Press Releases
In Bangkok, Duckworth Meets with Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
[BANGKOK, THAILAND] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with the Princess of Thailand, Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, where the two discussed relations between Thailand and the United States. "I appreciate that Her Royal Highness Sirindhorn granted me an audience and am thankful for the opportunity to discuss issues important to the people of both of our nations," said Duckworth. "I look forward to working with Princess Sirindhorn and other Thai leaders in the years … Continue Reading
August 15, 2019
Duckworth Speaks Out Against Trump Administration’s “Public Charge” Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the Trump Administration's new rule that would allow immigration officials to deny immigrants green cards based on their income or the wholly legal action of using of public benefits like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Medicaid, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "As I said when the Trump Administration first suggested they might do this almost a year ago: This proposal is as heartless as it is … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Lake County Environmental Advocates Over Ethylene Oxide Crisis
[WAUKEGAN, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with environmental advocates from Lake County on Monday to discuss efforts to protect residents from toxic ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions in the area and hear concerns. Duckworth met with members from Clean Power Lake County, Sierra Club Woods & Wetlands Group and Faith in Place to discuss her legislation aimed at addressing the EtO crisis, as well her leadership on other environmental issues as a founding member of the … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Duckworth Demands Trump Administration Explain Decision to Deny Citizenship Interview to U.S. Marine Veteran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of State demanding that a deported U.S. Marine Veteran be allowed to re-enter the country to attend his citizenship interview. Her demand comes after public reports that a deported Marine Veteran, Roman Sabal, was denied entry at the border, causing him to miss his citizenship interview and remain separated from his family in the United States. … Continue Reading
August 10, 2019
Duckworth’s Office to Host Mobile Office Hours at Illinois State Fair Sunday
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – The Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will host mobile office hours at the 2019 Illinois State Fair’s Veterans Benefit Expo this Sunday, August 11. Constituent service representatives from the Senator’s office will be onsite to assist Illinoisans with receiving the Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare and other federal benefits to which they may be entitled. Sunday’s mobile office hours will be held from 10AM to 2PM CT, with … Continue Reading
August 08, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Community Leaders in Chicago, Highlights Need for Safe, Clean Drinking Water
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with local elected officials and community leaders at Rainbow Beach Park in Chicago to discuss how our nation can address the continuing crisis of lead in water, as well as her efforts to provide Illinois communities with access to quality and affordable water. Duckworth recently re-introduced her NO LEAD Actto help ensure drinking water across the country is safe from lead and copper contamination by updating the Lead and Copper … Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
In City Club Address, Duckworth Lays Out Vision for How to Achieve True American Strength
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a keynote address to the City Club of Chicago today, detailing her vision for how we can achieve true, enduring American strength. Duckworth discussed both the dire need to invest in America's infrastructure and put forth a new national security platform, arguing that America's dominance on the world stage is contingent on reframing how we think about military strength-rejecting the false choice between investing … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Host Roundtable on Increasing Small Business Access to Capital in Chatham
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a roundtable about the needs of minority-owned small businesses and her efforts to increase small business access to capital with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today at the Chatham Business Association. The Senators were joined by Chicago Aldermen David Moore and Michelle A. Harris, Chatham Business Association President Melinda Kelly, Southeast Chicago Chamber Executive Director Frankye Payne and local business leaders to discuss … Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Senate Approval of Bipartisan Budget Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the Senate's passage of a bipartisan compromise that ends sequestration and eliminates the risk of a catastrophic unilateral default, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Today's bipartisan compromise ends the threat of devastating across-the-board sequester cuts to critical programs, provides billions in additional funds to carry out the 2020 census and prevents the economic catastrophe that would come from defaulting on our … Continue Reading
July 30, 2019
Duckworth Secures Important Illinois Priorities in Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), applauded the inclusion of several of her provisions that will help Illinois in the America's Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019 that passed the EPW Committee today. This critical legislation includes important provisions to improve safety, rebuild aging roads and bridges, reduce congestion, spur innovation and address climate change. The bill also provides a … Continue Reading
July 26, 2019
Duckworth & Cohen Re-Introduce Legislation to Improve School Bus Safety Ahead of Students Going Back to School
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As students across Illinois prepare to return to school for the beginning of the new school year, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) re-introduced the School Bus Safety Act to help keep students safe as they travel to and from school while also helping prevent accidents involving school buses. Their legislation would implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board to make school buses safer by ensuring … Continue Reading
July 26, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Help Reintroduce Butch Lewis Act to Protect Worker Pensions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) this week in reintroducing the Butch Lewis Act in the Senate. Named for the late Ohio Teamster, the Butch Lewis Act would address the multi-employer pension crisis threatening the retirement of more than 1.3 million workers and retirees nationwide as well as putting small businesses across the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2019
On the Eve of ADA Anniversary, Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Re-Introducing Legislation to Strengthen the Landmark Civil Rights Law & Help More Small Businesses Become Accessible
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation today with the Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to make it easier for small businesses to become accessible for people with disabilities and help those businesses comply with the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Duckworth's … Continue Reading
July 25, 2019
Rush and Duckworth Re-Introduce Bill to Take On Firearm Violence Epidemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) re-introduced the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act today to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country. This legislation would prohibit unlicensed firearm-ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license, as well as direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct … Continue Reading
July 24, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Priorities with Illinois Soybean Growers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of Illinois Soybean Growers to discuss Illinois priorities and agriculture policies, as well as the impact on farmers from unseasonably heavy rainfall this spring. Photos from the meeting are available here. "The strength of America's farmers is a reflection of our strength as a nation," Duckworth said. "I enjoyed meeting with the Illinois Soybean Growers today to hear their concerns and discuss how I can be … Continue Reading
July 24, 2019
Duckworth Votes Against FAA Nominee Stephen Dickson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting against Stephen Dickson's nomination to be the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Given the crisis in confidence facing federal regulators that oversee the U.S. aviation industry in the wake of the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX series aircraft, the next leader of the FAA will have to regain the public's trust and demonstrate their commitment to placing the … Continue Reading
July 24, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Re-Introduce Legislation to Improve Water Quality & End Sewage Dumping into Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) re-introduced legislation to end the dumping of untreated sewage waste into Lake Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Basin and help improve water quality throughout the Great Lakes region. The Senators' Great Lakes Water Protection Act would create a dedicated fund to help clean up sewage in the Great Lakes and require the public be immediately notified when sewage is discharged. U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski … Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Duckworth Statement After Voting to Permanently Reauthorize the 9/11 VCF
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement following the Senate's overwhelmingly bipartisan vote to permanently reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF): "When our nation was attacked on 9/11, thousands of brave first responders ran into danger to save their fellow Americans even as everyone else was running away. With so many of these heroes experiencing health complications stemming from their heroic actions that terrible day, it is … Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Help Communities Like Cairo Affected by Public Housing Fraud and Abuse
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation yesterday redirecting federal resources to public housing residents and communities that have been the victims of fraud, like in Cairo, Illinois. The new Fairness for Housing Communities Act would direct certain public housing-related funds collected under the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (PFCRA) into a Fraud Compensation Fund at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development … Continue Reading
July 22, 2019
GAO to Evaluate Effectiveness of “Move Over” Laws to Protect First Responders Following Push from Duckworth, Durbin, Fischer & Bustos
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to a request from U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) announced they will conduct a new study to review the effectiveness of our country's "Move Over" laws, which are designed to protect first responders who are doing their duty and may be stopped alongside busy roads. The letter, sent earlier this month, asked GAO to evaluate … Continue Reading
