Press Releases
Duckworth Presses Veterans Affairs Secretary Nominee Doug Collins to Oppose Dangerous Efforts That Would Privatize the VA and Harm Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) who still receives her own health care services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—pressed Doug Collins, President Trump’s nominee to be VA Secretary, to oppose any effort to privatize VA health care at his confirmation hearing, which would place many Veterans at risk of receiving less effective and less cost-efficient care. In her … Continue Reading
January 21, 2025
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Rubio as Secretary of State
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—released the following statement after the Senate confirmed U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) by a vote of 99-0 to serve as Secretary of State under President Trump. “Senator Rubio has the experience and qualifications necessary to be an effective Secretary of State. Throughout our meeting and his confirmation hearing, Senator Rubio demonstrated that he … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Duckworth Statement on the Laken Riley Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting against the Laken Riley Act, which passed the Senate by a vote of 64-35: “The murder of Laken Riley was an unspeakable act of violence—no parent should have to endure the loss of a child, and her murderer should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Over the last few weeks, Congress had an opportunity to craft bipartisan, long-overdue reforms that would help keep our communities … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Statement On Trump's Day One Anti-Immigrant Executive Orders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed executive orders cracking down on immigrant communities, that, among other things, attempt to deprive U.S.-born children of citizenship, suspend refugee resettlement and require the military to divert resources to the southern border: “We all … Continue Reading
January 16, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray in Introducing Resolution Recognizing the Service of Women in Combat
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Patty Murray (D-WA) and 19 other Senators in introducing a resolution honoring the service of women in combat roles in the U.S. Armed Forces. The resolution comes as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Defense (DoD), Pete Hegseth, continues to face scorching criticism for, among … Continue Reading
January 16, 2025
Duckworth on Senate Floor: “Pete Hegseth is Unprepared, Unqualified, Unethical and Unfit to Be Secretary of Defense”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor slamming U.S. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth for his lack of experience and qualifications to lead the Department of Defense. Speaking next to a framed copy of the Soldier’s Creed—a copy that hangs over her desk in the Senate and hung above her bed during … Continue Reading
January 16, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2 Million In Federal Funding For Improved Data On Car Crashes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,038,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to create an interface that would transfer car crash data in Illinois to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Improving crash reporting systems is critical to helping us make our roads as safe as possible and reduce the number of lives lost to car crashes,” said … Continue Reading
January 15, 2025
Duckworth Secures Verbal Agreement from Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio to Help Strengthen ASEAN Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Region
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—secured a verbal agreement from U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), President-elect Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of State, on the importance of strengthening relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This comes after Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth could not correctly name a single … Continue Reading
January 15, 2025
Duckworth Statement on the Ceasefire and Hostage Deal Between Israel and Hamas
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—issued the following statement after President Biden announced that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal: “After 15 months of unspeakable carnage, horror and loss, I’m relieved that both Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal. I’m grateful for the Biden Administration’s steadfast leadership to secure this agreement … Continue Reading
January 15, 2025
Duckworth Secures Commitment from Transportation Secretary Nominee Sean Duffy to Uphold Strong 1,500-Hour Pilot Certification Standard to Safeguard Flying Public
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As our nation continues to witness a surge in near-misses within our aviation system, today U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—secured a commitment from former Congressman Sean Duffy, President-elect Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), to uphold the strong 1,500-hour pilot certification standard at his confirmation hearing. Additionally, … Continue Reading
January 14, 2025
Duckworth Slams Pete Hegseth on His Lack of Qualifications to Serve as Defense Secretary During Senate Confirmation Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—slammed U.S. Secretary of Defense expected nominee Pete Hegseth on his utter lack of experience and qualifications to lead the Department of Defense at his confirmation hearing. Pointing to a framed copy of the Soldier’s Creed—a copy that hangs over her desk in the Senate and hung above her bed during her recovery at … Continue Reading
January 10, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $115 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois Infrastructure Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $115,674,140 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program for six Illinois projects, ranging from accessibility upgrades to rail infrastructure and pedestrian safety. “Investing in our transportation infrastructure is about more than just improving our roads, … Continue Reading
January 10, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $105 Million in Federal Funding for Rail Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $105,877,100 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program funding for six Illinois-based transportation projects, ranging from safety upgrades to improving mobility and constructing pedestrian crossings. “Investing in our rail infrastructure is about growing our economy and helping make it safer and more efficient for … Continue Reading
January 09, 2025
Duckworth Joins Kaine, Shaheen and Colleagues Issue Bipartisan Statement on Kidnapping of Edmundo González’s Son-In-Law in Venezuela
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee—joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in issuing the following bipartisan statement regarding the kidnapping of Rafael Tudares, Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González’s son-in-law, in Caracas: “In July, the Venezuelan people … Continue Reading
January 08, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More than $114 Million in Federal Funding for EV Charging Stations Across Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $114,471,562 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the Chicagoland area. The recipients of this funding are the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. IEPA’s project Equitable Future-Ready Electrification Infrastructure for Green Heavy-duty … Continue Reading
January 06, 2025
Duckworth Statement on the Certification of the 2024 Presidential Election
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement following Congress’s vote to uphold the results of November’s presidential election: “When my Army buddies and I raised our right hands and vowed to protect and defend the Constitution, we didn’t qualify our oaths by saying we’d follow orders only when the Commander-in-Chief was someone whose election we were happy with. Just like when every Member of Congress was sworn into office, we didn’t mutter under … Continue Reading
January 03, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $856 Million in Federal Funding for Disaster Relief in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $856,307,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support communities in Illinois with unmet disaster recovery needs that were majorly impacted by disasters that occurred in 2023 and 2024. “This significant federal investment will go a long way to help support communities devastated by severe weather as they continue to … Continue Reading
January 02, 2025
Duckworth Joins U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—will join the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee in the 119th Congress. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and is an Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart … Continue Reading
December 30, 2024
Duckworth Highlights 2024 Accomplishments in Year-End Round Up
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As 2024 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year: “From helping almost 2,600 Illinoisans recover more than $11 million the Federal Government owed them to bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars to get the lead out of our children’s drinking water, and from protecting IVF access for hopeful parents across the nation to helping make flying safer and more efficient for traveling … Continue Reading
December 23, 2024
Senate Confirms David Capozzi to Amtrak Board of Directors’ Duckworth-created Disability Advocate Seat
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and author of the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act—celebrated the United States Senate voting by voice vote to confirm David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors as the Boards’ designated disability advocate—a seat created by a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On Amtrak’s … Continue Reading