Press Releases
Duckworth Calls for Hearing on Risks of Trump Administration’s Troop Withdrawal on Efforts to Bring Home American Hostages Held in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the Trump Administration's announcement that U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be substantially reduced over a rapid timeline, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) requesting an open hearing as soon as possible to investigate how the decision to hastily withdraw troops could make it even more challenging to safely bring home American hostages, including Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan and … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth Follows Up on Her Demand for Additional Materials Related to Low-Flying Military Helicopters over Peaceful Protesters from DoD and National Guard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After multiple requests for investigations into the use of low-flying military aircraft over peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 2020, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to Ryan McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, Sean O'Donnell, Acting Inspector General for the Department of Defense (DoD) and General Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau to follow up on her demands for information. In her letter to McCarthy, she wrote: … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Statement on DOD Announcement of C-130J Aircraft Awards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) issued the below statement following an announcement from the Department of Defense (DOD). After delaying its initial summer announcement, DOD will award three states - Kentucky, Texas and West Virginia - with new C-130J aircraft. DOD also announced a fourth, previously unplanned "contingency location" to receive the new military planes - Georgia. "I'm extremely … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Peters in Calling on GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and 35 of their colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Duckworth and Durbin to Trump, Miller & Pompeo: Hasty Withdrawal of Troops Could Extinguish Chance for Safe Return of Illinoisan Being Held Hostage in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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 Defense Subcommittee, today wrote three separate letters to President Trump, Secretary of State Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Defense Miller urging them to take immediate action to secure the safe return of Mark Frerichs, a Veteran of the U.S. Navy … Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Help Peters Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Stripping Federal Employees of Critical Protections
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 40 of their colleagues helped U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduce legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the Administration to fire non-partisan civil … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos, Davis Lead Illinois Delegation In Opposing USDA Effort To End Food Stamp Program At Illinois Senior Living Facilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), today led the bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation on a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue opposing the Department's administrative overreach and ongoing efforts to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Duckworth, Inhofe, Moran, Capito Applaud Advancement Of Their Bill To Improve Aviation Technical Training
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.VA.), applauded the Commerce Committee's inclusion of their bill to improve education and training curriculum at aviation maintenance technician schools as part of S. 3969, the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020, which the committee passed today. The Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training (PARTT) 147 Act of 2019 would establish … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Duckworth: Trump’s Pentagon Firings & Refusal to Comply with Stable Transition Endangers Our National Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Speaking at the Democratic weekly leadership stakeout this afternoon, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the urgent need for GOP leaders to speak out against Trump's firing of Secretary Mark Esper and other top Pentagon officials, as well as his refusal to follow precedent and engage in a smooth, stable transition of power that protects our national security during a vulnerable time. Video of her remarks is available here. Key points: "At the height of a … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Duckworth, Hirono, Senate Democrats Call for Trump Administration to Support Nationwide Capacity for Shipping, Handling and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines Requiring Ultra-Cold Storage
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and ten of their Senate Democratic colleagues in writing to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, urging the agencies to work with state, Tribal, territorial and local stakeholders to identify gaps in ultra-cold storage capability, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and use … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Duckworth Releases Statement in Response to Trump Administration's Plan to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan and Iraq
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Donald Trump's newly appointed but unconfirmed Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller announced the Pentagon's plan to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq despite national security experts and even Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressing opposition and concern about the risks this drawdown could pose: "We all want our troops to be brought home safely, but this … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues On Letter Urging McConnell To Support TPS Holders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and 23 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The letter requests that an 18 month extension of status for TPS holders be included in the December appropriations package. Like millions across the … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Duckworth Joins University of Chicago Veterans Day Panel to Discuss Deportation of U.S. Veterans
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the University of Chicago for a virtual panel today to discuss the Trump Administration's deportation of U.S. Veterans as well as her efforts to support these individuals. Duckworth was joined by moderator and part-time lecturer at UChicago's School of Social Service Administration Leora Hudak, President of Green Card Veterans Carlos Luna, deported and repatriated U.S. Veterans Miguel Perez and Hector Barajas, as … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
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
