Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin & Colleagues Advocate to Protect Americans from Losing Access to Vital Utilities during Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and ten of their Democratic colleagues today to ask Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to include safeguards in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package to protect the American people from losing access to critical utilities-including power, heat, water and internet services-during the pandemic. In part, the Senators wrote: "Newly unemployed Americans are facing … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Join Kaine and Young in Reintroducing Bill to Repeal 1991 & 2002 AUMFs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) today in reintroducing bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq. The bill would formally end the authorizations for the Gulf and Iraq wars - 30 and 19 … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Duckworth Meets with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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 (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, virtually met with today with Colin Kahl, President Biden's nominee to be the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). Duckworth and Kahl discussed many important issues facing the Department, such as prioritizing the Indo-Pacific region and improving diversity … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth Joins Murphy, Senate Democrats in Urging Senate Leadership to Prioritize Behavioral Health Needs of Children in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and six Democratic Senators in urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to include targeted funding for the behavioral health needs of our nation's children through the expansion of the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access (PMHCA) program in the next COVID-19 relief package. In their letter, the Senators emphasized the rise in anxiety, depression and post-traumatic … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth, Norton Introduce Resolution Calling for Accessibility Improvements at the FDR Memorial
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced a resolution recognizing the successful campaign led by disability advocates to secure a statue of FDR in a wheelchair in the Prologue Room at the FDR Memorial and urging the National Park Service (NPS) to make the Memorial accessible to everyone by installing tactile braille throughout the space and supporting the development of accessible education materials for … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Raimondo as Commerce Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the senior Democratic Member on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, released the following statement after voting to confirm Gina Raimondo as Commerce Secretary under President Biden. Raimondo was confirmed by an 84-15 vote. "Secretary Raimondo has demonstrated throughout her confirmation process that she has the experience, background and problem-solving approach needed to … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth Presses Former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster on Combatting Extremism, Misinformation in Military Ranks
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted the need to counter extremism in the ranks and work toward restoring good order and discipline across the military. Duckworth, who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is Chair of the SASC Airland Subcommittee, spoke in the wake of the January 6th violent insurrection, in which the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol and left … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin, Senators Reintroduce Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
[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, joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 40 other Democratic Senators today in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. Ninety-seven percent of Americans … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth to Chair U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) will chair the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water & Wildlife in the 117th Congress. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over matters relating to water, water pollution, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, ocean dumping, fisheries and wildlife, invasive species, sportsmen's issues and environmental aspects of Outer Continental Shelf Lands, as well as the Clean Water Act, the Safe … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth, Calling for Passage of Biden’s American Rescue Plan, Highlights Provisions to Vaccinate More Americans and Expand Access to Affordable Healthcare During the COVID-19 Pandemic
American Rescue Plan would boost vaccinations and testing, ensure access to health coverage, promote health equity and invest in behavioral health [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this afternoon joined a press call where she discussed the urgent need to pass the American Rescue Plan and address the major public health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) also participated in the press call. Key quotes: "As … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth Meets with Deputy Secretary of Transportation Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST), virtually met with Polly Trottenberg, President Biden's nominee to be the next Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). During their meeting, Duckworth and Trottenberg discussed Amtrak accessibility and on-time performance and the upcoming infrastructure package, as well as her TIFIA for Airports Act. "Polly Trottenberg and I had great … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Duckworth Highlights Need for Environmental Justice at Cahokia Heights Roundtable
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined state and local leaders to discuss the ongoing environmental justice issues in Cahokia Heights, Illinois, with residents. Duckworth, chair and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus and member of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, today also sent a letter of support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to support Cahokia Sewer Water … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Duckworth Votes to Confirm Dr. Miguel Cardona as Education Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today voted to confirm Dr. Miguel Cardona as United States Secretary of Education. Dr. Cardona was confirmed with a 64-33 vote to lead the Department of Education under President Biden and will be the first English-learner to serve in this role. "As a long-time public school educator, Dr. Miguel Cardona has the experience, understanding and empathy we need to lead the Department of Education right now. As COVID-19 continues to widen … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Duckworth Asks DNI Haines to Release Intelligence Community’s Review of Alleged Russian Bounties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, today wrote to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines urging her to issue a declassified public assessment or report on the Intelligence Community's (IC) review of the publicly-reported allegation that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. servicemembers and coalition forces … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Bill to Create National Heritage Area in Chicago’s Bronzeville Community
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a bill that would create a National Park Service (NPS) National Heritage Area in the greater Bronzeville community of Chicago. The Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Act would create a National Heritage Area from 18th Street to the North, 71st Street to the South, Lake Michigan to the East, and Canal Street to the West-approximately five miles south of downtown. This area would … Continue Reading
February 27, 2021
Duckworth Tours Cook County Health COVID-19 Vaccination Site at Triton College
[RIVER GROVE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured Cook County Health's COVID-19 vaccination site at Triton College and met with Cook County officials to discuss how federal and local entities can support each other equitably and efficiently vaccinating Illinoisans. Duckworth was joined by several local officials including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Health CEO Israel Rocha Jr. Photos of today's visit are available here. "It's great to see … Continue Reading
February 27, 2021
Duckworth Statement in Response to Biden Administration Strike on Iran-Linked Targets in Syria
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Biden administration launched a targeted airstrike in Syria:“Let’s be clear: any attack from Iran-backed militias—or any adversary—on U.S. citizens and our coalition partners is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. President Biden should take action when necessary to defend and protect our troops and I’m looking forward to learning more details about this strike at … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Announcement of Mass Community Vaccination Center in Chicago
[WASHINGTON D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded an announcement that the Biden Administration will dramatically increase access to COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois by launching a community vaccination center (CVC) Federal Pilot Site in Chicago on March 10. The site, which will be located at the United Center, will have the capacity for 6,000 COVID-19 vaccinations a day. "This new mass community vaccination center is … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Duckworth, Maloney & Blumenthal Re-introduce Bill to Create Compensation Fund for Essential Workers
Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act would create a new program for all essential workers and personnel who have been injured or impacted by COVID-19 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12) today re-introduced the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Modeled after the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), the new fund created by this legislation would provide compensation for injuries to any … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Duckworth, McEachin Urge Biden to Continue Taking Bold Action for Environmental Justice
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Representative Donald McEachin (D-VA-04), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the U.S. House of Representatives United for Climate and Environmental Justice Task Force, today wrote to President Biden to commend his commitment to prioritizing environmental justice and request additional executive actions be taken to help communities impacted by environmental … Continue Reading
