Press Releases
Duckworth Joins Chairman Menendez, Colleagues in Sounding Alarm Following Reports of High Denial Rates for At-Risk Afghans Applying for Humanitarian Parole into U.S.
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and 13 of their Senate colleagues in writing to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to express concern over reports of high denial rates for Afghans applying for humanitarian parole into the United States in the wake of the Taliban's takeover … Continue Reading
January 21, 2022
Duckworth Joins Brown, Baldwin in Applauding Biden Administration Effort to Distribute Free Masks To Americans, Urging Prioritization of American-Made Masks
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and more than a dozen of their Senate colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to prioritize the purchase of masks made in the U.S. with U.S. materials, ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are being spent on American products made by American workers. This letter follows this week's announcement by President Biden that he is following through on his … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $225.8 Million In Funding for Brandon Road Project
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $225.8 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Brandon Road Project to prevent invasive Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes. "Invasive species are a growing threat to our entire inland waterways system and to the countless Illinois communities and businesses that rely on strong and … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Blunt, Grassley, Bustos, Hinson Announce $829 Million in Funding to Modernize Lock And Dams on the Upper Mississippi & Illinois Rivers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has allocated $829.1 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) on the Upper Mississippi … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Mayor Lightfoot, Members of Chicago Delegation Announce $1.5 Million in Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal to Restore Chicago Shoreline
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), and Marie Newman (D-IL-03) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has allocated $1.5 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to the Chicago Shoreline Storm Damage Reduction Project. The funding … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Duckworth Urges Senators to Vote for Critical Election Protection & Voting Rights Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the Senate floor this evening, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urged her colleagues to pass critical legislation that would protect the right to vote and restore integrity in our elections. Duckworth's floor speech comes as Republicans across the nation work to enact restrictive voter suppression laws aimed at silencing people of color and voters with disabilities. In her remarks, Duckworth asked her colleagues to consider John Lewis and countless other patriots who … Continue Reading
January 19, 2022
Duckworth on Republicans Blocking Critical Election Protection & Voting Rights Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Senate Republicans again blocked critical election protection and voting rights legislation from moving forward in the Senate: "I'm deeply disappointed that Republicans once again blocked efforts to protect voting rights and our nation's elections even as Republican officials across the country are leveraging the Big Lie to embark on one of the most aggressive assaults not only on the right to … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Ahead of Martin Luther King Day, Duckworth Highlights the Importance of Serving Fellow Illinoisans
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Ahead of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement commemorating the Reverend and honoring his legacy of civil rights activism and service to our communities. The Senator, who has made community service a hallmark of her public life, discussed the importance of serving your nation and community by volunteering, participating in the democratic process and pushing for racial justice. Duckworth will also virtually join … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin, Markey Introduce Legislation to Improve, Assess, And Inform Federal Air Quality Management Strategies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) to introduce the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, legislation to authorize $55 million over five years for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to annually update and expand its online air quality toolbox with best-available monitoring technologies and associated uses of data, connect the toolbox with … Continue Reading
January 13, 2022
Duckworth Joins Gillibrand, 19 Colleagues in Calling on Biden Administration to Continue and Make Permanent OSHA’s Emergency COVID-19 Protections for Healthcare Workers; Protections Have Been Allowed to Lapse
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the rise of the Omicron variant continues to threaten the safety of our nation's healthcare workforce, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 19 of her colleagues yesterday in a letter calling on the Biden Administration to continue and make permanent the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) emergency COVID-19 protections for healthcare workers. The letter addresses OSHA's announcement at the end of 2021 … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Duckworth Speaks with Secretary of the Air Force about Ways to Modernize Aircraft and Better Support Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, spoke by phone with Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force, about ways we can better support our servicemembers by modernizing aircraft and logistics infrastructure to ensure they have access to the best technology and tools. "I was pleased to speak with Secretary Kendall about the importance of our National Guard and … Continue Reading
January 11, 2022
Duckworth Applauds Biden Administration Action to Address Coal Ash Pollution
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife, issued the following statement in response to the action taken today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Land and Emergency Management to protect communities from the threat of coal ash. "Coal ash has led to a legacy of contamination throughout the Great Lakes, our state and the entire country. These harmful … Continue Reading
January 11, 2022
Duckworth, Kennedy introduce bill to stop bear poaching
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Kennedy (R-LA) today introduced the Bear Poaching Elimination Act, which would help protect bears from poaching by ending the trade of their internal organs. "The gruesome bear viscera commercial trade leads to unacceptable abuse of these bears, and I'm proud to join Senator Kennedy to introduce this bipartisan bill that would help put an end to this inhumane practice in the United States and help slow bear poaching and the … Continue Reading
January 04, 2022
Duckworth Highlights 2021 Accomplishments in Year-End Round Up
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As the new year begins, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year: "While 2021 was a challenging year for many Illinoisans and Americans across the nation, I'm so proud of what I was able to accomplish by working across the aisle to help cut costs for working families and create good-paying local jobs," said Duckworth. "With the start of the new year, we have new opportunities to deliver on policies that will … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Members of Delegation Call On Amazon to Review Safety Procedures Following Collapse of Edwardsville Warehouse
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Marie Newman (D-IL-03), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today sent a … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud USDA Programs Helping Ensure More Illinoisans Have Reliable Internet and Electricity
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that an infusion of support from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Community Connect Grants Program and Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program to four Illinois communities and organizations. This federal support will help rural Illinois communities modernize their broadband and electricity infrastructure and make free, reliable Internet accessible for more … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud USDA Programs Helping Ensure Communities Across Illinois Have Safe, Clean Water
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that an infusion of support from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program will be awarded to 12 Illinois communities and organizations to help rural communities across the state modernize and protect their … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Duckworth Asks Secretary Austin for Update on Care Provided to Afghan Evacuees Housed at DoD Installations
[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 sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asking for an update on the status of the care being provided to Afghan evacuees who are currently being housed at DoD installations across the country. In her letter, Duckworth noted the anecdotal reports she has heard regarding strains to the … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Duckworth Joins Booker, Eight Democratic Colleagues in Calling on U.S. Department of Education to Suspend Wage Garnishment of Student Loan Borrowers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and eight of their U.S. Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to suspend administrative wage garnishment of student loan borrowers. The letter comes nearly a month before student loan and interest payments are set to resume on January 31, 2022. "Currently, over 9 million borrowers are in default on more than $180 billion in federal student loan debt," wrote … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $4 Million for America’s Central Port in Granite City
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $4.1 million in federal funding to America's Central Port in Granite City, Illinois, one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration, will support improvements to a berth and cargo transfer location at the port's Granite City Harbor facility. "Support for America's Central Port means moving our state's economy … Continue Reading
