Press Releases
Duckworth: Trump’s Pentagon Firings & Refusal to Comply with Stable Transition Endangers Our National Security
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Speaking at the Democratic weekly leadership stakeout this afternoon, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the urgent need for GOP leaders to speak out against Trump's firing of Secretary Mark Esper and other top Pentagon officials, as well as his refusal to follow precedent and engage in a smooth, stable transition of power that protects our national security during a vulnerable time. Video of her remarks is available here. Key points: "At the height of a … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Duckworth, Hirono, Senate Democrats Call for Trump Administration to Support Nationwide Capacity for Shipping, Handling and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines Requiring Ultra-Cold Storage
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and ten of their Senate Democratic colleagues in writing to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield, urging the agencies to work with state, Tribal, territorial and local stakeholders to identify gaps in ultra-cold storage capability, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and use … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Duckworth Releases Statement in Response to Trump Administration's Plan to Withdraw Troops from Afghanistan and Iraq
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Donald Trump's newly appointed but unconfirmed Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller announced the Pentagon's plan to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq despite national security experts and even Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressing opposition and concern about the risks this drawdown could pose: "We all want our troops to be brought home safely, but this … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues On Letter Urging McConnell To Support TPS Holders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and 23 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The letter requests that an 18 month extension of status for TPS holders be included in the December appropriations package. Like millions across the … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Duckworth Joins University of Chicago Veterans Day Panel to Discuss Deportation of U.S. Veterans
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the University of Chicago for a virtual panel today to discuss the Trump Administration's deportation of U.S. Veterans as well as her efforts to support these individuals. Duckworth was joined by moderator and part-time lecturer at UChicago's School of Social Service Administration Leora Hudak, President of Green Card Veterans Carlos Luna, deported and repatriated U.S. Veterans Miguel Perez and Hector Barajas, as … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Warren, Democratic Colleagues Urge Armed Services Leaders to Retain Bipartisan, Bicameral Measure to Rename Military Bases and Other Assets Honoring the Confederacy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 34 of their Democratic colleagues in a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees urging that they reconcile and retain the bicameral, bipartisan measure to require military … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Push to Protect Illinois Air National Guard Aircraft from Elimination
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, 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 U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined a bipartisan Senate coalition led by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) advocating for a large enough C-130 aircraft fleet in Illinois and across the country to support active duty missions as well as respond to … Continue Reading
November 11, 2020
Duckworth Commemorates Veterans Day at Ribbon Cutting of New Chicago Veterans Home She Helped Secure Funding For
[CHICAGO, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, commemorated Veterans Day and celebrated the completion of a new Illinois Veterans Home on Chicago's Northwest Side today. The Senator spoke at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and participated in a tour hosted by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) along with Governor JB Pritzker, IDVA Director Linda Chapa LaVia, Coordinator of Chicago's Veterans Home Gwen … Continue Reading
November 07, 2020
Duckworth Responds to Election Outcome, Defends Integrity of the American Election Process
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Joe Biden was projected by multiple outlets including Fox News and the Associated Press to become the 46th President of the United States: "This election was a testament to the strength and integrity of our nation's democratic process, and now is the moment for true leaders in the Republican Party to condemn any and all efforts to undermine confidence in the legitimacy of these results. More than 140 … Continue Reading
November 04, 2020
Duckworth Responds to Trump’s Attempt to Circumvent Voters and Prematurely Declare Victory
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Donald Trump tried to circumvent the will of American voters-including servicemembers serving overseas whose votes may not have yet been counted-and declare victory: "In the United States of America, candidates don't decide election outcomes, the American people do. Trump has lied and cheated his way through his entire life, so it's no surprise that he's trying to lie and cheat his way through this … Continue Reading
November 03, 2020
