In The News
Durbin, Duckworth, other Dem senators: End ‘ambiguity’ over jobless benefits for gig workers
A group of Democratic senators, including Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, implored Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia on Monday to "eliminate ambiguity" and make sure self-employed gig workers qualify for newly available COVID-19 jobless benefits. The letter, signed by 32 Democratic senators, notes part of the guidance issued by the Labor Department dealing with eligibility "appear narrow or ambiguous, which could make states think they need to exclude workers who Congress clearly … Continue Reading
April 06, 2020
If Trump wants to be seen as a 'wartime president,' he should start acting like one
In the time it takes you to read this, dozens more Americans will probably have been diagnosed with COVID-19. By the time you finish it, there's a good chance another American will have died from the disease. Many of those diagnoses will probably come in New York; some in California; others ranging from Louisiana to Florida. While we don't know everything about this virus just yet, what we do know is that it is spreading exponentially. Young, old, rich, poor, black, white, Asian, Latino, you … Continue Reading
March 30, 2020
The Spin: Politics, parenting and Sen. Duckworth’s hot mic moment
Sen. Tammy Duckworth's work-from-home 'hot mic' moment With schools closed and work-from-home orders for so many still in place, parenting and professional worlds are colliding - sometimes in stressful or hilarious ways - and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth experienced that firsthand. In the run-up to a vote on the relief bill last week, she was home and on a conference call with the Democratic caucus when she thought her phone was on mute. "My daughter was there ... and I (said) 'honey you need … Continue Reading
March 28, 2020
Bernard Schoenburg: Duckworth calls $2.2 trillion bill a ‘down payment,’ Trump ‘incompetent’
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, of Hoffman Estates, was among senators who voted unanimously for the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package. She thinks more will be needed, and is not happy with the way the health crisis has been handled by President Donald Trump. "I think it was a good bill," Duckworth said Thursday. But, for example, she said $100 billion in emergency funding for hospitals won't cover all costs. "That's across the whole country, and that's more (of) really a down … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth release Illinois particulars on Senate-passed coronavirus relief bill; state and local governments to split nearly $5 billion
The $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed by the Senate includes $4.9 billion in direct assistance to Illinois' state and local governments, Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth said Thursday. The measure, which awaits final House action, would give Illinois state government $2.7 billion, while providing $2.2 billion to local governments, according to estimates from the National Conference of State Legislatures. In addition, the Illinois senators said state health care … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth join Pritzker in urging Trump to issue Illinois coronavirus disaster declaration
Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth on Wednesday bolstered Gov. J.B. Pritzker's request for a federal disaster declaration in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Illinois has requested assistance for all 102 counties in the state. The federal declaration would give Illinois access to more federal benefits. The Democratic senators said in a letter to President Donald Trump, "Pritzker has indicated that this pandemic is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Crusader Health receives $99k in federal funding to help with the COVID-19 outbreak
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WIFR) -- Nearly $100,000 is coming to Crusader Health Clinic in Rockford to help with its COVID-19 response, all thanks to a federal grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. US Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced Wednesday that Illinois received $3.6 million in federal grants to support 45 community health centers. The funds come from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. The centers will use the funds to … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Support grows to federally fund all 10,000 National Guard members fighting coronavirus pandemic
The call to approve federal funding for all of the more than 10,000 National Guard members activated to combat the coronavirus pandemic is growing among governors and lawmakers on Capitol Hill. "Thousands of National Guard troops have been activated under [state active-duty] status and state governments are already struggling to cover the costs of emergency response operations required by the ongoing [coronavirus] crisis," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., wrote in a letter Tuesday to … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
State of IL Receives Medicaid Waiver To Administer More Healthcare Services
"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have approved the State of Illinois' Medicaid waiver allowing for the expansion of access to health care services. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth had sent a letter to CMS earlier this week asking for the waiver to be accepted so the state could administer more healthcare coverage during the COVID-19 response. Durbin and Duckworth said in the letter that the state would be facing a surge of patients in the coming weeks because of the virus. … Continue Reading
March 16, 2020
US lawmaker to Trump: Get the military ready to fight coronavirus
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is calling on the Trump administration to prepare the National Guard to fight the new coronavirus pandemic. Guard personnel can potentially relieve the burden on civilian hospitals by setting up drive-thru testing sites in communities across the country, she said. As the administration has scrambled to broaden testing for the new coronavirus, known as COVID-19, Duckworth predicted the federal government will have to use Guard units that support chemical, … Continue Reading
