Press Releases
Duckworth, Rush Reintroduce Bill to Take on Gun Violence Epidemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-IL-01) reintroduced the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act, today, to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country. This legislation would prohibit unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license, as well as direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct … Continue Reading
May 11, 2022
Duckworth Reinforces Support for Illinois Being an Innovation Leader During Meeting with Fermilab’s First Woman Director
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Dr. Lia Merminga, the new and first woman director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab). During the meeting, Duckworth discussed her ongoing priorities including federal support for the lab's cutting-edge research projects, as well as the United States Innovation and Competition Act that would help maintain our nation's position as a global science, technology and manufacturing leader, strengthen the work of … Continue Reading
May 10, 2022
On Senate Floor, Duckworth Defends Women’s Right to Choose and Calls on Colleagues to Codify Roe v. Wade
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to emphasize to her colleagues the need to support basic rights and empower women across the country by passing the Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade. During her speech, Duckworth also shared how Roe v. Wade has impacted her journey to motherhood, as well as highlighted why overturning the precedent could have devastating effects for our nation. Duckworth's floor speech, which … Continue Reading
May 06, 2022
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Protect Wildlife & Water Sources from Toxic Lead Poisoning
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, introduced legislation to help protect innocent animals from toxic lead poisoning by limiting the use of lead bullets on federal lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Lead Endangers Animals Daily (LEAD) Act of 2022 would direct the Department of the Interior (DOI) to issue a final regulation prohibiting the use … Continue Reading
May 06, 2022
Duckworth Hosts National Security Council Discussion with Chicago Ukrainian Community
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a discussion to bring together members of Chicago's Ukrainian community with officials from the U.S. National Security Council to help provide residents with updates from the Biden Administration on its efforts in Ukraine. On her National Security Council call, Duckworth invited representatives from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America-Illinois Division, St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ukrainian Medical Association of … Continue Reading
May 06, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Brown, Collins to Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Honor America’s Teachers During Teacher Appreciation Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To honor our nation's teachers and commemorate National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to introduce a bipartisan resolution to recognize the important work of teachers across the nation, thank them for their efforts to prepare students for success and acknowledge the additional challenges teachers faced during school … Continue Reading
May 06, 2022
Ahead of Mother’s Day, Duckworth Discusses Supporting Working Families, Paid Leave During National Partnership for Women and Families Fireside Chat
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the National Partnership for Women and Families for a fireside chat to discuss her efforts in Congress to help empower working families and moms. During the event, Duckworth highlighted her bicameral Support Through Loss Act, which aims to raise awareness about pregnancy loss and establish new paid leave benefits for Americans experiencing painful challenges while seeking to grow their family. Duckworth also reiterated … Continue Reading
May 05, 2022
Duckworth, Carper, Booker Applaud Creation of New DOJ Office of Environmental Justice
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), co-founders of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus (EJC), today issued a joint statement applauding the EPA and DOJ for creating the Office of Environmental Justice to address environmental justice issues across the nation. "As co-founders of the Environmental Justice Caucus, we're pleased to see the Biden Administration making another big move to prioritize environmental … Continue Reading
May 05, 2022
Duckworth Secures Provisions to Expand Environmental Justice and Lower Local Cost Shares for Waterway Projects in Committee-Passed 2022 Water Infrastructure Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, and founding Co-Chair of the Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022 that passed EPW unanimously this week. The committee-passed WRDA, which now heads to the full Senate for consideration, … Continue Reading
May 04, 2022
Duckworth Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Advanced Manufacturing for Defense Department
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to help expand smart, strategic investments in advanced manufacturing that would help revolutionize the Department of Defense (DoD)'s ability to employ new defense technologies. The bipartisan Bioindustrial and Additive Manufacturing for America (BAMA) Act would spearhead research and development for … Continue Reading
May 04, 2022
Bipartisan Bill Introduced by Duckworth, Portman and Blumenthal to Protect Infants from Deadly “Crib Bumpers” Passes Congress and President Biden Expected to Sign Ban Into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to protect infant lives by banning the sale of padded crib bumpers-which have been proven to pose an unnecessary, deadly risk to sleeping infants-passed Congress last evening and is now headed to the White House to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The Safe Cribs Act, which was included in the legislation also banning dangerous inclined … Continue Reading
May 03, 2022
Duckworth Reacts to Reports of Draft Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reacted to reports that a majority of the Supreme Court has drafted an initial opinion that would effectively overturn Roe v. Wade: "If this draft opinion becomes reality, a small group far-right Justices would be stripping away protected constitutional rights that millions of American families-including my own-have relied on for 50 years and that 70% of Americans believe should be legal. The institution, and the Justices who … Continue Reading
May 03, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Discuss Renewable Energy and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with more than two dozen members of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, including the presidents and CEOs of several regional electric cooperatives. During the meeting, the Senators and the group discussed electric and electric vehicle infrastructure investments made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as the importance of transitioning our … Continue Reading
May 03, 2022
Duckworth Statement on the Passing of Former DOT Secretary and Asian-American Trailblazer Norm Mineta
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after the passing of one of her mentors, former U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta: "Norm Mineta was not only a leader in the Asian-American community and mentor to so many-myself included-over the last five decades, he was a giant of American history as well. As a first-generation Japanese American who was forced from his home and held in an internment camp as a boy during World … Continue Reading
April 29, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud HHS for Prioritizing Early Childhood Education in Southwest Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced an infusion of support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will be awarded to Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs are critical for kids throughout Illinois to have the tools they need to succeed both inside and outside of the … Continue Reading
April 29, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Nomination of David Capozzi to Amtrak Board of Directors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden nominated David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak's Board of Directors. Capozzi will serve in the designated disability advocate seat on the board, a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure an individual with a disability who has a demonstrated history or experience with accessibility, mobility and inclusive … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Duckworth and Durbin Join Hirono and Senate Colleagues in Supporting Biden Administration Proposal to Reverse Harmful Trump Immigration Rule
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and 10 of their Senate colleagues in submitting comments in support of the Biden Administration's proposal to better support immigrants by updating the "public charge" regulation. The Biden Administration's proposed regulation would replace the public charge rule enacted by the Trump Administration in 2019. The 2019 rule made it significantly more … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin statement on confirmation of LaDon Reynolds to Serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District Of Illinois
[WASHINGTON D.C.]-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 U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed LaDon Reynolds to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois: "LaDon Reynolds is a seasoned law enforcement veteran who will serve with distinction in this important role. Starting in 1994, Chief Reynolds held several high-ranking positions for the Oak … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Duckworth Reinforces Support for Restaurants in Meeting with Illinois Restaurant Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) to discuss the ongoing support needed for restaurants as they work to recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. Duckworth is a strong supporter of replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) and is a co-sponsor of the Continuing Emergency Support for Restaurants Act. "No one should be surprised that among the restaurants that managed to survive the deadly … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Duckworth Secures Support from Coast Guard Commandant Nominee for Her Efforts to Prevent Military Hunger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, met with Admiral Linda Fagan to discuss her nomination to become Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. During their conversation, Senator Duckworth secured Admiral Fagan's support for her efforts to update the law to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture excludes Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) when calculating a U.S. Coast Guard active duty member's … Continue Reading
