Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on Trump Infrastructure Proposal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to President Trump's infrastructure proposal, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "This infrastructure 'plan' falls far short of what Donald Trump promised when he was running for President. It fails to make the necessary investments to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, it would force states to enact new tolls and taxes on middle-class families and leaves rural America behind - all while simultaneously slashing hundreds of … Continue Reading
February 12, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nomination Of Michael Scudder & Amy St. Eve For The 7th Circuit Court Of Appeals
[CHICAGO, IL] -U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. and U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve to serve as Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the President has nominated Judge St. Eve and Mr. Scudder. They both have the experience, integrity, and judgment that we look for in federal judges, and we … Continue Reading
February 09, 2018
Duckworth, Senators Demand Explanation for Porter’s Continued Access to Classified Information From Kelly, McGahn
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As new details continue to emerge about what the White House knew about former Staff Secretary Rob Porter's history of alleged abuse-and when they knew it-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and eleven of her fellow Senators wrote White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House Counsel Don McGahn today to raise serious concerns regarding Porter's ongoing access to classified information even after John Kelly was notified that Porter was unable to obtain a security … Continue Reading
February 09, 2018
Duckworth, Senators Demand Explanation for Porter’s Continued Access to Classified Information From Kelly, McGahn
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As new details continue to emerge about what the White House knew about former Staff Secretary Rob Porter's history of alleged abuse-and when they knew it-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and eleven of her fellow Senators wrote White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House Counsel Don McGahn today to raise serious concerns regarding Porter's ongoing access to classified information even after John Kelly was notified that Porter was unable to obtain a security … Continue Reading
February 09, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Dems Condemn Trump Administration Move to Help Businesses Steal Billions of Dollars in Tips from Workers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined 22 of their Senate colleagues in writing to Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, criticizing the Department of Labor's decision to cover up evidence showing its proposed change to the tip rules would result in employers stealing potentially billions of dollars from their workers. The move exposes the Trump Administration's true priority-helping pad the pockets of corporate interests while working families … Continue Reading
February 09, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Senate Budget Agreement
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After voting early this morning in support of the bipartisan Senate budget agreement, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "This agreement is not perfect but it ends the destructive cycle of short-term budgeting and uncertainty that damage our Armed Forces and harm our military readiness. After far too many short-term extensions, this compromise agreement also finally provides our Veterans with critical resources, funds community health … Continue Reading
February 08, 2018
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Help Veteran Facing Deportation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced a private bill to help fellow combat Veteran Miguel Perez, Jr., remain in the United States. Perez is facing immediate deportation after being stripped of his legal status and is being detained at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. He served two tours of duty in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and lived in the United States as a Legal Permanent Resident since the age of 11. "This … Continue Reading
February 08, 2018
Duckworth, Smith, Feinstein and Kaine Introduce Legislation to Train Students for High-Skill Jobs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced legislation to make education more affordable for students pursing degrees in high-skill industries and help close the "skills gap" by making it easier for businesses to fill vacant, good-paying positions with qualified candidates. The Community College to Career Fund Act (CC2C) would support innovative partnerships between technical colleges, community colleges … Continue Reading
February 07, 2018
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s Request for a Military Parade
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to reports that President Trump has requested the Pentagon begin planning for a military parade to be held later this year. "This parade would not only waste millions of taxpayer dollars, it would also cost our military precious time and resources. Our troops in danger overseas don't need a show of bravado, they need steady leadership, long-term funding and resources so they can stay safe … Continue Reading
February 05, 2018
Duckworth Opens Senate Constituent Service Office in Carbondale
[CARBONDALE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) opened a new Senate constituent service office today in Carbondale's Eurma C. Hayes Center, located at 441 East Willow Street. This office, which can be reached by phone at (618) 677-7000, will help ensure hardworking families across southern Illinois can easily and efficiently take advantage of the constituent services offered by the Senator and her staff. Duckworth's Carbondale Office will provide a number of services to Illinoisans … Continue Reading
