Press Releases
Duckworth Urges EPA to Strengthen Drinking Water Protections to Prevent Lead Poisoning
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the top Democrat on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, and Representative Dan Kildee (D-MI) are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen protections against lead poisoning in our nation's pipes, fittings, and fixtures that supply drinking water. In a comment on the EPA's proposed rule on the "Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder and Flux for Drinking Water," Duckworth and Kildee emphasized … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Duckworth Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement in response to President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States of America from the Paris Climate Agreement: "Climate change is one of the gravest environmental, economic and national security threats of our time, and we're already experiencing its devastating effects in Illinois and across the country. Our military leaders have long understood that increased famine and drought caused by climate … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $15 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois AmeriCorps Programs
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced over $15 million in grant funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support 16 Illinois-based AmeriCorps organizations. This funding will invest $11,053,898 in AmeriCorps programs across Illinois, along with $4,142,050 in education awards to help AmeriCorps members pay for college after they complete their service. "Expanding national service opportunities is vital to … Continue Reading
June 01, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Express Concern over President Trump’s Cuts to Rural Development
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and 26 of their colleagues in writing to President Trump this week to express concern about how his budget proposal would dramatically reduce or eliminate critical rural development programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and cut Farm Bill programs by $231 billion. These cuts, coupled with the recently announced USDA reorganization that would abolish Under … Continue Reading
May 31, 2017
Duckworth Criticizes Trump Budget’s Cuts to Programs that Support New Moms, Curb Homelessness
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with the staff of New Moms, an organization based in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago that supports young, struggling mothers and their children. While touring their facility, Duckworth discussed how President Trump's budget proposal would hurt new mothers and their families by eliminating the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which coordinates a comprehensive response to homelessness across 19 federal … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Duckworth Pays Tribute to Fallen Servicemembers at Camp Butler on Memorial Day
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - On Memorial Day, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed American servicemembers, Veterans and military families at Camp Butler National Cemetery to pay tribute to those who laid down their lives defending our nation. A photo of the ceremony is available here. "Memorial Day offers us a somber reminder of the true cost of war," said Duckworth. "It is a time for us to remember that wars are not fought by faceless, nameless troops. They are … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Duckworth, Senators Express Alarm at White House Attempt to Conceal Ethics Waivers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and 16 of their colleagues in writing to the White House to express alarm that the Trump administration is attempting to block the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) from discovering how many lobbyists and industry lawyers have been granted ethics waivers by the administration over the past few months. After taking office, President Trump signed an executive order to continue the Obama-era … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Duckworth, Collins & Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Preventive Healthcare More Affordable for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced bipartisan legislation to make healthcare more affordable for America's Veterans. Their Veterans Preventive Health Coverage Fairness Act would stop forcing our nation's Veterans to pay out-of-pocket costs for essential preventive health medications and prescription drugs and add preventive medications and services to the list … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Screening Committees For Judicial, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal Nominations
CHICAGO-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the formation of three screening committees to assist the Senators in evaluating candidates for vacant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal, and federal judgeship positions in Illinois. The Senators are establishing separate screening committees for each of Illinois' three federal districts. The task of the screening committees is to review and vet candidates for the vacancies and advise the Senators regarding the … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Duckworth Discusses Veteran Healthcare Programs with Leaders at Rush University Medical Center
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), met with the leadership of the Chicago Rush University Medical Center. They discussed the importance of Rush's Veterans Road Home Program, which helps Veterans who are struggling with TBI, PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma transition from military to civilian life, and its Advanced Trauma Training Program, which has trained more than 2,000 civilian first responders and servicemembers on how to provide advanced … Continue Reading
May 30, 2017
Duckworth Addresses Environmental Leaders in Chicago, Calls For Action on Climate Change
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), top Democrat on the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee, addressed members of the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) today to discuss the importance of combating climate change and supporting the clean energy economy. During her remarks, Duckworth also criticized President Trump's recent budget proposal, which would gut the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and eliminate critical environmental protection programs like … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
Duckworth Addresses AIPAC’s Chicago Gala, Underscores Importance of U.S.-Israel Relationship
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this week at the annual AIPAC Chicago Gala. Senator Duckworth highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between the two countries to support Israel's national security and maintain a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. A photo of the event is available here. "My experience serving my country in the military has shaped how I approach national security … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
Duckworth: America’s Veterans Deserve Better Than Trump Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 16 of their colleagues in outlining how President Trump's budget and health care plan would jeopardize health care for more than 60,000 Veterans in Illinois and nearly 2 million Veterans across the country who depend on Medicaid to get the coverage they have earned. Trumpcare would cut Medicaid by $834 billion and eliminate the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid … Continue Reading
May 26, 2017
Duckworth Discusses College Accessibility with AmeriCorps Members in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with AmeriCorps members from College Possible - a program designed to prepare students from underserved communities for college - to discuss her efforts to promote national service and make higher education more accessible for all Americans. Duckworth also announced over $15 million in grant funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support Illinois AmeriCorps members. A photo of the event is … Continue Reading
May 23, 2017
Duckworth: Trump Budget is Devastating for Illinois Families, Veterans, Economy & Environment
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement in response to President Trump's federal budget proposal: "This irresponsible proposal merely continues President Trump's long list of broken campaign promises. Instead of investing in our country's infrastructure and manufacturing sector, protecting Medicaid or putting American workers and families first, this proposal recklessly guts the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and eliminates a … Continue Reading
May 23, 2017
Duckworth to NSA Director: Did Russians Bug the Oval Office?
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to National Security Agency (NSA) Director Admiral Michael Rogers to ask whether any security sweeps were conducted following the President's recent meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador, as well as whether any listening or recording devices were found in the Oval Office. In the letter, Duckworth asked Admiral Rogers whether the NSA or the Central Security Service were consulted before top Putin officials and staff … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Protect LGBTQ Americans from Credit Discrimination
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) in introducing the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act (FDCA) of 2017 to help ensure LGBTQ individuals are protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity during the credit application process. Duckworth, Murray and Gottheimer were joined by twelve other Senators and more than twenty Representatives in introducing … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Duckworth Calls For Investigation Into Attorney General Jeff Sessions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a number of U.S. Senators including Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in urging the Inspector General of the Department of Justice to investigate whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions' involvement in the firing of former FBI Director James Comey was inappropriate given Sessions' recusal from any investigation into the 2016 presidential campaign including Russia's ties to the Trump campaign. In a letter sent to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Duckworth Delivers Commencement Address to the George Washington University's Class of 2017
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered the commencement address to the Class on 2017 today at the George Washington University, where she graduated with a Master of Arts degree in international affairs in 1992. Drawing on her own life's story and the words of President Teddy Roosevelt, Duckworth urged graduates to never let challenges get in their way and to never let the fear of failure prevent them from pursuing their dreams or from getting involved. Key … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Duckworth Helps Reintroduce the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) last week in reintroducing the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act to enable Americans with outstanding student loan debt to refinance their loans at more affordable interest rates. The legislation is fully paid for by eliminating tax loopholes for millionaires and billionaires. The Department of Education has estimated that around 25 million … Continue Reading
