In The News
New legislation would require beauty workers to undergo domestic violence prevention training
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Tammy Duckworth have introduced federal bipartisan legislation aimed at helping domestic violence victims. The Supporting the Abused by Learning Options to Navigate Survivor (SALONS) Stories Act, which would incentivize domestic violence awareness training for cosmetologists and beauty professionals, was introduced in December. Tennessee and Illinois have joined several states in passing legislation to give beauty professionals these skills, serving as … Continue Reading
December 22, 2023
Federal Illinois lawmakers demand answers from Japanese company buying U.S. Steel
Three federal lawmakers for Illinois sent a letter questioning the Japanese company buying U.S. Steel. On Friday, U.S. Senators for Illinois Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Representative for Illinois Nikki Budzkinski sent a list of questions to Nippon Steel about its pending acquisition of U.S. Steel. The letter inquires about the plans for the Granite City plant. The transaction is worth about $14.9 billion when including the assumption of debt. The combined company will be among … Continue Reading
December 21, 2023
‘See the signs’: Federal funds proposed for beauty professionals to receive domestic violence awareness training before being certified
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - One in four - it’s a staggering number, but that is how many women will be affected by domestic violence in their lifetime. Advocates have pushed for federal laws to increase awareness of the issue for decades, and now they are celebrating a win. It can be one of the most critical relationships women have. A stylist often hears about the good times and the bad. “If there’s bruising or hair that’s been pulled or any of the other physical signs,” explained Susanne … Continue Reading
December 15, 2023
Senators push for salon workers to be trained to spot signs of domestic violence
Nashville hairstylist Susanne Post didn’t come to terms with her own abusive relationship until she confided in another person. “It was when someone said the words, ‘This is abuse,’ that I actually took the time to research and find out what that was outside of the physical signs,” she told NBC News in an interview Wednesday. Knowing first-hand how tight-knit the relationship between cosmetologists and their clients can be, Post turned her trauma into healing and launched Shear Haven, an … Continue Reading
December 12, 2023
Tammy Duckworth calls Texas GOP treatment of Kate Cox ‘horrific’
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) called out Texas Republicans on Monday for their treatment of Kate Cox, a pregnant woman who fled the state to obtain an abortion procedure after her fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition, referring to it as “horrific.” “What Texas Republicans are doing to Kate Cox is horrific,” Duckworth wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “No one should be forced to leave their state just to get the healthcare they … Continue Reading
December 09, 2023
Applesauce lead cases in kids surge amid questions on FDA oversight
It started as a routine investigation: Two young siblings in western North Carolina had tested positive for lead poisoning in June. Alan Huneycutt, a longtime environmental health specialist with the state’s Department of Health and Human Services, was doggedly trying to find the source. He had ruled out the usual suspects in and around the children’s home — old paint, contaminated water, tainted soil — yet the children’s lead levels continued to climb. What he eventually found — that the … Continue Reading
December 06, 2023
Chicago’s Union Station to get $93 million for upgrades
Chicago Union Station will get $93 million in federal funding for upgrades, but the grant total is far less than what officials had sought and doesn’t address Amtrak’s wish list of track improvements outside the station. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, who had pushed for the Chicago Hub Improvement Project funding, announced the grant Wednesday. The funding will expand platforms and make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as upgrade ventilation … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Senate Democrats demand answers from manufacturers over RSV drug shortage
A group of Senate Democrats are demanding answers about a shortage of a new drug that prevents respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants. In a letter led by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sent Friday, the lawmakers asked manufacturers AstraZeneca and Sanofi for more information about the current supply of nirsevimab, when the companies first became aware of the shortage, and why they were so unprepared for the demand. “As our nation braces for the 2023-2024 RSV season, we are concerned … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Chicago is emerging as a quantum tech hub
The Chicago area is quickly emerging as a national leader in quantum technology. What's happening: The region was recently designated a quantum technology hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which will bring federal funding to area universities. Just this week, scientists, academics and engineers convened in Hyde Park for the Chicago Quantum Summit. Why it matters: Leaders hope the new designation and collaboration among universities and national laboratories like FermiLab and … Continue Reading
November 10, 2023
Senator introduces legislation to address deportation and other challenges for immigrant veterans
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., reintroduced a package of bills on Thursday that would address the deportation of immigrants who served in the U.S. military and ensure they have access to resources at the Department of Veterans Affairs. “The reality is far too many men and women have been deported by the very same nation they risked their lives to defend,” she said. “Our deported immigrant veterans fought for this country, and it is past time we fight for them, too.” The Healthcare … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
