National Security and Foreign Relations
Senator Duckworth devoted over twenty years of her life in service to this country in the Reserve Forces. As a former Army officer, she understands the security challenges our nation must contend with and the risks our Armed Forces face. As a Senator, she is committed to ensuring American troops have the equipment and technology they need to keep our nation safe, and to supporting policies that improve their quality of life. She is also committed to rooting out waste within the Department of Defense and opposing harmful policies that discriminate against or dishonor our nation’s warriors.
Senator Duckworth knows that Congress has an obligation to provide our troops downrange with clear guidance and legal authority for their operations and is helping lead the efforts to provide them with an updated Authorization for Use of Military Force for the war on terror. Illinois is home to Scott Air Force Base, Rock Island Arsenal and the Naval Station Great Lakes. As a member of the influential U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Duckworth is committed to advocating for these military installations to ensure they can continue to support our nation’s security and our state’s economic growth. She also believes Illinois is uniquely positioned for economic opportunity and business development with our allies and partners around the globe, and she is committed to making sure the whole world knows it. By advocating for significant investments and increased exports in Illinois with international partners, Senator Duckworth is helping strengthen economic ties, create good-paying, local jobs while ensuring the state can grow as a hub of agriculture manufacturing and technology.
A strong and robust military is a principal pillar of our nation’s power, but is only one element in securing our national security. Senator Duckworth believes one of America’s greatest strengths is our system of democratic values and constitutionally-protected freedoms and rights. As the United States continues to lead in an increasingly interconnected world, it is important that we match our military power with the promotion of our values through diplomatic means. Defending and advancing our principles abroad will help our country effectively support international allies while confronting shared adversaries and threats.
She recognizes that the national security challenges facing our country will only grow in complexity and size in the coming years. Whether it’s countering the threats posed by global terrorism, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, sharing intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks or simply working together to respond to major global challenges, effective international cooperation is more important than ever when it comes to advancing our core security interests overseas to help make Americans safer at home.
Latest
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April 27, 2023
Duckworth Statement Following President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol’s Joint Address to Congress
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April 20, 2023
Duckworth Hosts Virtual Manufacturing and Trade Resource Fair for Illinois Businesses
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April 04, 2023
Following Duckworth Visit, Japan Announces Regulatory Change to Allow Import of More U.S. Ethanol
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April 04, 2023
Duckworth Applauds Finland Officially Joining NATO, Urges Sweden Be Added as Full Member Immediately
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March 24, 2023
Duckworth to Chicago Council on Global Affairs: Foreign Relations Affects Every American
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March 15, 2023
Duckworth Joins Kelly in Bipartisan Letter Asking Secretary Austin to Assess Factors Necessary to Send F-16s to Ukraine
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March 15, 2023
As 20th Anniversary of Iraq War Approaches, Duckworth Urges Senate to Prove It Still Stands Behinds Our Troops by Holding Public Vote on Decades-Old War Authorizations