Press Releases
Duckworth Delivers Commencement Address to Harper College’s Class of 2022
[PALATINE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today delivered the commencement address to the Class of 2022 at William Rainer Harper Community College. For the College's first in-person graduation ceremony since 2019, Duckworth reflected on the determination and hard work of today's graduates and stressed the importance of service in all forms for graduates as they move through the next phase in their lives. Photos from today's ceremony are available here. Key quotes: "Our country … Continue Reading
May 20, 2022
Duckworth, Colleagues Call for GAO Study into the Barriers Americans with Disabilities Face Accessing Healthcare
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led 5 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting that the agency conduct a comprehensive, wide-ranging study into the persisting barriers that Americans with disabilities of all backgrounds experience in accessing healthcare, including access to medical treatment, services, equipment and more. Along with Duckworth, this letter was cosigned by U.S. Senator and Chair of the U.S. … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Failed Vote to Bring Critical Relief to Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the passage of the Small Business COVID Relief Act, which failed on a vote of 52-43. This legislation would have provided critical relief to restaurants, live event venues and other small businesses, including fitness facilities as a result of the legislation including provisions of the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth and Cornyn Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act, which would support the families of officers who struggle with their mental health or who are lost to trauma-linked suicides. As passed, the House bill includes provisions stemming from Duckworth and Cornyn's Senate version that reflect engagement with advocates, the U.S. Department of Justice, … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Statement Following Senate Passing $40 Billion Aid Package For Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a roughly $40 billion aid package to support Ukraine during Russia's war of choice: "The human suffering caused by Putin's unjustified and unjustifiable attack on Ukraine's sovereign territory demands our continued attention, and that's why I'm so proud the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Discusses Environmental Justice Issues with President’s EPA Office of Air & Radiation Director Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, met today with President Biden's nominee for Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Office of Air and Radiation, Joe Goffman. During the meeting, the two discussed the ways we can continue to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and protect our communities from cumulative impacts of emissions to advance … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth, Blackburn, Brown, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Improve the Promotion Process for National Guard Servicemembers, Ensure Officers Don’t Fall Behind in Careers or Compensation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill to improve and streamline the promotion process for National Guard officers and warrant officers to ensure these servicemembers can progress in their careers without needless bureaucratic delays. The National Guard Promotion Improvement Act would assess and review the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Nominee for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After meeting with General Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S. Army, ahead of his confirmation for reappointment to the grade of General and to be NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, issued the following statement: "As Russia continues its unjustifiable attack on Ukraine's sovereign territory, a united NATO and continued close coordination with our allies are … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth Joins Casey, Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Empower FDA to Get Infant Formula Back on Shelves, Prevent Future Shortages
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In the wake of the nationwide infant formula shortage, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing legislation to protect families and patients who rely on infant formula and other essential sources of nutrition (ESN). The Protect Infants from Formula Shortages Act would safeguard the availability of these products by requiring manufacturers to notify the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Duckworth and Durbin-Sponsored Bill to Address the Infant Formula Shortage Passes Senate, Heads to President Biden’s Desk
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member, to help introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address the infant formula shortage for families who rely on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The bill passed the Senate unanimously today and now … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Duckworth’s Bipartisan Bill to Codify Boots to Business Program Passes Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, the bipartisan Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship by voice vote and is now set to be considered by the full Senate. This legislation would codify the Small Business Administration's (SBA) "Boots to Business" (B2B) program into law for five years. The B2B program is an entrepreneurship education and training program for … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Duckworth, Inhofe, Cardin, Capito, Carper, Wicker, Cramer, Padilla Praise Senate Passage of National Public Works Week Resolution
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and praised the passage of S. Res. 641, a bipartisan resolution they introduced designating the week of May 15 through May 21, 2022, as National Public Works Week. The resolution encourages the public to recognize and celebrate the important contributions that public works officials make … Continue Reading
May 17, 2022
Duckworth, Schakowsky Introduce Resolution to Expand Women’s Health Research
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today introduced a resolution calling for an expansion of women's health research and to close persistent gaps in funding for sex- and gender-based biomedical research. This resolution also recognizes the importance of women's health in our nation's economy and workforce. "For too long, women have been historically and categorically left out of medical research-jeopardizing their health, … Continue Reading
May 16, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud HHS for Prioritizing Early Childhood Education in the Metro East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced an infusion of support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will be awarded to Riverbend Head Start & Family Services, Inc., in Alton for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs are critical for kids throughout Illinois to have the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside of … Continue Reading
May 16, 2022
Bipartisan Bill Championed By Duckworth, Portman, Blumenthal and Brown to Protect Infants from Deadly “Crib Bumpers” Signed Into Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to protect infant lives by banning the sale of padded crib bumpers-which have been proven to pose an unnecessary, deadly risk to sleeping infants. The Safe Cribs Act, which was included in the legislation also banning dangerous inclined sleeper products, would make it unlawful nationwide to manufacture and import … Continue Reading
May 13, 2022
Duckworth Joins Booker, Klobuchar in Urging USDA to Address Infant Formula Shortages
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and five of their colleagues in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address extremely high levels of corporate concentration in the infant formula marketplace following the recent news of infant formula shortages nationwide. "The infant formula industry has reached an alarming level of corporate concentration with four companies-Abbott Nutrition, … Continue Reading
May 13, 2022
In Visit to Metro East’s Hope Clinic, Duckworth Underscores What’s at Stake if Roe v. Wade is Overturned
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Hope Clinic, an abortion provider in the Metro East, to meet with the facility's leadership and discuss how the clinic-and all Americans' rights-could be impacted if Roe v. Wade is overturned and a constitutional right is taken away from Americans for one of the first times in our nation's history. Duckworth met with the clinic's director Dr. Erin King and other staff to share her support for ensuring women everywhere can … Continue Reading
May 13, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Broadband Advocates, Touts New Program to Reduce Internet Costs & Expand Access
[FAIRMONT CITY, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with broadband expansion advocates in Fairmont City, including Mayor Michael Suarez, Library Director Katie Heaton and Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 Superintendent Brad Skertich to discuss her work to reduce broadband costs for working Illinoisans and highlight the newly announced Affordable Connectivity Program, which will help the more than 200,000 Illinoisans who currently lack broadband and help millions … Continue Reading
May 13, 2022
Duckworth Requests Inquiry into How the Infant Formula Industry’s Consolidation and Business Practices are Impacting Consumer Prices, Supply Chain Resilience and Public Health
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today wrote to the Honorable Lina Khan, Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), requesting that the FTC conduct a Section 6(b) wide-ranging study of the infant formula industry. Specifically, Duckworth requests that the inquiry examines how that market's composition, along with the behavior and business practices of market participants, affect competition, … Continue Reading
May 12, 2022
Duckworth Joins Warren, Baldwin, Schakowsky, Colleagues to Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Crack Down on Corporate Price Gouging
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), as well as U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), to introduce the Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2022, which would prohibit the practice of price gouging during all abnormal market disruptions - including the current pandemic - by authorizing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general to enforce a federal ban against unconscionably … Continue Reading
