Press Releases
Duckworth Reiterates Call for Expanded Veteran Support at Caregiver Panel on Capitol Hill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator, combat Veteran and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called for expanded support for Veterans and military families during a panel discussion with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) caregivers. During the panel, Duckworth stressed the importance of ensuring VA caregivers - who are often family members of wounded and disabled Veterans themselves - have the resources they need to support our nation's heroes. A photo of … Continue Reading
June 19, 2017
Duckworth Calls for Investments in National Labs at Fermilab 50th Anniversary Celebration
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory's (Fermilab) 50th Anniversary Celebration. Duckworth touted Fermilab's achievements as a one of Illinois's crown jewels of scientific innovation, stressing the importance of protecting and expanding science funding. A photo of the event is available here. "It is an honor to congratulate Fermilab on 50 years of groundbreaking scientific discoveries and technological … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Tours ISU Farm, Calls on President Trump to Invest in Rural America
[LEXINGTON, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited the Illinois State University Farm to discuss the impact the Trump Budget would have on rural development and agriculture. The budget makes over $231 billion in cuts to critical USDA and Farm Bill programs, which Americans in rural communities rely on to improve access to clean drinking water, promote public safety and support their children. It would also close the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Springfield and Sangamon County Delegation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with officials from Springfield, Illinois, and Sangamon County to discuss regional priorities, including economic development improvements and infrastructure projects. "One of the best things we can do for our state and country is invest in our infrastructure and transportation systems," said Duckworth. "It was great to hear from local leaders in Springfield and Sangamon County yesterday about how I can help … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Hosts Capitol Hill Advocate Roundtable, Reiterates Need for Fair & Humane Immigration Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a Capitol Hill roundtable with immigration reform and refugee advocates to highlight the pressing need for fair & humane national immigration policies in the Trump era. Duckworth highlighted her work as Senator to combat the Trump Administration's discriminatory executive orders against immigrants her longtime advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform that is practical, fair and humane. A photo from today's … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth in Meeting with Argonne & University of Chicago: Trump Cuts to Science Funding Will Kill Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders of the Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago yesterday to discuss the world-class research Argonne is conducting and the importance of maintaining funding for scientific research in the face of potential budget cuts. The Trump administration has proposed cutting the Department of Energy's Office of Science by nearly 20 percent, which is the primary source of Argonne's funding. Duckworth recently led 24 … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Duckworth Calls on President Trump to Support American Manufacturing, Keep Buy American Pledge in NAFTA Renegotiation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today in urging President Trump to keep his promise to support American manufacturing and uphold his Buy American Pledge by eliminating the government procurement chapter from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "For … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Vote
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following the Senate vote to introduce new punitive measures against Russia and prevent the Trump administration from lifting sanctions against Russia without Congressional approval, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement: "This bipartisan agreement sends an important message to the Russian government and to anyone else who attempts to interfere in our elections: their destabilizing actions will not go unpunished. It also sends a message to … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Shooting at Congressional Baseball Practice
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding this morning's shooting in Alexandria, Virginia: "This is a sad day for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. We can all agree that these sorts of actions simply have no place in civil society, and we should do much more to prevent this sort of needless violence. I wish all the victims a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing my former House colleagues, Congressional … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth Meets with Peoria Chamber of Commerce Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with leaders of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce including Chamber President Jeffrey Griffin today to discuss her vision for creating jobs and expanding economic opportunity for hardworking families across Illinois through investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and small business development. Duckworth's meeting today follows a discussion yesterday with Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis regarding her work to spur economic development … Continue Reading
June 14, 2017
Duckworth, Inhofe Introduce Bipartisan Flight Act to Help Small, Rural Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) in introducing the Forward Looking Investment in General Aviation, Hangars, and Tarmacs (FLIGHT) Act, which would make it easier for more than 65 small and rural airports in Illinois to undertake important infrastructure improvements. Specifically, their bipartisan legislation would give these airports greater access to funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and provide needed … Continue Reading
June 09, 2017
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Protect Disability Rights for Airplane Passengers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Ed Markey (D-MA) in introducing the Air Carrier Access Amendments Act this week to help improve protections for airplane passengers with disabilities, making air travel more equitable and accessible for all Americans. "Far too many Americans living with a disability - many of whom are Veterans like myself - face unnecessary challenges during … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Former FBI Director James Comey’s Senate Intelligence Committee Testimony
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning: "Mr. Comey's testimony about the President's behavior should concern any American who respects the basic rule of law and our democratic institutions. Let's be clear: the former FBI Director has now testified under oath that he believes the President lied and may be under investigation for … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin Pass Resolution Congratulating FermiLab on 50th Anniversary
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced a resolution this week, co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), which passed the Senate unanimously last night, congratulating Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) on 50 years of groundbreaking discoveries. Fermilab, a United States Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory located in Batavia, Illinois, is America's premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory. This world-renowned facility … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth Applauds Passage of VA Accountability & Whistleblower Protection Act
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator and former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement applauding today's Senate's passage of bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by strengthening protections for whistleblowers against retaliation and making it easier to dismiss employees who are negligent in their care for Veterans and are performing poorly. Senator Duckworth is a combat Veteran who … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth Addresses the Ninth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding, Calls on Members of Congress to Support New Moms
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) addressed members of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine at the Ninth Annual Summit on Breastfeeding. Duckworth discussed her efforts to support the health of breastfeeding mothers and children across the country, highlighting legislation she recently introduced - the Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Act - to ensure women traveling through large- and medium-sized airports have accessible, clean and convenient lactation rooms. … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth: I Will Not Gamble with the Safety of the Flying Public by Privatizing Our Airspace
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Two days after President Trump announced a plan to privatize the nation's air traffic control system, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today questioned U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao on the President's proposal and other key aviation issues during a Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing. "The FAA successfully manages the busiest, most complex airspace in the entire world, and, thanks to their good work, America's air traffic control … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
After Meeting With EPA Assistant Administrator Nominee, Duckworth Reiterates Need for Strong Environmental Protections
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Susan Bodine, the nominee to be Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A photo of their meeting is available here. "I appreciated meeting with Ms. Bodine this afternoon and know that, at a time when both the President and the EPA Administrator seem intent on dismantling environmental protections, roles like the one she has been nominated for are as important as ever," said Senator Duckworth. "I … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Duckworth Speaks At Rally Against Trump’s Devastating Cuts to Medicaid
WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) at a rally yesterday with disability rights advocates against the reckless $1.4 trillion in cuts to Medicaid that President Trump has proposed in his healthcare repeal bill and budget blueprint. Senator Duckworth warned that the cuts would hurt students across the country who benefit from Medicaid-funded counselors and school nurses and … Continue Reading
June 05, 2017
Senator Highlights Devastating Effects of President Trump’s Discriminatory Immigration Executive Orders
[CHICAGO, IL] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) hosted a roundtable with elected officials, community leaders and representatives of immigration and refugee organizations to discuss the issues facing immigrant communities in the Trump era. Duckworth highlighted her efforts in the Senate to combat the Trump Administration's discriminatory executive orders against immigrants and instead move towards immigration reform that is practical, fair and humane. A photo of today's discussion … Continue Reading
