{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-2023-accomplishments-in-year-end-round-up", "Duckworth Highlights 2023 Accomplishments in Year-End Round Up", "2023-12-27", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Tammy Duckworth", "D000622", "www.duckworth.senate.gov", "duckworth", "https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 As 2023 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year:\n\n\u201cFrom helping almost 4,000 Illinoisans recover more than $2 million the Federal Government owed them to bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars to get the lead out of children\u2019s drinking water, and from protecting hundreds of jobs in Peoria to helping bring home Illinois hostages held abroad, I\u2019m so proud of everything we\u2019ve accomplished this year,\u201d Duckworth said. \u201cIt\u2019s a true honor to continue serving Illinoisans in the United States Senate and as I look forward to the year ahead, I know there\u2019s still much work to do to help save working families money, protect and defend women\u2019s rights, end preventable gun violence, invest in communities that have been ignored for too long, advocate for Illinois on a global stage, support our troops and make sure we keep the promises we\u2019ve made to our Veterans. I\u2019m eager to get back to work for Illinois in 2024.\u201d\n\nOver the past year, Duckworth and her office responded to nearly 600,000 emails and other messages as well as assisted more than 3,500 Illinoisans who were experiencing difficulties navigating the federal bureaucracy, helping recover more than $2 million in Social Security payments, Veterans\u2019 benefits, tax refunds and more. A select list of Duckworth\u2019s accomplishments from the past year is below, and a comprehensive review of her first full term in the U.S. Senate, which ended on January 2, 2023, is available on the Senator\u2019s website using the link here.\n\nKey Accomplishments:\n\nHelping get the lead out of our children\u2019s water: Thanks in part to Duckworth\u2019s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, this year Illinois received significant federal support for water infrastructure upgrades. Duckworth helped announce $332 million for Illinois\u2019s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund while in Rockford, and another $336 million in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans for Chicago.\n\nSafeguarding hundreds of jobs in Peoria: After years of sustained effort from Duckworth to establish a minimum inventory of C-130 aircraft, Duckworth this year celebrated the Air National Guard\u2019s decision in selecting Peoria\u2019s 182nd Airlift Wing as one of four preferred locations for new C-130J aircraft to replace the aging C-130H models. This announcement ensures the mission of the 182nd Airlift Wing is safeguarded, protecting the jobs of 1,200 Airmen and approximately 370 full-time employees.\n\nPushing for Illinois\u2019s leadership in future technology: Duckworth advocated for and championed Illinois in its selection for Tech Hub and hydrogen production and distribution hub initiatives. The Chicago Quantum Exchange\u2019s The Bloch: End-to-end Quantum Solutions at Scale and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign\u2019s Central Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing Hub were selected and are now eligible to apply for between $40-$75 million in CHIPS and Science Act funding to help Chicagoland remain at the cutting edge of technological innovation. The Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen\u2019s (MachH2) regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub was awarded $1 billion in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nHonoring our state and nation\u2019s history: After introducing her Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, and Roberts Temple National Historic Site Act in 2021 and 2023, this year the Biden Administration designated the church that held Emmett Till\u2019s pivotal open-casket wake in Chicago\u2019s Bronzeville neighborhood as a national monument. Duckworth also continues to push her Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act closer to becoming law and establishing the site as a national monument. This year the bill was reported favorably out of committee and sent to the full Senate after the National Park Service declared strong support for passing the legislation.\n\nProtecting reproductive rights: Duckworth has made protecting and expanding access to essential reproductive healthcare a top priority. With the U.S. Supreme Court agreeing to consider a case that could determine the future of widespread access to Mifepristone, Duckworth introduced a resolution in support of equitable, science-based policies governing access to medication abortion. Earlier this year Duckworth joined more than 250 members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA and also helped introduce the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act of 2023, which would guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country. On the one-year anniversary of the disastrous Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization Supreme Court decision, Duckworth visited Southern Illinois\u2019s CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health to learn more about the clinic\u2019s work as one of the closest clinics for Americans in states across the South. And Duckworth hosted Dr. Erin King of the Metro East\u2019s Hope Clinic as her guest at this year\u2019s State of the Union address.