Press Releases
Senate Passes Military Construction and Agriculture Government Funding Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured by Duckworth, Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Senate passed a funding bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, as well as for Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Duckworth and Durbin worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in the appropriations bills, both through Congressionally Directed Spending requests and through … Continue Reading
August 01, 2025
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Labor, Health and Human Services & Defense Funding Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured by Duckworth, Durbin
[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, announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a funding bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, as well as for Defense for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Duckworth and Durbin worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in the appropriations bills, both through Congressionally Directed … Continue Reading
August 01, 2025
Duckworth, Murray, Booker, Schumer Reignite Push to Help Veterans Struggling with Infertility Grow Their Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in reintroducing legislation to help make it easier for our Veterans who struggle with infertility to build their families. Their Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 would expand the fertility treatments and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and Veterans’ health care to include—among other … Continue Reading
August 01, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Pen Letter to Illinois’ Public Broadcasting Stations Seeking Answers on Impact of Republicans’ Drastic Rescissions Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to every public radio and TV station in Illinois requesting answers about the projected impact of the Republicans’ rescissions package that clawed back $1.1 billion in previously appropriated funding to public broadcasting. “This month, President Trump and Republicans in Congress rescinded funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as a result of the … Continue Reading
August 01, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Urge Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Retaliated Against for Exercising Free Speech Rights
[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 14 of their colleagues in pressing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to reinstate employees placed on administrative leave after they signed a “Declaration of Dissent” expressing concern with the agency’s direction under the Trump Administration. In their letter, the Senators stress that employees have the legal … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Duckworth-Murkowski Bipartisan Bill Passes Committee to Provide Public Health Commissioned Officers With Essential Leave Benefits Enjoyed by All Other Uniformed Services
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation introduced by combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) that would help expand leave benefits for the devoted health professionals serving in the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Despite being responsible for leading our nation’s emergency … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Environmental Justice Caucus Co-Chairs Duckworth, Booker, Markey Slam Trump Administration for Plan to Eliminate EPA’s Ability to Protect Public Health from Climate Change
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA)—co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—issued the following statement after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced his proposal to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding, a landmark determination that requires the EPA to address greenhouse gas emissions and pollution because of the threat that climate change poses to public health … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Demanding Public Release of Epstein Files
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) in their efforts to direct the U.S. Department of Justice to publicly release all files relating to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. The Senators introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act to provide full transparency for the American people, … Continue Reading
July 30, 2025
As Famine Ravishes Gaza, Duckworth Votes Against Trump Administration’s Sales of American Weapons to Israel
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after voting to disapprove of the Trump Administration’s proposed foreign military sales to Israel: “I’ve long pressed the Netanyahu Administration in public and private to take substantive steps to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians. But conditions on the ground are getting worse, not better. Israel’s unacceptable choice to restrict humanitarian and food aid from entering Gaza—for … Continue Reading
July 30, 2025
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