Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Ramirez, Underwood Joint Statement on Life Anniversary of Wadee Alfayoumi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), with U.S. Congresswomen Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), today, on what would have been Wadee Alfayoumi’s 8th birthday, released the following statement honoring the memory of Wadee, a six-year-old Palestinian American Muslim boy murdered in Illinois in October 2023 in a hate crime: “Today, we join the family, loved ones, and the world in honoring the life of Wadee … Continue Reading
October 06, 2025
Duckworth Statement on Texas National Guard Deployment to Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the Texas National Guard preparing to deploy to Illinois: “After federalizing the Illinois National Guard against our state’s wishes over the weekend, Donald Trump is stretching the limits of Presidential authority even further past their breaking point by deploying the Texas National Guard to intimidate Illinoisans in our own communities. Our leaders have not called for … Continue Reading
October 04, 2025
Duckworth Statement on Dangerous, Unconstitutional Activation of Illinois National Guard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to today’s federalization of 300 Illinois National Guard Troops in our state against the will of local officials to intimidate Illinoisans: “Donald Trump federalizing the Illinois National Guard is a dangerous, un-American, and unconstitutional abuse of our military, intended to instill fear and threaten American civil rights. Our military men and women signed up to defend … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
Duckworth Calls Out Trump and Republicans for Shutting Down Government Instead of Protecting Southern Illinoisans from Skyrocketing Health Insurance Premiums
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today convened Southern Illinois health care leaders to highlight how Donald Trump and Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill is increasing health care costs and decreasing access in the region, and how Trump chose to shut down the Federal Government to protect billionaire tax cuts and ensure health insurance premiums for middle class Illinoisans will skyrocket in just a few weeks. Duckworth met with leaders from Illinois Hospital … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Trump Administration Pausing $2.1 Billion in Grants for Chicago Infrastructure Projects
[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, released the following statement after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and … Continue Reading
October 02, 2025
Duckworth Statement on DOE Cancellation of 33 Illinois Energy Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after Donald Trump’s politicized Department of Energy (DOE) cancelled 33 previously-awarded clean energy and research projects in Illinois without justification, part of 322 projects across the country cancelled— all either located in or to companies headquartered in states that did not vote for Donald Trump: “Today the Trump Administration cancelled projects aimed at supporting critical … Continue Reading
October 02, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Joins Hirono, Crapo to Introduce Resolution Recognizing Importance of Impact Aid Program, Celebrating Program’s 75th Anniversary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the 75th anniversary of the Impact Aid Program, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) in introducing a resolution recognizing the importance of the program and designating September 30, 2025, as “Impact Aid Recognition Day.” Established in 1950 by President Harry Truman, the Impact Aid Program is the oldest K-12 Federal education program in the U.S. The … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Duckworth Statement on Harmful Trump-Republican Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement as Donald Trump and Republicans plunge our nation into yet another needless and harmful shutdown: “Families are staring down a health care crisis of Republicans’ own making—and instead of working to save them from that pain and lower health care costs, Trump and Republicans are choosing to put them through a needless government shutdown. As even Donald Trump once acknowledged, ‘a shutdown falls on … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Duckworth Announces Over $3.4 Million in Funding She Secured for Illinois Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $3,427,500 she secured through a Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally Directed Spending Request will be sent by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration to the Southern Illinois Airport Authority and the Joliet Regional Port District to help improve airport infrastructure, accommodate more passengers and make travelling easier for passengers. “Our state and our nation are stronger when we … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Duckworth, Hirono, Underwood Reignite Push to Expand Access to Contraceptive Care for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), today reintroduced legislation that would improve Veterans’ access to contraception and increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness for contraceptive products at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Access to Contraception Expansion for Veterans (ACE Veterans) Act would allow Veterans to request a full-year … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Duckworth Calls on Hegseth to Resign After Unprecedented, Wasteful and Insulting Speech to Top Military Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement lambasting President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unprecedented, wasteful and insulting speeches to many of our nation’s military leaders at great cost to American taxpayers and our national security: “As Trump pushes our nation to the brink of another Republican shutdown, Cadet Bone Spurs and the least qualified Defense Secretary in history decided to waste millions of taxpayer … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Join Booker, Senate Democrats in Urging State Department to Resume Medical and Humanitarian Visas for Civilians in Gaza
