url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-2024-accomplishments-in-year-end-round-up,Duckworth Highlights 2024 Accomplishments in Year-End Round Up,2024-12-30,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – As 2024 comes to a close, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) highlighted several key accomplishments she secured over the last year:

“From helping almost 2,600 Illinoisans recover more than $11 million the Federal Government owed them to bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars to get the lead out of our children’s drinking water, and from protecting IVF access for hopeful parents across the nation to helping make flying safer and more efficient for traveling Illinoisans and travelers with disabilities, I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished this year,” Duckworth said. “It’s a true honor to continue serving Illinoisans in the United States Senate and while I know the year ahead may look different than many of us hoped it would, I also know there’s still much we can accomplish to help save working families money, end preventable gun violence, invest in communities that have been ignored for too long, advocate for Illinois on a global stage, support our troops while keeping the promises we’ve made to our Veterans as well as protect and defend our civil and reproductive rights—including guaranteeing access to IVF. I’m eager to get back to work on these goals and so many more for Illinois in 2025.”

Over the past year, Duckworth and her office responded to nearly 900,000 emails and other messages as well as assisted more than 2,600 Illinoisans who were experiencing difficulties navigating the federal bureaucracy, helping recover more than $11.6 million in Social Security payments, Veterans’ benefits, tax refunds and more. A select list of Duckworth’s accomplishments from the past year is below.

Key Accomplishments:

Establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot Site as a National Monument: In August, Duckworth joined President Biden as he signed an official declaration to make the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot a national monument—a culmination of Duckworth’s more than five years of work to make it happen. Duckworth began calling for national monument recognition in 2018, first introducing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act with U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) in 2019. In October, Duckworth helped commemorate the designation of the site as a national monument in Springfield with other federal and local leaders.

Improving Aviation Safety, Growing Jobs And Protecting Travelers: As Chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, Duckworth helped author the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024, a landmark aviation safety law that includes a number of provisions she successfully championed to help improve safety for consumers, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections and accessibility for travelers with disabilities. Over the past year, Duckworth also pushed to improve safety standards at Boeing and to help ensure FAA strictly and strongly oversees the manufacturer’s production of passenger aircraft. Her efforts included urging the FAA to scrutinize Boeing’s failures, enforce transparency and reject unsafe exemptions. In January, Duckworth’s advocacy led Boeing to withdraw its unsafe petition asking the FAA to certify a new 737 MAX jet variant with a known—and unresolved—safety defect.

Securing Key NDAA Provisions to Strengthen Rock Island Arsenal, Support Families and Farmers in Illinois and Beyond: In the recently passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Duckworth secured provisions to help Illinoisans by expanding housing opportunities and surrounding infrastructure at Rock Island Arsenal, supporting school districts near Illinois military bases by helping alleviate state and local tax base funding shortfalls and expanding our military’s use of sustainable aviation fuels, which supports our Illinois farmers, protects the environment and drives economy opportunity throughout the Midwest.

Bringing Home Significant Federal Investments: This year, Duckworth secured significant federal funding to drive innovation and improve infrastructure in Illinois. The University of Illinois’s iFAB Hub was awarded $51 million in Tech Hub Phase II funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, positioning it as a national leader in biomanufacturing, creating jobs and transforming underutilized corn feedstocks into high-value products. Additionally, Chicago transportation infrastructure received over $305 million through the DOT Mega Program, including $209.8 million for the CREATE Program to enhance rail efficiency and safety and $95.6 million for the I-290/IL 171 Interchange Project to reduce congestion and flooding.

Delivering Clean Water and Replacing Lead Pipes: Thanks to Duckworth's Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, which became law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—Illinois received at least $214 million this year to get the lead out of our state’s drinking water, helping improve water quality for families across the state and helping prevent lead poisoning. She also successfully secured several critical provisions for Illinois in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which recently passed the Senate and will head to President Biden’s desk.

Helping Illinois Veteran Owned Small Businesses: Duckworth's Veteran Small Business Enhancement Act was signed into law in 2019 to help Veteran entrepreneurs acquire equipment—at little to no cost—that the federal government no longer has a use for but that can help them expand their small businesses. Duckworth’s law is helping Veteran entrepreneurs across the country save money, grow their small businesses, create good-paying local jobs and increase economic opportunity throughout their communities. In Illinois alone, at least 98 Veteran-owned small businesses have taken advantage of the benefits of Senator Duckworth’s law to acquire more than 11,000 items which were worth more than $38 million when originally purchased.

Lead Efforts to Improve Police Accountability in Wake of Sonya Massey’s Murder: After the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey in her own home by the very sheriff’s deputy she called for help tragically underscored the clear need for crisis intervention and de-escalation tactics among law enforcement officers, Duckworth led her Senate Democratic colleagues in pushing to strengthen police accountability, deliver justice to families and improve de-escalation training. Her Police Training and Independent Review Act would incentivize states to provide law enforcement training on fair policing and de-escalation tactics while promoting the use of independent prosecutors for investigating deadly force incidents through federal grants.

Leading Efforts to Safeguard IVF Access: In the wake of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justices overturning Roe v. Wade, Senator Duckworth led the charge against Republicans’ extreme efforts to take away Americans’ reproductive rights and threaten access to IVF for those looking to start or grow their families. After warning for years that Republicans would seek to ban IVF if they succeeded in overturning Roe, only for Alabama’s Supreme Court to prove her right, Duckworth introduced her Right to IVF Act to protect IVF nationwide. Senator Duckworth forcefully worked to pass her landmark bill as Republicans and Donald Trump actively blocked it from becoming law, all while claiming to support family building through IVF.

Helping Bring Illinois Hostages Home and Pushing for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza: With the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza—and the humanitarian crisis it has caused—stretching on for more than a year, Duckworth continued her efforts to secure a for permanent mutual ceasefire that will release the hostages and alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians. She has consistently called for bringing sustained and expanded humanitarian relief into Gaza to address the humanitarian crisis there.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-secures-key-ndaa-provisions-to-strengthen-rock-island-arsenal-support-families-and-farmers-in-illinois-and-beyond,"Duckworth Secures Key NDAA Provisions to Strengthen Rock Island Arsenal, Support Families and Farmers in Illinois and Beyond",2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), secured several important provisions to support our state in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed Congress this week. Some of priorities Duckworth secured to help Illinoisans include expanding housing opportunities and surrounding infrastructure at Rock Island Arsenal, supporting school districts near military bases by helping alleviate state and local tax base funding shortfalls and expanding our military’s use of sustainable aviation fuels, which supports our Illinois farmers, protects the environment and drives economy opportunity throughout the Midwest.

“The brave Illinoisans who serve our nation in uniform at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country,” said Senator Duckworth. “While I do not support every provision in this bipartisan compromise, I’m proud I was able to secure critical provisions that benefit our state by strengthening Rock Island Arsenal, helping ensure our schools serving communities around our military bases have the support they need and expanding our military’s use of renewable aviation fuels. I voted to pass this legislation because our troops deserve each of those improvements and because it’s the right thing to do for our national security. I hope the President signs it as soon as possible.”

Key Duckworth provisions secured in this year’s Committee-passed NDAA aimed at supporting Illinoisans include:

Support a Strong and Ready Total Force by:

Building More Inclusive Playgrounds by authorizing a pilot program) to build or upgrade inclusive playgrounds at one military installation within each of the military departments to directly support Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) families. Illinois military bases, including Scott Air Force base, Rock Island Arsenal and Naval Station Great Lakes, could potentially be selected as a part of the pilot program for new, accessible playgrounds.

Expanding Veteran Medical Care by working with Senator Durbin to secure a one-year extension of the Joint Medical Facility Demonstration Fund. This U.S. Treasury account supports the operations of the North Chicago-based Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC), ensuring continued access to vital services for military families and Veterans in the area.

Supporting Community Schools and Kids by authorizing an additional $50 million for school districts to receive critical Impact Aid from the DoD, rectifying state and local tax base funding shortfalls due to the presence of federal property in their district. For Illinois school districts with large populations of students living on military bases, this funding will be critical in ensuring our schools, teachers and students have the resources needed and budget shortfalls are addressed.

Build the Logistics Enterprise for a Combat-Credible Deterrent by:

Supporting the Army’s Real Estate Management Cost Savings Tools by authorizing a one-year extension of the Army’s Real Property Management program, which helps identify housing opportunities for military installations, like Rock Island Arsenal.

Advancing USTRANSCOM by increasing the cap on the DoD's authority to buy used sealift vessels, which is a major priority for Belleville-based U.S TRANSCOM.

