Press Releases
Duckworth Co-Sponsors Legislation to Support American Farmers Competing in Global Agricultural Markets
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Angus King (I-ME) and Susan Collins (R-NH) in co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to expand access to new markets for Illinois farmers who sell their goods in an increasingly competitive global economy. The Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act would provide long overdue funding increases to two U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
October 19, 2017
Duckworth: Escalation of Hostilities in Kirkuk “Undermines Our Goals Across the Region and Must Be Reversed”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement regarding recent fighting in Kirkuk, Iraq: "Recent clashes between the Iraqi government and Kurdish forces in Kirkuk are not only tragic, but they run counter to our nation's strategic interests as well as those of the Iraqi and Kurdish people. This escalation of hostilities threatens to undermine our goals across the region and must be reversed. Prime Minister Abadi and the … Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Senate Budget Vote
[WASHIGNTON, D.C.] - After Senate Republicans passed a budget resolution that would slash trillions of dollars from programs that Illinoisans depend on, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "This Republican budget would recklessly slash funding for vital programs that tens of millions of seniors, students, Veterans and hardworking families rely on. It would scale back our investments in job-creating infrastructure projects and add trillions of dollars to the … Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
Duckworth Joins Democratic Senators in Introducing Legislation to Block Discriminatory Travel Ban 3.0
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 26 other Senators in introducing a bill to block the implementation of President Trump's most recent executive order to restrict travel to the United States from eight nations. The Senators' legislation would declare the executive order illegal based on the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which banned discrimination against … Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
Duckworth, Perdue Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Airplane Safety for Pilots and Passengers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) to improve airplane safety by improving compliance with the Pilot Records Improvement Act of 1996 (PRIA), which requires airlines to obtain the motor vehicle driving record of pilot applicants from the National Driver Register (NDR) before allowing that individual to begin their service as a pilot. The Senators' bipartisan Pilot Records Improvement Enhancement Act of … Continue Reading
October 18, 2017
Duckworth Places Holds on EPA Nominees Bill Wehrum & Michael Dourson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) placed a hold today on two of President Trump's nominees to lead offices at the EPA - Bill Wehrum and Dr. Michael Dourson - citing their histories of putting corporate profits ahead of public safety. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works was scheduled to consider Wehrum's nomination to lead the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and Dourson's nomination to lead the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention … Continue Reading
October 15, 2017
Duckworth Tours Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice and Training Program Center
[ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice and Training Center and highlighted the importance of technical education and apprenticeship programs. The Center's training program helps individuals develop basic technical skills to prepare them for the workforce and also offers advanced professional development classes for members of the Chicago Regional Council. A photo of the tour is available here. "The Chicago … Continue Reading
October 15, 2017
Duckworth & Senate Commerce Committee Democrats Call for FCC Oversight Hearing after POTUS Threatens Freedom of the Press
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and other Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation in calling on Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) to hold a hearing on President Trump's attacks on the media, which pose a threat to the freedom of the press. The Senators also highlighted their concerns regarding Federal Communication … Continue Reading
October 12, 2017
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s Continued Sabotage of Healthcare Market
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to reports that the Trump administration is ending cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments that help keep premiums affordable, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "President Trump's continued partisan and petty efforts to sabotage our nation's healthcare system are hurting hardworking Americans and wasting billions of taxpayer dollars. Instead of adopting bipartisan, common-sense fixes that would expand access and lower costs, he … Continue Reading
October 12, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Trump’s Iran Announcement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following President Trump's announcement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear agreement, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "While the Iran nuclear agreement was far from perfect, it has been successful in halting Iran's dangerous development of nuclear weapons. President Trump's rash and reckless announcement today threatens to destroy years of progress and weakens key pillars of our … Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $900,000 for Rural Development in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $901,000 in federal funding to support rural community development projects in Shelby, Menard, Edgar and Macoupin Counties. The funding will help modernize electrical grids and water distribution systems. "Grants like these will help ensure our rural communities across Central Illinois have the resources they need to repair water systems, improve electrical grids and support local families," … Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $3 Million for Rural Development in Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $3,245,000 in federal funding to support rural community development projects in Union and Jackson Counties. The funding will help modernize electrical grids and water distribution systems. "Grants like these will help ensure our rural communities in Union and Jackson Counties have the resources they need to repair water systems, improve electrical grids and support local families," Duckworth said. … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
On National Manufacturing Day, Duckworth Tours AAR in Rockford
[ROCKFORD, IL] - In recognition of National Manufacturing Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured the AAR facilities in Rockford and highlighted the importance of workforce development on Friday. A photo of the tour is available here. "I applaud companies like AAR not only for their innovative work in the aviation industry, but also because of the jobs they provide to hardworking Illinoisans in Rockford," Duckworth said. "I'm proud that a company on the forefront of technological … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Duckworth Tours Chicago Rockford International Airport, Underscores Importance to Local Economy
[ROCKFORD, IL] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) toured the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) that is currently being renovated and met with RFD Executive Director Mike Dunn this week. A photo of the Duckworth and Dunn is available here. "This airport and its renovations are the economic engine for the Rockford region," Duckworth said. "I am committed to supporting RFD with federal grants and resources so that it can continue to provide good-paying jobs to hardworking … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Duckworth Asks for Details on Trump Administration’s Long-Awaited Infrastructure Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and the Democratic members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), are asking the Trump Administration to announce its long-awaited infrastructure investment plan. In a letter, the Senators requested a meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to discuss details of how the Trump administration would carry out the President's campaign promise to invest $1 trillion to … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Duckworth to Trump Nominee Dourson Who Helped Koch Industries Skirt Environmental Protections in Chicago: You Shouldn’t Work at the EPA
[WASHIGNTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) criticized President Trump's nominee to be Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator, Dr. Michael Dourson, this week for writing faux-scientific reports intended to undermine real science. One of those reports included a Koch Industries-funded study claiming that exposure to petroleum coke (petcoke) is safe. Though the EPA recognizes petcoke as a dangerous toxin, Dourson's "research" was used by Koch Industries to … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
Senate Commerce Committee Unanimously Passes Several Duckworth Amendments to Help Make Self-Driving Vehicles Safer, Smarter & More Efficient
[WASHINGTON, DC] - The Senate Commerce Committee today unanimously passed four proposals authored by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to help make self-driving vehicles safer and more efficient and improve public understanding of autonomous vehicle technology. Duckworth's amendments were included in the American Vision for Safer Transportation through Advancement of Revolutionary Technologies (AV START) Act, which will help advance the development of self-driving vehicles and revolutionize … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin Co-Sponsor Bill to Close Automatic Weapons Loophole
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), are co-sponsoring Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)'s legislation to close a loophole exploited by the Las Vegas shooter that allows firearms to be fired at the rate of automatic weapons, which have been illegal for more than 30 years. The Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and … Continue Reading
October 03, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin, Announce More Than $150,000 in Federal Funding to Expand Campus Child Care and Help Student Parents Graduate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $163,758 in federal funding to help expand campus child care at College of Lake Country in Grayslake and Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. The funding, which comes through the U.S. Department of Education's Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) program, will also help improve graduation rates for student parents, who make up more than one quarter of all … Continue Reading
October 03, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $2 Million to Improve Peoria’s Airport Infrastructure
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $1,967,710 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help improve the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. Today's funding comes from the Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants to public agencies, private owners and entities for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the … Continue Reading
