Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on the Breakdown of Peace Negotiations with the Taliban
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after President Trump invited the Taliban to Camp David and then abruptly pulled out of peace negotiations, jeopardizing the stability of the region: "President Trump's failed effort to honor the Taliban with a personal invitation to Camp David was a slap in the face to all Americans, especially those personally affected by the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11. Working to negotiate … Continue Reading
September 06, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Sterigenics Reopening
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following joint statement today after a DuPage County Judge allowed the Willowbrook facility to reopen if it complies with state law and the consent order: "It's been more than a year since we learned Sterigenics was causing unacceptably high risks of cancer for the people of Willowbrook. Monitoring at this facility in the months that followed then revealed Sterigenics was emitting excessively high … Continue Reading
September 06, 2019
As School Year Begins, Duckworth Highlights Legislation to Improve School Bus Safety
[CHICAGO, IL] - With Chicago Public Schools and students across the country going back to school this month, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Little Village Academy in Chicago today where she highlighted her recently re-introduced legislation to make school buses safer for children. Duckworth's School Bus Safety Act would implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board to make school buses safer by ensuring there are seat belts at every seat and new … Continue Reading
September 04, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration Diverting Funding for National Defense Projects to Ineffective Border Wall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that it will reprogram $3.6 billion in funding intended for military construction projects to build President Trump's border wall: "This inappropriate move makes it crystal clear that Donald Trump cares more about appearing to keep his ridiculous campaign promises than he does about keeping the nation's promises to our troops. Whether Trump … Continue Reading
September 03, 2019
Duckworth Tours Marquis Energy, Highlights Harm Caused by Trump’s RFS Waivers
[HENNEPIN, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Marquis Energy, meeting with its leaders and touring the ethanol facility, highlighting the importance of ethanol production to our nation's economy and the damage being caused by the Trump Administration's inappropriate use of small refinery waivers for major producers. Waivers issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the small refinery exemptions (SRE) program are intended to help small refineries, but … Continue Reading
August 31, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Gov. Pritzker’s Pardon of Miguel Perez, Jr.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today regarding Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker granting clemency to combat Veteran Miguel Perez, Jr.: "Miguel Perez's own life demonstrates why our nation should never give up on our combat Veterans, even during tough times. During his time in prison, Mr. Perez finally received the mental health treatment he so desperately needed as a Veteran returning from war and took great strides to reform his life. I … Continue Reading
August 30, 2019
Duckworth Visits Vietnam & Thailand as Part of Armed Services Committee Congressional Delegation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last week visited Vietnam and Thailand as part of a U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services delegation, where she met with top government officials, delivered an address on the importance of serving one's nation to a group of Thai military cadets as well as received an audience with the Princess of Thailand, Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to discuss bilateral relations between our two nations. Duckworth was … Continue Reading
August 30, 2019
Duckworth to Trump Administration: Stop Disrespecting U.S. Servicemembers and Diplomats Willing to Sacrifice for Our Nation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) demanding both agencies quickly rescind an offensive policy update that will harm members of the U.S. Armed Forces, military families and civil servants who serve our nation abroad. This update would make it harder for children of servicemembers and government employees serving overseas to acquire citizenship, forcing certain … Continue Reading
August 22, 2019
Duckworth’s Office to Host Mobile Office Hours at Du Quoin State Fair Sunday
[DU QUOIN, IL] – The Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will host mobile office hours at the 2019 Du Quoin State Fair Veterans Benefit Expo this Sunday, August 25. Constituent service representatives 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 10 AM to 2 PM, with additional mobile office hours taking place in … Continue Reading
August 22, 2019
In Thailand, Duckworth Highlights Importance of the U.S.-Thai Alliance and Maintaining the International Rule of Law
[NAKHON NAYOK, THAILAND] - In an address to graduating cadets at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (CRMA) in Thailand, Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) detailed the historic friendship between the United States and Thailand and emphasized the need to continue strengthening ties between the two nations while working together to uphold international norms. She also discussed her personal experience in the U.S. military, celebrating CRMA's cadets for heeding their … Continue Reading
August 22, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $2 Million to Protect Southern Illinois Families from Lead Hazards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced two housing authorities in Southern Illinois will receive a total of $1,943,027 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Lead-Based Paint Capital Fund Program. Under this announcement, the East St. Louis Housing Authority (East St. Louis, IL) will receive $943,027 and the Union County Housing Authority (Anna, IL) will receive $1,000,000 to identify and … Continue Reading
August 21, 2019
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
