Press Releases
Duckworth Discusses Education Priorities & COVID Relief with Illinois Community College Trustees Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with representatives from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA), including Executive Director Jim Reed, Jr. and President Jon Looney. In the virtual meeting, Duckworth discussed her legislative and education priorities for the 117th Congress, COVID relief funding and how the Federal Government can help provide equitable, comprehensive support to community colleges. "This pandemic continues to highlight … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Duckworth Statement on Senate Moving to Include Bipartisan RESTAURANTS Act in COVID-19 Relief Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate today added an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill expected to pass later this week that would help ensure the final COVID-19 relief package includes the RESTAURANTS Act, which would provide relief for restaurants struggling to survive the pandemic: "Restaurants are more than just a place to eat, they're the part of the glue that holds communities together," Duckworth said. "For … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Join Colleagues To Introduce Resolution Asking President Biden To Cancel Up To $50,000 In Federal Student Loan Debt Immediately
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and United States Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) today to reintroduce their bicameral resolution outlining a bold plan for President Biden to tackle the student loan debt crisis by using existing authority under the Higher Education Act to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt for Federal … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Duckworth Secures EPA Nominee’s Commitment to Prioritize Farmers, Climate Change & Environmental Justice
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), senior-most Democrat on the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, yesterday called for a swift confirmation of Michael Regan, President Biden's nominee to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at Regan's nomination hearing. Duckworth discussed several important issues with Regan, including restoring the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to better support farmers … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Duckworth Helps Pass Bipartisan Amendment to Prevent Tax Increases on Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today helped pass a pro-small business, bipartisan amendment that was introduced by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and cosponsored by Duckworth and Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC). This bipartisan amendment will ensure that the final COVID-19 relief package protects main street small businesses against tax increases during the declared COVID-19 national emergency. "Small businesses have been hit hard by the economic and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Upcoming Legislative Priorities With Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for a virtual fireside chat to discuss her legislative priorities for the upcoming year. In a conversation with Board President and CEO Jack Lavin, Duckworth discussed the need for more COVID relief funding for working families, small businesses and local governments, as well as the importance of a robust infrastructure package to help improve transportation and create … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen, Schakowsky in Bipartisan, Bicameral Push to Permanently Repeal Global Gag Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and 44 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the bipartisan, bicameral Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights (HER) Act to permanently repeal the harmful Global Gag Rule. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) introduced companion legislation in the House. "Not only does the Global Gag Rule prevent healthcare providers from providing patients with all of their … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen & Lee in Introducing Bicameral Bill to Fully Fund Title I, Special Education
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Representative Susie Lee (D-NV) in reintroducing the Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, legislation to put Congress on a fiscally-responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis. "Every child deserves the chance to succeed. When we invest in education and … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Dems To Introduce Resolution Denouncing Pervasive Threat Of Domestic Terrorism And White Supremacy
Resolution also calls on the FBI and Intelligence Community to conduct immediate interagency review of the growth of extremist groups in the U.S. [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11), along with U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), introduced legislation to provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year - allowing … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Mayorkas as Homeland Security Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting to confirm Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Joe Biden. Mayorkas was confirmed with a 57-43 vote today. "Secretary Mayorkas' background and experience make him uniquely qualified to face the wide array of security challenges facing our nation today, including the increasing threats as well as severity of cyberattacks, natural … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the senior-most Democratic Member on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, released the following statement after voting to confirm Pete Buttigieg as Transportation Secretary under President Joe Biden. Buttigieg was confirmed with an 86-13 vote today. "After serving our nation in uniform and leading his local community, Secretary Buttigieg is now answering the call to help lead … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Amidst a Frigid Winter & Raging Pandemic, Duckworth and Durbin Join Democratic Colleagues in Seeking to Deliver Lifesaving LIHEAP Utility Assistance
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -With temperatures dropping, gas and electricity bills mounting, and COVID-19 infection rates still out of control, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are joining U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and 41 Senators in calling on Senate leadership to include a significant boost for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the next pandemic relief package. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Duckworth Statement on Budget Reconciliation and the Need to Immediately Pass Comprehensive COVID-19 Relief
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement about using budget reconciliation as a legislative tool to get comprehensive COVID-19 relief out to all Americans: "After almost 450,000 Americans have died from COVID-19-and over 100,000 more testing positive with each passing day-inaction is clearly costing lives. I'm laser-focused on working with President Biden to pass comprehensive relief for hardworking families and small businesses as quickly as … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Foster Introduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief For Unemployed Americans
New legislation introduced today would remove taxes on up to $10,200 in unemployment aid for 2020 tax filing [WASHINGTON D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11), along with U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), introduced legislation to provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year - allowing millions of workers to focus their … Continue Reading
February 01, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray in Re-introducing Bipartisan Bill to Help Achieve Equal Pay
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the senior-most Democrat on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, and every Democrat in Congress in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act. The bipartisan legislation would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, help eliminate the gender wage gap and … Continue Reading
February 01, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Legislation to Help Working Families by Repealing State & Local Tax Deduction Cap
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in introducing legislation to repeal the federal cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. The Securing Access to Lower Taxes (SALT) by Ensuring Deductibility Act would repeal the $10,000 cap imposed by the Trump Tax Law of 2017, which led to millions of middle-class Americans being double-taxed. "The Republican Trump tax scam was essentially a giveaway to … Continue Reading
January 31, 2021
On One Year Anniversary of Abduction, Duckworth and Durbin Urge Biden Administration to Prioritize Illinoisan’s Safe Return from Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - One year after Illinoisan Mark Frerichs was abducted by the Taliban, Haqqani network or their affiliates in Kabul, 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), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, wrote letters to President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken requesting that the administration prioritizes … Continue Reading
January 29, 2021
Duckworth Urges Biden Administration to Take Swift Action on Military Hunger
[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, is urging President Biden to take action to address discrepancies that contribute to perpetuating food insecurity in the military by blocking servicemembers from qualifying for certain federal nutrition assistance. In part, the Senator wrote: "Just as we have seen heartbreaking examples of increasing numbers … Continue Reading
January 28, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $43 Million to Support Expanded Vaccine Distribution in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $43,361,000 in federal funding to support COVID-19 healthcare staffing for vaccination distribution in Illinois. The funding is being awarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "Our state has more work to do to save lives, keep residents healthy and get to the other side of this … Continue Reading
January 28, 2021
Senators Duckworth and Markey, Rep. Bush Introduce Legislation to Help Identify Environmental Justice Communities
Legislation would help direct 40% of President Biden's climate investment toward disproportionately impacted communities [Washington D.C.] -- Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) announced the introduction of the Environmental Justice Mapping and Data Collection Act of 2021, legislation that would take ground-breaking steps toward identifying and connecting environmental justice communities with policy … Continue Reading