March 10, 2022

Duckworth Meets with the Illinois Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America and Emphasizes Her Commitment to our Nation’s Heroes

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and a Purple Heart recipient who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, today met with several leaders from the Illinois Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. During the call, Duckworth and the group discussed their shared commitment to challenging discrimination against disabled Americans, long-term care for the Veteran community and accessible, comprehensive healthcare.

“I appreciate the work organizations like Paralyzed Veterans of America do to support our community,” said Duckworth. “Today’s call was good chance for me to thank them for their service to our nation and hear how I can continue to advocate for them and their loved ones on the federal level. I will keep working to support our Veterans in Illinois and across the country.”

Duckworth has been a consistent advocate for Veterans’ issues and the needs of the disability community. In May last year, she re-introduced her Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act which would stop forcing our nation’s Veterans to pay out-of-pocket costs for essential preventive health medications and prescription drugs—such as vitamin supplements, certain breast cancer prevention medicines, tobacco cessation products and aspirin—and add preventive medications and services to the list of no-fee treatments that VA covers.

Duckworth also re-introduced her Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act this past July, which would make it easier for small businesses to become accessible for people with disabilities and help those businesses comply with the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act bolsters the existing Disabled Access Credit (DAC), which helps businesses pay for renovations by doubling the maximum tax credit and allowing more small businesses to receive it. The legislation also invests in programs that mediate ADA-related disputes to avoid additional litigation and help individuals and businesses understand the ADA.

-30-