Press Releases
Duckworth to Oppose & Filibuster Judge Neil Gorsuch’s Supreme Court Nomination
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tonight issued the following statement announcing her opposition to Judge Neil Gorsuch's nomination to be the next Supreme Court Justice, as well as her intent to support a filibuster of the nomination: "When Judge Gorsuch was nominated, I shared my concerns with his predilection for putting corporate profits ahead of people time and again, as well as with his troubling rulings on disability rights, civil rights, reproductive rights and … Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Duckworth: Millions of Americans Will Suffer Because of Dangerous Cuts to Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke out today in opposition to a Republican effort to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood, which would be devastating for millions of Americans who rely on the organization for healthcare services. The Senate passed the measure to allow states to defund Planned Parenthood on a tie-breaker vote with the help of Vice President Mike Pence. Video of Duckworth speaking is available here and a transcript of her remarks is available … Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Duckworth Meets with CTA President & Chicago Department of Transportation Leadership
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with CTA President Dorval Carter and Chicago Department of Transportation leadership to discuss their efforts to support transit and transportation infrastructure projects as well as support and create jobs in the Chicagoland area. Duckworth also discussed her recent bill - which passed the Senate just 64 days after she was sworn in - to cut red tape and reduce delays on construction projects in Illinois. The bill would save … Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Duckworth Calls on President Trump to Use American Made Steel in Pipeline Construction, Support U.S. Job
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led a letter with 10 other Senators today urging President Trump to protect American jobs by ensuring all new pipelines - if approved - are constructed and maintained with American made products and equipment. The President recently issued a memorandum requiring all new pipelines to be constructed with American made materials, but made an exception for the Keystone XL pipeline, posing a threat to American manufacturing and U.S. jobs. While … Continue Reading
March 29, 2017
Senator Duckworth Calls for Investments in Job Training Programs to Boost U.S. Economy
WASHINGTON, DC - During a Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted the need to expand support for job training programs across the United States to strengthen the workforce, especially within the manufacturing sector. Duckworth also discussed a bill she recently helped introduce in the Senate, the Community College to Career Fund Act (CC2C), to close the "skills gap," by creating a grant program to fund workforce training … Continue Reading
March 29, 2017
Duckworth Welcomes Illinois Members of AIPAC to Washington to Discuss National Security Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) who are in Washington, D.C., this week from Illinois for the 2017 AIPAC Policy Conference. Senator Duckworth underscored the importance of collaborative efforts between the two countries to support Israel's national security and maintain a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. A photo of Duckworth addressing Illinoisans at AIPAC is available here. "My experience serving my … Continue Reading
March 29, 2017
Duckworth: Trump Again Puts Veterans on Chopping Block, Threatens to Increase Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON, DC - Combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted a new Associated Press report that found President Trump's new budget proposal threatens to increase Veteran homelessness despite his repeated campaign promises to care for those who've worn our nation's uniform. As the former Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Duckworth helped coordinatea joint initiative with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to end … Continue Reading
March 29, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Planned Parenthood Leadership, Highlights Need to Protect Women’s Access to Health Care
WASHIGNTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois Linda Diamond Shapiro and Planned Parenthood of Illinois leadership to discuss the importance of protecting against efforts from Conservatives to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood and prevent tens of thousands of women from receiving the health services they need. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Recent attacks on … Continue Reading
March 27, 2017
Duckworth Addresses Service Year Action Summit, Highlights Importance of National Service
WASHINGTON, DC - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke at the Service Year Action Summit to promote the importance of civilian national service. As a Congresswoman, Duckworth led efforts to expand national community service opportunities with the introduction of the 21st Century American Service Act to increase service positions available through civilian national service organizations and ensure all Americans are informed of the opportunities available to them. As … Continue Reading
March 24, 2017
Duckworth Addresses Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, Highlights “Economic Opportunity” Agenda
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council yesterday, outlining her vision for creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families in communities across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, education and small business development. A photo of Duckworth at the event is available here. "Every American deserves the chance to get ahead - the chance to get a quality education, secure a … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Duckworth Statement on David Friedman’s Confirmation Vote to be Ambassador to Israel