Duckworth’s Friendly Airports For Mothers Improvement Act Signed Into Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after her bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act was signed into law: "When traveling, you'd never be expected to eat your meal in a bathroom stall, yet for many new mothers, that's the reality they face," Duckworth said. "Two years ago, Congress took the first step in making air travel easier for new parents by passing my bipartisan FAM Act and supporting breastfeeding travelers. … Continue Reading
November 01, 2020
On First Day of ACA Open Enrollment Period, Duckworth, Durbin Encourage Illinoisans To Sign Up For Health Insurance Plans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the first day of the 2021 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) encouraged Illinoisans to sign up for quality, affordable health insurance on the marketplace today, emphasizing that most patients qualify for subsidies that ensure premiums are less than $75 per month, and highlighting the additional plan options and lower premiums for consumers this year. Duckworth and Durbin also slammed President … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Co-Founders Honor National Native American Heritage Month this November
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senate Environmental Justice co-founders Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-I.L.), Tom Carper (D-D.E.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) released the following statements to honor National Native American Heritage Month, which begins on November 1, and to underscore the work needed to achieve equity and improve environmental quality and infrastructure investment in this nation's Native American communities."Long before the 'discovery' of this nation, Native Americans inhabited … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Shaheen & Senate Colleagues in Call Urging Trump to Make Women’s Inclusion in Afghan Peace Negotiations a Foreign Policy Priority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of tomorrow's 20th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Security Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and a group of Senators in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, underscoring the critical importance of ensuring women's participation in the ongoing Afghan peace negotiations. The UNSCR resolution, which was adopted on October 31, … Continue Reading
October 30, 2020
Duckworth Demands Answers from EPA on its Cancellation of Environmental Justice Trainings
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, today wrote to Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to express concern about the cancellation of environmental justice trainings, a decision that could have severe repercussions on low-income communities, communities of color and Tribal and indigenous communities that often bear the disproportionate burden of pollution that … Continue Reading
October 29, 2020
Duckworth Discusses COVID-19 Relief Efforts with Chicago Independent Venue League
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke with members of the Chicago Independent Venue League this week to discuss the relief efforts needed to support concert and live event venues in the Chicagoland area during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Duckworth spoke with The Hideout owner Katie Tuten, The Metro owner Joe Shanahan and The Whistler owner Billy Helmkamp, whose venues have been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. "I had a productive call with members of … Continue Reading
October 28, 2020
Duckworth Calls Out Republican Colleagues for Aiding Trump’s and Russia’s Efforts to Use Social Media for Misinformation Campaigns, Undermine Confidence in our Democracy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation (CST) hearing this morning, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) condemned her Republican colleagues for attempting to placate President Donald Trump by advancing efforts to intimidate technology companies into inaction when it comes to properly labeling or blocking dangerous conspiracy theories, foreign disinformation efforts and irresponsible propaganda. At the hearing, Duckworth asked the CEOs of … Continue Reading
October 28, 2020
Duckworth Celebra La Ciudadanía Estadounidense Para El Veterano Estadounidense Deportado Roman Sabal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - La Veterana de combate y Senadora estadounidense Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) celebró hoy el Veterano deportado de la Infantería de Marina de los Estados Unidos, Roman Sabal, quien finalmente recibió su ciudadanía. Sabal, quien sirvió durante seis años y recibió una baja honorable después de alcanzar el rango de sargento, ha estado lidiando con el proceso de naturalización durante más de dos décadas, … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Duckworth Celebrates U.S. Citizenship for Deported U.S. Veteran Roman Sabal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today celebrated deported U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Roman Sabal finally being granted his citizenship. Sabal-who served for six years and received an honorable discharge after attaining the rank of sergeant-had been tied up in the naturalization process for more than two decades, including being deported in 2008 and refused entry to attend his own citizenship interview by the Trump Administration last year. "Roman … Continue Reading
October 27, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos, Illinois Delegation Members Urge Fema To Expedite Public Assistance Reimbursements For COVID-19 Expenses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today led Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expressing concerns over the agency's processing of the State's requests for Public Assistance as it relates to COVID-19 expenses. States may apply to be reimbursed for eligible costs related to emergency protective … Continue Reading
