Press Releases
Duckworth, Co-Chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Condemns President Trump’s Move to Waive Public Health Laws Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, National Unrest Due to Racial Injustice
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, released a statement in response to Trump's misguided Executive Order that will put communities at risk: "The COVID-19 pandemic is shining a bright yet disheartening light on the unfair cumulative impacts pollution has on low income communities and communities of color, many of which are made worse by lack of access to healthcare. Illinoisans-and Americans across the … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Duckworth, Klobuchar, Rounds, Sullivan Introduce Legislation to Help Servicemembers and Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Receive Proper Care during Coronavirus Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in introducing legislation to ensure that servicemembers and veterans with previous exposure to burn pits receive the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pandemic Care for Burn Pits Exposure Act would require the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ask servicemembers and veterans who have tested … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Democrats Introduce Resolution Supporting Constitutional Right to Peacefully Protest & Condemning President Trump’s Order to Tear Gas Peaceful Protestors Last Night
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, on the floor of the U.S. Senate, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and fellow Senate Democrats attempted to pass a new resolution that affirms the constitutional rights of Americans to peaceably assemble, exercise freedom of speech, and petition the government for redress of grievances. The resolution also condemns the President of the United States for ordering federal officers to use gas and … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Duckworth on Senate Floor Urges Every American to Fight for Justice in Wake of George Floyd’s Killing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After days of unrest and protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor to urge immediate action and call for unanimous consent to pass her legislation, the Police Training and Independent Review Act. This bill would help restore trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve by helping prevent police-involved deaths and encourage independent, … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s Misuse of Armed Forces to Divide America
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today in response to President Trump's misuse of Armed Forces to divide America: "Last night, Donald Trump trampled the First Amendment rights of Americans to peaceably assemble for a redress of grievances. Even before any curfew went into effect, Trump ordered Federal law enforcement to violently assault Americans who stood in his way … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Duckworth, Carper, Durbin Statement on EPA’s Final Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing EtO Rule
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus and member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizing its rulemaking on Hazardous Air Pollutants, which includes ethylene oxide, from the manufacturing sector. "We are relieved … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Call on DHS & HHS Inspectors General to Investigate COVID-19 Health Concerns at Pulaski County Detention Center
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Inspectors General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately investigate the urgent public health concerns for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees and facility staff at the Pulaski County Detention Center in Ullin, Illinois. Information has indicated that this remote detention facility lacks the physical … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Duckworth, Colleagues Call for Inspector General Audit of OSHA's Inadequate Enforcement amid Growing Worker Illnesses and Deaths during COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and colleagues in a letter to the Department of Labor's (DOL) Office of Inspector General requesting an audit of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) handling of inspections and citations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the DOL's failure to issue an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to address the heightened risks for frontline workers during the pandemic. In addition to … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Announce Nearly $3 Million For Rock Island Mass Transit
[WASHINGTON, DC] -- U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $2.9 million in grant funding for the Rock Island Co. Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK). The funding, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program, will be used to purchase new low-emission transit buses. "This federal funding will go a long way towards creating an environmentally-sustainable … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Klobuchar, Smith and Colleagues to Call for Investigation into Racially Discriminatory and Violent Policing at Minneapolis Police Department
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with 24 colleagues, to urge the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct an investigation into the patterns and practices of racially discriminatory and violent policing in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).“Given the repeated instances of police violence that have resulted in the deaths of several citizens—a … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Following Days of Protests in Minneapolis after George Floyd was Brutally Killed, Duckworth Calls for Justice, Accountability and Healing
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the brutal killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and days of violent protests in the city:“This week, we watched a fellow American be needlessly killed as he cried out that he couldn’t breathe. It’s painful and heartbreaking to watch George Floyd's final few moments on camera. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones.“It’s hard to see this sort of … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Discuss Federal COVID-19 Response in Illinois Virtual Town Hall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) connected with Illinoisans during a statewide virtual town hall on COVID-19 yesterday. The Senators shared updates on coronavirus relief negotiations, including expanding unemployment benefits, bringing aid to Illinois hospitals and healthcare providers, and funding state and local governments to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators also answered questions from Illinoisans on helping working … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Following Public Shaming from Duckworth and Others, Trump Administration Finally Extends Title 32 Authority & Guarantees Additional Benefits for National Guard Troops Responding to COVID-19
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the Trump Administration extended Title 32 authorization and federal funding through mid-August for National Guard troops activated to respond to COVID-19:“After four letters and a new bill, Trump finally got my message: the 40,000 National Guards troops responding to the COVID-19 pandemic deserve full benefits for putting … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $11.8 Million for COVID-19 Testing In Rural Communities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $11,821,279 in federal funding to support COVID-19 testing in rural communities. The funding comes from the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act signed into law on April 24th and will help support more than 200 Rural Health Clinics around Illinois. Each clinic will receive approximately $49,000 in federal funding. Congressional Democrats … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $12 Million for Metra Improvements
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Metra will receive $12,482,600 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for rail improvements. The funding will support the modernization of three interlockings on the Milwaukee North Line in Illinois, which will help lead to improved reliability and fewer delays for Metra and Amtrak commuters. "I'm proud to announce today's federal funding that will help improve the … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Duckworth, Warren, Markey and Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Prepare for Simultaneous Peaks of 2020 Flu Season, COVID-19 Outbreak
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and a group of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, regarding the Trump Administration's efforts to prepare for a resurgence of COVID-19 during this year's influenza season, which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield warned could create unprecedented strain … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Duckworth, Booker Urge Senate Leadership to Include Resources for Communities Plagued by Gun Violence in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today called on Senate leadership to include additional federal assistance to communities affected by gun violence in a forthcoming supplemental COVID-19 relief package. Since the stay-at-home orders have been in place, community gun violence has increased in cities across the country. In their letter, Duckworth and Booker call for funding Justice Assistance Grant Programs to sustain community-based violence … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Duckworth to Trump: Reinstate Independent Civil Servant as Department of Transportation Acting Inspector General Immediately
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate’s Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, wrote to President Trump to express her strong opposition to his removal of U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Acting Inspector General (IG) Mitchell Behm without adequate cause or notice. Duckworth also noted her opposition to Trump’s decision to give Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Administrator Skip … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
As COVID-19 Death Toll Approaches 100,000 In U.S., Duckworth, Durbin Join Senators To Call For National Moment Of Silence To Honor The Lives Lost
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As more Americans tragically lose their fight to COVID-19, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to introduce bipartisan legislation to pay tribute to the 100,000 victims-including 4,607 Illinoisans-of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their families, with a moment of silence at 12 noon on Monday, June 1, 2020. "Our country will soon surpass the … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Duckworth, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Allow Servicemembers Time to Grieve Deceased Children
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow servicemembers time to grieve the death of their newborn babies. The Elaine M. Checketts Military Families Act-named after the deceased daughter of Major Matthew Checketts, an Active Duty Airman based at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland-amends current leave policy for servicemembers so their … Continue Reading
