Press Releases
Duckworth Secures Key Provisions to Support Illinois Military Bases and Servicemembers, Protect Rock Island Arsenal Jobs, Bolster Manufacturing and Quantum Research
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), successfully secured several important provisions to support Illinoisans, servicemembers, Veterans and our state’s economy that passed SASC this week. Among the provisions Duckworth secured are measures to protect jobs at the Rock Island Arsenal, invest in Illinois military bases and infrastructure, expand … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $10.4 Million For Wildlife Conservation in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $10,407,776 in funding for two Illinois wildlife conservation projects - the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Lakes Mallards II project. The funding for Illinois’ wildlife refuge and wetland conservation project was approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), which is made up of congressional members, including U.S. Senators … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Unveil How $70 Billion Could Help Illinoisans After Trump Signs Disastrous Bill to Bankroll ICE and Border Patrol
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After Donald Trump signed a bill that gifts $70 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted a list of ways this money could be used to lower costs and improve lives of Illinoisans instead. Duckworth and Durbin have repeatedly opposed any more funding for ICE and Border Patrol in their push for commonsense reforms, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Republicans Throw Out Duckworth-Led IVF Provision That Passed with Bipartisan Majorities Last Year in Committee-Passed NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Despite advancing the very same provision through the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) last year, SASC Republicans blocked U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) provision to provide IVF coverage for our servicemembers from being included in the?Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Duckworth’s provision—which mirrors her?IVF for Military Families Act—would have required TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including IVF, and ensure … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Amid Trump’s Illegal Iran War and Continued Misuse of Our Military, Duckworth Votes Against Committee Passage of Defense Authorization Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After Republicans on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) blocked her amendments to hold President Donald Trump accountable for his illegal war of choice against Iran and dangerous domestic deployments to American cities, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) voted against committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The defense bill will soon be considered by the full Senate. “Time after time, Trump has … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
As Summer Travel Ramps Up, Duckworth Joins Welch, Colleagues in Raising Alarm on How Trump’s War in Iran Has Impacted Air Travel
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation—joins U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and other Senate Democratic colleagues in expressing serious concern to Airlines for America (A4A) about the impact skyrocketing jet fuel prices have on American consumers and the airline industry. In their letter to President and CEO of A4A Chris Sununu, the Senators requested information about the impact … Continue Reading
June 10, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $22 Million for Cleaner Water in Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the City of Chicago’s Department of Water Management will receive $22,119,933 in grant funding to help get lead out of the city’s drinking water by supporting approximately 650 lead service line replacements in the Austin neighborhood. This comes after the Senators announced over $316 million for clean water funding in Illinois last month, including $295,551,000 for … Continue Reading
June 08, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats in Pressing Trump on Legal Basis for Justifying Claim that Hostilities in Iran Have Terminated
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 33 Senate Democrats, in refuting the Trump Administration’s claim in a May 1 letter to Congress that the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, in Iran have “terminated.” Additionally, the Senators are requesting President Donald Trump release the Office of … Continue Reading
June 05, 2026
Duckworth Joins Markey, Senate Democrats in Calling for Affordability, Safety, Worker Priorities in Surface Transportation Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST)—joined U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and 14 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to call on the Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate Committees on Environment and Public Works; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; and Appropriations to continue the progress made in the Bipartisan Infrastructure … Continue Reading
June 05, 2026
Duckworth Statement After Senate Republicans Passed Another Blank Check for Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol While Doing Nothing to Help Americans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to gift Donald Trump’s ICE and Border Patrol an additional $70 billion without any guardrails or reforms but refused to help Americans suffering from soaring costs as a direct result of Trump’s illegal war and other disastrous policies. The GOP reconciliation bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-47. “Americans are getting pummeled by sky-high costs thanks to Donald … Continue Reading
June 02, 2026
Duckworth Grills Secretary Rubio on State Department Cuts That Undermine Diplomacy and Make Americans Less Safe
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) grilled U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Donald Trump’s Congressional budget request that once again proposes deep cuts to the State Department that would gut our diplomatic capacity and ultimately make Americans less safe. At today’s U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing, Duckworth warned against wasting taxpayer dollars on a war of choice while further promoting the Trump … Continue Reading
June 02, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Statement Calling for the Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros to Resign
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros: “Andrew Boutros’s time as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois has been riddled with chaos, deep internal dysfunction, and alleged misconduct. He must resign, and there must be an open, transparent, and … Continue Reading
May 28, 2026
Duckworth, Ricketts Lead Bipartisan Senate Delegation to Shangri-La Dialogue for the Second Year, Reaffirm U.S. Iron-Clad Commitment to Indo-Pacific Partners & Allies
[SINGAPORE] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) are leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Singapore to the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue for the second year to reaffirm the United States’ strong bipartisan commitment to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific. … Continue Reading
May 28, 2026
As Trump’s Illegal War Rages On, Duckworth Demands Inspector General Community Do Its Job and Conduct Oversight Over Ongoing Military Operations Against Iran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Following a new round of strikes in Donald Trump’s costly, disastrous war of choice against Iran, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) Cheryl Mason to follow the law and designate a lead Inspector General (IG) to conduct comprehensive oversight over all aspects of Operation Epic Fury and the Trump Administration’s ongoing military operations against Iran. … Continue Reading
May 27, 2026
Duckworth, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Strengthen Coordination with Indo-Pacific Partners, Bolster Security in South China Sea Against PRC Aggression
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at improving coordination between the United States and our partners in the Indo-Pacific, which would strengthen security both in the region and back here at home. Amid increasing aggression from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the South China Sea, the Senators’ bills would help ensure the State Department prioritizes diplomatic … Continue Reading
May 25, 2026
On Memorial Day, Duckworth Honors Fallen Servicemembers and Gold Star Families
[MACKINAW, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today paid tribute to our nation’s fallen servicemembers at the Mackinaw American Legion “Emery Whisler” Post #607 Memorial Day Observance Ceremony. Duckworth joined local leaders including Village President Josh Schmidgall, Post 607 Commander Stu Schmidgall, Post 607 Vice Commander Tom Neely as well as Veterans and servicemembers at the Mackinaw Township Cemetery to honor those who were killed in the line of duty. Photos … Continue Reading
May 20, 2026
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $316 Million for Cleaner Water in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will receive $295,551,000 in grant funding to help get lead out of our state’s drinking water by substantially boosting the state’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) for this purpose. This funding is made possible through Duckworth’s water provisions in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This follows a … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Duckworth Joins Senate Colleagues in Voting to Advancing War Powers Resolution and Curtail Iran War Powers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined her Senate colleagues in advancing a War Powers Resolution to force an end to President Trump’s war with Iran. In addition to Duckworth, the resolution was led by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Recent polls continue to … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
After Day 80 of Iran War, Duckworth and Colleagues Force Eighth Vote on War Powers Resolution
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After 80 days of Donald Trump’s unjustified war of choice in Iran, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will join U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Andy Kim (D-NJ)—along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)—in forcing a vote on Senator Kaine’s War Powers Resolution to immediately withdraw U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within and … Continue Reading
May 15, 2026
After Personally Calling DHS Secretary Mullin, Duckworth Announces Military Spouse Deisy Rivera Ortega Has Been Released from ICE Detention
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Duckworth (D-IL) announced the release of military spouse Deisy Rivera Ortega from ICE detention after the Senator personally called U.S. Department of Homeland Security Director Markwayne Mullin this week advocating on Ms. Rivera Ortega’s behalf. Duckworth’s call comes after Ms. Rivera Ortega—wife of U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jose Serrano—was arrested and detained by ICE during a routine immigration check-in appointment on April 14, … Continue Reading