Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Illinois Auditor General Report: Cover-Up and Delay Endangered Vets and Staff at IVH Quincy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today after a report from Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino was released detailing serious lapses in the State's handling of the Legionnaires' outbreaks at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy from 2015 to 2018: "The Auditor General's report on Legionnaires' disease at IVH Quincy found: 'cover-up and delay that endangered our Veterans and staff.'" The Senators went on to … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Duckworth Meets with AIPAC Members to Discuss Defense Policy, U.S.-Israel Cooperation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with more than 200 Illinois members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to discuss the importance of our nation's relationship with Israel. During the meeting, Duckworth and her constituents discussed recently-passed legislation to increase security assistance to Israel and U.S.-Israel defense cooperation. Photos from today's meeting are available here. "My experience serving my country in the military has … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Duckworth, Graham, Bennet, Gardner Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Train Veterans for Careers in Innovative Sectors of the American Energy Industry
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) reintroduced the Energy Jobs for our Heroes Act to help Veterans gain the training and credentials necessary to secure job opportunities in the clean energy sector. The bipartisan legislation will help ease the transition back to civilian life for servicemembers and strengthen the economy by connecting employers in the fast-growing solar, wind, nuclear and cyber … Continue Reading
March 22, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $210,000 for Strategic Economic Planning in Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $210,000 in federal funding to help create jobs and support economic development throughout Southern Illinois. This funding is provided by the Economic Development District Planning Program, a program within the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) that assists communities as they develop and implement plans to enhance their local economies. "It's important for … Continue Reading
March 20, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Re-Introduce Bill to Help Americans Refinance Student Loans and Save Thousands of Dollars
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) in reintroducing legislation to allow Americans with outstanding student loan debt to refinance their loans at more affordable interest rates, potentially saving thousands of dollars. The bicameral Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would also allow graduate and parent borrowers to refinance at competitive rates, helping … Continue Reading
March 19, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Trump Proposal to Take Money from Illinois Military Facilities for Border Wall
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's announcement that they could use $55 million that Congress had allocated for Illinois military facilities in order to fund the border wall that Donald Trump promised Mexico would pay for. The projects in Illinois that could lose funding include a communications facility at Scott Air Force Base, an automated record fire range for the Illinois Army National Guard in … Continue Reading
March 18, 2019
Duckworth Hosts Roundtable with Advocates in Chicago to Discuss Importance of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a roundtable to listen to survivors of domestic violence and advocates working to support victims at organizations such as Mujeres Latinas en Accion, KAN-WIN and the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides resources to programs that prevent violence against women or provide services for victims of violence. The program's reauthorization expired on September 30th of last year … Continue Reading
March 18, 2019
Duckworth & Klobuchar Tour Newly Renovated 95th Street Red Line Station
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) visited the 95th Street Red Line Station North Terminal today to receive updates on the status of the project and discuss the importance of strengthening our nation's infrastructure and keeping our public transportation systems as modern and accessible as possible. Powered by more than $100 million in federal funding and financing, the station's renovation has already created more than 760 construction jobs and, … Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Durbin and Duckworth Help Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Celebrating Contributions of AmeriCorps Members and Alumni
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), along with U.S. Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Doris Matsui (D-CA), to introduce a resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of Americans in celebration of AmeriCorps Week 2019. Over 75,000 Americans serve their communities, states, and the nation through AmeriCorps programs each year, totaling more … Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Duckworth Hosts Community Briefing on Census 2020, Stressing Importance of Accurate Count
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a community briefing on the 2020 Census, bringing together leaders from various advocacy groups for a discussion on the importance of accurately counting underrepresented communities-as the constitution mandates-to ensure Illinois receives full representation in Congress and necessary federal funding. Last week a second federal judge issued a court order to block the Trump administration's plans to include a citizenship question … Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Duckworth Celebrates Fermilab Particle Accelerator Groundbreaking
[BATAVIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today celebrated the groundbreaking of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory's (Fermilab) new Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II), a major new particle accelerator project that will power cutting-edge research projects. Duckworth joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Governor J.B. Pritzker as well as U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (IL-11), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Sean Casten (IL-06) to mark the beginning of … Continue Reading
March 15, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Military Readiness and Logistics on the Korean Peninsula
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the military's efforts to enhance troop and logistical readiness on the Korean Peninsula with Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford at yesterday's Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing. Shanahan assured Duckworth he would work to bridge the gap between the Republic of Korea and Japan by utilizing his relationships with their leaders and continuing to work … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Help Re-Introduce Bipartisan Equality Act to Protect LGBTQ Americans from Discrimination
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and 41 of their colleagues in re-introducing comprehensive bipartisan legislation to ban discrimination against LGBTQ Americans. The Equality Act of 2019 amends existing federal civil rights laws to explicitly include protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. While a … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Vote to Terminate Donald Trump’s National Emergency Declaration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a Senate vote to terminate Donald Trump's national emergency declaration to raid military construction funds to build an ineffective border wall that he promised Mexico would pay for, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Donald Trump's declaration was a reckless and unprecedented abuse of presidential power, not to mention a monumental waste of billions of taxpayer dollars on a vanity project that he promised Mexico would pay … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Duckworth to Vote to End U.S. Military’s Unauthorized Support of Saudi Arabia’s Brutal Military Campaign in Yemen
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of a Senate vote today on a bipartisan resolution directing the President to end unauthorized U.S. military assistance to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "The Senate is prepared to take an important step today to reclaim its constitutional responsibility to determine whether to declare war. For far too long, Congress has ceded that solemn responsibility, allowing the … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Initiatives with Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of both the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Corn Growers Association to discuss Illinois priorities and agriculture policies. Photos from both meetings are available here. "The strength of America's farmers and ranchers is a reflection of the strength of our nation," Duckworth said. "I enjoyed meeting with the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Corn Growers Association today to discuss their concerns and … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
In Major Address Ahead of 16th Anniversary of Iraq Invasion, Duckworth Puts Forth New National Security Platform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a major foreign policy speech at the National Press Club today, detailing her vision for how we can keep our military the strongest in the world. On the eve of the 16th anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, Duckworth argued that we can no longer only focus on the size of our military's budget at the expense of our domestic policies-but rather, if we want to remain atop the global order, we need to … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Duckworth Meets with Willowbrook Residents Impacted by Sterigenics
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with community members from the Willowbrook-area yesterday who have been exposed to cancer-causing ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from the Sterigenics medical sterilization facility in their community. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) issued a Seal Order on Sterigenics on February 15th. "I was pleased to host these Willowbrook-area residents who are here advocating for their neighbors and for all Americans who the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Proposed E15 Rule Changes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed changes to allow gasoline to be blended with up to 15 percent ethanol (E15) year-round: "This action is long overdue - now it's time for the administration to stop abusing small refinery waivers and end its other harmful policies that are hurting farmers and contributing to the idling and closing of ethanol plants. I will work with … Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Duckworth, Murray, Hirono, Harris, Lee, Schakowsky and DeGette Introduce Legislation to Ensure Equal Access to Reproductive Healthcare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation today protecting every woman's constitutionally-guaranteed right to reproductive healthcare and helping ensure access to care to each woman, regardless of income, race or where in the country … Continue Reading
