Press Releases
Duckworth Secures Key Priorities in NASA Reauthorization Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation (CST), applauded the inclusion of several of her provisions that would help Illinois and the nation in the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2019. These provisions, which passed the CST Committee today and may now be considered by the full Senate, seek to address the legacy of trichloroethylene pollution, enhance scientific integrity at NASA, expand NASA's external … Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
15 Years After Being Shot Down, Duckworth Reflects On the Sacrifices our Troops Make and the True Meaning of National Strength
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On her 15th "Alive Day"- the day she was shot down over Iraq and could have died - combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) authored a column on the service of our troops, the future of our Armed Forces and what "national strength" truly means. In her column published on CNN, Duckworth explains how the actions of her brothers and sisters in arms on that day 15 years ago continue to motivate her as a United States Senator and details her vision for how we can … Continue Reading
November 11, 2019
Duckworth Spends Veterans Day with Deported Veterans in Mexico
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today visited Tijuana, Mexico, to honor the service of Veterans who have been deported and offer supportive services to them in their efforts to access the VA healthcare benefits they've earned and other casework issues. Duckworth also met with Consul General Sue Saarnio while in Tijuana to discuss what the State Department can do to help support these Veterans and … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
With Veterans Day Approaching, Duckworth Introduces Suite of Bills to Improve VA Services
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced three bills addressing Veteran suicide, homelessness and access to healthcare. Duckworth's proposals-the Veteran Employment and Child Care Access Act, Access to Contraception Expansion for Veterans (ACE Veterans) Act and Post 9/11 Veteran Suicide Prevention Counseling Act-would increase access to child care services as well as contraceptives and help reduce Veteran suicide. The three bills are … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on EPA’s Ethylene Oxide Announcement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a memo on the status of updated rules limiting emissions of toxic ethylene oxide: "Ethylene oxide increases cancer risks in communities like Waukegan and Gurnee and others in Illinois and around the country. EPA's proposed amendments to the rule are deeply concerning. We are alarmed that the Agency is even … Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Military Families from Deportation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced legislation today to strengthen military readiness by safeguarding the Parole in Place (PIP) program, which allows undocumented family members-parents, children, spouses or widowers-of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Veterans to lawfully remain in the United States in one-year increments. The Military Family Parole in Place Act would require the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to grant parole to parents, children, … Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Announce Multi-Year Extension For Quad Cities To Chicago Amtrak Rail Project Funding
WASHINGTON - Friday, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued an extension for $177 million in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for the Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline until December 31, 2024. In June, the members sent a letter to DOT Secretary Elaine Chao that urged DOT to extend the deadline for Illinois to use the $177 million in FRA … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $500,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources in Southern Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $589,517.12 in federal funding to communities in Southern Illinois through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG program provides first-responder organizations access to much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles and … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $800,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources in Northwest Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $872,016.85 in federal funding to communities in Northwest Illinois through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG program provides first-responder organizations access to much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles and … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $1 Million in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources in Metro East
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $1,139,969.68 in federal funding to communities in the Metro East area through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG program provides first-responder organizations access to much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $11 Million in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources in Chicagoland
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $11,194,763.84 in federal funding to communities in the Chicagoland area through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG program provides first-responder organizations access to much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $3 Million in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources in Central Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $3,219,693.36 in federal funding to communities in Central Illinois through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The AFG program provides first-responder organizations access to much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles and … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Duckworth, Risch Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Small Business Contracting Throughout the Federal Government
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jim Risch (R-ID) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) which exist within each federal agency to maximize contracting opportunities for small businesses. Since many federal agencies have failed to fully empower their OSDBUs and comply with the Small Business Act, the Small Business Contracting Accountability Act would require those … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Duckworth Meets with EPA Inspector General Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today met with the Trump Administration's nominee to be the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Inspector General, Sean O'Donnell. Duckworth and O'Donnell discussed issues including allegations of political interference related to ethylene oxide inspections in Region 5 and claims that former-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt weakened public health … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Duckworth to Boeing: “You Haven’t Told Us the Whole Truth”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a general aviation pilot and combat Veteran, today condemned Boeing for the company's decision to remove a critical safety function without adding an offsetting feature and its failure to inform pilots of the change or provide new training for them. Duckworth's criticism of the company's decisions came during remarks addressed to Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg and John Hamilton, Vice President and Chief Engineer of Boeing Commercial … Continue Reading
October 29, 2019
Duckworth Once Again Presses the FAA to Publish Advisory Circular on Best Practices for Manufacturing, Testing and Operating Angle of Attack Sensors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Ahead of today's Senate hearing with Boeing executives and on the one year anniversary of the deadly Lion Air Flight 610 crash, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is once again calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to publish a set of standardized best practices for how to ensure airlines and flight crews are complying with all federal safety standards and regulations. Duckworth's call for the FAA to reconsider her May 21, 2019 request follows the FAA's … Continue Reading
October 28, 2019
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $3 Million in Funding to Prevent Lead Hazards in Winnebago County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a $3.4 million federal grant to help the Winnebago County Health Department identify and eliminate lead-based paint hazards in Rockford-area low- and very low-income private housing where children under the age of 6 reside or are likely to reside. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes' Lead Hazard … Continue Reading
October 28, 2019
Duckworth Statement on Raid that Killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: "Yet another terrorist leader being brought to justice proves, once again, the professionalism of our military and intelligence community is unparalleled. Thanks to the bravery of U.S. Armed Forces, the world is a safer place today. I am, however, troubled by the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2019
Duckworth, Colleagues Request Information on Trump Organization’s Business in Turkey
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tom Udall (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to Trump Organization Executive Vice President Jill Martin requesting information on the potential conflicts of interest that President Trump's financial dealings in Turkey may pose following Trump's abrupt decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Northern Syria and the subsequent Turkish offensive. Specifically, the Senators are calling attention to the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2019
Senator Duckworth Delivers Weekly Democratic Address
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After President Trump's devastating and reckless decision to abandon our Kurdish allies in Syria, which has destabilized the region and cleared the way for a Turkish offensive, Senator Duckworth (D-IL) delivers this week's Weekly Democratic Address. In the address Senator Duckworth, a combat Veteran and Army pilot who flew missions in Iraq, expresses alarm over the President Trump's decision to abandon our Kurdish allies, who have fought side-by-side with our troops to … Continue Reading
