Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Help Re-introduce Bill to Make Medicare Available to Everyone
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and seven of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Choose Medicare Act, legislation that would give every individual who is not already eligible for Medicaid or Medicare the opportunity to enroll in Medicare as an individual and give every employer the ability to purchase Medicare for their employees. "All Americans … Continue Reading
April 16, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Her Bipartisan Drinking Water Infrastructure Bill with Cook County Water Policy Leaders
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife today met virtually with local environmental leaders to discuss her recently-introduced Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA 2021). The bipartisan legislation authorizes more than $35 billion for water resource development projects across the country, which is of vital importance in Illinois, the state with the … Continue Reading
April 16, 2021
Duckworth Joins Coons, Wicker, Colleagues in Reintroducing Bill to Expand National Service to Bolster COVID-19 Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and 15 bipartisan colleagues in reintroducing the Cultivating Opportunity and Recovery to the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act, which would expand national service programs significantly to help the country recover and rebuild from COVID-19. The CORPS Act would increase the number of AmeriCorps positions available to support a variety of response and recovery efforts based … Continue Reading
April 16, 2021
Duckworth, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Reserve Servicemembers and Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced bipartisan legislation to support Reserve Component Forces and small businesses. The Reserve Employers Comprehensive Relief and Uniform Incentives on Taxes (RECRUIT ACT) would provide tax credits for small businesses that hire Reserve and National Guard members, … Continue Reading
April 16, 2021
Duckworth Hosts Virtual Town Hall on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Distribution
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a virtual town hall tonight to discuss COVID-19 vaccine distribution, safety and access in Illinois. Duckworth was joined by Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Illinois Pharmacists Association Director Garth Reynolds and Illinois Primary Healthcare Association President Cyrus Winnett. The group answered questions from Illinoisans on the importance of COVID-19 vaccines and several other issues. This … Continue Reading
April 15, 2021
Duckworth Statement After CAPAC’s WH Meeting with President Biden
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) met with President Biden at the White House to discuss issues impacting the AAPI community: "I'm pleased President Biden hosted this meeting to hear directly from AAPI Congressional leaders on some of the most important issues facing our community, including the spike in hate crimes against AAPIs, immigration reform, the … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Duckworth Applauds President Biden’s Appointment of Erika Moritsugu as Senior White House AAPI Liaison
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after President Biden appointed Erika Moritsugu to a new senior-level AAPI liaison position in the White House. The Biden Administration created this new Deputy Assistant to the President position after assuring Senator Duckworth in late March that it will do much more to elevate AAPI voices and perspectives at the highest levels of government as well as advance policy proposals that are relevant and … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Duckworth Meets with University of Illinois Schools System Administrators, Trustees, Alumni and Students to Discuss President Biden’s American Rescue Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a virtual "fly-in" with administrators, trustees, students and alumni of the University of Illinois System to discuss federal support to higher education as part of President Biden's recently-enacted American Rescue Plan. Duckworth was joined by several members of the University of Illinois System including Executive Vice President and VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Barb Wilson, UIUC Chancellor Dr. Robert Jones, UIC Chancellor … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Duckworth, Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Bill Ensuring Accurate Data on Access to Prosthetics Following the Amputation of a Limb
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced bipartisan legislation that would help improve health outcomes for individuals living with limb loss or limb differences. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY). "Americans with limb loss and limb difference face unique challenges in accessing optimal assistive technologies that could greatly enhance quality of … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Duckworth Calls for DOJ Civil Rights Division to Investigate Law Enforcement Misconduct Against Lieutenant Caron Nazario
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today requested that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division investigate the December 5, 2020, incident of national interest that appeared to involve Windsor Police Department officers engaging in law enforcement misconduct, including excessive use of force, against Lieutenant Caron Nazario, an active duty United States Army Officer serving with the U.S. Medical Corps. Duckworth also requested that the DOJ Civil Rights … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Duckworth Applauds President Biden’s Appointment of Erika Moritsugu as Senior White House AAPI Liaison
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after President Biden appointed Erika Moritsugu to a new senior-level AAPI liaison position in the White House. The Biden Administration created this new Deputy Assistant to the President position after assuring Senator Duckworth in late March that it will do much more to elevate AAPI voices and perspectives at the highest levels of government as well as advance policy proposals that are relevant and … Continue Reading
April 14, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Black Maternal Health Week Resolution
Twenty-two co-sponsors in the Senate and more than 47 in the House join resolution to raise national awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States [WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to introduce a resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, "to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin and Colleagues Urge President Biden to Return to Iran Nuclear Agreement
Lawmakers support returning to the JCPOA and using a "compliance for compliance" approach as a starting point to reset U.S. relations with Iran [WASHINGTON D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-MA), and 23 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden expressing the need to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to peacefully and effectively stem the threat of Iran's nuclear … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Duckworth Calls on FEMA to Promote the Procurement and Distribution of American-made N95 Respirators
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take additional action to make sure organizations that could better protect personnel by distributing National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-approved N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirators (NIOSH-approved N95 respirators) are made aware of, and connected with, … Continue Reading
April 12, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $65 Million Reimbursement for Illinois COVID-19 Emergency Spending
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $65.3 million in back payments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) thanks to President Biden's decision to waive the 25 percent state cost share requirement for assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, Duckworth and Durbin have been calling for the federal government to cover 100 percent of the costs under the COVID-19 National … Continue Reading
April 12, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly, Underwood Applaud Biden Administration for Signing Illinois Waiver Extending Health Care Coverage for New Moms
Thanks to the lawmakers' leadership, waiver will extend health care coverage for new moms on Medicaid in Illinois from 60 days after pregnancy to a full year [WASHINGTON D.C] - During Black Maternal Health Week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today applauded the Biden Administration for approving and signing Illinois' 1115 waiver, which will extend health care … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2.9 Million for Illinois Veterans’ Homes to Protect Against COVID-19
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois State Veterans' Homes have received a total of $2.9 million in additional federal grant funding to ensure residents continue to receive high quality care and are protected from COVID-19. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was appropriated by Congress in the COVID-19 relief package passed in December. "Every American deserves to be protected from … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
Duckworth Statement on Biden Executive Actions on Gun Violence
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Biden announced several executive actions to address gun violence: "How many lives must be taken before we finally say, 'enough is enough?'" Duckworth said. "I don't want my daughters to have to grow up in a country that won't protect them from firearm violence. We owe it to the countless victims of preventable gun violence to take action, which is why I'm pleased to see the Biden … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
Bicameral Lawmakers Issue Statements After Prompting FDA’s Creation of “Closer to Zero” Campaign
FDA's Campaign is Historic Commitment to Baby Food Safety Standards [WASHINGTON, D.C.]- Today, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform's Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, Senator Amy Klobuchar, issued the following statements after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the "Closer to Zero" Campaign, setting timelines for regulating toxic heavy metals in baby foods: "Parents deserve to … Continue Reading
April 06, 2021
Duckworth Discusses Drinking Water Infrastructure Bill with Illinois Environmental Advocates
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife today met virtually with local environmental advocates to discuss her recently-introduced Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 (DWWIA 2021). The bipartisan legislation authorizes more than $35 billion for water resource development projects across the country, which is of vital importance in Illinois, the state with the … Continue Reading
