Press Releases
Duckworth Applauds FCC for Unanimously Passing Final Rule to Implement Her Bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act That Will Eliminate Unreasonable Prison Phone Rates and Reduce Recidivism by Helping Families Sustain Connections with Loved Ones
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for unanimously voting 5-0 to move forward and implement the Senator’s bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, an historic law that honors the legacy of the late Martha Wright-Reed by completing the mission she began over two decades ago to end egregious prison phone rates that gouged innocent family members and prevented these Americans from … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
In Vietnam, Duckworth Touts Benefits of Illinois-Produced Biofuels, Builds on Her Work to Bring More Investments to Illinois
[HANOI, VIETNAM] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth continued her official Senate visit through Vietnam today, meeting with government and trade officials to highlight the benefits of increasing imports of corn and soy ethanol from Illinois. As demand for gasoline has increased throughout Vietnam, biofuel imports from our Illinois farmers can help meet this demand while providing a more reliable, cost stable and environmentally friendly fuel alternative with ethanol blends. Duckworth’s official … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2.27 Million in Medical Research Grants for Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,276,880 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. A large portion of the funding will be put towards research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer research to research related to deafness. “Investing in our world-renowned medical research facilities and institutions … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $7 Million in Federal Funding for Community-Based Residency Programs for Doctors in Underserved Areas
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $7,040,000 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support new community-based medical residency programs for doctors in underserved areas in Illinois. Under the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, physicians train primarily in outpatient community sites, such as community health centers, to build the pipeline of primary care … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $16.8 Million in HHS Grants for Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $16,894,039 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. Of this funding, $16,759,039 will be awarded to the Illinois Department of Public Health for its Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement and $135,000 will go to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault to support the organization’s mission to provide … Continue Reading
July 15, 2024
Duckworth Traveling to Laos & Vietnam to Reinforce U.S. Commitment to ASEAN Partners, Strengthening Economic Ties & Bolstering Regional Security
[VIENTIANE, LAOS] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of both the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees—arrived in Laos for an official Senate visit aimed at reinforcing America’s commitment to our partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening U.S.-ASEAN economic ties and building on the foundations of the U.S.-Laos relationship. Duckworth’s visit marks the first visit from a … Continue Reading
July 12, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $18.8 Million for Manufacturing, Education Apprenticeship Programs in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]—U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $18,838,897 in U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) funding for three Illinois recipients to help modernize, diversify and expand the Registered Apprenticeship system in growing U.S. industries, helping bring thousands of trainees into these industries. Through the DOL’s Apprenticeship Building America initiative, awardees today will receive support to help diversify and … Continue Reading
July 12, 2024
Duckworth Joins Senate Democratic Colleagues, Healthcare Providers in Releasing Report on How Women Are Burdened by Dobbs Decision No Matter What State They Live In
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 13 women Democratic Senators in releasing a new report: Two Years Post-Dobbs: The Nationwide Impacts of Abortion Bans. The report —based on testimony from more than 80 health care providers and advocates from all across the country—details how the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision is harming women’s health care in states across … Continue Reading
July 12, 2024
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills with Illinois Priorities Secured by Duckworth, Durbin
{CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced funding bills for Agriculture, Rural Development and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Duckworth and Durbin worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these three appropriations bills, both through Congressionally Directed … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Duckworth Meets Communities for Responsible and Efficient Waterways Members to Discuss Federal Support
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Illinois members of Communities for Responsible and Efficient Waterways (CREW) to discuss federal support for projects along the Illinois Waterway and Illinois and Mississippi Canal that will maintain and improve access and mitigate flooding along the corridor. A photo from the meeting is available at the Senator’s website. “Protecting and strengthening our inland waterways and water infrastructure is critical to growing our … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Foster, Sorensen Announce $334.7 Million in Federal Funding for Retooling of Stellantis Plant in Belivdere
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding Stellantis $334,763,050 in Domestic Auto Manufacturing Conversion Grant program funds to assist in the reopening of the Belvidere Assembly Plant and in the construction of the plant’s new electric vehicle battery production facility. Stellantis has … Continue Reading
July 10, 2024
Duckworth, Schakowsky Announce Nearly $2 Million in Funding they Secured to Help Get the Lead Out of Chicago Daycare Facilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today announced that a total of $1,959,752 they secured through Fiscal Year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Project requests will be sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the City of Chicago for lead service line replacement at daycare facilities throughout Chicago. Duckworth successfully secured $1 million for this project through the Senate’s … Continue Reading
July 10, 2024
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Priorities with Illinois Farm Bureau
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) President Brian Duncan and IFB members to discuss Illinois’s agricultural priorities as Congress works to reauthorize the Farm Bill. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers at home by expanding biofuels production, increasing agricultural exports markets and improving farm safety net programs. A photo from today’s meeting can be found on the Senator’s … Continue Reading
July 09, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $30.9 Million in Federal Funding for Pace Suburban Bus' Hybrid Buses Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, will receive $30,911,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. With this award, Pace plans to purchase hybrid electric buses to replace vehicles that have exceeded their useful life and upgrade its maintenance facility to adapt to new technology. The funding will also … Continue Reading
July 09, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Sorensen Announce $25.4 Million in Federal Funding for Mass Transit Districts in Rock Island & Peoria
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced a total of $25,415,095 in U.S. Department of Transportation funding for the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK) and the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District. Of that funding, $10,000,000 will be awarded to MetroLINK and $14,415,095 will be awarded to the Greater Peoria Mass Transit … Continue Reading
July 09, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Announce $17.8 Million in Federal Funding for Sangamon Mass Transit District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced that Sangamon Mass Transit District will receive $17,807,630 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funding will support Sangamon Mass Transit District in replacing its fleet of older buses with diesel-hybrid and compressed natural gas buses. The project will support efforts to reduce greenhouse … Continue Reading
July 09, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill Expanding Student Loan Refinancing for Service Members
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act, legislation that would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to allow service members to consolidate or refinance student loan debt they had when they entered the military and continue to benefit from the six percent interest rate cap to which they are entitled through the SCRA. A provision in the SCRA protects … Continue Reading
July 08, 2024
Duckworth Reaction to Boeing Agreeing to Plead Guilty to a Criminal Fraud Conspiracy Connected to 2018 and 2019 Deadly 737 MAX Crashes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement in reaction to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reaching a settlement with Boeing, which will involve Boeing pleading guilty to a criminal fraud conspiracy charge, after hundreds of passengers were killed aboard its 737 MAX aircraft in … Continue Reading
July 04, 2024
Duckworth Joins Highland Park Community in Remembering Lives Taken Two Years Ago
[HIGHLAND PARK, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined community members, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and other local officials to mark the two years since the Highland Park shooting. At today’s Remembrance Ceremony, Mayor Rotering and local faith leaders paid tribute to the seven victims whose lives were taken during the shooting at the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. Ahead of today’s ceremony, Duckworth also met with family of lives taken and survivors of … Continue Reading
July 03, 2024
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Federal Approval of Illinois Application for Medicaid 1115 Waiver
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) approval of Illinois’ application for a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver to enhance the delivery of behavioral health services for Medicaid beneficiaries across Illinois. The approval of the federal waiver accelerates efforts in Illinois to use the Medicaid program to address the opioid epidemic, maternal mortality, violence … Continue Reading
