Press Releases
Duckworth Joins Durbin and Entire Senate Democratic Caucus in Reintroducing John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Reverand Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with the rest of her Senate Democratic colleagues, in reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation that would update and restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have been eroded in recent years by federal court … Continue Reading
July 29, 2025
Duckworth Meets with Illinois Teachers to Discuss Support for Schools as Donald Trump Guts the Department of Education
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Illinois members of the American Federation of Teachers to discuss how we can better support our state’s schools as the Trump Administration works to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, including by slashing its funding and reducing its workforce by nearly half. The U.S. Department of Education provides funding to help meet the needs of 4,000 K-12 schools and over 2 million K-12 students in Illinois, including resources … Continue Reading
July 29, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Call for Large-Scale Expansion of Humanitarian Aid in Gaza and Resumption of Diplomatic Efforts to Secure a Ceasefire and End the War
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and their fellow Senate Democratic colleagues to express a unified alarm about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling for the large-scale expansion of humanitarian aid and urging the Trump Administration to resume diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement and end the war. In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special … Continue Reading
July 28, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Call for Answers on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Press Trump Administration to Cease Funding GHF
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and their fellow Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration for answers on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). In the letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators called on the Administration to immediately cease funding for GHF and restore support for existing United Nations aid distribution mechanisms. The … Continue Reading
July 25, 2025
In Chicago, Duckworth Convenes Quantum Manufacturing & Research Leaders to Discuss Illinois’s Quantum Future
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today convened more than a dozen leaders across Illinois’s burgeoning quantum sector, manufacturing and research institutions to learn more about how Illinois can harness quantum advancements to bolster our state’s manufacturing power. Today’s meeting comes on the heels of this week’s Global Quantum Forum in Chicago which brought together leaders in quantum from around the globe. Photos from today’s meeting are available on the Senator’s … Continue Reading
July 25, 2025
On Emmett Till’s 84th Birthday, Duckworth Honors Till Family Legacy at Historic Bronzeville Church
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined local leaders in honoring Emmett Till, on what would’ve been his 84th birthday, and celebrating the completion of Phase One restorations at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. The historic Bronzeville church—the site of Till’s open-casket funeral 70 years ago this summer—was designated as a national monument by President Biden in 2023 after continued efforts and leadership by Duckworth in Congress. Photos from today’s event … Continue Reading
July 25, 2025
Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Commemorating 35th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act, Condemning Trump’s Medicaid Cuts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) tomorrow, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led a group of 24 fellow Senate Democrats in introducing a resolution that commemorates the signing of this historic, landmark law and condemns any efforts to cut Medicaid or implement work-reporting requirements that endanger the health of Medicaid recipients. The resolution comes after President Donald Trump signed his Big, Beautiful Bill into law, … Continue Reading
July 25, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Seek Answers on So-Called “One Big Beautiful Bill’s” Impact on Illinois Hospitals
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to every hospital in Illinois requesting information about the projected impact analysis of the Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts $1 trillion in Medicaid funding and $300 billion in Affordable Care Act funding over the next decade. As a result of the legislation, over 15 million Americans are projected to lose health insurance coverage, … Continue Reading
July 24, 2025
Duckworth, Sheehy Lead Bipartisan Push Urging FAA to Counter Single-Pilot Proposals, Maintain U.S. Leadership in Aviation Safety
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) today led a bipartisan call for maintaining U.S. leadership in aviation safety. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the Senators led 43 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to oppose single-pilot operations at the International Civil Aviation Organization. “Despite ongoing challenges, the U.S. has long represented the gold standard in aviation … Continue Reading
July 23, 2025
Duckworth, Pressley Lead Colleagues in Renewing Push to Protect Access to Reproductive Care for Low-Income Americans, Servicemembers and Millions More
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) led their fellow Senate and House Democratic colleagues in reintroducing legislation to protect Americans’ right to access reproductive health care, regardless of income, insurance or zip code. The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act would end the discriminatory Hyde Amendment and help lift unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Help Reintroduce Bill to Help Families Get the Affordable Child Care They Need
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03) and their colleagues in reintroducing the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need. “For most working parents, affordable child care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Stops Blocking Funding for After School Programs, K-12 Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in sending a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding the immediate release of nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America that … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
Duckworth Joins Gallego and Colleagues in Condemning Trump Administration for Letting Credit Union Off the Hook for Overcharging Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and six of her colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU). This decision effectively excuses NFCU from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members—primarily active-duty servicemembers, Veterans, Department of Defense employees and … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
As Trump’s Chaos Jeopardizes America’s Farmers, Duckworth Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders and members from the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Producers to discuss their shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
Duckworth Slams Senate Republicans for Voting to Gut Foreign Aid, Defund Public News Stations Millions Depend On
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) voted against Republican spending cuts that would cancel $9 billion in federal funding that supports foreign assistance and public news stations that millions of Americans depend on. Senate Republicans passed the rescissions package by a vote of 51-48. “Whether it’s his illegal funding freeze or empowering unelected bureaucrats to take a chainsaw to basic needs programs, Donald Trump has been on a mission to cut critical government … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Deputy Secretary of State Blames the Devoted Public Servants He Wrongfully Fired for Their Own Terminations in Wake of State Department RIFs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Continuing Donald Trump and his Administration’s long record of blaming victims, Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas today shamefully tried to argue that hundreds of dedicated State Department employees who were wrongfully fired by the Trump Administration last week were to blame for the Administration’s—and his—own poor decisions. In today’s U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) noted for Mr. Rigas that individuals … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Duckworth, Young, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Investment in Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Jim Risch (R-ID) in reintroducing the Investing in Main Street Act to increase investment in small businesses by permitting banks to invest up to 15 percent of their capital in Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC). “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy—when they grow, our economy grows,” said Duckworth. “Yet too many small business owners have trouble … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Duckworth Stresses Urgent Need to Modernize Our Air Traffic Control Systems at Summit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee—today underscored both the long-term and immediate actions the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must take to improve and modernize our air traffic control systems in order to safeguard our aviation system and the flying public. At today’s Air Traffic Control Modernization Summit hosted by aviation … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Duckworth Secures Key Provisions to Protect Rock Island Arsenal, Support Illinois Quantum Technology Research and Safeguard Care for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions to support our state’s residents, Servicemembers, Veterans and economy in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC recently approved last week and the full Senate will now consider. Some of the priorities Duckworth secured to help … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
Duckworth Secures Provisions to Strengthen Public Trust in the Military and Enhance Civil Rights in Committee-Passed NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved last week and the full Senate will now consider that would strengthen public trust of the military, enhance civil rights and curb misuse of our military for civilian law enforcement. As the Trump Administration continues to send federal … Continue Reading