Tackle Climate Change and Defend the Environment by:

Enabling the Military’s Use of Sustainable Fuel by lifting restrictions on the DoD purchasing bulk renewable fuel, allowing them to utilize new fuel technology that is beneficial to operations, the environment and servicemembers' health. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supports our Illinois farmers, protects the environment and drives economic opportunity throughout the Midwest—while decreasing our emissions and dependence on foreign oil.

Restore American Competitiveness by:

Building Stronger Local Communities by allowing the DoD to provide grants to local communities to improve infrastructure around military bases that benefit local communities and the DoD. This could assist communities that surround military installations, like Rock Island Arsenal.

A full list of Duckworth’s priorities included in the FY25 NDAA can be found here.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-confirms-david-capozzi-to-amtrak-board-of-directors-duckworth-created-disability-advocate-seat,Senate Confirms David Capozzi to Amtrak Board of Directors’ Duckworth-created Disability Advocate Seat,2024-12-23,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and author of the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act—celebrated the United States Senate voting by voice vote to confirm David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors as the Boards’ designated disability advocate—a seat created by a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. On Amtrak’s Board, Capozzi will help ensure senior Amtrak leadership hears the voices of individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated histories or experience with accessibility, mobility and inclusive transportation in passenger rail or commuter rail.

“I worked hard to create this position on Amtrak’s Board of Directors because it is important that the disability community is represented at the table, and I’m proud that the Senate confirmed David Capozzi to serve in this important role,” said Senator Duckworth. “It’s long past time for Amtrak to prioritize the voices of the disability community and ensure the more than 70 million Americans living with a disability are heard by our nation’s premier passenger rail service. I look forward to Mr. Capozzi swiftly beginning his work with the rest of the Amtrak Board and other stakeholders to implement policies that do more to protect the dignity of passengers with disabilities.”

David Capozzi is a retired federal senior executive. He was the Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board from 2008-2020 and was the Director of the Board’s Office of Technical and Information Services from 1992-2008. Prior to joining the Access Board, Capozzi was Director of Project ACTION and Vice President of Advocacy for Easter Seals, as well as the National Advocacy Director for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He was a member of the legal team and lobbying captain for the disability community that helped craft the Americans with Disabilities Act. Capozzi was the lead negotiator on the Department of Transportation’s Federal Advisory Committee, whose work resulted in proposed regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act. He also chaired the Urban Mass Transportation Administration’s (UMTA) ADA Federal Advisory Committee. Capozzi serves on the United Spinal Association’s Board of Directors, Mobility Fitness’ Advisory Committee and Access Living’s Program Committee.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-applaud-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-ensure-public-employees-receive-full-social-security-benefits,"Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Help Ensure Public Employees Receive Full Social Security Benefits",2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Senate passage of the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act to ensure public sector workers and their families are able to receive full Social Security benefits after two previous statutes reduced them. The legislation—whose Senate companion Duckworth and Durbin helped cosponsor alongside U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and 58 other U.S. Senators—would repeal the Social Security Act’s Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which significantly reduced benefits for nearly 3 million Americans, many of whom are teachers, police officers and state, county and local government workers. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. Full text of the legislation can be found on the Senator’s website.

“Millions of Americans have worked their entire lives, paying into Social Security paycheck after paycheck,” said Duckworth. “It’s a well-earned benefit, and I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to help us uphold our commitment to building on this critical safety net and protecting it for the folks who teach our children, protect our communities and keep our towns and cities running. I hope President Biden signs it swiftly into law so it can finally begin helping working Americans who depend on it.”

“Our letter carriers, teachers, firefighters, law enforcement, and others dedicate years of service to improving the lives of their neighbors and caring for their communities. As they retire, hard-working public servants should have access to their full Social Security benefits,” said Durbin. “I voted in support of the Social Security Fairness Act today to ensure that workers receive the Social Security benefits they’ve earned after a career in public service.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-votes-to-avert-another-harmful-trump-shutdown,Duckworth Votes to Avert Another Harmful Trump Shutdown,2024-12-21,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to keep our government open and spare working families the pain of a shutdown, sending it to the President’s desk to be signed into law:

“With tonight’s vote, we’re avoiding yet another needless and harmful Trump government shutdown, supporting our farmers and delivering critical emergency disaster relief to help working Americans in red and blue states alike, including $2.3 billion in aid that Illinoisans struggling in the wake of natural disasters urgently need.

“I remain, however, deeply disappointed that—at the behest of an unelected billionaire—Republicans once again went back on their word and tanked their own government funding legislation earlier this week. As a result, we were not able to include my bipartisan bill to protect our children from being poisoned or pass my provision to allow the year-round sale of E15 gasoline nationwide—which my Republican colleague Senator Fischer and I have led the charge on for years because we both recognize how it would help lower gas prices, protect our farmers and drive economic opportunity throughout the Midwest. I will continue working to pass these important policies in the months ahead.

“After the last 48 hours of the same sort of needless chaos we grew accustomed to during the first Trump Administration, I’m relieved House Republicans finally remembered the only way to effectively govern is through compromise. I hope Speaker Johnson and MAGA Republicans take this lesson with them into the new year.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-capito-molinaro-payne-bipartisan-bill-to-promote-accessibility-at-amtrak-stations-passes-house-set-to-become-law,"Duckworth-Capito-Molinaro-Payne Bipartisan Bill to Promote Accessibility at Amtrak Stations Passes House, Set to Become Law",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)—both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—applauded the House passage of their bipartisan legislation to help break down unnecessary barriers for Americans with disabilities at Amtrak rail stations across the country. Building on Duckworth’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, which became law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is already helping improve transportation accessibility nationwide, the bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act would help bring Amtrak stations up to standards enshrined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by requiring the rail agency to submit annual reports to Congress on its compliance with accessibility standards set by the ADA. The bill now awaits President Biden’s signature.

“When the ADA was signed into law, it promised that intercity passenger rail would become accessible within 20 years, yet—more than 30 years later—too many Amtrak stations still fail to live up to that promise,” said Senator Duckworth. “After unanimously passing the Senate earlier this month, I’m proud that our bipartisan bill—which builds on the progress that my ASAP Act in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already making toward improving transit accessibility—is heading to the President’s desk. This bill sends the message that it’s long past time to ensure our rail stations are accessible for everyone. Whether on transit, rail or a plane, all Americans with disabilities should be able to safely and easily access the transportation systems they need to get around—and I’m proud that this legislation will help make that goal a reality for more Americans.”

“Disabled passengers should not be a disadvantage when wanting to use passenger rail, which is why Senator Duckworth and I introduced the Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act, which was spearheaded in the House by Rep. Molinaro,” said Senator Capito. “I am glad to see our legislation pass the House and look forward to this being signed into law so every Amtrak station across the country is equally accessible to passengers.”

This legislation builds on the language of the bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act originally introduced by U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) and cosponsored by U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ-10).

“Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act is set to become law thanks to our bipartisan leadership. Amtrak has repeatedly failed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities and this bill will hold them accountable to comply with ADA requirements,” said Congressman Molinaro. “Every person, of every ability, deserves access to stations and trains. No one should be left on the sidelines and this bill ensures that. I’m glad to see this crucial legislation headed to the President’s desk and thankful for Senator Duckworth’s partnership and leadership.”

Amtrak serves over 28 million riders per year—however, the ADA requiring intercity passenger rail to become accessible within a 20-year time frame is not yet implemented across all Amtrak stations. From 2017 to 2021, Amtrak received $275 million in federal funds to continue making accessibility upgrades and will continue to receive federal funding to do so through 2025 as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As of July 2023, Amtrak has only made 30% of its 385 stations accessible to those with disabilities.

Duckworth has long advocated that Americans with disabilities should receive the dignity and respect they deserve while traveling. Duckworth authored the ASAP Act provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provide $1.75 billion over a five year period to help build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure our nation’s transit systems are actually, finally usable for those with disabilities. As Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, Duckworth helped author the landmark FAA reauthorization that was signed into law in May to extend FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.

Additionally, building on legislation that Duckworth helped write, the Department of Transportation recently finalized a rule to ensure airlines meet more stringent standards for accommodating Americans who use mobility devices, requiring more comprehensive training for relevant airline staff and demanding proper accountability for airlines when something goes wrong.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-colleagues-applaud-senate-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-tsa-precheck-to-veterans-with-a-disability,"Duckworth, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Provide TSA PreCheck to Veterans with a Disability",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to provide Veterans with service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. While TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers at no cost, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind who often experience challenges when passing through airport security. The bill passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent earlier this month and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport security can be a challenge,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to make TSA PreCheck available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports easier and less intrusive. I hope President Biden swiftly signs it into law.”

