Press Releases
Duckworth Joins Markey and Kaine in Expressing Concerns with Barriers to Accessing Disability Benefits for Individuals Living with Long COVID
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in calling on the Biden Administration to improve guidance for those living with post-COVID conditions-also known as long COVID-who apply for disability benefits. Existing Social Security Administration (SSA) guidance requires applicants for disability benefits to provide a positive COVID-19 test or diagnosis with limited exceptions, which many Americans living with … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
In Advance of Spring Flooding Season, Duckworth Hosts Federal Disaster Workshop
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday hosted a workshop for municipalities throughout Illinois to learn more about the disaster assistance and declaration process for communities to recover from and also prepare for natural disasters. Duckworth was joined by Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Deputy Regional Director Mark Peterson and IEMA Recovery Division Chief Greg … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Duckworth Discusses Army Reserve Priorities with LTG Jody Daniels
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee's (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, yesterday spoke with Lieutenant General Jody Daniels, the Chief of the Army Reserve. Duckworth and Daniels discussed many of the most pressing issues Daniels is facing as well as her top priorities ahead of the FY23 posture hearings. "I had a productive discussion with LTG Daniels yesterday about her priorities for the Army Reserve, including the … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Duckworth Statement after President Zelenskyy’s Address to Congress
[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 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after attending Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's virtual address to Congress: "Our country and the world remain in awe of the bravery of the Ukrainian people who are so effectively defending their homeland and their freedom and, with the fearless leadership of President Zelenskyy, are … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Duckworth, Leahy Re-Introduce Bill To Strengthen Oversight of Executive Branch & Increase Transparency
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, during the News Leaders Association's annual Sunshine Week that aims to promote transparency across our government, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) re-introduced legislation-the Demanding Oversight and Justification Over Legal Conclusions Transparency Act (DOJ OLC Transparency Act)-to strengthen oversight over the Executive Branch and increase government transparency by requiring the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Legal … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Duckworth Highlights Key Omnibus Priorities Set to Become Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted several of her key priorities that are set to become law when President Biden signs the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill that the Senate passed last week. "Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families-and that's what this bipartisan funding agreement does," Duckworth said. "I'm particularly proud that we've taken action on so many of my key priorities like … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Federal Support for Improved Public Transit in Madison County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced federal resources through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help Madison County Mass Transit District (MTCD) replace five heavy duty transit buses in its fleet. By helping replace older buses with new, more environmentally-friendly and ADA-accessible vehicles, Illinoisans who depend on MTCD will be able to get to their destinations more safely, efficiently and reliably. This DOT … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Illinois Winners of EPA’s 2021 Diesel Emission Reduction Act School Bus Rebates
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced federal support through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help three Illinois school districts replace old diesel school buses with new, cleaner emission buses certified by the EPA. By assisting with the replacement of older school buses, these rebates will help Illinois communities enjoy cleaner air and more environmentally-friendly transportation to and from school for children in … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Secure $211 Million For Illinois Projects in FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $211 million through Congressionally-directed spending for Illinois projects in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "I'm pleased I was able to secure funding for important projects that will help clean up our water, improve … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Duckworth, Capito Re-Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Honor Girl Scouts of America
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), co-chairs of the Girl Scouts' Honorary Troop Capitol Hill, today re-introduced a resolution to recognize the 110th birthday of the Girl Scouts of America and celebrate its historic legacy of empowering girls and building powerful female leaders across the country. "I still use the leadership skills that I developed in the Girl Scouts as a young woman every day," said Senator Duckworth. "For 110 years, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Duckworth Calls on President Biden to Establish Gasoline Price Gouging Enforcement Task Force to Protect Hard-Working American Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is requesting President Joe Biden directs Attorney General Merrick Garland to establish and chair a Gasoline Price Gouging Enforcement Task Force to carefully monitor and investigate oil and gas markets for potential violations of criminal or civil laws, including gasoline price gouging, that inflict financial harm on hard-working American families at the pump and result in higher prices for all, as businesses pass on higher operating … Continue Reading
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, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Passage of the Bipartisan Omnibus Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan agreement to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2022. "Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families-and that's what this bipartisan funding agreement does. While I'm disappointed we couldn't get additional resources to address the COVID pandemic and help more restaurants pay their bills, I'm proud this bill will help lower … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
As U.S. Bans Russian Oil, Duckworth Joins Ernst, Klobuchar in Calling for Expansion of American Biofuels to Lower Gas Prices
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As gas prices hit all-time record highs and with the U.S. banning the import of Russian oil, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in calling for American biofuel to be unleashed under a bipartisan plan to replace Russian oil with cleaner, lower-cost and American-made renewable fuels that are available right now. The Home Front Energy Independence Act would ban Russian oil and expand use and production of … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Duckworth, Murkowski Introduce New Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Military Hunger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led 12 of their Senate colleagues today in introducing new, bipartisan legislation to support active duty military families experiencing food insecurity and prevent hunger in these families. Duckworth's Military Family Nutrition Access Act would address … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Duckworth Meets with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanders to Discuss Priority Infrastructure Projects for Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, this week met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) St. Louis District Commander Colonel Kevin Golinghorst, as well as USACE Rock Island District Commander Colonel Jesse Curry to discuss critical water infrastructure projects throughout the state. In separate meetings, Duckworth discussed the support from the Bipartisan … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Thune Lead Bipartisan Push to Utilize E15, Restore American Energy Independence
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD)-both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry-in a letter urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in order to reduce the United States' reliance on foreign sources of energy. The Senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable energy solution that will help drive down fuel costs for … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Postal Reform Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting for the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022-a bill that will give a boost to our nation's postal service and implement long overdue reforms-which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 79-19. With this bill, the Postal Service will be freed of the unreasonable and extreme prefunding requirements for retiree healthcare that would have destroyed the finances of any large corporation. The bill … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Duckworth Hosts Champaign County Leadership for Virtual Fly-in and Highlights Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Benefits to the Region
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with several members of the Champaign County First Coalition, a group of elected officials and stakeholders who advocate for the region, to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can support Illinoisans in Champaign County by helping improve water infrastructure, fix local roads and bridges and bring good-paying jobs to the region. During the video call, Duckworth and the group also discussed several planned initiatives … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Duckworth Speaks with Illinois Farm Bureau, Highlights Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois Farm Bureau members and leadership to discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can support our nation's farmers and rural communities. During the video call, Duckworth and the group also emphasized that protecting our state's waterways and incentivizing agricultural production for renewable fuels are critical components of supporting and growing Illinois's agriculture industry. "America has always depended on … Continue Reading
