Press Releases
Duckworth Holds Virtual Fireside Chat on Racial and Ethnic Wealth Gap, 30th ADA Anniversary and COVID-19 Recovery with Chicago Community Trust
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, today participated in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Chicago Community Trust President and CEO Dr. Helene Gayle to discuss the Senator's efforts to close the wealth gap that exists between Americans of color and white Americans. In light of ongoing calls for racial equity and the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Duckworth and Gayle also … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Duckworth, Schakowsky, Clay Applaud GAO Agreement to Investigate the Availability of Accessible Public Housing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee and Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Chair of the Housing, Community Development and Insurance Subcommittee recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office requesting a report on the availability of affordable, accessible housing in the twenty-five largest metropolitan areas in the United … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Duckworth, Wyden, Kaine Introduce Bill to Prohibit Federal Law Enforcement Officers From Wearing Camouflage Patterns in the U.S.
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced legislation to prohibit federal law enforcement officers from wearing camouflage patterns in the United States in most cases, since they can easily be confused for military personnel when doing so. At a House Armed … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Duckworth Honors the Legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Senate Floor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor earlier today to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy. Senator Duckworth's remarks discussed a few of the ways that Justice Ginsburg's landmark decisions impacted her own military career and family life. Video of the Senator's speech is available here. Key quotes: "Ruth Bader Ginsburg helped make my career possible… she helped make my hope of one day serving in a combat role regardless of my … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Proposal to Weaken the Endangered Species Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife that has jurisdiction over the Endangered Species Act, released the following statement after participating in a legislative hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works to examine S. 4589, Endangered Species Act Amendments of 2020. Watch her full remarks here. "The Endangered Species Act plays a vital role in protecting species … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Announce $5.8 Million For Chicago Rockford International Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today announced $5.8 million in federal funding for Chicago Rockford International Airport. The funding, which is from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will be used for the construction of a larger cargo apron to meet growing demand. "Chicago Rockford International Airport is an important economic engine for the Stateline area and today's funding … Continue Reading
September 23, 2020
Duckworth, Merkley, Booker Introduce Legislation Urging EPA to Reverse Trump’s Weakening of Clean Water Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works' Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and five of their colleagues introduced a resolution today calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to maintain and strengthen Clean Water Act protections following the Trump Administration's relentless attacks on the landmark law. The resolution also recognizes the … Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Call On Republicans to Stand for Science and Support Bill to Stop Political Interference in COVID-19 Response
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and 30 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Science and Transparency Over Politics (STOP) Act, legislation to fight back against political interference by the Trump Administration in the work of experts and the nation's public health agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. "As we mourn the loss of … Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
USCIS Implements Duckworth’s Law Fixing Immigration Policy for Children of U.S. Servicemembers and Civil Servants
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has now implemented a bipartisan law authored by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) that honors the service of our military and the dedication of our civil servants by making sure that their children born while stationed abroad, as well as stepchildren and adopted children, automatically acquire U.S. citizenship. Specifically, her Citizenship for Children of Military Members & Civil Servants Act-which she introduced … Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $300,000 for Clean Energy Innovation in the Midwest
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $299,703 in federal funding today to Chicago's Clean Energy Trust (CET). With this investment, CET will be able to help close the funding gap in the clean technology space by supporting new companies in raising additional resources. The grant comes through the U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Build to Scale Program, which supports technology-based economic development … Continue Reading
September 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Markey, Schumer, Cantwell, Colleagues in Demanding Urgent Action by FCC to Connect Students to Online Learning
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and 33 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to immediately utilize the E-Rate program to provide internet connectivity to students at home. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, students across the country are increasingly attending virtual … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after learning of the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "There are no words to adequately express just how devastated and heartbroken I am to learn of the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Not only did our nation lose a brilliant jurist, we lost a hero-a 5'1" giant who gave a voice to girls and women everywhere and moved the needle forward in our long fight toward justice and … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Feinstein, 39 Senators to Call for Investigation on Alleged Forced Hysterectomies at ICE Facility
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, joined U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 39 of their Senate colleagues today to call on the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to expeditiously investigate a whistleblower complaint alleging forced hysterectomies at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) in Ocilla, Georgia. "Forced sterilizations infringe on … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $16 Million In VAWA Funding For Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $15.9 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help Illinois agencies and community groups provide critical support and protections for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Today's funding comes from various DOJ programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to prevent, combat, and investigate sexual assault and violence … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $10 Million For Springfield Rail Improvement Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the City of Springfield has been awarded $10 million in federal funding for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project. Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, will fund the replacement of two existing rail bridges at the South Grand Avenue and Cook Street underpasses with … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
GAO Accepts Duckworth Request for an Independent Review of “Less-Lethal” Weapons
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, released the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) officially accepted her request to have the congressional watchdog conduct an independent review of how federal agencies assess the safety, appropriateness and effectiveness of so-called 'less-lethal' weapons intended for crowd … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $10 Million for Springfield Rail Improvement Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the City of Springfield has been awarded $10 million in federal funding for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project. Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program, will fund the replacement of two existing rail bridges at the South Grand Avenue and Cook Street underpasses with … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin: Trump Administration Rollback Of Toxic Metals Pollution Regulation Could Further Harm Lake Michigan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration's recent rollback of Obama-era pollution standards, specifically a 2015 rule that regulates how coal-fired power plants dispose of toxic metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium in wastewater that flows into U.S. bodies of water, including Lake Michigan. In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Duckworth and … Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Duckworth Statement on EPA Decision to Deny Small Refinery Exemptions Under Renewable Fuel Standard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) recent decision to deny small refinery exemptions (SRE) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): "Thanks to Donald Trump, farmers across Illinois and throughout the Midwest have been hurting and ethanol plants have been idled while this administration continued to abuse the small refinery exemption program to undermine the bipartisan renewable fuel standard," … Continue Reading
September 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Schumer, Warren To Introduce Resolution Calling On President To Cancel Student Loan Debt For Federal Borrowers
[WASHINGTON], D.C. - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today to introduce a resolution outlining a bold plan for the President of the United States to use existing authority under the Higher Education Act to cancel up to $50,000 in Federal student loan debt for Federal student loan borrowers. The resolution outlines how the President should use executive authority to cancel … Continue Reading
