American Rescue Plan but may be shut out if the current deadline is not extended. Duckworth also discussed the importance of adhering to Congressional intent for SBA's … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Legislative Priorities with Southern Illinois Leaders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) held an annual meeting today with local leaders from Carbondale and Murphysboro to discuss her legislative priorities and how the Federal Government can support their communities. During the virtual meeting, Duckworth and local officials discussed broadband access, homelessness programs, crisis intervention services and air service from southern Illinois to Chicago. They also spoke about major initiatives in the region including the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Duckworth Reacts to Intelligence Community Report Revealing Russian Efforts to Undermine President Biden and Confidence in American Elections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the National Intelligence Council releasing a declassified report on foreign election interference in the 2020 U.S. elections: "This report clearly states that Russia attacked our democracy again in our 2020 election, seeking to sow division and reduce confidence in our electoral process as part of an overall effort to promote Trump's candidacy and hurt Joe Biden's … Continue Reading
