Press Releases
Duckworth Speaks at National Clean Energy Week Symposium
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today discussed the importance of clean energy to our nation's economy, national security and environment during the National Clean Energy Week Symposium at the National Press Club. Duckworth, who serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, also highlighted legislation she has introduced to bolster our nation's clean energy while reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, such as the Low Income Solar Energy Act and … Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
At U of I Advocacy Day in DC, Duckworth Highlights Importance of Federal Higher Education Funding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch in a fireside chat at the University of Illinois System's D.C. Advocacy Day with administrators, students and alumni from the system's campuses in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield. Duckworth discussed the importance of federal support for higher education institutions, her higher education legislative priorities and how University of Illinois can support … Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Senate Passes Duckworth-Durbin Resolution Honoring Life and Achievements of Disability Rights Advocate Marca Bristo
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution yesterday introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) honoring the life of Marca Bristo and acknowledging her tireless work for the disability community. Bristo reached out to Duckworth a few months after Duckworth returned home from Walter Reed Hospital, and quickly became a friend and counselor to her, especially on disability issues. "Without Marca's work over the last 30 years, the Americans … Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Duckworth Votes to Terminate Donald Trump’s National Emergency Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, after the Senate voted for a second time to terminate Donald Trump's national emergency declaration to raid military construction funds to build an ineffective border wall he promised Mexico would pay for, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement: "Donald Trump's failure to convince Congress to force Americans to pay for his wall may be a national embarrassment for him, but it is not a … Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Duckworth Receives the 2019 Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Last night during the Annual Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Gala, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) accepted the prestigious 2019 Gordon H. Mansfield Congressional Leadership Award for her tireless advocacy for the civil rights of Veterans and all individuals with disabilities. Duckworth was deployed to Iraq and lost both of her legs when the Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting was shot down by an RPG attack. "I'm so grateful to be receiving … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Miguel Perez Jr.’s Parole into U.S. for Citizenship Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today regarding U.S. combat Veteran Miguel Perez Jr.'s parole into the country and upcoming citizenship hearing in Chicago: "Miguel Perez was willing to protect our nation in uniform and his experiences after coming home-including the great lengths he went to reform his life-show us why we should never give up on our combat Veterans. While he shouldn't have been deported in the first place, I'm glad he's … Continue Reading
September 20, 2019
With Application Deadline Approaching, Duckworth Seeks Additional Student Applications for U.S. Military Service Academies
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - The application period for high school students to request a nomination to a U.S. Military Service Academy for the Class of 2024 from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will close one week from today, on Friday, September 27. Duckworth's office has been accepting applications from high school students seeking a Congressional nomination to one of the four Military Service Academies through her website since April. Each year Duckworth, with the assistance of a nomination … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $100 Million Federal Grant to Upgrade Chicago’s Red & Purple Lines
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $100 million in federal funding to make safety and accessibility upgrades on the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red and Purple lines. This funding for the CTA's Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Program comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) competitive grant program. The project will expand capacity along the Red and Purple heavy rail lines in … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce U of I’s Selection in $55 Million Nationwide Carbon Capture Research Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will participate in a $55.4 million nationwide research project on carbon capture in southern Illinois from the Department of Energy (DOE), one of nine organizations selected to study commercial-scale carbon capture systems through this grant program. The project is funded through DOE's Office of Fossil Energy's Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) Studies … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
On Senate Floor, Duckworth Condemns Trump’s Response to Escalating Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke on the Senate floor in response to escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Duckworth criticized Donald Trump for seemingly abdicating matters of war and peace to a foreign power, kowtowing to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and ignoring the fact that the Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to declare war. Since she was elected to the … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, 25 Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Block Implementation of Trump Administration’s So-Called “Public Charge” Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono and two dozen Senate Democrats in introducing the Protect American Values Act - legislation that would prohibit the Trump Administration from using federal funding to implement its so-called "public charge" rule. Scheduled to go into effect on October 15, 2019, the "public charge" rule aims to prevent immigrants from coming to or staying in the United States based on … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Duckworth Calls for a New Authorization for the Use of Military Force as Congress Approaches 18 years Since First Considering 2001 AUMF
