Press Releases
Duckworth Tours Mother’s Milk Bank Site, Announces New Legislation to Expand Access to Donor Milk Nationwide
[ELMHURST, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited Mother's Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes today to announce her new legislation to increase federal support for and expand access to donated breast milk for parents and their medically-vulnerable infants at nonprofit milk banks nationwide. The Access to Donor Milk Act would allow state agencies to use the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) funding to promote the benefits and need for … Continue Reading
December 16, 2022
Duckworth, Author of the Friendly Airports for Mothers Act, Visits Newly Installed Lactation Pod at O’Hare
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today at O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited one of the facility's vacant newly-installed and ADA-accessible lactation pods that help make expressing breastmilk and pumping less complicated for traveling nursing parents. During her visit to the Mamava-developed pod that helps the travel hub comply with her Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act, Duckworth highlighted the impact of her FAM Act, as well as her commitment to continue making … Continue Reading
December 16, 2022
Duckworth Applauds New National Security Strategy and Investments by Japan, Ushering in New Era of Alliance
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Japan announced its new National Security Strategy that will double the country's defense budget over the next five years: "As Japan takes decisive action towards a more assertive approach to national security, I'm pleased that today's announcement will help usher in a new phase of the U.S.-Japan alliance. With the new National Security Strategy and the increase in Japan's defense spending, our … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
Duckworth Provisions to Support Troops, Improve Military Readiness, Reduce Reliance on Foreign Oil Pass Senate as Part of NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Airland, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 83-11 today. The FY2023 NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), sets … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
New Duckworth, Murray, Wild Bill Would Protect Right to Build a Family Through IVF, Other Assisted Reproductive Technology for All Americans
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)-Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)-as well as U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-07), are introducing legislation to protect every American's right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) that millions of Americans need to have children, including Senator Duckworth who relied on IVF to have her two … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
New Duckworth, Murray, Wild Bill Would Protect Right to Build a Family Through IVF, Other Assisted Reproductive Technology for All Americans
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)-Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP)-as well as U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA-07), are introducing legislation to protect every American's right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) that millions of Americans need to have children, including Senator Duckworth who relied on IVF to have her two … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022
Duckworth Provisions to Support Troops, Improve Military Readiness, Reduce Reliance on Foreign Oil Pass Senate as Part of NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Subcommittee on Airland, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 83-11 today. The FY2023 NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), sets … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022
Duckworth Meets with Highland Park Students and Survivors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week held a video call with Highland Park High School students to listen their stories about the July 4th shooting that shook their community and our nation. During the meeting, which comes during the same week as the tenth anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy, the Senator reiterated her commitment to passing more comprehensive gun reform, including a national assault weapons ban in order to save and protect lives. "What the … Continue Reading
December 12, 2022
Duckworth, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Meet Future Needs in Aviation Workforce
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Moran (R-KS) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help meet future needs in our aviation workforce in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aviation Workforce Development Enhancement Act would help expand the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s current Aviation Workforce Development Grant program by increasing annual funding for pilot development and mechanic development grants, as well as provide grant funding … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
New Duckworth-Baldwin Bill Would Ensure Seat Size, Other Real-Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As the holiday season continues and millions of Americans are set to board crowded flights in the next few weeks, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today announced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
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 advanced the nomination of Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court … Continue Reading
December 08, 2022
New Duckworth-Baldwin Bill Would Ensure Seat Size, Other Real-Life Conditions Are Considered in Federal Aircraft Emergency Evacuation Standards
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As the holiday season continues and millions of Americans are set to board crowded flights in the next few weeks, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today announced the Emergency Vacating of Aircraft Cabin (EVAC) Act to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does more to prioritize passenger safety by appropriately considering seat size, carry-on baggage, people with disabilities, seniors and children in its … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
Duckworth to Work in Isolation After COVID Diagnosis, Mild Symptoms
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after being diagnosed with COVID-19 today: "At the guidance of the Attending Physician, I will be working in isolation through the end of this week after being diagnosed with COVID-19 today to keep my family, colleagues and staff as safe as possible. My symptoms remain mild and I am thankful that I'm fully vaccinated and double boosted, as I-and families of the more than one million Americans we've lost to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
Nominee for Duckworth-Created Position of Disability Advocate on Amtrak Board of Directors Advances out of Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, today released the following statement after the Committee advanced the nomination of David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak's Board of Directors. If confirmed, Capozzi will serve in the designated disability advocate seat on the board-a position created through legislation authored by Duckworth that was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Capozzi's … Continue Reading
December 07, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Foster Applaud Final Passage of Bill to Rename Will County Post Office in Honor of Larry Walsh, Sr.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today applauded last night's Senate passage of H.R. 700, legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 303 E. Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, Illinois, after former Will County Executive Lawrence M. "Larry" Walsh, Sr. The bill will now head to President Biden's desk for his signature. A longtime farmer, Walsh began his political career in … Continue Reading
December 05, 2022
Duckworth Joins Cortez Masto and Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Help Americans Access Reproductive Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and seven of their colleagues in introducing the Women's Health Patient Navigators Act, which would create a federal grant program to help fund patient navigators who help Americans access reproductive healthcare. Modeled on similar programs for cancer patients, the grant program would support organizations, such as abortion funds and community health clinics, that connect individuals to … Continue Reading
December 05, 2022
Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce the Spread of Toxic PFAS at Commercial Airports Heads to the President to be Signed into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) to reduce the spread of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at commercial airports is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law, after unanimously passing the U.S. Senate. "We've known for decades that some PFAS chemicals pose a dangerous risk to … Continue Reading
December 03, 2022
Duckworth Outlines Methods to Improve & Expand Military Recruitment at Reagan National Defense Forum
[SIMI VALLEY, CA] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today discussed how the military can expand and improve recruitment efforts as well as how increasing diversity among the ranks improves our national security. Duckworth's comments came during a panel discussion moderated by Dana Perino at the 2022 Reagan National Defense Forum in California, where she was joined by Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Commandant of … Continue Reading
December 02, 2022
Duckworth Welcomes U.S. Representative-Elect Budzinski to Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted U.S. Representative-elect Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) in her Senate office this week, where the two discussed how they can work together to support Illinoisans in the next Congress. Representative-elect Budzinski was elected last month to represent Illinois's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Photos of the meeting are available here. "I'm excited to have Congresswoman-elect Budzinski as a colleague … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth on Bill to Prevent Costs Rising for Millions of Working Americans by Averting Rail Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting to pass legislation to avert a rail shutdown that could severely harm our economy and lead to costs going up for working families: "While this agreement is far from perfect, my vote today will help protect working families from the preventable price increases and job losses that a national rail shutdown would cause. Without freight rail, many industries would be harmed, affecting our ability … Continue Reading