September 25, 2020

Duckworth Holds Virtual Fireside Chat on Racial and Ethnic Wealth Gap, 30th ADA Anniversary and COVID-19 Recovery with Chicago Community Trust

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, today participated in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Chicago Community Trust President and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle to discuss the Senator’s efforts to close the wealth gap that exists between Americans of color and white Americans. In light of ongoing calls for racial equity and the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Duckworth and Gayle also discussed racial justice and gender equality. The two also spoke about the 30th Anniversary of the American’s with Disabilities Act as well as the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Making sure Americans of color can access training, education and good-paying jobs is crucial to addressing systemic inequalities within our economy, closing the racial wealth gap and supporting reinvestment in communities of color and local economies," said Senator Duckworth. "It was a pleasure to join Chicago Community Trust to not only discuss racial and gender equity and the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the ADA. Every American deserves the chance to get a quality education, build a career and support their family and I look forward to continuing to do everything I can to ensure all Americans have the chance to get ahead."

In the Senate, Duckworth has been a strong advocate of legislation to help women, working families and Black and Brown communities. Earlier this year she introduced the Newborn CARES Act to ensure new parents quickly receive the additional $500 per child in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus payments without having to wait until 2021. Senator Duckworth has also introduced legislation to make workplaces more family friendly, improve child care services and make it easier for low-income and middle-class families to obtain diapers for their children. Last month, Duckworth’s Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act passed the Senate, which expands upon the Senator’s FAM Act that has already been signed into law.

Last year, Duckworth also introduced the Microloan Program Enhancement Act of 2019 to help small business owners secure the financing they need to grow their businesses and create good-paying jobs in their communities. The legislation would improve the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Microloan Program to help more small businesses – particularly women, Veterans, low-income and minority entrepreneurs – that may have been overlooked by traditional commercial lenders.