Press Releases
New Federal Report Reveals Airlines Damage Average of 25 Wheelchairs Each Day
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - As a result of a law authored by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is releasing data that reveals for the first time how many wheelchairs and motorized scooters airlines damage each month. According to the DOT's latest air travel consumer report, air carriers reported damaging or breaking 701 wheelchairs and scooters between December 4th and December 31st - an average of over 25 each day. Duckworth is a combat Veteran and … Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
Duckworth Urges VA Office of Inspector General To Investigate Irregularities in VA MISSION Act Public Comment Submission Process
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After more than 21,500 suspicious public comments were submitted regarding a proposed rule change at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) pressed the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the potential manipulation and ensure the integrity of the rulemaking process. The more than 21,500 suspicious public comments, which were identical, accounted for roughly 90% of the 23,886 total comments … Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
Duckworth, Capito Re-Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Designating March as National Endometriosis Awareness Month
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today re-introduced a resolution recognizing the significance of endometriosis as an unmet chronic disease for women and designating March as National Endometriosis Awareness Month. This resolution would also encourage the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide information on endometriosis to women, patients and providers, and to improve screening tools and treatment options. Endometriosis is … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Carper Demand Information on EPA’s Handling of Ethylene Oxide Science Review, Sterigenics Emissions Release Oversight
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Carper (D-DE), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler seeking information related to the agency's recent decision to question EPA career staff's assessment of the health risks and political appointees' handling of potentially illegal releases of ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical identified by EPA as a … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Duckworth Questions “Culture of Coziness” in Federal Aviation Safety Oversight During Senate Hearing on Boeing 737 MAX Series
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a general aviation pilot and combat Veteran, raised questions about a perceived lack of oversight into the development and federal approval of the Boeing 737 MAX series aircraft today. During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing today, Duckworth grilled the Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about international pilot training standards, as well as what steps can be taken to prevent similar problems from … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Chicago Teachers Union Members
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members today about improvements to workforce readiness and career preparation programs in public schools. Duckworth and the Chicago teachers discussed the importance of expanding career awareness and technology instruction for middle school students and increasing apprenticeship and job opportunities for high school seniors. Photos from today's meeting are available here. "Providing students with … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Duckworth, Schumer, Schatz Introduce New Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and seven other Senate Democrats today to announce the creation of a Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The new Senate committee will be tasked with investigating, holding hearings and issuing findings on how climate inaction is harming our country's economy, health and national security. As a combat Veteran, Duckworth has seen firsthand how climate … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Duckworth, Kelly, Durbin Introduce MOMMA Act to Reduce Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL02) today introduced the bicameral Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA) Act. The legislation seeks to reduce America's rising maternal and infant mortality rate, especially for moms and babies of color who are significantly more likely to die during or shortly after pregnancy. On average, maternal mortality claims the lives of 700 American moms … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Join Entire Senate Democratic Caucus to Introduce For The People Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus to introduce the For the People Act - a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would fix our broken politics and make government work for the people. The landmark legislation, companion legislation to H.R. 1 in the U.S. House of Representatives, aims to restore the promise of American … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $59 Million for Illinois Community Health Centers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a total of $59,670,008 to support local community health centers throughout Illinois through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based organizations that improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in underserved urban and rural communities … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Help Re-Introduce Bill Expanding Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and 32 of their colleagues in re-introducing legislation to help ensure low- and middle-income families have access to affordable and high-quality child care. The Child Care for Working Families Act would ensure that no family under 150 percent of the state median income pays more than seven … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Illinois Auditor General Report: Cover-Up and Delay Endangered Vets and Staff at IVH Quincy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today after a report from Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino was released detailing serious lapses in the State's handling of the Legionnaires' outbreaks at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy from 2015 to 2018: "The Auditor General's report on Legionnaires' disease at IVH Quincy found: 'cover-up and delay that endangered our Veterans and staff.'" The Senators went on to … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Duckworth Meets with AIPAC Members to Discuss Defense Policy, U.S.-Israel Cooperation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with more than 200 Illinois members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to discuss the importance of our nation's relationship with Israel. During the meeting, Duckworth and her constituents discussed recently-passed legislation to increase security assistance to Israel and U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. Photos from today's meeting are available here. "My experience serving my country in the military has … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Duckworth, Graham, Bennet, Gardner Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Train Veterans for Careers in Innovative Sectors of the American Energy Industry
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) reintroduced the Energy Jobs for our Heroes Act to help Veterans gain the training and credentials necessary to secure job opportunities in the clean energy sector. The bipartisan legislation will help ease the transition back to civilian life for servicemembers and strengthen the economy by connecting employers in the fast-growing solar, wind, nuclear and cyber … Continue Reading
March 22, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $210,000 for Strategic Economic Planning in Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $210,000 in federal funding to help create jobs and support economic development throughout Southern Illinois. This funding is provided by the Economic Development District Planning Program, a program within the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) that assists communities as they develop and implement plans to enhance their local economies. "It's important for … Continue Reading
March 20, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Re-Introduce Bill to Help Americans Refinance Student Loans and Save Thousands of Dollars
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) in reintroducing legislation to allow Americans with outstanding student loan debt to refinance their loans at more affordable interest rates, potentially saving thousands of dollars. The bicameral Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would also allow graduate and parent borrowers to refinance at competitive rates, helping … Continue Reading
March 19, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Trump Proposal to Take Money from Illinois Military Facilities for Border Wall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's announcement that they could use $55 million that Congress had allocated for Illinois military facilities in order to fund the border wall that Donald Trump promised Mexico would pay for. The projects in Illinois that could lose funding include a communications facility at Scott Air Force Base, an automated record fire range for the Illinois Army National Guard in … Continue Reading
March 18, 2019
Duckworth Hosts Roundtable with Advocates in Chicago to Discuss Importance of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable to listen to survivors of domestic violence and advocates working to support victims at organizations such as Mujeres Latinas en Accion, KAN-WIN and the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides resources to programs that prevent violence against women or provide services for victims of violence. The program's reauthorization expired on September 30th of last year … Continue Reading
March 18, 2019
Duckworth & Klobuchar Tour Newly Renovated 95th Street Red Line Station
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) visited the 95th Street Red Line Station North Terminal today to receive updates on the status of the project and discuss the importance of strengthening our nation's infrastructure and keeping our public transportation systems as modern and accessible as possible. Powered by more than $100 million in federal funding and financing, the station's renovation has already created more than 760 construction jobs and, … Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Durbin and Duckworth Help Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Celebrating Contributions of AmeriCorps Members and Alumni
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), along with U.S. Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), to introduce a resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of Americans in celebration of AmeriCorps Week 2019. Over 75,000 Americans serve their communities, states, and the nation through AmeriCorps programs each year, totaling more … Continue Reading
