Press Releases
Duckworth Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Establish Memorial Commemorating Efforts of Women on the Home Front During WWII
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced bipartisan legislation today to establish a new memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor the contributions of the estimated 18 million women who helped keep our nation's economy and society running during World War II by working as pilots, engineers, taxi drivers, letter carriers, code breakers and more. The Women Who Worked on the Home Front World War II Memorial Act would also … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Introduces Bill to Protect Frontline Health Care Workers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act today, legislation that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate an emergency temporary standard to protect frontline health care workers who are at increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Similar legislation was introduced in the House on Monday and included as part of the House's package of proposals to address the coronavirus … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Request for the IRS to Extend Tax-Filing Deadline for Individual Taxpayers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and 18 of their colleagues in urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig to extend the April 15, 2020 tax-filing deadline to provide taxpayers greater flexibility amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Currently, there are more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus in 38 states, including 25 in Illinois. "Given the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Press CDC on Shortage of Coronavirus Test Kit Supplies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield for information on the potential shortage of enzymes needed for CDC coronavirus test kits. Health officials in Illinois have indicated they may not have enough testing supplies to cover their diagnostic needs over the next two weeks. Further, they have not received word from the CDC … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Illinois Congressional Democrats: Border Wall Reprogramming Will Result in Shortfalls of Illinois National Guard Equipment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper expressing concern over the shortfalls of equipment for the Illinois National Guard in the wake of the Department of Defense's (DOD) decision to transfer National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account (NGREA) funds to be used to build part of President Donald Trump's ineffective wall on the southwest border. For Fiscal Year 2020, the Illinois Army National … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Call On President Trump to Utilize FEMA's Disaster Relief Funds to Aid State and Local Response to Coronavirus Outbreak
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's state of emergency declaration in response to the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), and 27 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately consider any disaster declarations so states can utilize the $42.6 billion currently available in the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Duckworth Presses EPA Deputy Administrator Nominee for Clarity on Trump Administration’s Broken Promises to Farmers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At a U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) nomination hearing, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) pressed Doug Benevento, the Nominee to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to commit to suspending any action on small refinery hardship waiver requests until the Administration decides whether or not to appeal a recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The Tenth Circuit's unanimous decision … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Initiatives with Illinois Farm Bureau
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss Illinois priorities and agriculture policies. Photos from both meetings are available here. "The strength of America's farmers is a reflection of the strength of our nation," Duckworth said. "I enjoyed meeting with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss their concerns and how I can be helpful to their businesses and families back home. I will continue to advocate on behalf … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Lipinski Press Wabtec on Positive Train Control Implementation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3) yesterday wrote to Wabtec Corporation President and CEO Rafael Santana to express concerns around positive train control (PTC) safety technology implementation in northeastern Illinois and the approaching federal deadline of December 31, 2020. Wabtec is working with Metra on software components needed for PTC, with anticipated delivery in late April, but any delay in … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Duckworth Honored with American Association of People with Disabilities’ ADA Legacy Award
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last night received the American Association of People with Disabilities' (AAPD) ADA Legacy Award at AAPD's annual leadership award gala, recognizing her work advocating for disability rights. Duckworth reflected on the advancements in disability rights since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 30 years ago, spoke about the work she's continuing to do on the federal level to expand the rights for people with disabilities … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth Condemns USCIS for Failing to Follow Civil Rights Law for Blind Man Seeking Citizenship Test
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote to Kevin Riddle, Field Office Director at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), urging the agency immediately reverse course and provide Lucio Delgado, a blind man who is a legal permanent resident living in Illinois, with proper accommodations for his upcoming citizenship test. According to reports, last week USCIS failed to provide Mr. Delgado with a Braille test, which was part of his request for the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), introduced the Great American Outdoors Act, landmark legislation to preserve and protect our country's public lands. The bipartisan legislation provides permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addresses the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks and other land management … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth Meets with EPA Deputy Administrator Nominee Ahead of His Nomination Hearing
[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 nominee to be Deputy Administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Doug Benevento. During the meeting, the two discussed Benevento's views on issues impacting Illinois such as the Trump Administration's abuse of the Renewable Fuel Standard's small refinery hardship waivers and EPA's new "no surprise inspections" policy. … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin, Bustos Urge EPA to Immediately Conduct Air Testing for PFAS in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)-the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water and Wildlife-along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-IL-07) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging it to immediately start testing air at certain facilities in Illinois for per- and polyfluoroakyl Substances (PFOS and PFOA) contamination. The letter specifically … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Statement on Illinois State of Emergency Declaration in Response to Coronavirus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker declared a state of emergency in response to new cases of coronavirus: "This is a commonsense, proactive measure to ensure the health and safety of Illinoisans. We commend Governor Pritzker, Mayor Lightfoot, and health care workers throughout Illinois who are on the front lines of this public health challenge. We will continue to keep … Continue Reading
March 09, 2020
Duckworth Celebrates 30th Anniversary of the Lake County Center for Independent Living, Highlighting Advancements in Disability Rights and Work Yet to Be Done
[KILDEER, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tonight delivered the keynote address at the Lake County Center for Independent Living's (LCCIL) 30th Anniversary. Duckworth reflected on the advancements in disability rights in the three decades since LCCIL's founding and passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), spoke about the work she's continuing to support on the federal level to expand the rights for people with disabilities and outlined her goals for the disability … Continue Reading
March 06, 2020
Duckworth Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Increase Diversity in Corporate Leadership
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and five of her Democratic colleagues in introducing the Diversity in Corporate Leadership Act of 2020 to encourage corporate leadership to ensure corporate boards reflect our nation's diversity. Despite a strong business case for diverse leadership, corporate boards have not reflected the gender, racial and ethnic diversity of the United States. The other cosponsors of the bill include … Continue Reading
March 06, 2020
Bipartisan Duckworth, Graham Bill to Fix Immigration Policy for Children of U.S. Servicemembers and Civil Servants Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Citizenship for Children of Military Members & Civil Servants Act, which is now headed to the President to be signed into law, this week. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and former Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced this bipartisan legislation in the Senate to fix a problem in current law that disadvantages certain children whose parents are serving our nation abroad in uniform or in the civil service by modernizing … Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Host Chicago Infrastructure Meeting
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Chuy Garcia (D-IL04), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), and Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), today met with Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie Rhee, Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Gia Biagi, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval Carter to discuss infrastructure priorities in Chicago. The group discussed funding to … Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
Duckworth Confronts Officials over the Trump Administration’s Botched Response to COVID-19
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee hearing this week, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) questioned the Trump Administration's lack of preparedness in responding to the outbreak of COVID-19, specifically related to data sharing between airlines and the agencies tasked with coordinating an effective response. During her time in the Army, the last project Duckworth worked on at the Pentagon's Defense Support of Civil Authorities was to help … Continue Reading