“Airports can be a dreaded experience for veterans with service-connected disabilities because of the invasive screenings they may endure at security checkpoints. Once it becomes law, this bill will provide dignified travel to thousands of wounded warriors by ensuring PreCheck benefits are easily available to them,” said Senator Young.

“Ensuring wounded veterans have little difficulty getting through airport security is a simple but impactful way to honor these heroes sacrifices for our country. I’m proud we delivered this victory before the end of this Congress,” said Senator Marshall.

“For veterans who have already overcome extraordinary challenges in service to our country, navigating airport security should not be another hurdle,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation recognizes the unique challenges that many disabled veterans face and helps to better ensure that their travel experience reflects the dignity of their service.”

Under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to certify that a Veteran is eligible. TSA would then process the Veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck at no cost, provided they successfully pass the background check and interview process.

Additionally, TSA advises that these Veterans use TSA PreCheck in conjunction with calling the TSA Cares hotline 72-hours prior to departure to ensure expedited screening.

Full text of the legislation can be found on the Senator’s website.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-43-million-in-federal-funding-fro-math-education,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce $4.3 Million in Federal Funding for Math Education",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4,338,911 in federal funding going to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research grant program. This award will support professional development for school principals and math educators to increase math proficiency of students.

“When we invest in our children’s education, we help set them on a path to succeed both inside and outside the classroom,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to announce this significant federal funding alongside Senator Durbin that will help provide our state’s principals and math educators with the resources they need to strengthen their students’ proficiency in math and help more kids reach their full potential.”

“With today’s announced funding, our schools and teachers will be better supported to educate students and improve their proficiency in math,” said Durbin. “I’ll continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois schools have the resources they need to help students succeed.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-illinois-delegation-urge-epa-to-fund-cleanup-of-chicago-area-waterway-system,"Duckworth, Durbin, Illinois Delegation Urge EPA to Fund Cleanup of Chicago Area Waterway System",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The lawmakers sent a letter to the EPA Region 5 Administrator to ask that federal funds immediately be allocated to efforts to clean up the Chicago Area Waterway System, including the pollution at Bubbly Creek

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), today sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore urging her to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to begin the process of characterizing contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). As the lawmakers note in their letter, if these funds are allocated to clean CAWS, EPA could begin cleaning up the pollution that has plagued the south fork of the south bend of the Chicago River, known as Bubbly Creek.

“We are writing to urge you in your capacity as Great Lakes National Program Manager to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to begin the process of characterizing contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS),” the lawmakers wrote.

“For more than 100 years, the CAWS has suffered from pollution; specifically, the south fork of the south bend of the Chicago River, known as Bubbly Creek. This area’s name comes from the bubbles generated from sanitary sewage, industrial waste, and animal waste that were disposed of in the creek for more than 100 years from the adjacent Union Stockyards and other local industries. While the stockyards no longer line this portion of the river banks, the sediment remains highly contaminated, preventing the CAWS’ ecosystem from being restored,” the lawmakers continued their letter.

The lawmakers explained that GLRI funds can be used to support efforts to clean up CAWS, citing the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which stated, “The Committee encourages Agency funds for Great Lakes projects to be made available for projects in the historic Great Lakes Basin, which includes the Chicago River Watershed.”

The lawmakers emphasized that while immediately allocating GLRI funds to the clean up is a step forward, they acknowledged that a more long-term solution is critical to cleaning up Bubbly Creek.

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can begin to address contamination in the CAWS using GLRI funds, but a long-term solution to clean up the area and restore the ecosystem will require a partnership between EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners, including the City of Chicago,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers continued on, underscoring that allocating these funds will not impede investments in the region.

“Using the GLRI to invest in CAWS remediation will not distract from other important investments in the region. Sediment contamination characterization can begin on areas of the CAWS such as Bubbly Creek, the North Branch, North Shore Channel, Collateral Channel, or other segments of the South Branch, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Little Calumet River or Cal-Sag Channel at modest expense. Initiating this effort by the end of 2024 would allow adequate time for EPA to plan for expanded CAWS efforts in the coming years,” the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers concluded their letter by renewing their commitment to work with federal, state, and local partners to address the pollution in CAWS.

“The Chicago Area Waterway System has suffered from pollution and neglect for the last century. Thank you for your efforts in addressing this issue and creating a new legacy for the region. We look forward to continuing to partner with EPA and other federal, state, and local agencies to deliver a cleaner waterway for the community,” the lawmakers concluded their letter.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

December 20, 2024

Dear Regional Administrator Shore:

We are writing to urge you in your capacity as Great Lakes National Program Manager to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to begin the process of characterizing contaminated sediment in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).

The CAWS is a vital part of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The more than 100-mile network of rivers, canals, and locks in Chicago and Northwest Indiana provides a navigation connection between the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River. Contaminated sediment within the CAWS is negatively impacting our constituents, fish, wildlife, development, recreation, and many other ecosystem services throughout the Chicago metro region.

For more than 100 years, the CAWS has suffered from pollution; specifically, the south fork of the south bend of the Chicago River, known as Bubbly Creek. This area’s name comes from the bubbles generated from sanitary sewage, industrial waste, and animal waste that were disposed of in the creek for more than 100 years from the adjacent Union Stockyards and other local industries. While the stockyards no longer line this portion of the river banks, the sediment remains highly contaminated, preventing the CAWS’ ecosystem from being restored.

For the past two decades, members of the Illinois Congressional delegation have worked to restore the CAWS’ ecosystem and address these contamination issues. Despite disputes about liability that have slowed cleanup efforts, we remain committed to addressing the contamination in the CAWS. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42) included the following report language: “The Committee encourages Agency funds for Great Lakes projects to be made available for projects in the historic Great Lakes Basin, which includes the Chicago River Watershed.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can begin to address contamination in the CAWS using GLRI funds, but a long-term solution to clean up the area and restore the ecosystem will require a partnership between EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and local partners, including the City of Chicago. The Great Lakes Legacy Act (P.L. 107-303), now part of the GLRI, was established to address contaminated sediment attributable to historical sources using an important cost-share system to allow municipalities, states, tribes, local water resource agencies, businesses, and the federal government to share in bearing the cost. We encourage EPA to implement this model as it begins to address pollution in the CAWS.

Using the GLRI to invest in CAWS remediation will not distract from other important investments in the region. Sediment contamination characterization can begin on areas of the CAWS such as Bubbly Creek, the North Branch, North Shore Channel, Collateral Channel, or other segments of the South Branch, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Little Calumet River or Cal-Sag Channel at modest expense. Initiating this effort by the end of 2024 would allow adequate time for EPA to plan for expanded CAWS efforts in the coming years.

The Chicago Area Waterway System has suffered from pollution and neglect for the last century. Thank you for your efforts in addressing this issue and creating a new legacy for the region. We look forward to continuing to partner with EPA and other federal, state, and local agencies to deliver a cleaner waterway for the community.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-meeting-with-japanese-ambassador-duckworth-touts-how-ndaa-provisions-she-secured-will-help-bolster-our-nations-alliance,"In Meeting with Japanese Ambassador, Duckworth Touts How NDAA Provisions She Secured Will Help Bolster Our Nations’ Alliance",2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees—this week met with Japanese Ambassador to the United States Shigeo Yamada to discuss some of the ways the two countries could build on their shared priorities and strengthen their bilateral alliance. During the meeting, the Senator shared how the modified version of her Access to Care for Overseas Troops Act that was included in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate this week would help increase cooperation between Japan and the U.S. while ensuring American servicemembers and their families have access to quality patient care throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Photos from the meeting are available on the Senator’s website.

“Whether it’s through trade, business investment or national security, Japan is one of our nation’s closest allies and strongest partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Senator Duckworth. “It was a pleasure to meet with Ambassador Shigeo Yamada to share some of the provisions I secured in this year’s bipartisan defense bill that would help strengthen strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region while improving medical readiness for U.S. servicemembers. I look forward to continuing working together to strengthen our longstanding relationship while promoting democracy, security and economic cooperation throughout the region.”

Duckworth is a proven leader when it comes to strengthening our relations with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region—which she has done while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. Last year, Duckworth led an official visit to Japan and Indonesia as part of her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the United States. Following the official visit, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy.

