Press Releases
Duckworth Holds “We Can’t Afford This” Roundtable on How Rising Costs Are Crushing Illinois Families
[ROCK ISLAND, IL] - As families across Illinois continue to endure skyrocketing costs as a direct result of President Donald Trump’s reckless policies, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable discussion with local Quad Cities leaders to discuss how they can address what too many Americans are feeling every day: “We Can’t Afford This.” As the average Illinois household has paid more than $4,200 in higher costs for everyday essentials under the Trump Administration, … Continue Reading
September 07, 2026
Duckworth Meets with Union Workers from Quad Cities Tyson Foods Plant Ahead of Closure
[EAST MOLINE, IL] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with union workers and local Quad City leaders to discuss the impacts of the closing of Tyson Foods’ plant in Joslin, Illinois last month, which resulted in the loss of approximately 2,500 union jobs in the region. During the meeting, Duckworth reiterated her commitment to supporting these union workers during the transition and working to ensure they have the resources they need to return to the workforce. Photos from the visit … Continue Reading
September 04, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Demand FAA to Pay Air Traffic Controllers the Congressionally-Approved Raise that Administrator Bedford Continues to Withhold
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today demanded that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford immediately hand over the Congressionally-authorized pay raise to the air traffic controller (ATC) workforce that he has held hostage for four months and counting. Despite a 3.8% raise for ATCs being approved by Congress and then signed into law by President Donald … Continue Reading
September 03, 2026
Duckworth Visits Revolution Workshop to Highlight $500,000 Investment She Secured to Support Workforce Training
[CHICAGO, IL] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Revolution Workshop to see firsthand how the $500,000 in federal funding she successfully secured is helping expand the Workshop’s Pre-Apprenticeship and Job Training Program, a program that helps Illinoisans develop key skills needed to enter the construction workforce where they can help revitalize under-resourced communities in Chicago. As the United States continues to face a shortage of workers in the skilled trades, this … Continue Reading
September 03, 2026
Duckworth Visits Illinois Head Start, Calls Out Trump’s New Plan to Jeopardize This Lifeline for Families
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined parents, teachers and Illinois Head Start leaders to underscore how President Donald Trump’s latest attack on Head Start would jeopardize services for countless middle-class families across Illinois, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet as a direct result of the Trump Administration’s reckless policies. The Senator’s visit comes after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan last month … Continue Reading
September 01, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Announce Funding Extension for Chicago-Quad Cities Rail Project
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved a grant extension for the remaining federal funding previously secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. The extension will allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use the … Continue Reading
August 31, 2026
Duckworth, Van Hollen, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Defending Court’s Right to Seek Answers, Transparency in JGG v. Trump
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (NJ) and Peter Welch (D-VT) in submitting an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the case of In re Donald J. Trump, et. al, supporting the legal authority of the District Court to inquire whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before the Court and warning of … Continue Reading
August 28, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Hold Roundtable with Illinois Health Care Provides on the Impacts of the Trump Administration’s Cuts
[MARION, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a roundtable with Illinois health care providers, leaders and advocates to discuss the challenges they’re facing in providing care to rural communities as a direct result of the Trump Administration’s harmful health care cuts. Since being signed into law last July, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill made the largest health care cuts in history, destabilizing the health care … Continue Reading
August 28, 2026
After Years of Federal Investment, Duckworth, Durbin Celebrate Grand Opening of Fully-Accessible Southern Illinois Multimodal Station
[CARBONDALE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Governor JB Pritzker, Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey, Illinois Secretary of Transportation Gina Biagi and local leaders to celebrate the opening of the new Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS), a project the Senators helped secure more than $18 million in federal funding for and championed for years. The new station features fully accessible facilities, including … Continue Reading
August 28, 2026
Duckworth Visits Southern Illinois Nursing School Expansion Made Possible by Federal Investment She Secured
[CARTERVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited John A. Logan College (JALC) to see firsthand how the $1.2 million federal investment she successfully secured is expanding the school’s nursing program, building new classrooms, purchasing equipment and helping prepare students for careers in health and nursing. During the visit, Duckworth stressed the importance of programs like these in addressing the shortage of rural health care workers in Illinois and across the … Continue Reading
August 27, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin ask FRA, Amtrak for Additional Information on Plans to Relocate its 14th Street Maintenance Facility
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) requested additional information from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak regarding a maintenance facilities award after fielding concerns from residents and local elected officials in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. In a letter to FRA and Amtrak leaders, the Senators requested greater transparency and communication as Amtrak seeks to relocate its current 14th Street … Continue Reading
August 26, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Urging Netanyahu to Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank, Protect U.S. Citizens
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and their colleagues to urge Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate actions to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine … Continue Reading
August 24, 2026
Duckworth, SASC Democrats Call on Chairman Wicker to Hold a Hearing on the Trump Administration’s Worsening Strain on Troops from Extended War in Iran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—led her fellow SASC Democratic colleagues in urging Committee Chairman Wicker to hold a hearing to investigate the Trump Administration’s failures to support our servicemembers who are carrying out indefinite extended deployments in the illegal, disastrous Iran war that President Trump cannot seem to end. In a letter to Chairman Wicker, the Senators show how this … Continue Reading
August 20, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Release Statement Applauding Resequencing of Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal Area Project
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the resequencing of constructing satellite terminals as part of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal Area Project (TAP). Today, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced that TAP will be resequenced to build the first phase of the Concourse E during Concourse D construction. Concourse E will house the majority of the additional … Continue Reading
August 19, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Welcome 300 New Citizens at Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today celebrated the naturalization of 300 new citizens from 52 countries at the Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Colleen Lawless, United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, presided over the ceremony and administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens. Photos of the naturalization … Continue Reading
August 18, 2026
Duckworth Discusses Rising Costs and the Impact on Agriculture Industry with Illinois Corn Growers
[OGLESBY, IL] - Today, at the Illinois Corn August Board Meeting, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders to discuss the impact that rising costs have had on Illinois farmers and the agriculture industry. Among their shared priorities, Duckworth and the members underscored the importance of supporting family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump’s policies drive up the costs of supplies and … Continue Reading
August 15, 2026
Duckworth Joins Senate Defense Democrats in Demanding Accountability from Hegseth After Reports of Crisis Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined all of her fellow members on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) minority, as well as the Democratic leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Defense, in demanding answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Senators’ letter follows reports that the aircraft carrier’s crew has endured food and water … Continue Reading
August 14, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Join Democratic Colleagues in Demanding HHS Rescind Cancellation of Lifesaving Research Grants That Improve Patient Safety and Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with 26 of their Democratic Senate colleagues, in demanding that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reverse the Department’s destructive cancellations of lifesaving health research grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). … Continue Reading
August 14, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin, Schneider Announce More Than $7.95 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois Airports
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today announced a total of $7,951,873 in federal funding for the Chicago Executive Airport and the Decatur Airport. This funding stems from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, which supports the planning and development of public-use airports. “Illinois airports are critical economic engines for our … Continue Reading
August 13, 2026
Duckworth Joins Blumenthal in Reintroducing Legislation to Protect Airline Passengers and Crew from Toxic Cabin Air
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee (CST) on Aviation, Space and Innovation—joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) in reintroducing the Cabin Air Safety Act, bicameral legislation to protect airline pilots, flight attendants and passengers from toxic cabin air. Building on cabin air reporting provisions secured in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024 … Continue Reading