In The News
50 women who made history as the first to do these extraordinary things
Tammy Duckworth is the first woman with a disability elected to the House and the Senate. Tammy Duckworth became the first disabled woman elected to Congress in 2012. She is a Iraq War veteran, and lost her legs while when her helicopter was struck during her deployment. She told the Washington Post, "I was hurt in service for my country. I was proud to go. It was my duty as a soldier to go. And I would go tomorrow." In 2016, she was elected to the Senate, where she became the first disabled … Continue Reading
February 26, 2020
Sen. Tammy Duckworth talks about climate change
(WSIL) -- Climate change can be a politically divisive issue. On her website, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D of Illinois, says climate change "poses grave national security, public health and economic threats" to the United States. But Sen. Duckworth also sees opportunity. She thinks taking on climate change could boost the economy here in southern Illinois. "Our universities - Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois - are all working on other alternative biofuels that are not … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Senators demand ‘full investigation’ into VA Sec handling of sexual assault case at DC VA
Six senators are demanding an investigation into how Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie handled a sexual assault reported by a veteran at a VA hospital last year. Senators Patty Murray, Sherrod Brown, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Bernie Sanders and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to the VA Office of the Inspector General on Monday calling for the investigation into what they called "deeply concerning reports" that VA officials -- prompted by Wilkie -- "improperly … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth: Army's New Helicopters Should Not Be Designed for Anyone Else
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, said recently that the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force would have to wait their turn if they want their own version of the Army's futuristic helicopters being developed under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort. The Illinois Democrat and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee recently attended a high-profile flight demonstration of Sikorsky-Boeing's new SB-1 Defiant helicopter that was designed … Continue Reading
February 21, 2020
Senators Call on Highway Administration to Finalize Car Seat Test Rules
Citing "an urgent matter of public safety," two U.S. senators are pressing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to immediately finalize side-impact crash test standards for children's car seats. Responding to a ProPublica investigation, Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, admonished regulators for failing to meet the requirements of two laws. Nearly 20 years ago, Congress passed a law … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
This proposed law would help deported veterans finish the citizenship process
Last summer, Customs and Border Patrol stopped a deported Marine Corps veteran on his way to a citizenship interview from entering the U.S. at the San Ysidro, California checkpoint. Though former Sgt. Roman Sabal's story was complicated, it inspired Army veteran Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, to propose a bill Thursday that would require CBP to allow deportees to attend appointments at ports of entry, consulates or embassies without having to make their case for "advance parole," which … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Senators Duckworth and Durbin announce public housing funding
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin announced $21,084,252 in federal funding today. The funding is through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund to help public housing authorities throughout central Illinois. According to the announcement, all the following public housing authorities will receive funds: Peoria Housing Authority: $2,632,932 Franklin County Housing Authority: $1,744,779 Springfield Housing Authority: … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
With Chicago’s shoreline threatened, protection may have to wait as feds delay money for study
Chicago will have to wait at least another year for a study that could kick-start long-term shoreline protection. A report reevaluating the Chicago shoreline was not funded in the Army Corps of Engineers' 2020 work plan. With lake levels expected to remain high, boulders enveloping beaches, conditions exacerbated by climate change and residents wondering what to do as water creeps up to their homes, the study could have begun a yearslong process to guard sections of the shoreline … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Duckworth receives Jane Addams Medal from Rockford University
Rockford University gives Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D - Illinois) the Jane Addams Medal of Distinguished Service, the university's highest honor. University president Eric Fulcomer presented the award to Duckworth for her work in making higher education more accessible. The Jane Addams award is given to those who are pioneers in their careers and show outstanding character. Duckworth also noted the importance of investing in career and technical training programs to connect students with … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges FEMA to Support State's Request for Extension of Flood Damage Assessment in Cook and Lake Counties
Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for an extension from FEMA in the State conducting a Preliminary Damage Assessment of the flooding event that occurred from January 10-11, 2020. Last month, severe storms brought rain, snow, ice, and high winds in excess of 50 miles per hour to Cook and Lake Counties. This caused Lake Michigan water … Continue Reading
