Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $11 Million in Federal Funding for Multiuse Cycling Trail in Energy, Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $11.145 million in federal funding to the Crab Orchard Greenway Multimodal Network at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge. The grant, funded through the Fiscal Year 2023 National Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Program, will go toward supporting the construction of 12 miles of a multiuse cycling … Continue Reading
June 05, 2024
Duckworth Calls Out MAGA Republicans’ Anti-Choice Crusade, Urges Senate Passage of the Right to Contraception Act Which She Co-Leads
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of the Senate vote today on the Right to Contraception Act, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who is a co-lead of the legislation alongside U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI)—called out extreme MAGA Republicans’ anti-choice efforts that are putting birth control—including plan B, IUDs and other forms of contraception—under threat. In her remarks, the Senator underscored the urgent need for the Senate to pass this pro-choice, pro-freedom … Continue Reading
June 05, 2024
Duckworth, Markey, Hirono Statement on the Right to Contraception Act Floor Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA)-Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee’s Subcommittee on Primary Health & Retirement Security-and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement ahead of the Senate vote on the Right to Contraception Act. The bill would guarantee the right for people to obtain and use contraceptives and for health providers to prescribe contraceptives and give … Continue Reading
June 04, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Federal Approval of Illinois as Participant in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the federal approval of Illinois as a participant in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program. This program, created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), provides sustainable funding to reimburse through Medicaid the full cost of services … Continue Reading
June 04, 2024
Duckworth, Beyer Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Voting Rights and Improve Civic Participation
[WASHINGTON D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) re-introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens’ participation in the democratic process. The PROVE Act would allow for U.S. citizens aged 16 and 17 to pre-register to be added to voter rolls when they turn 18. Additionally, the PROVE Act provides $25 million in grants, over two years, for states … Continue Reading
June 03, 2024
Duckworth Urges FAA Administrator Whitaker to Ensure Transparency and Accountability Are Built into FAA’s Oversight of Boeing’s Safety and Quality Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation— urged Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Whitaker to make sure the FAA requires transparency and accountability as it oversees Boeing’s Safety and Quality Plan, a plan that the FAA required the aerospace giant to submit. Duckworth expressed her … Continue Reading
June 03, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Rep. Kelly Introduce Bicameral Resolution in Observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Month
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) in introducing a resolution to designate June 07, 2024, as “National Gun Violence Awareness Day” and June 2024 as “National Gun Violence Awareness Month.” Each year, more than 43,000 people in the United States are killed and 76,000 are injured by gun violence, depriving many of a promising future. Designating both a specific day and … Continue Reading
June 03, 2024
Duckworth, Murray, Booker Unveil Sweeping Legislative Package to Establish a Nationwide Right to IVF and Lower IVF Costs for Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Republicans and the anti-abortion movement continue their state-by-state attacks on reproductive freedom in post-Roe America, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator and Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today unveiled a new, sweeping legislative package that would both establish a nationwide right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) as well … Continue Reading
May 31, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats to Call on DOJ to Immediately Launch Full Court Press Against Big Oil to Prevent and Prosecute Collision and Price Fixing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 20 Democratic Senators in sending a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust Jonathan Kanter calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to use every tool at its disposal to prevent and prosecute collusion and price fixing in the oil industry. The letter follows a Federal Trade … Continue Reading
May 30, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce that Illinois School Districts Will Receive $48.4 Million in Rebate for EPA Clean School Bus Program
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that 28 Illinois school districts will receive significant rebates, a combined total of more than $48 million, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) rebate competition. The program, a $5 billion effort established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to convert the nation’s school bus fleets to low- or … Continue Reading
May 30, 2024
Leading Bipartisan Senate Delegation to Shangri-La Dialogue, Duckworth & Sullivan Reaffirm U.S. Iron-Clad Commitment to Strengthening Cultural, Economic & Military Ties with Indo-Pacific Partners & Allies
[SINGAPORE] - After completing their successful official visit to Taiwan, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), himself a SASC member as well as a retired Colonel with 30 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, are continuing the bipartisan Congressional Delegation they … Continue Reading
May 29, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $11.5 Million in Grant Funding for Head Start Projects
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Carole Robertson Center for Learning in Chicago will receive $11,516,272 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant funding to support the center’s Head Start programming, which offers services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. “Head Start programs are crucial for kids throughout … Continue Reading
May 29, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce more than $8.6 Million for Medical Research and Health Center Programs in Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $8,602,005 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. A large portion of the funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from neurological disorders to cancer research. This round of grant funding will also support the development of a program for Black … Continue Reading
May 28, 2024
Duckworth, Sullivan Lead Bipartisan Senate Delegation Reinforcing U.S. Support for Taiwan Following Successful Democratic Elections
[TAIPEI, TAIWAN] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), himself a SASC member as well as a retired Colonel with 30 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, are leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to underscore and reaffirm our nation’s strong bipartisan support … Continue Reading
May 28, 2024
Duckworth, Murray, Pressley Announce Legislation Calling for Equitable Access to Reproductive Healthcare for People with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), in partnership with disability justice and reproductive justice advocates, announced a bicameral resolution calling for equitable access to reproductive and sexual health care for people with disabilities, and designating a day in May as “Disability Reproductive Health Equity Day.” The resolution recognizes the barriers people with disabilities encounter … Continue Reading
May 25, 2024
Duckworth Pays Tribute to Fallen Servicemembers at Chicago Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
[CHICAGO, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today paid tribute to our nation’s fallen servicemembers at the City of Chicago’s wreath laying ceremony to commemorate Memorial Day. Duckworth joined City of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Veterans and servicemembers to honor local Gold Star families and remember loved ones who were killed in the line of duty. Photos of today’s event are available on the Senator’s website. “This weekend is a somber reminder for our entire … Continue Reading
May 23, 2024
Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Improve Access to High-Quality Medical Care for Servicemembers and Military Families in the Indo-Pacific
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—introduced legislation to improve medical readiness within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and ensure our nation’s servicemembers and their families have access to quality patient care throughout the Indo-Pacific region—where they often must to travel long distances to receive care—whether … Continue Reading
May 23, 2024
Duckworth Condemns Senate Republicans for Blocking Bipartisan Border Security Legislation That They Negotiated, Again
[WASHGINTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement condemning Senate Republicans for blocking the Senate from even beginning debate on the bipartisan border security legislation that they helped negotiate yet again: “After loudly complaining about the urgent need to ‘fix our border’ for years, it’s disappointing to see my Republican colleagues—at Donald Trump’s request—refuse to even allow a debate on a bipartisan border deal that Senate Republicans … Continue Reading
May 23, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Stabenow, Peters Secure Increase in Federal Cost Share to Help Protect the Great Lakes in the 2024 Water Resources Development Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today announced that they secured an increase to the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which was unanimously passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) earlier this week. Under the provision, the federal … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
Duckworth Reintroduces Legislation to Help Deported Veterans Gain Citizenship
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Despite enlisting in our military and serving our country under the promise of gaining citizenship, many Veterans that were honorably discharged have faced deportation and even been prevented from attending their own naturalization hearings. To help address this injustice, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reintroduced her Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act to help ensure deported Veterans who have successfully completed the … Continue Reading