Press Releases
As School Year Begins, Duckworth Re-Introduces Legislation to Improve School Bus Safety
[CHAMPAIGN, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the re-introduction of her legislation to help keep our kids safe as they travel to and from school. Duckworth, along with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are introducing the School Bus Safety Act today to implement safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to make school buses safer by ensuring there are seat belts at every seat and buses are equipped with safety measures like stability … Continue Reading
September 08, 2023
Following Recent Congressional Delegation Trip to Southeast Asia, Duckworth Highlights Her Efforts to Promote Illinois Innovation Abroad
[CHAMPAIGN, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to discuss her recent Congressional Delegation trip to Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines and share more details on her efforts to strengthen economic ties in the region and advocate for Illinois on the international stage, including helping bring critical investments from overseas partners into our state. Duckworth … Continue Reading
September 06, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Grassley, Sorensen Press BOP To Investigate Allegations Of Abuse At USP Thomson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters requesting information about serious allegations of abuse at United States … Continue Reading
September 06, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3.9 Million To Improve Housing Across Local Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $3,900,000 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Housing Rehabilitation programs, which provide residents with safe and sanitary living conditions and help to stabilize neighborhoods and affordable housing in communities. “Children and families across Illinois can benefit from federal investments … Continue Reading
September 06, 2023
Duckworth Stresses Importance of AUKUS Partnership to Indo-Pacific Regional Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After last month leading a Congressional Delegation trip to Southeast Asia, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today stressed the importance of deepening U.S. security partnerships with Australia and the United Kingdom to help strengthen and support the Indo-Pacific region. In today’s U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on AUKUS—the security pact between the U.S., the United Kingdom and Australia—Duckworth highlighted the need for deeper engagement in the … Continue Reading
September 05, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $750,000 For Drug-Free Communities Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $750,000 in federal funding for Illinois communities through the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program. This funding will be used by communities to achieve and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use, tackling issues ranging from tobacco prevention to opioid misuse. “The epidemic of addiction has taken far too many … Continue Reading
August 30, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $6.2 Million To Help Close The Digital Divide In Schools And Libraries
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $6,279,820 for Illinois schools and libraries through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund. “This federal investment will have a significant impact for dozens of schools and libraries across Illinois by helping improve broadband infrastructure,” said Duckworth. “We know that internet access is crucial for helping our kids stay ahead in … Continue Reading
August 30, 2023
Duckworth Announces $3.5 Million in Congressionally Directed Spending to Support Water Improvements in Harvey
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the Senate’s first Environmental Justice Caucus, today announced that $3.5 million she secured through a Fiscal Year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending Request will be sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the City of Harvey for its Central Area Water and Sewer Improvement Project. This Duckworth-secured federal funding will increase Harvey’s financial capacity to implement long-overdue water … Continue Reading
August 30, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $650,000 To Support EMS Agencies In Rural Communities
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $653,923 in federal funding through Durbin’s Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act to support EMS agencies in rural communities. The funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which was created through Durbin’s SIREN Act, goes toward supporting EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification … Continue Reading
August 29, 2023
Duckworth Announces More Than $800,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending to Support At-Risk Newborns in Cook County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that $863,000 she secured through a Fiscal Year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending Request will be sent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to Cook County Health for its Caring for High-Risk Infants project. The funding Duckworth secured will help ensure families with newborns in John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) receive the high-quality care needed through the … Continue Reading
August 29, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging President Biden To Grant Federal Disaster Declaration For Central Illinois Following Severe Summer Weather
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Biden urging the White House to grant Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Illinois, to help 27 Central Illinois counties recover from storm damage. From late June to early … Continue Reading
August 25, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin, Sorensen Statement On Permanent Conversion Of Thomson Prison To Low-Security Facility
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) released the following statement regarding the decision by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to permanently convert United States Penitentiary (USP) Thomson into a low-security prison while ensuring that all current Thomson employees will be retained: “We welcome today’s announcement by BOP Director … Continue Reading
August 23, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2.1 Million In Federal Grant Funding For Fair Housing Efforts In Chicago-Area
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $2,125,000 in federal funding for Illinois housing non-profits from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding comes from the Fiscal Year (FY23) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Second- and Third-Year Private Enforcement Initiative (PEI) grants. Continuing the funding these organizations secured in FY21 and FY22 FHIP … Continue Reading
August 18, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Letter to EPA Urging The Agency To Protect Communities From Coal Ash
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founder of the Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led eight of their colleagues in urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand the protections in the agency’s newly-proposed rule to safeguard communities and the environment from the dangers of coal combustion residuals (CCR). In their letter, the Senators express their support for EPA’s move to address the loopholes … Continue Reading
August 15, 2023
Following Their Letter, Duckworth, Durbin, Applaud Biden Administration For Approving Illinois Disaster Declaration Following Severe Summer Storms
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Biden Administration for approving Governor JB Pritzker’s request for Individual Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of Illinois, to support Cook County in recovering from severe storms in which localized rainfall totals reached eight inches, resulting in significant power outages and roadway interruptions from June 29 to July 2, … Continue Reading
August 14, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Screening Committee Application Process For Federal District Court In The Northern District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023
Duckworth Statement on Biden’s Executive Order Limiting US Investments in China
[CHICAGO, ILLINOIS] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today issued the following statement after President Biden signed an executive order limiting American investments into China in certain advanced technologies industries: “With this Executive Order, President Biden is taking decisive action to help protect our national security and prevent China from strengthening its military with American dollars. This move, along with the Senate’s bipartisan NDAA I was proud to support, … Continue Reading
August 07, 2023
Duckworth to Visit Thailand, Indonesia & the Philippines to Continue Work Strengthening Ties Throughout Southeast Asia
[CHICAGO, IL] - Over the weekend, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—departed for a Congressional Delegation to the Indo-Pacific region that she arranged in her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between Southeast Asia and the United States. Building on her successful trip to the region earlier this year, Duckworth will be visiting Thailand, Indonesia and … Continue Reading
August 07, 2023
Duckworth, Durbin Lead Illinois Delegation in Urging President Biden to Grant Federal Disaster Declaration for Illinois Following Severe Weather in Cook County
[QUINCY, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Biden urging the White House to grant Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Illinois, to help Cook County recover from storm damage. From late June to early … Continue Reading
August 02, 2023
Duckworth Joins Kaine & Colleagues on Bicameral Call for Funding to Prevent Child Care Fiscal Cliff
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and a bicameral group of colleagues this week in calling on President Joe Biden to support needed funding to prevent a national wave of child care closures. Their letter underscored that while Congress secured historic funding in the American Rescue Plan to stabilize child care during the COVID-19 pandemic, that relief funding is set to end this September. … Continue Reading
