Press Releases
Duckworth, Gillibrand and Casey Lead Call For Greater Investment in Care Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Bob Casey (D-PA) led a group of 15 Senators today in calling for greater investment in the care economy. In a letter today to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senate Committee on Budget Chair Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Chair Ron Wyden and U.S. Senate HELP Committee Chair Patty Murray, the Senators called for investments in the care economy to be part of the Build Back … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Expand Charitable Deduction Rules for Veterans Organizations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La) introduced the Charitable Equity for Veterans Act to overturn a provision that prohibits veteran organizations from accepting tax-deductible donations if their membership contains over 10 percent peacetime veterans. "Veterans organizations provide vital support, assistance and community programming for those who served our nation," said Senator Duckworth. "I'm proud to co-lead this legislation to reform … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $4 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funding to Chicagoland Health Centers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $4,803,500 in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to four Chicago-area primary care healthcare centers. This ARP investment, allocated through the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will help these healthcare providers both respond to the ongoing pandemic through equity-based vaccine efforts and enhance their services and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Duckworth to DoD and State: Take Swift Action to Find Alternative Employment Verification for Afghan Translators
[WASHINGTON, DC] - As our nation continues to draw down on troops in Afghanistan, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to immediately take action to develop and implement additional means of employment verification for applicants in the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. In part, Duckworth wrote: "Given the urgent threat … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
During Week of ADA Anniversary, Duckworth, Casey, Feinstein, DeSaulnier, Young Re-Introduce Bill to Make Fitness Facilities More Accessible for People with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) re-introduced a bill today to make fitness facilities across America more accessible for those with disabilities. The Exercise and Fitness for All Act of 2021 would authorize the U.S. Access Board, a federal agency that promotes accessibility, to issue new guidelines specifying the number and types of accessible equipment a fitness facility should have. The legislation would also ensure the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issues … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Duckworth Discusses GOP Efforts to Restrict Americans Voting Rights with Texas State Representatives
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met virtually with Gene Wu, Texas State Representative for the 137th District, Vikki Goodwin, Texas State Representative for the 47th District, Shane Thierry, Texas State Representative for the 146th District and members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus Delegation about the need to pass federal legislation to protect voting rights. They also discussed the impact of voter suppression bills and efforts from Republicans … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Duckworth Meets with Illinois House Speaker Welch to Discuss Working Together for Illinoisans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois House of Representatives Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch to discuss their shared priorities to help working families across Illinois. Duckworth and Welch discussed the importance of American Rescue Plan funding for state and local governments across the state as well as the need for federal infrastructure funding for Illinois. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "As our state and local governments work to … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
After ADA’s 31st Birthday, Duckworth Re-Introduces Bill to Strengthen the Landmark Civil Rights Law & Help More Small Businesses Become Accessible
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) re-introduced legislation today to make it easier for small businesses to comply with the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and become accessible for people with disabilities. Duckworth's Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act of 2021 bolsters the existing Disabled Access Credit (DAC), which helps businesses pay for renovations by doubling the maximum tax credit and allowing more small businesses to receive it. Her legislation … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Duckworth, 75 Members Request Immediate Guidance for States to Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with U.S. Representatives Robin L. Kelly (D-IL-02), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-03) led a bipartisan group of 14 Senators and 62 House Members in writing to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to request that CMS take immediate steps to … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Duckworth Joins Warnock in Calling on Congress to Reimburse National Guard & U.S. Capitol Police after January 6th Insurrection, Improve Efforts to Protect Afghan Interpreters who Helped US Troops
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Senate leadership and the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) to urge their colleagues to allocate necessary supplemental funds to the National Guard and U.S. Capitol Police to cover the unanticipated costs associated with responding to the January 6th insurrection on the U.S. Capitol. The lawmakers also requested their … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Duckworth Meets With Carlos Del Toro, Nominee to be Secretary of the Navy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met virtually with President Biden's nominee to be Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro. Duckworth and Del Toro discussed multiple important issues, including the importance of unmanned systems integration, ensuring we have the strategic logistics capacity for a credible defense and utilizing U.S. Navy capabilities to build partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. "I had a great discussion with Mr. Del Toro-who brings an … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Duckworth Secures Critical NDAA Provision to Protect C-130 Aircraft Fleet and Support Illinois National Guard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), as part of this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) with a bipartisan vote of 23-3, secured a provision that would establish a minimum inventory for C-130 fleet. The Duckworth-authored provision would mandate a minimum total aircraft inventory of 292 C-130s for the Air Force, ensuring that the Air Force has sufficient capacity to carry out critical … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Duckworth and Durbin Join Murray and Underwood in Re-introducing Legislation to Protect Women’s Retirement Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) in re-introducing the Women's Retirement Protection Act of 2021 (WRPA), legislation to address the retirement gap and bolster women's financial security. The reintroduction comes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis that have disproportionately impacted women, particularly women of color-with a recent survey … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
On ADA’s 31st Anniversary, Duckworth Speaks at FDR Memorial Wreath Laying and Calls for Accessibility and Inclusion
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As our nation marks the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) as well as members of the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee's Advisory Board at the FDR Memorial to honor President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's leadership as the first known United States President with a significant physical disability and highlight the importance of disability representation … Continue Reading
July 23, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Urge SBA to Support State’s Request for McLean County Disaster Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a Disaster Declaration for McLean County in Illinois as a result of severe flooding that occurred last month. Severe storms caused up to 10 inches of flooding in McLean County. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Duckworth Announces U.S. Commitment of 1.5 Million American Vaccine Doses to Thailand as Part of Biden Administration’s Global Vaccination Efforts
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced today that the United States has committed to sending at least 1.5 million American COVID-19 vaccine doses to Thailand. The Senator also personally delivered this news to Thai Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Manasvi Srisodapol, on a call this week. Duckworth lived in Thailand as a child before serving in the United States Reserve Forces for 23 years. She is now a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Duckworth Secures Provisions to Support Servicemembers and Enhance Military Modernization Efforts in Committee-Passed 2022 Defense Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee's (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, highlighted several key priorities she authored and successfully included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed SASC on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 23-3. The FY2022 NDAA, which is now set to be considered by the full U.S. Senate, authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Environmental Justice Issues During EPW Hearing
[WASHINGTON, DC] - During a U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight hearing today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the first-ever U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, discussed the issues adversely impacting environmental justice communities. Duckworth raised concerns about our nation's crumbling water infrastructure, the need to increase … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works' (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife that has jurisdiction over the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act and author of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA)-which passed the Senate by a vote of 89-2 in April 2021-issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against proceeding to consideration of a … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Duckworth Applauds White House’s Justice40 Interim Guidance Prioritizing Environmental Justice Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the U.S. Senate's first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, today issued the following statement after the White House Council on Environmental Quality issued the Justice40 Initiative's Interim Guidance for all federal agencies: "For generations our most toxic, polluting industries have been located next door to Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income communities at the expense of their health, and these communities have … Continue Reading
