In The News
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
January 09, 2020
Proposal would target sexual assault, harassment in the Coast Guard
In the wake of a report last month detailing multiple failings in how the Coast Guard handles sexual assault and harassment allegations, a pair of U.S. senators are pushing for a new oversight committee to push the service towards improvements. The measure - the Coast Guard Sexual Misconduct Prevention Act - is sponsored by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. Both women have been advocates for reforms in how sexual harassment cases are handled in the Defense Department, but … Continue Reading
January 08, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Call For Action Against ArcelorMittal Amid Claims Company Cheated On Toxicity Tests
CHICAGO (CBS) - One day after CBS 2 revealed claims that Indiana steelmaker ArcelorMittal cheated on the results of its toxicity tests, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) are asking for the federal government to take serious action against the company. In a letter to the company, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management said ArcelorMittal has made a practice of redoing cyanide and ammonia tests that showed violations, and using the new tests to replace those … Continue Reading
January 07, 2020
Duckworth alarmed at breakdown of Pentagon processes under Trump
Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, talks with Rachel Maddow about the Pentagon's bizarre backpedaling over the withdrawal letter it sent to Iraq and whether there are any good people left in Donald Trump's orbit to keep him out of … Continue Reading
December 22, 2019
For this pantry, Christmas Eve marks 31 years of feeding HIV/AIDS-impacted LGBTQ community
A few days before Christmas, Lori Cannon, program coordinator at the Vital Bridges North Side Grocery Center, arrives just after 8 a.m., soon to be joined by volunteers. They bring food out of huge, walk-in coolers. Then come the trucks, one after the other, delivering meat, fish, produce. The phones are ringing, requests for help on the other end. More volunteers arrive. Together, they ensure groceries are stocked and ready by noon, when the Heartland Alliance Health-operated food pantry … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Duckworth Provisions Make NDAA Bill
Prior to impeachment hearings, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act on Tuesday 86-8. Several of the provisions within the act were priorities sponsored by Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth's main priorities were preventing low-income service members from going hungry, making it easier for Illinois's small businesses to secure Department of Defense contracts, make the federal contracting process more efficient and further secure the Rock Island, Illinois … Continue Reading