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats, led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), in expressing concern and demanding an explanation over the State Department’s decision last month to suspend the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas for civilians in Gaza in need of urgent medical care, including children with life-threatening injuries or conditions. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Amid Looming Government Shutdown, Health Care Crisis and ICE Activity, Duckworth Hosts Telephone Town Hall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last night hosted a telephone town hall for more than 8,500 Illinoisans to answer constituents’ questions and discuss how Democrats repeatedly urged Republicans to work across the aisle on a bipartisan bill to keep the government open and meet the needs of the American people—while Trump waited until the last second to even start a conversation. Duckworth also warned listeners of the imminent health care crisis hardworking families will … Continue Reading
September 30, 2025
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Trump Administration Request for Military Personnel Deployment to Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement amid reports that the Department of Homeland Security requested 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois. “Donald Trump continues threatening Chicago and Illinois with his unwarranted, unwanted and unjust military deployments. Now, his administration is seriously considering plans to deploy … Continue Reading
September 29, 2025
Duckworth Joins Durbin, Ramirez, Members of the Illinois Delegation in Requesting Meeting with ICE Field Office Director Russell Hott
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-03) and all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation in requesting ICE Field Office Director Russell Hott promptly schedule a meeting with them to discuss the implementation of “Operation Midway Blitz” and oversight of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Broadview Processing Facility. The letter comes after members of the Delegation have … Continue Reading
September 28, 2025
Duckworth Slams Trump Administration for Using Unnecessary Force Against Protesters in Broadview
[BROADVIEW, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today in response to reports that federal agents are using use tear gas, rubber bullets and other chemical irritants against protesters demonstrating outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois, against the immigration enforcement action known as “Operation Midway Blitz.” “I am deeply disturbed by reports that the Trump Administration is using tear gas, pepper spray … Continue Reading
September 27, 2025
Duckworth, Hirono Demand Answers and Briefing from Hegseth Ahead of His Unprecedented, Wasteful Speech with Top Military Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s abrupt, needless and wasteful speech to much of our nation’s top military leadership on Tuesday, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)—members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—pressed the Secretary on the serious risks that such a gathering poses to security—on top of the monstrous cost to American taxpayers as Republicans march us toward a government shutdown. In a letter to Secretary … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Building On Her Discussions in South Korea, Duckworth Meets with Hanwha Ocean Leadership to Strengthen Auxiliary Shipbuilding Partnerships
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) and Foreign Relations (SFRC) Committees—had a productive meeting with Insub Jung, President of Hanwha Ocean, and other top representatives of the South Korean company to discuss some of ways we can strengthen our nations’ auxiliary shipbuilding partnership. The Senator’s meeting comes after her recent trip to South Korea and Japan—two global leaders in the shipbuilding … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Duckworth Condemns Russian Fighter Jets Violating Estonia’s Airspace
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after three Russian fighter jets violated the airspace of Estonia, marking the third time Vladimir Putin has violated NATO airspace this month: “This is now the third Russian violation of NATO airspace and our allies’ sovereignty this month, and each is simply unacceptable. “Putin is clearly testing the NATO alliance’s commitment to mutual defense and taking advantage of Trump’s flip-flopping to … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Duckworth, Cruz, Padilla, Schmitt, Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Designate Route 66 a National Historic Trail
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joins U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) in introducing a bipartisan bill to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926, and was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. This bill would help protect its history and legacy and ensures that new and existing energy projects along Route 66 are protected. “Route 66 is … Continue Reading