Press Releases
Duckworth to Torture Memo Author: You’ve Failed to Stand Up For What’s Right. How Can You Stand Up to Trump?
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Drawing on her experience of being shot down in Iraq, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered powerful remarks today opposing President Trump's nomination of Steven Bradbury -the author of some of the infamous Bush administration torture memos - to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation. Citing Bradbury's role in finding legal loopholes to justify the Bush Administration's use of torture methods such as waterboarding, sleep … Continue Reading
June 27, 2017
Duckworth to Pruitt: Rolling Back Clean Water Rule Puts Millions of Americans at Risk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, today criticized Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt and the Trump Administration for repealing the Clean Water Rule, a move that threatens the safety of America's drinking water sources by repealing the Clean Water Rule and continuing to undermine critical public health protections. "Abruptly rolling back the Clean Water Rule poses a … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Duckworth & IL Advocates Outline How Trumpcare Would Devastate Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Illinois advocates for seniors, working families, disability rights, and mental health care today to outline the devastating effects Trumpcare would have on the state of Illinois. Speaking on a press call, Duckworth discussed how the version of Trumpcare Senate Republicans revealed on Thursday after weeks of secret negotiations would increase health care costs for working families and jeopardize the health care of hundreds of thousands … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Duckworth: CBO Score Must Account For GOP Budget Gimmicks That Hide True Damage of Trumpcare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) today requesting the forthcoming CBO analysis of the Senate Republican healthcare bill account for GOP budget gimmicks that hide the true costs of Trumpcare. Specifically, Duckworth highlighted how CBO scores are generally limited to 10-year time periods but the GOP healthcare bill would delay a number of harmful changes to Medicaid from taking effect … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Discovery of Silver Carp in Illinois Waterway
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the discovery of a Silver Carp in the Illinois Waterway nine miles away from Lake Michigan, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "The discovery of a Silver Carp close to Lake Michigan is alarming and I appreciate the quick response from federal, state and local agencies. While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service increases its monitoring of the area and conducts a thorough analysis, my office will continue to work … Continue Reading
June 26, 2017
Duckworth Statement on CBO Analysis of Senate GOP Version of Trumpcare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the release of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office analysis of the Senate Republican healthcare plan, alternately known as Trumpcare, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released this statement: "It is shameful that Senate Republicans are taking such extreme measures to ram a bill through Congress that would rob 22 million Americans of their health insurance and force millions more to spend more money on less care - all so President Trump's … Continue Reading
June 23, 2017
Duckworth Helps Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Earned Income Tax Credits for Working Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) this week in reintroducing legislation to support working families in Illinois and across the country by expanding two anti-poverty tax credits. The Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2017 will expand eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to more Americans while making it easier to claim it, strengthen the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and also help ensure the federal tax system does not … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Senate GOP Version of Trumpcare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the release of a so-called "discussion draft" of the Senate GOP's version of Trumpcare, legislation which threatens the care of millions of Veterans and working Americans around the country, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released this statement: "Last night, the President complained that Republicans could propose the 'single greatest health care plan in the history of the world' and Democrats would block it. That's not true. I've always been willing … Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Duckworth, Booker Reintroduce Bill to Protect Children from Lead-Contaminated Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reintroduced her Get the Lead Out of Schools Act of 2017 with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to help ensure drinking water in schools across our nation is clean and safe from lead. The legislation would ensure periodic testing for lead contamination in schools, while also providing schools with additional resources to monitor lead levels and replace outdated water infrastructure systems. "When families send their children … Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Join Lawsuit Against Trump for Foreign Conflicts of Interest
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined 194 Members of Congress in filing a lawsuit against President Donald Trump alleging that he has violated the Constitution's Foreign Emoluments Clause, one of its most important anti-corruption provisions. The suit, filed in federal district court in the District of Columbia, alleges that the President has received numerous benefits from foreign states without first seeking or … Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Duckworth: Illinoisans Deserve Better Than Having GOP Strip Away Their Healthcare Behind Closed Doors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor today outlining the devastating impact Trumpcare would have on Veterans, seniors and working families. Duckworth criticized Senate Republicans for writing their healthcare bill in secret behind closed doors to avoid public scrutiny and she shared the story of Robin Schmidt, a Veteran from the Northside of Chicago, who is one of the tens of millions of Americans who could lose their healthcare if … Continue Reading
June 20, 2017
Duckworth Reiterates Call for Expanded Veteran Support at Caregiver Panel on Capitol Hill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator, combat Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called for expanded support for Veterans and military families during a panel discussion with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) caregivers. During the panel, Duckworth stressed the importance of ensuring VA caregivers - who are often family members of wounded and disabled Veterans themselves - have the resources they need to support our nation's heroes. A photo of … Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
Duckworth Calls for Investments in National Labs at Fermilab 50th Anniversary Celebration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory's (Fermilab) 50th Anniversary Celebration. Duckworth touted Fermilab's achievements as a one of Illinois's crown jewels of scientific innovation, stressing the importance of protecting and expanding science funding. A photo of the event is available here. "It is an honor to congratulate Fermilab on 50 years of groundbreaking scientific discoveries and technological … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Tours ISU Farm, Calls on President Trump to Invest in Rural America
[LEXINGTON, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Illinois State University Farm to discuss the impact the Trump Budget would have on rural development and agriculture. The budget makes over $231 billion in cuts to critical USDA and Farm Bill programs, which Americans in rural communities rely on to improve access to clean drinking water, promote public safety and support their children. It would also close the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Springfield and Sangamon County Delegation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with officials from Springfield, Illinois, and Sangamon County to discuss regional priorities, including economic development improvements and infrastructure projects. "One of the best things we can do for our state and country is invest in our infrastructure and transportation systems," said Duckworth. "It was great to hear from local leaders in Springfield and Sangamon County yesterday about how I can help … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Hosts Capitol Hill Advocate Roundtable, Reiterates Need for Fair & Humane Immigration Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a Capitol Hill roundtable with immigration reform and refugee advocates to highlight the pressing need for fair & humane national immigration policies in the Trump era. Duckworth highlighted her work as Senator to combat the Trump Administration's discriminatory executive orders against immigrants her longtime advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform that is practical, fair and humane. A photo from today's … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth in Meeting with Argonne & University of Chicago: Trump Cuts to Science Funding Will Kill Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders of the Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago yesterday to discuss the world-class research Argonne is conducting and the importance of maintaining funding for scientific research in the face of potential budget cuts. The Trump administration has proposed cutting the Department of Energy's Office of Science by nearly 20 percent, which is the primary source of Argonne's funding. Duckworth recently led 24 … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Calls on President Trump to Support American Manufacturing, Keep Buy American Pledge in NAFTA Renegotiation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today in urging President Trump to keep his promise to support American manufacturing and uphold his Buy American Pledge by eliminating the government procurement chapter from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "For … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Vote
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following the Senate vote to introduce new punitive measures against Russia and prevent the Trump administration from lifting sanctions against Russia without Congressional approval, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "This bipartisan agreement sends an important message to the Russian government and to anyone else who attempts to interfere in our elections: their destabilizing actions will not go unpunished. It also sends a message to … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding this morning's shooting in Alexandria, Virginia: "This is a sad day for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. We can all agree that these sorts of actions simply have no place in civil society, and we should do much more to prevent this sort of needless violence. I wish all the victims a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing my former House colleagues, Congressional … Continue Reading
