Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on Trump Decision to Cut Federal Funding from Illinois Testing Sites
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after it was reported that the Trump Administration will end federal funding for testing sites across five states, including Illinois. "From the man who says 'I don't kid,' Trump is showing us exactly what he means when he says he wants to slow down testing-by actually doing it. On the very day that our nation experienced one of the biggest spikes in new COVID-19 cases since the beginning of this public … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $4 Million For Southern Illinois Mass Transit Districts
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that two mass transit districts in Southern Illinois will receive more than $4 million in federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and appropriated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act¸ will go to Rides Mass Transit District (RMTD) and Jackson County Mass Transit District … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with National Guard Bureau Chief Nominee LTG Hokanson About Trump’s Efforts to Politicize the Military
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke with LTG Dan Hokanson, the nominee to be the next Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Duckworth and Hokanson discussed his vision for leading the National Guard Bureau and his views on key issues, including banning displays of the Confederate Battle Flag and Trump's politicization of the D.C. National Guard. "LTG Hokanson and I had the opportunity to discuss … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Warren & Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Rename All Military Bases & Other Assets Named for Confederacy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 33 Senate Democrats in introducing legislation to require the Pentagon to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America and anyone who voluntarily served it from all military bases and other assets … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth Joins Van Hollen, Colleagues in Call for Robust Funding for Background Checks, Gun Safety in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with eight of their Senate colleagues, in urging Senate leadership to provide robust funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in future COVID-19 relief packages to ensure the continued processing of background checks and to uphold gun safety laws. Despite efforts … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $1 Million for River Transportation Improvements in the Metro-East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,268,800 in federal funding to America's Central Port, located in Granite City, IL, and one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest, to support the purchase of a 275-ton crane, the installation of 18 cameras and a Container Tilter to help increase container-on barge movement and support a strong heritage of river transportation. This funding is part of America's Marine Highway Grant and comes … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth at AAPD Disability Vote Summit: “The Fight is Not Over.”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today participated in the American Association of People with Disabilities' (AAPD) Summit "Power: The Disability Vote" where she discussed how critical expanding Vote by Mail during this pandemic is for disability community, biases against people with disabilities in the criminal justice system and the importance of the disability community not letting up as it celebrates the 30th anniversary of the landmark Americans with Disabilities … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth Speaks on Senate Floor in Support of Democratic Proposal for Bold, Comprehensive Police Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the Democratic Justice in Policing Act, of which she is a co-sponsor, and to highlight the areas where the Republican proposal, the JUSTICE Act, falls far short of providing the accountability and transparency necessary to bring about systemic change to law enforcement. Today's floor speech comes after weeks of protests across the country following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud USDA Office Relocation from Goodfellow Federal Complex After Continued Concerns for Worker Safety
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) decision to relocate 1,000 USDA Rural Development employees in St. Louis currently working in the Goodfellow Federal Complex, many of whom are Illinoisans living in the Metro East region, to office space at One Metropolitan Square. This move comes after years of calls from Federal employees and the American Federation of Government Employees about health … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Bill to Make Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) to introduce the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, bipartisan legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. "Juneteenth", observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as "Emancipation Day", "Jubilee Day", and "Juneteenth Independence Day". On June … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth, Van Hollen, King Introduce Bill to Significantly Enhance Domestic Production of Life-saving Medical Supplies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced legislation today to strengthen the national response to pandemics by modernizing the production of critical medical supplies for frontline healthcare providers. The Public Health Emergency (PHE) Production Act would ensure the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) fully leverages its allocation authorities under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to respond to current … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Democrats In Demanding Trump Administration Reverse Its Barrage Of Policies Targeting Asylum Seekers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In recognition of World Refugee Day last Saturday, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) in a letter from a group of 77 Democratic Members of Congress condemning the Trump Administration for its harmful policies that have dismantled the United States' asylum system and demanded the reversal of these harmful measures. The lawmakers listed nearly a dozen … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges Small Business Administration To Approve State’s Economic Injury Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a SBA Economic Injury Declaration for qualifying counties in Illinois amid occurrences of looting, arson, and rioting of small businesses across the State. Earlier this month, Governor Pritzker issued a State Disaster Proclamation for Cook and contiguous counties that experienced … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democrats In Introducing Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. The resolution also recognizes how the … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Duckworth joins Durbin, Senate Democratic Caucus in calling on Leader McConnell To Bring Bipartisan House-Passed Dream & Promise Act To Floor For A Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following last week's historic Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Donald Trump's repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, as he led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calling on him to immediately … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Duckworth Tours Small Businesses in Auburn Gresham
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured businesses in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood on Chicago's South Side to connect with local business owners impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Duckworth was joined by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (IL-SD-16), State Representative Mary Flowers (IL-HD-31), Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation CEO Carlos Nelson and Brewer Coffee and Custard Owner Elijah Brewer. Photos from today's tour are available here. "Small … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Duckworth Celebrates Juneteenth at Chicago Demonstration, Calls for Racial Justice
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Pastor Chris Harris of Bright Star Church and Bright Star Community Outreach for a faith-led peaceful demonstration to commemorate Juneteenth and to call for racial equality for Black Americans. Juneteenth celebrates the day enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation two years after the abolition of slavery. Photos from today's demonstration are available here. In honor of Juneteenth, Duckworth … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth Demands Additional Materials Related to Low-Flying Military Helicopters over Peaceful Protesters from Esper
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote a follow-up letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper requesting a briefing on the findings of a preliminary investigation into the use of low-flying military aircraft over peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. On June 4, Duckworth sent letters requesting investigations by and information from both the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Aviation Administration … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth Demands Answers from EPA on Rollback of Pollution Protections During COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, co-founder of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler this week about the agency's non-enforcement policy that encourages companies to operate without regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could severely impact environmental justice communities. This letter is a follow up to Duckworth's questioning of Wheeler during a U.S. Senate Environment and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Duckworth Applauds Supreme Court Decision to Uphold DACA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the legality of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:“Today’s decision reaffirms the truth that Donald Trump and his Administration have tried to deny for years: Dreamers belong in America. Despite relentless efforts to undercut this truth, today’s ruling from the Supreme Court has brought long-awaited certainty for the … Continue Reading
