Press Releases
Duckworth Responds to FAA, TSA Federal Employees Being Overlooked on Paid Family Leave
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the exclusion of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, including air traffic controllers, from being eligible for 12 weeks of paid family leave that other federal employees are now eligible for under the newly-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). "In the most prosperous nation in the history of the world, no one should have … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Duckworth Secures Big Wins to Support and Protect the Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - This week, two provisions led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to support the Great Lakes were included in the America's Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE), which was voted out of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and will now be considered by the full Senate. Duckworth and is Ranking Member of the EPW Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife. "The Great Lakes support 1.5 million jobs and provide drinking water to tens of millions of … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Duckworth Statement on the Impeachment of President Trump
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump: "The fact that a majority of duly elected representatives of the American people voted to impeach Donald Trump is not something anyone should celebrate. This is a grave moment in our nation's history. In the coming weeks, every single United States Senator will be required to raise their right hand and swear an oath to do … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Duckworth Responds to FAA, TSA Federal Employees Being Overlooked on Paid Family Leave
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the exclusion of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, including air traffic controllers, from being eligible for 12 weeks of paid family leave that other federal employees are now eligible for under the newly-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). "In the most prosperous nation in the history of the world, no one should have to … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Booker Introduce Bill to Enhance Public Housing Oversight and Transparency, Improve Conditions for Residents
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, as part of her ongoing efforts to prevent future housing crises like what happened in Cairo, Illinois, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced legislation to improve public housing oversight and transparency by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bill, the Averting Crises in Housing Assistance (ACHA) Act, seeks to address the national backlog of needed repairs in public … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $178,000 to Fight Veteran Homelessness
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $178,172 in federal funding for housing authorities to reduce homelessness among Veterans across Illinois. The funding, from the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, will be used to provide rental assistance, case management and other critical services. "Every American is dishonored when a Veteran who fought for this … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Introduce the Safe Gun Storage Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and 17 other colleagues in introducing the Safe Gun Storage Act, which would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish safety standards for firearm locks and firearm safes. U.S. Representatives Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year. "Passing public … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Senate Passes Several Duckworth Provisions as Part of 2020 Defense Bill
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) successfully secured a number of her priorities in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the U.S. Senate on a bipartisan vote of 86-8 today and now heads to the President's desk for his signature. The NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), sets our nation's defense policy and ensures that our servicemembers have the tools they need to defend our nation. … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Increase Investments in Liver Cancer Research & Raise Awareness
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced legislation to increase federal support for liver cancer research and help make life-saving preventive and treatment services more accessible to people all across the country. The Liver Illness Visibility, Education and Research (LIVER) Act would boost funding for liver cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $45 million and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by $90 million while … Continue Reading
December 16, 2019
Duckworth Hosts Roundtable Highlighting Criminal Justice Reform Efforts
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a roundtable today at the Westside Justice Center, bringing together advocates and Chicago families to discuss her efforts to reform our criminal justice system, including her bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act. Her legislation aims to help families keep in touch with their incarcerated family members, which studies have shown can help reduce recidivism rates and thereby save taxpayer dollars. Photos … Continue Reading
December 15, 2019
Duckworth Honored with Heartland Alliance Health Food for Life Award
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) was recognized for her work supporting our most vulnerable by receiving the Food for Life Award from the Heartland Alliance Health. The annual award is given to leaders who support the mission of Heartland Alliance Health, which strives to provide assistance for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, struggling with mental illness and substance use and battling chronic illness. During her remarks, Duckworth highlighted her … Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
Duckworth’s Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act Advances out of Senate Committee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) passed the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resource (ENR) Committee yesterday and will now be considered by the full Senate. The Springfield Race Riot National Monument Act would require the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to conduct a final study to evaluate whether it is suitable to be a monument. A preliminary study published earlier this year found that the site has National … Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
Duckworth, Bustos Introduce Bill to Promote Advancement in Technical Aviation Training
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran, pilot and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve education and training programs at aviation maintenance technician schools. The Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical Training (PARTT) 147 Act of 2019 would establish performance-based regulations to ensure aviation maintenance education institutions have the flexibility to teach core curriculum … Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Urge Passage of Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize Critical Role of Census, Importance of Safe and Accurate Count
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in introducing a bipartisan resolution to ensure the 2020 Census is fair and accurate. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. According to Forefront’s ‘IL Count Me In 2020’ initiative, Illinois stands to lose at least $1,800 per year … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Duckworth’s Bipartisan Friendly Airports for Mothers Improvement Act Passes Senate Committee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) passed the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Committee unanimously today and will now be considered by the full Senate. The Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act would ensure that small airports support nursing moms and promote breastfeeding-friendly environments by providing accessible, clean and convenient lactation rooms for travelers. The … Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Duckworth Discusses Women in Leadership & Family Friendly Policies at Politico’s Women Rule Summit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today participated in a panel discussion titled "Women, Workforce and Reinvention" at Politico's Women Rule Summit. Duckworth discussed challenges she has faced throughout her career, as well as legislation she has introduced to help make it easier for families to raise children across the country. A photo of Duckworth speaking at the event is available here. Key quotes: "My daughter just turned five a couple weeks ago. She's … Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Duckworth, Cornyn Introduce Bill to Support Small Businesses Owned by Spouses of Deceased Veterans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced the Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Act, which would allow the spouses of deceased veterans who owned small businesses to retain their contract preference status regardless of the degree of disability the servicemember experienced. "We created the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business program to help give Veterans priority in the VA procurement marketplace so those who served our nation … Continue Reading
December 09, 2019
Duckworth, Colleagues Seek Input from Environmental Justice Leaders on Ways to Address Climate Change
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder of the Senate's first-ever Environment Justice Caucus and member of the U.S. Senate Democrat's Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, led 15 of her Senate colleagues in sending a letter to leaders of the environmental justice movement asking for input on policy that could help mitigate the impacts of climate change in low-income communities and communities of color that have borne the brunt of our environmental … Continue Reading
December 09, 2019
Duckworth Helps Introduce Bill to Ensure Proper-Fitting Body Armor & Protective Equipment is Available for Female Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (D-IA), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing bipartisan legislation to improve troop readiness and effectiveness by addressing issues of inadequate and ill-fitting body armor and personal protective equipment (PPE) across the military. "When I was serving overseas, I experienced firsthand how our military's body armor and protective equipment hasn't always … Continue Reading
December 09, 2019
Duckworth at Reagan National Defense Forum: US Leadership Requires Strong Diplomacy and Economic Engagement, Not Only Military Power
[SIMI VALLEY, CA] - Today, on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke about multiple components of America's leadership on the global stage, highlighting the need for strategic diplomacy and economic engagement in addition to a strong military, as part of a panel discussion moderated by ABC News' Jonathan Karl during the 2019 Reagan National Defense Forum in California. Duckworth was joined by Karl Rove, Former Deputy Chief of … Continue Reading
