Press Releases
Duckworth Statement on President Biden’s First State of the Union Address
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after President Biden's first State of the Union address: "From Ukraine to this evolving pandemic, we face unique challenges at this moment, but President Biden reminded us tonight that there is nothing the American people can't overcome. Thanks to the resolve, shared sacrifice and hard work of our people-and with the help of Democratic policies that put checks in pockets, kept small businesses from … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Duckworth, King Encourage Biden Administration to Continue Strengthening Domestic Manufacturing Capabilities in Response to Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Angus King (I-ME) led their colleagues in sending a letter to Dawn O'Connell, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging the Biden Administration to continue exercising its Defense Production Act (DPA) authorities to boost domestic manufacturing of critical COVID-19 tests and other materials necessary to respond to the pandemic. U.S. Senators Bob Casey … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Amid Ukraine Crisis, Duckworth Announces Illinois National Guard Commander as State of the Union Virtual Guest
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee (SASC) and a Purple Heart recipient who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, announced that she will bring the Adjutant General of Illinois and Commander of the Illinois National Guard Major General Rich Neely as her virtual guest to tonight's State of the Union address. As the Commander of the Illinois National Guard (ILNG), Major General Neely is responsible for the … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Duckworth Meets with the Illinois Chapter of Disabled American Veterans and Emphasizes her Commitment to our Nation’s Heroes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and a Purple Heart recipient who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, today met with several members of the Illinois Chapter of Disabled American Veterans. During the video call, Duckworth and the group discussed accessible healthcare for Veterans exposed to toxic substances, mental health support for Veterans and services for disabled Veterans, as well as … Continue Reading
March 01, 2022
Duckworth Joins Durbin, Menendez, Portman in Urging Biden Administration to Designate Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and 39 Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. "In light of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, we respectfully request that your Administration promptly take … Continue Reading
February 28, 2022
Duckworth on Republicans Blocking Legislation to Protect Women’s Constitutional Right to Choose
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the House-passed Women's Health Protection Act, which would help protect women's constitutional right to choose, from moving forward in the Senate: "As states and courthouses across the country systematically undermine women's autonomy over their own bodies, it is utterly appalling that Senate Republicans blocked critical legislation to help protect access to basic … Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Duckworth Statement on President Biden’s Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for a lifetime appointment as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice: "Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is one of the most impressive individuals nominated to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States in our nation's history. Her extensive background and wealth of experience is why the U.S. Senate has voted three times to confirm her to previous … Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Duckworth Leads Letter Calling on CDC, FDA to Establish Clear, Accessible Guidance on Fourth COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Immunocompromised Americans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the need to protect the most at-risk Americans from death or serious illness from COVID-19 continues, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led her colleagues U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Edward Markey (D-MA) in sending a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf. Their letter emphasized the time-sensitive and vital need for the CDC … Continue Reading
February 24, 2022
Duckworth Reaction to Russia’s Escalating Invasion on Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after Russia escalated its invasion of Ukraine: "The human suffering caused-and any blood spilled-as a result of this unjustified and unjustifiable attack on Ukraine's sovereign territory are solely on Vladimir Putin's hands. Our nation, our NATO allies and all countries who value human … Continue Reading
February 22, 2022
Duckworth, Cramer, Casey Lead Bipartisan Call For Diaper Banks Funding In Final FY2022 Appropriations Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Bob Casey (D-PA) led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Patrick Leahy and Vice Chairman Richard Shelby to include funding for our nation's diaper banks in the final fiscal year (FY) 2022 appropriations package to help better support working families. "As you work towards a final agreement for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 … Continue Reading
February 22, 2022
Duckworth: Putin’s Ukraine Invasion Threatening Innocent Lives & Global Stability
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after Russia invaded Ukraine: "Make no mistake: whatever lies Vladimir Putin tells, it is obvious to the world that Russia is the aggressor here and has invaded Ukraine's sovereign territory. His actions are threatening innocent lives and regional stability in Europe. President Biden and … Continue Reading
February 22, 2022
Duckworth Joins Peters, Moran, Capito, Klobuchar, Lummis to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reduce the Spread of Toxic PFAS at Commercial Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the first-ever Senate Environment Justice Caucus, joined U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to introduce bipartisan legislation to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports. The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would deploy more existing Federal Aviation … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Duckworth, Schneider, Foster, Underwood and Krishnamoorthi Highlight How Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is Helping Protect Lake Michigan, Provide Cleaner Water & Create Jobs
[WAUKEGAN, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) today were joined by Senior Advisor to President Biden on Infrastructure Coordination Mitch Landrieu and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore in highlighting how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping restore the Great Lakes and strengthen Illinois's … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Senate passes Durbin led, Duckworth cosponsored resolution showing bipartisan support for Ukraine Against Russian Aggression
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Yesterday evening, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in support of a bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Senate Majority Whip and Senate Ukraine Caucus Co-Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and John Cornyn (R-TX). U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined as a cosponsor of the resolution in support of Ukraine in the face of increased Russian aggression. The resolution is a renewed bipartisan message from the U.S. Senate in … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Duckworth, Carper, Booker Praise Release of Environmental Justice Mapping and Screening Tool
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), founders and co-chairs of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, issued the following statement welcoming the release of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)'s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), a critical new resource that will help federal agencies better reach historically marginalized communities that have experienced legacy pollution. "This is … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on City of Chicago’s Decision To Deny Permit for Reserve Management Group’s Southside Recycling
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that it has denied Reserve Management Group's (RMG) permit to operate a scrap metal recycling facility on Chicago's Southeast Side: "The Southeast Side community near these facilities has borne the burden from toxic pollutants for too long, and residents don't deserve additional health risks from increased operations … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Duckworth, Schneider Visit SHIELD Illinois Lab to Highlight Commitment to Increasing Testing Accessibility for Illinoisans
[NORTH CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today met with University of Illinois System and SHIELD Illinois officials to discuss the importance of continued widespread and equitable COVID-19 testing. In 2020, scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed this saliva-based PCR COVID-19 test. SHIELD Illinois is a nonprofit enterprise that makes the test available throughout the state. Photos from today's tour … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Duckworth Joins Stabenow in Introducing Resolution to Stop Canadian Nuclear Waste Site Near Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON D.C.]-U.S. Senator Duckworth joined U.S. Senator Stabenow to introduce a resolution opposing Canada's placement of a permanent nuclear waste storage site near the shared Great Lakes Basin. Canada is currently considering a storage site at South Bruce, just 30 miles from Lake Huron. The resolution urges President Biden and his administration to work with the Canadian government to find an alternative location to permanently store nuclear waste that does not pose a threat to the … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Duckworth Joins Ernst in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Help Ensure Families Can Access and Afford Diapers
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to introduce the bipartisan Diaper Inclusion in Accounts for Parental Expense Reduction (DIAPER) Act to help ensure that diapers-which are necessary for the health and development of infants and toddlers-are accessible for families who need them. The bill expands flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs), which can be used to purchase a number of items relating to health … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Nearly 500 Rural Illinois Jobs Created or Saved through Federal Investments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that new federal investments are expected to help several rural businesses and communities across Illinois create 170 jobs and save 328 additional jobs. Today's investments come through multiple United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Programs. "I'm proud to see this federal support helping create and save good-paying jobs in rural communities and glad that the Biden … Continue Reading
