Press Releases
Duckworth to Oppose All Remaining Top-Level Cabinet Nominees Until Donald Trump Stops Illegal Power Grabs at the Expense of Middle-Class Americans and National Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement announcing she will vote no on all remaining cabinet-level nominations until President Trump stops his relentless spree of illegal power grabs that are hurting middle-class Americans and endangering our national security: “I take the Senate’s advise and consent responsibility seriously and have always thoroughly considered the cabinet nominees of every President based on their individual merit, … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Duckworth Joins Markey, Hirono in Reintroducing Legislation to Codify Right to Contraception
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) reintroduced the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would create a statutory right to obtain and use contraceptives and ensure health care providers have a right to provide contraceptives, contraception and share information about this essential care. Last June, Senate Republicans shamefully blocked the bill from passing the Senate. “Ever since the Supreme Court threw out … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Duckworth Holds Senate Floor to Protest Project 2025 Architect Russell Vought’s Cabinet Nomination and Trump’s Illegal Power Grabs That Are Harming the Middle Class and Our National Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats’ 30-hour protest opposing Project 2025 architect Russell Vought’s nomination to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under President Donald Trump. Holding the floor, Duckworth delivered an impassioned speech slamming Trump and unelected billionaire Elon Musk’s ongoing illegal power grabs—including his unlawful federal grant freeze and his shuttering of USAID—that are inflicting … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Bipartisan Duckworth-Fischer-Murray-Blackburn Bill to Help Improve Passenger Vehicle Safety Passes Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to help modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available successfully passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST). The bipartisan She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act would help enhance passenger vehicle safety by … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Cruz-Hirono Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies successfully passed through the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST). The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, which Duckworth reintroduced last week alongside co-leads U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mazie K. … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Kaine in Raising Alarm Over Trump Administration Chaos at Critical National Security Agencies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-IL), along with 34 of their Senate colleagues, in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their deep concern regarding the growing chaos and dysfunction at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to destroy the U.S. Agency for … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Illinois University Leaders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday met with the leadership and members of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities (FIICU), which represents 53 private non-profit colleges across Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin and Duckworth spoke about what the federal funding freeze would mean for universities who rely on federal grants to conduct critical research, as well as how the Trump … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen, Colleagues in Statement Condemning Department of Defense’s Decision to End Policy Allowing U.S. Servicemembers to Access Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care Services
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and their colleagues in releasing the following statement on the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) rescission of policy that allowed servicemembers to get reimbursed for travel and transportation for non-covered reproductive care. Last week, the Senators obtained a memo that … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Duckworth Votes Against Doug Collins’ Nomination to Serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) who still receives her own health care services through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—released the following statement after voting against Doug Collins’ nomination to serve as VA Secretary. The U.S. Senate confirmed Rep. Collins by a vote of 77-23. “Before Donald Trump initiated a series of illegal power grabs, I was prepared to vote … Continue Reading
February 01, 2025
Duckworth Statement on Trump’s Dangerous Attack on USAID
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—released the following statement after President Donald Trump took several actions to freeze funding and operations at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) this week, an agency that is critical to advancing American interests and supporting millions across the globe: “Donald Trump’s attack on USAID will have devastating, far-reaching … Continue Reading
January 31, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Van Hollen, Colleagues in Reintroducing Legislation to Help Support Public Education for Low-Income Children and Those With Learning Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 14 other U.S. Senators in reintroducing the Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers (PACT) Act to help put Congress on a fiscally responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis. These programs, which respectively support public education for children in low-income areas and … Continue Reading
January 31, 2025
Duckworth Joins Fischer in Reintroducing Bipartisan Legislation to Help Address Freight Fraud
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—helped reintroduce bipartisan legislation alongside U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) aimed at addressing freight fraud. The Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act would help provide the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with the tools needed to protect consumers from fraud by scammers in the interstate transportation of … Continue Reading
January 31, 2025
Duckworth Successfully Presses Secretary of the Army Nominee Driscoll to Pledge He Will Reject Unlawful Order from President Trump, Calls Out His Lack of Qualifications
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Yesterday, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—successfully pressed President Trump’s Secretary of the Army nominee Daniel Driscoll to pledge that he would refuse to obey an illegal order from President Trump, such as following through on the President’s dangerous freeze and withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in grants awarded to the Department of … Continue Reading
January 29, 2025
Duckworth Pressed Commerce Department Nominee Howard Lutnick on Trump’s Dangerous Pause on Federal Grants That Would Jeopardize U.S. Trade and Innovation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—pressed Howard Lutnick, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Commerce, on whether he would obey an illegal order from President Trump, such as following through on the President’s dangerous freeze of billions in federal grant funding. In her remarks, Duckworth underscored that the chaos and confusion caused by pausing these legally obligated funds … Continue Reading
January 29, 2025
Duckworth Join Durbin, Schakowsky in Introducing Mentoring to Succeed Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04) and Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) introduced companion legislation in the House earlier this week. This legislation would create a strong, sustainable support system through … Continue Reading
January 29, 2025
Duckworth Votes Against Lee Zeldin’s Nomination to Be EPA Administrator
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—co-founder of the U.S. Senate’s first-ever Lead Task Force and Environmental Justice Caucus—released the following statement after the Senate confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin by a vote of 56-42 to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Every American deserves the right to breathe safe air, drink clean water and live on uncontaminated land regardless of their race, income or zip code—and the EPA … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
Duckworth Slams Trump’s Dangerous Pause on Federal Grants That Will Hurt Veterans, Underscores Importance of Maintaining VA as Medical Center Home for Veterans Seeking Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) who still receives her own health care services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—slammed President Donald Trump’s dangerous executive order that bypasses Congress and freezes billions of dollars in grants that help fund programs run by VA and that offer lifelines to millions of Americans, including those who sacrifice for our country. … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
Duckworth Votes Against Sean Duffy’s Nomination to Be Transportation Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST)—released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Rep. Sean Duffy by a vote of 77-22 to serve as Secretary of the Department of Transportation. “Heading into this week, I was prepared to vote to confirm Rep. Duffy. Our conversations were productive and encouraging, and I thought he was sufficiently qualified to serve as Transportation … Continue Reading
January 27, 2025
Duckworth, Daines, Cruz, Hirono Renew Bipartisan Push to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies. The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on the safe handling of … Continue Reading
January 26, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Statement On Trump’s Mass Deportation Actions In Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s administration started mass deportation actions in and around Chicago: “We can all agree that we must remove any dangerous individuals from our country who are here illegally. But the mass deportation actions being undertaken by President Trump’s administration go far … Continue Reading