Press Releases
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
October 02, 2017
Duckworth: Congress Must Pass DREAM Act & Protect DACA Recipients
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at a Capitol Hill rally today with several of her female colleagues to urge Congress to pass the Dream Act of 2017 immediately and shield the 800,000 DACA recipients, including 42,000 in Illinois, from deportation. Video of Duckworth's remarks is available upon request and photos are available online here and here. "I am a daughter of the American Revolution. My ancestors fought for the liberty of this nation ... I'm also a … Continue Reading
October 02, 2017
New Duckworth-Schneider STRANDED Act Would Help Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced the Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development (STRANDED) Act today to help communities struggling with the impacts of stranded nuclear waste. Their bicameral legislation would create grants to incentivize economic development and provide federal assistance to offset the economic impacts of stranded nuclear waste for the dozens of communities … Continue Reading
October 01, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $19 Million to Improve O’Hare and Midway Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $19,723,914 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help improve O'Hare and Midway Airports. 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 National Plan of Integrated … Continue Reading
October 01, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $1 Million to Improve the Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $1,287,462 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help improve the Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois. 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 National Plan of … Continue Reading
September 30, 2017
Duckworth, Schneider Announce Federal Legislation to Help Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste
[ZION, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) today joined Zion Mayor Al Hill to announce the Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development (STRANDED) Act. This new legislation aims to address the impacts of stranded nuclear waste by incentivizing economic development and providing federal assistance for communities like Zion. The Zion Nuclear Power Station that is located on valuable lakefront property has … Continue Reading
September 29, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $4 Million to Help Domestic Violence Victims, Reduce Recidivism and Improve Law Enforcement Training
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $4,130,886 in federal funding to help Illinois government agencies and community programs assist victims of domestic violence, reduce recidivism through mentoring programs and improve training for law-enforcement officials. Today's funding comes through several different offices of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). "These investments in the Illinois justice system are crucial to … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Duckworth and Matsui Join Forces to Reduce Hunger and Improve Health Through Community Gardening
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), whose family relied on food stamps in her youth, introduced a resolution today during Hunger Action Month to reduce hunger and improve health around the country by promoting community gardens and the positive impacts they have on local communities. The resolution, if passed, would designate a National Community Gardening Awareness Week during the last week of September to support the gardens nationwide. Congresswoman Doris Matsui … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $42 Million for Head Start Programs Throughout Chicagoland
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded a total of $42,437,193 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the greater Chicago area. "I'm proud to support programs like Head Start that give children in the Chicago area a fairer shot at reaching their full potential," Duckworth said. "When we invest in childhood … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $8 Million for Head Start Programs in Metro East
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded a total of $8,583,162 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout the Metro East. "I'm proud to support programs like Head Start that give children in Metro East a fairer shot at reaching their full potential," Duckworth said. "When we invest in childhood education and … Continue Reading