Press Releases

Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Reauthorize the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act, which would authorize the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA) until 2038, an additional 15 years past the current expiration date of 2023. The bill would allow Illinoisans and Americans to visit and learn more about the historical and cultural impact of the ALNHA and Lincoln's legacy for years to come. "President Lincol… Continue Reading

Duckworth Statement on the Passing of Former U.S. Senator & Friend Bob Dole

Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator Bob Dole: "When I was recovering at Walter Reed, Bob Dole was a patient too. He was 81 years old then, and he had his own private room, but he always did his rehab with the rest of us-cracking jokes and sharing stories about his Army days. I'll always remember how that proud Veteran from an earlier generation took the time-during some of the most difficult moments o… Continue Reading

Duckworth, Durbin: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal’s Duckworth-authored Clean Water Provisions Already Delivering for Illinois

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that just weeks after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal was signed into law, Illinois will be able to make significant progress in removing lead from drinking water supplies, better protecting families from forever chemicals like PFAS and delivering environmental justice to communities in every corner of the state that have been ignored for too long-all while creating good-paying, local jobs. These p… Continue Reading

 In The News

Senators urge Biden to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to creator of Military Women’s Memorial

Twenty senators, all women, urged President Joe Biden on Friday to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to retired Brig. Gen. Wilma L. Vaught, who broke barriers for women during her military service and later helped create the Military Women's Memorial. Sens. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who both served in the military, sent a letter to Biden asking that he award the medal to Vaught at his first opportunity. Eighteen other senators signed onto the letter. "For over 60 y… Continue Reading

Sen. Duckworth stresses need to regulate PFAs chemicals after local Sugar Camp Mine Fire

(WSIL) -- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) says government agencies must put more focus on eliminating PFAs chemicals. Duckworth briefly spoke during a 90-minute hearing by the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works about evaluating the federal response to the persistence and impacts of PFAs chemicals in the environment. Duckworth says PFAs chemicals seep to the ground and present a dangerous risk to public health for decades to come. Duckworth mentioned a Chicago Tribune… Continue Reading

US airlines damage thousands of wheelchairs every year. Disabled Sen. Tammy Duckworth says, 'It's like they're breaking my legs every 3-4 flights.'

Like most US senators, Tammy Duckworth travels a lot. But, every 3-4 flights, her mobility is taken away from her, she tells Insider. "Wheelchairs should be treated like a human limb because they're my legs," says Sen. Duckworth in a video call with Insider. "When you break my wheelchair, or you lose my wheelchair, you've taken away my legs." Senator Duckworth lost her legs as a veteran in the Iraq war when the Blackhawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by an RPG. "Once I was on a flig… Continue Reading

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