Economy, Jobs and Small Business
Senator Duckworth is committed to helping foster Illinois’s economic growth as well as building and supporting strong communities in urban, suburban and rural areas throughout our state.
Though many of the largest and most successful corporations in the world call Illinois home, Senator Duckworth knows that small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, making up over 90 percent of employers, employing nearly half of Illinois’s private workforce and serving as the life-blood of our communities. That is why she works every day as a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to find innovative, common-sense ways for Illinois’ small enterprises to sustain, succeed and grow. She has also heard from countless employers and small businesses in Illinois that are struggling to find qualified workers to fill job openings, and she prioritizes workforce development by supporting career and technical education and private-public partnerships to train workers for 21st-century jobs.
As the United States competes in an increasingly global marketplace, Senator Duckworth’s position on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee affords her a platform to ask tough questions and carefully review international trade agreements to help make sure they are in the best interests of our nation’s economy and workers. While working in the Senate to open foreign markets for Illinois farmers and manufactures, she is also focused on preventing unfair trade agreements and practices that disadvantage our state's companies and workers.
Latest
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September 22, 2023
Duckworth Statement on UAW Workers’ Strike
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September 22, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $5 Million To Support Dislocated Workers
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September 22, 2023
Duckworth Highlights Her Efforts to Bring Investments, Jobs to Illinois at City Club
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September 19, 2023
Duckworth Statement on U.S. Steel’s Decision to Temporarily Idle Granite City Works
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September 15, 2023
Duckworth, Casar Call on Biden Administration to Empower States with More Flexibility to Expand Diverse Job Growth, Support Local Workers
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September 12, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Illinois Colleagues to Urge IRS to Bring New Facility to Illinois
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September 08, 2023
Following Recent Congressional Delegation Trip to Southeast Asia, Duckworth Highlights Her Efforts to Promote Illinois Innovation Abroad
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July 21, 2023
Duckworth Touts Federal Funding for Joliet Junior College Entrepreneur and Business Center
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July 06, 2023
Key Duckworth Provisions in New National Defense Bill Would Support Hundreds of Illinois Jobs
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March 30, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Nominee to be Secretary of Labor Julie Su
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March 30, 2023
Duckworth Touts Support for Workforce Development with Dubuque Chamber of Commerce
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March 24, 2023
Duckworth Joins Reed, Brown to Call on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to Supervise “Buy Now, Pay Later” Lenders
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March 22, 2023
Duckworth Joins Warren, Senate Colleagues to Call on the Fed to Strengthen Rules for Banks with Assets Over $100B
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March 16, 2023
Duckworth Chairs Commerce Committee Hearing on Strengthening the Aviation Workforce
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March 15, 2023
In Aftermath of Silicon Valley Bank Collapse, Duckworth, Durbin Join Warren, Porter, Dozens of Democratic Lawmakers in Introducing Bill to Repeal 2018 Roll Back of Critical Dodd-Frank Protections
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March 08, 2023
Duckworth Calls on Colleagues to Swiftly Confirm Dilawar Syed as SBA Deputy Administrator
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March 03, 2023
Duckworth Joins Brown and Collins in Reintroducing Bipartisan Legislation to Get Public Employees Full Social Security Benefit
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March 03, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Help Stop Child Labor
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February 02, 2023
Ahead of 30th Anniversary of FMLA, Duckworth and Casten Re-Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Ensure Education Support Professionals Can Access FMLA Benefits
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January 20, 2023
Duckworth Highlights Job Creation, Investment and Economic Growth in Northern Illinois
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December 12, 2022
Duckworth, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Meet Future Needs in Aviation Workforce
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December 01, 2022
Duckworth on Bill to Prevent Costs Rising for Millions of Working Americans by Averting Rail Shutdown
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November 16, 2022
Duckworth, Houlahan, Speier Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging DoD to Follow Congressional Intent and Provide Equal Access to Parental Leave