Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $10 Million in Federal Funding for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $10 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office awarded to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This project will advance the production of low carbon intensity, purpose-grown energy crops that will accelerate a clean energy economy by expanding the domestic supply chain of alternative carbon … Continue Reading
December 14, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Southern Illinois Airport Director, Tours SIU’s Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center
[MURPHYSBORO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, met with Gary Shafer, Director of the Southern Illinois Airport that she recently secured $500,000 in federal funding for, and toured Southern Illinois University’s Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center with SIU Chancellor Dr. Austin Lane and former U.S. Representative … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
Duckworth Highlights Need to Protect IVF Access, Pass Her Right to IVF Act During Carterville Roundtable
[CARTERVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a discussion at John A. Logan College with IVF providers, advocates and families on the challenges they face with IVF access at risk across the country after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justices overturned Roe v. Wade. She was joined by local IVF recipients, as well as doctors, medical professionals and leaders from SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Shawnee Health, Washington University and Deaconess Illinois. Duckworth, … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley Call on Transportation Leaders to Reach Agreement, Finalize Federal Funding for Chicago Hub Improvement Project
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today sent a letter to the leaders of Amtrak, Canadian National, Metra, and Union Pacific, urging the leaders to reach an agreement on all outstanding aspects of Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s upcoming federal grant application to advance the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP) for Chicago Union Station (CUS). The … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $7 Million to Help Prepare Young Illinoisans to Succeed in High-Demand Careers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced more than $7 million in grant funding for five youth organizations in Illinois participating in the U.S. Department of Labor’s YouthBuild Program, which is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational services for 16 to 24 year-olds who left school without a secondary diploma. “I’m glad to see this funding go to these important organizations across our … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Duckworth Celebrates Commerce Committee Advancing Amtrak Board of Directors Disability Advocate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and author of the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act—issued the following statement after the full committee voted to advance David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors. Capozzi would serve in the designated disability advocate seat on the board, which was created by a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Duckworth’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee Emphasizes Urgent Need to Improve Air Traffic Control Systems to Prevent Near-Misses and Protect Flying Public
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—led a subcommittee hearing focused on the challenges facing our passenger aviation system amid the busy holiday travel season, where she underscored the urgent need to invest in updated air traffic control (ATC) systems and equipment to prevent near-misses and protect the flying public. This … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Aviation Safety Subcommittee Chair Duckworth Reacts to FAA Administrator Whitaker’s Decision to Resign
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement in reaction to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker’s decision to resign on January 20, 2025: “I am saddened to learn of FAA Administrator Whitaker’s plan to resign next month. His leadership has been invaluable during this critical … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Advocates, Reiterates Call to Protect Lives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois community members and gun violence prevention advocates and survivors to discuss their shared efforts to save American lives and pass common-sense gun safety reform like the federal assault weapons ban. The meeting included representatives from Highland Park, Moms Demand Action in Illinois and the Newtown Action Alliance. Photos from today’s meeting are available on the Senator’s website. “The needless and … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Duckworth, Cardin and Colleagues: Venezuela’s Demand for Freedom Will Not Be Silenced
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—joined SFRC Chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) and other members of SFRC in issuing the following statement condemning the Maduro regime’s ongoing campaign of intimidation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, her family and peaceful protestors across Venezuela: “On July 28, despite arbitrary candidate bans, rampant censorship, and organized intimidation, … Continue Reading
December 11, 2024
Duckworth Joins Durbin, Colleagues in Requesting President Biden Protect Immigrant Families Ahead of the Inauguration of President-Elect Trump
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and other Senate Democrats in sending a letter calling on President Joe Biden to protect immigrant families before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. “As Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent millions of immigrant families, we write to express our deep concern about the threat the … Continue Reading
December 11, 2024
Duckworth Discusses Northeastern Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Chicago District Commander Colonel Kenneth Rockwell to discuss a number of issues, including updates on their flood risk management, ecosystem restoration and invasive species protection efforts throughout Northeastern Illinois. Photos from the meeting are available on the Senator’s website. “Protecting and strengthening our inland waterways is critical to growing our local economies … Continue Reading
December 07, 2024
Duckworth Tours Halsey Village, Brings Together Community & Navy Leadership to Chart Path Forward for Improving Servicemember Housing Conditions
[NORTH CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee (SASC)—toured the Halsey Village housing community, visited Naval Station Great Lakes and brought together Navy and community leaders to discuss their shared efforts to remediate and redevelop Halsey Village as well as help chart a part forward to improve the deplorable housing conditions our servicemembers at the Naval Station have faced for almost 20 years. Duckworth … Continue Reading
December 06, 2024
Duckworth Discusses Rail Accessibility and Improvements with Metra Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with Metra leadership to discuss ongoing rail improvements throughout the Chicagoland area, including Metra’s work on expanding services to O’Hare International Airport and the upcoming Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization. Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, met with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and Metra Deputy Executive Director Janice Thomas, who provided updates on … Continue Reading
December 06, 2024
Duckworth, Cassidy Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Support Veteran Organizations, Which Is Now Set to Become Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., (R-LA) celebrated the U.S. Senate passing their Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act, which would expand the deductibility of charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations serving current and former members of the Armed Forces. … Continue Reading
December 05, 2024
Duckworth, Capito Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Promote Accessibility at Amtrak Stations Across the Country
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)—both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—applauded the Senate unanimously passing their bipartisan legislation that would help break down unnecessary barriers Americans with disabilities continue to face at Amtrak stations across the country. Building on Duckworth’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, which became law as part of the … Continue Reading
December 05, 2024
Duckworth Emphasizes Environmental Justice Issues with League of Conservation Voters and Illinois Environmental Council
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and co-founder of the first-ever Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) to discuss a number of issues, including her work to help create good-paying union jobs, get the lead out of our children’s water, promote clean energy and bring environmental justice to communities that have been ignored for too long. “In order to help … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Duckworth to Trump: You Campaigned on “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” You Should Start by Preventing GOP from Blocking IVF Coverage for Servicemembers and Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—called on President-elect Donald Trump to prove that he is serious about keeping his bold promise that he would mandate the federal government and insurance companies pay for all costs associated with IVF services. The House-passed NDAA, as it currently stands, would provide our nation’s servicemembers with … Continue Reading
November 25, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Introduction of Bicameral Legislation to Expand Protections for Migrants' Essential Personal Belongings
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) in introducing the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act, bicameral legislation to require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop guidance for the handling of personal property of individuals arrested, restrained, or … Continue Reading
November 22, 2024
Duckworth Meets with Air Traffic Controllers Ahead of Busy Holiday Travel Season
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate’s Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—held a listening session with Chicagoland members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to hear their concerns and discuss some of the challenges our passenger aviation system faces ahead of the busy holiday travel season. Thanks to provisions that Duckworth championed in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization law she helped … Continue Reading