Press Releases
Duckworth Helps Introduce $17 Billion Bill to Relieve Small Business Loan Payments for 6 Months in Wake of COVID-19
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, today joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing legislation that would ensure every small business with a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan would be relieved of their SBA loan payments-including principal, interest, and fees-for the next six months. The Small Business Debt Relief Act of 2020 would be a lifeline for a … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Updated Emergency Paid Leave Bill in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA), introduced the PAID Leave Act (Providing Americans Insured Days of Leave Act). The PAID Leave Act is a comprehensive emergency paid sick days and paid family and medical leave bill—fully funded by the federal government during the coronavirus emergency—to provide additional support to workers and businesses during the coronavirus outbreak … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Duckworth Votes for the Bipartisan Coronavirus Response Act in the Senate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today voted for the bipartisan Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which cleared the U.S. House of Representatives last week and now heads to the President’s desk. She issued the following statement regarding her vote:“We must always put families first in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and I’m proud to vote for this bipartisan agreement that does just that. This bill pushes the Trump Administration to improve its … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Vote to Protect GI Bill Benefits as Universities Move Online Due to Coronavirus
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) helped introduce and voted to pass bipartisan legislation to make sure student Veterans receiving benefits through the GI Bill continue receiving full benefits as universities temporarily move classes online to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The legislation would temporarily allow student Veterans to continue receiving education benefits without change as their … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges Small Business Administration to Approve Federal Loan Assistance for Illinois in Response to Coronavirus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a SBA Economic Injury Declaration for Illinois amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of this week, more than 100 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Illinois, and Governor Pritzker has ordered the closure of all dine-in restaurants and bars, and prohibited gatherings of 50 … Continue Reading
March 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement On First Coronavirus-Related Death In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Illinois announced its first coronavirus-related death: "We are both saddened by the confirmation of our state's first death from COVID-19. Our thoughts go out to the victim's family and loved ones during what we know is an incredibly difficult time for them. As we have all seen, this pandemic will disrupt the way we all go about our daily lives, but this sad news is a … Continue Reading
March 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Federal Funding for Illinois & City of Chicago Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received $14.6 million in federal funding and the Chicago Department of Public Health received $8.7 million in federal funding in order to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, including funding for patient monitoring, lab testing, acquisition of test kits and protective equipment, and research into vaccines and therapeutics. This federal … Continue Reading
March 15, 2020
Duckworth: Senate Should Pass Bipartisan Coronavirus Response Act Immediately
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to immediately call up and pass the bipartisan Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on Friday night. The Senator issued the following statement regarding the legislation: "We must always put families first in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. I applaud House Democrats for rejecting the White House's initial 'corporations first' … Continue Reading
March 15, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Demand Additional Federal Resources at O'Hare from Trump Administration
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After hundreds of passengers were forced to wait in close quarters for hours on end in order to clear medical screenings at customs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump issued an emergency disaster declaration under the Stafford Act to strengthen federal support to state, local and tribal efforts to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic: "The Trump Administration botched its response to the COVID-19 outbreak from the beginning by eliminating the office that could have helped our country prepare for this pandemic, rejecting the World … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3.5 Million For Maternal And Child Health Services In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth today announced $3,531,780 in federal funding awarded to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to support health care for low-income mothers, children, and families. This funding is provided through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "With this grant, the Illinois Department of … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Landmark Legislation to Fund PFAS Cleanup
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in introducing legislation to help communities combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and exposure in drinking water and groundwater. The Providing Financial Assistance to States (PFAS) for Testing and Treatment Act would provide substantial federal funding for PFAS remediation in drinking water, and groundwater, … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth Presses USCIS for Answers on Accessibility Policies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to Ken Cuccinelli, the senior official performing the duties of the director at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), demanding USCIS answer whether the actions taken in the Lucio Delgado case were consistent with USCIS policies and provide detailed descriptions of the agency’s guidance and resources related to individuals with disabilities. According to reports, last week USCIS failed to provide Mr. Delgado—a … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth: Defense Department Should Begin Preparing National Guard and Reserve Units to Assist in the COVID-19 Outbreak
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), in a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper today highlighted concerns that the Department of Defense has not yet taken proactive steps to ensure the readiness of National Guard and Reserve units to support local civilian authorities should the COVID-19 pandemic continue to spread. Senator Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Capito 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 introduced a resolution recognizing the Girl Scouts of America on its 108th birthday and celebrating its legacy of building powerful female leaders. "Girl Scouts helped teach me the importance of service as well as the leadership skills that I use in the Senate every day," said Senator Duckworth. "I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Establish Memorial Commemorating Efforts of Women on the Home Front During WWII
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation today to establish a new memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor the contributions of the estimated 18 million women who helped keep our nation's economy and society running during World War II by working as pilots, engineers, taxi drivers, letter carriers, code breakers and more. The Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act would also … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Protect Frontline Health Care Workers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act today, legislation that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate an emergency temporary standard to protect frontline health care workers who are at increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Similar legislation was introduced in the House on Monday and included as part of the House's package of proposals to address the coronavirus … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Request for the IRS to Extend Tax-Filing Deadline for Individual Taxpayers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and 18 of their colleagues in urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig to extend the April 15, 2020 tax-filing deadline to provide taxpayers greater flexibility amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Currently, there are more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus in 38 states, including 25 in Illinois. "Given the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Press CDC on Shortage of Coronavirus Test Kit Supplies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield for information on the potential shortage of enzymes needed for CDC coronavirus test kits. Health officials in Illinois have indicated they may not have enough testing supplies to cover their diagnostic needs over the next two weeks. Further, they have not received word from the CDC … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Illinois Congressional Democrats: Border Wall Reprogramming Will Result in Shortfalls of Illinois National Guard Equipment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressing concern over the shortfalls of equipment for the Illinois National Guard in the wake of the Department of Defense's (DOD) decision to transfer National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) funds to be used to build part of President Donald Trump's ineffective wall on the southwest border. For Fiscal Year 2020, the Illinois Army National … Continue Reading
