Press Releases
Duckworth, Senate Democrats to Trump: Don’t Deport Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following reports that the Trump Administration is ending protections against the deportation of military families whose loved ones are deployed, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led 21 Senate Democrats in demanding the Trump Administration reverse course immediately. The Trump Administration is reportedly planning on ending the "Parole in Place" (PIP) program, which prevents immigrants who are spouses, parents and children of active-duty servicemembers and Veterans … Continue Reading
July 10, 2019
Duckworth Highlights Need to Protect Veterans and Military Families from Trump Administration Deportation Policies
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke about the need to protect Veterans and military families from deportation by the Trump Administration at a panel discussion hosted by HillVets in the United States Capitol. Earlier this year, Duckworth reintroduced a package of legislation to prevent the deportation on Veterans who are not violent offenders, allow deported Veterans to return to America and access the VA benefits they earned, and make it … Continue Reading
July 10, 2019
Duckworth, Kildee Re-Introduce Legislation to Help Protect Families from Lead-Contaminated Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Dan Kildee (D-MI) today announced the re-introduction of the National Opportunity for Lead Exposure Accountability and Deterrence (NO LEAD) Act to help ensure drinking water across our nation is safe from lead and copper contamination. The NO LEAD Act would update the Lead and Copper Rule, lowering the lead action level from 15 parts per billion (ppb) currently, to 10 ppb by 2020 and 5 ppb by 2026. The … Continue Reading
July 09, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Announce Over $11 Million for Chicago Rockford International Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $11,296,026 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help improve the Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford. The funding will help Chicago Rockford International Airport rehabilitate runways and taxiways. "Investing in our airport infrastructure is vital to the strength of our state's transportation systems and our local … Continue Reading
July 03, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Fischer & Bustos Call for GAO Review of “Move Over” Laws to Better Protect First Responders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Deb Fischer (R-NE), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17), today called on the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of our country's "Move Over" laws, which are designed to prevent motor accidents involving first responders stopped alongside busy roads. Three Illinois State Police troopers have been killed already after being struck by vehicles this year: Troopers Gerald … Continue Reading
July 01, 2019
Duckworth Hosts Immigrant & Refugee Rights Roundtable with Congressman García in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable with immigration rights advocates in Chicago to identify areas where additional federal support is needed. Duckworth was joined by U.S. Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-4), Illinois State Senator Omar Aquino (IL-SD-2), Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy (IL-HD-14), Cook County Board Commissioner Alma Anaya and leaders from local organizations working to help immigrants and refugees. … Continue Reading
June 29, 2019
Duckworth Stresses Importance of Diversity in Leadership at National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women Conference in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) participated in a fireside chat today at the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative (NOBEL) Women's annual legislative conference and discussed the importance of diversity in government, legislation to help working families and last year's rule change in the United States Senate that allowed parents, like Duckworth, to bring children under age 1 onto the Senate floor. The fireside chat was moderated by Tennessee State … Continue Reading
June 28, 2019
Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill Expanding Access to Clean, Private Lactation Rooms in Federal Buildings
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Fairness for Breastfeeding Mothers Act this week, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to help ensure new parents have access to clean and private lactation rooms when visiting federal buildings around the nation. The bill builds on the success of Duckworth's FAM Act, which was signed into law last year and ensures all large- and medium-sized airports … Continue Reading
June 28, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce First Ever Bipartisan Senate Resolution to Honor the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in introducing the first ever bipartisan U.S. Senate resolution to recognize and honor Stonewall's significance. Stonewall is an important moment in American history that helped spark the modern LGBTQ movement for equal rights … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Senate Passes Duckworth’s Defense Bill Provisions to Protect Servicemembers & Support Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a Purple Heart recipient and one of the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the U.S. Senate today. This year's NDAA, which also includes a well-deserved 3.1% pay raise for our troops, authorizes funding for the U.S. … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Ahead of 50th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots, Duckworth & Pappas Introduce Bill to Improve VA Services for LGBT Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced legislation today to support LGBT Veterans by amending the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) definition of "minority group member" to explicitly include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Veterans. The LGBT VA Advocacy Inclusion Act would authorize the VA's Center for Minority Veterans (CMV), an office in VA's Central Office, to include these Veterans in their mission. … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Duckworth, Peters, Roberts Bill to Raise Awareness about Vaccines & Increase Vaccination Rates Advances in Senate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) to increase vaccination rates by raising vaccine awareness through a national campaign to combat misinformation advanced in the Senate today. The VACCINES Act was passed by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) as part of a larger health care package. The bill would also establish grants to address vaccine-preventable … Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Duckworth Pushes for Swift Implementation of Positive Train Control Safety Features, Improvements in Amtrak On-Time Performance in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured commitments from top transportation officials and stakeholders to address key Illinois passenger rail issues today during a hearing in the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Committee. At the hearing, Duckworth reaffirmed industry's commitment to fully addressing Positive Train Control (PTC) interoperability issues in the Chicagoland area from Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson and Association of American Railroads … Continue Reading
June 26, 2019
Duckworth, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Invest in Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today introduced the Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development (STRANDED) Act to address the impacts of stranded nuclear waste by providing federal assistance to communities around the country that are burdened with storing this waste. The Senators' bipartisan legislation would award economic impact grants to local government entities to offset the economic impacts of stranded … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Springfield Leaders & Land of Lincoln Economic Development Corporation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder and more than a dozen members of the Land of Lincoln Economic Development Corporation to discuss infrastructure priorities in Springfield and Sangamon County in Illinois. Duckworth and members discussed the ongoing Springfield rail improvement project, excavation of the 1908 Race Riot Commemoration Site, and her efforts with Senator Durbin to bring a new flying mission to Springfield's 183d … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Duckworth & Durbin Push for Flying Mission at Springfield’s 183d Wing
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - which the Senate is currently debating - that would return Springfield's 183d Wing, a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard, to flying status. The Senators' amendment would authorize the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force to transfer A-10, F-16, F-15E/X or F-35 aircraft to the Wing. The Wing flew F-16s until 2005, but now serves as the … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
As Trump Escalates Tensions, Duckworth Reiterates that President Does Not Have Legal Authority to Start a War with Iran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered powerful remarks on the Senate floor criticizing Donald Trump and his Administration's reckless, erratic strategy on Iran while warning of the severe consequences of blundering into war. Duckworth outlined how the Trump Administration has manufactured a crisis with Iran and unnecessarily ratcheted up tensions in the region, creating a dangerous situation - and how despite Donald Trump's bluster, only … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Secure Grant Extension for Quad Cities Amtrak Route
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) yesterday received confirmation from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that the agency had granted the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) a six month extension for federal funding for the Quad Cities to Chicago rail project to give local stakeholders needed flexibility to finalize an agreement. The funding is now extended to November 30, 2019. "I'm … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Duckworth, Senate Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Prevent Police-Involved Deaths & Provide Justice to Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), today introduced legislation that would help restore trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve by helping prevent police-involved deaths and encourage independent, impartial investigations into law enforcement officials' use of deadly force. The Police Training and Independent … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Duckworth, Young Introduce Bill to Provide TSA PreCheck to Disabled Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) today announced bipartisan legislation to make air travel easier for Veterans with disabilities by providing them with TSA PreCheck at no cost. TSA PreCheck is already available to active duty, reserve and National Guard servicemembers at no cost. The Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed, or blind since passing through … Continue Reading