Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Announce $65 Million for Chicago O’Hare Airport Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $65,000,000 in federal funding for runway construction at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This funding was allocated though the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program (AIP). "This substantial investment in Chicago O'Hare International Airport will go a long way toward enhancing safety and operations at our state's world-class … Continue Reading
February 26, 2020
Duckworth Joins Colleagues to Call for Investigation into VA’s Handling of Sexual Assault Report at DC VA Medical Center
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and four of their Democratic colleagues in demanding an investigation into the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) handling of a sexual assault reported by a Veteran at the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center (DC VAMC). The letter follows recent reports alleging that VA officials, led by Secretary Robert Wilkie, actively sought to discredit a Veteran who reported being assaulted and … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Meet with Illinois Director of Veterans Affairs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Linda Chapa LaVia to discuss Veterans issues in Illinois, including disability claims, mental health, and the needs of women Veterans. They also discussed supporting operations at Illinois Veterans' Homes (IVH) and progress in the construction of the Chicago Veterans Home project. "It was great to meet with Illinois Department of Veterans … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $22 Million for Illinois Airport Improvements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced two major grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support and improve Illinois airports. Under the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the City of Chicago will receive $6,912,524 to rehabilitate approximately 7,000 square yards of existing apron pavement at Midway International Airport, and the state of Illinois will receive … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Senator Duckworth Meets with U.S. Army Secretary and Royal Thai Army Commander in Chief
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today met with U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy and General Apirat Kongsompong, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army. During the meeting, Duckworth discussed American interests in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to expand military-to-military partnerships with Thailand. Photos of the meeting can be found here and b-roll can be found here. "As a Thai-American, … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Improve Oversight of Executive Branch & Increase Transparency
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced legislation to improve oversight over the Executive Branch and increase government transparency by requiring the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) to publicly disclose all past legal opinions, as well as any it produces moving forward. The Trump Administration treats the OLC's legal opinions as binding despite the fact that neither Congress nor the American public have access to all of … Continue Reading
February 24, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $7 Million in Grants to Head Start Programs in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $7,300,621 in federal funding to Champaign County. The funding will support access to Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the region. It comes through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that provides technical assistance and helps build strategic partnerships in order to promote the social and economic … Continue Reading
February 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Announce More Than $2.6 Million for Chicago Rockford International Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $2,699,192 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to reconstruct a deicing containment facility at Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford. "Federal investments have helped improve operations at Chicago Rockford International Airport, and today's funding will ensure the deicing facility can be upgraded. I look forward to … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senators in Demanding Answers About Reported Mistreatment of Pregnant Detainees by CBP
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 11 other senators expressing deep concerns to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following reports of serious and ongoing mistreatment of pregnant people at the hands of CBP officials. The senators demanded Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan clarify the agency's policies and provide information about the detention of pregnant individuals. "According to a … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Counteract Trump’s Exit from Iran Nuclear Deal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and four of their Democratic Senate colleagues to introduce the Iran Diplomacy Act, which calls upon the United States and Iran to return to no less than their commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. "While the JCPOA nuclear agreement was far from perfect, it was successful in halting … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Duckworth Visits Over the Rainbow’s Midtown Crossing Apartments, Discusses Affordable Housing for People with Disabilities
[DES PLAINES, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited the Over the Rainbow Association's 100 percent barrier-free independent living housing for low income adults in Des Plaines, the Midtown Crossing Apartments. While at Midtown Crossing, Duckworth met with Over the Rainbow Executive Director Eric Huffman and Chief Financial Officer Les Russo to discuss affordable housing for individuals with disabilities and the work Over the Rainbow does with the disability community in … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Duckworth, Manchin, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Give Guard and Reserve Members Equal Hazard-Duty Incentive Pay
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced a bipartisan bill to give National Guard and Reserve members equal hazard duty incentive pay (HDIP). Identical bipartisan legislation has already been introduced in the House. Hazard Duty Incentive Pay is a type of special and incentive pay used to improve recruiting and retention by increasing compensation for hazardous duty assignments or conditions. This pay is in addition to base … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Duckworth to DHS: Allow Deported Veterans to Attend Citizenship Interviews
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today wrote to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging immediate action to establish clear policies that allow deported Veterans to attend their citizenship interviews. Duckworth also called out DHS for ignoring a letter she sent last year demanding U.S Marine Veteran Roman Sabal-who served for six years and received an honorable discharge after attaining the rank of sergeant-be allowed to re-enter the country to attend his … Continue Reading
February 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Detection of PFAS Near Scott Air Force Base
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, today released the following statement after the U.S. Air Force detected the two main types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - PFOS and PFOA - during site inspections at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), which may be impacting … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Call for Federal Government to Reimburse States, Cities for Coronavirus Efforts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish clear guidelines for how local and state governments-including Illinois-will be reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. "We write to ask that your department establish clear guidelines for state … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Democratic Colleagues in Fighting to Protect People With Pre-Existing Conditions in FY21 Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today in leading 44 other Democratic Senators in a letter to the Administration urging President Trump to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is the law of the land and provides health care coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions including more than five million Illinoisans. Despite Trump's misleading statements … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth Tours The Hatchery, Highlighting Success of Local Entrepreneurs
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited The Hatchery, a nonprofit food and beverage production facility and business incubator in East Garfield Park dedicated to helping local entrepreneurs, especially those of color. Duckworth was joined by representatives from Accion Chicago and the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago and Hatchery entrepreneurs, where she heard success stories from participants of the Hatchery. Photos from today's event are available … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth Commemorates 100th Anniversary of League of Women Voters’ Founding in Chicago
[CHICAGO, IL] - U. S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today attended the League of Women Voters 100th Anniversary Celebration, commemorating the organization's century-long legacy of education and advocacy which began in Chicago in 1920. Duckworth was joined by other local leaders including U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. Duckworth highlighted the importance of the League of … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Duckworth, Cantwell Demand Answers Following Reports that Major Child Car Seat Manufacturer Lied about Safety Testing and Requirements, Resulting in Fatalities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, wrote to U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Acting Administrator James C. Owens demanding answers about reported negligence by a booster seat manufacturer Evenflo. According to a report … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Duckworth on War Powers: Honoring Our Troops’ Sacrifices Requires Congress to Do Its Job
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after voting for an Iran war powers resolution that would force the President to secure a declaration of war or authorization for use of military force from Congress to legally engage in a war against Iran. Senator Duckworth, who is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, cosponsored the measure which now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote. "Ever since … Continue Reading
