Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on Passing of American Hero John McCain
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the passing of an American hero, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "My heart is heavy today as I join countless Americans across our country in mourning the loss of one of our nation's greatest leaders and statesmen, one of my personal heroes, Senator John McCain. Throughout his life - as a Naval Aviator, a Prisoner of War who endured years of torture, a Congressman, and a six-term Senator - … Continue Reading
August 22, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley, Krishanmoorthi, Schakowsky Announce Nearly $80 Million in Federal Funding for O’Hare International Airport Noise Mitigation and Critical Runway Construction
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) today announced a total of $79,917,636 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help improve O'Hare International Airport and mitigate noise for residents in the area. This funding comes from the Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement … Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Duckworth: Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to Supreme Court Would Threaten Access to Health Care for Women of Color
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and several women of color to outline how confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court could threaten access to affordable, accessible healthcare for women of color. Speaking at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol alongside representatives from the National Women's Law Center, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and a Planned … Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $33 Million In Federal Funding For Positive Train Control In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $33,224,233 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Chicago-area railroads. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail … Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $1.8 Million to Support Decatur Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the City of Decatur will receive $1,823,485 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 (CDBG) and HOME programs to help the local government expand economic opportunities and provide suitable living environments for low- and moderate-income … Continue Reading
August 20, 2018
FCC Commissioners Agree with Duckworth: Unjust Prison Call Rates Must be Addressed
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) solidified consensus and received a commitment from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners Michael O'Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and Chairman Ajit Pai to help address unjust and unreasonable inmate call rates at last week's U.S. Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee oversight hearing. In March, Duckworth introduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rob Portman … Continue Reading
August 17, 2018
Duckworth & Durbin Decry Trump Plan to End Protections for U.S. Troops Against Predatory Lending & Financial Fraud
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following reports that the Trump Administration is planning to end critical protections for servicemembers and military families from predatory loans, financial fraud and credit gouging, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, and every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate in urging the Trump Administration to reverse course. The Trump Administration is reportedly … Continue Reading
August 17, 2018
Duckworth & Hassan Ask VA Inspector General to Investigate Potential Legal & Ethics Violations by Trump VA Officials
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are requesting a formal investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (IG) into a report that several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at VA. Last week, a ProPublica investigation revealed how Trump's friends, who are not government employees and have little relevant experience, have inappropriately dictated a … Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Accurate Representation of LGBTQ Community in Census and ACS
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) Tom Carper (D-DE) and 15 of her colleagues in introducing legislation to require the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure the approximately 10 million Americans who identify as LGBTQ are properly counted for and represented in Census data collection efforts. The Census Equality Act would require the U.S. Census Bureau to add questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity to the decennial … Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Nomination of John Milhiser for U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Mr. Milhiser is currently serving as the Sangamon County State's Attorney. "We are pleased that the President has nominated Mr. Milhiser. Mr. Milhiser has served the people of Sangamon County as State's Attorney for nearly eight years, and … Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Duckworth and St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly Discuss Opioid Crisis and Veterans at Metro East Treatment Facility
[BELLEVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly yesterday visited an opioid treatment facility in Belleville, Illinois, where they discussed the opioid crisis and how Veterans are affected by it during a roundtable with facility staff. The facility is one of four managed by Chestnut Health Systems, which offers a comprehensive system of community health services to those affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities or … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Visits Scott Air Force Base
[Scott Air Force Base, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured the Scott Air Force Base, located in St. Clair County. During the visit, Duckworth met with and received a briefing from Col. Leslie A. Maher, Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing and Col. Joseph R. Meyer, Vice Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing. A photo from the visit are available here. “Scott Air Force Base is an important driver of our state’s economy and a critical support network … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth: VA Secretary Must Sever Ties with Mar-a-Lago Crowd & Replace VA Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following an investigation that revealed how several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to urge him to immediately cut ties with the so-called "Mar-a-Lago Crowd." A ProPublica report released yesterday exposed how Trump's friends, who are not government … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Tours America’s Central Port in Granite City
[GRANITE CITY, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured and met with the leadership of America's Central Port, the center of the multi-modal freight transportation system in the country, yesterday and underscored the important role that the Port plays in creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity in the region. The Senator also discussed how investing in modern transportation can help grow Illinois' economy. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "It was great to tour … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Statement on End of Proposed Tribune Media-Sinclair Broadcasting Group Merger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Tribune Media's announcement that it will withdraw from a proposed merger with Sinclair Broadcasting Group and sue Sinclair for breach of contract, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "As I've long said, this merger would have reduced competition and threatened the quality of local news that Americans rely on while providing little public benefit. The decision to withdraw from this misguided merger is a victory for the free press, … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Opens Senate Constituent Service Office in Belleville, Hosts Open House for Illinois Constituents
[BELLEVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) cut the ribbon on her new Senate constituent service office in Belleville today, located at 23 Public Square, Suite 460. The Senator also hosted an open house today to launch the new office and give community members an opportunity to meet constituent service representatives who will be working in the area. Duckworth's Belleville Office will provide a number of services to Illinoisans that include assistance with Veterans benefits, Social … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth Visits Farm on Ogden in Lawndale
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured the Farm on Ogden, a joint project between the Chicago Botanic Garden and Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC), which is located in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Duckworth discussed the Farm's work to provide job training, fresh produce, nutrition education and more to residents of the Lawndale neighborhood. Photos from the event are available here. "Community gardens like the one I visited today in Lawndale … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth, Kelly Host Small Business Development Workshop
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02) hosted a small business development workshop today in conjunction with the South Suburban Small Business Association, Chicago Southland Chamber and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce to provide tips, tools and best practices for small business owners and entrepreneurs in Chicago's South Side and south suburbs. At the workshop, which took place at Olive-Harvey College, Duckworth also discussed how … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
After Weekend of Record Violence, Duckworth and Rush Host Roundtable Discussion on Gun Violence in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - After a weekend of record violence in Chicago, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL-01) today hosted a roundtable discussion on gun violence with community members and stakeholders at the Gary Comer Youth Center in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood. Prior to the roundtable, Duckworth and Rush called for the passage of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2018 alongside Blair's father, Ronald Holt. This … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Duckworth Tours Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County
[GREAT LAKES, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the leadership of Naval Station Great Lakes, the United States Navy's largest training installation and only boot camp, toured the base and observed an active training exercise yesterday. Duckworth also received a briefing from the Director of the National Museum of the American Sailor, which is operated by the Navy's Naval History & Heritage Command on their ongoing renovation and improvement project. She has previously … Continue Reading