Additionally, in July of this year, Duckworth made an official visit to Laos and Vietnam to reinforce America’s commitment to our partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening U.S.-ASEAN economic ties and building on the foundations of the U.S.-Laos relationship. In May, she also led a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation to Taiwan to underscore and reaffirm our nation’s strong bipartisan support for the Taiwanese people. Last year, Duckworth visited the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia to meet with government and business leaders and discuss opportunities that would increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economic investments, regional stability and national security.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-booker-urge-cms-to-issue-guidance-on-expanding-fertility-treatment-coverage,"Duckworth, Booker Urge CMS to Issue Guidance on Expanding Fertility Treatment Coverage",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) led colleagues in urging Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to provide guidance to states on expanding coverage for fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), through their benchmark plans before the end of 2024. In the Senators’ letter, Duckworth and Booker also emphasized the importance of making fertility treatments more accessible and affordable in response to the challenges posed by legal restrictions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, particularly in states like Alabama, where legal challenges to IVF access have emerged.

“Despite significant advances in the medical treatment of infertility, such as IVF, access to and affordability of this care is severely lacking in the U.S. Costs for a single cycle of IVF have recently been estimated to range from $15,000 to $20,000 on average and can exceed $30,000. Unfortunately, current insurance coverage for fertility treatments do not meet the growing need,” the Senators wrote in the letter to CMS.

“Now, more than ever, it is crucial to protect the right to fertility treatments and increase access to these services. Therefore, we urge CMS to issue guidance to states on how to cover fertility services through their state benchmark plans and provide technical assistance to states seeking to achieve this coverage,” the Senators concluded.

Along with Duckworth and Booker, the letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

The full text of the letter is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-discusses-ndaa-priorities-to-strengthen-indo-pacific-partnerships-with-filipino-ambassador-to-the-united-states-jose-manuel-g-romualdez,Duckworth Discusses NDAA Priorities to Strengthen Indo-Pacific Partnerships with Filipino Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez,2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—met yesterday with Filipino Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez. In their meeting, the two discussed their shared ongoing priorities as well as some of the ways Senator Duckworth is working to strengthen the alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines while bolstering security in the Indo-Pacific region through the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate yesterday and now heads to the President’s desk for his signature. Photos of the meeting can be found on the Senator’s website.

“I was glad to meet with Ambassador Romualdez to discuss the different ways we can keep working together to further strengthen the U.S.-Philippine Alliance,” said Senator Duckworth. “During our conversation, I’m glad I had a chance to share some of the provisions I secured in this year’s bipartisan defense bill that will help grow our strategic partnerships in the region while expanding medical readiness for U.S. servicemembers. I look forward to continuing to work together with our friends in the Philippines and across the region to ensure security and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific.”

In the FY2025 NDAA, Duckworth secured several provisions to enhance strategic partnerships and advance U.S. priorities in the Indo-Pacific, including a provision to improve medical readiness for our servicemembers in the Indo-Pacific—which is a modified version of Duckworth’s Access to Care for Overseas Troops Act. Additionally, a Duckworth-led provision in this year’s NDAA would reinforce the U.S.-Vietnam Relationship by extending the duration of the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative and clarifying the purpose of the cooperative program to expand its activities.

Duckworth is a proven leader when it comes to strengthening our relations with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region—which she has done while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. In July, Duckworth made an official visit to Laos and Vietnam to reinforce America’s commitment to our partners in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), strengthening U.S.-ASEAN economic ties and building on the foundations of the U.S.-Laos relationship. In May, she led a bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation to Taiwan to underscore and reaffirm our nation’s strong bipartisan support for the Taiwanese people. Last year, Duckworth visited the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia to meet with government and business leaders and discuss opportunities that would increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as economic investments, regional stability and national security. Additionally, Duckworth led an official visit to Japan and Indonesia last year as part of her continuing efforts to strengthen ties and reinforce support between allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and the United States.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-foster-celebrate-passage-of-resolution-to-name-fermilab-research-center-after-renowned-physicist-dr-helen-edwards,"Duckworth, Durbin, Foster Celebrate Passage of Resolution to Name Fermilab Research Center After Renowned Physicist Dr. Helen Edwards",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The bicameral resolution was included in the final Water Resources Development Act, which now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today applauded the House and Senate passage of their bicameral resolution, included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, to rename Fermilab’s Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) after the late Dr. Helen Edwards, who worked at Fermilab as a particle physicist for 40 years. The IERC is home to new office and lab space that hosts an intersection of scientific disciplines.

“Illinois’s own Fermilab is a crown jewel of American innovation at the forefront of cutting-edge science,” Duckworth said. “For years, hundreds of scientists and engineers at Fermilab have dedicated their expertise to scientific discovery and answering some of the world’s most complicated questions, including the late and brilliant Dr. Helen Edwards. I’m proud that our resolution to rename the Integrated Engineering Research Center after Dr. Edwards is heading to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law—it’s well-deserved, and it tells generations of girls interested in science that they belong at the table.”

“An extraordinary scientist, Dr. Helen Edwards dedicated 40 years of her life to deepening our understanding of particle physics. Her pioneering work in the design, construction, and operation of the Tevatron earned her well-deserved national recognition and provided the foundation for the advanced particle physics research conducted by Fermilab scientists today,” said Durbin. “I look forward to seeing Dr. Edwards’ name on Fermilab’s new IERC, honoring her decades of historic work.”

“Over its history, Fermilab's success has been built by the hard work of committed scientists. Helen Edwards was a scientific and technical leader of Fermilab from its earliest days, and she was a dear friend. Helen was also deeply committed to the accelerator research and engineering that will be carried out in the Integrated Engineering Research Center, and it is altogether fitting that it bears her name. I’m thrilled that my colleagues and I were able to get this legislation across the finish line to honor her memory,” said Foster.

“Helen Edwards was an extraordinary scientific leader and the architect and builder of Fermilab’s Tevatron. Her visionary leadership and foresight shaped Fermilab’s directions for many decades and will continue to far into the future. She has been an inspiration to me since my early days as a graduate student at Fermilab, for her strong and passionate leadership and dedication to our lab,” said Lia Merminga, Director of Fermilab. “I am thrilled to have one of the landmarks on our site named after her. The Helen Edwards Engineering Center will join the ranks of other named places on site that celebrate visionary science and leadership: Wilson Hall, Ramsey Auditorium, Feynman Computing Center, Lederman Science Center and the Tollestrup Auditorium, all located at the national laboratory that is named after Enrico Fermi.”

The resolution was also cosponsored by U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14).

Dr. Edwards was a particle physicist best known for overseeing the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of the Tevatron, a machine which for 25 years served as the most powerful particle collider in the world. The Tevatron was used to find two of three fundamental particles discovered at Fermilab – the top quark in 1995 and the tau neutrino in 2000.

Dr. Edwards’ work on the Tevatron earned her a MacArthur Genius Grant in 1988 and the National Medal of Technology in 1989. The Tevatron remained in use until 2011 when Fermilab moved to new accelerator projects like the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility, which relies heavily on the foundations built by Dr. Edwards. Dr. Edwards passed away in 2016.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-secure-illinois-wins-in-water-resources-development-act,"Duckworth, Durbin Secure Illinois Wins in Water Resources Development Act",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The bill, which includes provisions on Brandon Road, Quincy Bay, and Cahokia Heights, will head to President Biden’s desk

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founding Co-Chair of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Environmental Justice Caucus, today highlighted several critical provisions they successfully secured for Illinois in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which passed the Senate and will head to President Biden’s desk. These provisions – ranging from adjusting the cost share for the Brandon Road Project to improving water infrastructure in the Metro East region – aim to accelerate and fund major infrastructure projects across the state while bringing environmental justice to marginalized communities.

“Protecting and strengthening our inland waterways and water infrastructure is critical to growing our local economies and protecting the health and safety of our communities,” Duckworth said. “I’m glad to see the Water Resources Development Act—which includes my provisions to boost the economy, protect public health and address environmental injustices—head to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. I’m particularly proud that this legislation prioritizes the communities that are at the forefront of these climate change challenges yet are far too often overlooked by those in positions of power.”

“Chock-full of funding for water infrastructure projects in Illinois, this year’s Water Resources Development Act is well-rounded legislation that will support our state in improving its water infrastructure. The WRDA will help modernize dilapidated infrastructure, protect lands prone to dangerous flooding, and take the burden off the State of Illinois to financially support the Brandon Road Project, which aims to protect our valuable Great Lakes,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth and I fought to ensure Illinois was well-taken care of in the legislation, and I’m encouraged to see so many of our provisions make it into the final version of the bill.”

