Press Releases
During SASC Hearing, Duckworth Secures Commitments from General Milley and Secretary Austin to Review National Guard and Reserve Pay, Benefits
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured a commitment from General Mark Milley to review National Guard and Reserve duty status reform and a commitment from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to explore opportunities to enhance retention of highly-skilled servicemembers. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, which has … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Guarantee Equal Access to Abortion, Everywhere
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) in introducing the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), bicameral federal legislation to guarantee equal access to abortion, everywhere. The bill's introduction follows the Supreme Court's decision to hear … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Democratic Caucus in Introducing Resolution Recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN) and their 45 Senate colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans and resolves to continue … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $1 Million to Support Economic Development in Chicagoland
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that Clean Energy Trust will receive a $1 million award to support the Midwest Regional Innovation Partnership (MRIP). This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) and will help strengthen Chicagoland's technology workforce post-pandemic. "Entrepreneurs have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and federal investments like these help create a … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Duckworth Bipartisan Amendment to Invest $17 Billion in National Laboratories and DOE Facilities Passes the Senate
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) helped U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) secure a bipartisan amendment to the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 68-32, that will invest $17 billion in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories and User Facilities. The provision will help support the entire U.S. innovation system to strengthen America's global competitiveness, which includes Fermilab and … Continue Reading
June 07, 2021
Senators Duckworth, Coons & Sullivan Reaffirm U.S.-ROK Alliance in Bipartisan Visit to South Korea
[WASHINGTON, DC] - 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), along with U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), member of SASC and a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, participated in a bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) to South Korea, where they discussed shared interests and future … Continue Reading
June 06, 2021
Duckworth, Coons & Sullivan Visit Taipei to Underscore U.S. Support for Taiwan, Announce Allocation of 750,000 Vaccine Doses to Taiwan
[TAIPEI, TAIWAN] - 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), along with U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), member of SASC and a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, travelled to Taiwan to underscore U.S. support for Taiwan, including on combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. They highlighted the … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Announce $372,000 in CARES Act Funding for Southland Development Authority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today announced that the Southland Development Authority in Cook County, Illinois, has been awarded $372,500 in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's funding will support the Southland Equitable Recovery Stimulus Program, which will provide businesses with immediate pandemic … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Senators In Bipartisan Request For Additional C-130J Aircraft
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support the additional procurement of at least eight C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of the modernization effort for the Air National Guard in the Fiscal year (FY) 2022 Defense … Continue Reading
June 03, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join 18 Senators In Calling On Federal Agencies To Share Data, Work Together To Expand Access To High-Speed Internet
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in leading a group of 17 additional Senators in calling on the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to share data to identify communities without high-speed internet access and work together to improve broadband … Continue Reading
May 29, 2021
Duckworth Meets with Criminal Justice Leaders on Chicago’s West Side
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with criminal justice leaders in Chicago's Tri-Taylor neighborhood today to discuss efforts to effect positive change and help achieve justice in Cook County communities. Duckworth was joined by several officials including Cook County Public Defender Sharone Michell Jr., West Side Justice Center Founder and Board President Brendan Shiller, Safer Foundation CEO and President Victor Dickson, Equity and Transformation Founder and Executive … Continue Reading
May 29, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Importance of American Rescue Plan Funding for Local Governments with Northwest Suburban Mayors
[DES PLAINES, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with local mayors and members of the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) to discuss the importance of federal funding in President Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help municipal governments recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. In total, Illinois will receive more than $13 billion in relief funding, including more than $2 billion for municipal governments. Photos from today's event are available here. "We know … Continue Reading
May 29, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Importance of American Rescue Plan Funding for Local Governments with Northwest Suburban Mayors
[DES PLAINES, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with local mayors and members of the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) to discuss the importance of federal funding in President Biden's American Rescue Plan (ARP) to help municipal governments recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19. In total, Illinois will receive more than $13 billion in relief funding, including more than $2 billion for municipal governments. Photos from today's event are available here. "We know … Continue Reading
May 29, 2021
Duckworth Pays Tribute to Fallen Servicemembers at Chicago Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today paid tribute to our nation's fallen servicemembers at the City of Chicago's wreath laying ceremony to commemorate Memorial Day. Duckworth joined City of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Michael Grinston and other Veterans and servicemembers to honor local Gold Star families and remember loved ones who were killed in the line of duty. Video of today's event is available here. "This weekend … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Duckworth, Ernst Lead Bipartisan Effort to Honor WWII Army Rangers with the Congressional Gold Medal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of Memorial Day, 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), along with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a retired lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, are leading a bipartisan effort to award the U.S. Army Ranger Veterans of World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal. "U.S. Army Rangers bravely wore the uniform of this … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Duckworth: President Biden’s Budget Proposal is an Investment in America’s Working Families and Middle Class
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today in response to President Biden's budget proposal that would focus on supporting working families and the middle class: "President Biden's budget proposal lays out a bold, forward-thinking, ambitious vision for America's future that would focus on and invest in rebuilding the middle class by making historic investments in working families, strengthening child care, expanding paid family leave, making … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Duckworth Applauds New DOJ Efforts to Prevent and Mitigate Hate Crimes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for taking several steps to improve the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) efforts to prevent and mitigate hate crimes and hate incidents after recent spikes in both anti-Asian and anti-Semitic attacks against Americans. Attorney General Garland's move to improve federal anti-hate efforts comes after Duckworth asked Garland in March to have DOJ prioritize combatting hate crimes and … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Duckworth on Bipartisan January 6th Commission Vote: Republicans Would Rather Spread Lies than Defend our Democracy
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked legislation that passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support to create an independent commission to investigate the Trump-inspired insurrection that took place at the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021: "As Senators, we swear an oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Schneider Introduce Bill To Update Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced a bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards to reflect the stricter criteria outlined in a 2016 EPA study. Under the bill, any updates to the emissions standards would have to incorporate the maximum achievable control technology requirements … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing “National Gun Violence Awareness Day”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution in the Senate establishing June 4, 2021, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) has introduced a companion resolution in the House. Last year was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States, with an estimated 19,300 individuals killed … Continue Reading
