Press Releases
Duckworth Welcomes U.S. Representative-Elect Budzinski to Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted U.S. Representative-elect Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) in her Senate office this week, where the two discussed how they can work together to support Illinoisans in the next Congress. Representative-elect Budzinski was elected last month to represent Illinois's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Photos of the meeting are available here. "I'm excited to have Congresswoman-elect Budzinski as a colleague … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth on Bill to Prevent Costs Rising for Millions of Working Americans by Averting Rail Shutdown
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting to pass legislation to avert a rail shutdown that could severely harm our economy and lead to costs going up for working families: "While this agreement is far from perfect, my vote today will help protect working families from the preventable price increases and job losses that a national rail shutdown would cause. Without freight rail, many industries would be harmed, affecting our ability … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Nomination of Lindsay Jenkins to Serve As District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Lindsay C. Jenkins' nomination to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established in the Northern District, Durbin and … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Fischer, Klobuchar to Introduce Bipartisan Year-Round E15 Legislation with Landmark Support
[WASHINGTON, D.C]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to introduce the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2022. The bipartisan legislation would allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10%. Increasing the availability of biofuels like E15 would benefit the economy and the environment. This federal legislation would also end years of regulatory uncertainty and … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
In Virtual Roundtable, Duckworth, Schakowsky Emphasize that Community Care is a Necessity, Not a Luxury
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who has been a strong advocate for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), joined a virtual roundtable last night with Caring Across Generations and a coalition of Illinois care advocates. The lawmakers underscored the urgent need for federal support for the array of care programs and caregivers that provide invaluable support to families … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Duckworth Reaction to Senate Passing Bipartisan Bill to Protect Marriage Equality
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect marriage equality for same-sex and interracial couples: "Today is a victory for love and a victory for equality. With a small group of far-right Justices on the Supreme Court signaling their openness to taking away right after right for millions of Americans, I'm proud that this historic legislation passed the Senate … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Duckworth, Casey, Scott, Durbin Announce Department of Justice Commitment to Conduct Web Accessibility Report
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Aging Committee Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC), as well as Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) are announcing that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has committed to prepare and submit to Congress a report on web accessibility across the federal government, after the Senators pushed for transparency. In June, Casey led a group of bipartisan colleagues who sent a letter … Continue Reading
November 18, 2022
Duckworth Joins Markey, Rep. Eshoo in Introducing Legislation to Ensure Accessibility of Video, Communication and Emerging Technologies for Individuals with Disabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18) in introducing the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) to update and amend the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) to keep pace with the proliferation of emerging technologies that have come online since 2010. It will help ensure that people with disabilities have full access to the range of … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Meet Leaders of Illinois’ Predominantly Black Institutions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the presidents of four Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) in Illinois to discuss federal support for PBI colleges and students. During their meeting, the Senators spoke with the college presidents about ensuring that PBIs receive adequate federal funding, which would help PBIs address capacity building, enrollment declines, and student success outcomes. "Predominantly … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Duckworth Statement on Speaker Pelosi’s Decision to Not Seek Re-Election to Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served two terms in the House of Representatives, issued the following statement after Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her decision to step down from leadership of the House Democratic Caucus: "I thank Speaker Pelosi for her decades of leadership. She's broken glass ceilings and been a true role model for generations of women-including myself. It was an honor to work alongside her for four years in the House. Our party-and our … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin statement on judiciary committee advancing nomination of David Davis to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of David C. Davis to serve as United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established in the Southern District, Duckworth and Durbin forwarded the names of … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Duckworth, Houlahan, Speier Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging DoD to Follow Congressional Intent and Provide Equal Access to Parental Leave
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), alongside U.S. Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06) and Jackie Speier (D-CA-14), led a bipartisan and bicameral letter urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide military moms with convalescent leave separately and apart from their guaranteed 12 weeks of parental leave, as Congress intended. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Join Merkley in Introducing Legislation To Protect Consumers From Predatory Payday Lending Practices
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), in introducing the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act. The SAFE Lending Act will protect consumers from deceptive and predatory practices that strip wealth from working families by cracking down on some of the worst abuses stemming from … Continue Reading
November 15, 2022
Duckworth Reaction to Reports of Russian Missiles Killing Two in Poland
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces, issued the following statement after news broke that Russian missiles killed at least two people in Poland, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO): "If confirmed, reports that Russian missiles hit Poland and killed at least 2 people are extremely troubling. My heart goes out to the victims, their … Continue Reading
November 14, 2022
Duckworth Condemns Iranian Government Response to Peaceful Protests
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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) Subcommittee on Airland, released a statement after news outlets reported that thousands of Iranian protesters could be put to death. Protesters have taken to the streets for weeks following the horrific, unjustified killing of Mahsa Amini in September. "The United States continues to stand behind the people of Iran-especially … Continue Reading
November 11, 2022
Duckworth: Veterans Deserve More Than Just an Ovation on Veterans Day
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To celebrate Veterans Day, combat Veteran and 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) Subcommittee on Airland, released the following statement in honor of our nation's heroes, which can be viewed on video here. "Veterans Day is a day of celebration-it's a moment to recognize and honor the service of all of those who put on the uniform and sacrificed to keep our … Continue Reading
November 03, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $208 Million in Federal Funding to Help Illinoisans Heat Their Homes This Winter
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $208,170,481 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Illinoisans pay the rising cost of home heating bills this winter. For more than 40 years, LIHEAP has provided assistance to help low-income individuals and families maintain healthy indoor temperatures during the coldest … Continue Reading
November 01, 2022
New Report from Duckworth, Warren, Hirono, Smith: Healthcare Providers Speak Out on Devastating Harm and Mortal Threats to Women Posed by State Abortion Bans
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Tina Smith (D-MN) in releasing a new report: Post-Roe Abortion Bans Threaten Women's Lives: Healthcare Providers Speak Out on the Devastating Harm Posed by Abortion Bans and Restrictions. The 23-page report-based on information provided by leading healthcare providers-reveals the devastating consequences of state abortion bans and restrictions enacted by right-wing … Continue Reading
October 28, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $36 Million in Federal Funding to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Communities Across Rural Illinois
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $36,103,607 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to bring high-speed internet access to people living and working across 13 counties in Illinois. Today's investments include funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provided a historic $65 billion to expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to all … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $8 Million in Federal Funding for Kaskaskia Regional Port District Project
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Kaskaskia Regional Port District Project will receive $8,000,000 in federal funding through the Department of Transportation's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which is administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration. With this funding, the Kaskaskia Regional Port District Project will install new rail tracks to create yard near an existing port … Continue Reading