February 02, 2018
Duckworth Statement on One Year Anniversary of Launch of Independent Investigation into First Trump Muslim Ban
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Exactly one year after the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) independent watchdog launched an investigation into its implementation of President Trump's first Muslim Ban, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on the Trump Administration to stop covering up portions of the investigation's findings and release the full results to the American public. The investigation, which was launched by the DHS Inspector General on February 2, 2017 at the request of Duckworth … Continue Reading
January 31, 2018
Duckworth, Johnson, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Hardworking Families Access Affordable Home Loans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced Bipartisan legislation this week with U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Tim Scott (R-SC) to help hardworking families in Illinois and across the country access affordable home loans. The Housing Opportunity Mortgage Expansion (HOME) Act would help ensure Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs) can continue their small business lending and funding of affordable housing initiatives, such as down payment assistance for low-income … Continue Reading
January 31, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s Withdrawal of Victor Cha to Be Ambassador to South Korea
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration withdrew their selection of Mr. Victor Cha to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea after he expressed opposition to the use of a "bloody nose" narrow military strike against north Korea. Mr. Cha has since written an op-ed warning the Trump administration not to launch a preventive military strike against north Korea since it could … Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Trump’s 2018 State of the Union Address
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after President Trump delivered his 2018 State of the Union Address: "With the world watching, I hoped Donald Trump would finally remember some of the promises he made to the American people and display the leadership needed to unify this nation. I hoped he would present a serious infrastructure plan that makes the investments we desperately need to rebuild our crumbling roads, tunnels and bridges. I … Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $200k for Southern Illinois Rural Health Centers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a $203,400 federal grant to support local community health centers throughout Southern Illinois. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), which supports community health centers in their efforts to improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in underserved urban and rural communities. … Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Duckworth: Pruitt Failed to Take Action on his ‘War on Lead,’ But Uses Taxpayer Dollars for Travel Expenses Unrelated to EPA’s Mission
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, today grilled Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt over his failure to follow through on his promises to combat lead poisoning and protect American children and families from contaminated water. She expressed concern regarding the Administration's Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal, which eliminates funding for anti-lead contamination programs, … Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
New Duckworth-Durbin CAIRO Act Would Help Revitalize Rural Illinois Community Forgotten by Trump
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Creating American Investment, Redevelopment, and Opportunity (CAIRO) Task Force Act to form a Cabinet-level task force to address the housing, health and economic crises in Cairo, Illinois. In introducing this legislation for the new task force focused on Cairo, the Senators seek to codify a September request to President Trump that he has failed to act upon. In that letter, they highlight the … Continue Reading
January 30, 2018
Duckworth to Host Cairo High School Principal at 2018 State of the Union Address
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will host Cairo Junior/Senior High School Principal Lisa Childs Thomas as her guest for the 2018 State of the Union Address from the President. A native of Cairo, Illinois, Lisa grew up in Alexander County Housing Authority's McBride public housing complex, which the Trump Administration chose to shutter without any clear plan to rehouse hundreds of Illinoisans who will be displaced. She then went on to earn undergraduate and … Continue Reading
January 26, 2018
Duckworth Speaks with Chicago Military Academy Students, Highlights Importance of National Service
[CHICAGO, IL] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with students from the Chicago Military Academy, a public school located in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago. Senator Duckworth spoke with the students about the importance of national service, military readiness and the critical need for long-term funding certainty that allows our Armed Forces to more effectively defend our nation. A photo of the meeting can be viewed here.“Service — both in and … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018
Duckworth & Schakowsky Introduce First-Ever Resolution Recognizing January 25th as Women’s Health Research Day
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), along with 27 of their Senate and House colleagues, introduced a resolution to designate January 25th, 2018, as Women's Health Research Day. Women's Health Research Day recognizes the need to increase awareness of sex- and gender-based biomedical research, which the National Institutes of Health did not consider prior to 2016, the underrepresentation of women in past biomedical … Continue Reading