Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join New Effort to Protect Seniors and Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]- U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and 41 other Democratic Senators on legislation to overturn the Trump Administration's expansion of "junk health insurance plans." As of today, 44 Senators have cosponsored the resolution of disapproval of the Trump Administration's final "junk health insurance plan" rule, which only needs the support of 30 Senators to force a vote. These year-long "junk plans" can exclude … Continue Reading
August 31, 2018
Duckworth Says Final Goodbye to American Hero John McCain at the Capitol
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said her final goodbye to an American Hero, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today as he laid in state at the U.S. Capitol building. Duckworth first met McCain while he was visiting Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed, where she was recovering after her Black Hawk was shot down by an RPG in Iraq. Senator Duckworth also announced that she will support U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) bipartisan legislation to rename … Continue Reading
August 30, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray and 41 Colleagues Opposing Use of Taxpayer Dollars to Arm Teachers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a recent report that U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering allowing states and school districts to purchase firearms and pay for firearm training with federal taxpayer dollars, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 41 colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary DeVos urging the abandonment of this plan. In March, Congress reiterated its opposition to federal funds being for … Continue Reading
August 30, 2018
After Recent Study on Kindergarten Preparedness in Illinois, Duckworth and Durbin Announce $62 Million for Head Start Programs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $62,694,857 in federal funding today to help children from in Illinois access Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Central Illinois, Northwest Illinois and the Chicagoland area. This funding comes through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) that allocates funding, provides technical assistance, helps build … Continue Reading
August 30, 2018
Duckworth: Allow American People to Review Records of Brett Kavanaugh’s Involvement in Bush Administration’s Torture Policies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called for the public release of any documents related to Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh's involvement in the Bush Administration's use of torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment on prisoners and enemy combatants. In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Duckworth asked the Chairman to share with the public all records from Kavanaugh's time as a Bush White House staffer related … Continue Reading
August 28, 2018
Duckworth Investigates Potential Pay-To-Play Allegations Involving Michael Cohen, Trump Donor & Department of Energy
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following reports that a major donor to the Trump inaugural fund hired President Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to help secure billions of federal dollars for a nuclear power plant project, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is asking U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry for more information on how the agency is evaluating the loan application. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump donor Franklin L. Haney agreed to pay Michael Cohen, who recently pleaded … Continue Reading
August 27, 2018
Duckworth Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Expand the ABLE Savings Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to expand eligibility for the ABLE program, which allows individuals with disabilities and their families to enroll in tax-free savings accounts to help cover the costs of long-term care and other expenses, such as housing, employment training, education and transportation. The Achieving a Better Life (ABLE) Age Adjustment Act, which was introduced by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Richard Burr (R-NC) … Continue Reading
August 25, 2018
Duckworth Statement on Passing of American Hero John McCain
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the passing of an American hero, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "My heart is heavy today as I join countless Americans across our country in mourning the loss of one of our nation's greatest leaders and statesmen, one of my personal heroes, Senator John McCain. Throughout his life - as a Naval Aviator, a Prisoner of War who endured years of torture, a Congressman, and a six-term Senator - … Continue Reading
August 22, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley, Krishanmoorthi, Schakowsky Announce Nearly $80 Million in Federal Funding for O’Hare International Airport Noise Mitigation and Critical Runway Construction
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) today announced a total of $79,917,636 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to help improve O'Hare International Airport and mitigate noise for residents in the area. This funding comes from the Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement … Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Duckworth: Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to Supreme Court Would Threaten Access to Health Care for Women of Color
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and several women of color to outline how confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court could threaten access to affordable, accessible healthcare for women of color. Speaking at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol alongside representatives from the National Women's Law Center, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and a Planned … Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $33 Million In Federal Funding For Positive Train Control In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $33,224,233 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Chicago-area railroads. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail … Continue Reading
August 21, 2018
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $1.8 Million to Support Decatur Housing and Community Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the City of Decatur will receive $1,823,485 in federal grant funding through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding was allocated through HUD's Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME programs to help the local government expand economic opportunities and provide suitable living environments for low- and moderate-income … Continue Reading
August 20, 2018
FCC Commissioners Agree with Duckworth: Unjust Prison Call Rates Must be Addressed
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) solidified consensus and received a commitment from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners Michael O'Rielly, Jessica Rosenworcel, Brendan Carr and Chairman Ajit Pai to help address unjust and unreasonable inmate call rates at last week's U.S. Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee oversight hearing. In March, Duckworth introduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rob Portman … Continue Reading
August 17, 2018
Duckworth & Durbin Decry Trump Plan to End Protections for U.S. Troops Against Predatory Lending & Financial Fraud
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following reports that the Trump Administration is planning to end critical protections for servicemembers and military families from predatory loans, financial fraud and credit gouging, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, and every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate in urging the Trump Administration to reverse course. The Trump Administration is reportedly … Continue Reading
August 17, 2018
Duckworth & Hassan Ask VA Inspector General to Investigate Potential Legal & Ethics Violations by Trump VA Officials
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) are requesting a formal investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General (IG) into a report that several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at VA. Last week, a ProPublica investigation revealed how Trump's friends, who are not government employees and have little relevant experience, have inappropriately dictated a … Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Duckworth Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Accurate Representation of LGBTQ Community in Census and ACS
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) Tom Carper (D-DE) and 15 of her colleagues in introducing legislation to require the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure the approximately 10 million Americans who identify as LGBTQ are properly counted for and represented in Census data collection efforts. The Census Equality Act would require the U.S. Census Bureau to add questions related to sexual orientation and gender identity to the decennial … Continue Reading
August 16, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Nomination of John Milhiser for U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Mr. Milhiser is currently serving as the Sangamon County State's Attorney. "We are pleased that the President has nominated Mr. Milhiser. Mr. Milhiser has served the people of Sangamon County as State's Attorney for nearly eight years, and … Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Duckworth and St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly Discuss Opioid Crisis and Veterans at Metro East Treatment Facility
[BELLEVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly yesterday visited an opioid treatment facility in Belleville, Illinois, where they discussed the opioid crisis and how Veterans are affected by it during a roundtable with facility staff. The facility is one of four managed by Chestnut Health Systems, which offers a comprehensive system of community health services to those affected by mental illness, developmental disabilities or … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth Visits Scott Air Force Base
[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured the Scott Air Force Base, located in St. Clair County. During the visit, Duckworth met with and received a briefing from Col. Leslie A. Maher, Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing and Col. Joseph R. Meyer, Vice Commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing. A photo from the visit are available here. "Scott Air Force Base is an important driver of our state's economy and a critical support network for our men and … Continue Reading
August 09, 2018
Duckworth: VA Secretary Must Sever Ties with Mar-a-Lago Crowd & Replace VA Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following an investigation that revealed how several wealthy friends of Donald Trump have improperly influenced policy and personnel decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to urge him to immediately cut ties with the so-called "Mar-a-Lago Crowd." A ProPublica report released yesterday exposed how Trump's friends, who are not government … Continue Reading
