Press Releases
Duckworth Receives Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) tonight received Voices for National Service's Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award in recognition of her lifetime commitment to public service and her efforts to promote and expand national community service opportunities to all young people wishing to give back to their communities.A photo of the award ceremony can be found here. "Serving my community and my country has always been a driving force in my life and I believe all … Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Steve Mnuchin’s Confirmation Vote to be Treasury Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding tonight's scheduled vote in the United States Senate on the confirmation of Treasury Secretary Nominee Steve Mnuchin: "Whether illegally foreclosing on thousands of families, skirting the law with offshore tax havens or helping design tactics that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis, Steve Mnuchin made a career - and millions of dollars - pioneering increasingly deceptive and predatory ways to … Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Dr. David Shulkin’s Confirmation Vote to be VA Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator and former Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces and still receives her own healthcare services through the VA, issued the following statement after she voted to confirm Dr. David Shulkin as the next VA Secretary: "I have been impressed with Dr. Shulkin's leadership of the Veterans Health Administration as … Continue Reading
February 09, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $1 Million in Federal Funding for Sexual Assault Prevention & Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $1,141,194.00 in federal funding to help prevent rape and sexual assault in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Public Health will use today's funding to support rape prevention and education programs, as well as to increase support for counseling services, 24-hour crisis hotlines and criminal justice assistance. "This federal funding will help prevent rape and sexual assault in Illinois and … Continue Reading
February 09, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Upcoming Vote on Tom Price’s Nomination to be HHS Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the upcoming United States Senate vote on the nomination of Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Congressman Price's record of seeking to ensure millions of working Americans receive worse healthcare and pay more for it, privatize Medicare and slash Medicaid have not earned him a promotion. I was sent here to protect hardworking … Continue Reading
February 08, 2017
Duckworth, Lake County Task Force Discuss Initiatives to Combat Drug Abuse & Curb Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Costs
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) todaymet with members of the Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force to discuss the importance of protecting access to treatment and ensuring that lifesaving medications that can prevent opioid overdoses remain affordable for all Illinoisans. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "The opioid crisis is devastating communities in Illinois and all across the country, and we cannot afford to lose any more of our … Continue Reading
February 08, 2017
Duckworth Votes Against Jeff Sessions for Attorney General
WASHINGTON, DC - After voting against the nomination of U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to be Attorney General of the United States, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement. "America needs a forceful advocate for fairness in its next Attorney General-someone who will fight for justice for all people-not a rubberstamp for the President. Unfortunately, Senator Sessions' record andrefusal to recuse himself from voting on other Trump nominees proves he will not be … Continue Reading
February 08, 2017
Duckworth Presses DHS Inspector General on Status of Investigation She Requested Into Trump Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) John Roth for an update on his office's independent investigation into the Federal Government's chaotic and potentially illegal implementation of President Trump's "Muslim ban." During a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, Duckworth also highlighted the importance of independent oversight of the Federal Government, especially in light of … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
With Final Court Ruling Pending, Duckworth Reiterates Call for Permanent End to Trump’s Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of Refugee Council USA (RCUSA), a coalition of 22 U.S.-based Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with expertise in our country's refugee resettlement program and the dangers refugees seeking asylum face in their countries. During the meeting, Senator Duckworth heard from the RCUSA leaders about the critical importance of welcoming refugees and discussed the need to permanently end President Trump's "travel ban," as a … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
Duckworth Votes Against Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - After voting against the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement. Video from Senator Duckworth's floor speech expressing her opposition to Ms. Devos' nomination is available here. "I do not believe the President nominated the best candidate to serve as Secretary of Education; I do not even believe he nominated a qualified candidate. I was hoping Ms. DeVos would ease my … Continue Reading
February 03, 2017
Duckworth: Trump Administration Wrong to Re-Incentivize Bad Wall Street Behavior
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement today after the President blocked implementation of the so-called "Fiduciary Rule" that would have ensured retirement advisors provide hardworking American consumers with financial advice that is in the clients' best interests instead of lining their own pockets first. Without this rule, retirement advisors are under no such legal obligation, and are instead incentivized to steer their clients towards more … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Senator Duckworth Meets with Habitat for Humanity, Highlights Importance of National Service
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with representatives of Habitat for Humanity International - a member of the AmeriCorps National Service Network - to discuss the important work Habitat is performing throughout Illinois and the importance of expanding national service opportunities for young Americans. In the meeting, Duckworth heard firsthand from an Illinoisan whose home was built by Habitat volunteers and discussed how she can support Habitat expand in the … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Federal Funding to Improve Illinoisans’ Health
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a total of $855,328 in federal funding to Illinois research universities and nonprofit organizations to support medical research and improve healthcare treatment options. "This funding will support cutting edge research to help reduce substance abuse and improve treatment options for patients across Illinois," said Senator Duckworth. … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Independent Federal Investigation of Potentially Illegal Trump Travel Ban Launched at Duckworth & Durbin’s Request
WASHINGTON, DC - Following a request from U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) launched an investigation into the Federal Government's chaotic and potentially illegal implementation of President Trump's "travel ban" executive order. The independent federal watchdog is investigating the apparent indiscriminate detention of legal permanent U.S. residents and previously vetted … Continue Reading
February 01, 2017
Duckworth to Mattis: Stand Up to Trump’s Executive Order, American Troops Are at Risk
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called on U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis to stand up to President Trump's executive order (EO), which endangers both our national security and the safety of our currently-deployed troops by limiting travel from certain Muslim-majority countries. In a letter sent to Secretary Mattis this week, Duckworth recalled the Secretary's own words from last year regarding then-candidate Trump's incendiary "Muslim ban" … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Duckworth Statement on Nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, DC - After President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to fill a lifetime appointment as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement: "I take seriously my constitutional responsibility as a United States Senator to evaluate Judge Gorsuch's qualifications for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Over the coming weeks, I will thoroughly assess his rulings and writings on a range of issues, particularly on civil and … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Duckworth: DeVos Is Not Qualified to Lead the Department of Education
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced she will not support the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, citing the nominee's ignorance of important civil rights protections that ensure every student is afforded the right to a quality education, her eagerness to redirect funding away from public schools and her lack of expertise and experience in the education field. "After reviewing Ms. DeVos' record and recent Senate … Continue Reading
January 29, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin Request Immediate Investigation into Department of Homeland Security’s Implementation of Trump’s Executive Order
CHICAGO, IL - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Office of Inspector General to immediately initiate an independent investigation into the agency's potentially illegal implementation of President Trump's executive order. This rushed and poorly drafted Trump Administration initiative endangers our national security by limiting travel from certain Muslim-majority countries, and it may violate long-standing … Continue Reading
January 27, 2017
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, Duckworth Responds to Trump Blocking Refugees Fleeing Danger
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement regarding the executive order signed by the President today to restrict visas from several Muslim-majority countries and halting the Syrian refugee resettlement program, which offers a small number of highly-vetted human beings fleeing terrorism and a murderous regime. "As a child, I witnessed the refugee crisis borne out of people fleeing the Khmer Rouge and Pathet Lao in Southeast Asia with my own eyes. I'm … Continue Reading
January 26, 2017
Duckworth & Durbin: Federal Hiring Freeze Threatens to Harm Veterans & the American People
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged President Trump to rethink his misguided federal hiring freeze which, in addition to making the entire federal government less efficient and less able to assist Americans, will hit Veterans particularly hard. The newly-implemented hiring freeze could increase wait times at agencies like Social Security Administration, and reduce government oversight by limiting staffing at Offices of Inspector Generals. It … Continue Reading
