Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Illinois Priorities Included in Major Water Infrastructure Bill Now Heading to President’s Desk
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) as well as Ranking Member on EPW's Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of several key priorities that will help Illinois in the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) 2020 Reauthorization, which passed the Senate yesterday as part of the omnibus agreement and now heads to the President's desk … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Secure Millions for Improvements at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today announced that $120 million in funding for the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) was included in the bipartisan funding agreement that passed the House and Senate and will be signed into law. This funding will provide the Army with necessary mobile maintenance capacity and boost manufacturing capability at RIA. It will be split with AM General, an automotive … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth Urges Incoming Biden Administration to Cover Costs of National Guard Troops Activated to Respond to COVID-19
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to President-elect Joe Biden requesting the incoming administration takes immediate and urgent action to authorize 100 percent federal cost-share for all Title 32 activations of National Guard troops responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. In part, Duckworth wrote: "Issuing such an order on day one of the Biden-Harris administration would be welcomed by Governors across our country and send a strong message … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth Touts Provisions and Initiatives Included in Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Deal and Omnibus Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal and agreement to fund the United States Government through the end of the fiscal year: "This bipartisan government funding legislation is far from perfect, but good governance requires compromise and leadership. There are obviously things I wish had been included, like funding for local governments to support first responders and additional assistance … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Deal, Funding Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today about her support for the bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal, which will be attached to an agreement to fund the United States Government through the end of the fiscal year: "For months, Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have blocked multiple attempts by Democrats to provide real, substantial relief to hard-working Americans who are struggling. And finally this week, we were … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Duckworth, Underwood, García, Kelly Receive COVID-19 Vaccine, Encourage Communities of Color to Receive the Vaccine When it is Available
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) urged communities of color to receive the vaccine when it is available to them. The members also released a video discussing the importance of trusting the science and getting vaccinated. "With full confidence in the science and at the direction … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement On Omnibus Provision Protecting Food Access For 8,000 Illinois Supportive Living Facility Residents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statements after they successfully secured a provision in the fiscal year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from terminating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois that serve 8,000 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Without this provision … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
GAO Issues Report Evaluating Effectiveness of “Move Over” Laws to Protect First Responders in Response to Push from Duckworth, Durbin, Fischer & Bustos
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to a request from U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) yesterday announced findings from their review of the effectiveness of current "Move Over" laws, the challenges states face in implementing these laws and how the federal government can help states increase public awareness to avoid emergency responders being killed when they … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Duckworth, Langevin Urge Biden & Harris to Prioritize Millions of Americans with Disabilities, Hire and Appoint People with Disabilities Throughout the Administration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI-02) today wrote a letter urging President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to hire and appoint people with disabilities across all agencies and departments and select appointees who will prioritize the rights of people with disabilities from Day One of the incoming administration. In their letter, Duckworth and Langevin noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Dems Announce Significant Additions To The Economic Justice Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democrats, today unveiled new additions to the Economic Justice Act, a major legislative proposal that now provides more than $435 billion in immediate and long-term investments in communities of color to address systemic racism and reverse decades of historic underinvestment. "This deadly pandemic has laid bare the overwhelming inequities in … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $9 Million To Support COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a total of $9.709 million in federal funding to Illinois to provide critical COVID-19 public health infrastructure support, such as data monitoring capabilities, for vaccination distribution and administration. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will receive $6,691,329 for vaccine distribution, laboratory support, … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Allow Illinois Senior Living Facility Residents to Continue Receiving Nutritious Meals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) ongoing efforts to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois as early as January 1st, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation that would allow SLFs to continue providing nutritious meals to its residents as required by state law and allow residents at these facilities to continue … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Duckworth Discusses COVID-19 Relief with Central Illinois Mayors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual meeting with seven mayors from across Central Illinois to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their communities and the status of further relief legislation for state and local governments. Duckworth heard from local leaders about the importance of more and flexible spending for local municipalities to continue to fund important social services, as well as vaccine distribution plans across Central Illinois. "Illinois … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Duckworth Speaks With Harvard National Security Fellows About National Security and Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke with Belfer Center Military Affairs Lecturer Bill Rapp and a group of fellows in the National Security Fellows Program at Harvard Kennedy School. They discussed national security policies, public service and leadership as well as how we can help ensure our servicemembers are supported and our armed forces are the strongest they can be. "It was a pleasure to … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Duckworth Calls on National Guard to Preserve Records Regarding Dangerous, Low-Flying Military Helicopter Flights Threatening Peaceful Protesters
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and one of the first Army women to fly combat missions in her Blackhawk helicopter during Operation Iraqi Freedom, today called on the National Guard Bureau to preserve all records regarding planning and operations related to the National Guard's response to civil unrest in Washington, D.C., earlier this year. The June 1st response included low-flying military aircraft intimidating … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Demand Testing At FCI Pekin Following Significant COVID-19 Outbreak
[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) have issued a second urgent call for all staff and inmates to immediately be tested for COVID-19 at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pekin following another significant outbreak at the prison, this time with nearly 330 confirmed cases. As case numbers continue to skyrocket throughout the nation, outbreaks at federal prisons can put inmates, staff and the larger … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Duckworth Discusses Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution in Virtual Roundtable with Latinx Community Leaders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) held a virtual roundtable today with Chicago and Illinois leaders and public health experts to discuss the disproportionate public health impact of COVID-19 on the Latinx community. The group discussed plans to equitably distribute a safe vaccine to Latinx communities in Chicago and across Illinois, while also addressing the language and information barriers public health leaders must address to ensure full access. "The Latinx community … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Duckworth Discusses Legislative Priorities with Newly-Elected Illinois Black Caucus Chairs
Duckworth Discusses Legislative Priorities with Newly-Elected Illinois Black Caucus Chairs [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with Illinois State Rep. Sonya Harper (IL-HD-06), newly-elected chair of the Joint Black Caucus, as well as Illinois State Senator Robert Peters (IL-SD-13), newly elected chair of the Senate Black Caucus. In separate calls, Duckworth discussed with Harper and Peters their legislative priorities for their caucuses in the next year, and … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Democrats Press Trump Administration On Decision Not to Pre-Order More Doses of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, Need for Transparent Plan Going Forward
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, in asking Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Chief Advisor of Operation Warp Speed, and General Gustave Perna, Chief Operating Officer of Operation Warp Speed, about recent reports that the Trump Administration … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $15 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $14.9 million in federal funding awarded to three Community Health Centers (CHC) throughout Illinois. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' health center cluster grant program. Every year, Illinois CHCs serve more than 1.4 million Illinoisans, regardless of their ability to pay. "Throughout this pandemic, underserved communities-particularly … Continue Reading
