Press Releases
Duckworth Discusses American Rescue Plan, Voting Rights and Investments in Communities of Color During Tri-County Urban League Town Hall Meeting
[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a town hall meeting with the Tri-County Urban League in Peoria to discuss how federal funding in President Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) can help municipal governments recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and build back an economy that works for everyone. During the town hall, Duckworth and the community members also discussed infrastructure investments in communities of color, criminal justice reform and voting … Continue Reading
July 03, 2021
Duckworth Honors Peoria Veterans at War Memorial Dedication Ceremony
[PEORIA, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today helped honor Peoria County Veterans at the A Final Salute War Memorial Dedication Ceremony. Today, the third and final addition to the memorial was dedicated, entitled "Lady Liberty: Monument to the First Female Fighter Pilots." In her keynote, Duckworth highlighted the importance of diversity to the strength of our military. Photos from today's event are available here. Key Quotes: "I'm here today because of them. … Continue Reading
July 02, 2021
Duckworth Applauds Biden Admin’s New Initiative to Support Noncitizen Servicemembers & Veterans
Senator recently introduced a comprehensive legislative package to help protect servicemembers and Veterans from deportation [WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after the Biden Administration announced a new initiative to support noncitizen servicemembers and Veterans: "It is simply wrong that many brave men and women willing to … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Importance of American Rescue Plan Funding For Local Governments with DuPage County Mayors
[WOODRIDGE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with DuPage County municipal leaders and members of the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference (DMMC) to discuss how federal funding in President Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) can help municipal governments recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. In total, Illinois will receive more than $13 billion in relief funding, including more than $2 billion for municipal governments. Photos from today's event are available … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Newman Announce $19 Million for Archer Ave Grade Separation Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-IL-03) today announced $19.13 million in federal funding for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to support the Archer Avenue and the Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC) Grade Separation Project, which will help eliminate road-rail conflicts, avoid first responder delays, and reduce traffic congestion on Chicago's Southwest Side. The funding was awarded through the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Underwood Announce $5 Million for Plainfield’s 143rd Street Extension Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today announced that the Village of Plainfield has been awarded $5 million in federal funding to construct the eastern extension of 143rd Street, which will help alleviate traffic and improve safety for vehicles traveling through and within the Village. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Duckworth Discusses the Importance of Water Infrastructure with Wood Dale Officials
[WOOD DALE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leaders in Wood Dale and toured the city's ongoing Ward 2 & 3 Stormwater Improvement Project. While there, Duckworth met with several officials to discuss the project and her bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which the Senate passed in April and would invest more than $35 billion for water resource development projects across the country with a focus on upgrading aging infrastructure, addressing … Continue Reading
June 29, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Hirono, Murray in Introducing Bill to Double Pell Grant Awards to Help Make College More Affordable
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Patty Murray (D-WA) and 18 of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to help make college more affordable. The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act would double the Pell Grant award, index the award to inflation and make other changes to expand the award for working students and families. "Those of us who weren't always sure we'd … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Casey to Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Home Care and Community Supports for Seniors and People with Disabilities, Invest in Home Care Workers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to introduce the Better Care Better Jobs Act, a key element of President Biden's American Jobs Plan. This legislation would make a historic investment in home and community-based services by strengthening and expanding … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Economic Growth and Infrastructure with Greater St. Louis, Inc.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today attended the Greater St. Louis, Inc.'s Illinois Public Affairs Network virtual speaker series event and met with business and economic leaders from the Greater St. Louis metro area. Duckworth and the group discussed the path to rebuilding our nation's crumbling infrastructure, Scott Air Force Base's role as an economic driver in the region and her Senate-passed Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which would invest … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Support for Servicemembers with Air Force Sergeants Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual Q&A with members of the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) Chapter 872 from Scott Air Force Base. Duckworth was joined by AFSA Chapter 872 President Master Sergeant Amanda Rainford, AFSA Chapter 872 Secretary Technical Sergeant Patrick Costello, AFSA Chapter 872 Senior Advisor Master Sergeant Rhonnie Bronson and other chapter members to discuss necessary servicemember support such as … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin announce nearly $60 million in federal funding for Illinois rural communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $59,193,800 in federal loans and grants for rural communities in Illinois. The funding, awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program, will go to ten communities in Illinois to rebuild and modernize essential services. "Federal investments like these will help rural communities across Illinois improve infrastructure, … Continue Reading
June 25, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $7 Million for Clean Public Transit Service in Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $6,988,646 in federal funding to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Low and No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle Grant Program. This federal investment will help CTA purchase or lease low or no-emission public transportation vehicles in an effort to provide more energy efficient public transit in the Chicago-area. "Updating Chicago's public transit system … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Duckworth Introduces Comprehensive Bill Package to Help Protect Servicemembers and Veterans from Deportation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today re-introduced several bills to protect and support Veterans and servicemembers who have proven they are willing to lay down their lives defending our nation. Duckworth's proposals-the Veterans Visa and Protection Act, HOPE Act and I-VETS Act-would prohibit the deportation of Veterans who are not violent offenders, give legal permanent residents a path to citizenship through military service and strengthen VA … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin call on President Biden to extend pause on student loan payments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), and Joe Courtney (D-CT-2), to send a bicameral letter to President Biden calling on him to extend the pause on federal student loan payments until at least March 31, 2022. "The scheduled resumption of student loan payments in October could create a significant drag on … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Schakowsky, Garcia, Trahan introduce Mentoring To Succeed Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-4) and Lori Trahan (D-MA-3), introduced the bicameral Mentoring to Succeed Act to provide a strong, sustainable support system through mentorship to ensure that children who experience barriers like poverty, inadequate schooling, disability, adverse childhood experiences, or drug or alcohol abuse, … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Duckworth Joins Blumenthal and Wyden in Introducing Expanded Legislation to Protect Domestic Abuse Survivors from Firearm Violence
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the Lori Jackson - Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act to protect domestic violence survivors from firearm violence. This legislation would close loopholes that allow domestic abusers to legally obtain weapons and establish a federal grant program to support state and local efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of domestic … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Duckworth Testifies at Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Deported Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) testified about the barriers servicemembers and Veterans face in the naturalization process as well as the urgent need for Congress to pass legislation that protects these individuals from deportation and ensures that they can access the benefits they have earned. Yesterday, Duckworth released a report that details … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Duckworth Chairs SASC Airland Subcommittee Hearing on Air Force Modernization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, led a subcommittee hearing on modernization programs in the Air Force's Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2022. Witnesses included the Military Deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Lieutenant General Duke Z. Richardson, USAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs Lieutenant General David S. Nahom … Continue Reading
June 22, 2021
Duckworth: Inaction on Voting Rights Could Have Devastating Impact on Our Nation
WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after a vote to proceed on the For The People Act, a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption of our politics and make government work for the people, failed in the Senate-despite all Democrats voting to move forward with debate on this critical voting rights legislation: "Republicans, under the guise of Donald Trump's Big Lie, are embarking on one of the most … Continue Reading
