Press Releases
Duckworth Announces Illinois Native and Longtime Advisor Kelsey Becker as Chief of Staff
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that her Deputy Chief of Staff Kelsey Becker has been promoted to Chief of Staff following Kalina Thompson’s departure from the role. Becker, a Schaumburg native, has served Duckworth’s team since 2012 in a range of leadership roles in both the Senator’s House and Senate offices as well as her campaigns. “For over a decade, Kalina Thompson has been a kindred public servant, a true force for good, and beyond it all, a … Continue Reading
October 05, 2026
Duckworth Join Colleagues in Pressing EPA, AI Companies on Rollback of Public Input Rules for Data Center Air Permits
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, joined U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and other members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, in sending two letters opposing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to eliminate the 30-day mandatory public notice period that allows communities to provide input on proposed facilities, like data centers, that may affect the … Continue Reading
October 05, 2026
Duckworth, Schumer, Matsui Lead Bipartisan Call Requiring FAA to Guarantee Every Emergency Medical Kit Aboard Flights Include Life-Saving Epinephrin
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Co-Chair of the Congressional Food Allergy Research Caucus, led a group of 20 bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers in calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to guarantee that emergency medical kits (EMK) on every commercial aircraft include epinephrine, a … Continue Reading
October 02, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $300,000 in Funding for Jersey Community Hospital District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $300,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Jersey Community Hospital District, specifically for rural emergency medical service training. The funding, which was created through Durbin’s Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, will go toward supporting EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting … Continue Reading
October 01, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Call for Pause on 183rd Wing Deactivation, Push for Replacement Mission
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) prepare to negotiate the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), today urged SASC and HASC leadership to add language into the final bill to temporarily halt any plans to deactivate the 183rd Wing’s Central Repair … Continue Reading
October 01, 2026
Duckworth Calls for a Decisive U.S. Response to the PRC’s Weaponization of Air Travel to Help Protect Safety of Global Flying Public
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—stressed the urgent need for the U.S. to support Taiwan amidst the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) desperate attempts to isolate the island and pressure countries across Africa to violate international rules, norms and safety standards in the process. At the nominations hearing for Marc Dillard to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar, Duckworth informed Mr. Dillard that … Continue Reading
October 01, 2026
Duckworth Rips Trump’s Arch Project, Advocates for Veterans Over Vanity Alongside Activists
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today at a protest rally held by Public Citizen, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—slammed Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth for invoking national security as an excuse to push through the president’s “Triumphal Arch” pet project, highlighting how using the arch as a military installation complete with snipers and drones would not make anyone safer and would only add further risk to the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin, Padilla, Schiff Introduce Legislation To Protect Regional National Archives Facilities From Closure
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA), today introduced the National Archives Protection Act, legislation that would require congressional approval before the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) can close or significantly restrict access to existing regional facilities. In June 2026, NARA announced plans to close its regional archive facilities … Continue Reading
September 30, 2026
As U.S. Forces Withdraw from Iraq, Duckworth Calls on Trump to End His Illegal War in Iran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) who served in the Iraq War—issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that the United States has officially withdrawn our military forces from Iraq: “For an entire generation of combat Veterans, the weight of this moment as our nation withdraws U.S. forces from Iraq is hard … Continue Reading
September 29, 2026
Duckworth Leads Senate Democrats in Renewed Push to Help Prevent Police-Involved Deaths and Provide Justice for Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the 29th birthday of Laquan McDonald, an Illinoisan teen who was shot and killed at the hands of a Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer with a recorded history of excessive force, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is leading her Senate Democratic colleagues in reintroducing legislation that would help restore trust between law enforcement officials and the communities they serve by helping prevent police-involved deaths and encouraging independent, impartial … Continue Reading
September 28, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Demanding OMB Director Vought Abandon Any Plan to Exert Political Control Over NIH Funding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and of 27 their colleagues in demanding White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought halt any plan to exert political control over the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) grantmaking process. The Trump Administration considering an executive order … Continue Reading
September 25, 2026
As Trump Craters Economy, Duckworth and Meng Reintroduce Resolution to Empower Mothers in the Workforce
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Donald Trump’s reckless policies continue to crater our economy and leave families behind, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-06) reintroduced the Mom Economy Resolution to promote and empower mothers in the workforce across the nation. While the Trump Administration cuts critical lifelines that so many depend on and offer nothing to support Americans struggling to get by, the lawmakers’ bicameral resolution lays out a plan to … Continue Reading
September 25, 2026
Duckworth-Hoeven Bipartisan Bills to Support the Health of Our Aviation Workforce and Strengthen Aviation Safety Pass the Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Two bipartisan pieces of legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee—and U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) to support the health of our aviation workforce and strengthen aviation safety today passed the Senate with unanimous consent. Duckworth’s Aviation Medication Transparency Act, co-led by Senator Hoeven, would require the Federal … Continue Reading
September 25, 2026
Duckworth Demands FAA, DoD Reject Trump’s Plan to Turn Triumphal Arch into Military Complex: “This Is Not About National Security”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—today urged Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to secure the safety of the D.C. airspace by rejecting President Donald Trump’s plan to turn his “Triumphal Arch” project into a military installation that houses a large number of drones, snipers and ammunition. In her letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. … Continue Reading
September 25, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Issued Statement Alongside Their Colleagues on President Trump and President Xi’s Summit in Washington
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined their Senate Democrat colleagues in releasing the following statement after the conclusion of President Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. “Diplomacy with China remains vital to preventing conflict and protecting American interests, but it must ultimately produce results for hardworking Americans. President Trump’s summit today with President … Continue Reading
September 24, 2026
Duckworth Slams Trump for Targeting Military Families for Deportation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) slammed Donald Trump and his Administration for targeting military families in their extreme immigration enforcement campaign, arguing that their efforts are hurting military readiness, morale and national security. Appearing at a press conference beside other Veterans, military family members and advocates, Duckworth stressed how the Administration’s tactics are not only inhumane, but also send an unacceptable message to the brave … Continue Reading
September 24, 2026
Duckworth, Boozman Lead Bill to Enhance Support of Women Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Boozman (R-AR), members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight of women Veterans’ health care and improve access to the services and resources they need. The Veterans’ Outcomes, Inclusion, Care, and Experience (VOICE) for Women Veterans Act would modernize an annual report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) so legislators, the VA and Veteran … Continue Reading
September 23, 2026
Duckworth Hosts “We Can’t Afford This” Telephone Town Hall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Tonight, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a telephone town hall to hear firsthand how Illinois families are enduring higher grocery, gas and health care costs. During her “We Can’t Afford This” Telephone Town Hall, Duckworth discussed the devastating consequences that Trump’s Medicaid cuts, tariffs and ongoing illegal war are having on their wallets. She also highlighted her ongoing work to hold the Trump Administration accountable while supporting Illinois … Continue Reading
September 23, 2026
Duckworth Joins Durbin, Great Lakes Senators in Demanding Answers on Trump Administration’s Repeated Pauses of the Brandon Road Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL),along with U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), sent a letter to the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works demanding answers about why the Trump Administration has allowed for two administrative pauses to the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP) without an adequate justification. While the second administrative pause has … Continue Reading
September 22, 2026
Duckworth at Center for American Progress: “By Praising Xi, Trump is Leaving American Consumers and Our Indo-Pacific Partners Behind”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Just two days ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with President of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Xi Jinping at the White House, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) outlined the stakes of this Trump-Xi summit and the impact it will have on our national security, our economy and our partners in the Indo-Pacific region. At the Center for American Progress (CAP), Duckworth shared her firsthand takeaways from her official trips this year to Taiwan, Japan, the … Continue Reading