Press Releases
Duckworth Requests Trump Administration Explain How Census Citizenship Question Will Comply with Federal Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), along with U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-7) and 30 of their House and Senate Colleagues, are requesting the Trump Administration explain how the last-minute addition of a question on citizenship to the 2020 Census will comply with federal law. Duckworth and her colleagues questioned whether the Administration is complying with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), which requires federal … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing "National Gun Violence Awareness Month"
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) led 14 other Senators and 25 other Representatives to introduce a resolution in the House and Senate establishing the weekend of June 1-3, 2018 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." Every day in America, an average of around 300 men, women, and children are shot, nearly one-third of them fatally. … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Protect Whistleblowers at Department of Energy & Nuclear Regulatory Commission
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation today to protect whistleblowers who are employed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Whistleblower Protection Act of 2018 would clarify a provision in the Energy Reorganization Act to ensure all DOE and NRC employees are guaranteed whistleblower protection rights. Currently, DOE and NRC whistleblowers are at risk … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Cancellation of Singapore Summit Between Donald Trump & Kim Jong Un
Duckworth Statement on Cancellation of Singapore Summit Between Donald Trump & Kim Jong Un [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following President Trump's letter cancelling the scheduled Singapore Summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "It's alarming to see Donald Trump so quickly discard diplomacy and revert back to his prior reckless bluster. His administration's erratic behavior, rhetorical missteps and … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Duckworth Hosts Federal Grants Workshop in Southern Illinois
[ULLIN, IL] - The Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a federal grants workshop in partnership with Shawnee Community College and the Southern Five Regional Planning District and Development Commission in Ullin, Illinois. The workshop highlighted resources available to local governments, community organizations and individuals for transportation, infrastructure, flood mitigation and first responders. A photo of the grants workshop is available here. "Reaching as many … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Duckworth Statement on VA Mission Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in support of the bipartisan John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka and Samuel R. Johnson VA MISSION Act of 2018, which the Senate is scheduled to vote on this afternoon: "This is a bipartisan, pragmatic compromise that ensures Veterans using the Choice program can continue to receive their medical care without fear of the program expiring this month, and it establishes the comprehensive Community Care … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Illinois Priorities Included in Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Ranking Member on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Senate Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of several of their priorities that will help Illinois in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that passed the EPW committee today and now heads to Senate floor for final consideration. The legislation includes provisions that … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Duckworth Amendment to Promote Carbon Capture Technology Advances Through EPW Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced that her amendment to support carbon storage was included in the bipartisan Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technology Act (USE IT) that passed the EPW committee today and is now set for consideration on the Senate Floor. Duckworth is a cosponsor of the USE IT Act, and her amendment would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and … Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
Duckworth, Murray Lead 18 Senators in Urging Education Department to Swiftly Implement Funding Increase to Affordable Child Care Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA), the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, along with 16 of their colleagues sent a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to urge her department to use funding Congress recently allocated to help thousands of student parents access affordable child care. Congress recently passed a significant funding increase for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) … Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin, 33 Senators: Preserve Public Access to CFPB Consumer Complaint Database
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and 30 of their colleagues in urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to preserve public access to the Bureau's Consumer Complaint Database. Last month, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told the banking industry that he wants to eliminate the public's ability to access this important tool, which … Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
Days After Head Start Turned 53, Duckworth and Durbin Announce Over $90 Million to Help Low-Income Students Across Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Just days after Head Start turned 53, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced 8 federal grants totaling $90,927,264 for Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout Illinois. The Head Start program was founded by President Lyndon B. Johnson on May 17, 1965, to help combat the War of Poverty by promoting school readiness for low-income children from birth to 5 years old. For 53 years, the Head Start and Early Head Start programs have … Continue Reading
May 18, 2018
Duckworth, Carper Introduce Bill to Strengthen Oversight of Loophole Scott Pruitt Abused to Reward his Top Aides with Dramatic Salary Increases Over White House Objections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following reports that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt appears to have abused the Safe Drinking Water Act's (SDWA) special hiring authority to reward his top aides with wasteful salary raises that even the Trump White House would reportedly not approve, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Ranking Member of the Senate EPW Committee Tom Carper … Continue Reading
May 18, 2018
Senators Duckworth, Murray Announce New Study to Examine Child Care Challenges Faced by Student Parents in College
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, announced the Government Accountability Office accepted their request to study challenges student parents face in accessing and completing higher education. "When student parents do not have access to high-quality child care, student parents may be forced to enroll part-time, making it even more difficult for them to complete their … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Duckworth Statement on CIA Director Nominee Gina Haspel
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in advance of the Senate vote today on the nomination of Gina Haspel to serve as CIA Director: "If the United States Senate confirms Gina Haspel to be our nation's next CIA Director, it would send a terrible message that we have turned our backs on promoting human rights around the globe. One should not need hindsight to understand that torture is, and has always been, immoral, … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $11 Million to Support Central Illinois Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Central Illinois communities will receive $11,780,310 in federal grant funding through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was allocated through HUD's Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Solutions Grants, and HOME Investment Partnerships programs to help local governments expand economic opportunities and provide suitable … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $4 Million to Support Northern Illinois Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Northern Illinois communities will receive $4,341,689 in federal grant funding through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was allocated through HUD's Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Solutions Grants, and HOME Investment Partnerships programs to help local governments expand economic opportunities and provide suitable … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $170 Million to Support Chicago-Area Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Chicago-area communities will receive $169,139,847 in federal grant funding through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was allocated through HUD's Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs to help state and … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $8 Million to Support Metro East Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Metro East communities will receive $7,946,210 in federal grant funding through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was allocated through HUD's Community Development Block Grants and HOME Investment Partnerships programs to help state and local governments expand economic opportunities and provide suitable living environments for … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Senate Vote to Restore Net Neutrality
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate passed Senator Ed Markey's (D-MA) Congressional Review Act resolution to restore Net Neutrality rules: "Today's vote is a win for the millions of Americans who made their voices heard in the push to restore net neutrality rules. Ensuring that everyone has access to a level playing field online-which enables our small businesses to stay competitive and protects startups from being crushed … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Duckworth to Host Mobile Office Hours in Mattoon Tomorrow
[Mattoon, IL] – The Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will host new “Mobile Office Hours” tomorrow at the Mattoon Public Library, where constituent service representatives will be onsite to assist Illinoisans with receiving the Veterans Affairs, Social Security, Medicare and other federal benefits they may be entitled to. Duckworth’s Mobile Office Hours will take place in communities throughout the state over the coming months to offer constituents who may … Continue Reading
