Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Testing and Equipment Shortages
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Michael Bennet (D-CO) and 44 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence demanding answers about supplies and equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) critical to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators asked the President and Vice President to confirm any relevant supply and equipment shortages in the SNS, to outline their strategy to … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth Joins Baldwin to Introduce New Legislation to Scale Up Medical Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment Manufacturing
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and 17 of their colleagues to announce new legislation to expedite the procurement of medical equipment under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to combat the spread of coronavirus. Despite multiple announcements, President Donald Trump has not utilized the federal government’s entire authority under DPA, so this legislation would require the President to do so in order to quickly produce and ensure … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Press CMS To Approve Illinois' Request To Expand Health Services Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to swiftly approve the State of Illinois' Section 1135 Medicaid waiver, so the state can expand access to health services and have the flexibility to deliver quality care amid this public health crisis. "Our health care system is facing unprecedented strains and it is essential that we provide the resources … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Discuss Coronavirus Impact With Illinois Municipal League & Mayors
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with the Illinois Municipal League Board of Directors and a group of Illinois mayors from across the State and heard how the pandemic is affecting local governments, small businesses, and essential services. Durbin and Duckworth discussed the lost tax revenue state and local governments will face as a result of the pandemic and promised they would continue to … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bipartisan Call For FEMA To Waive State And Local Match On COVID-19 Assistance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) in urging President Trump to exercise authorities used in the wake of natural disasters to waive local cost sharing provisions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) assistance, under the President's emergency declaration, to streamline more federal resources into states and communities responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join 165 Members Of Congress In Calling For Billions In Community Health Center Funding To Tackle Coronavirus Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Danny K. Davis (D-IL), joined 165 lawmakers in calling on House and Senate leadership to dramatically increase long-term funding for community health centers (CHCs) in the third coronavirus legislative package being drafted by Congress to address the immediate economic and public-health emergency … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Colleagues Urge Congressional Negotiators To Cancel Student Loan Payments And Debt In COVID-19 Response Package
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), sent a letter to Congressional negotiators, urging them to cancel student loan payments and debt in the COVID-19 response package. "Students and families should not have to worry that they will go into default on their student loans during or immediately after this emergency--they should be worried about keeping themselves and their loved ones … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Duckworth Discusses COVID-19 Testing with President and CEO of NorthShore University HealthSystem
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke with Gerald “JP” Gallagher, President and CEO of Northshore Hospital, about the COVID-19 pandemic and the hospital’s development of its own COVID-19 tests. The NorthShore University HealthSystem became the first local facility to conduct its own COVID-19 tests and is currently testing approximately 200 patients per day. The facility anticipates it will expand its daily testing capacity to 500 patients starting this … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Duckworth: McConnell’s COVID-19 “Proposal” Only Helps Billionaires During National Crisis, Does Nothing for Working Families
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act: "Struggling workers need help today and they deserve to have their jobs protected tomorrow. First responders and hospitals need personal protective equipment and resources immediately. Our nation faces a public health and economic crisis on a scale few if any of us have ever seen before. Instead of doing the right thing, Senate … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Bill Supported by Duckworth & Durbin to Protect GI Bill Benefits as Universities Move Online Due to Coronavirus Signed Into Law
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Bipartisan legislation supported by combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) as well as U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) that would make sure student Veterans and their loved ones receiving benefits through the GI Bill continue receiving full benefits is now law. The legislation, which both Senators helped introduce in the Senate, will temporarily allow these beneficiaries to continue receiving education benefits without change as their classes transition … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Call on Trump Administration to Do More to Bring Home Illinoisans Stranded Overseas
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are calling on the Trump Administration to use its authorities under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA) to do more to bring back Illinoisans as well as any other Americans who are currently stranded abroad as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter sent to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao last night, the Senators call for the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth, Menendez Urge Trump Admin to Protect, Guarantee Health Care Access for Americans with HIV, LGBTQ Community During COVID-19 Outbreak
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), along with nine Senate colleagues, wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to express serious concerns about the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV in light of the Administration's rolling back of LGBTQ healthcare discrimination protections. COVID-19 poses a serious health risk for individuals living with immunodeficiency disorders like … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth Discusses Her Efforts to Protect Workers During COVID-19 Outbreak with UFCW Local 881 President
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke with Steven Powell, President of the Illinois-based United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881, today about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on workers employed by grocery store, pharmacies and nursing homes. Local 881 represents 34,000 workers in Illinois and Northwest Indiana, many of whom will be expected to continue going to work during the shelter-in-place order announced today by Governor J.B. Pritzker. "UFCW … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Discuss Coronavirus Impact on Workers with Illinois AFL-CIO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, and the Illinois AFL-CIO executive committee. On a call with the Illinois AFL-CIO, Duckworth and Durbin asked how the pandemic will impact the labor community and discussed the proposals Congress is considering to help workers during the pandemic. Duckworth and Durbin have supported direct cash payments to … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin to Major Health Insurers: Fully Cover Testing, Treatment for COVID-19 at No Additional Cost to Patients
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 13 Senate Democrats, called on major health insurance companies to remove barriers to care for Americans who find themselves diagnosed with COVID-19. In a letter to the CEOs of Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Humana, Cigna Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Anthem, and UnitedHealth Group, the senators specifically asked the insurers to cover all COVID-19 … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
In Midst of Pandemic, Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Call on President Trump to End Efforts to Sabotage the Affordable Care Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin(D-IL), along with Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and 17 other Senators, sent a letter calling on President Trump to reverse course on efforts to repeal, sabotage, or undermine health care coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act. In the letter, Duckworth and Durbin criticized the Administration's efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and put millions of Americans' health care at risk during a pandemic. The … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Illinois Shelter-in-Place Order
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered a statewide Shelter-in-Place amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic:“Governor Pritzker’s shelter-in-place order is critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19. This pandemic will continue to disrupt our daily lives, but it is more important than ever for all Illinoisans to follow official health and safety guidance, practice … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Support Small Businesses Struggling During COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Democrats this week in introducing a relief proposal to help support small businesses and give them the resources needed to address challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Small businesses across America are facing unprecedented economic disruption and financial hardship due to the outbreak. Today's proposal includes key components of Duckworth's Microloan Program … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth, Hassan Urge Department of Labor to Provide Support for Workers with Disabilities During COVID-19 Pandemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) yesterday urged the Department of Labor (DOL) to better support workers who experience disabilities and may be at particular risk as a result of COVID-19. In a letter to DOL Secretary Eugene Scalia cosigned by 11 of their Senate colleagues, the senators made clear that people with disabilities have rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to access reasonable accommodations that can help protect … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Urge Department of Veterans Affairs to Support Illinois VA Medical Facilities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie urging the agency to ensure that all VA medical facilities in Illinois are well equipped to promptly respond to the coronavirus pandemic and provide for the wellbeing of Veterans as well as VA employees. Duckworth and Durbin noted reports of potential medical supply shortages in Chicago-area VA medical facilities and urged … Continue Reading
