Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Leahy in Announcing New Bill to Restore National Guard Coronavirus Funding at 100 Percent
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in announcing their plans to introduce a bill to restore full federal funding for the National Guard's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. "National Guard troops have been serving as frontline workers since the beginning of this pandemic, working to help keep their communities and their nation safe," Duckworth said. "Trump's decision to … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $3 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Funding For COVID-19 Emergency Response in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offset costs related to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal funding was awarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency as reimbursement for implementing training and other safety measures at assisted-living, nursing, and rehabilitation facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Ensuring … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
GAO Accepts Duckworth Request for an Independent Review into the Army’s SHARP Program
[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, released the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) officially accepted her request that the congressional watchdog conduct an independent review of the Army's implementation and effectiveness of its Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program. Duckworth … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $2.4 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Funding For Flooding Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois has been awarded a total of $2,414,009 in federal funding to offset costs related to the historic flooding that occurred from February 24 to July 3, 2019. The funding, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will go to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to supplement local recovery efforts in the areas affected … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues To Call On FCC To Bolster Lifeline Program To Keep Students Connected As The School Year Begins
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in leading a group of 22 other Senators in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to boost its Lifeline program to keep students connected as millions return to school both virtually and in person. Since 1985, the FCC's Lifeline program has made basic internet and telephone service more affordable for low-income Americans and has had bipartisan … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Duckworth Joins Women’s Business Development Center to Discuss Intersection of Gender and Race in Government and Business
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) participated in a fireside chat with the Women's Business Development Council as part of its Raising Up The Vote initiative focusing on gender and racial equality. Duckworth, in conversation with Midway Broadcasting Corporation Chairwoman Melody Spann Cooper, discussed the importance of women of color in leadership roles in both government and business, as well as legislation she's worked on to support women and communities of … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Duckworth Celebrates Women’s Equality Day, Calls for Equity for All Women
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released a statement to commemorate one hundred years since the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, a historic move toward voter rights and gender equality in our nation. "On this day 100 years ago, our nation moved one step closer to delivering for all the American promise of liberty and justice. But as much as we recognize the monumental progress of the 19th Amendment, we must also acknowledge it fell far short of … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Duckworth Blasts USDA Student Meal Decision that Will Add Significant Burdens to Already Strained School Districts in the Middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would not continue flexibilities for school districts for food insecure students, increasing administrative and cost burdens on school districts already strained due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Current flexibilities and waivers originally included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act have been a lifeline for … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Duckworth Responds to Reports of Russian Aggression Toward U.S. Troops in Syria
[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 in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, today reacted to reports that U.S. servicemembers in Syria were injured after an altercation with Russian forces: "I am still waiting for the full details to emerge, but if Russian troops indeed rammed a vehicle with U.S. troops inside it, which resulted in multiple injuries, then that marks an aggressive, … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Democrats Release New Report on Climate Action, Plan to Build Clean Economy for American People
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and other members of the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis in releasing a comprehensive report titled "The Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Economy for the American People." The new report - which comes after dozens of hearings, meetings, … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Urge USPS To Prioritize Election Mail Ahead Of November General Election
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) leaders following their call last week to discuss constituent concerns about voting by mail. In the letter, Durbin and Duckworth urged officials to ensure that election mail is processed expeditiously and to immediately enact an official policy to ensure that all vote-by-mail applications and ballots are treated as First-Class … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Duckworth Joins Roundtable on Military Sexual Trauma
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today participated in a virtual roundtable discussion with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs about military sexual trauma and the work she's doing to prevent sexual assault and harassment in the military. Duckworth was joined by former Ambassador and Distinguished Fellow at the Council, Fay Hartog-Levin. "Sexual assault is a crisis in our nation's military that impacts the lives of far too many women and men in … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with Kankakee Mayor about COVID-19 Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual meeting with Kankakee Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the city. Duckworth and Wells-Armstrong also spoke about what Kankakee is looking for in a future federal relief package as well as other federal funding opportunities for new potential infrastructure projects in the city. "Our local governments have been hit especially hard during this pandemic," Duckworth said. "Communities … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with Peoria Mayor, City Manager on COVID-19 Recovery
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today held a virtual meeting with Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the city. Duckworth, Ardis and Urich also discussed what Peoria is looking for in a future federal relief package and how her office can help Peoria with recovering from both the economic and health impacts of the pandemic. "Our local governments have been hit especially hard during this pandemic," … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Convene Call With USPS And Illinois State Board of Elections Leaders To Discuss Constituent Concerns About Voting By Mail
[SPRINGFIELD, IL]- U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with staff from the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) to discuss how constituents in Illinois can safely participate in the upcoming general election amid concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and USPS policies and practices that may impact mail-in ballot delivery. On the call, the Senators and SBOE and USPS leaders discussed Postmaster General Louis … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Blumenthal to Criticize USPS Operational Changes and their Disproportionate Harm on Deployed Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who still receives her own medications from the VA through the United States Postal Service (USPS), and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 26 of their Senate colleagues today in writing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to raise concerns over the heightened impact of harmful USPS policy and operational changes to servicemembers and their families. Because USPS is the only … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $950,000 in Federal Funding to Support Hazardous Materials Emergency Response
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has been awarded a total of $958,207 in federal grant funding to enhance the state's emergency response capabilities when dealing with hazardous materials related to transportation incidents. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). "Helping ensure the proper … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Duckworth Speaks with Illinois Postal Union Leaders on Impact of Trump Administration’s Sabotage of the United States Postal Service
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with President of the Illinois State Association for the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) John Cooksey and Central Regional Coordinator of the American Postal Workers Sharyn Stone about how the Trump Administration's recent changes to the United States Postal Service (USPS) have already impacted postal workers and consumers across the state. In separate calls, Duckworth also discussed with both Cooksey and Stone … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Tester, Peters in Demanding Postal Service Address Delivery Delays of Veterans’ Prescription Drugs
[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 in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and still receives prescriptions from the VA by way of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jon Tester (D-MT), Ranking Member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Gary Peters (D-MI) to demand immediate action following reports of significant delays in Veterans' … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Dems in Urging USPS to Fix Delays and Avoid Cost Increases for Election Mail
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sending a letter with the entire Senate Democratic caucus to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to provide answers regarding reports of recent changes to long-standing practices at USPS that would result in increased delivery times and costs for election mail, and urged him not take any further … Continue Reading
