Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Introduce Bicameral “Wear Orange” Resolution in Observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Month
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) introduced the Wear Orange Resolution, which supports the designation of June 2, 2023, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and June 2023 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." Each year, more than 43,000 people in the United States are killed, and 76,000 are injured by gun violence. June 2 is … Continue Reading
June 01, 2023
Duckworth Votes to Avoid Catastrophic Default, Protect Working Families’ Jobs, Retirements and Benefits
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tonight issued the following statement after voting for the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act to prevent a catastrophic unilateral default that would destroy our economy: "Speaker McCarthy's threat to recklessly undermine the full faith and credit of the United States was despicable. President Biden's responsible leadership resulted in a deal that prevents a catastrophic default and protects Veterans' healthcare and benefits, as well … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
Duckworth, Baldwin Reintroduce Bill to Ensure Real-Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the summer travel season ramps up and millions of Americans continue to board crowded flights, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation-and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today reintroduced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to … Continue Reading
May 31, 2023
Duckworth Discusses National Guard Priorities with Bureau Chief General Hokanson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, met with General Dan Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, to discuss the National Guard's legislative priorities ahead of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Duckworth and Hokanson discussed expanding healthcare coverage for Reserve component members as well as updates on the National Guard's State Partnership Program. A photo … Continue Reading
May 30, 2023
In Light of New Threats to Medication Abortion, Duckworth Joins Warren, Hirono and Smith in Expanding Investigation into Effects of State Abortion Bans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Tina Smith (D-MN) to expand their investigation on the effects of state abortion bans on women. As the country nears the first anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Senators sent letters to five leading healthcare organizations representing physicians, nurses, pharmacists and hospitals asking for updates since the organizations' … Continue Reading
May 25, 2023
Duckworth, Daines Issue Bipartisan Call for USDA to Strengthen Breastfeeding Support Services Through WIC for Low-Income Participants
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Steve Daines (R-MT) are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build on efforts to promote breastfeeding through the Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and further evaluate how the program can be strengthened to expand access and help ensure breastfeeding support services can better reach low-income participants who wish to breastfeed their infants. In the bipartisan … Continue Reading
May 24, 2023
Duckworth Commends FTC for Advancing Investigation into Potential Collusion by Infant Formula Manufacturers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement commending the Honorable Alvaro Bedoya, Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), for enforcing the three Civil Investigative Demand (CID) requests the FTC issued to three infant formula manufacturers that bid on contracts to provide formula through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). “I applaud the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Introduce Legislation Guaranteeing Paid Sick Leave to Workers in America
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 40 of their Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Healthy Families Act of 2023, which would guarantee paid sick leave to workers in America. Today, the U.S. remains one of the only two major countries that does not provide paid time off for short-term illnesses or paid leave for family and medical needs and emergencies. Currently, 34 … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
On Brown V. Board Anniversary, Duckworth Joins Murphy in Reintroducing Legislation to Increase Diversity in Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in reintroducing the Strength in Diversity Act on the 69th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision. This legislation would promote diversity in schools through a federal grant program to support voluntary, community-driven strategies. "No child should ever be denied equal resources, protections and opportunities to achieve their American Dream-not … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen in Introducing New Legislation to Provide U.S. Servicemembers Access to Protected Leave for Abortion & Reproductive Healthcare Services
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in unveiling new legislation-the Protecting Servicemembers and Military Families' Access to Healthcare Act-that would codify the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) February 16, 2023, policy to ensure servicemembers and their families can access non-covered reproductive healthcare, including abortion services, regardless of the state in … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $14.2 Million for Runway Improvements at Quincy Regional Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $14,200,000 in federal funding awarded to Quincy Regional Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to support the airport's runway reconstruction project. "For Western Illinois, Quincy Regional Airport is an important economic driver, and investing in and improving our airport infrastructure is vital to the strength of our state's transportation … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Duckworth Reaffirms Commitment to Ukraine in Meeting with Members of Ukraine’s Parliament
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of both the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, today met with members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ukraine's Parliament. Duckworth met with Halyna Vasylchenko, Alona Shkrum, Oleksii Movchan, Anna Purtova and Artem Dubnov to discuss the United States' continued commitment to helping Ukraine and its people against Vladimir Putin's war of choice in Ukraine. Photos from today's … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Duckworth, Blumenthal, Hirono & Bennet Demand Senate Republicans Lift Dangerous Holds on Military Nominations
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) yesterday asked for unanimous consent requests on the Senate floor to confirm military nominations that are being blocked by Senate Republicans, led by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). Tuberville has blocked over 230 military nominations in an effort to prevent the Department of Defense from adopting a policy that would … Continue Reading
May 15, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $12.5 Million for Head Start Programs in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $12,565,955 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support Head Start services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs are crucial for kids throughout Illinois to have the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside of the … Continue Reading
May 15, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $67 Million for Variety of Illinois Healthcare Programs and Initiatives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $67,264,568 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support a variety of health care programs, initiatives and community projects across the state. "Across the state, Illinoisans have access to incredible institutions and programs that are devoted to helping folks avoid, treat and research a wide variety of conditions and illnesses," … Continue Reading
May 15, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $4.9 Million For Healthcare 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 $4,993,713 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grant funding for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support advancements in sectors ranging from maternal health care to neurological disorders. "Across the state, universities are constantly conducting the cutting-edge research … Continue Reading
May 14, 2023
Duckworth on Mother’s Day: Cap Child Care Costs to Strengthen Economy & Enable Working Families to Succeed
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the first person to give birth while serving in the U.S. Senate, joined CNN's State of the Union this Mother's Day morning to discuss what working moms need to succeed and what our nation should be doing to help them. During her interview, the Senator underscored to host Dana Bash how enacting legislation to help working families across the country better afford child care, which can cost an average person more than half of their entire … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Ahead of Mother’s Day, Newly-Reintroduced Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Hirono Bill Would Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of Mother's Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is reintroducing bipartisan legislation today to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies, including ice packs. The 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 … Continue Reading
May 11, 2023
Duckworth Recognized by the National Association of Police Organizations for Her Bipartisan Law to Support Families of Public Safety Officers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) received an award from the National Association of Police Organizations for her work to get her bipartisan Public Safety Officer Support Act enacted into law last year. The legislation, which was co-led by U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), honors the public service of police officers, firefighters and emergency responders by supporting the families of public safety officers who are lost to trauma-linked suicides. Photos of today's … Continue Reading
May 10, 2023
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Expand Cyber Coordination with More Partners Across Southeast Asia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today introduced the Southeast Asia Partnership Expansion Act, legislation to expand the current list of partner countries who qualify for participation in the Department of Defense's ongoing pilot program to improve cyber cooperation with foreign military partners. "By working more closely with our partners across Southeast Asia, we can … Continue Reading