A shortage of air traffic controllers is hurting safety, aviation experts warn Senate
A series of close calls on runways across the United States has gotten the attention of aviation experts — and a key Senate committee that oversees the industry. Safety experts and union leaders told a Senate Commerce subcommittee Thursday that a shortage of air traffic controllers is leading to fatigue and distraction, likely contributing to a growing list of close calls at major airports this year. The aviation safety system is "showing clear signs of strain that we cannot ignore," … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Duckworth introduces legislation to tackle deportation, mental health challenges with immigrant veterans
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will introduce a set of bills Thursday to address the deportation of immigrants who served in the U.S. military and to help ensure they are connected to mental health services with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Duckworth’s HOPE Act would allow nonviolent, deported immigrant veterans to temporarily return to the U.S. for treatment at a VA facility on a case-by-case basis. Like other veterans, immigrants who served can struggle with mental health, … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Air traffic controller fatigue a factor in airport near misses, Senate panel told
The nation saw almost two dozen serious close calls at airports in the past year, the highest number in more than a decade, and a Senate panel was told Thursday that the rise is partly connected to overstretched air traffic controllers regularly required to work up to 60 hours a week. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who called the hearing as chair of an aviation subcommittee, said the incidents were evidence of a system under stress. “Our nation is experiencing an aviation safety crisis … Continue Reading
October 31, 2023
Duckworth: Stellantis could be the beginning of big companies choosing Illinois to set up shop
Thousands of people across the Stateline are still celebrating early reports that new life will come to Belvidere's assembly plant. Over the last weekend in October, leaked parts of the deal between the UAW and Stellantis show Belvidere will manufacture a new truck and battery starting sometime in late 2026 or early 2027. Senator Tammy Duckworth talked one-on-one with WREX on Tuesday to talk about the impacts of the deal. She spent time echoing what many had said about the impact this … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Lawmakers propose 7 days paid leave for families who experience miscarriage or other unsuccessful parenthood attempts
A federal lawmaker is proposing a bill which would provide 7 days of paid leave for families who experience a miscarriage or other unsuccessful attempts at parenthood. U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), is the sponsor of H.R. 6103, otherwise known as the Support Through Loss Act. The bill is also sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Under the bill, Americans would receive 7 days paid leave to "process and address their own health needs and the health needs of … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Democratic lawmakers push paid leave for pregnancy loss
Democratic lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation that would require employers to provide at least seven days of paid time off following a pregnancy loss. Why it matters: Miscarriages are common, occurring in an estimated 10% to 20% of known pregnancies. While more employers are offering paid leave following a pregnancy loss, there's no national paid leave program. Details: The bill from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) would require employers to provide … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
New Bill Would Offer Paid Leave for Pregnancy Loss and Other Family-Building Losses
Whether you’re trying to conceive on your own, through assisted reproductive medicine or pursuing adoption or surrogacy—family-building can be joyful and challenging all at once. There’s no guarantee that beginning any of these processes will result in welcoming a child, and many people face loss along the way. While often underreported, it’s estimated that pregnancy loss occurs in 10-20% of known pregnancies.1 Unsuccessful fertility treatments, adoption, or surrogacy arrangements are also … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023
Senators seek over-the-counter birth control access for troops
More than 30 senators are urging the Defense Department to offer an over-the-counter birth control pill for service members and their families to improve troop access to reproductive health care. The senators said they want to see health coverage for the military community expanded to include over-the-counter contraceptives such as Opill, the first nonprescription daily pill approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July. “Access to contraception, as well as education about it, … Continue Reading
October 19, 2023
Demand for Donor Breast Milk in Chicago Area Increasing, As Bipartisan Bill Aims to Improve Access Nationwide
Alisha Lopez was a new mother to baby Hazel this past summer when she learned from lactation consultants that she was producing more breast milk than was necessary to feed her baby. She made the decision to donate her breast milk after seeing firsthand as a nurse how donor breast milk can be used to help sick and premature babies in neonatal intensive care units. Lopez pumped milk and stored it in bags in her fridge and freezer from July through early October. When Lopez made her first milk … Continue Reading
October 14, 2023
Feds send $140 million to Illinois to replace lead service lines
The federal government is sending an additional $139.7 million in federal funds to help modernize drinking water infrastructure in Illinois communities. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will provide grants to help municipalities remove lead pipes and contaminants from drinking water. Nidnan Singh, deputy manager for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) State Revolving Fund (SRF), said the … Continue Reading
