Press Releases
Duckworth Praises Gen. Austin While Highlighting Importance of Civilian Leadership of our Military
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after today's U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Hearing on civilian control of the Armed Forces: "General Austin is an excellent officer who served honorably and faithfully for more than 40 years. He broke barriers the entire way and commanded troops with integrity and compassion, and he is certainly capable of leading the Department of Defense. Yet, I can not ignore the fact … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Duckworth Leads Group of Senators Asking President-Elect Biden to Take Bold Action to Support Farmers and Rural Communities, Restore RFS Policy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is calling on the incoming Biden administration to take bold action immediately following the inauguration to support farmers and rural communities by restoring the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) policy. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) joined Duckworth on this request. In part, the Senators wrote: "The outgoing administration undermined the … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Duckworth Calls for Investigation and Accountability Over Allegations that Certain Servicemembers and Military Retirees Betrayed the Constitution During Coup Attempt
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today wrote to the Acting Secretary of Defense to request that the U.S. Department of Defense's criminal investigative organizations cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police in investigating whether members of the U.S. Armed Forces and retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces, who remain subject to the Uniform Code of … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $843 Million to Support Expanded Testing and Vaccine Distribution in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $843,870,238 in federal funding to support COVID-19 testing and vaccination distribution in Illinois. The funding is being awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as directed by the recently enacted Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. "Our state has now surpassed one million total COVID-19 cases, making it clear that we have more work … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Duckworth: Rep. Mary Miller Should Resign After Praising Hitler at Capitol Hill Rally Moments Before Yesterday’s Violent Mob
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today is calling for the resignation of U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL-15) after Miller said at a rally yesterday that "Hitler was right on one thing" in reference to the genocidal Nazi leader's influence on youths. "It is absolutely repugnant, obscene and unacceptable for any American - let alone a supposed 'leader' serving in Congress - to claim Adolf Hitler was right about anything," Duckworth said. "To say that the perpetrator … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Duckworth Meets with Transportation Secretary Nominee Pete Buttigieg
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, yesterday held a virtual meeting with Pete Buttigieg, President-elect Biden's nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Duckworth and Buttigieg discussed their shared priorities, such as investing in our nation's infrastructure and transportation workers, creating good-paying jobs, reducing … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Duckworth Calls for Trump to Be Removed From Office Immediately
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement calling for the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office: "I voted to convict and remove Trump from office because I believed any Commander in Chief willing to abuse his power posed an unacceptable threat to our Republic. "Unfortunately, those fears were validated yesterday as Trump incited a violent mob that sought to block the American people's elected representatives from … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Duckworth Statement after Congress Confirmed Biden as 46th President of United States
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Congress certified that Joe Biden won the 2020 election, ensuring he will be sworn in as 46th President of the United States on January 20th: "What happened in the Capitol yesterday was a painful reminder that democracy is fragile and it's up to every one of us-elected officials and citizens alike-to work to keep it. It's time we get back to the work of creating a more perfect Union, spend less … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Duckworth Statement on Violence at United States Capitol
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after today's violence on Capitol Hill: "In 2004, I packed up my rucksack, laced up my boots and deployed to Iraq, willing to sacrifice whatever was asked of me because I loved this nation and believed in the sanctity of our electoral system, which had declared George W. Bush my Commander-in-Chief. I lost my legs proudly fighting in a war I didn't support, on the orders of a President I didn't vote for, … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Duckworth Speaks Out Against GOP Attempts to Overturn the Will of the Voters
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke out on the Senate floor today against her Republican colleagues' attempts to overturn the will of the voters and undermine the bedrock principle our nation was founded upon: a government of, by and for the people. In her remarks, Duckworth spoke of what her own military service meant to her and urged her Republican colleagues to remember the oaths they swore to defend and protect the Constitution before further damaging a nation … Continue Reading
January 01, 2021
Duckworth Responds to Senate Vote to Override President Trump’s Veto of NDAA
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a Purple Heart recipient and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following after voting to override Donald Trump's veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the House and Senate with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. The veto was overridden 81-13, meaning the NDAA becomes law without the President's signature. "If the current Commander in … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Illinois Priorities Included in Major Water Infrastructure Bill Now Heading to President’s Desk
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) as well as Ranking Member on EPW's Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of several key priorities that will help Illinois in the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) 2020 Reauthorization, which passed the Senate yesterday as part of the omnibus agreement and now heads to the President's desk … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Secure Millions for Improvements at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today announced that $120 million in funding for the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) was included in the bipartisan funding agreement that passed the House and Senate and will be signed into law. This funding will provide the Army with necessary mobile maintenance capacity and boost manufacturing capability at RIA. It will be split with AM General, an automotive … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth Urges Incoming Biden Administration to Cover Costs of National Guard Troops Activated to Respond to COVID-19
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to President-elect Joe Biden requesting the incoming administration takes immediate and urgent action to authorize 100 percent federal cost-share for all Title 32 activations of National Guard troops responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. In part, Duckworth wrote: "Issuing such an order on day one of the Biden-Harris administration would be welcomed by Governors across our country and send a strong message … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Duckworth Touts Provisions and Initiatives Included in Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Deal and Omnibus Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal and agreement to fund the United States Government through the end of the fiscal year: "This bipartisan government funding legislation is far from perfect, but good governance requires compromise and leadership. There are obviously things I wish had been included, like funding for local governments to support first responders and additional assistance … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Deal, Funding Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today about her support for the bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal, which will be attached to an agreement to fund the United States Government through the end of the fiscal year: "For months, Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have blocked multiple attempts by Democrats to provide real, substantial relief to hard-working Americans who are struggling. And finally this week, we were … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Duckworth, Underwood, García, Kelly Receive COVID-19 Vaccine, Encourage Communities of Color to Receive the Vaccine When it is Available
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine over the weekend, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) urged communities of color to receive the vaccine when it is available to them. The members also released a video discussing the importance of trusting the science and getting vaccinated. "With full confidence in the science and at the direction … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement On Omnibus Provision Protecting Food Access For 8,000 Illinois Supportive Living Facility Residents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statements after they successfully secured a provision in the fiscal year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from terminating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois that serve 8,000 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Without this provision … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
GAO Issues Report Evaluating Effectiveness of “Move Over” Laws to Protect First Responders in Response to Push from Duckworth, Durbin, Fischer & Bustos
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to a request from U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) yesterday announced findings from their review of the effectiveness of current "Move Over" laws, the challenges states face in implementing these laws and how the federal government can help states increase public awareness to avoid emergency responders being killed when they … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Duckworth, Langevin Urge Biden & Harris to Prioritize Millions of Americans with Disabilities, Hire and Appoint People with Disabilities Throughout the Administration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI-02) today wrote a letter urging President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to hire and appoint people with disabilities across all agencies and departments and select appointees who will prioritize the rights of people with disabilities from Day One of the incoming administration. In their letter, Duckworth and Langevin noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue Reading
