In The News
Pete Hegseth Seems Really Confused About Where Southeast Asia Is
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary, revealed an embarrassing ignorance about a major geopolitical organization during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, was taking questions from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) when she challenged him to share his knowledge about even just one member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. “Can you name the importance of at least one of the nations in ASEAN … Continue Reading
January 13, 2025
‘Not Qualified’ And ‘Out of Touch’: Combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth on Why She Opposes Pete Hegseth’s Nomination
Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Pentagon is, at the moment, the most endangered of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet choices. Hegseth’s hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday—among the first of the incoming Administration—could offer some clarity on whether the former Fox News host is still on track to lead the nation’s largest employer. Central to that debate is likely to be Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the committee who happens to be disabled … Continue Reading
January 13, 2025
Hegseth’s track record falls short of military standards: Dem senators
When duty called, both of us considered it an honor to answer. In different wars, under different commanders in chief and secretaries of defense, each of us packed our bags, laced up our boots and deployed to the Middle East — flying combat missions over Iraq because we believed in our country and, crucially, because we believed in the military and civilian leaders who asked us to sacrifice. At any point in time, many of the 1.3 million active-duty U.S. service members stationed across the … Continue Reading
January 03, 2025
IL Sen. Tammy Duckworth joins Senate Veterans Affairs committee
ILLINOIS, USA — Friday, Jan. 3 is the first day back in office for U.S. Senators. It was also Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth's first day as part of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. Since she was injured during her service in Iraq in 2004, Duckworth has been advocating for veterans like herself. "It's a real honor to join the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to continue my work and my life's mission," Duckworth said. "I want to make sure that our heroes are provided with the care and … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Senator Duckworth meets with NIU leaders and Indonesian House delegation
This week, Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth met with Northern Illinois University leaders and a delegation from Indonesia’s House of Representatives. Sen. Duckworth, an NIU alum, says groups like the university's Center for Southeast Asian Studies help create international leaders, strengthen international bonds, and lead to real outcomes. “Trying to convince countries around the world to buy Illinois-grown, Illinois-produced ethanol; going to Indonesia and saying, ‘Hey, you should have … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Duckworth visits JALC Nursing Program expansion
CARTERVILLE — U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited John A. Logan College to see firsthand the impacts that a $1,235,000 federal investment she secured through Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally Directed Spending is having on the college’s nursing program. This Duckworth-secured federal investment enabled JALC to build new classrooms and purchase equipment to better prepare students for careers in health and nursing. While on campus, Duckworth also met with Dr. Kirk Overstreet, JALC’s … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
'I don't trust him': Senator shoots down Trump nominee's new scramble to save nomination
December 10, 2024
Trump nominee 'should scare all of us,' Duckworth says
CHICAGO - Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth has announced her intention to meet with Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, calling him "dangerously unqualified" for the position. "Should scare all of us," she said. What we know Duckworth, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a combat veteran, has expressed strong opposition to Hegseth, particularly due to his past remarks opposing women in combat roles. "Every one of those women are more qualified to … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Tammy Duckworth: Pete Hegseth Only Chosen For Defense Secretary Because Trump Thinks He Looks Good On TV
Pete Hegseth, a U.S. Army veteran and former Fox News personality, has become a lightning rod for controversy. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated him to run the Defense Department, but Hegseth is facing allegations around rape and alcohol problems and has been lambasted for and comments in which he says opposes women serving in combat roles. Hegseth has hit Capitol Hill in recent days, courting Republican Senators as he seeks to keep his nomination alive. Senator Tammy Duckworth … Continue Reading
December 09, 2024
Elected officials meet with Navy about future of troubled Halsey Village; ‘There is an opportunity for economic development’
Demanding action from the U.S. Navy to deal with uninhabitable housing conditions in Halsey Village at Naval Station Great Lakes since May, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Hoffman Estates, is relieved to see something coming of her efforts and those of local officials. “It is absolutely uninhabitable, and no one should have to live in those conditions,” Duckworth said. “I am pleased to see the Navy is preparing to work on remediation. I am going to stay laser-focused on this.” Lake County Board … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Tammy Duckworth urges Trump to endorse expansion of IVF coverage for military
