Press Releases
Duckworth: Congress Must Protect the Special Counsel Immediately
[CHICAGO, IL] - After Donald Trump requested-and received-Attorney General Jeff Sessions' resignation, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Congress must protect the Special Counsel … Continue Reading
November 05, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth call on Illinois Public Health Director Nirav Shah to Resign over botched response to Legionnaires' Outbreaks at IVH Quincy
[WASHINGTON - D.C.] U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called for Illinois Public Health Director Nirav Shah to resign following reports that the Rauner Administration botched a water-system repair at Illinois Veterans Home (IVH) Quincy, which was in violation of state health codes, and then chose to deliberately withhold that information from the public and not cite the facility for a mistake. In newly released documents, Shah detailed the dangers present at the … Continue Reading
November 02, 2018
Duckworth Demands Improved Transparency, Honesty from Trump Administration Regarding Cancer Risks Associated with Willowbrook-based Sterigenics
[CHICAGO, IL] - After a Chicago Tribune report exposed the multiple ways both the Rauner and Trump administrations failed to protect Illinoisans from toxic chemical exposure through inaction or neglect, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is demanding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) take immediate action to enhance transparency and restore public trust in the agency's desire and ability to keep Illinoisans safe. In a letter to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Duckworth … Continue Reading
November 01, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Request EPA Investigation Into Rauner and Trump Administrations' Delay of Notifying Public About Sterigenics Cancer Risks
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today requested the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigate if EPA complied with all statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements and protocols when it intentionally withheld critical health information from the public about carcinogenic air pollution from the Sterigenics facility in DuPage County, Illinois. … Continue Reading
October 31, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Applaud $120 Million for Energy Efficiency Research at Argonne National Laboratory
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the recent announcement of $120 million in federal funding to continue battery performance research at Argonne National Laboratory. The funding will support five more years of research at the Joint Center for Energy Story Research (JCESR), a Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Innovation HUB at Argonne devoted to advancing battery science and technology. "This funding will help the dedicated scientists … Continue Reading
October 26, 2018
Duckworth: The Chemical and Ethical Clouds Surrounding Sterigenics Continue to Grow Darker
[CHICAGO, IL] - With a new Chicago Tribune report exposing the multiple ways both the Rauner and Trump administrations failed to protect Illinoisans from toxic chemical exposure while intentionally and needlessly delaying the public disclosure of known cancer risks, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, issued the following statement: "Each day, it seems that the chemical and ethical clouds surrounding Sterigenics continue … Continue Reading
October 25, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $1 Million to Illinois Housing Organizations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $1,370,410 in federal funding today for housing organizations throughout Illinois to support housing counseling. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Housing Counseling's Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program grants, which provides counseling to consumers on seeking, financing, maintaining, renting or owning a home, as well as counseling … Continue Reading
October 24, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $200,000 to Rehabilitate Homes in Western Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today $202,576 in federal funding today to the Western Illinois Regional Council Community Action Agency to help low income homeowners across the region repair and rehabilitate their homes. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Housing Preservation Program, which is within the Office of Rural Development. "These federal funds will help 30 low-income individuals and families in … Continue Reading
October 22, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Ask OSHA for Lower Exposure Limit, Alternatives for Ethylene Oxide
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today requesting the agency do more to protect American workers from ethylene oxide and explore alternatives to for sterilization. An August report published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Control Registry (ATSDR), an arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), detailed higher than normal cancer risk in the area … Continue Reading
October 22, 2018
Duckworth: EPA Must Explain Apparent Efforts to Silence Career Children’s Health Official, Delay in Releasing Lead Safety Strategy
[CHICAGO, IL] - More than a year after the Trump Administration held a "lead summit" and created a task force focused on developing a strategy to address our nation's lead crisis and amid reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may have sidelined a renowned children's health official at taxpayer expense in order to delay or prevent the release of a major lead poisoning report, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today wrote to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler demanding an … Continue Reading
October 18, 2018
Bipartisan Duckworth-Portman-Schatz-Booker Bill to Help Reduce Recidivism Rates Gains Support from Criminal Justice Leaders and Civil Rights Organizations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) to help families keep in touch with incarcerated family members, which is proven to help reduce recidivism rates and save taxpayer dollars, is gaining momentum, with 28 criminal justice leaders and civil rights organizations writing the Senators to express their support. The Senators' Inmate Calling Technical Corrections Act would … Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $200,000 to Rehabilitate Homes in Western Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today $202,576 in federal funding today to the Western Illinois Regional Council Community Action Agency to help low income homeowners across the region repair and rehabilitate their homes. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Housing Preservation Program, which is within the Office of Rural Development. "These federal funds will help 30 low-income individuals and families … Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Press For Full Disclosure of Trump Family Business Ties to Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and eight other Senate Democrats, wrote to President Donald Trump and to the Trump Organization seeking a full accounting of any financial ties between the Trump Organization and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Senators' letters follow the disappearance and reported killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a resident of the United States and Washington Post journalist, whose whereabouts … Continue Reading
October 16, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $100,000 for Research to Help Reduce Emissions and Support Ethanol Production
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $100,000 in federal funding today to help researchers find low-cost, sustainable alternatives to diesel fuel engines in the agricultural sector, including replacing half of diesel consumption with ethanol, a cleaner, more affordable alternative. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) … Continue Reading
October 12, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin & Foster Ask EPA to Fund DuPage County Public Health Efforts, Assess Ethylene Oxide Exposure Nationwide
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL-11), wrote to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today requesting federal assistance to help community groups in DuPage County understand the magnitude of the public health dangers they are facing, medical monitoring for community members who have been exposed to ethylene oxide as well as immediate actions to assess and reduce ethylene oxide exposure across the … Continue Reading
October 12, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senators Casey, Merkley, Coons & Colleagues to Press Trump Administration on LGBTQ Diplomatic Discrimination
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) and 15 other Democratic Senators in calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to amend a new Department policy that will halt the provision of diplomatic visas for unmarried, same-sex partners of foreign diplomats and employees posted to the United States or at U.S.-based international organizations. "To bar LGBTQ diplomats from … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Senate Small Business Committee Passes Bipartisan Duckworth-Kennedy-Durbin Legislation to Help Strengthen Veteran-owned Small Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship passed bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) to help expand economic opportunity for Veteran entrepreneurs. The Veterans Small Business Enhancement Act, which will now be considered by the full Senate, would allow Veteran small business owners to acquire equipment and property that the federal government no longer has a … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Duckworth Meets with Nominee to Head EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with the President's nominee to be Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention today to discuss the implementation of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), which governs the use and safety of chemicals commonly used in everyday life. These chemicals can be found in dry-cleaning solvents, paint strippers, and substances used in health and beauty … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Martha Pacold, Mary Rowland & Steven Seeger to Serve As U.S. District Judges for the Northern District of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of Martha M. Pacold, Mary M. Rowland, and Steven C. Seeger to serve as District Judges on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced these three Illinoisans. They have the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Highlight Illinois Priorities Included in Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) and Ranking Member on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Senate Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of several of their priorities that will help Illinois in the America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 99-1. The legislation will save Illinois taxpayer dollars by increasing the federal … Continue Reading
