Press Releases
Duckworth: Trump Again Puts Veterans on Chopping Block, Threatens to Increase Veteran Homelessness
WASHINGTON, DC - Combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted a new Associated Press report that found President Trump's new budget proposal threatens to increase Veteran homelessness despite his repeated campaign promises to care for those who've worn our nation's uniform. As the former Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Duckworth helped coordinatea joint initiative with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to end … Continue Reading
March 29, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Planned Parenthood Leadership, Highlights Need to Protect Women’s Access to Health Care
WASHIGNTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois Linda Diamond Shapiro and Planned Parenthood of Illinois leadership to discuss the importance of protecting against efforts from Conservatives to shut down the government over Planned Parenthood and prevent tens of thousands of women from receiving the health services they need. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Recent attacks on … Continue Reading
March 27, 2017
Duckworth Addresses Service Year Action Summit, Highlights Importance of National Service
WASHINGTON, DC - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke at the Service Year Action Summit to promote the importance of civilian national service. As a Congresswoman, Duckworth led efforts to expand national community service opportunities with the introduction of the 21st Century American Service Act to increase service positions available through civilian national service organizations and ensure all Americans are informed of the opportunities available to them. As … Continue Reading
March 24, 2017
Duckworth Addresses Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, Highlights “Economic Opportunity” Agenda
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council yesterday, outlining her vision for creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families in communities across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, education and small business development. A photo of Duckworth at the event is available here. "Every American deserves the chance to get ahead - the chance to get a quality education, secure a … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Duckworth Statement on David Friedman’s Confirmation Vote to be Ambassador to Israel
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement explaining her vote against David Friedman's nomination to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Israel: "Considering the close relationship between our two countries, the next Ambassador to Israel should be a unifying figure who can work collaboratively and diplomatically to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance and advance American interests in the region. After a careful review of Mr. Friedman's past statements and … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Duckworth, Veterans in Congress Criticize Trumpcare’s Devastating Tax Hike on Millions of Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Tim Walz (D-MN), and several others to criticize President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for attempting to impose a tax hike on millions of Veterans' healthcare. Despite the President's campaign pledge to "ensure our Veterans get the care they need wherever and … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Duckworth: Trump Putting Veterans on Chopping Block to Jam through Repeal Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today criticized President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress for including a provision in their health care repeal bill that threatens to make it harder for millions of Veterans to receive healthcare. The provision, which could harm as many as 7 million Veterans who do not receive their care through the VA, would prohibit any Veteran from receiving tax credits to help them afford private insurance coverage. "This President's habit … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Duckworth Condemns Rise of Anti-Semitism & Hate Crimes in Meeting with Chicago Jewish Federation Members
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with members of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF) today and discussed the rising number of threats against Jewish schools and community centers in Illinois and across the country. Duckworth and JUF members also discussed how the Trump budget would hurt families across Illinois with its irresponsible cuts to vital programs as varied as the Emergency Food and Shelter program and the Holocaust Survivors … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Duckworth Statement on FBI Investigation into Kremlin-Trump Campaign Coordination
WASHINGTON, DC - Following FBI Director James Comey's acknowledgement that the FBI opened an investigation into whether there was coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian officials who were meddling in our presidential election, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "Every American should be troubled by the threat of a foreign adversary interfering in our elections. The FBI's investigation into Russian meddling in our electoral process is a necessary … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Touts Public Education, College Affordability at Parent Mentor Conference in Chicago
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) delivered the keynote address at the Logan Square Neighborhood Association's annual Parent Mentor Convention, which celebrates the work of parent volunteers in public schools. During her speech, Duckworth highlighted the need for greater investments in public schools and more affordable options for higher education. A photo of Duckworth at the convention can be found here. Audio of her remarks in both English and Spanish is available upon … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Receives Quad County Urban League’s “Woman in Power” Award
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today received Quad County Urban League's "Woman in Power" award at the organization's annual Women's Empowerment Summit, which is focused on diversity in the workplace. A photo of the award ceremony is available here. "This ceremony is a time to both honor the civil rights leaders and the women who have come before us and to celebrate the American values of diversity and inclusion," said Senator Duckworth. "I am truly honored to receive the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Rescind President Trump’s Border Wall Executive Order
WASHINGTON, DC - In the wake of President Trump's budget proposal, which irresponsibly cuts countless vital programs across government in part to pay for an unnecessary border wall, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and 21 of her colleagues in introducing a bill to rescind President Trump's executive order to construct a border wall and ramp up the deportations and detentions of undocumented immigrants. "Hard-working Americans should not be forced to … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Visits Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, Highlights Infrastructure Agenda
CHICAGO, IL -U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant - a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago treatment facility - today to learn more about the water treatment process, as well as the plant's efforts to reduce flooding and control pollution. Duckworth also met with local leaders at the plant to discuss her efforts to modernize Illinois's infrastructure and find common sense solutions to reduce flooding. A photo of the meeting is … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Attends Groundbreaking of New Chicago Rail Car Facility
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attended the groundbreaking of a new rail car facility today in Chicago that has committed to hiring 170 workers to assemble 400 new rail cars by 2020 for the Chicago Transit Authority. Senator Duckworth was joined by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Alderman Susan Garza. A photo of the event is available here. "Projects like this that upgrade and improve our public transit system, create good-paying jobs and invest in … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Senator Duckworth Strongly Opposes Trump Budget Cuts Eliminating Critical Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the senior Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, spoke out in opposition to the Trump Administration's proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) budget at a Senate hearing yesterday, expressing concern that it would eliminate programs that are needed to protect and preserve the Great Lakes from toxic pollution and invasive species like Asian carp. The budget … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Irresponsible Trump Budget
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to President Trump's first federal budget proposal: "The President broke more of his campaign promises today by releasing a budget that would weaken our nation, hurt the people of Illinois and reverse years of progress with its irresponsible cuts to countless vital programs. For anyone wondering who will pay for his ineffective border wall, the first Trump budget proposal makes it clear: … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Duckworth Statement on the Honorable Daniel Coats’ Confirmation Vote to be Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after voting against former U.S. Senator Daniel Coats' nomination to be Director of National Intelligence: "Not only is torture illegal under both federal and international law, it is also ineffective and undermines the ideals that make our nation great. Torture does not make our country safer, in fact it puts American Troops serving overseas at greater risk. It is not a tactic used by strong nations. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Duckworth and Franken Re-Introduce Bill to Train Illinoisans for Open, High-Skill Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and AL Franken (D-MN) announced the reintroduction of their legislation to close the "skills gap," which makes it difficult for small businesses and other employers to find qualified candidates for unfilled jobs by supporting innovative partnerships between community colleges, technical colleges,and businesses to train students to fill high-demand jobs. TheCommunity College to Career Fund Act (CC2C) builds off of successful … Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Duckworth, Senate Democrats Challenge President Trump to Support Paid Family & Medical Leave Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer, and U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) to unveil comprehensive paid family and medical leave legislation and challenge President Trump to support it since he has previously endorsed the concept of paid leave. The Senators' comprehensive proposal, the FAMILY Act, would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for … Continue Reading
March 13, 2017
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Rescind Discriminatory Trump Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 35 Democratic colleagues today in introducing a bill to rescind President Trump's discriminatory executive order barring immigrants from six Muslim-majority countries and suspending the U.S. refugee program. "Just like his last Muslim ban, this executive order plays into our enemy's hands by giving them a propaganda tool to spread a false narrative about the United … Continue Reading
