March 08, 2023

Duckworth Discusses How We Can Better Support Our Servicemembers During Fireside Chat at the Association of Defense Communities National Summit

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, participated in a fireside chat at the Association of Defense Communities’ National Summit in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss how we can foster more sustainable, resilient installations and defense communities that support our servicemembers and their families. During her remarks, Duckworth highlighted the importance of community involvement with servicemembers at local bases and vice versa so community members can better understand the needs of the base and support each other. Additionally, Duckworth discussed how we can strengthen our military readiness by tackling the climate crisis head-on and supporting the Department of Defense’s (DoD) energy resilience efforts. Photos from the event are available here.

“The communities surrounding our military bases can have a significant impact on the health of the base and the servicemembers and families who live there,” said Duckworth. “Being a good neighbor extends both ways. By promoting better integration of those living on base with community events and activities, we can go a long way to help make sure that both our communities and servicemembers can thrive. I’m proud to join this year’s Defense Community Champion Kimberly Huth during today’s important event to talk about this and all the ways we can better ensure our servicemembers have the support they need while strengthening the DoD as a whole.”

Duckworth, an Iraq War Veteran who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, is a Purple Heart recipient and one of the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Last year, Duckworth also authored several provisions in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to enhance our military readiness, help our military transition to clean energy, reduce PFAS and more.

-30-