Press Releases
Duckworth Visits Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley
VILLA PARK, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders of both the national Easter Seals organization and the local DuPage and Fox Valley chapter today to discuss the importance of protecting disability rights and supporting children with disabilities and their families. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Every American should have the opportunity to lead a healthy, productive life - including those with a mental or physical disability," said Senator Duckworth. … Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Duckworth Speaks at Secretary Jesse White’s African-American Heritage Month Celebration About Need for Economic Justice
CHICAGO, IL - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at Secretary Jesse White's annual African-American Heritage Month Celebration in Chicago, Illinois. Appearing alongside elected officials like Secretary of State Jesse White, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, Duckworth paid tribute to the leaders and trailblazers of Chicago's African American community and spoke about the need for economic justice in Chicago and across Illinois. A photo is … Continue Reading
February 22, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea to Discuss Improving Public Safety
ROCKFORD, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea today to discuss how to strengthen police-community relations and how Duckworth can support the Rockford Police Department's efforts to improve public safety. The two discussed the Department's new program to improve quality of life for Rockford residents by encouraging police officers to live in the distressed neighborhoods they serve and protect, which is modeled after the successful Resident Officer … Continue Reading
February 22, 2017
Duckworth Visits Angelic Organics Learning Center in Caledonia
CALEDONIA, IL - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Debra Crockett, Associate Executive Director of Angelic Organics Learning Center in Caledonia, Illinois, to discuss how they can work together to ensure local farmers have the resources they need to support sustainable food and farm systems. Duckworth also discussed the importance of the Center's efforts to support low-income families through community gardening and educational programming. "Growing up, my family had to rely … Continue Reading
February 22, 2017
Duckworth Visits Angelic Organics Learning Center in Caledonia
CALEDONIA, IL - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Debra Crockett, Associate Executive Director of Angelic Organics Learning Center in Caledonia, Illinois, to discuss how they can work together to ensure local farmers have the resources they need to support sustainable food and farm systems. Duckworth also discussed the importance of the Center's efforts to support low-income families through community gardening and educational programming. "Growing up, my family had to rely … Continue Reading
February 21, 2017
Duckworth to Deliver George Washington University Commencement Address on National Mall
WASHINGTON, DC - On Sunday May 21st, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will deliver the George Washington University (GW) commencement address in a ceremony on the National Mall. Duckworth graduated from GW in 1992 with a Master of Arts degree in international affairs. "I went to GW in part because of its outstanding record educating students in international relations, something that is as relevant and important today as it has ever been," said Senator Duckworth. "GW helped me build a … Continue Reading
February 19, 2017
Duckworth Highlights Importance of Small Business Development with Local Leaders in Hillside, Illinois
HILLSIDE, IL - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with State Representative Emanuel "Chris" Welch, Cook County Recorder Karen Yarbrough and Hillside Mayor Joseph Tamburino at Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria in Hillside, Illinois, to discuss the needs of hardworking families in the Chicagoland area and the importance of advancing small business development across the state. A photo of today's visit to Hillside is available here. "If we want to create new economic … Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Duckworth Touts “Economic Opportunity” Agenda During Meeting with Chicago Southwest Development Corporation
WASHINGTON, DC - In a meeting with Chicago Southwest Development Corporation (CSDC) President Guy Medaglia this week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) outlined her vision for creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families in communities across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and small business development. Senator Duckworth also discussed the Focal Point Community Campus, a one million square foot multipurpose complex being … Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Duckworth Reiterates Call For TSA Staffing Flexibility to Enhance Airport Security & Reduce TSA Delays
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reiterated her call to enhance the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) workforce flexibility by removing the arbitrary cap on the number of full-time screeners TSA may employ to protect our national security and reduce excessive wait times for airline passengers. Duckworth stressed the importance of making sure appropriate authorities are in place now in advance of the upcoming travel season, especially in light of the … Continue Reading
February 17, 2017
Duckworth Votes Against EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt
