Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on Senate Vote to End Government Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After voting to proceed to bipartisan legislation originally authored by Senate Republicans that would end the government shutdown, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "For 34 days, Donald Trump has held the paychecks of 800,000 federal workers and even more contractors hostage, leaving many families across our country in a terrible situation. Today, the Senate finally had a chance to end this unnecessary shutdown and let the government get … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Duckworth, Colleagues Call for Investigation Into Conditions of Detained Migrant Children Following Death Of Two Children In CBP Custody
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 19 of their Democratic colleagues in urging the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Comptroller General to examine conditions for all children detained by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Senators hope to prevent future tragedies like the deaths of Jakelin Caal and Felipe Alonzo-Gomez that occurred while in the agency's care. "We believe it is … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
Duckworth Will Serve As Top Democrat on Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that she will serve as the top Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety for the next two years in the 116th Congress. "I am excited to work with Chairwoman Fischer and members on both sides of the aisle to promote the highest levels of safety across our nation's transportation systems and make much-needed investments in our nation's infrastructure that strengthen our economy and create jobs," said … Continue Reading
January 22, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Supreme Court Order on Military Transgender Ban
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the Supreme Court's order this morning allowing Donald Trump's discriminatory ban on transgender servicemembers to take effect, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk helicopter on that dusty field in Iraq, I didn't care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white, male or female. All that mattered was … Continue Reading
January 21, 2019
On Martin Luther King Day, Duckworth Honored with the City of Cairo’s Service Award for Her Efforts to Help the Southern Illinois Community
[CAIRO, IL] - The City of Cairo, Illinois, honored U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) with their Service Award today during the 25th Annual Alexander/Pulaski County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. The award recognizes Senator Duckworth's continuing efforts to help the Cairo community, protect Alexander County Housing Authority residents, bring accountability to wrongdoers and grow the region's economy. "I'm proud to receive this award from community leaders in Cairo," Duckworth said. … Continue Reading
January 21, 2019
Duckworth Commemorates Martin Luther King Day in Rockford
[ROCKFORD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, Pastor Joseph Dixon and hundreds of community members today at the Rockford Ministers Fellowship Community Celebration. During the celebration, Duckworth spoke in honor the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and highlighted the importance of following King's calls for service and compassion in working toward justice. Photos from the event are available … Continue Reading
January 21, 2019
Duckworth Honors Dr. King’s Legacy of Service by Volunteering at Rockford Rescue Mission
[ROCKFORD, IL] - In keeping with the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) volunteered to serve lunches at the Rockford Rescue Mission today. The Senator, who has made community service a hallmark of her public life and has consistently volunteered to improve her community, spent time serving meals during the mission's lunch service. Duckworth also hosted a roundtable discussion with community leaders in Rockford who worked to become the first city in the … Continue Reading
January 19, 2019
Duckworth Reaction to Donald Trump’s Shutdown Address
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement reacting to Donald Trump's address today on the shutdown he forced and is perpetuating: "The Senate already voted unanimously to prevent the needless Trump Shutdown without wasting billions on the most expensive and least effective way to secure our border: Trump's wall. The House has now passed bipartisan bills written by Senate Republicans to end the shutdown too, but Mitch McConnell is blocking Senate votes … Continue Reading
January 18, 2019
Duckworth, Carper and Durbin Request Immediate Investigation into Allegations of Misconduct at EPA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to immediately launch an independent investigation into a serious allegation that the Trump EPA is failing to protect the American public from cancer-causing emissions of Ethylene Oxide (EtO). Duckworth's staff received information this week alleging that EPA senior political appointees instructed career … Continue Reading
January 17, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Senate Vote on No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting against S. 109, which would restrict the ability of women to afford legal and constitutionally-protected abortions and expand the Hyde Amendment, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "It's ridiculous that instead of allowing the Senate to vote to re-open the government and end this irresponsible and unnecessary government shutdown, Republican leadership is choosing to waste the Senate's time on a bill that has no chance of … Continue Reading
January 16, 2019
Duckworth Presses EPA Nominee Andrew Wheeler over EPA’s Efforts to Prevent Ethylene Oxide Emissions Testing & Undermine Renewable Fuel Standard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator nominee Andrew Wheeler during his Senate confirmation hearing over the EPA's failure to protect vulnerable communities from cancer-causing ethylene oxide emissions. Duckworth has been a strong advocate for residents in Illinois communities with facilities like Sterigenics and Medline that produce ethylene oxide emissions and has repeatedly asked the EPA to update its … Continue Reading
January 15, 2019
Duckworth Meets with EPA Director Nominee Andrew Wheeler Ahead of Senate Confirmation Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Andrew Wheeler, the nominee to be the Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to discuss how critical it is for the EPA to update its safety standards to protect communities in Illinois from cancer-causing ethylene oxide emissions. Duckworth also pressed Wheeler on the importance of protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard from efforts within the Trump Administration to undermine it and she asked him to … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019
Duckworth Presses Trump Administration to Ensure Federal Employees & Contractors Receive Back Pay For Wages Lost During Government Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined 33 other Senators in urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to direct federal agencies to ensure federal contractors receive back pay for the wages they are losing during the partial government shutdown. After past shutdowns, federal employees have received back pay to make up for lost wages and Congress just overwhelmingly passed legislation to ensure that will happen after this shutdown ends. However, low-and … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Trump Threat to Declare National Emergency to Build Border Wall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of a possible announcement by President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency and re-allocate billions of dollars for a border wall that he promised Mexico would pay for, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Donald Trump has already wasted more than $130 million taxpayer dollars on an inappropriate deployment of U.S. troops to the border that forced thousands of military families to spend the holidays … Continue Reading
January 09, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Introducing Assault Weapons Ban
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 24 of their colleagues today in introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, updated legislation to ban the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. "As mass shootings become more frequent and more deadly, Congress cannot simply hold another … Continue Reading
January 09, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Air Force Priorities with Secretary Wilson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), met with U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson today to discuss Air Force execution of the National Defense Strategy and initiatives to strengthen training and development of new capabilities. As a combat Veteran who served as a logistics officer and Army helicopter pilot in the Reserve Forces, Duckworth emphasized the importance of focusing on enhancing investments in … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
Duckworth & Durbin Re-Introduce Bill to Expand Lincoln National Heritage Area, Create Economic Opportunity in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today re-introduced legislation to honor the legacy of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, by expanding the Lincoln National Heritage Area in Central Illinois to include Livingston County, the city of Jonesboro in Union County and the city of Freeport in Stephenson County. The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Amendment Act would expand economic opportunities for Illinoisans working to … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin(D-IL) today joined 38 other Senators in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. 97 percent of Americans support comprehensive background checks. Research indicates that as many as a quarter of all gun owners in the United … Continue Reading
January 07, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Aviation Commissioner Rhee at O’Hare
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie Rhee today to discuss modernization plans at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport and upgrades to the ORD Multi Modal Facility, the recent passage of her legislation to make air travel easier for people with disabilities and nursing mothers and her TIFIA for Airports Act, which would increase infrastructure investments for airports like O'Hare. Duckworth and Rhee also … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
Bipartisan Duckworth-Kennedy-Durbin Legislation to Help Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Succeed Now Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to help Veteran entrepreneurs grow their small businesses, create jobs and expand economic opportunity is now law after being signed by the President. The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, legislation that overwhelmingly passed both the Senate and the House in December, would allow Veteran small business owners to acquire equipment and personal property … Continue Reading
