Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $375,000 For City of Rockford Through Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program
[ROCKFORD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the city of Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded $375,031 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. This is the first round of funding from this program, making Rockford one of the first awardees in the nation. The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program is the first federal program dedicated to reconnecting … Continue Reading
February 23, 2023
Duckworth Applauds Implementation of Her Bipartisan Law to Help Connect Incarcerated Americans with Their Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for her actions to implement the Senator's new law to strengthen the nation's criminal justice system. The Senator's law, the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, helps families keep in touch with their incarcerated family members, which studies have shown can help reduce recidivism rates and thereby save taxpayer dollars. The … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin & Budzinski Applaud DOT for Supporting University of Illinois Urbana Champaign’s Future Transportation Experts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced that the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign's Transportation Infrastructure Precast Innovation Center will receive $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Today's announcement comes through DOT's University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, which supports colleges and universities' research efforts to advance … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Urge Biden Administration to Limit Availability Of Junk Health Care Plans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take immediate action and address short-term limited duration insurance (STLDI) plans, or junk plans, which fail to provide adequate, comprehensive health insurance coverage. "Now, more than ever, the Department of Health and Human Services … Continue Reading
February 22, 2023
Duckworth in Indonesia to Continue Work Strengthening Ties Throughout Southeast Asia
[JAKARTA, INDONESIA] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today arrived in Indonesia on a Congressional delegation she arranged in her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between Southeast Asia and the United States. Indonesia is the second half in Duckworth's trip to Asia this week, following a stop in Japan, her first trip abroad as a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Duckworth will meet with government and business leaders, including Association … Continue Reading
February 21, 2023
Duckworth Calls on President Biden to Expand Efforts to Keep Infant Formula Affordable and Available
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As our nation's troubling infant formula shortage continues and with yet another recall announced this week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on President Biden to expand efforts to keep formula on store shelves and keep prices affordable for working families. In a letter sent today, Duckworth urged the President to act under existing emergency authority to temporarily waive tariffs on select infant formula products to help lower prices and increase supply … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023
Duckworth in Japan, Working to Expand Investments in Illinois & Strengthen Ties
[TOKYO, JAPAN] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) arrived in Japan on a Congressional delegation she arranged in her continuing efforts to strengthen economic ties and grow that country's investments in the United States, specifically in Illinois. In her first trip abroad as a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth will meet with government, trade and economic leaders as well as corporate and business officials to highlight how Illinois is uniquely positioned for … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Krishnamoorthi, Ramirez Urge Surface Transportation Board to Defer Decision on Canadian Pacific And Kansas City Southern Rail Merger Until Further Study Of Impacts On Chicago Region
[WASHINGTON, D.C]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman urging the STB to defer any decision on the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroads until the STB completes a more accurate assessment of the impacts of the merger on the Chicago … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Duckworth, Blackburn, Casey Applaud CMS Decision to Cover Seat Elevation Systems in Power Wheelchairs Under Medicare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following their bipartisan request, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bob Casey (D-PA) issued the following joint statement after the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposal to provide Medicare coverage for seat elevation systems embedded in power wheelchairs for the first time ever: "This new proposal from CMS is a big deal and will positively impact the lives of so many Americans with disabilities. We … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Japanese, Thai Ambassadors to U.S.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, this week met with Ambassador Tanee Sangrat, Ambassador of Thailand to the U.S. as well as Koji Tomita, Ambassador of Japan to the U.S., to discuss ongoing priorities and strengthening relationships between the U.S. and both countries. Photos from the Senator's meeting with Ambassador Sangrat are available here, and photos from her meeting with … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Duckworth, Murkowski Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Military Hunger
[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), and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led more than a dozen of their Senate colleagues today in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to support active duty military families experiencing food insecurity and prevent hunger in these families. Duckworth's Military Family Nutrition Access Act would address … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Join Reed, Collins and Senate Colleagues in Call For HHS To Release Remaining $1.5 Billion In LIHEAP Funding To States
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and 28 of their Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to swiftly release the $1.5 billion in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that Congress delivered in fiscal year (FY) 2023. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Duckworth Meets with Turkish Ambassador Following Devastating Earthquakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, met with Ambassador Murat Mercan, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S., to discuss the ways in which the United States can help Türkiye recover from the devastating earthquakes that have killed more than 35,000 people in the country. Duckworth also raised concerns over Türkiye's obstruction in approving North Atlantic Treaty Organization … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Duckworth Presses FAA Acting Administrator on Cause of January’s Nationwide Ground Stop
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator 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, today questioned Federal Aviation administration (FAA) Acting Administrator Billy Nolen on the cause of January's nationwide ground stop-the first since September 11, 2001-and what the FAA is doing to eliminate single points of failure that can cause a systemwide shutdown. This … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Duckworth Joins Warren and Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Do More to Protect Reproductive Freedom
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and ten of their Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to take new steps to protect reproductive freedom amidst divided control of Congress and increasing efforts to restrict access to abortion across the country. "Each day, women's lives are threatened because they are denied access to essential health care," wrote the Senators. … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
New Bipartisan Duckworth-Fischer Bill Introduced to Help Travelers with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As far too many passengers with disabilities continue to experience unnecessary obstacles and challenges when flying, today U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced bipartisan legislation that would improve transparency surrounding the increasing disability-related complaints with air travel. The Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023 would ensure the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) publishes … Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Duckworth, Ernst Urge EPA to Remove Regulatory Barrier on Ethanol, Provide Certainty for Farmers and Consumers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Biden administration requesting they remove a regulatory barrier for gasoline-ethanol blends-like E15-by expeditiously implementing the long-awaited request of Midwest governors. This move would allow their states to sell E15 year-round, providing much-needed certainty to farmers, producers and consumers who are directly impacted by the decisions and actions of … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Nomination of Colleen Lawless to Serve As District Court Judge For The Central 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 Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance 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 the Senate Judiciary Committee has once again advanced the nomination of Judge Colleen Lawless to fill a judicial … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Re-Introduce Bill to Establish 1908 Springfield Race Riot Site as a National Monument
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today re-introduced legislation to designate the sites of the 1908 Race Riot in Springfield, Illinois, as a national monument. This tragedy where Black Illinoisans were targeted by white residents with violence and destruction of their homes and businesses was the catalyst for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which was founded 114 years ago this week. The … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Repeal 1991 & 2002 AUMFs, Formally Ending Gulf and Iraq Wars
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) and U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Chip Roy (R-TX-21), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Tom Cole (R-OK-04) to reintroduce bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs), formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars, and reassert Congress' Constitutional … Continue Reading