WASHINGTON, DC - After voting against the nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement. Video of Senator Duckworth speaking on the Senate floor for a full hour in the middle of the night against Pruitt's nomination is available here. "As someone who fought to defend this nation, I've seen firsthand the price we pay for our dangerous dependence on foreign … Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Duckworth Criticizes EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt’s Opposition to American-made Renewable Energy Programs Like RFS
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined several of her Senate colleagues today to outline her opposition to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominee Scott Pruitt. Duckworth highlighted Pruitt's numerous conflicts of interest, and his refusal to commit to protecting the Renewable Fuel Standard, which helps decrease our nation's reliance on foreign oil by encouraging the use of home-grown fuel sources like biofuels, including corn-based ethanol, in gasoline. "As someone who … Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Durbin & Duckworth Introduce Legislation Rescinding Trump’s Mass Deportation Executive Order
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and 19 other Senators in introducing legislation to rescind President Trump's Executive Order on Interior Enforcement, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize the deportation of a vast majority of undocumented immigrants living and contributing to U.S. communities and attempted to cut off funding for communities that limit cooperation with federal … Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Mick Mulvaney’s Confirmation Vote to be OMB Director
WASHINGTON, DC - After voting against Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) to be the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "Families in Illinois know far too well the human costs of a government failing to pass a responsible budget. After reviewing Congressman Mulvaney's record, it is clear he should not be leading the national budget-making process. His past advocacy for shutting down the government … Continue Reading
February 15, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Andrew Puzder Withdrawing From Consideration to be Labor Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - After Andrew Puzder withdrew from consideration to be the U.S. Secretary of Labor, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Last month, I met several workers who were denied paid leave and were required to serve and prep food when they were sick while they worked for Andrew Puzder's fast food corporation. No one should be forced to choose between taking care of themselves or a sick family member and earning a paycheck they cannot afford to go … Continue Reading
February 15, 2017
Duckworth Announces Commerce Subcommittee Assignments
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced she will serve on the following four subcommittees in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. The assignments will help Duckworth advocate for Illinois's economic priorities like infrastructure investments that support good-paying jobs, and provide her with oversight responsibilities that range from consumer protection to the safety and security of America's transportation network to professional sports … Continue Reading
February 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on General Flynn’s Resignation as National Security Advisor
WASHINGTON, DC - In response to the resignation of the President's National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn, after just 24 days on the job, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "By reportedly misleading the Vice President-elect about his collusion with a foreign government to undermine our nation's foreign policy, General Flynn left himself exposed to blackmail, betrayed our country's interests and lost the trust of both the Commander in Chief and the … Continue Reading
February 14, 2017
Duckworth Receives Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tonight received Voices for National Service's Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award in recognition of her lifetime commitment to public service and her efforts to promote and expand national community service opportunities to all young people wishing to give back to their communities.A photo of the award ceremony can be found here. "Serving my community and my country has always been a driving force in my life and I believe all … Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Steve Mnuchin’s Confirmation Vote to be Treasury Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding tonight's scheduled vote in the United States Senate on the confirmation of Treasury Secretary Nominee Steve Mnuchin: "Whether illegally foreclosing on thousands of families, skirting the law with offshore tax havens or helping design tactics that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, Steve Mnuchin made a career - and millions of dollars - pioneering increasingly deceptive and predatory ways to … Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Dr. David Shulkin’s Confirmation Vote to be VA Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator and former Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces and still receives her own healthcare services through the VA, issued the following statement after she voted to confirm Dr. David Shulkin as the next VA Secretary: "I have been impressed with Dr. Shulkin's leadership of the Veterans Health Administration as … Continue Reading
February 09, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $1 Million in Federal Funding for Sexual Assault Prevention & Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $1,141,194.00 in federal funding to help prevent rape and sexual assault in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health will use today's funding to support rape prevention and education programs, as well as to increase support for counseling services, 24-hour crisis hotlines and criminal justice assistance. "This federal funding will help prevent rape and sexual assault in Illinois and … Continue Reading