Key Durbin and Duckworth priorities included in this year’s WRDA include:

Brandon Road. The bill changes the cost share for operations and maintenance of the Brandon Road project to be 90 percent federal and 10 percent state. The Brandon Road Project will construct a new engineered channel at Brandon Road in Joliet, Illinois, that will be used to test and deploy a range of technologies to prevent invasive Carp from moving further north to the Great Lakes. To date, Durbin and Duckworth have secured $272 million for the Brandon Road project, including $225.2 million for construction in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and $47.3 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.

Quincy Bay. The bill includes language to expediate the Quincy Bay Restoration Project, which aims to reverse the impact of sedimentation and erosion at Quincy Bay to improve the quality and diversity of waterfowl, fish, and wildlife populations, aquatic and forest habitat, and other ecologically significant features such as water depth and wetlands.

East St. Louis Reevaluation Report. The bill includes language for a general reevaluation report for the Illinois Ecosystem Restoration and Flood Damage Reduction Project for East St. Louis and the surrounding vicinity. This report will begin to address flooding in this region.

Upper Mississippi River System Floodplain Study. The Senators requested a long-term study to improve flood conveyance in the Upper Mississippi System. The bill expedites watershed assessments for the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers authorized in 2016 and 2020.

Upper Mississippi River System Restoration Program. The bill includes the Senators’ request to increase the annual authorization of appropriations for Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) long-term resource monitoring from $15 million per year to $25 million per year.

Inland Waterway Projects. Durbin and Duckworth secured a provision to improve the federal cost share for inland waterway projects, including Illinois locks and dams in the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), to a 75 percent federal and 25 percent non-federal cost share.

Section 219, Environmental Infrastructure Changes:

Madison and St. Clair Counties. The bill includes the Senators’ request to allow stormwater management to be part of the scope of existing water and wastewater infrastructure assistance. The bill increases the authorization from $100 million to $150 million.

Calumet City. The bill includes the Senators’ request for a $10 million authorization for the City to address an outdated and inefficient water system, including improvements to detention basins and pump stations. Detention basin improvements will consist of erosion and bank stabilization, native and sustainable plantings in the bottom of the basins, capacity expansion, and maintenance operation needs at storm sewer connections.

Central Illinois Communities. The bill includes the Senators’ request to expand Section 219 authority for Montgomery County, Christian County, Fayette County, Shelby County, Jasper County, Richland County, Crawford County, and Lawrence County. These communities are all struggling from aging drinking water infrastructure and have limited groundwater resources available, and it will assist them in updating their water systems.

Fox River Illinois River Basin Restoration. The bill includes the Senators’ language reauthorizing the program, which expired in 2010, and extends it to run through 2029.

Butterfield Creek Tributary Feasibility Study. The bill includes the Senators’ request to conduct a study on flooding and develop a course of action to address the issue in the villages of Flossmoor, Matteson, Park Forest, and Richton Park. These communities have struggled with frequent flooding along the creek, impacting homes and roads.

Requests for the Corps to Update Technology. The bill includes the Senators’ request to conduct a review for the Corps to modernize the civil works program through the use of technology, including using resources available at National Laboratories.

Requests for the Corps to Update Safety Guidelines. The bill includes language requiring the Corps to update their levee safety guidelines. Levee failures are exceedingly hazardous causing tremendous, short- and long-term issues for communities, companies, and land and we must improve our access, guidance, and data to this issue.

Independent External Peer Review Requirement. The bill includes language extending the required use of Independent External Peer Review (IEPR) in Corps projects to improve the quality of studies, the public’s confidence in USACE project plans, and the safety and efficacy of USACE projects.

Project Partnership Agreements (PPA) with the Corps. The bill includes a study of the implications of the indemnification clause in PPAs and the impact of indemnification clauses on state laws with a report back that will be sent to the Committee within one year. The bill includes requirements calling for the Corps to create a Project Partnership Agreement handbook to analyze their current practices and identify places where they can be improved upon, including permitting, costs, operations and maintenance, and contributions.

Renaming of Fermilab Integrated Engineering Research Center. The bill includes Durbin’s resolution to rename Fermilab’s Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) after the late Dr. Helen Edwards, who worked at Fermilab as a particle physicist for 40 years.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-stabenow-peters-secure-increase-in-federal-cost-share-to-help-protect-the-great-lakes-in-final-2024-water-resources-development-act,"Duckworth, Durbin, Stabenow, Peters Secure Increase in Federal Cost Share to Help Protect the Great Lakes in Final 2024 Water Resources Development Act",2024-12-19,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Containing a provision changing the federal cost-share to 90/10 for the operation and management of Brandon Road, WRDA heads to the President’s desk after last night’s Senate passage

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) lauded the inclusion of their provision to increase the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which passed the Senate last night. Under the provision, the federal government will pay 90 percent of the operation and maintenance costs for Brandon Road after the project’s construction is complete, significantly lowering the costs of maintaining the infrastructure for Illinois. The Brandon Road Project will construct a new engineered channel at Brandon Road in Joliet, Illinois, that will be used to test and deploy a range of technologies that will prevent invasive carp from moving further north to the Great Lakes.

“The Brandon Road Project is critical in protecting the Great Lakes from invasive carp, a growing threat to our entire inland waterways system and to the countless Illinois communities and businesses that rely on strong and vibrant aquatic ecosystems,” Duckworth said. “Increasing the federal cost share for this project and its continued operation and management is something we’ve been working toward for years, along with our strong partners in Michigan. I’m proud our provision that will do just that is now heading to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.”

“Right now, invasive carp pose a serious economic and environmental threat to one of our region’s greatest assets and resources – the Great Lakes. The Brandon Road Project is critical to stymie this threat before invasive carp can do irreparable harm,” said Durbin. “With our provision in WRDA committing the federal government to maintaining the operations of the completed Brandon Road Project, we are one step closer to ensuring that our lakes are protected.”

“The Brandon Road Project is critical to stopping invasive carp from wreaking havoc on our Great Lakes. Increasing the federal cost share is a big win, reducing costs for our state and helping to ensure that, once completed, this vital project will protect our Great Lakes for generations to come. I’ve worked tirelessly alongside my partners in the Senate, Michigan, Illinois, and the Army Corps of Engineers, and I’m proud that this bill will be signed into law,” said Stabenow.

“Invasive carp pose a grave risk to the Great Lakes, jeopardizing our robust fishing and recreational boating industries, and the hundreds of thousands of jobs throughout the region that these and other industries support,” said Peters. “That’s why I’ve been working with my colleagues here in the Senate, the States of Michigan and Illinois, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to put the necessary infrastructure in place to counter invasive carp at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a critical choke point in the Des Plaines River not far from Lake Michigan. The completion of this project is essential to preventing invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes now and in the future, and the provision we’ve secured gets us one step closer.”

Duckworth, Durbin, Stabenow and Peters have been tireless advocates for the Brandon Road Project and finding a comprehensive approach to protecting the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive carp. Through previous Water Resources Development Acts, they secured authorization for design and construction of the Brandon Road Project and increased the federal cost-share for construction of the project.

The Senators previously secured $225.8 million in construction funding for the project from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and $47.3 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-19-billion-funding-agreement-with-fta-to-support-chicagos-red-line-extension-project,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement with FTA to Support Chicago's Red Line Extension Project",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually obligate $1.9 billion in federal funding to the project, solidifying the federal government’s commitment to the project.

“No matter their zip code, all Chicagoans deserve reliable and accessible public transit to get to school, get to work and more easily move throughout Chicagoland,” Duckworth said. “After my efforts alongside Senator Durbin and our Chicagoland House colleagues to push for this, I’m grateful to help announce this nearly $2 billion funding commitment from Biden Administration for the Red Line Extension Project, which will make a real difference in the lives of so many on Chicago’s South Side, not just by improving transit options for residents but also with the thousands of jobs this project will create and the economic benefits it will bring. I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to make our public transportation more efficient, safe and accessible for all of Chicago.”

“The announcement of a $1.9 billion full funding grant agreement is a significant milestone for the City of Chicago as it moves forward with the Red Line Extension Project,” said Durbin. “Thousands of residents on the South Side of Chicago have been waiting for this project to become a reality. This extension will improve transit access for Chicagoans while creating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. I’m heartened to see this firm commitment, with significant buy-in, from the federal government, which my Chicago-area delegation colleagues and I have long-advocated for.”

