Press Releases
After Meeting with Mother of Murdered Chicago Trafficking Victim, Duckworth Calls on Congress to Help Stop Child Sex Trafficking
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After meeting with the mother of slain Chicago child sex trafficking victim Desiree Robinson, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on Congress to do more to address sex trafficking and protect victims by providing law enforcement and prosecutors with additional tools they need to effectively prosecute offenders and traffickers. At a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing this morning, Duckworth highlighted her support for the Stop … Continue Reading
September 18, 2017
Duckworth Amendment to Help Prevent Troops from Going Hungry Passes Senate as Part of NDAA
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth's (D-IL) amendment to address food insecurity among active duty Servicemembers and help prevent troops from going hungry passed the Senate today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Duckworth, who relied on food stamps as a teenager before serving for 23 years in the Reserve Forces, proposed her amendment requiring the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to finally begin collecting data on Servicemembers … Continue Reading
September 17, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin, Grassley, Ernst NDAA Amendment Will Help Ensure Long Term Success of Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), filed a bipartisan amendment, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), that will help reduce government waste and ensure the long-term success of the Rock Island Arsenal. The senators' bipartisan amendment will ensure the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) first seeks out existing government owned … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
Duckworth Welcomes Servicemembers and Veterans as New Citizens at Naturalization Ceremony
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today welcomed nine Servicemembers and Veterans to our country for the first time as citizens and highlighted the value of civilian and military service at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Ceremony. A photo of the event is available here. "For you to step forward even before you became citizens to defend the values enshrined in the Constitution is the courage that makes our military and country stronger," … Continue Reading
September 15, 2017
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Families Have Access to Affordable, Quality Child Care
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) to help ensure low- and middle-income American families have access to affordable and high-quality child care. Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the … Continue Reading
September 13, 2017
With Application Deadline Approaching, Duckworth Seeks Additional Student Applications for U.S. Military Service Academies
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reiterated her call to have Illinois high school students interested in attending one of the four U.S. Military Service Academies submit their applications to her office before the Friday, September 29 deadline. Each year the Senator, along with a panel of judges, selects from the applicants a group of outstanding Illinois students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Effort to Ensure Public Debate on a New Authorization for the Use of Military Force
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After voting to continue debate on the need to provide our troops with clear guidance and legal authority for their operations with a new Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Since Congress passed the current Authorization for the Use of Military Force in 2001, the war on terror and the nature of conflict has changed. The leadership of our country and our … Continue Reading
September 11, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Advancement of House Bill That Would Undermine Key ADA Protections
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to the House Judiciary Committee's advancement of the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620), a bill that would undermine protections included in the Americans with Disabilities Act: "27 years after the Americans with Disabilities Act became the law of the land, the notion that businesses in this country need more time to provide people with disabilities access to their services … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Duckworth, Van Hollen, Beyer and Ellison Introduce Legislation to Support Civic Participation and Strengthen Voting Rights
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act today to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens' participation in their democratic process. The PROVE Act would enable citizens who are 16 and older to preregister to be added to voter rolls when they turn 18. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) also introduced companion … Continue Reading
September 06, 2017
Duckworth, Van Hollen, Beyer and Ellison Introduce Legislation to Support Civic Participation and Strengthen Voting Rights
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act today to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens' participation in their democratic process. The PROVE Act would enable citizens who are 16 and older to preregister to be added to voter rolls when they turn 18. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) also introduced companion … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Trump DACA Announcement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to the Trump administration's announcement that they will rescind DACA, leaving nearly 800,000 DREAMers vulnerable to deportation, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Make no mistake-this decision is not about 'rule of law,' as Attorney General Sessions claims. This is a gut-wrenching betrayal of American values that leaves nearly 800,000 of our neighbors vulnerable to deportation and tears families and communities … Continue Reading
September 04, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Reports Trump Will Rescind DACA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to reports that President Trump will announce tomorrow that he is rescinding DACA, leaving nearly 800,000 DREAMers vulnerable to deportation, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "If the President makes the heartless and irresponsible decision to rescind DACA, it would be more than another broken promise from a President who is infamous for not keeping his word. The President would be betraying American values, leaving … Continue Reading
August 30, 2017
Duckworth Urges FBI to Investigate Former Trump Advisor Carl Icahn for Potential Violations of Federal Anti-Corruption Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is requesting the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) launch a criminal investigation into whether former Special Advisor to President Trump Carl Icahn violated federal anti-corruption law by attempting to use his government position to enrich himself by hundreds of millions of dollars. Icahn is a billionaire and longtime Trump supporter who was appointed to a White House position by President Trump but recently resigned under increasing … Continue Reading
August 30, 2017
On Overdose Awareness Day, Duckworth Announces Funding to Help Illinoisans Fight Opioid Crisis
[CHICAGO, IL] - On International Overdose Awareness Day, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced funding to help enable Illinoisans in Chicago to serve their communities by fighting the opioid crisis facing our state. The funding, awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) which oversees civilian national service programs like AmeriCorps and others, will be used to support five AmeriCorps VISTA Members - a service program designed to alleviate poverty - to serve … Continue Reading
August 30, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $1 Million in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a total of $981,573 to communities across Illinois through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG program provides first-responder organizations with the ability to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles and training in an effort to strengthen the … Continue Reading
August 30, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Illinois Attorney General's Lawsuit to Ensure Comprehensive Reform to Chicago Police Department
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to the Illinois Attorney General's lawsuit against the City of Chicago to ensure the City enacts comprehensive, lasting reform of the Chicago Police Department, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "With the President and Attorney General Sessions' seeming unwillingness to seriously address the culture of bias and mistrust at the Chicago Police Department, I'm pleased that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is taking action … Continue Reading
August 27, 2017
Duckworth Discusses Economic Development at Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit
[MARION, IL] - Friday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) participated in the Marion Chamber of Commerce Legislative Summit where she highlighted the importance of creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and small business development. "If we want to create new economic opportunities for working families, we are going to need to make it easier for local businesses to get off the ground," … Continue Reading
August 24, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Trump's Pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In response to President Trump's pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "A man who uses the tools of government to discriminate against innocents and deny civil rights does not deserve a presidential pardon. In the wake of Charlottesville, President Trump is continuing to send the wrong message and abandoning his responsibility to unite our divided … Continue Reading
August 24, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Reports Trump Administration Directing DOD to Discriminate Against Transgender Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following reports that the White House is sending guidance to the Pentagon directing the Department of Defense to implement President Trump's new discriminatory ban on transgender troops serving in the U.S. military, U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk helicopter after I was shot down, I didn't care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, … Continue Reading
August 21, 2017
Duckworth Highlights Importance of Anti-Hunger Programs with Illinois Hunger Coalition
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined representatives of the Illinois Hunger Coalition (IHC), a statewide organization dedicated to ending hunger, Tuesday to highlight the importance of anti-hunger initiatives like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Duckworth also criticized the President's proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides millions of children and families with critical support to curb domestic hunger. A photo of … Continue Reading
