Press Releases
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
October 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Democrats To Attorney General Barr: Drop Lawsuit To Gut The Affordable Care Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 17 Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General William Barr, urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rescind its support of the Supreme Court lawsuit brought by 18 Republican state Attorneys General that seeks to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the letter, the Senators highlight how health insurance protections for millions of Americans are at … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Duckworth, Democratic Colleagues to HHS and Treasury: Produce an Analysis of Health Coverage Losses in the U.S. if the ACA is Overturned
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 14 of her Democratic colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to conduct an analysis of how the Supreme Court potentially invalidating the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with an adverse ruling in California v. Texas would affect healthcare coverage in the United States, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. "In the … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Duckworth Votes No on the Republican “Skinny” COVID-19 Relief Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting no on the Republican "skinny" COVID-19 relief proposal. "We're more than seven months into a pandemic that's killed more than 220,000 Americans and all the Senate Republicans can muster up is a regurgitation of their failed 'skinny' relief bill that wasn't even close to enough in September and is even further from what America needs today. By offering families nothing in additional stimulus … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Duckworth, Bustos, Durbin Call for Immediate Testing of All Staff and Inmates After FCI Pekin COVID-19 Outbreak
[PEORIA, IL] -- U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) are calling for all staff and inmates to immediately be tested for COVID-19 at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Pekin after an outbreak of more than 75 cases was confirmed at the prison. A significant number of staff and inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 in recentdays, including three staff members and 74 inmates as of October 18th. In a letter to BOP Director … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Duckworth Calls on NIH to Comply with the CHIMP Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, along with U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Martha McSally (R-AZ), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) today called on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to ensure compliance with the Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance, and Protection (CHIMP) Act. In a letter, the Senators expressed particular concern for the 37 remaining … Continue Reading
October 19, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Feinstein, Colleagues To Seek Funding for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), along with 37 of their colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as quickly and at the highest level possible under the current continuing resolution. LIHEAP funding is a crucial lifeline that assists low-income households and seniors on fixed … Continue Reading
October 14, 2020
Following Efforts by Duckworth, USDA Agrees to Fully Extend School Nutrition Program Through End of 2020-21 School Year
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released a statement following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to fully extend school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-21 school year, giving schools the flexibility needed to serve students whether they are attending school in person or remotely: "In the middle of a public health crisis, when so many Americans have lost their jobs and food insecurity has skyrocketed across the nation, the Trump … Continue Reading
