In The News
Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Singh has a rough day at Senate hearing
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump’s ambassador-nominee to Singapore, Dr Anjani Sinha, struggled to defend America’s tariff policies during an unexpectedly tough Senate confirmation hearing. The two-hour-long hearing on July 9, which featured four other hopeful nominees, kicked off cordially with an opening statement by Dr Sinha but turned into a testy back-and-forth with Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth when it came to question time. “This is not a role you can just pick up on a whim, or … Continue Reading
July 02, 2025
Lawmakers want all troops wearing American-made boots
WASHINGTON — All service members would wear combat boots manufactured entirely in America and made with U.S.-sourced materials under a new bill introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The legislation aims to ensure troops are equipped with “high-quality, safe and reliable” footwear and seeks to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains that have flooded the market with cheap, imported boots. Defense Department regulations now allow troops to purchase foreign-made boots that have the … Continue Reading
July 02, 2025
All US military boots should be made in America, lawmakers contend
New bipartisan legislation reintroduced in the Senate this week aims to ensure all combat boots worn by U.S. service members are manufactured entirely in the United States. The Better Outfitting Our Troops, or BOOTS, Act has united a diverse coalition of lawmakers across the political spectrum in proposing that all U.S. military boots are produced from only American-manufactured components. That includes optional combat boots, which are authorized by commanders as an alternative to the … Continue Reading
July 01, 2025
Duckworth asks IRS why on-time taxpayers are getting late notices
You filled out the tax forms and wrote the Internal Revenue Service a check by April 15. Painful, but done. Not so, apparently for some Illinoisans who’ve received late notices and been assessed fees even though they paid their taxes on time. The glitch is causing “confusion and panic throughout Illinois,” U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and colleagues wrote IRS Director William Long on Friday. “To make matters worse, the late notices also include penalties and fines, which further heightens the … Continue Reading
July 01, 2025
Democrats deride Senate passage of Trump bill, as activists target GOP lawmakers ahead of House vote
From “catastrophe” to “nothing ‘beautiful,” Illinois Democrats on Tuesday slammed the Senate passage of President Donald Trump’s tax bill that would lead to 500,000 Illinoisans losing their health care coverage. As the measure heads back to the House for approval, Democratic activists are now focusing their efforts on the three Republican members of the Illinois delegation, despite their allegiances to Trump: Reps. Mary Miller, Darin LaHood and Mike Bost. House leaders have said they still … Continue Reading
June 27, 2025
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