Press Releases
Duckworth, Hirono Demand Answers and Briefing from Hegseth Ahead of His Unprecedented, Wasteful Speech with Top Military Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s abrupt, needless and wasteful speech to much of our nation’s top military leadership on Tuesday, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)—members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—pressed the Secretary on the serious risks that such a gathering poses to security—on top of the monstrous cost to American taxpayers as Republicans march us toward a government shutdown. In a letter to Secretary … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Building On Her Discussions in South Korea, Duckworth Meets with Hanwha Ocean Leadership to Strengthen Auxiliary Shipbuilding Partnerships
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Foreign Relations (SFRC) Committees—had a productive meeting with Insub Jung, President of Hanwha Ocean, and other top representatives of the South Korean company to discuss some of ways we can strengthen our nations’ auxiliary shipbuilding partnership. The Senator’s meeting comes after her recent trip to South Korea and Japan—two global leaders in the shipbuilding … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Duckworth Condemns Russian Fighter Jets Violating Estonia’s Airspace
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after three Russian fighter jets violated the airspace of Estonia, marking the third time Vladimir Putin has violated NATO airspace this month: “This is now the third Russian violation of NATO airspace and our allies’ sovereignty this month, and each is simply unacceptable. “Putin is clearly testing the NATO alliance’s commitment to mutual defense and taking advantage of Trump’s flip-flopping to … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Duckworth, Cruz, Padilla, Schmitt, Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Designate Route 66 a National Historic Trail
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joins U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) in introducing a bipartisan bill to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926, and was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. This bill would help protect its history and legacy and ensures that new and existing energy projects along Route 66 are protected. “Route 66 is … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Duckworth Votes to Prevent Health Care Costs from Skyrocketing, Calls Out GOP for Blocking Effort and Pushing Nation to Brink of Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting against Republicans’ extreme partisan bill that does nothing to prevent the healthcare cost and coverage crises they single-handedly created and safeguard other critical programs that middle-class families depend on: “Again and again, Democrats asked Republicans to work with us on a bipartisan bill that keeps the government open and meets the needs of the American people—and Trump told … Continue Reading
September 18, 2025
Duckworth, Clark Reintroduce Bill Providing Affordable and Accessible Child Care for Parenting Students
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) today reintroduced legislation to help increase access to on-campus child care for the more than 3 million parenting students currently enrolled in postsecondary education programs. Despite the latest cuts from the Trump Administration, the Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would reauthorize and increase funding for the only federal program that … Continue Reading
September 18, 2025
Duckworth Joins Hirono, Armed Services Committee Colleagues in Demanding Answers on Reassignment of Military Lawyers to Immigration Courts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—joined U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and 10 of their SASC colleagues in demanding answers from the Department of Defense (DOD) about the recent authorization by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to assign up to 600 military lawyers as temporary immigration judges within the Department of Justice (DOJ). As the Trump Administration continues to advance its anti-immigrant … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Padilla in Leading Push for More Oversight and Accountability Over National Guard Deployments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Donald Trump continues threatening to deploy the National Guard into Chicago, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) in introducing legislation to enhance oversight and accountability of the President’s domestic deployment of the National Guard. The Safeguarding the Use of the National Guard (SUN) Act would require the President to submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 15 … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Duckworth Joins Casten, IL Democratic Delegation in Support of EPA’s Endangerment Finding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and all Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in support of EPA’s Endangerment Finding, which is foundational to EPA regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. “We are writing to express our deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) proposal to eliminate the … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Duckworth Demands Sec. Collins Protect Veterans & Veteran Care by Blocking ICE From Stealing VA Resources as It Invades American Cities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is demanding that U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins block his agency’s plans to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use part of Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago’s property as the agency carries out Trump’s extreme immigration plans, which would jeopardize our Veterans’ access to the timely, high-quality care they earned through their service. In her letter to … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Duckworth, SASC Democrats Call on Chairman Wicker to Hold a Hearing on Trump’s Military Deployments to American Cities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—led all of her fellow SASC Democratic colleagues in urging Committee Chairman Wicker to hold a hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership in order to evaluate Donald Trump’s ongoing military deployments to American cities and his efforts to redirect DoD resources away from core military missions to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and … Continue Reading
September 15, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin, Van Hollen, Booker, Blumenthal Slam Epa Administrator for Proposal to Push Back Deadline to Monitor Toxic Coal Ash Sites
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin calling on the agency to preserve existing regulations covering the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR), more commonly known as “coal ash,” and further urged the agency to abandon its proposal to extend the deadline for CCR … Continue Reading
September 12, 2025
Duckworth Tours Rivian, Reiterates Support for Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and the Local Jobs it Supports
[NORMAL, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders from the electric automaker Rivian and toured the company’s Central Illinois manufacturing plant. Duckworth and Rivian leaders, along with local officials, discussed their shared and continuing support for manufacturing growth, local workforce development and job growth for the region. Photos from today’s visit are available on the Senator’s website. “Thanks to investments from companies like Rivian, Central Illinois … Continue Reading
September 12, 2025
In Urbana, Duckworth Highlights Biotech Industry’s Role in National Security
[URBANA, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with members of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, officials from the Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing (iFAB) Tech Hub, biotech company representatives and local leaders today to highlight the importance of the biotechnology industry’s role in our national security. Duckworth was a strong advocate for iFAB’s designation by the U.S. Economic Development Administration as a Tech Hub. Photos from … Continue Reading
September 12, 2025
Duckworth, Budzinski Host Metro East Water Infrastructure Community Day
[EAST ST. LOUIS] - US. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), today hosted a Community Day for Metro East residents to learn more about the latest updates on flood mitigation and water infrastructure improvements throughout Cahokia Heights, East St. Louis and the region. Duckworth and Budzinski met with residents, shared their efforts at the federal level to bring funding and oversight to water … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Duckworth Meets with U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—yesterday met with Sean O’Neill, the nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, ahead of his committee vote. The two discussed how, if confirmed, they can work together to continue to strengthen the U.S.-Thailand alliance and further enhance economic ties between Illinois and Thailand. “I’m pleased to see an experienced, career State Department diplomat be nominated to serve … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin, Schneider Press Trump Administration for Answers, Written Confirmation on Use of Naval Station Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today are expressing their opposition to the Administration’s use of Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) for support to federal law enforcement operations in Illinois and demanding written confirmation of how the installation is being used. In a letter sent to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Amid Trump’s Efforts to Slash Critical Agriculture Support Programs, Duckworth Discusses Priorities with Illinois Agriculture Leaders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders from the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB), Illinois Pork Producers and Illinois Farmers Union this week to discuss the support needed for our state’s agriculture industry and our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and protecting and improving farm safety net programs as our American farmers are being … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
As Trump Administration Continues “Operation Midway Blitz,” Duckworth, Durbin and Schneider Meet with Navy Secretary About Naval Station Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today met with U.S. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan to discuss the limited logistical support provided by Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials as they ramp up increased immigration enforcement operations across the Chicago area during “Operation Midway Blitz.” At DHS’s request, NSGL has … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Duckworth Calls Out Trump’s Dangerous and Unconstitutional Abuse of the Military to Police American Cities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — After Donald Trump effectively declared war against the city of Chicago, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—called out this dangerous, wasteful and unconstitutional abuse of the military against American cities. During Duckworth’s questioning at General Christopher J. Mahoney’s confirmation hearing to serve as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mahoney agreed that it wasn’t … Continue Reading