Press Releases
Duckworth, Kennedy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Safely Transport Chimps Being Housed at DoD Installations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife, and U.S. Senator John N. Kennedy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the housing of chimpanzees at any installation of the Department of the Air Force. The Chimp Sanctuary Act would ensure all chimps being housed at Department of the Air Force installations to be safely transported to Chimp Haven-a … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Duckworth Joins Colleagues in Urging Senate Leadership to Support Those Educating Our Future Health Professional Workforce in Next Legislative Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and 10 other Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate leadership, urging them to include the bipartisan, bicameral Technical Reset to Advance the Instruction of Nurses (TRAIN) Act in any upcoming legislative package that's headed to the President's desk. The TRAIN Act would help support the future of our health care workforce by providing much-needed … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Gillibrand in Sending Letter Requesting to Reinstate COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick and Family Leave following the 29th Anniversary of FMLA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the 29th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and uptick in COVID cases at the beginning of 2022, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) in a letter calling on the Biden Administration, along with House and Senate leadership, to reinstate and expand emergency paid sick and family caregiving leave in the FY22 funding bill or future COVID-19 relief packages. At the onset of the pandemic, … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Duckworth Reinforces Importance of Her Bipartisan STRANDED Act for Communities Affected by Nuclear Waste
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted the urgency of the need to pass her bipartisan legislation to address the impacts of stranded nuclear waste on communities burdened with storing it. In today's U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing on Duckworth's bipartisan Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development (STRANDED) Act, the Senator highlighted how communities with decommissioned nuclear power … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $912 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding for CTA
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $912.1 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help the agency continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Thanks to the efforts of Democrats, CTA will have the resources needed to improve services, protect jobs for working Illinoisans and get folks to where they're going faster … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Duckworth and Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Breastfeeding Moms During Natural Disasters
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help ensure that disaster relief efforts provide comprehensive support to all parents and infants, including guaranteeing nursing parents' ability to continue to breastfeed in times of crisis. The Delivering Essentials to Mothers Amid Natural Disasters (DEMAND) Act would help ensure that the equipment needed to help support breastfeeding is specifically highlighted and … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Emphasize the Importance of Supporting Higher Education with Presidents of Illinois Colleges & Universities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with several Presidents from the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. During the video call, Duckworth, Durbin and the representatives discussed federal support for higher education throughout the ongoing pandemic, as well as their legislative efforts to create stronger support systems for students attending Illinois colleges and universities. "I had a productive conversation … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Rename Will County Post Office In Honor Of Larry Walsh, Sr.
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced 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. U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. "Larry Walsh's decades-long commitment to serving Illinoisans was commendable, and I'm proud to … Continue Reading
February 04, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Urge IDOT And IAIS To Finalize Agreement To Begin Construction On Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
[SPRINGFIELD IL] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) urging them to finalize an agreement on the scope and costs of infrastructure upgrades needed so that construction can begin on the long awaited Quad Cities to Chicago passenger rail route. Without an agreement between IDOT and IAIS, … Continue Reading
February 02, 2022
Duckworth, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Preserve Small Business Education Training for Servicemembers, Veterans and Military Spouses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced the bipartisan Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, legislation that would codify the Small Business Administration's (SBA) "Boots to Business" (B2B) program into law for five years. The B2B program is an entrepreneurship education and training program for servicemembers, Veterans, National Guard and Reserve Members and military spouses transitioning from military service to civilian life. … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Duckworth & Durbin Join Klobuchar, Grassley & Bipartisan Group of Colleagues in Letter Urging Biden Administration to Prioritize Renewable Fuel Standard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and ten of their bipartisan colleagues in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by maintaining the blending requirements for 2022; denying all pending Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs); eliminating proposed retroactive cuts to the renewable volume obligations (RVOs); and setting … Continue Reading
February 01, 2022
Senators Call On DOJ To Carefully Review The Troubling Facts Around The Shooting Of McDonald In 2014
[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 sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide a status update on the federal investigation into the 2014 murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald by former police officer Jason Van Dyke. The joint federal and state investigation into the shooting was announced in April 2015, but DOJ has declined … Continue Reading
January 31, 2022
On Two Year Anniversary of Kidnapping, Duckworth and Durbin Reiterate Call for the Safe Return of Illinoisan Mark Frerichs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the second anniversary of Illinoisan Mark Frerichs' abduction in Afghanistan, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reiterated that the United States must do whatever it can to secure his safe return from the Taliban, Haqqani network or their affiliates. Duckworth is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces and Durbin is a member of the U.S. … Continue Reading
January 29, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Tout Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal in Visit to Brandon Road Lock and Dam
[JOLIET, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, highlighting how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (BID) is already at work to help improve infrastructure and create good-paying, local jobs across Illinois. As a result of BID, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently allocated funding for the Brandon Road Project that will help protect invasive Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes, which is critical to protecting our … Continue Reading
January 29, 2022
Duckworth Visits Northern Illinois Food Bank Distribution Center and Discusses Hunger Prevention
[JOLIET, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited the Northern Illinois Food Bank distribution center in Joliet and met with President & CEO Julie Yurko to discuss the organization's efforts to address food insecurity in the surrounding community and how federal resources can help ensure they can continue that work. Duckworth also recognized the Food Bank's volunteers and spoke about her recent legislation to help reduce military hunger. Photos of today's meeting are … Continue Reading
January 28, 2022
Duckworth, Blackburn, Butterfield, Guthrie Ask GAO To Evaluate Barriers For Assistive Technologies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with U.S. Representatives G. K. Butterfield (D-NC-01) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), sent a bipartisan and bicameral letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an evaluation of appropriate coverage of assistive technologies provided to patients who experience amputation or live with limb differences. In their letter, the lawmakers wrote: "The need for high-quality assistive … Continue Reading
January 28, 2022
Duckworth Visits Abbott to Highlight Importance of Getting Rapid Antigen Tests to Americans
[GURNEE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Abbott in Gurnee and met with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert B. Ford as well as other officials to emphasize that consistent and easily-accessible rapid antigen testing is one of the keys that will help our nation overcome the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Duckworth also recognized the efforts of the hardworking Americans who help ensure that rapid COVID-19 tests make it to clinics, homes and schools across the nation. … Continue Reading
January 28, 2022
Duckworth Highlights Benefits of Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal for McHenry County with Local Leaders, Metra
[WOODSTOCK, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, McHenry County leaders and Metra officials to discuss how the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will help improve transit, reduce commute times and create good-paying jobs in McHenry County and throughout Illinois. Duckworth and local leaders discussed Metra's Woodstock Railyard Relocation and Expansion project, which is slated to extend rail service for commuters in the far … Continue Reading
January 26, 2022
Duckworth Urges Biden to Continue Strengthening Alliances and Partnerships in Indo-Pacific
[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), today urged President Joe Biden to revive negotiations to extend our associations with the Republics of the Marshall Islands and Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. In her letter, Duckworth stressed how extending our associations with these three nations can help benefit our security and economic … Continue Reading
January 24, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Federal Support to Create Transit Oriented Development Plans for Chicago’s 95th Street Corridor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced federal support through the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help spur economic development on Chicago's South Side. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will receive $800,000 through FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) to create an economic development plan for the 95th Street Corridor on Chicago's Far South Side. "No matter … Continue Reading
