Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Demand Additional Federal Resources at O'Hare from Trump Administration
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After hundreds of passengers were forced to wait in close quarters for hours on end in order to clear medical screenings at customs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s COVID-19 National Emergency Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump issued an emergency disaster declaration under the Stafford Act to strengthen federal support to state, local and tribal efforts to protect public health during the COVID-19 pandemic: "The Trump Administration botched its response to the COVID-19 outbreak from the beginning by eliminating the office that could have helped our country prepare for this pandemic, rejecting the World … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3.5 Million For Maternal And Child Health Services In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth today announced $3,531,780 in federal funding awarded to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to support health care for low-income mothers, children, and families. This funding is provided through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "With this grant, the Illinois Department of … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Landmark Legislation to Fund PFAS Cleanup
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in introducing legislation to help communities combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and exposure in drinking water and groundwater. The Providing Financial Assistance to States (PFAS) for Testing and Treatment Act would provide substantial federal funding for PFAS remediation in drinking water, and groundwater, … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth Presses USCIS for Answers on Accessibility Policies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to Ken Cuccinelli, the senior official performing the duties of the director at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), demanding USCIS answer whether the actions taken in the Lucio Delgado case were consistent with USCIS policies and provide detailed descriptions of the agency's guidance and resources related to individuals with disabilities. According to reports, last week USCIS failed to provide Mr. Delgado-a … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
Duckworth: Defense Department Should Begin Preparing National Guard and Reserve Units to Assist in the COVID-19 Outbreak
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), in a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper today highlighted concerns that the Department of Defense has not yet taken proactive steps to ensure the readiness of National Guard and Reserve units to support local civilian authorities should the COVID-19 pandemic continue to spread. Senator Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Capito Honor Girl Scouts of America
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), co-chairs of the Girl Scouts' Honorary Troop Capitol Hill, today introduced a resolution recognizing the Girl Scouts of America on its 108th birthday and celebrating its legacy of building powerful female leaders. "Girl Scouts helped teach me the importance of service as well as the leadership skills that I use in the Senate every day," said Senator Duckworth. "I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Establish Memorial Commemorating Efforts of Women on the Home Front During WWII
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation today to establish a new memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor the contributions of the estimated 18 million women who helped keep our nation's economy and society running during World War II by working as pilots, engineers, taxi drivers, letter carriers, code breakers and more. The Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act would also … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Protect Frontline Health Care Workers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act today, legislation that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate an emergency temporary standard to protect frontline health care workers who are at increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Similar legislation was introduced in the House on Monday and included as part of the House's package of proposals to address the coronavirus … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Request for the IRS to Extend Tax-Filing Deadline for Individual Taxpayers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and 18 of their colleagues in urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig to extend the April 15, 2020 tax-filing deadline to provide taxpayers greater flexibility amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Currently, there are more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus in 38 states, including 25 in Illinois. "Given the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Press CDC on Shortage of Coronavirus Test Kit Supplies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield for information on the potential shortage of enzymes needed for CDC coronavirus test kits. Health officials in Illinois have indicated they may not have enough testing supplies to cover their diagnostic needs over the next two weeks. Further, they have not received word from the CDC … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Illinois Congressional Democrats: Border Wall Reprogramming Will Result in Shortfalls of Illinois National Guard Equipment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressing concern over the shortfalls of equipment for the Illinois National Guard in the wake of the Department of Defense's (DOD) decision to transfer National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) funds to be used to build part of President Donald Trump's ineffective wall on the southwest border. For Fiscal Year 2020, the Illinois Army National … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Call On President Trump to Utilize FEMA's Disaster Relief Funds to Aid State and Local Response to Coronavirus Outbreak
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's state of emergency declaration in response to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and 27 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately consider any disaster declarations so states can utilize the $42.6 billion currently available in the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Presses EPA Deputy Administrator Nominee for Clarity on Trump Administration’s Broken Promises to Farmers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At a U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) nomination hearing, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) pressed Doug Benevento, the Nominee to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to commit to suspending any action on small refinery hardship waiver requests until the Administration decides whether or not to appeal a recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The Tenth Circuit's unanimous decision … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Initiatives with Illinois Farm Bureau
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss Illinois priorities and agriculture policies. Photos from both meetings are available here. "The strength of America's farmers is a reflection of the strength of our nation," Duckworth said. "I enjoyed meeting with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss their concerns and how I can be helpful to their businesses and families back home. I will continue to advocate on behalf … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Lipinski Press Wabtec on Positive Train Control Implementation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3) yesterday wrote to Wabtec Corporation President and CEO Rafael Santana to express concerns around positive train control (PTC) safety technology implementation in northeastern Illinois and the approaching federal deadline of December 31, 2020. Wabtec is working with Metra on software components needed for PTC, with anticipated delivery in late April, but any delay in … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Duckworth Honored with American Association of People with Disabilities’ ADA Legacy Award
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last night received the American Association of People with Disabilities' (AAPD) ADA Legacy Award at AAPD's annual leadership award gala, recognizing her work advocating for disability rights. Duckworth reflected on the advancements in disability rights since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 30 years ago, spoke about the work she's continuing to do on the federal level to expand the rights for people with disabilities … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth Condemns USCIS for Failing to Follow Civil Rights Law for Blind Man Seeking Citizenship Test
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to Kevin Riddle, Field Office Director at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), urging the agency immediately reverse course and provide Lucio Delgado, a blind man who is a legal permanent resident living in Illinois, with proper accommodations for his upcoming citizenship test. According to reports, last week USCIS failed to provide Mr. Delgado with a Braille test, which was part of his request for the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), introduced the Great American Outdoors Act, landmark legislation to preserve and protect our country's public lands. The bipartisan legislation provides permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addresses the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks and other land management … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth Meets with EPA Deputy Administrator Nominee Ahead of His Nomination Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today met with the nominee to be Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Doug Benevento. During the meeting, the two discussed Benevento's views on issues impacting Illinois such as the Trump Administration's abuse of the Renewable Fuel Standard's small refinery hardship waivers and EPA's new "no surprise inspections" policy. … Continue Reading
