Press Releases
Duckworth & Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Preventive Healthcare More Affordable for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) re-introduced bipartisan legislation to make healthcare more affordable for America's Veterans. Their Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act would stop forcing our nation's Veterans to pay out-of-pocket costs for essential preventive health medications and prescription drugs and add preventive medications and services to the list of no-fee treatments that VA covers. Under … Continue Reading
May 21, 2019
Duckworth Hosts Mobile Office Hours in Beardstown and Jacksonville
[BEARDSTOWN, IL] - The Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted mobile office hours in Beardstown, Illinois, and Jacksonville, Illinois, where her constituent service representatives were on hand to assist Illinoisans with receiving Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare and other federal benefits. Additional mobile office hours will take place in communities throughout the state over the coming months to offer constituents who may not be able to travel to one of the … Continue Reading
May 21, 2019
Duckworth’s Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Importance of GPS Constellation Passes Senate Unanimously
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth's (D-IL) resolution recognizing the positive impacts of the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation, which contributes an estimated $68.7 billion to the U.S. economy, passed the Senate unanimously today. Duckworth introduced the resolution along with U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH). A companion resolution was recently introduced by U.S. Representatives Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and Don Bacon … Continue Reading
May 21, 2019
Duckworth Asks FAA to Publish Advisory Circular on Best Practices for Manufacturing, Testing and Operating Angle of Attack Sensors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a series of safety incidents involving faulty or malfunctioning angle of attack (AOA) sensors on airplanes, including the two recent crashes involving Boeing 737 MAX series jets, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today to publish a set of standardized best practices for how to ensure airlines and flight crews are complying with all federal safety standards and regulations. In a letter to Acting FAA Administrator … Continue Reading
May 20, 2019
Duckworth Attends Inauguration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attended the inauguration of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot today to celebrate the swearing in of the new mayor, Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and City Clerk Anna Valencia. Photos from today's event are available here. "I'm excited to work together with Mayor Lightfoot to help hardworking Illinois families," Duckworth said. "I look forward to advocating together for Chicago, supporting new investments in infrastructure and ensuring … Continue Reading
May 17, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $140,000 for Rural Development in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $142,885 in federal funding to assist communities in Southern and Central Illinois with water and waste disposal projects. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households (SEARCH) and Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants programs, both of which are within the Office of Rural Development. "Investments like … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Duckworth Helps Introduce Bill Requiring States to Secure Elections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today in introducing expanded legislation to protect American elections from foreign interference by mandating hand-marked paper ballots and setting new cybersecurity standards for all federal elections. The Protecting American Votes and Elections (PAVE) Act of 2019 would require states to use paper ballots and statistically rigorous "risk-limiting" audits for all federal elections - two measures … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Duckworth Requests All-Senate Briefing on Iranian Threat Assessment As Soon As Possible
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to top intelligence, military and Trump Administration officials, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) asked the Trump Administration to organize a classified, interagency intelligence briefing for all 100 Senators as soon as possible to share the intelligence that triggered the recent warnings about threats in Iran. The Trump Administration has escalated tensions with Iran over the past week, loudly warning the American public about new … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
Duckworth, Booker, Carper Promote Newly-Formed Environmental Justice Caucus in the Chicago Sun-Times
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tom Carper (D-DE) penned a joint op-ed today for the Chicago Sun-Times explaining why they launched the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus. Drawing on the powerful history of the movement against environmental racism (including Hazel Johnson's efforts on the South Side of Chicago), the Senators highlighted the public health and environmental challenges that disproportionately impact low-income … Continue Reading
May 16, 2019
