Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Finalization of New Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, Announcement of Over $75 Million in New Funding to Help Remove Lead Pipes in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—co-founder of the U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes … Continue Reading
October 07, 2024
Duckworth Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Hamas’s Horrific October 7th Attacks
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s terror attacks against Israel on October 7th, 2023: “One year ago, Hamas committed the single deadliest atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, killing nearly 1,200 innocents and taking hundreds more hostage—nearly 100 of whom remain in captivity to this day. My … Continue Reading
October 04, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2 Billion in Federal Funding to Improve Highway Infrastructure Across Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,327,751,005 in total formula funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to build and maintain roads, bridges and tunnels that will improve efficiency, reduce congestion, improve resiliency against climate change and modernize key infrastructure of the Illinois highway system. This funding was made possible through the … Continue Reading
October 03, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $36 Million to Help Address Opioid Crisis in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $36,714,994 in federal funding for the Illinois Department of Human Services to help support treatment and prevention services for substance and opioid use disorders and overdoses. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a part of their State Opioid Response … Continue Reading
September 30, 2024
Duckworth Joins Wyden and Hassan in Introducing Legislation to Help Stop Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural and Underserved Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with 15 other Senate Democrats in introducing the Keep Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA) to help address the rising trend of rural hospitals and hospitals in underserved areas closing their labor and delivery units with significant consequences for expectant parents, families and their local communities. This legislation would help provide additional resources … Continue Reading
September 28, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Laud Scott Airforce Base’s Selection As Finalist for New KC-46A Aircraft Main Operating Base
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed their support for Scott Air Force Base’s 126th Air Refueling Wing’s bid to become a KC-46A’s main operating base (MOB) after the Air Force announced Scott was selected as a finalist for the role. The KC-46A aircraft is the first phase in modernizing the U.S. Air Force's aging tanker fleet and selecting Scott would protect the 347 ANG positions currently … Continue Reading
September 27, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $200K in Federal Funding for Arts Programming in Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $222,400 in federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through the ArtsHERE grant program for two Illinois organizations. Free Spirit Media, which works with young creators primarily from the West and South sides of Chicago, will receive $110,000 for their Reimagining Evaluation project to create new evaluation tools rooted in storytelling, reflection, social … Continue Reading
September 26, 2024
Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Hirono Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this week. The Senator’s Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance … Continue Reading
September 26, 2024
Duckworth Joins Tillis and Blumenthal in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Help Eliminate Barriers to Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—joined U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act. This bipartisan legislation would help improve access to health care and benefits for individuals exposed to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune by making technical corrections to the … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth Statement on Senate Passage of Continuing Resolution
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024, keeping our government open and sparing working families the pain of a shutdown: “Today’s vote is good for working families, our economy and our entire nation because it prevents another damaging, needless MAGA shutdown that only hurts our servicemembers, Veterans and taxpayers. “The House GOP’s … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Moran, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—U.S. Senator and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and renewable fuels. “As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Merkley Push to Ensure Health Insurers Cover and Provide Lactation Care for Pregnant and Nursing Parents
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) to issue strong recommended guidance for private health insurance plans and insurers to comply with federal law by covering in-person lactation support, supplies and counseling for pregnant and nursing parents across the country. Most health plans are required to cover lactation services under the Patient … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth Highlights Need to Better Support Our Nation’s Military and Veteran Caregivers During Dole Foundation Annual Conference
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Yesterday, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—joined the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s 9th Annual National Convening to highlight the ways Congress can better address and respond to the challenges facing our nation’s more than 14 million military and Veteran caregivers. During a fireside chat at the … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Booker, Blunt Rochester, Tlaib, Dingell, Lee Call for Expedited Review and Implementation of Biden Administration’s Proposed Strengthening of the Lead and Copper Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—co-founders of the new U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—along with U.S. Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) are calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements … Continue Reading
September 25, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Ramirez, Underwood Celebrate Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) celebrated Senate passage of a resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American boy who was murdered as a victim of a hate crime in Plainfield, Illinois, on October 14, 2023. The lawmakers introduced the resolution earlier this … Continue Reading
September 24, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $11 Million in Federal Funding for Health Care Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $10,906,668 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grants for Illinois institutions. The federal funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from lung diseases to mental health research. “Investing in our … Continue Reading
September 23, 2024
Following their Letter, Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Biden Administration for Approving Illinois Disaster Declaration Following Summer Tornadoes, Extreme Weather
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Biden Administration for approving Governor JB Pritzker’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of Illinois, to support seven Illinois counties in recovering from severe storms in which more than 40 tornadoes spun through Central and Northern Illinois and downstate Illinois flooded between July 13 and July 16, … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Quigley Announce More Than $300 Million in Federal Funding for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $305,467,517 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Mega Program. With this federal funding, the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $209,877,984 for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program and $95,589,533 for the I-290/IL171 (1st Avenue) Interchange … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Duckworth, Ricketts, Bera, Wittman Launch Bipartisan, Bicameral Quad Caucus Ahead of Quad Leaders Summit
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE)—members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee— joined U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) in launching the bipartisan Senate and House Quad Caucuses. This announcement comes ahead of this weekend’s Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, where President Biden will welcome heads of state from Australia, India and Japan. The Quad is committed to supporting the … Continue Reading