Press Releases
Duckworth Helps Introduce Bill to Provide Desperately Needed Funding for Home and Community-Based Services, Hazard Pay
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) helped U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduce the HCBS Relief Act, legislation that would provide increased funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) as people with disabilities face exponentially higher death rates from COVID-19. The bill would provide dedicated Medicaid funds for HCBS, reducing the need for people with disabilities and older adults to move into congregate settings and allowing them to receive the services … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Schumer, Democratic Colleagues Write To FBI and DHS Requesting Information on QAnon Threat Posed To America and Abroad
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democrats in writing to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Principal Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Joseph Maher requesting a written assessment to Congress on the threat posed by QAnon, in the United States and abroad. The Senators also request information on the role of foreign influence operations in the inception … Continue Reading
December 07, 2020
Duckworth Writes to Pompeo Demanding a Call to Discuss Plans for Illinoisan’s Safe Return from Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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, wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express her dismay at Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad's refusal to take phone calls with Mark Frerichs' family. Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan and a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, was abducted by the Taliban in Kabul earlier this year and is currently being … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Booker To Introduce Resolution Calling For First United States Commission On Truth, Racial Healing, And Transformation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce the United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation resolution, urging Congress to form the first commission acknowledging and examining the systemic racism that has disenfranchised Black Americans and other communities of color throughout U.S. history and the racial inequities that persist today. U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Duckworth, Klobuchar, Rounds Urge Administration to Ensure Servicemembers and Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Receive Proper Care During Coronavirus Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) urged the Administration to ensure that servicemembers and Veterans with previous exposure to burn pits receive the care they need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a letter to the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA), the Senators requested that the Departments identify what steps they are taking to improve care for servicemembers and Veterans previously … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Duckworth Highlights Importance of Restoring Relationships in the Indo-Pacific Region At Brookings Institution Virtual Event
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today delivered a keynote address on the importance of restoring relationships with key allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region at a virtual event hosted by the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution. A video of her address and the following Q&A can be found here. Key quotes: "For centuries now, the U.S. and Thailand have learned from and leaned on each other: militarily, … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Resolution In Support of Thailand’s Pro-Democracy Movement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and a group of six of their Senate colleagues today introduced a Senate Resolution to underscore the United States’ commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Thailand. The Senators’ resolution follows recent demonstrations by Thailand’s pro-democracy movement, which have been met with violence and repression by the country’s government. Joining Duckworth, Durbin and Menendez … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Duckworth Discusses COVID-19 Relief Efforts with Chicago Federation of Musicians
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) held a call with Terryl Jares, President of the Chicago Federation of Musicians (CFM), this week to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the performing arts community in Chicago. Duckworth and Jares also spoke about federal relief measures including the extension of federal unemployment benefits and the Paycheck Protection Program. "I had a productive call with the Chicago Federation of Musicians to discuss much-needed relief for the performing … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Duckworth Commends Marine Corps and Navy on Efforts to Respect Black Servicemembers by Removing Confederate Symbols From Military Installations
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At today's U.S. Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Readiness, Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) commended General David H. Berger, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Admiral Michael H. Gilday, Chief of U.S. Naval Operations, for their leadership in removing the Confederate flag from Navy and Marine Corps installations. Duckworth also discussed readiness and operational logistics systems in the Indo-Pacific region with these military … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Duckworth Responds to Trump’s Second Threat to Block Pay Raise for Our Troops Over Unrelated Policy Issues
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and 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, released the following statement in response to President Trump's new threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) over Congress' refusal to repeal Section 230. "It's bad enough that Trump threatened to veto a pay raise for our troops in order to protect the legacies of Confederate traitors, but … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $52 Million to Support Head Start and Early Head Start in Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $52.7 million in federal grant funding to the City of Chicago for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, will support comprehensive child development programs for low-income children from birth to age five. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs are critical … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues In Requesting Extension of Pandemic Unemployment Programs Set To Expire During Holiday Season
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 28 of their colleagues in urging Senate leaders to include in the next COVID-19 relief package an extension of two critical financial lifelines for Americans affected by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Currently, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program - which provides unemployment assistance to domestic workers, freelance … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Discuss COVID-19 Outbreak At LaSalle State Veterans Home With IDVA Director, Call for Investigation
[SPRINGFIELD, I.L] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today discussed ongoing efforts to mitigate and prevent COVID-19 at State Veterans Homes in Illinois with Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Linda Chapa LaVia, specifically the outbreak at the LaSalle State Veterans Home. This week, Duckworth and Durbin sent a letter to Director Chapa LaVia calling … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth Joins Booker, 15 Democratic Senators in Urging Robust Funding for State and Local Governments to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccine
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and 15 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in urging Congressional leaders to provide robust funding to ensure the swift distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as a part of any upcoming legislation to address the pandemic. "For months, as states, territories, Indian Tribes, and other localities have been responding to COVID-19 and working tirelessly to keep their residents safe, they have also been … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth Calls for Hearing on Risks of Trump Administration’s Troop Withdrawal on Efforts to Bring Home American Hostages Held in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the Trump Administration's announcement that U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be substantially reduced over a rapid timeline, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK) requesting an open hearing as soon as possible to investigate how the decision to hastily withdraw troops could make it even more challenging to safely bring home American hostages, including Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan and … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth Follows Up on Her Demand for Additional Materials Related to Low-Flying Military Helicopters over Peaceful Protesters from DoD and National Guard
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After multiple requests for investigations into the use of low-flying military aircraft over peaceful protesters in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 2020, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to Ryan McCarthy, Secretary of the Army, Sean O'Donnell, Acting Inspector General for the Department of Defense (DoD) and General Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau to follow up on her demands for information. In her letter to McCarthy, she wrote: … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Statement on DOD Announcement of C-130J Aircraft Awards
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) issued the below statement following an announcement from the Department of Defense (DOD). After delaying its initial summer announcement, DOD will award three states - Kentucky, Texas and West Virginia - with new C-130J aircraft. DOD also announced a fourth, previously unplanned "contingency location" to receive the new military planes - Georgia. "I'm extremely … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Peters in Calling on GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and 35 of their colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Duckworth and Durbin to Trump, Miller & Pompeo: Hasty Withdrawal of Troops Could Extinguish Chance for Safe Return of Illinoisan Being Held Hostage in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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 Defense Subcommittee, today wrote three separate letters to President Trump, Secretary of State Pompeo and Acting Secretary of Defense Miller urging them to take immediate action to secure the safe return of Mark Frerichs, a Veteran of the U.S. Navy … Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Help Peters Introduce Bill to Block Trump Order Stripping Federal Employees of Critical Protections
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 40 of their colleagues helped U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduce legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the Administration to fire non-partisan civil … Continue Reading
