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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October 04, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Colleagues in Letter to President Biden on U.S. Role in Potential Normalization Agreement Between Saudi Arabia and Israel
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October 04, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Brown, Senators Call for Immediate Legislative Action to Support Ukraine
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October 03, 2023
Duckworth Calls for House Republicans to Help Ensure Uninterrupted Aid to Ukraine
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September 28, 2023
Duckworth Secures Commitment from DoD Nominee to Help Strengthen Military Coordination with Southeast Asian Partners
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September 27, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Strengthening Air Mobility with Air Mobility Command Leader
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September 22, 2023
Duckworth Statement After Meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky
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September 19, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Nominee
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September 19, 2023
Duckworth Calls Out Senator Tuberville’s Reckless, Political Military Hold, Urges Republican Colleagues to Publicly Condemn His Efforts
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September 08, 2023
Duckworth Meets With Air Force Chief of Staff Nominee General David W. Allvin
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September 06, 2023
Duckworth Stresses Importance of AUKUS Partnership to Indo-Pacific Regional Security
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August 07, 2023
Duckworth to Visit Thailand, Indonesia & the Philippines to Continue Work Strengthening Ties Throughout Southeast Asia
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August 01, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Trade and U.S.-Japan Relations with Osaka Mayor
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July 27, 2023
Duckworth Reiterates Call for Tuberville to End His Dangerous Hold on Military Promotions
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July 24, 2023
Duckworth Joins Colleagues from Armed Services Committee in Calling on McConnell to Help End Reckless Hold on Military Promotions
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July 21, 2023
Duckworth Reaction to President Biden Tapping Admiral Lisa Franchetti as First Female Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff
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July 20, 2023
Duckworth Introduces New Legislation to Help Address Military Recruitment Crisis by Expanding Pool of Talented Potential Recruits
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July 13, 2023
Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Improve Nation’s Security, Strengthen the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
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July 12, 2023
Duckworth Blasts Tuberville for Politicizing Military, Holding Military Families Hostage and Putting National Security at Risk
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July 07, 2023
Duckworth, Kelly, Murkowski, Manchin Statements on Administration Plans to Provide Additional Weapons to Ukraine
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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
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March 08, 2023
Duckworth Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S.-ASEAN Relations
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February 28, 2023
Duckworth Returns from Asia, Visit Focused on Expanding Investments, Strengthening Ties and Bolstering Alliances
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February 22, 2023
Duckworth in Indonesia to Continue Work Strengthening Ties Throughout Southeast Asia
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February 20, 2023
Duckworth in Japan, Working to Expand Investments in Illinois & Strengthen Ties
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February 17, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Japanese, Thai Ambassadors to U.S.
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February 15, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Turkish Ambassador Following Devastating Earthquakes
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February 09, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Repeal 1991 & 2002 AUMFs, Formally Ending Gulf and Iraq Wars
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January 26, 2023
Duckworth Joins U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
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December 22, 2022
Key Duckworth Priorities Included in Senate-passed Omnibus Bill
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December 15, 2022
Duckworth Provisions to Support Troops, Improve Military Readiness, Reduce Reliance on Foreign Oil Pass Senate as Part of NDAA
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December 03, 2022
Duckworth Outlines Methods to Improve & Expand Military Recruitment at Reagan National Defense Forum
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October 21, 2022
Duckworth Applauds DoD for Upholding Servicemembers’ Right to Bodily Autonomy
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October 13, 2022
Duckworth, Van Hollen Meet Ukrainian Soldier Receiving Treatment at Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics in Silver Spring
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September 29, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Help Introduce International Children with Disabilities Protection Act
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September 28, 2022
With Application Deadline Approaching, Duckworth Seeks Additional Student Applications for U.S. Military Service Academies
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September 22, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban U.S. Recognition of Any Ukrainian Territory Annexed by Russia