Press Releases
Duckworth, Durbin Join Senate Colleagues to Introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and 45 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bill to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, end the scourge of minority voter suppression, and help preserve the legacy of John Lewis - one of America's greatest civil rights heroes. In 2013, the Supreme Court's Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted critical voter … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Duckworth Statement on Trump Order to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants from Census Count for Congressional Districts
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's memorandum seeking to exclude undocumented immigrants from being counted in congressional districts when district lines are redrawn: "Once again the Trump Administration is attempting to undermine this constitutional requirement, threatening to hurt many vulnerable communities," Duckworth said. "A census that's not fair and accurate means less representation … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Call Out President Trump On Reports Of Plan To Send Secret Police To Chicago
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following reports that President Donald Trump wants to send federal agents into cities, including Chicago, to conduct policing activities that are traditionally handled by local law enforcement, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to President Trump calling on him to refrain from taking this action, which is opposed by Governor Pritzker, Mayor Lightfoot, and other local leaders. "With the right leadership, federal law … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Block Federal Paramilitary Occupations in Chicago or Any American City with Senators Merkley & Wyden
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and 17 of their Senate colleagues to block the Trump administration from deploying federal forces as a shadowy paramilitary against Americans. The Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America's Streets Act, which was also introduced as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, comes after a week in which heavily armed, unmarked federal … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $739 Million In Hospital Funding for COVID-19 Care In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $739,971,747 in federal funding to support hospitals in Illinois providing COVID-19 care in communities across Illinois. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Provider Relief Fund and will help support more than 60 hospitals serving areas treating a large number of COVID-19 patients - many of which are communities … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Leader Schumer & Senate Democrats in Announcing Historic $350 Billion Investment in Black Communities and Communities of Color
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 12 of their colleagues yesterday in unveiling the Economic Justice Act, a major new legislative proposal to make $350 billion in immediate and long-term investments in Black communities and other communities of color. For far too long, Congress has underfunded critical priorities like public health, child care, infrastructure, and job creation in these … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Duckworth Responds to ICE’s “Citizens Academy” Pilot Program in Chicago
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), led by the agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) branch, will launch a pilot program in Chicago, IL, to teach civilians "firearms familiarization" and "targeted arrests." "This PR move by ICE is remarkably misguided, will do nothing to make communities any safer and should never have been proposed in the first place, much less … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Senate Dems Press Trump Admin to Reverse Move Undermining COVID-19 Hospital Data Collection & Reporting
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 43 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, urging the Trump Administration to reverse recent changes requiring hospitals to report COVID-19 data to a new system set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) instead of the National Healthcare Safety Network … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Colleagues to Introduce Legislation to Support Bias and Anti-Racism Trainining in COVID-19 Response
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and colleagues in introducing the COVID-19 Bias and Anti-Racism Training Act, legislation to ensure health providers and other individuals involved in COVID-19 testing, treatment, vaccine distribution, and response receive bias and anti-racism training. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the urgent need to address longstanding biases in our health care system. … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Duckworth Discusses COVID-19 Impact with Metro East Small Business Owners
[BELLEVILLE, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with local business owners from Metro East to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their businesses. Duckworth discussed the successes and limitations of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), negotiations on the next relief package and future support that can be provided from the federal level with the local small business owners. At today's roundtable were representatives from the Wine Tap in Belleville, Seams for the … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Duckworth Tours MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Discusses Federal Aviation Priorities
[MASCOUTAH, IL] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today visited MidAmerica St. Louis Airport today, where she met with local leaders to discuss COVID-19's impact on the airport and the federal support needed. Duckworth met with the airport's director Bryan Johnson and St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern to discuss Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's endorsement of St. Clair County to host U.S. Space Command Headquarters, and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Duckworth Meets with Residents, Local Leaders About Ongoing Environmental Justice Issues in Centreville
[EAST ST. LOUIS] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with residents and local leaders in the Centreville area about ongoing environmental justice issues the community faces with flooding and sewage. Duckworth first met with residents of Centreville impacted by persistent inland flooding, followed by a meeting with local officials including Illinois State Senator Chris Belt (IL-SD-57), Illinois State Representative LaToya Greenwood (IL-HD-114) and other local elected officials. … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Duckworth Tours Historic Alton National Cemetery, Discusses Accessibility with Officials
[ALTON, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with local advocates and officials to discuss ongoing accessibility issues at the Alton National Cemetery, including the construction of an accessible ramp. Duckworth met with representatives from the Center for Independent Living, the Gateway Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Duckworth also toured Alton National Cemetery, which is located inside the historic Alton City Cemetery and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Duckworth Meets with Residents, Local Leaders About Ongoing Environmental Justice Issues in Centreville
[EAST ST. LOUIS] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with residents and local leaders in the Centreville area about ongoing environmental justice issues the community faces with flooding and sewage. Duckworth first met with residents of Centreville impacted by persistent inland flooding, followed by a meeting with local officials including Illinois State Senator Chris Belt (IL-SD-57), Illinois State Representative LaToya Greenwood (IL-HD-114) and other local elected officials. … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Duckworth Writes to Wheeler About EPA’s Delayed Publishing of Final EtO Rule in the Federal Register
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) wrote a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler yesterday requesting information on the delayed publication of EPA's finalized rule on Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (MON NESHAP) in the Federal Register. Publication in the Federal Register is required to begin enforcement for this critical regulation of a large number of chemical … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Following DoD Confirmation that Lt. Col. Vindman Was Set to Be Promoted, Duckworth Paves Way for Senior Military Promotions to Be Confirmed
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, has lifted her partial hold on senior military promotions following the receipt of confirmation that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper did not block the expected and earned promotion of Lt. Col. Vindman to Colonel. In the last 24 hours, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed in writing to Duckworth … Continue Reading
July 14, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $2 Million for Greater Kankakee Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,750,000 in federal funding to the Greater Kankakee Airport to support runway rehabilitation. This investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP). The Greater Kankakee Airport will receive an additional $194,444 for the runway project through the CARES Act, making this federal investment a total of … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Duckworth, Durbin Join Bicameral Letter Urging ICE And DHS To Immediately Withdraw New Guidance That Threatens International Students With Deportation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA.), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7), Joe Neguse (D-CO-2), Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Seth Moulton (D-MA-6), and 85 other Senate and House Democrats, to send a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Duckworth, Schumer Lead Senate Dems in Demanding Opportunity to Review Any Relevant President’s Daily Briefs and Other Key NSC Materials Related to Reports on Russia’s Operation to Offer Bounties for Killing American Troops
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, along with Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) led ten Senate Democrats in sending a letter to President Donald Trump demanding information related to the intelligence that Russia has been covertly offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. servicemembers deployed to Afghanistan. The Senators … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Duckworth to Defense Secretary: Why Won’t You Confirm in Writing that You Didn’t Interfere in Lt. Col. Vindman’s Promotion?
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, reiterated her request for written confirmation that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signed off on and submitted the Army promotions packet-which included Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman's name-without modification to the White House. Her second request for written confirmation comes after multiple media outlets … Continue Reading
