Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Stops Blocking Funding for After School Programs, K-12 Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in sending a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought and Education Secretary Linda McMahon demanding the immediate release of nearly $7 billion in funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America that … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
Duckworth Joins Gallego and Colleagues in Condemning Trump Administration for Letting Credit Union Off the Hook for Overcharging Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and six of her colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration for its recent decision to terminate the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU). This decision effectively excuses NFCU from accountability for charging millions in illegal surprise overdraft fees to their members—primarily active-duty servicemembers, Veterans, Department of Defense employees and … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
As Trump’s Chaos Jeopardizes America’s Farmers, Duckworth Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders and members from the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Producers to discuss their shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical … Continue Reading
July 17, 2025
Duckworth Slams Senate Republicans for Voting to Gut Foreign Aid, Defund Public News Stations Millions Depend On
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) voted against Republican spending cuts that would cancel $9 billion in federal funding that supports foreign assistance and public news stations that millions of Americans depend on. Senate Republicans passed the rescissions package by a vote of 51-48. “Whether it’s his illegal funding freeze or empowering unelected bureaucrats to take a chainsaw to basic needs programs, Donald Trump has been on a mission to cut critical government … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Deputy Secretary of State Blames the Devoted Public Servants He Wrongfully Fired for Their Own Terminations in Wake of State Department RIFs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Continuing Donald Trump and his Administration’s long record of blaming victims, Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas today shamefully tried to argue that hundreds of dedicated State Department employees who were wrongfully fired by the Trump Administration last week were to blame for the Administration’s—and his—own poor decisions. In today’s U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) hearing, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) noted for Mr. Rigas that individuals … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Duckworth, Young, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Investment in Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Jim Risch (R-ID) in reintroducing the Investing in Main Street Act to increase investment in small businesses by permitting banks to invest up to 15 percent of their capital in Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC). “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy—when they grow, our economy grows,” said Duckworth. “Yet too many small business owners have trouble … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Duckworth Stresses Urgent Need to Modernize Our Air Traffic Control Systems at Summit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Ranking Member of the Aviation Subcommittee—today underscored both the long-term and immediate actions the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must take to improve and modernize our air traffic control systems in order to safeguard our aviation system and the flying public. At today’s Air Traffic Control Modernization Summit hosted by aviation … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
Duckworth Secures Key Provisions to Protect Rock Island Arsenal, Support Illinois Quantum Technology Research and Safeguard Care for Veterans
[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 to support our state’s residents, Servicemembers, Veterans and economy in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC recently approved last week and the full Senate will now consider. Some of the priorities Duckworth secured to help … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
Duckworth Secures Provisions to Strengthen Public Trust in the Military and Enhance Civil Rights in Committee-Passed NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved last week and the full Senate will now consider that would strengthen public trust of the military, enhance civil rights and curb misuse of our military for civilian law enforcement. As the Trump Administration continues to send federal … Continue Reading
July 14, 2025
Duckworth Secures IVF Coverage Expansion for Servicemembers and Military Families in Committee-Passed NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and had both of her daughters through in vitro fertilization (IVF)—successfully secured a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) approved last week which would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including IVF for servicemembers who rely on it to build their families. … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Spending Bill With Illinois Priorities Secured by Duckworth, Durbin
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a funding bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in this appropriations bill, both through Congressionally Directed Spending requests and through the programmatic … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Duckworth Joins Durbin, Colleagues in Pressing Trump Administration on Weaponizing Immigration Court Hearings to Trap, Arrest, Deport Immigrants
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and 20 Senate Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration on its recent initiatives to weaponize immigration court hearings as an inhumane trap to arrest immigrants who are just trying to follow the law by terminating their immigration court cases and deporting them without adequate due process. In a letter to Attorney … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Duckworth Secures Several Key Priorities in Committee-Passed NDAA To Expand IVF Coverage, Strengthen Oversight of Domestic Military Deployments, Boost American Manufacturing and More
[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 to support servicemembers and boost American competitiveness and national security in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that SASC approved this week and the full Senate will now consider. Among the provisions that the Senator secured in … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $942K for Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $942,571 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Authority for Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport to be used for runway rehabilitation. “Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is an essential economic hub for the Springfield and the source of jobs for so many working families,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin … Continue Reading
July 11, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $400K for Willard Airport
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $400,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Authority for the University of Illinois Willard Airport to be used for runway rehabilitation. “Illinois’s airports are critical economic engines for our state,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this federal funding to help modernize and improve … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Duckworth, Booker, SFRC Colleagues Demand Answers Regarding State Department Layoffs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and their fellow members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) in writing a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing deep concerns with imminent Reductions in Force (RIFs) at the State Department and requested answers on the Trump Administration’s process for carrying out these layoffs. The Senators wrote: “RIFs should remain a tool of last resort, and if implemented … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Duckworth Outraged by Trump Administration’s Plans to Fire Hundreds of State Department Patriots
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today after the Trump Administration announced plans to indiscriminately fire hundreds of civil service and Foreign Service Officers: “Once again, Trump’s illegal, chaotic actions are putting our servicemembers at greater risk, undermining our national security and making all Americans less safe. It was Trump’s first Secretary of Defense, Jim Mattis, who said ‘If you don’t fund the State Department fully, … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Duckworth Joins Padilla, Booker in Effort to Require Immigration Officers to Display Clear Identification
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and 10 of their colleagues in introducing legislation requiring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to display clearly visible identification during public-facing enforcement actions. The Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025 would strengthen oversight, transparency and accountability for the Trump … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Duckworth, Kim, Sewell Renew Push to Improve Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of both the U.S. Senate Committees on Armed Services (SASC) and Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC)—along with U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) reintroduced legislation that would improve access to prenatal care for military families. Specifically, the Improving Access to Prenatal Care for Military Families Act would create a Department of Defense (DoD) pilot program to … Continue Reading
July 09, 2025
Duckworth Grills Trump’s Singapore Ambassador Nominee: “This is Not a Glamour Posting—You Need to Shape Up and Do Your Homework”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) grilled Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, Dr. Anjani Sinha, at his confirmation hearing today, exposing how deeply unqualified he is for this critically important role. During the Senator’s line of questioning, Dr. Sinha failed to answer several basic, important questions, proving he doesn’t know the first thing about maintaining not only the U.S.-Singapore partnership, but any of our relationships with … Continue Reading