In The News
OPINION: Senate Republicans are hiding shameful downgrades to veterans’ SNAP benefits
Congress is hurtling toward a budget deal that will have devastating consequences for millions of low-income people across the country. Many Americans, and perhaps even some policymakers, have no idea how destructive it really is. Both the House and Senate budget reconciliation bills are filled with harmful provisions that would decimate the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In addition to hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to “SNAP,” as it is known, Senate Republicans quietly … Continue Reading
June 27, 2025
K-leather ban reintroduced in US Senate
K-leather has been used to manufacture high-end soccer cleats for decades. However, its use has fallen out of favor in recent years as information about the commercial harvesting of kangaroo hides created a backlash. In the statement announcing the bill, Duckworth’s office said the legislation was designed to protect kangaroos from the largest commercial slaughter in the world. “When I first learned how widespread and brutal the kangaroo hunt is, I could hardly believe my ears,” Duckworth … Continue Reading
June 26, 2025
Duckworth, Other Congressional Lawmakers Want Answers From Irs on Bills Being Sent for Taxes Paid
Congressional lawmakers are calling out the IRS for notices the agency sent out telling taxpayers they didn't pay their taxes — even though those taxpayers did, in fact, do so. CBS News Chicago has reported on this problem, and it turns out we are not the only ones having a hard time getting answers from the IRS. U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) said their offices are also both dealing with delays in responses from the IRS about the issue. Duckworth said cuts made by … Continue Reading
June 26, 2025
Illinois Senator introduces bill to limit Trump from using armed forces on civilians
Combat Veteran and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced a bill Thursday that aims to curb the president’s power to deploy the armed forces to police citizens. According to the news release from Senator Duckworth’s Office, the bill aims to curb what she believes is a misuse of the military for civilian law enforcement means. The press release states that the core mission of the armed forces is to protect and defend Americans from foreign threats. The name of the bill is the Military in … Continue Reading
June 26, 2025
As Military Helps More with Law Enforcement, Senate Democrat's Proposal Seeks Guardrails
The U.S. military would be able to help civilian law enforcement only in narrow circumstances under a bill being introduced Thursday by a Democratic senator to close what she described as a loophole in existing law that could allow more domestic troop deployments. The bill from Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., would amend an existing law by specifying that troops can assist civilian law enforcement only for a humanitarian crisis, natural disaster, public health emergency or major public event … Continue Reading
June 25, 2025
Tammy Duckworth Shreds Trump and Allies Over Medicaid Cuts: 'The Party of We're All Going to Die'
Appearing on Jake Tapper’s CNN show Wednesday afternoon, Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth gave a blunt assessment of Donald Trump and Republicans for the draconian Medicaid cuts they’re attempting to make to Medicaid, dubbing them the “we’re all going to die anyway” party. She also mocked the GOP’s attempt to mitigate one of the more serious effects of those cuts, comparing them to an arsonist who then calls for the creation of a fire department. At issue is the Senate budget bill … Continue Reading
June 19, 2025
Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth says the GOP’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will negatively affect the healthcare
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said the GOP’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will negatively affect the healthcare, and those receiving benefits at a Thursday afternoon press conference at the Peoria County Health Department. Duckworth said the cuts in the bill will hurt those who receive Medicaid benefits, like the disabled, and other medical facilities and programs in rural communities. The bill proposes to create stricter requirements for Medicaid recipients and cut $50 billion in federal Medicaid … Continue Reading
June 19, 2025
Duckworth warns Medicaid cuts will impact 60,000 people in Peoria County
The Senate budget bill would kick 60,000 people in Peoria County off Medicaid, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said at a Thursday press conference with local health care advocates and Medicaid recipients about the consequences of Medicaid cuts. The Senate’s version of the budget bill, released Monday, includes even deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House bill. It imposes stiffer work requirements, while the House version provided some exemptions. “We are, again, at a tipping point where the … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
‘Unqualified Yes Man!’ Senator Erupts On Pete Hegseth in Fiery Hearing Clash
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tore into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a Wednesday hearing on the Defense Department’s 2026 budget request. After she was given the floor to speak, Duckworth went after the secretary for the costly operation the U.S. conducted on the Houthis in Yemen. That operation, Duckworth noted, “has not restored the transit of U.S. flag commercial vessels through the Red Sea,” and has even resulted in the loss of military aircraft. “You are blowing through money … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Democrats Are Daring Trump to Back Their IVF Bill as He Weighs Recommendations on Access
Senate Democrats are daring President Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed “father” of in vitro fertilization, to support their bill protecting access to fertility treatments. “This is his chance to get on board, right?” Sen. Tammy Duckworth said. “Let’s make sure that we continue to enshrine Americans’ rights to access assisted reproductive technology. It’s that simple.” “I’m giving him an opportunity; he should back it,” Duckworth continued. The Illinois senator will introduce on Wednesday … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth Introduces Bill to Get Travelers to the Airport on Time
Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced a new bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at helping travelers get to the airport on time by improving the infrastructure that gets them there. The Don't Miss Your Flight Act would use existing highway funds to improve roads, bridges, rail and transit routes leading to airports. "Airports like Chicago O'Hare and so many others are building to keep up with the growth of passenger demand and the surface transportation, whether it's the road or the rail, … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Combat vet Tammy Duckworth leads Democrats’ final plea to stop Pentagon purge as trans military ban begins
On the eve of the most sweeping purge of transgender personnel in modern U.S. military history, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat representing Illinois, is leading a last-minute attempt to halt what she and 22 other Senate Democrats call a “foolhardy,” “cruel,” and politically motivated expulsion of thousands of qualified service members. In a scathing letter delivered Thursday to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Duckworth—an Iraq War veteran and double amputee who sits on the Senate Armed … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Duckworth’s ‘Don’t Miss Your Flight’ bill aims to fix last-minute delays en route to airports
There’s a special kind of angst that comes from being within sight of O’Hare International Airport, only to run smack into traffic or transit dysfunction. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth hopes to reduce that stress. The Hoffman Estates Democrat introduced the “Don’t Miss Your Flight Act” Thursday with co-sponsor Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. It seeks to upgrade ground transportation in and out of airports. “It’s that final bit that makes it difficult for passengers to connect, … Continue Reading
May 28, 2025
US senator makes 4th trip to Taiwan
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — US Senator Tammy Duckworth is visiting Taiwan from Wednesday to Thursday, marking her fourth trip to the country while in office, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Duckworth will meet with President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, per MOFA. Discussions will cover foreign affairs, defense, economic and trade policy, as well as the security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region. The ministry … Continue Reading
May 28, 2025
US Sen. Duckworth visits Taiwan to discuss regional security and trade
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Strongly pro-Taiwan U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is visiting the self-governing island democracy to discuss regional security and relations with the U.S. Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, will hold a series of high-level meetings with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations during her visit Wednesday and Thursday, said the American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as the de-facto American embassy in Taiwan in liu of formal diplomatic relations. Trade, … Continue Reading
May 27, 2025
Sen. Tammy Duckworth heads to Taiwan, Singapore in bid to 'close the deal' for quantum campus
Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday embarked on a six-day trip to Taiwan and Singapore, where she hopes to “close the deal” on a partnership with Foxconn’s research arm at Chicago’s new quantum algorithm center. Duckworth is on her 13th Congressional Member Delegation trip since 2018 — and this trip marks her 11th trip to Asia. She told the Sun-Times her main goal in Taiwan will be to push Hon Hai — better known as Foxconn — to invest in the soon-to-be-constructed Illinois Quantum and … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
AmeriCorps cuts leave Chicago programs serving kids facing diminished summer
In the shadow of the carousel at an otherwise empty Lincoln Park Zoo, a crowd of children rushing ahead of their families shrieked as they saw two grown-ups dressed as Superman and Supergirl. The superheroes’ sighting checked off a scavenger hunt box on an evening when the zoo was closed to everyone except the hundreds of families served by Chicago HOPES for Kids, a nonprofit organization that provides academic support to children experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Outings … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth concerned about cuts to care at hospitals recently acquired by Prime Healthcare
JOLIET, Ill. (WLS) -- Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth were raising concerns Wednesday about cuts to the level of care at some local hospitals. The hospitals are now owned by Prime Healthcare. They were recently purchased from Ascension. A spokesperson for Prime Healthcare says the for-profit company's model is centered on investing in hospitals. But nurses at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet say, since the company acquired the hospital, they've instead seen cutbacks to … Continue Reading
May 20, 2025
Is Sauget air pollution harming people? CDC suggests a deeper EPA probe
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has completed an investigation into whether air pollution in Sauget is harming people, with a particular focus on the emissions from a hazardous waste incinerator there. An estimated 878 people live within a 1-mile radius of the 35-acre Veolia North America-Trade Waste Incineration facility. The closest residential areas are about half a mile southeast of the facility in Cahokia Heights. The national public health agency was able to provide them … Continue Reading
May 17, 2025
Duckworth hosts veterans town hall in Crystal Lake
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, talked about veterans but also bipartisan legislation and other issues at a Crystal Lake town hall Saturday morning. Duckworth, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Iraq War, focused the town hall, which was held at the IBEW Local 117 hall, on veterans and veterans issues. [ VA responds to Duckworth town hall in Crystal Lake ] David Trost of McHenry asked Duckworth about Medicare and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other similar programs, … Continue Reading