Press Releases
Duckworth Speaks with Northwest Illinois Mayors on COVID-19 Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual meeting with six mayors from across Northwest Illinois to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on their communities. Duckworth and the local leaders also discussed what communities are looking for in future federal relief packages and how her office can help Northwest Illinois with recovering from both the economic and health impacts of the pandemic. "Our local governments have been hit especially hard during this … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth Statement after Voting No on the Republican “Skinny” COVID-19 Relief Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting no on the Republican "skinny" COVID-19 relief proposal. "If you were drawing a caricature of what a bad COVID-19 'relief' proposal looks like, it wouldn't be as bad as what Senate Republicans proposed this week. In the midst of a deadly pandemic that has already killed more than 190,000 Americans in a matter of months, Republicans are insulting hardworking Illinoisans struggling to weather … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Pritzker Announce $20 Million Federal Grant For Joliet Transportation Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the City of Joliet has been awarded $20 million in federal funding to support the I-55 at IL 59 Access Project. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) BUILD grant program. "This significant infusion of federal funding to the City of Joliet will help move our state's economy in the right direction, improve our regional … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $20 Million For Metro East Port Improvements
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $20.8 million in federal funding for the St. Louis Bi-State Regional Ports Improvements Project, which will upgrade ports in the Metro East and St. Louis region. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) BUILD grant program. "This significant infusion of federal funding to America's Central Port will help move our state's economy in the right direction and improve our port … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Menendez Introduce Legislation to Ensure U.S. Pushes Back Against Russia Reportedly Placing Bounties on American Troops
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today in introducing the Russia Bounty Response Act of 2020. With the Trump Administration's failure to respond to the Russian Federation's reported program to pay … Continue Reading
September 09, 2020
Duckworth Leads Senate Democrats in Introducing Resolution Honoring Our Troops and Condemning Trump’s Recent Comments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, spoke on the Senate floor this evening as Senate Republicans objected to passing her Senate resolution to honor the service and sacrifice of our troops, Veterans and Gold Star families and condemn Trump's disgraceful denigration of military service that has dishonored the office of the Presidency. Duckworth's … Continue Reading
September 08, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen in Bipartisan Push for Answers on Administration’s Implementation of the Payroll Tax Deferral for Federal Employees, Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 20 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought urging them to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump last month optional for federal employees and servicemembers. In their letter the Senators also push for answers on how the Administration … Continue Reading
September 08, 2020
Duckworth, Schakowsky, Clay Seek Answers on Availability of Accessible Public Housing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee and Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chair of the Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a report on the availability of affordable, accessible housing in the twenty-five largest metropolitan areas in the United States. Specifically, this … Continue Reading
September 03, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Casten, Davis Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging HHS To Expand Use Of University of Illinois’s COVID-19 Saliva-Based Testing Initiative
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) today led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging federal resources to support the expansion of SHIELD T3, an innovative system of COVID-19 testing and tracing, developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). In a letter to HHS Secretary … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $25.5 Million For Airport Improvements Around Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $25.5 million in federal funding for airport improvements around Illinois. The funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants and will be used for a variety of critical infrastructure and safety projects. "These federal investments at airports across Illinois will go … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Hassan in Urging School Nutrition Program Extension for 2020-21 School Year
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and 26 of their Senate colleagues in calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fully extend school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-21 school year so that schools have the flexibility that they need to fully serve students whether or not they are attending school in person. Last week, Duckworth also urged the USDA to make sure these meals are available for … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen, Inhofe & Colleagues in Bipartisan Push to Expand Aviation Workforce Training
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Aviation and Space Subcommittee and a former Army Black Hawk pilot, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and a bipartisan group of 28 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging them to fully implement two aviation workforce grant programs authorized in the 2018 FAA … Continue Reading
August 31, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $11 Million For Community Health Centers Throughout Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $11.5 million in federal grants to support 44 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout the state. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services health center cluster grant program. "Community Health Centers are on the front lines of this deadly pandemic, helping save lives throughout Illinois and across the country while reducing health … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Duckworth Writes to USDA Urging Reversal of School Meal Decision that Will Add Significant Burdens to Already Strained School Districts in the Middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement that it would not continue flexibilities for school districts for food insecure students, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to reverse this decision and extend all school meal flexibilities and waivers through 2020-2021 school year. This move by USDA would increase administrative and cost burdens on school districts already strained due to the … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Democratic Colleagues In Blasting Trump Administration’s Constant, Dangerous Political Interference in COVID-19 Response
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 29 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in writing to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar criticizing the Trump Administration for their continued political interference in the COVID-19 response. The Senators warned that decisions to pressure and overrule public health experts will erode public trust and hamper efforts to … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Leahy in Announcing New Bill to Restore National Guard Coronavirus Funding at 100 Percent
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in announcing their plans to introduce a bill to restore full federal funding for the National Guard's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. "National Guard troops have been serving as frontline workers since the beginning of this pandemic, working to help keep their communities and their nation safe," Duckworth said. "Trump's decision to … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Funding For COVID-19 Emergency Response in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offset costs related to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal funding was awarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency as reimbursement for implementing training and other safety measures at assisted-living, nursing, and rehabilitation facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Ensuring … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
GAO Accepts Duckworth Request for an Independent Review into the Army’s SHARP Program
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, released the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) officially accepted her request that the congressional watchdog conduct an independent review of the Army's implementation and effectiveness of its Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program. Duckworth … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2.4 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Funding For Flooding Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois has been awarded a total of $2,414,009 in federal funding to offset costs related to the historic flooding that occurred from February 24 to July 3, 2019. The funding, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to supplement local recovery efforts in the areas affected … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues To Call On FCC To Bolster Lifeline Program To Keep Students Connected As The School Year Begins
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in leading a group of 22 other Senators in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to boost its Lifeline program to keep students connected as millions return to school both virtually and in person. Since 1985, the FCC's Lifeline program has made basic internet and telephone service more affordable for low-income Americans and has had bipartisan … Continue Reading
