Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Senate Democrats Lay Out Key Principles For Tax Reform In Letter To President Trump & Senate Gop Leaders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 43 of their Democratic Senate colleagues, today wrote to President Donald Trump, Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, urging Republicans to come to the table and work with Democrats in a bipartisan way on the Senate's next critical legislative item - tax reform. Durbin, Duckworth, and their colleagues laid out their three main tenants ahead of … Continue Reading
July 31, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin & Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Enforcement of Foreign Lobbying Transparency Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced legislation today to strengthen registration requirements for foreign government lobbyists and to crack down on foreign agents who fail to comply with the law. The Foreign Agent Lobbying Transparency Enforcement Act would give the Department of Justice (DOJ) the ability to impose civil financial penalties on lobbyists who fail to comply with the Foreign Agents Registration Act … Continue Reading
July 31, 2017
Duckworth Amendment Would Increase Funding for Great Lakes Science Center
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the top Democrat on Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, announced that her amendment to secure $15 million of funding for the Great Lakes Science Center in each of the next five years was approved unanimously by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Her amendment to the Hunting Heritage and Environmental Legacy Preservation for Wildlife Act was modeled after bipartisan legislation from U.S. Senators Debbie … Continue Reading
July 31, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Federal Funding to Improve Emergency Services in Cairo
[CAIRO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a $25,000 federal grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development to support the purchase of equipment necessary for improvements in Cairo and throughout Alexander County. This funding will be used to acquire a truck for emergency services that will improve response times. "This grant will help ensure that the people of Alexander County don't need to rely … Continue Reading
July 28, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Senate Healthcare Vote
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After a majority of the Senate rejected the so-called "skinny" version of Trumpcare, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "I am glad the majority of my colleagues agree that legislation that would have robbed millions of working Americans of their health insurance and caused healthcare expenses for working families to skyrocket will not become law. Now is the time to set Trumpcare and partisanship aside and start working on the fixes … Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Duckworth Meets With FBI Director Nominee Christopher Wray
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met yesterday with the nominee to be the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray. Duckworth and Wray had an extensive conversation about the need for an independent, impartial FBI Director and the important role community engagement plays in effective criminal, counter-terror and hate crime investigations. A photo of their meeting is available here. "Given this President's inappropriate conduct … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Duckworth Calls for Stronger Protections for Americans with Disabilities Amid Healthcare Debate on Senate Floor
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor today about the importance of protecting access to quality, affordable health care for people with disabilities as Senate Republicans attempt to strip health care from the disability community on the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Duckworth shared the story of Jessica Baker, a young woman from Illinois whose life changed in a moment when a car crash left her in a wheelchair … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Duckworth Discusses Importance of Disability Rights Protections on ADA Anniversary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) at a rally today on the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to address the critical importance of strengthening rather than chipping away at disability rights protections. Duckworth discussed how ADA protections have drastically improved the lives of millions of Americans - including our nation's Veterans - highlighting her … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Trump Administration’s Latest Attack on Sanctuary Cities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After the Department of Justice's latest attack on sanctuary cities, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "America is at its best when we welcome immigrants who work hard every day to build a better life for themselves and their families, but this policy takes us down a much darker path. Using law enforcement to needlessly tear families apart is unacceptable - it compromises public safety by fostering mistrust and suspicion between … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Trump’s Discriminatory Announcement Blocking Transgender Soldiers from Serving in the Military
[WASHINGTON, DC] - After President Trump's tweets announcing his intention to prevent transgender soldiers from serving in the U.S. military, U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "When my Black Hawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq, I didn't care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, straight, transgender or anything else. All that mattered was they didn't leave me behind. If you are willing to risk your … Continue Reading
July 25, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Senate Vote on Trumpcare
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After Senate Republicans voted to proceed with debate on Trumpcare, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "The American people have rejected every version of Trumpcare that has been presented so it's absolutely stunning that Senate Republicans voted to move forward with a process that could rob as many as 32 million Americans of their health insurance, cause healthcare expenses for working families to skyrocket and jeopardize a … Continue Reading
July 24, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act to fix a provision in the federal law that unintentionally discourages members of the military from consolidating or refinancing pre-service student loans and taking full advantage of all student benefits provided to servicemembers. "Loan refinancing and consolidation is a practical, effective way to manage student loan debt," said Durbin. "Congress … Continue Reading
July 24, 2017
Duckworth Calls for Economic Justice, Criminal Justice Reform at NAACP National Convention
[BALTIMORE, MD] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke about the need for economic justice and criminal justice reform across the nation during her remarks at the 108th Annual NAACP National Convention's legislative panel. Duckworth highlighted the importance of supporting minority-owned businesses, making education more accessible as well as affordable and restoring trust between law enforcement and the communities they protect. A photo of the panel discussion is available … Continue Reading
July 21, 2017
Duckworth Helps Reintroduce Legislation to Increase Transparency in America’s Campaign Finance System
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and 41 other Senators to reintroduce legislation to create a more transparent federal campaign finance system by ensuring both businesses and organizations spending money in elections disclose their individual donors to the public. The Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2017 (DISCLOSE Act) would also require any company spending money in an election to … Continue Reading
July 21, 2017
Duckworth Reintroduces Bill to Reduce Recidivism Rates in Criminal Justice System
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) reintroduced the Video Visitation and Inmate Calling in Prisons Act of 2017 to strengthen the nation's criminal justice system by helping families keep in touch with incarcerated family members, something studies have shown can help reduce recidivism rates and thereby save taxpayer dollars. The legislation would remove any doubt over the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) authority to regulate video visitation and inmate calling … Continue Reading
July 19, 2017
Duckworth Helps Introduce Expansion of G.I. Bill Benefits
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) to introduce bipartisan legislation to expand the post-9/11 G.I. Bill and improve benefits provided to those who have served this nation in uniform-our Veterans. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 would be the most significant expansion of G.I. benefits since the post-9/11 G.I. … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2.5 Million In Federal Funding For Firefighter Resources
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a total of $2,695,377 to communities across Illinois through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG Program provides first-responder organizations with the access to much-needed emergency response equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, personal protective equipment and training in an effort to create safer, more … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Duckworth Meets with All Chicago Making Homelessness History to Discuss Veteran Homelessness
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with representatives from the All Chicago Making Homelessness History organization who are visiting Capitol Hill to discuss ending Veteran homelessness. A photo of the meeting can be found here. "Every American is dishonored when someone who fought for our freedom is forced to lay his or her head down to sleep on the same streets they defended," said Senator Duckworth. "I will continue working with organizations like All … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Duckworth Statement on CBO Analysis of Senate GOP Repeal without Replace Plan
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following the release of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office's analysis of Senate Republicans' plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act without replacing it, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released this statement: "There are honest-to-goodness fixes to the Affordable Care Act that both Democrats and Republicans alike can support to improve our nation's healthcare system, but robbing 32 million hardworking Americans of their insurance while doubling costs … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $15 Million for Head Start Programs
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded a total of $15,138,247.00 to support Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership programs in Chicago. "This funding will help ensure that children in Chicago have access to quality public education and the tools they need to succeed at the earliest stages of development," said Duckworth. "I will … Continue Reading
