Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $15 Million In DOJ Awards to Support Illinois Violence Prevention
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced a total of $15,009,020 in Department of Justice (DOJ) awards for violence prevention efforts across Illinois communities. "Too often, we see Illinoisans struggle with violence in their communities and at home," Duckworth said. "All families deserve to feel safe-and trauma-informed, community-based and equity-centered treatments and services can help. I'm … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Coalition to Stop the Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Southern Merger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with the Coalition to Stop the Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern Merger to discuss their concerns with the proposed railroad merger's potential impact on Chicagoland passenger and freight train service. Duckworth and the group also spoke about how she can help elevate their voices from the federal level, help prevent disruptive and unsafe consequences of the proposed merger and how they all can work together to prioritize … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Help Introduce International Children with Disabilities Protection Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) and eight of their Senate colleagues to help introduce the International Children with Disabilities Protection Act to bolster U.S. support for children with disabilities, helping improve the capacity of local disabilities rights organizations and families of children with disabilities … Continue Reading
September 28, 2022
Duckworth, Murray, Blumenthal, Hirono, Escobar Rally with Servicemembers and Veterans to Defend Their Access to Reproductive Care as Republicans Continue Attacks
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Republicans continue to push forward their proposal to ban abortion nationwide and attack the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs' historic action to provide abortion care for Veterans in certain circumstances, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-along with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) as well as U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar … Continue Reading
September 28, 2022
With Application Deadline Approaching, Duckworth Seeks Additional Student Applications for U.S. Military Service Academies
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - The application period for high school students to request a nomination to a U.S. Military Service Academy for the Class of 2027 from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will close just over one month from today, on Tuesday, November 1st. Duckworth's office has been accepting applications from high school students seeking a Congressional nomination to one of the four Military Service Academies through her website since March. Each year Duckworth, with the assistance of a … Continue Reading
September 23, 2022
In Pilsen, Duckworth, SBA Administrator Guzman, Representative García Emphasize Importance of Supporting Small Businesses
[CHICAGO, IL] - In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month and in support of Illinois's Latino business community, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, visited the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood and held a roundtable with small business owners to emphasize her commitment to supporting entrepreneurs. Duckworth, along with U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Guzman and U.S. … Continue Reading
September 23, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $37 Million to Combat Opioid Crisis in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the Illinois State Department of Human Services a total of $37,195,746 in federal funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grant programs and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Doctors & Survivors of Highland Park Massacre Advocating to Get Weapons of War Off Our Streets
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with a group of Highland Park doctors who are both her constituents and members of March Fourth, a gun safety advocacy non-profit, to discuss the need to end the sale of weapons of war at the federal level. Some of these doctors were also survivors of the Highland Park Fourth of July Parade Massacre. Duckworth is both a cosponsor and advocate of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021. Photos from today's meeting are available … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban U.S. Recognition of Any Ukrainian Territory Annexed by Russia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In order to bolster support for Ukraine and defend against efforts to force Ukraine to give up its sovereign territory, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in introducing the Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act. The bill would require U.S. policy to not recognize any Russian claim of … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $1 Million in Pollution Prevention Grants for University of Illinois System
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $1,049,196 awarded to the University of Illinois System by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic $100 million program investment. These pollution prevention (P2) grants will allow the University of Illinois System to provide businesses with technical assistance to help them implement P2 practices to … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Bipartisan Duckworth-Moran Resolution to Recognize September 2022 as National Student Parent Month Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced and passed by voice vote a bipartisan resolution recognizing September 2022 as National Student Parent Month. The resolution highlights the contributions and achievements of the nearly 4 million Americans with children who attend postsecondary educational institutions. "By passing this bipartisan resolution to recognize September 2022 as National Student Parent Month, the Senate is sending an … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Push for Increased Action from Pentagon to Address PFAS Exposure at Military Installations
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd Austin urging increased funding for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing and remediation. Additionally, the Senators urged Secretary Austin to improve … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Lawmakers in Bicameral Push For President Biden To Issue A Major Disaster Declaration For Puerto Rico
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY-07) in a bicameral letter to President Joe Biden urging him to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for all of Puerto Rico's municipalities in response to Hurricane Fiona. Just days before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, Hurricane Fiona ravaged the island with … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Duckworth, Hirono, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Better Protect New Parents Traveling with Breast Milk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for parents to safely travel with breast milk. The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Steve Daines (R-MT), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products in … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Duckworth & Durbin Relieved by Release of American Hostage in Afghanistan Mark Frerichs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statements after the family of Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan held hostage for more than two and a half years after being abducted in Afghanistan in 2020, announced that Mark has been freed from Taliban custody: "It's a profound relief that Mark Frerichs, a Navy Veteran who served our nation honorably, is now safely back in American hands after being kidnapped in Afghanistan more than two and a … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau, Touts Benefits of Inflation Reduction Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Illinois Farm Bureau members and leadership this week to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act and the 2023 Farm Bill will help support our nation's farmers and rural communities. During the meeting, Duckworth and the group also emphasized that protecting our state's waterways and transportation infrastructure, as well as working to minimize supply chain disruptions are critical components of supporting and growing Illinois's … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Duckworth Blasts Republican Proposal to Ban Abortions Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and her colleagues for a press conference condemning the new Republican proposal to establish a nationwide abortion ban. Video of the Senator's remarks can be found here. Key quotes: This proposal makes obvious that Republicans never really wanted to leave … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
Duckworth: Republicans Already Trying to Ban Abortion Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced legislation to establish a nationwide abortion ban: "If you still don't believe Republicans want to ban all abortions nationwide, you're not paying attention. After a decades-long campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade, this proposal lays bare, in black and white, that Republicans never really wanted to 'leave women's rights to the states' like they have … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud DOT for Prioritizing Infrastructure Revitalization on Chicago’s West Side
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today are celebrating a significant infusion of federal resources to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program's Ogden Junction project on the city's west side. This support, which comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will help contribute to increased rail speed and flexibility to reduce delays, more capacity and … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3 Million For Illinois State Board of Education
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $3,000,000 in Competitive Grants for State Assessments for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This funding will allow ISBE to create innovative assessments for Spanish language arts students in grades 9 and 10, as well as significantly expand educator professional learning and parent/student engagement activities. "This infusion of federal support for … Continue Reading
