Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight How Additional Federal Funding for Veterans Could Help Improve Quincy Veterans’ Home, Protect Residents from Legionnaires’ Disease
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) outlined today how additional federal funds secured in last week's omnibus funding agreement could be used by the State of Illinois to protect the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) in Quincy from Legionnaires' Disease and construct a new Veterans' Home in Chicago. Duckworth pushed for more than half a billion dollars in additional funding for construction at state-run Veteran health facilities like IVH Quincy, all of … Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Firing of VA Secretary David Shulkin
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After Donald Trump fired Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement. Duckworth is a combat Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). "Good leaders see problems and try to solve them. Donald Trump sees problems and makes them worse. By once again choosing chaos over consistent leadership, Donald Trump is hurting Veterans around the country. "Unlike so many … Continue Reading
March 27, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $6.7 Million Federal Grant to Help Prevent HIV & AIDS in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] -U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $6,713,737 in federal funding today to provide comprehensive and efficient HIV/AIDS care beyond essential medical services to low-income Chicagoans and families across the city. The funding is intended to be used by the City of Chicago to strengthen supporting services that enable those living with HIV/AIDS and their families the ability to remain in primary medical care to improve their overall medical … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Duckworth Introduces Resolution Designating March as National Endometriosis Awareness Month
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced a resolution designating March as National Endometriosis Awareness Month. This resolution will also encourage the Health and Human Services Secretary to provide information on endometriosis to women, patients and providers and to improve screening tools and treatment options. Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, affecting 6.5 million Americans. Women can suffer up … Continue Reading
March 24, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Deportation of U.S. Combat Veteran Miguel Perez
[CHICAGO, IL] - After disheartening reports that Miguel Perez, a U.S. Army combat Veteran, was deported yesterday to a country he hasn't called home since he was 8, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth released the following statement this morning: "This case is a tragic example of what can happen when national immigration policies are based more in hate than on logic and ICE doesn't feel accountable to anyone. At the very least, Miguel should have been able to exhaust all of his legal options before … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $15 Million For Head Start Programs Throughout Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded six Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout Illinois a total of $15,656,772 in federal funding. "I'm proud to support programs like Head Start and Early Head Start that give children throughout Illinois a fairer shot at reaching their full potential," Duckworth said. "When we invest in childhood education and parental … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth Sounds Alarm on the Imminent Deportation of United States Combat Veteran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Upon learning of the imminent deportation of fellow combat Veteran Miguel Perez Jr., U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) requested an urgent update on the removal proceedings and asked U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to personally review Perez's case."I was alarmed to learn this morning that Mr. Perez Montes' removal from the United States is imminent and may be carried out today at O'Hare International Airport," Duckworth wrote in the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
New Duckworth Bill Would Require Public Disclosure of Trump Administration’s Travel Spending
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After several Trump Administration senior officials including Secretaries Zinke, Mnuchin and Pruitt violated the Federal Travel Regulation by wasting exorbitant amounts of taxpayer dollars on inappropriate travel expenses like charter jets and first class airfare, U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation today to help ensure the Trump Administration-and any future administration-spends taxpayer dollars more responsibly. Duckworth's new Federal Travel … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth: Bolton’s Bush Administration Record “All the Proof Anyone Should Need” That He Lacks Judgment Needed to be National Security Advisor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding Donald Trump's appointment of John Bolton as National Security Advisor, replacing H.R. McMaster: "John Bolton's disastrous record during the Bush Administration is all the proof anyone should need that he lacks the judgment necessary to serve as National Security Advisor. He didn't just aggressively push for war with Iraq, he was confident that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Omnibus Compromise
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After voting in favor of a bipartisan compromise to fund the United States Government through the end of the fiscal year, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement:"This bipartisan government funding legislation may not be perfect, but good governance requires compromise and leadership. There are obviously things I'd have liked to see changed, including allowing Dreamers to continue to contribute to our country and have the chance to become citizens, … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Press DHS IG To Investigate Allegations Of Separation Of Children From Asylum-Seeking Parents At U.S. Border
WASHINGTON-Following recent reports of the case of a seven-year-old girl and her mother from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who were separated for more than four months after they presented themselves at the U.S. border and sought protection in accordance with the law, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led 22 of their Senate colleagues today in pressing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Inspector General to investigate allegations that DHS … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Duckworth Discusses Transportation Priorities with Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth met today with Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory to discuss funding for projects that will help make Illinois's railroad infrastructure safer and more efficient. Duckworth and Batory reviewed several critical Illinois infrastructure projects, including the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, Merchants Bridge and the Chicago-to-St. Louis High Speed Rail Project. As Administrator, Batory oversees the Federal Railroad … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with members of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce to discuss economic development and infrastructure priorities, including the Chicago to Quad Cities passenger rail project. Since arriving in Congress, Duckworth has been a vocal advocate for the Rock Island Arsenal, an economic engine for the Quad Cities area, and recently joined a group of bipartisan senators to help ensure long-term success for the facility. A photo of … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Duckworth Votes to Help End Online Sex Trafficking
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today voted in favor of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, or SESTA, which clarifies and strengthens criminal and civil remedies for victims of sex trafficking. Last year, Duckworth met with the mother of slain Chicago child sex trafficking victim Desiree Robinson to discuss the legislation, which passed today on a bipartisan vote of 97-2 and fixes a portion of federal law that makes it harder for Robinson's mother, Ms. Yvonne … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Effort to Ensure Public Debate on Military’s Role in Yemen
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting in support of S.J. Res. 54, which would direct the President to remove unauthorized U.S. troops from hostilities in Yemen, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "The American military is actively assisting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and our servicemembers have been drawn into hostilities in the country, yet Congress has not provided any legal authority for these military actions nor have we held any public … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Energy Sec. Perry Commits to Working with Duckworth on Bipartisan Efforts to Train Servicemembers & Veterans for Jobs in Renewable Energy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry to work with Duckworth on bipartisan legislation she is drafting with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) that would connect servicemembers and Veterans with opportunities in the clean energy sector. At a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing this morning, Duckworth and Perry spoke about her bipartisan legislation, which would help … Continue Reading
March 16, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Fiduciary Rule Appeals Court Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) "Fiduciary Rule" that protects consumers from unscrupulous financial advisors, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on the Trump Administration to put people over politics by vigorously defending the rule that ensures retirement advisors provide consumers with financial advice that is in the clients' best interests instead of lining their own pockets first. The Senator also urged … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Help Veterans with Children Access Child Care, Reduce Veteran Unemployment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth introduced a bill with seven of her colleagues today to support Veterans and Veteran families, as well as reduce Veteran unemployment, by helping improve access to child care services for Veterans participating in workforce and job training programs offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DOL). Duckworth's new Veteran Employment and Child Care Access Act would create a federal program modeled after the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Miguel Perez, Jr.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today regarding the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' decision to deny retroactive citizenship to her fellow combat Veteran, Miguel Perez Jr.: "Mr. Perez has been detained for months, separated from his family and left without access to the care he needs, deserves and has earned. If the military and our government hadn't failed Mr. Perez multiple times, he'd never have been in this predicament to … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
At Duckworth’s Request, Agriculture Secretary Perdue Commits to Fighting Efforts to Cut RFS Production, Cap Price of RINS
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to oppose any policy that undermines the bipartisan Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program and fight efforts to impose harmful price caps on renewable identification numbers (RINs). The RFS helps decrease our nation's reliance on foreign oil by requiring the use of home-grown fuel sources like biofuels, including corn-based ethanol, in gasoline. Video … Continue Reading