This announcement follows a letter Duckworth, Duckworth and members of the Chicago-area delegation sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Office of Management and Budget in February 2023 requesting the maximum federal share for which the project was eligible due to its equity components to improve movement and livelihood for Chicago’s South Side.

In September 2023, FTA and the members announced that the project entered the engineering phase with a 50 percent federal funding share of $1.9 billion. In July 2024, the members also announced that the project would receive a first-year federal funding total of $746 million, an additional $396 million over the $350 million originally planned.

The 5.6 mile extension of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Red Line to Chicago’s southern border is the first rail transit extension in Chicago in 30 years. It will serve roughly 100,000 people, most of whom are from low-income households on Chicago’s South Side, and will benefit tens of thousands of working families and individuals in surrounding suburbs and communities. The project will also provide an economic boost, making an estimated 25,000 additional jobs accessible to South Side residents within a 45-minute commute in the coming years and generating $4.4 billion in economic activity in the County during the construction phase. The City of Chicago also has targeted areas near future RLE stations for significant local investment.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Duckworth, Durbin and members of the Chicago-area delegation supported, designated $89.9 billion in transit funding, and Illinois will receive the fourth-highest amount in direct transit funding at $4.1 billion.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-sorensen-call-for-extension-of-federal-funding-for-chicago-quad-cities-passenger-rail-project,"Duckworth, Durbin, Sorensen Call for Extension of Federal Funding for Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg asking him to extend federal funding, which will expire on December 31, for the rail project

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging him to grant an extension for the federal funding secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that progress has been made in the planning phase of the project but that, in order to move the project forward, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) must extend the availability of previously granted federal funds beyond December 31.

“We write to express our continued support for the proposed state-supported Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. We also urge the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue an extension for the federal funding previously secured for project, which is set to expire on December 31, 2024,” the lawmakers began their letter.

In 2019, then-Secretary of Transportation Elain Chao granted the Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project a five-year extension because a previous Illinois governor had caused delays. However, under Governor JB Pritzker, the state has renewed its financial commitment to the proposed route and provided $225 million in state funding for the project in the state’s capital bill in 2019.

“Over the past year, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Iowa Interstate Railroad have made long-awaited progress in the design phase of the project and agreeing upon its scope. In December 2023, we were pleased to see the Federal Railroad Administration further invest in this project by selecting the Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project for a Corridor Identification and Development Grant of $500,000 to develop details about the scope, schedule, and cost for such passenger service,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We respectfully request that DOT build upon this momentum by issuing another five-year extension for the remaining federal funds from the original $177 million grant secured for the project in Fiscal Year 2010. This timeline would allow the project to continue its recent progress and provide certainty for the project partners, as the project maintains strong support and commitment at both the state and local level,” the lawmakers concluded their letter.

Durbin secured $177 million in federal funding for the rail project in 2010. The project was delayed for years because former Governor Rauner refused to provide state funding for it. Governor Pritzker renewed the state’s commitment to the project by providing $225 million in state funding in 2019. Durbin has repeatedly secured extensions of the federal funding, but the current funding extension is set to expire on December 31, without another extension. The proposed Quad Cities passenger rail route, running between Chicago and the Quad Cities, was initially slated to begin service in 2014.

In April, Durbin met with Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose to receive an update on the rail project and to urge Administrator Bose to prioritize the project by ensuring an extension for the federal funding allocated to the project.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

December 17, 2024

Dear Secretary Buttigieg:

We write to express our continued support for the proposed state-supported Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. We also urge the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue an extension for the federal funding previously secured for project, which is set to expire on December 31, 2024.

In 2019, then-Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao granted the project a five-year extension. Prior to this, the project had experienced delays brought on by a previous Illinois governor. However, under Illinois’ present Governor, JB Pritzker, the state renewed its financial commitment to the proposed route and provided $225 million in state funding for the project in the state’s capital bill in 2019.

Over the past year, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Iowa Interstate Railroad have made long-awaited progress in the design phase of the project and agreeing upon its scope. In December 2023, we were pleased to see the Federal Railroad Administration further invest in this project by selecting the Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project for a Corridor Identification and Development Grant of $500,000 to develop details about the scope, schedule, and cost for such passenger service.

We respectfully request that DOT build upon this momentum by issuing another five-year extension for the remaining federal funds from the original $177 million grant secured for the project in Fiscal Year 2010. This timeline would allow the project to continue its recent progress and provide certainty for the project partners, as the project maintains strong support and commitment at both the state and local level.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please reach out to our offices if you need any other information.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-ndaa-that-provides-pay-raise-to-our-troops-bolsters-readiness-and-supports-servicemembers-and-their-families-at-home-and-abroad,"Duckworth Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan NDAA That Provides Pay Raise to Our Troops, Bolsters Readiness and Supports Servicemembers and Their Families at Home and Abroad",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Among her priorities, the Senator successfully included a provision that would improve access to high-quality medical care for servicemembers and their families in the Indo-Pacific region

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—secured several important provisions in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that passed the Senate today to support our servicemembers and their families, enhance strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, improve logistics to bolster readiness and energy resiliency as well as continue to restore American competitiveness. The legislation, which now heads to the President’s desk, also includes an historic pay raise of 14.5% for junior enlisted servicemembers and 4.5% for all servicemembers.

“The brave men and women in uniform who serve our nation at home and abroad deserve to know that our country fully supports them as they and their families sacrifice to defend our country,” said Senator Duckworth. “While I do not support every provision in this bipartisan compromise—including MAGA Republicans’ abysmal prohibition of gender-affirming care coverage for our military families—this bill includes a well-deserved and substantial pay raise for our troops and several of my provisions to support our troops and military families, improve readiness and enhance strategic partnerships. I voted to pass this legislation because our troops deserve each of those improvements and because it’s the right thing to do for our national security and I hope the President signs it as soon as possible.”

Despite being included in the SASC committee-passed version, an historic provision led by Senator Duckworth that would have expanded IVF coverage for servicemembers and military families was ultimately stripped from the final version of this year’s NDAA during conference negotiations.

In reaction to this omission at the eleventh hour, Duckworth said: “While I’m glad many provisions I led were successfully included in this year’s defense bill, I’m disappointed that my IVF provision—which would have simply ensured that our servicemembers and their families have access to the same level of coverage as Members of Congress—was removed from the final version behind closed doors, even after so many of my Republican colleagues very loudly and publicly claimed to support IVF this year. But let’s be clear: we got closer to providing IVF access this year than ever before, and my work on this is far from over. After everything they sacrifice, I’ll never stop working to expand access to IVF for our servicemembers who rely on this treatment to start or grow their families, including those whose struggle with infertility is linked to their service.”

Each year, the NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), sets our nation’s defense policy and ensures that our servicemembers have the tools they need to defend our nation.

Additional key Duckworth provisions included in this year’s NDAA would:

Support a Strong and Ready Total Force by:

Increasing Playground Inclusivity for Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Families by authorizing a pilot program to build or upgrade inclusive playgrounds at one military installation within each of the military departments to directly support EFMP families.

Ensuring Lovell FHCC’s Continued Success by extending the authority of the Joint Medical Facility Demonstration Fund U.S. Treasury account by one year, which serves as the operating account for the North Chicago-based Lovell FHCC. Senator Duckworth worked with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to secure this provision.

Supporting Community Schools and Kids by authorizing an additional $50 million for school districts to receive critical Impact Aid from the DoD, rectifying state and local tax base funding shortfalls due to the presence of federal property in their districts. For Illinois school districts with large populations of students living on military bases, this funding will be critical in ensuring our schools, teachers and students have the resources needed and budget shortfalls are addressed.

Lead in the Indo-Pacific Region by:

Improving Medical Readiness in the Indo-Pacific by establishing a program in the Indo-Pacific to accredit foreign medical facilities to allow DoD-affiliated personnel to access those facilities for patient care where appropriate to do so and creating a medical readiness strategy in the region. This provision is a modified version of Senator Duckworth’s Access to Care for Overseas Troops Act.

Duckworth said of the bill: “We owe it to the troops we send overseas—and their families—to ensure they have access to the high-quality medical care their sacrifices deserve, both during periods of conflict and in peacetime, whether that means getting injured servicemembers to medical facilities within the ‘golden hour’ wherein lives can still be saved or simply ensuring military families are able to deliver their babies safely. The unfortunate reality is that we are falling short of that obligation in certain regions, including the Indo-Pacific, and far too many servicemembers, dependents and DoD-affiliated civilians find it difficult to access care overseas. That harms our military readiness, and I’m pleased my provision to help do more to fix this was successfully included in this year’s final defense bill.”

