Press Releases
Duckworth Applauds White House’s Justice40 Interim Guidance Prioritizing Environmental Justice Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the U.S. Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement after the White House Council on Environmental Quality issued the Justice40 Initiative's Interim Guidance for all federal agencies: "For generations our most toxic, polluting industries have been located next door to Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income communities at the expense of their health, and these communities have … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Duckworth, Pressley Introduce Bill to Support Families Experiencing Pregnancy Loss, Invest in Research
Bicameral Bill Would Shine Light on Pregnancy Loss, Increase Access to Resources, Workforce Supports and Patient-Centered Care [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) today introduced legislation to raise awareness about pregnancy loss and establish new paid leave benefits for workers experiencing painful challenges while seeking to grow their family. The Support Through Loss Act would support those experiencing the loss of a … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Foster Announce New Minority Business Development Agency Business Center in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11), today announced $400,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to the Aurora-based and Black woman-founded Strategic Exceptions Professional Consulting for the operation of a MBDA Business Center in Illinois. The Center will help Illinoisans bring greater economic opportunities to their communities by … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Urge Forest Service to Review Shawnee National Forest for Wilderness Designation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service requesting that the lands of the Shawnee National Forest be reviewed to determine if areas of the forest meet the requirements to be considered for wilderness protection. U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and U.S. Representative John Curtis (R-UT-03) introduced the Shawnee Wilderness Designation Act earlier this year, which would protect all … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021
Duckworth Leads Senate Colleagues in Calling for $15 Billion Investment in Reconciliation to Fix Substandard Military Childcare Facilities and Barracks
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led seven of her Senate colleagues in sending a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth (D-KY-03) and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) drawing attention to the dilapidated state of military child development centers and barracks and calling for a transformational $15 billion investment as part of the forthcoming budget reconciliation package. U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Duckworth Raises Frerichs Case in Call with Secretary of State Blinken
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today issued the following statement after speaking with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the importance of securing the safe return of her constituent Mark Frerichs, a Veteran of the U.S. Navy who was abducted in Kabul in early 2020. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee. "I had a frank … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Duckworth Hosts Secretary Buttigieg on Tour of 95th Street Red Line Station, Highlighting Importance of Infrastructure Legislation
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on a tour of the 95th Street CTA Red Line station to showcase federal investments in Illinois infrastructure and emphasize not only the need for a national infrastructure package, but also the real improvements such a package could make to working Americans' lives. Duckworth and Buttigieg were also briefed by CTA President Dorval Carter on the proposed Red Line extension, … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $7 Million for Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $6.91 million in federal loans and grants to help rural communities modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The funding was awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to five Illinois communities. … Continue Reading
July 16, 2021
Duckworth, Luján Lead Colleagues in Urging Republican Leadership to Bolster Capitol Security, Fully Reimburse Law Enforcement and National Guard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) led a group of their colleagues in calling on Republican Leadership to support an emergency security supplemental to make necessary security improvements to the U.S. Capitol Complex and support the U.S. Capitol Police, the National Guard and other federal law enforcement that responded to the January 6th attack on the Capitol. "We write to urge you to support an emergency … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Duckworth Highlights Importance of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Funding in the American Jobs Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday participated in a Facebook Live event to highlight the importance of including funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) in President Biden's American Jobs Plan with U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) and multiple advocates. Duckworth is an original co-sponsor of the Better Care Better Jobs Act, legislation that would implement President Biden's $400 billion investment in … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Duckworth Joins Kaine in Introducing Legislation to Support Direct Care Workforce & Family Caregivers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) helped U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduce the Supporting Our Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers Act to authorize over $1 billion in supporting the direct care workforce and family caregivers. Given low wages and high turnover, the direct care workforce has long experienced staffing shortages. Now, with a growing number of older adults and people with disabilities in the country and following the COVID-19 pandemic, investing … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Bring Fairness to FEMA Disaster Declaration Process
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - Following a stretch of severe weather events in Illinois - such as flooding and tornadoes - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the introduction of the Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act. The bill would reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster declaration process to make it more transparent and equitable to small and rural communities in larger states like Illinois. Due to … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Help Fischer & Klobuchar Re-introduce Bipartisan Bill Expanding Market for Biofuels Year-Round
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today helped U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), members of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, re-introduce the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. The bill would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to ethanol blends above 10 percent, which would increase market access and continue to allow retailers across the country to sell E15 and other higher-ethanol … Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $21.9 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Head Start Programs in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $21.9 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to support the return to fully operational, in-person Head Start services for the children under the age of five most impacted by inequities exposed by the pandemic in Illinois. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families. "Early Head Start and Head Start … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Duckworth, Cornyn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Voting Access for Military Voters
Military voters have voted at a 15 percent lower rate than the general population since 2014 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for our servicemembers to vote. The Reducing Barriers for Military Voters Act would establish a secure electronic voting system for active duty servicemembers stationed in hazardous duty zones or rotational deployments. U.S. … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Duckworth Secures Commitments from DoD Nominee to Prioritize Critical Military Readiness Policies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing today for Department of Defense (DoD) nominees, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured commitments from the Honorable Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr., Nominee to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to prioritize policies like Duckworth's Servicemember Parental Leave Equity Act when considering ways to increase military readiness, improve outcomes for military families and … Continue Reading
July 12, 2021
Duckworth Announces U.S. Shipment of 1.5 Million American Vaccine Doses to Indonesia as Biden Administration Ramps Up Vaccine Diplomacy
New numbers bring total American doses sent to Indonesia to 4.5 million [WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the United States sent a donation of 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Indonesia today. This new tranche is in addition to the 3 million doses of the Moderna vaccine that the Biden Administration announced late last week, bringing the total American doses donated to the nation to 4.5 million. Duckworth lived in Indonesia as … Continue Reading
July 09, 2021
In Meeting with Senior-most Embassy Official, Duckworth Underscores Support for Indonesia as U.S. Sends 3 Million Vaccine Doses to the Country
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Biden Administration announced a shipment of 3 million Moderna vaccine doses to Indonesia, Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with the Indonesian Chargé d'Affaires in Washington, D.C., Mr. Iwan Freddy Hari Susanto, who is the highest-ranking Indonesian Embassy official in the United States, to underscore our government's and our nation's commitment to the Indonesian people as they seek to overcome a tragic and recent surge in … Continue Reading
July 09, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2 Million in Federal Funding to Address Violence, Support Trauma-Informed Care in Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $2 million in federal funding to help address trauma and the cycle of violence in Chicago. The funding, which was awarded by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), will support four Chicago initiatives aimed at expanding and improving trauma-informed care for youth who have been exposed to community violence. "Too often, we see young people, particularly young people of … Continue Reading
July 09, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Urge SBA to Support State's Request for DuPage County Disaster Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a Disaster Declaration for DuPage County in Illinois as a result of a tornado that touched down on June 21, 2021. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that 79 properties either incurred damage or were destroyed as a … Continue Reading