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With tomorrow marking 18 years since Congress approved the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), which authorized our military actions in response to the attacks on 9/11, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is once again calling for Congress to debate a new AUMF. With tensions rising around the world, especially as the situation with Iran continues to escalate, it's clear that a new AUMF is desperately needed to provide our troops with … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Recent Attack in Saudi Arabia and Rising Tensions in Yemen
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after a drone attack struck Saudi oil installations over the weekend: "Escalating volatility in the Middle East after the weekend attack on Saudi's oil installations is extremely troubling. With his 'locked and loaded' language, Donald Trump seems to want to be viewed like some sort of John Wayne character, but in the same tweet proudly broadcasts that he's awaiting further instructions … Continue Reading
September 14, 2019
Duckworth Calls for Environmental Justice at Chicago’s Faith in Place Green Team Summit
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a founding member of the Senate's Environmental Justice Caucus, today spoke with faith leaders from across Illinois about how the faith community can best address environmental injustice and inequality across Illinois and the nation. Duckworth's remarks were delivered at the Faith in Place Green Team Summit 2019 during a session led by Reverend Scott Onque. Photos from today's event are available here. "In countless lines of scripture, the … Continue Reading
September 13, 2019
Duckworth, Senate Democrats Demand Answers from Commerce IG on Reports of Suppression and Retaliation at NOAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, Senator Duckworth joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and 12 Senate Democrats in writing to U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General Peggy Gustafson demanding answers following recent reports of improper behavior at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), including one that Commerce Department officials threatened to fire NOAA employees for contradicting the President's false assertions about the projected path of Hurricane Dorian. In … Continue Reading
September 13, 2019
Duckworth & Klobuchar along with Durbin and Colleagues Send Letter Urging President to Help Rural Americans, and the Environment, by Upholding the Intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with Dick Durbin (D-IL) and six other Democratic Senators, sent a letter to President Donald Trump strongly urging him to help rural Americans, and the environment, by rescinding the 31 recently approved small refinery exemptions (SRE) for biofuels. They also urged his Administration to uphold the intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The letter follows recent news reports indicating … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
On Senate Floor, Duckworth Calls Out Trump for Prioritizing Border Wall Vanity Project over National Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) criticized Donald Trump and his Administration's decision to endanger our national security by stealing taxpayer funds that had been allocated for important defense priorities, including Coast Guard programs, in order to begin construction on a wall he promised Mexico would pay for. Video of the Senator's speech is available here. Key quotes: "We must hold Donald Trump accountable for his vows and for his … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Duckworth & Durbin Call on Majority Leader McConnell to Act after House Judiciary Passes Gun Safety Bill to Limit High-Capacity Magazines
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and two dozen of their colleagues in calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to act on the Keep Americans Safe Act (S.447), which would prohibit the transfer, importation, or possession of magazines able to hold more than ten rounds of ammunition. Companion legislation passed the House Judiciary Committee last night. Both senators are original cosponsors … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Duckworth, Booker Introduce Bill to Make Solar Energy More Affordable for Low Income Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), leaders of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today introduced legislation that would bolster our nation's clean energy sector by helping low income Americans use solar energy. The Low Income Solar Energy Act expands the Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), directs the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to create new financing programs, provides Section 8 homeowner's interest free loans and … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Senate Passes Bipartisan Duckworth-Young Bill to Improve the Efficiency of TSA PreCheck
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the TSA Credential and Endorsement Harmonization Act of 2019 (S. 2035) last evening. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced this bipartisan legislation to improve the efficiency of TSA's PreCheck program, while making air travel more convenient for transportation industry workers. Specifically, the bipartisan Duckworth-Young bill seeks to reduce wasteful duplicative screenings by expanding TSA PreCheck … Continue Reading