Reinforcing the U.S.-Vietnam Relationship by extending the duration of the Vietnam Wartime Accounting Initiative and clarifying the purpose of the cooperative program to expand its activities.

Build the Logistics Enterprise for a Combat-Credible Deterrent by:

Sustaining the Army’s Real Estate Management Cost Savings Tools by authorizing a one-year extension of the Army’s Real Property Management program, which aims to use taxpayer dollars efficiently and identify opportunities for installations like Rock Island Arsenal.

Resourcing a Vital USTRANSCOM Requirement by increasing the cap on the DoD's authority to buy used sealift vessels, a major priority for U.S TRANSCOM.

Tackle Climate Change and Defend the Environment by:

Enabling the Military’s Use of Sustainable Fuel by an existing prohibition on the bulk purchase of renewable fuels to allow the Department to take advantage of advancing fuel technology to make logistical, environmental and health gains for servicemembers.

American Competitiveness by:

Building Stronger Local Communities by allowing the Department to make grants to local communities to improve infrastructure around military bases to the benefit of local communities and the Department. This could assist communities that surround military installations, like the Quad Cities.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-young-senators-reintroduce-bill-to-provide-tsa-precheck-to-disabled-veterans,"Duckworth, Young, Senators Reintroduce Bill to Provide TSA PreCheck to Disabled Veterans",2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in reintroducing bipartisan legislation that would provide Veterans who have service-connected disabilities with expedited screening under the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program. While TSA PreCheck is already offered to active duty, Reserves and National Guard servicemembers at no cost, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act would expand this program to include Veterans who are amputees, paralyzed or blind who often experience challenges when passing through airport security.

“Millions of Veterans have sacrificed a great deal in service to our nation and returned home with service-connected disabilities—for those of us who rely on prosthetics and wheelchairs for mobility, air travel and passing through airport security can be a challenge,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to join Senator Young in re-introducing this bipartisan legislation to make TSA PreCheck available at no cost to these Veterans and make flying and passing through airports easier and less intrusive.”

“Airports can be a dreaded experience for veterans with service-connected disabilities because of the invasive screenings they may endure at security checkpoints,” said Senator Young. “Our bill will bring dignified travel to thousands of wounded warriors by ensuring PreCheck benefits are easily available to them.”

""Our wounded veterans deserve a TSA security process that respects their sacrifices and minimizes unnecessary stress at checkpoints,” said Senator Marshall. “Offering free PreCheck to wounded veterans is a small but meaningful way to honor their service and make their travel experiences easier.""

“For veterans who have already overcome extraordinary challenges in service to our country, navigating airport security should not be another hurdle,” said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation recognizes the unique challenges that many disabled veterans face and helps to better ensure that their travel experience reflects the dignity of their service.”

Under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would be required to certify that a Veteran is eligible. TSA would then process the Veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck at no cost, provided they successfully pass the background check and interview process.

Additionally, TSA advises that these Veterans use TSA PreCheck in conjunction with calling the TSA Cares hotline 72-hours prior to departure to ensure expedited screening.

Full text of the legislation can be found on Senator Duckworth's website.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/aviation-safety-subcommittee-chair-duckworth-joins-dot-secretary-buttigieg-to-celebrate-new-rule-enhancing-protections-for-airline-passengers-with-disabilities,Aviation Safety Subcommittee Chair Duckworth Joins DOT Secretary Buttigieg to Celebrate New Rule Enhancing Protections for Airline Passengers with Disabilities,2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—joined U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to celebrate the new finalized rule to expand the rights of passengers with disabilities in air travel. This rule mandates that airlines meet more stringent standards for accommodating Americans who use mobility devices, requiring more comprehensive training for relevant airline staff and demanding proper accountability for airlines when something goes wrong. A full livestream of the event is available on YouTube and photos are available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

“Too often, airlines treat passengers with disabilities as though our mobility, our independence and our dignity doesn’t matter and get away with it—but with this new rule, we say no more,” said Duckworth. “Today, I’m proud to have joined Secretary Buttigieg to underscore the importance of this new rule, which builds on and helps implement my accessibility provision from this year’s FAA Reauthorization, to ensure that every passenger with a disability is treated with the respect and care they deserve while holding airlines accountable. While we still have a long way to go in our work to make air travel truly accessible for all, this newly finalized rule got us closer to that better, fairer future, and I am so grateful to Secretary Buttigieg for his advocacy and leadership in helping make this a reality.”

In 2018, Duckworth authored a first-of-its kind law requiring air carriers to disclose the number of mobility devices they damage, break or lose monthly. Since the DOT began implementing the Duckworth law, it found, among other things, that American Airlines mishandled thousands of wheelchairs and treated passengers with disabilities in an unsafe or undignified manner. These findings prompted the Department to issue the airline a $50 million penalty—the largest DOT fine against an airline for violating disability regulations in history.

According to the DOT, more than 25 million Americans—over 14 percent of whom use wheelchairs—report they have disabilities that limit their travel. Yet, thousands of wheelchairs and other mobility aids continue to be mishandled, damaged or lost each year. A fierce advocate for travelers with disabilities, Duckworth secured several provisions in the bipartisan 2024 FAA Reauthorization law to make travel easier and more accessible for people with disabilities, including:

A New Airport Accessibility Grant Program: New grant program to help airports make their facilities more accessible.

The Mobility Aids On Board Improve Lives and Empower All (MOBILE) Act: Based on the bipartisan, bicameral bill that Senator Duckworth introduced with Senator John Thune (R-SD), this provision requires domestic and foreign air carriers to publish information related to powered wheelchairs including the dimensions of aircraft cargo holds, issue refunds if a passenger cannot fly due to the wheelchair no longer fitting in the cargo hold (e.g., if there was a change in aircraft type) and evaluate the frequency and types of mishandling of mobility aids as well as take actions toward making in-flight wheelchair seating available.

The Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023: Based on the bipartisan bill Senator Duckworth introduced with Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), this provision requires DOT to publish an annual report on how quickly, effectively and efficiently consumer complaints related to traveling with a disability are received, addressed and resolved by DOT.

The Access and Dignity for All People who Travel (ADAPT) Act: This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations regarding seating accommodations for passengers with disabilities and to establish an optional Known Service Animal Travel Pilot Program, providing service animal users the opportunity to participate in a streamlined pre-registration process

The Equal Accessibility to Passenger Portals (Equal APP) Act: This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to ensure that customer-facing websites, applications and kiosks of an air carrier, foreign air carrier or airport are accessible. It requires the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee to periodically study web accessibility in this context and requires the Secretary to update regulations as necessary. This language reflects a merging of Senator Duckworth’s Equal APP Act and provisions in Senator Baldwin’s Air Carrier Access Amendment Act (which Senator Duckworth cosponsors).

The Store On-board Wheelchairs in Cabin (STOWIC) Act: This provision requires airlines to provide information on the airline website regarding the rights and responsibilities of both airlines and passengers about the availability of on-board wheelchairs. Under other provisions on personnel training standards regarding assistance of passengers with disabilities, staff would be required to demonstrate every 18 months a knowledge of on-board wheelchairs and accessible lavatories.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-senators-question-hegseth-nomination-his-disqualifying-views-on-women-in-the-military-allegations-of-sexual-assault,"Duckworth, Senators Question Hegseth Nomination, His Disqualifying Views on Women in the Military, Allegations of Sexual Assault",2024-12-17,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)—members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—joined U.S. Senators and fellow SASC members Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) in sending a letter to Susan Wiles, President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Chief of Staff, about whether Pete Hegseth’s attitudes toward women and allegations of sexual assault and harassment disqualify him to be the next Secretary of Defense. Full text of the letter can be found on the Senator’s website.

“As Secretary, Mr. Hegseth will set the tone for how women are treated throughout the military and whether women have enough confidence in him to join or remain in the military,” wrote the lawmakers.

“Experts tell us that meeting current recruiting goals and building the cutting-edge force we need for the future requires recruiting more women to the force,” wrote the lawmakers. “If women are treated as second-class citizens and barred from competing for the same opportunities for promotions and leadership as men, the military will lose the talent it has and be unable to recruit the talent it needs, and that will undermine our ability to keep Americans safe. Mr. Hegseth’s ill-informed views ignore the significant role women have played in combat roles for the United States of America. His dismissal of women as warfighters drives away both potential recruits and women who are already serving in the armed forces.”