\n\nHelping bring Illinois hostages home and pushing for humanitarian aid to Gaza: Following negotiations, Duckworth aided in the release of Illinoisans Judith and Natalie Raanan who were taken by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks on Israel. Duckworth continued underscoring the need for all parties to remain laser-focused on the safe return of all hostages being held by Hamas and to take all possible measures to protect and deliver humanitarian aid to innocent civilians suffering in Gaza. Duckworth has consistently called for bringing sustained and greater humanitarian relief into Gaza to minimize the suffering of innocent civilians. Her efforts include urging for the inclusions of full humanitarian assistance in any national security funding packages, calling for humanitarian cessations of hostilities, pushing for fuel to be allowed into Gaza for hospitals and water treatment and more.\n\nSupporting union workers: When United Auto Workers authorized a strike against General Motors, Stellantis and Ford earlier this year, Duckworth joined striking workers in Naperville to show her solidarity as workers pushed for better wages. Duckworth commended President Biden\u2019s visit to Stellantis in Belvidere to celebrate the agreement reached between UAW and Stellantis for a new contract that included re-opening the shuttered plant in that city as an electric vehicle battery plant.\n\nHelping families keep in touch with loved ones: Just days into the new year, Duckworth\u2019s Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act was signed into law after years of Duckworth pushing for the law, which is already helping ensure consumers trying to keep in touch with their incarcerated loved ones are charged just and reasonable rates for all inter- and intra-state calls, regardless of the technology used.\n\nSupporting servicemembers and bolstering military readiness: As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Duckworth secured several important provisions in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Her key provisions will help support a strong and ready total force, lead in the Indo-Pacific region, build the logistics enterprise for a combat-credible deterrent, tackle climate change and defend the environment and restore American competitiveness. This year\u2019s NDAA also will help Illinois by supporting school districts near military bases and charting a sustainable future for C-40 aircraft.\n\nCondemning reckless Republican efforts harming our military: Throughout Senator Tommy Tuberville\u2019s ultimately futile, damaging and failed blockade on more than 450 critical military promotions, Duckworth repeatedly called for Tuberville to end his nearly year-long hold that hurt our military readiness and national security, as well as forcing unnecessary harm on our military families. In September, Duckworth joined several of her Senate Democratic colleagues and military leaders in calling out Tuberville\u2019s hold where she urged her Republican colleagues to stop simply disagreeing with Senator Tuberville in secret and to come forward and publicly condemn Tuberville\u2019s dangerous military hold lest they be complicit in his efforts, too. In July, Duckworth also joined several of her Senate Democratic colleagues on the Senate floor to condemn Tuberville\u2019s reckless, partisan hold. She also joined other SASC members in calling on U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to help end Tuberville\u2019s hold. In a hearing, Duckworth called Tuberville out, arguing that his actions have left our Marines without a Commandant for the first time in more than a century, hold our servicemembers and military families hostage over an individual senator\u2019s political agenda and threaten our military readiness and national security.\n\nAdvocating for Illinois on an international stage: During her first year as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth led a series of official visits abroad to champion Illinois and strengthen economic ties for our state. Throughout the year Duckworth led a series of trips to Japan, Indonesia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Romania and the United Kingdom to highlight the benefits of Illinois\u2019s major exports as well as its position as a prime location for business expansion and investment in the U.S.\u2014touting the state\u2019s strong workforce, educational and research institutions, and energy and transportation infrastructure. Following her trip to Japan, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois\u2019s economy. Duckworth highlighted her efforts this year at fireside chats at City Club Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.\n\nEnhancing Medicare for the disability community: After years of sustained and determined efforts led by Duckworth, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)\u2014for the first time in history\u2014expanded Medicare coverage for seat elevation systems embedded in power wheelchairs, which are vital durable medical equipment that enable wheelchair users to independently perform activities of daily living, such as getting into and out of a power wheelchair, dressing and preparing meals.\n\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-2023-accomplishments-in-year-end-round-up"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.068017143756151, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}