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement explaining her vote against David Friedman's nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel: "Considering the close relationship between our two countries, the next Ambassador to Israel should be a unifying figure who can work collaboratively and diplomatically to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance and advance American interests in the region. After a careful review of Mr. Friedman's past statements and … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Duckworth, Veterans in Congress Criticize Trumpcare’s Devastating Tax Hike on Millions of Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Tim Walz (D-MN), and several others to criticize President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for attempting to impose a tax hike on millions of Veterans' healthcare. Despite the President's campaign pledge to "ensure our Veterans get the care they need wherever and … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Duckworth: Trump Putting Veterans on Chopping Block to Jam through Repeal Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today criticized President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for including a provision in their health care repeal bill that threatens to make it harder for millions of Veterans to receive healthcare. The provision, which could harm as many as 7 million Veterans who do not receive their care through the VA, would prohibit any Veteran from receiving tax credits to help them afford private insurance coverage. "This President's habit … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Duckworth Condemns Rise of Anti-Semitism & Hate Crimes in Meeting with Chicago Jewish Federation Members
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with members of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) today and discussed the rising number of threats against Jewish schools and community centers in Illinois and across the country. Duckworth and JUF members also discussed how the Trump budget would hurt families across Illinois with its irresponsible cuts to vital programs as varied as the Emergency Food and Shelter program and the Holocaust Survivors … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Duckworth Statement on FBI Investigation into Kremlin-Trump Campaign Coordination
WASHINGTON, DC - Following FBI Director James Comey's acknowledgement that the FBI opened an investigation into whether there was coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials who were meddling in our presidential election, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Every American should be troubled by the threat of a foreign adversary interfering in our elections. The FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in our electoral process is a necessary … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Touts Public Education, College Affordability at Parent Mentor Conference in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered the keynote address at the Logan Square Neighborhood Association's annual Parent Mentor Convention, which celebrates the work of parent volunteers in public schools. During her speech, Duckworth highlighted the need for greater investments in public schools and more affordable options for higher education. A photo of Duckworth at the convention can be found here. Audio of her remarks in both English and Spanish is available upon … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Receives Quad County Urban League’s “Woman in Power” Award
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today received Quad County Urban League's "Woman in Power" award at the organization's annual Women's Empowerment Summit, which is focused on diversity in the workplace. A photo of the award ceremony is available here. "This ceremony is a time to both honor the civil rights leaders and the women who have come before us and to celebrate the American values of diversity and inclusion," said Senator Duckworth. "I am truly honored to receive the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Rescind President Trump’s Border Wall Executive Order
WASHINGTON, DC - In the wake of President Trump's budget proposal, which irresponsibly cuts countless vital programs across government in part to pay for an unnecessary border wall, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and 21 of her colleagues in introducing a bill to rescind President Trump's executive order to construct a border wall and ramp up the deportations and detentions of undocumented immigrants. "Hard-working Americans should not be forced to … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Visits Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, Highlights Infrastructure Agenda
CHICAGO, IL -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant - a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago treatment facility - today to learn more about the water treatment process, as well as the plant's efforts to reduce flooding and control pollution. Duckworth also met with local leaders at the plant to discuss her efforts to modernize Illinois's infrastructure and find common sense solutions to reduce flooding. A photo of the meeting is … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Attends Groundbreaking of New Chicago Rail Car Facility
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attended the groundbreaking of a new rail car facility today in Chicago that has committed to hiring 170 workers to assemble 400 new rail cars by 2020 for the Chicago Transit Authority. Senator Duckworth was joined by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Alderman Susan Garza. A photo of the event is available here. "Projects like this that upgrade and improve our public transit system, create good-paying jobs and invest in … Continue Reading