Sen. Tammy Duckworth is taking the unorthodox step of asking Donald Trump to wade into a legislative debate before he becomes president, urging him to support her proposal to expand coverage for in vitro fertilization for military personnel. Duckworth, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, penned a letter to the president-elect, obtained by POLITICO, encouraging him to endorse provisions in the annual defense policy bill that would expand TRICARE coverage for IVF and other fertility … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Duckworth calls for Trump’s help in expanding IVF access for troops
WASHINGTON — Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is asking President-elect Donald Trump to use his influence among Republicans to back legislation that would expand insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization for military personnel. The Army veteran made the request in a letter to Trump on Wednesday, writing she feared Republican leaders could strike provisions providing Tricare coverage of IVF from the final version of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate and House versions of … Continue Reading
November 25, 2024
Tammy Duckworth Says Pete Hegseth ‘Inordinately Unqualified’ To Lead Pentagon
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said Sunday she believes former Fox News host Pete Hegseth is “inordinately unqualified” to run the Pentagon after he was nominated to be the nation’s next defense secretary by President-elect Donald Trump. Trump’s transition team is actively courting lawmakers to help confirm Hegseth, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, amid a growing scandal over past allegations against him of sexual assault. The media recently obtained details from a 2017 police … Continue Reading
November 24, 2024
Sen. Duckworth says Trump defense secretary pick is "flat-out wrong" about women in combat roles
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Sunday that Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary is "flat-out wrong" in his view that women should not serve in the military in combat roles. "Our military could not go to war without the women who wear this uniform," Duckworth said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." "And frankly, America's daughters are just as capable of defending liberty and freedom as her sons." Trump tapped Hegseth, a former Fox News host … Continue Reading
November 23, 2024
Sen. Tammy Duckworth pushes for growth of Rock Island Arsenal
U.S. Senator and combat veteran Tammy Duckworth met with Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George on Tuesday to discuss investments at the Rock Island Arsenal. In an interview with the Dispatch-Argus/Quad-City Times, Duckworth said that George was impressed with the arsenal after a recent visit, and that he saw the facility's potential to answer future challenges the Army might face. "General George gave me an example, 'There are parts that I have been trying to order from a major … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Tammy Duckworth Has a Message for Pete Hegseth on Women in Combat
Senator and combat veteran Tammy Duckworth had strong words for Pete Hegseth while appearing on CNN to discuss Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary. Duckworth, who lost both legs after being shot down in a helicopter while serving with the Illinois Army National Guard in Iraq, spoke with anchor Kaitlan Collins about Hegseth's comments on female combatants, calling him "out of touch," and lacking in experience. The Democratic Illinois senator was speaking out in response to a viral clip … Continue Reading
November 11, 2024
Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, disappointed by Trump victory, hopes for bipartisanship
While deeply disappointed with the results of last week’s elections, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, said she’s hoping to work with her Republican colleagues. “That’s what I’m going to be focused on,” Duckworth said Monday after attending a Veterans Day event in Belleville. “Obviously, with Donald Trump as president, my work is cut out for me to really work to counter many of his authoritarian tendencies. I will make sure that we maintain the checks and balances in government, and we … Continue Reading
November 10, 2024
Lawmakers Want More Flexibility for Pregnant Troops to Change Tricare Plans
In an effort to improve prenatal care for troops and family members, a group of lawmakers wants to give Tricare users more flexibility to change their health-care plans when they get pregnant. The House's version of the must-pass annual defense policy bill already includes language that would add, on a trial basis, pregnancy to the list of reasons why Tricare users could change plans. Now, a group of lawmakers is introducing separate legislation on the issue, with the goal of convincing … Continue Reading
October 25, 2024
IVF must be included in health coverage for military families, two lawmakers stress
WASHINGTON — Two Democratic lawmakers are pushing negotiators of a must-pass defense policy bill to include extensive health care coverage for in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments for service members and military families. Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., told leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees in a letter this week that troops should have the same level of IVF coverage that will become available next year to lawmakers and … Continue Reading
October 24, 2024
Pair of Lawmakers Pushes Defense Bill Negotiators to Include Tricare IVF Coverage
Broad coverage of fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization for service members and their families, should be part of a compromise defense policy bill being negotiated now, a pair of lawmakers told negotiators this week. In a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees that was obtained by Military.com, Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., pushed for the compromise National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, to include … Continue Reading