Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Push for Increased Action from Pentagon to Address PFAS Exposure at Military Installations
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd Austin urging increased funding for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) testing and remediation. Additionally, the Senators urged Secretary Austin to improve … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Lawmakers in Bicameral Push For President Biden To Issue A Major Disaster Declaration For Puerto Rico
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY-07) in a bicameral letter to President Joe Biden urging him to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for all of Puerto Rico's municipalities in response to Hurricane Fiona. Just days before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, Hurricane Fiona ravaged the island with … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Duckworth, Hirono, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Better Protect New Parents Traveling with Breast Milk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for parents to safely travel with breast milk. The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Steve Daines (R-MT), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk, baby formula and other related nutrition products in … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Duckworth & Durbin Relieved by Release of American Hostage in Afghanistan Mark Frerichs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statements after the family of Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan held hostage for more than two and a half years after being abducted in Afghanistan in 2020, announced that Mark has been freed from Taliban custody: "It's a profound relief that Mark Frerichs, a Navy Veteran who served our nation honorably, is now safely back in American hands after being kidnapped in Afghanistan more than two and a … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau, Touts Benefits of Inflation Reduction Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Illinois Farm Bureau members and leadership this week to discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act and the 2023 Farm Bill will help support our nation's farmers and rural communities. During the meeting, Duckworth and the group also emphasized that protecting our state's waterways and transportation infrastructure, as well as working to minimize supply chain disruptions are critical components of supporting and growing Illinois's … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Duckworth Blasts Republican Proposal to Ban Abortions Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and her colleagues for a press conference condemning the new Republican proposal to establish a nationwide abortion ban. Video of the Senator's remarks can be found here. Key quotes: This proposal makes obvious that Republicans never really wanted to leave … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
Duckworth: Republicans Already Trying to Ban Abortion Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced legislation to establish a nationwide abortion ban: "If you still don't believe Republicans want to ban all abortions nationwide, you're not paying attention. After a decades-long campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade, this proposal lays bare, in black and white, that Republicans never really wanted to 'leave women's rights to the states' like they have … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud DOT for Prioritizing Infrastructure Revitalization on Chicago’s West Side
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today are celebrating a significant infusion of federal resources to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program's Ogden Junction project on the city's west side. This support, which comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will help contribute to increased rail speed and flexibility to reduce delays, more capacity and … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3 Million For Illinois State Board of Education
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $3,000,000 in Competitive Grants for State Assessments for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This funding will allow ISBE to create innovative assessments for Spanish language arts students in grades 9 and 10, as well as significantly expand educator professional learning and parent/student engagement activities. "This infusion of federal support for … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $44 Million For Head Start Programs in Illinois
[CHICAGO. IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $44,270,775 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
September 09, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $19 Million for Health Care Research in Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and today announced $19,453,291 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding, which comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer prevention to mental health research. "By increasing support … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
Duckworth Joins Senator Warren and Representative Sherman to Reintroduce the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, Call for Passage of the PRO Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA-30) in reintroducing the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, which would support the right to unionize by prohibiting states from banning union security agreements through "right-to-work" laws. "Every American deserves to work in a safe, good-paying job that allows them to support their families and save for a secure retirement, and it is unacceptable … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Senate Unanimously Passes Duckworth, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Reduce the Spread of Toxic “Forever Chemicals” at Commercial Airports
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Gary Peters (MI) announced that bipartisan legislation to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports passed the U.S. Senate unanimously this week. The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would deploy more existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for commercial airports to purchase devices necessary to test their firefighting equipment without discharging … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Passing of Queen Elizabeth II
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II: "Like so many around the globe, my heart is with the Royal Family and all the people of the United Kingdom today. I admire anyone who serves their nation-and there was no better example of that than Queen Elizabeth II. After serving in uniform during World War II and then reigning as Queen for seven long decades, she truly led a life well-lived in service to her nation. … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Senate Unanimously Passes Duckworth, Peters Bipartisan Bill to Reduce the Spread of Toxic “Forever Chemicals” at Commercial Airports
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Gary Peters (MI) announced that bipartisan legislation to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports passed the U.S. Senate unanimously this week. The Preventing PFAS Runoff at Airports Act would deploy more existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for commercial airports to purchase devices necessary to test their firefighting equipment without discharging … Continue Reading
September 07, 2022
Duckworth, Hirono, Colleagues Applaud Landmark Abortion Access Measure for Veterans Amid Republican Attacks
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) condemned Republican attacks on the Biden Administration's landmark decision last week to allow the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to provide abortion care to Veterans and their eligible dependents to protect the health and life of the woman and in cases of rape or incest. The action comes after, Duckworth joined Hirono and more of their Democratic … Continue Reading
September 06, 2022
Duckworth Touts Democrats’ Prescription Drug Price Reductions at UI Health Mile Square Health Center
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited the UI Health Mile Square Health Center on the city's west side to meet with its staff and discuss how the Inflation Reduction Act, that she championed and secured key provisions in, will help thousands of Illinois's seniors and Black and Brown communities afford life-saving prescription drugs and how, for the first time ever, will allow Medicare to negotiate for lower medication costs. Photos from the visit are available … Continue Reading
September 02, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Nomination of Colleen Lawless to serve as District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois: "We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge for the Central District of … Continue Reading
September 01, 2022
Duckworth Leads Colleagues in Calling for a Federal Review on How AI Impacts Employment Opportunities for Americans with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to U.S. Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Lina Khan, U.S. Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Charlotte Burrows and U.S. Secretary of the Department of Labor (DoL) Martin Walsh to call for a thorough review of how artificial intelligence (AI), algorithms and algorithmic bias might play a role in discriminating against people with disabilities when it comes to employment opportunities and … Continue Reading
September 01, 2022
Duckworth on Migrant Families in Chicago: Everyone Deserves Support and Dignity
[CHICAGO, IL] - In response to the arrival of 75 migrants-including families-from the southern border as part of Governor Abbott's cruel and inhumane immigration policies, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "As these families and migrants arrive in Chicago, we must-and will-do our part to make sure they are welcomed with dignity. No disgusting, political and racist stunt by the Texas governor could stop us from doing that and I'm proud that Chicago is ready, … Continue Reading
