Press Releases
Duckworth Introduces New Legislation to Help Address Military Recruitment Crisis by Expanding Pool of Talented Potential Recruits
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee and a former Army Black Hawk pilot who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years—is introducing new legislation to help improve military recruitment efforts by allowing highly skilled and motivated individuals to succeed in the military while still maintaining the Department of Defense’s (DoD) security requirements and high enlistment standards. The Enlist Act would expand … Continue Reading
July 19, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Importance of Ethanol Production and Increased Use of U.S. Biofuels with Illinois Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders and members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association as well as with members from the Renewable Fuels Association Board of Directors (RFA) to underscore her support for ethanol production, as well as her commitment to helping strengthen our national and energy security, drive down gas prices, support our farmers, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive rural economic opportunity in Illinois and across the … Continue Reading
July 18, 2023
Duckworth Introduces New Legislation to Address Aviation Safety Crisis by Strengthening Pilot Training
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As FAA reauthorization negotiations continue and our nation faces an ongoing aviation safety crisis, 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—introduced the Experienced Pilots Save Lives Act to strengthen pilot training standards and uphold the 1,500-hour rule, which was enacted in 2010 after the last commercial … Continue Reading
July 18, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1.5 Million for Health Care 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 $1,509,844 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 cancer to immunology. “With world-class research institutions, Illinois is the ideal place to work toward medical advancements,” said … Continue Reading
July 13, 2023
Duckworth Introduces Legislation to Improve Nation’s Security, Strengthen the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced new legislation to improve national security by strengthening our United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). The Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act would empower the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to recruit, retain and mobilize an elite sustainment force of Public Health Service uniformed servicemembers in response to public health emergencies. … Continue Reading
July 12, 2023
Duckworth Blasts Tuberville for Politicizing Military, Holding Military Families Hostage and Putting National Security at Risk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) again misrepresented his damaging and unprecedented effort to impose his own personal political agenda—which even Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) disapproves of—on the Department of Defense, U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called him out for his months-long blanket hold on military promotions that has left our Marines without a Commandant for the first time in more than a century, holds our … Continue Reading
July 12, 2023
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Priorities with Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders and members of the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) as well as with leaders from the Illinois Soybean Association today to discuss Illinois’s agricultural priorities as Congress is set to reauthorize the Farm Bill this year. Duckworth and the members also discussed the state’s ongoing drought conditions. Photos from today’s IFB meeting are available here, and photos from today’s Illinois Soybean Association meeting are … Continue Reading
July 07, 2023
Duckworth, Kelly, Murkowski, Manchin Statements on Administration Plans to Provide Additional Weapons to Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statements on the administration’s decision to provide additional weapons and capabilities to Ukraine, including cluster munitions, to support their fight against Russia. “The human suffering caused by Putin’s unprovoked and inexcusable attack on Ukraine’s sovereign territory demands our sustained attention, which is why I support the Biden … Continue Reading
July 06, 2023
Key Duckworth Provisions in New National Defense Bill Would Support Hundreds of Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions in the committee-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will support and benefit Illinois. Some of Duckworth’s Illinois priorities included by the committee include supporting school districts near military bases to receive Impact … Continue Reading
July 04, 2023
On Anniversary of Highland Park Shooting, Duckworth Honors Victims at Remembrance Ceremony and Community Walk
[HIGHLAND PARK, IL] - On the one-year anniversary of the Fourth of July mass shooting, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) returned to Highland Park to join with community members and leaders for a remembrance ceremony and community walk. Today’s ceremony honored the memory of the seven lives lost, followed by a walk with community members along the 2022 parade route. Duckworth today joined leaders including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Duckworth Reacts to Supreme Court Decision Ending Affirmative Action in Higher Education
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court’s misguided decision to end affirmative action in the college admissions process: “For decades, affirmative action helped chip away at systemic barriers and discrimination against students of color in our education system’s college admissions process. Let’s be clear: colorblindness has never been a true friend of fairness—it ignores our history and perpetuates … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Duckworth, Murray Announce A New Resolution Condemning Republican Efforts to Undermine Reproductive, Gender-Affirming & Contraceptive Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Republicans continue their push for legislation that severely limits basic healthcare for women and LGBTQIA+ Americans in states across the country, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced the introduction of a resolution that would condemn these misguided, dangerous attempts to criminalize the full range of sexual and reproductive healthcare including abortion, gender-affirming care and contraceptive care. The resolution also … Continue Reading
June 28, 2023
Ahead of President Biden’s Address in Chicago, Duckworth Reinforces Democrats’ Commitment to Working Families
[CHICAGO, IL] - U. S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined President Joe Biden to highlight the President and Democrats' legislative successes to bring down costs and to help support working families. Thanks to investments from legislative accomplishments that Duckworth voted for like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, the American Rescue Plan, the CHIPS and Science Act and more, Illinois and our entire nation is seeing our economy grow. Duckworth spoke … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $45 Million to Help Ensure Chicagoland’s Public Transit Works for Everyone
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Chicagoland region will receive $45 million in U.S. Department of Transportation funds to make public transportation systems more efficient, ADA accessible and environmentally friendly. Today's investment includes $25 million for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to help install electric bus charging equipment at the 95th Street Terminal, as well as infrastructure to support an electric bike … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Duckworth Delivers Commencement Speech at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Graduation Ceremony
[BETHESDA, MD] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered the commencement address for advanced medical degree graduates at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's 2023 National Capital Consortium graduation ceremony. The graduation ceremony celebrated more than 200 military medical graduates, honoring their commitment and service to the United States. After Duckworth's helicopter was hit by an RPG while deployed in Iraq, she spent the next year recovering at … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1 Billion in Federal Funding for Affordable, Reliable High-Speed Internet Infrastructure in Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,040,420,751 in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This funding will help to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed internet infrastructure to help close the digital divide across Illinois. Today's announcement is part of more than $42 billion announced nationwide to expand high-speed … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $36.7 Million in Funding for Illinois Transit Systems from Department of Transportation’s Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Programs
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $36,709,423 in grant funding awarded to Illinois transit systems by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Low-No and Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Programs. Duckworth and Durbin also secured $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for a new pilot program … Continue Reading
June 23, 2023
Duckworth Provision to Expand Reproductive Care, Help Servicemembers Start and Grow Families Included in NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions in the committee-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will support our servicemembers, enhance strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, improve logistics to bolster readiness and energy resiliency and continue to restore … Continue Reading
June 23, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Help Introduce Bill to Repeal the Firearm Industry’s Legal Liability Shield
[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, joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA)-along with 76 other members of Congress-in reintroducing the bicameral Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, legislation to ensure that victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent firearm companies and sellers are not … Continue Reading
June 23, 2023
Duckworth Marks One Year of Post-Roe America, Reinforces Commitment to Protecting Reproductive Rights
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and stripped millions of women of their right to access the reproductive care they deserve, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "One year after the Supreme Court's disastrous Dobbs decision, I remain just as outraged and horrified by Republicans' barbaric, relentless efforts to strip Americans of their … Continue Reading