VIDEO: Tammy Duckworth Questions Why President Trump is Empowering John Bolton to Push Our Nation into Conflict with Iran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Trump Administration seeks to escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) raised questions about why the Trump Administration has failed to share the latest intelligence assessment involving Iran with the U.S. Senate as well as American allies. During interviews with CNN's Anderson Cooper and MSNBC's Chris Hayes, Duckworth called for a classified intelligence briefing to be offered to all 100 Senators as soon … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Duckworth Asks for Study on how Illinois Can Boost Resilience Against Future Flooding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tom Carper (D-DE) are asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on how the federal government is managing flood risk management infrastructure in the Midwest. After record-setting flooding across Illinois this spring, Duckworth, the ranking member of the Senate Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, requested GAO examine how the Army Corps of Engineers can increase the resilience of levees to protect … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Duckworth Presses FAA Administrator Nominee Dickson to Preserve and Strengthen Critical Airline Safety Protections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Nominee Stephen Dickson to commit to upholding critical airline safety standards that Duckworth has strongly advocated for, such as Pilot Certification and Qualification Requirements (commonly referred to as the "1,500 Hour Rule") that ensures pilots receive necessary training before piloting commercial aircraft, as well as Flight Crew Duty and Rest Requirements that … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Duckworth Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by Keynoting APAICS Gala
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) keynoted the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Gala Awards Dinner last night, where she discussed the AAPI community's accomplishments, her experiences with poverty and hunger during her childhood in Southeast Asia, and the importance of diversity and representation to our nation. Duckworth attended the 25th anniversary Gala as a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). Photos … Continue Reading
May 14, 2019
Duckworth Questions Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan Over Potential Deployment of 120,000 Troops to Middle East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan today over plans he reportedly presented to top White House officials regarding a potential deployment of 120,000 troops to counter Iran in the Middle East. During a meeting in her office, Duckworth expressed concerns with the Trump Administration's approach to Iran and cautioned Shanahan against moving forward with a … Continue Reading
May 14, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with more than a dozen members of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago today to discuss increasing funding for the Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program and the importance of FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program and the Holocaust Survivors Assistance Fund. Photos from today's meeting are available here. "The recent spate of attacks in synagogues, churches, mosques and … Continue Reading
May 13, 2019
ICYMI: Duckworth Issues Mother’s Day Call to Make Progress on Family-Friendly Legislation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On Mother's Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times reflecting on the birth of her daughter last year and the need to make our nation's workplace policies more family-friendly in order to change "a working culture that lets women fall out of the workforce and lets families fall into poverty." In the op-ed, Duckworth highlighted how the record-breaking 131 women now serving in Congress can bring these changes closer to reality and … Continue Reading
May 13, 2019
Senators Introduce Creig Sharp Funeral Honors for Veterans Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the Creig Sharp Funeral Honors for Veterans Act, to ensure that all veterans have access to full military funeral honors. Specifically, the legislation requires military installations to develop a plan to utilize both on-base and off-base resources for funeral ceremonies for veterans, even when government resources may not be available. "Our … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Ahead of Mother’s Day, Duckworth Highlights Slate of Bills to Help Working Families in Chicago and Across the Nation
[CHICAGO, IL] - Joined by women's advocates and worker's advocates in Chicago just days before Mother's Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted her newly-announced package of family-friendly policy proposals today. Duckworth's new proposals would make workplaces more family-friendly, improve childcare services, make it easier for low-income and middle-class families to obtain diapers for their children and close loopholes that prevent many educational support staff from being able … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Duckworth Promotes Environmental Policy Solutions at Annual ELPC Gala
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at the Environmental Law and Policy Center Gala this evening, where she discussed the formation of the new Environmental Justice Caucus in the Senate, the threat of climate change to national security and the legislation she's worked on to protect families against environmental harm. Photos from tonight's event are available here. "Every American has a right to breathe in clean air and drink clean water, no matter where they live, the … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Ahead of Mother’s Day, Duckworth Introduces Family-Friendly Legislation to Help Working Parents Get Ahead
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a package of bills to make workplaces more family-friendly, improve childcare services, make it easier for low-income and middle-class families to obtain diapers for their children and close loopholes that prevent many educational support staff from being able to take medical leave through the Family Medical Leave Act. The package includes four pieces of legislation: the End Diaper Need Act, the ESP Family Leave Act, the … Continue Reading