Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Warren, Democratic Colleagues Urge Armed Services Leaders to Retain Bipartisan, Bicameral Measure to Rename Military Bases and Other Assets Honoring the Confederacy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 34 of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees urging that they reconcile and retain the bicameral, bipartisan measure to require military … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Push to Protect Illinois Air National Guard Aircraft from Elimination
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined a bipartisan Senate coalition led by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) advocating for a large enough C-130 aircraft fleet in Illinois and across the country to support active duty missions as well as respond to … Continue Reading
November 11, 2020
Duckworth Commemorates Veterans Day at Ribbon Cutting of New Chicago Veterans Home She Helped Secure Funding For
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, commemorated Veterans Day and celebrated the completion of a new Illinois Veterans Home on Chicago's Northwest Side today. The Senator spoke at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and participated in a tour hosted by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) along with Governor JB Pritzker, IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia, Coordinator of Chicago's Veterans Home Gwen … Continue Reading
November 07, 2020
Duckworth Responds to Election Outcome, Defends Integrity of the American Election Process
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Joe Biden was projected by multiple outlets including Fox News and the Associated Press to become the 46th President of the United States: "This election was a testament to the strength and integrity of our nation's democratic process, and now is the moment for true leaders in the Republican Party to condemn any and all efforts to undermine confidence in the legitimacy of these results. More than 140 … Continue Reading
November 04, 2020
Duckworth Responds to Trump’s Attempt to Circumvent Voters and Prematurely Declare Victory
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Donald Trump tried to circumvent the will of American voters-including servicemembers serving overseas whose votes may not have yet been counted-and declare victory: "In the United States of America, candidates don't decide election outcomes, the American people do. Trump has lied and cheated his way through his entire life, so it's no surprise that he's trying to lie and cheat his way through this … Continue Reading
November 03, 2020
Duckworth’s Friendly Airports For Mothers Improvement Act Signed Into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after her bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act was signed into law: "When traveling, you'd never be expected to eat your meal in a bathroom stall, yet for many new mothers, that's the reality they face," Duckworth said. "Two years ago, Congress took the first step in making air travel easier for new parents by passing my bipartisan FAM Act and supporting breastfeeding travelers. … Continue Reading
November 01, 2020
On First Day of ACA Open Enrollment Period, Duckworth, Durbin Encourage Illinoisans To Sign Up For Health Insurance Plans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the first day of the 2021 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) encouraged Illinoisans to sign up for quality, affordable health insurance on the marketplace today, emphasizing that most patients qualify for subsidies that ensure premiums are less than $75 per month, and highlighting the additional plan options and lower premiums for consumers this year. Duckworth and Durbin also slammed President … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Co-Founders Honor National Native American Heritage Month this November
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senate Environmental Justice co-founders Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-I.L.), Tom Carper (D-D.E.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) released the following statements to honor National Native American Heritage Month, which begins on November 1, and to underscore the work needed to achieve equity and improve environmental quality and infrastructure investment in this nation's Native American communities."Long before the 'discovery' of this nation, Native Americans inhabited … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen & Senate Colleagues in Call Urging Trump to Make Women’s Inclusion in Afghan Peace Negotiations a Foreign Policy Priority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of tomorrow's 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Security Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of Senators in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, underscoring the critical importance of ensuring women's participation in the ongoing Afghan peace negotiations. The UNSCR resolution, which was adopted on October 31, … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Duckworth Demands Answers from EPA on its Cancellation of Environmental Justice Trainings
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today wrote to Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to express concern about the cancellation of environmental justice trainings, a decision that could have severe repercussions on low-income communities, communities of color and Tribal and indigenous communities that often bear the disproportionate burden of pollution that … Continue Reading
October 29, 2020
Duckworth Discusses COVID-19 Relief Efforts with Chicago Independent Venue League
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke with members of the Chicago Independent Venue League this week to discuss the relief efforts needed to support concert and live event venues in the Chicagoland area during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Duckworth spoke with The Hideout owner Katie Tuten, The Metro owner Joe Shanahan and The Whistler owner Billy Helmkamp, whose venues have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. "I had a productive call with members of … Continue Reading
October 28, 2020
Duckworth Calls Out Republican Colleagues for Aiding Trump’s and Russia’s Efforts to Use Social Media for Misinformation Campaigns, Undermine Confidence in our Democracy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation (CST) hearing this morning, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) condemned her Republican colleagues for attempting to placate President Donald Trump by advancing efforts to intimidate technology companies into inaction when it comes to properly labeling or blocking dangerous conspiracy theories, foreign disinformation efforts and irresponsible propaganda. At the hearing, Duckworth asked the CEOs of … Continue Reading
October 28, 2020
Duckworth Celebra La Ciudadanía Estadounidense Para El Veterano Estadounidense Deportado Roman Sabal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - La Veterana de combate y Senadora estadounidense Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) celebró hoy el Veterano deportado de la Infantería de Marina de los Estados Unidos, Roman Sabal, quien finalmente recibió su ciudadanía. Sabal, quien sirvió durante seis años y recibió una baja honorable después de alcanzar el rango de sargento, ha estado lidiando con el proceso de naturalización durante más de dos décadas, … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Duckworth Celebrates U.S. Citizenship for Deported U.S. Veteran Roman Sabal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today celebrated deported U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Roman Sabal finally being granted his citizenship. Sabal-who served for six years and received an honorable discharge after attaining the rank of sergeant-had been tied up in the naturalization process for more than two decades, including being deported in 2008 and refused entry to attend his own citizenship interview by the Trump Administration last year. "Roman … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos, Illinois Delegation Members Urge Fema To Expedite Public Assistance Reimbursements For COVID-19 Expenses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today led Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expressing concerns over the agency's processing of the State's requests for Public Assistance as it relates to COVID-19 expenses. States may apply to be reimbursed for eligible costs related to emergency protective … Continue Reading
October 26, 2020
Duckworth Releases Statement after Sham Supreme Court Nomination Process
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement about Mitch McConnell's decision to jam through a Supreme Court nominee after millions of Americans have already voted and with just eight days until Election Day: "Infuriating, awful and illegitimate." Since Barrett was announced as Trump's pick for the Supreme Court, Duckworth has been vocal about her opposition to this appointment. When Barrett was first nominated, the Senator responded: "instead of … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Duckworth, Murray and Carper Call on EPA to Implement GAO Recommendations to Improve Drinking Water Safety at Child Care Facilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife; Patty Murray (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and Thomas R. Carper (D-DE), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works wrote today to strongly urge that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fully implement the recommendations … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Cardin, Shaheen, Schumer, Coons & Colleagues in Introducing COVID-19 Relief Bill to Support Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE) and 27 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the HEROES Small Business Lifeline Act, a comprehensive package of measures that would provide over $370 billion of support to the hardest-hit, most vulnerable small … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Duckworth Highlights Impact of COVID-19 on Amtrak Employees After Senate Republicans’ Refusal to Address Transportation Workforce Needs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety that has jurisdiction over Amtrak, this week questioned Amtrak President and CEO William J. Flynn about the impacts of Senate Republican obstruction of a COVID-19 relief package on Amtrak's workforce during a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing. Flynn confirmed Amtrak has already begun to … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Strengthen Military Readiness by Making Childcare More Accessible to Military Families that Host Au Pairs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, introduced legislation today that would help confront the childcare accessibility crisis by expanding J-1 visa exemptions to au pairs providing childcare services to military families. While a report released shortly before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) was … Continue Reading
