Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly Join Protect Our Care to Raise Alarm over Glaring Racial Disparities in Trump Administration’s Handling of COVID-19 Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today joined founder and chair of Protect Our Care Leslie Dach on a press call to discuss the disproportionate effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Black Illinoisans and how the Trump Administration's failure to adequately respond to the crisis has contributed to this disparity. "The awful truth is that in Illinois, COVID-19 isn't yesterday's … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Kelly, Foster Discuss COVID-19 Response with Illinois Hospitals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today, on a call with more than 20 CEOs of Illinois hospitals and leaders of the Illinois Health & Hospital Association, discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois and how hospitals are fighting the pandemic on the ground. The group discussed how to increase federal support to hospitals through CARES Act funding formulas … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Discuss Support for Nonprofits with Cardinal Cupich and Catholic Charities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Cardinal Blase Cupich and Sally Blount, the incoming CEO of Catholic Charities Chicago, about meeting the needs of vulnerable populations amid the public health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits like Catholic Charities are experiencing a huge loss in revenue and resources being stretched more than ever. Duckworth and Durbin discussed their support for additional … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Hirono, Senate Democrats in Calling for DOJ Inspector General Investigation into Attorney General Barr’s Conduct in Suppressing Peaceful Protests
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and 18 Senate Democrats in requesting that Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz open an investigation into the conduct of Attorney General William Barr and the Department of Justice in directing the use of force against peaceful protestors around Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020. The Senators also called on the Inspector General to probe the deployment of … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with Army Secretary about Low-Flying Military Helicopters over Crowds during Peaceful Protests, Reiterates Need for Army to Remove Confederate Battle Flag
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after speaking with Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy about the use of low-flying military helicopters over peaceful civilian protestors in Washington, D.C. Earlier this month, Duckworth sent letters demanding investigations by and information from both the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Trump’s Executive Order on Police Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after President Trump announced a police reform Executive Order: "Trump's Executive Order falls far short of what we actually need right now, which is systemic change and accountability throughout our law enforcement agencies. In his desperate attempt to seem tuned in to the needs of Americans-the majority of which support the peaceful protests for racial equality and justice-he put forward a proposal that … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2 Million in Telehealth Funding for Illinois Health Care Providers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that seven Illinois health care providers have been awarded a total of $2,077,152 in federal funding to provide telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, which was awarded through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program, was appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. "Expanding the reach … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Duckworth Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Dramatically Expand National Service in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and 11 of her Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to expand national service programs significantly to help the country respond to and recover from the public health, economic and social crises facing the nation in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Cultivating Opportunity and Response to the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act would double the … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Duckworth Announces Class of 2024 Service Academy Appointments
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the appointments of 14 Illinois students she nominated to attend a United States Military Service Academy. Each year Duckworth, along with a nomination committee, selects from hundreds of Illinois high school applicants a group of outstanding students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy. "It takes a special … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Booker, Lee to Re-Introduce Bicameral Bill to Remove Confederate Statues from Capitol
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) to re-introduce a bicameral bill in the Senate and House to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol. The Confederate Monument Removal Act would remove all statues of people who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Duckworth Applauds Supreme Court Decision that Protects LGBTQ Employees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that LGBTQ workers are protected by the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination in employment: "No one should ever face discrimination because of who they are or who they love. By ruling that LGBTQ+ Americans have equal protections in the workplace and cannot be discriminated against because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Duckworth and Durbin Join Peters, McSally, Colleagues in Bipartisan Push to Increase Funding for Programs Protecting Pets & Survivors of Domestic Violence in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and 28 of their Senate colleagues in calling for increased funding for programs that support domestic violence survivors and their pets that were established under the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act. In their bipartisan letter to Senate leaders and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations, the Senators highlighted how reports of … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues in Calling on Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Carranza to Streamline and Simplify Process for Small Businesses Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza calling for urgently needed improvements to streamline and simplify the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application process to ensure the smallest and most underserved businesses are able to fully take advantage of the program. … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Duckworth and Booker Announce Bipartisan Resolution to Mark Women Veterans Appreciation Day
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Cory Booker to announce the introduction of a bipartisan, bicameral resolution in Congress celebrating June 12 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day, recognizing the distinguished service of women in the Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Forces. June 12 marks the anniversary of the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, which allowed women to serve as permanent, regular members of … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues In Pressing For Expanded Access To Affordable Health Care In Any Upcoming COVID-19 Relief Bill
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in leading 33 of their Senate colleagues in urging House and Senate leaders to ensure that any upcoming COVID-19 relief bill includes strong provisions to expand access to quality and affordable health care coverage in the wake of this public health crisis. In their letter, the Senators called for a bipartisan effort to ensure that … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Duckworth Joins Schumer, Warren, Reed, Colleagues to Call On President Trump To Support Bipartisan Proposal In Annual Defense Bill To Rename All Bases & Other Military Assets Named For The Confederacy And Anyone Who Served In The Confederacy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and SASC Ranking Member Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) in urging President Donald Trump to support the bipartisan SASC-adopted proposal to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments and paraphernalia … Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Klobuchar, Brown and Colleagues in Urging Department of Agriculture to Minimize Food Deserts and Support Programs to Help Americans Access Healthy, Affordable Food
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and 18 colleagues in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to express concerns about how a lack of access to healthy, affordable food is hurting low-income communities and communities of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. To help address the disproportionate impact of this public health crisis on these communities, the Senators are urging … Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $5 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvements in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $5,346,300 in federal funding to municipalities and utility cooperatives across Illinois to address health and sanitation concerns, as well as support much-needed improvements to water systems. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Rural Development. "Investments like these are critical in helping rural communities in Illinois modernize their infrastructure … Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $1 Million for Education Support in the Chicagoland Area
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $984,367 in federal funding to two Chicagoland school districts to improve educational outcomes for students by supporting the coordination of academic, social and health services between public schools, school districts and community organizations. Under this announcement, the City of Chicago Board of Education will receive $499,760 and Skokie School District 69 will receive $484,607. This funding … Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Klobuchar, Smith and Colleagues to Reiterate Call for DOJ Investigation into Racially Discriminatory and Violent Policing at Minneapolis Police Department
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with 21 colleagues, to follow up on their previous letter from May 29 to Attorney General Barr requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) open an investigation into patterns and practices of racially discriminatory and violent policing in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). In today's letter, the Senators asked for an explanation from Barr … Continue Reading
