Press Releases
Duckworth: Anyone Who’s Ever Carried an Assault Weapon Into Combat Understands AR-15s Have No Place on America’s Streets
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the preventable, horrific Highland Park massacre that claimed the lives of seven Illinoisans on the Fourth of July, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) went to the Senate floor earlier today and made an impassioned call for additional commonsense gun safety reforms like reinstating the assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off our streets and protect our nation's children as well as communities across America from senseless gun violence. Video of the … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Strengthen Nationwide Air Monitoring and Protect Public Health
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, introduced the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022 to strengthen our national air monitoring system to help provide clean air for all. This legislation would direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update and increase our air monitoring equipment, improve data collection and sharing and implement fenceline monitoring for toxic air … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Highland Park Residents Following July 4th Mass Shooting
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Highland Park, Illinois, residents and members of March Fourth, a gun safety advocacy group, following the Highland Park mass shooting on July 4 that resulted in the deaths of seven people and injured dozens more. During the meeting, Highland Park residents shared their experiences from the shooting and the toll that attack has had on them and their families. Duckworth and … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Duckworth at Gun Reform Rally: Enough Was Enough a Long Time Ago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined mothers from the Highland Park area, as well as survivors from the July 4th massacre and other mass shootings like Uvalde and Parkland at a rally on Capitol Hill to speak out about the need for additional commonsense gun safety reforms. Duckworth, a mother of two young daughters, emphasized the moral obligation to protect our nation's children and every community across America from senseless gun violence. Duckworth … Continue Reading
July 11, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Schatz and Senate Colleagues in Urging Department Of Justice to Ensure Americans with Disabilities Act Applies to the Internet
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and a group of nine Senators in calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support online protections for Americans with disabilities. The Senators asked DOJ to restart a rulemaking process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to establish new rules ensuring that the ADA applies to the Internet. "The United States has invested billions … Continue Reading
July 11, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Gun Safety Reform Ceremony: “Our Work to Save Lives Must Continue”
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the White House today commemorated the monumental passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a bipartisan package of commonsense gun safety reforms to help curb our nation's gun violence epidemic: "After decades of inaction, I'm proud to have joined both Democrats and Republicans in finally breaking the log jam and passing this bipartisan gun safety package that will enhance background checks, … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Biden Administration’s Bill of Rights for Airline Passengers with Disabilities
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Secretary of Transportation announced the first-ever Bill of Rights for airline passengers with disabilities: "Far too many Americans living with a disability-many of whom are Veterans like myself-face unnecessary and harmful challenges during air travel. As someone who has experienced these challenges firsthand, I understand how inaccessibility profoundly impacts travelers with disabilities, so I'm … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2,000,000 for WIU’s New Emergency Operations Center
[MACOMB, IL]- U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,000,000 in new Congressionally Directed Spending they secured in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill for Western Illinois University's (WIU) new Emergency Operations Center. The federal funds will renovate WIU's library to add a permanent emergency operations center (EOC) for the region. The center will also train public safety professionals and provide apprenticeships for the next … Continue Reading
July 07, 2022
Following a Duckworth Request, President Biden Honors Trailblazing Brigadier General Vaught with Medal of Freedom
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), issued the following statement after President Biden heeded her call and awarded Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, a retired Veteran of the U.S. Air Force, the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House today for her barrier-breaking military career and life-long advocacy for the women who serve in … Continue Reading
July 07, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Secure $15 Million for New Air Traffic Control Tower at Peoria International Airport
[PEORIA, IL]-U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $15 million in federal funding awarded to the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to construct the airport's new Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT). Durbin, Duckworth, and Bustos secured language in the IIJA making the outdated air traffic control tower eligible for federal … Continue Reading
July 05, 2022
Duckworth Joins Hirono and Colleagues to Urge DoD to Support and Protect Female Servicemembers Seeking Abortion Services
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Airland, joined U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), another member of SASC, and her colleagues in urging the Department of Defense to take immediate steps to support and protect female servicemembers seeking abortion services following the Supreme Court's dangerous and deeply harmful decision … Continue Reading
July 04, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Highland Park July 4th Parade Massacre
[HIGHLAND PARK, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding this morning's mass shooting at Highland Park's July 4th parade after joining Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and other officials to give an update on the status of the investigation: "Absolutely terrifying. Illinoisans who set out this morning to celebrate our Independence Day and watch Highland Park's Fourth of July parade found themselves running for their … Continue Reading
July 01, 2022
Duckworth Joins Shaheen and Colleagues in Letter to Senate Leadership Urging Extension of ACA Subsidies
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and eleven of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), urging congressional leadership to prioritize making permanent the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits in upcoming reconciliation legislation, which are set to expire at the end of this year. "Americans deserve a stable health care market … Continue Reading
July 01, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Effort led by Casey to Demand Answers from Department of Justice on Lack of Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) and a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding information on web accessibility across the federal government. "On behalf of the 26 percent of Americans living with a disability, including the 40 percent of people over age 65 who have a … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $14 Million for Variety of Health Care Programs and Initiatives
[SPRINGFIELD, IL]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $14,446,505 for a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "Across the state, Illinoisans have access to incredible institutions and programs that are devoted to helping folks avoid, treat and research a wide variety of conditions and illnesses," Duckworth said. "I'm proud to announce this support with Senator Durbin to ensure … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2.4 Million For Education Programs For Illinois Medical Professionals
[SPRINGFIELD, IL]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,438,724 for education programs for Illinois medical professionals. The funding will go toward Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago's Graduate Medical Education Program and Loyola University of Chicago's Nurse Faculty Loan Program. "For more than two years, healthcare workers and medical professionals have helped us navigate a deadly, global pandemic, and the institutions … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Members of Illinois Delegation in Advocating for Chicagoland to be Home of New Medical Research Agency
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in requesting that a new medical research agency, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), proposed by President Biden and funded this past year by Congress, is headquartered in the Chicago-area. The lawmakers highlighted Chicagoland's unique position with its geographical location, array of jobs, companies, students and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Supreme Court’s Disastrous Decision to Strip EPA’s Authority to Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Tackle Climate Crisis
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court's disastrous decision in West Virginia v. EPA, stripping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s authority to help regulate greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to our climate crisis: "Our climate crisis is a real and existential threat that we need to tackle immediately-and today, the Supreme Court severely limited our ability to do so by stripping away one of … Continue Reading
June 29, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $5.5 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $5,505,820 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from neurological diseases to biological chemistry research. "When we support biomedical research, we unlock opportunities to achieve … Continue Reading
June 28, 2022
Duckworth Announces Class of 2026 Service Academy Appointments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the appointments of 11 Illinois students she nominated to attend a United States Military Service Academy. Each year Duckworth, along with a nomination committee, selects from hundreds of Illinois high school applicants a group of outstanding students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy. "It takes a special … Continue Reading
