Press Releases
In First Hearing as Ranking Member of Transportation & Safety Subcommittee, Duckworth Highlights Need to Improve Infrastructure & Reduce Bottlenecks in Chicagoland
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) held her first hearing as the new Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety about improving safety and reliability of our nation's freight transportation system and intermodal connections. The hearing, which featured testimony from Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Executive Director Joe Szabo on reducing freight congestion in the Chicagoland region and elsewhere, was the first in a … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Duckworth Statement in Advance of Trump-Kim Jong Un Summit in Hanoi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in advance of Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi: "Donald Trump accomplished little during the first summit aside from elevating a brutal and cruel dictator on the world stage. It is critical for this meeting to not be another PR stunt and for the President to obtain serious, measurable and verifiable commitments that lead to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Duckworth, Murkowski, Chu & Walorski Re-Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Expand Coverage for Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA-27) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2) today re-introduced legislation to ensure breast cancer patients and survivors who have experienced a mastectomy are able to access custom breast prosthetics under Medicare. The Breast Cancer Patient Equity Act would provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses, the only human body part not currently covered by … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Duckworth, Perdue Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Investments in Airport Modernization Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and David Perdue (R-GA) today re-introduced bipartisan legislation to modernize airport infrastructure by allowing airport projects to access cheaper public and private capital financing. The TIFIA for Airports Act would expand eligibility for Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit assistance to state and local airport projects, including passenger terminals and runways. "Modernizing our nation's aging … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Duckworth Statement in Advance of Trump-Kim Jong Un Summit in Hanoi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in advance of Donald Trump's summit with Kim Jong Un in Hanoi: "Donald Trump accomplished little during the first summit aside from elevating a brutal and cruel dictator on the world stage. It is critical for this meeting to not be another PR stunt and for the President to obtain serious, measurable and verifiable commitments that lead to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $2 Million to Expand Affordable Housing in Rockford
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a $2,167,468 federal grant to the Rockford Housing Authority to help low-income families, seniors and Americans living with disabilities access to affordable housing options. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), which subsidizes rent for eligible individuals and families who find single-family homes, townhouses … Continue Reading
February 25, 2019
Minutes Before Vote, Duckworth Pushes Senate to Reject Latest Anti-Choice, Anti-Doctor GOP Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor this afternoon urging her colleagues to vote against the latest Republican attempt to criminalize reproductive care no matter the cost. The misleadingly-named Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act aims to scare doctors into performing ineffective, inappropriate procedures on fetuses born with fatal abnormalities, even if such treatment goes against recommended standards of care and is against … Continue Reading
February 25, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Death of Colonel Jill Morgenthaler
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following the death of Ret. Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Colonel Morgenthaler devoted her life to helping others be all they can be. A true patriot, she was a leader and decorated officer who knocked down barriers in the military and motivated a generation of women through her service and her inspirational speeches. Above all, she was a dear friend and I am in absolute shock over her loss." … Continue Reading
February 22, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Public Service and Global Conflict at University of Chicago Institute of Politics Event
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined former Chief Strategist to President Obama David Axelrod at the University of Chicago yesterday to discuss her commitment to public service, the role of the American military around the world, improving public service opportunities for young adults and the importance of women in the leadership roles throughout our workforce. Yesterday's event was hosted by the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics (IOP) and the Pearson … Continue Reading
February 22, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin & Kelly Demand EPA Block Southeast Chicago Company from Exposing Children to Brain Damage
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) are requesting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) take immediate action to stop a company on the Southeast Side of Chicago from releasing unsafe levels of a known neurotoxin into the air in violation of the Clean Air Act. The Members of Congress are also asking the EPA to work with an un-biased, third-party engineering firm to audit Watco Transloading to … Continue Reading
February 21, 2019
Duckworth Celebrates Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute Anniversary, Continued DoD Funding
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), UI Labs CEO Caralynn Collens and Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) Executive Director Chandra Brown to celebrate the five-year anniversary of UI Labs' initial cooperative agreement to launch DMDII and announce continued funding from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Duckworth and Durbin supported … Continue Reading
February 20, 2019
Duckworth, Daines, Warren Introduce Bipartisan Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act to help ensure new parents have access to clean and private lactation rooms when visiting federal buildings around the nation. The legislation builds on the success of Duckworth's FAM Act, which was signed into law last year and ensures all large- and medium-sized airports have lactation rooms for new … Continue Reading
February 19, 2019
Duckworth Helps Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve VA Care for Women Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and John Boozman (R-AR) and 24 of their Senate colleagues today in reintroducing the Deborah Sampson Act to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services and access for women Veterans. Women are the fastest growing group of Veterans, but many VA facilities don't have the ability to provide equitable care or services to women Veterans. This bipartisan legislation would … Continue Reading
February 17, 2019
Duckworth: Trump’s Decision to Steal Funds from Military & National Defense is Harmful to Our Country
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This morning, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Martha Raddatz on ABC's This Week to discuss how the President's decision to declare a national emergency to try to fulfill a campaign promise is a reckless abuse of power and how stealing funds that Congress allocated for critical defense projects is harmful to our country. Video of the interview is available here. Key Excerpts: "(This is) just a fulfillment of a campaign promise that he hasn't been able to keep. … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Duckworth, Hirono and Takano Introduce Legislation to Prevent Atrocities Like Mass Japanese American Incarceration From Repeating
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In advance of the next week's Day of Remembrance recognizing the incarceration of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA-41), introduced the Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act of 2019 to establish a clear legal prohibition against un-American policies that seek to imprison American citizens on the basis of race, religion, nationality, sex, gender … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Seal Order of Sterigenics
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's (IEPA) decision to issue a Seal Order on Willowbrook, Illinois-based Sterigenics, Inc.: We support the IEPA taking strong action. Ethylene oxide emissions from Sterigenics and the lack of oversight by the U.S. EPA have created a public health emergency that threatened the well-being and safety of Willowbrook, the … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Durbin & Duckworth Voice Concerns About Trump Administration Siding with Predatory Payday Loan Sharks Over Consumers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a group of 47 Senators in opposing the latest attempt under Trump Administration leadership to gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) payday lending rule. In a letter to CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger, Durbin and Duckworth outlined how eliminating the key protections of the rule will allow the payday lending industry to prey on vulnerable American consumers. The letter was signed by every … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Duckworth: Trump Administration’s Attack on Clean Water Rule Harms Health of American Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced a proposal that would roll back the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule under the Clean Water Act of 1972. Duckworth is the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife. "This decision by the Trump Administration threatens access to … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Vote to Prevent Another Government Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting for a bipartisan compromise government funding bill to avoid another partial government shutdown, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "While this bipartisan deal is not perfect, it prevents another wasteful and unnecessary government shutdown that would hurt our economy and hold the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of government employees and contractors hostage. In fact, instead of forcing federal workers and their … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Cosponsored Anti-Lynching Legislation Passes Senate Unanimously
[Washington, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in cosponsoring the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Lynching Act. Previously, Senators Harris, Booker and Scott introduced similar legislation in the 115th Congress that passed the Senate unanimously but was not considered by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives at the time. "Those who forget their history are … Continue Reading