March 15, 2020
Duckworth: Senate should pass Bipartisan COVID-19 Response Act immediately
WASHINGTON D.C (WAND) - Democrats are calling on the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Coronavirus aid package immediately. U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to immediately call up and pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The U.S House of Representatives passed the bill late Friday night. The package includes free testing, paid emergency leave and other resources intended to help stem the crisis. The Senate was expected to vote on it early … Continue Reading
March 13, 2020
U.S. Senators Durbin and Duckworth want answers from Alden over plans for Tribune Publishing
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter Thursday to Alden Global Capital requesting the New York-based hedge fund disclose its plans for Tribune Publishing after an ownership standstill agreement expires in June. The letter, addressed to Alden President Heath Freeman, expressed concerns over the hedge fund's "practices of mass layoffs" at other newspaper properties and a "lack of transparency" surrounding its investors, among other issues. "We are deeply concerned that Alden … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Senators press Trump deputy EPA pick at confirmation hearing
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed President Trump's pick for the No. 2 position at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a range of issues during an at times contentious Senate hearing Wednesday. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) pressed Douglas Benevento about ethanol requirement exemptions for small refineries after a federal court ruled that the EPA would have to reconsider certain waivers. The EPA has the option to appeal the court's decision. "Can … Continue Reading
March 09, 2020
Congressmembers host infrastructure meeting
Members of Chicago's Congressional delegation met with commissioners from various transportation departments within Chicago to discuss what infrastructure needs should have priority on Thursday. Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin joined U.S. Reps. Sean Casten, Chuy Garcia, Robin Kelly, and Brad Schneider as they met with Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee, Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi, and Chicago Transit Authority President … Continue Reading
March 06, 2020
Bill on immigration policy for children of U.S. servicemembers, civil servants passes Senate
(KFVS) - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and former Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced bipartisan legislation to change a current law that creates a disadvantage for certain children whose parents are serving the nation abroad in uniform or in the civil service. The Citizenship for Children of Military Members & Civil Servants Act is now headed to the President after it passed the Senate on March 6. According to officials with the Senate, the changes would modernize Section 320 … Continue Reading
March 04, 2020
At hearing on coronavirus, Senate panel learns that despite progress, gaps remain in aviation response to outbreaks
The government has improved its ability to respond to outbreaks that impact the flying public, but information gaps can hamper efforts to get information to the public and to quickly reach those who may be at risk of exposure, officials told a Senate panel Wednesday. Even as some lawmakers praised the Trump administration, saying the decision to restrict air traffic from China and bar non-U. S. citizens from affected regions from entering the country, they acknowledged that more work is … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
50 women who made history as the first to do these extraordinary things
Tammy Duckworth is the first woman with a disability elected to the House and the Senate. Tammy Duckworth became the first disabled woman elected to Congress in 2012. She is a Iraq War veteran, and lost her legs while when her helicopter was struck during her deployment. She told the Washington Post, "I was hurt in service for my country. I was proud to go. It was my duty as a soldier to go. And I would go tomorrow." In 2016, she was elected to the Senate, where she became the first disabled … Continue Reading
February 26, 2020
Sen. Tammy Duckworth talks about climate change
(WSIL) -- Climate change can be a politically divisive issue. On her website, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D of Illinois, says climate change "poses grave national security, public health and economic threats" to the United States. But Sen. Duckworth also sees opportunity. She thinks taking on climate change could boost the economy here in southern Illinois. "Our universities - Southern Illinois University, University of Illinois - are all working on other alternative biofuels that are not … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Senators demand ‘full investigation’ into VA Sec handling of sexual assault case at DC VA
Six senators are demanding an investigation into how Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie handled a sexual assault reported by a veteran at a VA hospital last year. Senators Patty Murray, Sherrod Brown, Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Bernie Sanders and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to the VA Office of the Inspector General on Monday calling for the investigation into what they called "deeply concerning reports" that VA officials -- prompted by Wilkie -- "improperly … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth: Army's New Helicopters Should Not Be Designed for Anyone Else
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, said recently that the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force would have to wait their turn if they want their own version of the Army's futuristic helicopters being developed under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort. The Illinois Democrat and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee recently attended a high-profile flight demonstration of Sikorsky-Boeing's new SB-1 Defiant helicopter that was designed … Continue Reading