February 07, 2020
Duckworth urges FAA to require epipens on every flight
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Il), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-Ny) and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna (D-Ca) urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to require that more U.S.-based airlines as well as regional air carriers and all cargo operators, include epinephrine auto-injectors (epipens) in their on-board emergency medical kits. Duckworth and Khanna sent a letter this week after the FAA shared the Aerospace Medical Association recommendations for emergency … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Illinois Lawmakers Invite Special Guests to Attend President Trump’s State of the Union Address
A large group of Illinois lawmakers will be attending President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night, and many will be bringing special guests. U. S. Senator Dick Durbin will be accompanied by Westinghouse College Prep student De'andre Wilborn, according to a press release. Wilborn is a talented student-athlete who met Sen. Durbin last October. The two took part in a round-table event at Westinghouse about the "Northwestern Medicine Scholars Program," which has a … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
After $25,000 fee, wheelchair users wait for better Amtrak stations, trains
Amtrak's decision to charge two wheelchair users $25,000 to ride a train in Illinois generated a firestorm of criticism from disability advocacy groups and lawmakers. Though Amtrak reversed that decision and changed its policy for accommodating wheelchair users, the railroad has been slow to make progress on improving the accessibility of its stations and trains. It's been 30 years since Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act. Amtrak was given until 2010 to comply with the … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Duckworth: Even Trump's lawyers made the case for witnesses
Senator Tammy Duckworth talks with Rachel Maddow and an MSNBC panel about how both the House impeachment managers and Donald Trump's lawyers have made it clear that introducing witnesses and documents would help Senators make a more informed decision about convicting … Continue Reading
January 28, 2020
Senators Duckworth, Durbin urge Amtrak to change its disability policy
NORMAL, Ill. - Amtrak will begin reviewing its nationwide disability policy, after CEO Richard Anderson met with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill). The meeting comes after the rail company mistakenly charged a group of wheelchair riders $25,000 to travel from Chicago to Normal. According to a press release from Duckworth's office, Anderson admitted the charge was improper and apologized. He then promised the two that the company will work with Congress to bring … Continue Reading
January 24, 2020
Army probes handling of Illinois sex assault complaints
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Army officials have quietly ordered an investigation into allegations that leaders of an Illinois-based reserve unit mishandled sexual assault complaints and retaliated against a whistleblower, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy on Jan. 15 requesting an investigation. Their letter cited an AP story about allegations that commanders in the had improperly … Continue Reading
January 23, 2020
Senators Call For Review After Fewer Immigrants Naturalized For Military Service
A bipartisan group of senators called on the government to review a dramatic decline in the number of noncitizens who have become naturalized for their military service. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter Thursday to the Government Accountability Office asking it to review federal pathways that allow those from other countries to become U.S. citizens if they enlist in the armed forces. The U.S. has long relied on immigrant recruits … Continue Reading
January 20, 2020
Duckworth Calls Amtrak’s $25,000 Quote For Disabled Passengers ‘Outrageous’
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) called reports that Amtrak wanted to charge a group of disabled passengers $25,000 for rail tickets that usually cost $16 apiece "outrageous," requesting a meeting with the company's CEO to determine how it could better serve wheelchair users. "It is outrageous that Amtrak asked a group of passengers with disabilities to pay $25,000 to ride from the City of Chicago to Bloomington, Illinois," Duckworth, a double amputee who serves on the Senate Transportation … Continue Reading
January 10, 2020
Sen. Tammy Duckworth: Trump’s war games are dangerous; Congress must rein him in
"All is well." That's what Donald Trump said just hours after Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at two two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops Tuesday in retaliation for the U.S.-ordered killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani the previous week. That's what he said as thousands of troops are readying to deploy to the Middle East - to a hotbed of anger, where wearing an American flag on your shoulder gets more dangerous by the day. That's what he said as our nation seemed to be … Continue Reading
January 10, 2020
‘I left parts of my body in Iraq’: Duckworth responds to Collins' claim Democrats 'in love with terrorists'
WASHINGTON - Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Iraq War veteran who lost both of her legs in the conflict, slammed remarks by Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., who suggested Democrats are "in love with terrorists" for criticizing President Donald Trump's Iran policy. Asked about the comments, which drew strong backlash from Democrats, in a Thursday evening interview on "CNN Right Now." "I'm not going to dignify that with a response," Duckworth said. "I left parts of my body in Iraq fighting … Continue Reading