Mr. Hesgeth has also been under fire for his alleged history of sexual assault and harassment. Last month, according to press reports, the Trump transition team received a memo alleging that Mr. Hegseth “raped a then-30-year-old conservative group staffer in his room after drinking at a hotel bar.” Additionally, when he served as president of Concerned Veterans of America CVA, a whistleblower report alleged that Hegseth and his management team “sexually pursued the organization’s female staffers” and “ignored serious accusations of impropriety, including an allegation made by a female employee that another employee on Hegseth’s staff had attempted to sexually assault her” at a strip club.

Already, the U.S. military's Defense Department continues to report unacceptably high levels of sexual harassment and assault in the military ranks, and it struggles to meet annual military recruiting goals.

“The allegation that Mr. Hegseth sexually assaulted a woman and personally contributed to creating a hostile work environment for female employees raises severe concerns about his ability to address the Department of Defense’s problems with sexual assault,” wrote the lawmakers.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/aviation-safety-subcommittee-chair-duckworth-responds-to-new-dot-rule-enhancing-protections-for-airline-passengers-with-disabilities,Aviation Safety Subcommittee Chair Duckworth Responds to New DOT Rule Enhancing Protections for Airline Passengers with Disabilities,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement in reaction to the Department of Transportation’s finalization of a rule that will expand the rights of passengers with disabilities. This rule mandated that airlines meet more stringent standards for accommodating Americans who use mobility devices, requiring more comprehensive training for relevant airline staff and demanding proper accountability for airlines when something goes wrong.

“I know from personal experience that when an airline damages or breaks a wheelchair, it’s much more than a simple inconvenience—it’s the equivalent of breaking someone’s legs,” said Duckworth. “Decades after both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Air Carrier Access Act became law, it is long past time that those of us who roll down jet bridges will be treated with the same amount of dignity as those who walk down them. This rule, which builds on and helps implement my accessibility provision from this year’s FAA Reauthorization, is critically important to ensuring that every passenger with a disability is treated with the respect and care they deserve. While we still have a long way to go in our work to make air travel truly accessible for all, this newly finalized rule got us closer to that better, fairer future, and I am so grateful to Secretary Buttigieg for his advocacy and leadership in helping make this a reality.”

In 2018, Duckworth authored a first-of-its kind law requiring air carriers to disclose the number of mobility devices they damage, break or lose monthly. Since the DOT began implementing the Duckworth law, it found that American Airlines mishandled thousands of wheelchairs and treated passengers with disabilities in an unsafe or undignified manner. These findings prompted the department to issue the airline a $50 million penalty—the largest DOT fine against an airline for violating disability regulations in history.

According to the DOT, more than 25 million Americans—over 14 percent of whom use wheelchairs—report they have disabilities that limit their travel. Yet, thousands of wheelchairs and other mobility aids continue to be mishandled, damaged or lost each year. A fierce advocate for travelers with disabilities, Duckworth secured several provisions in the bipartisan 2024 FAA Reauthorization law to make travel easier and more accessible for people with disabilities, including:

A New Airport Accessibility Grant Program: New grant program to help airports make their facilities more accessible.

The Mobility Aids On Board Improve Lives and Empower All (MOBILE) Act: Based on the bipartisan, bicameral bill that Senator Duckworth introduced with Senator John Thune (R-SD), this provision requires domestic and foreign air carriers to publish information related to powered wheelchairs including the dimensions of aircraft cargo holds, issue refunds if a passenger cannot fly due to the wheelchair no longer fitting in the cargo hold (e.g., if there was a change in aircraft type) and evaluate the frequency and types of mishandling of mobility aids as well as take actions toward making in-flight wheelchair seating available.

The Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023: Based on the bipartisan bill Senator Duckworth introduced with Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), this provision requires DOT to publish an annual report on how quickly, effectively and efficiently consumer complaints related to traveling with a disability are received, addressed and resolved by DOT.

The Access and Dignity for All People who Travel (ADAPT) Act: This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations regarding seating accommodations for passengers with disabilities and to establish an optional Known Service Animal Travel Pilot Program, providing service animal users the opportunity to participate in a streamlined pre-registration process

The Equal Accessibility to Passenger Portals (Equal APP) Act: This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to ensure that customer-facing websites, applications and kiosks of an air carrier, foreign air carrier or airport are accessible. It requires the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee to periodically study web accessibility in this context and requires the Secretary to update regulations as necessary. This language reflects a merging of Senator Duckworth’s Equal APP Act and provisions in Senator Baldwin’s Air Carrier Access Amendment Act (which Senator Duckworth cosponsors).

The Store On-board Wheelchairs in Cabin (STOWIC) Act: This provision requires airlines to provide information on the airline website regarding the rights and responsibilities of both airlines and passengers about the availability of on-board wheelchairs. Under other provisions on personnel training standards regarding assistance of passengers with disabilities, staff would be required to demonstrate every 18 months a knowledge of on-board wheelchairs and accessible lavatories.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-discusses-agricultural-priorities-with-illinois-farm-bureau-president-brian-duncan,Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Priorities with Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) President Brian Duncan and IFB members to discuss shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. In their meeting, Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers at home by expanding biofuels production, increasing agricultural export markets and improving farm safety net programs. Photos from the Senator’s meeting can be found on her website.

“America has always depended on our nation’s farmers and ranchers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Farm Bureau and farmers across the state at the federal level.”

In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. To help increase the availability of E15 biofuels, Duckworth helped introduce the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Earlier this year, she helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture around the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit last year, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of Illinois’s corn and soybeans.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-10-million-in-federal-funding-for-purpose-grown-energy-crops,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce $10 Million in Federal Funding for Purpose-Grown Energy Crops",2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $10 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office awarded to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This project will advance the production of low carbon intensity, purpose-grown energy crops that will accelerate a clean energy economy by expanding the domestic supply chain of alternative carbon sources.

“As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things we can do is increase the use and supply of American-grown, American-made biofuels—which makes aviation more sustainable and helps Illinois farmers,” said Duckworth. “This significant funding will be in good hands at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as they work to put Illinois farmers in in the best position to produce and supply sustainable aviation fuel producers. I look forward to seeing the exciting innovations this project will help produce.”

“Today’s funding helps to prepare Illinois farmers to be the first choice for supplying companies that are working to make new, American-made low-carbon jet fuels and bio-based products,” said Durbin. “This project will help the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign continue its pioneering breakthroughs on energy crops like miscanthus, switchgrass, algae, pennycress, and fast-growing willow—all new opportunities for Illinois agriculture.”

With this funding, the University of Illinois will play an important role in supporting the Federal government’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Grand Challenge goal to produce three billion gallons of SAF annually by 2030 and 35 billion gallons annually by 2050, enough to meet 100 percent of the projected U.S. aviation fuel demand. This research project also supports DOE’s Clean Fuels & Products Shot™ by focusing on lowering net emissions in the fuel and chemical industry through alternative sources of carbon to advance cost-effective technologies with a minimum of 85 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-visits-jalc-nursing-program-expansion-made-possible-by-1-million-federal-investment-she-secured,Duckworth Visits JALC Nursing Program Expansion Made Possible by $1+ Million Federal Investment She Secured,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CARTERVILLE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) visited John A. Logan College (JALC) to see firsthand the impacts that a $1,235,000 federal investment she secured through Fiscal Year 2024 Congressionally Directed Spending is having on the college’s nursing program. This Duckworth-secured federal investment enabled JALC to build new classrooms and purchase equipment to better prepare students for careers in health and nursing. While on campus, Duckworth also met with Dr. Kirk Overstreet, JALC’s President, as well as Provost Stephanie Chaney Hartford and the rest of the leadership team. Photos from today’s visit can be found on the Senator’s website.

“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s one of the things Congressionally Directed Spending allows us to do,” Duckworth said. “I'm grateful I was able to secure critical support for projects across our state, including this expansion of John A. Logan College's on-campus nursing program. I’m proud to see this federal funding support new, modern classrooms and equipment to help train the next generation of nurses and health professionals at JALC.”

John A. Logan College is a public community college in Carterville, Illinois with a total enrollment of about 3,300 students. The JALC Nursing Program offers three stand-alone nursing programs: Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), Practical Nursing (PN) and Associate Degree Nursing (ADN).

In Fiscal Year 2024, Duckworth and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) successfully secured more than $264 million through the CDS process for Illinois, $182 million in FY23 and another $211 million for Illinois in FY22. A map detailing where funding has gone throughout Illinois can be found on the Senator’s website. Senator Duckworth works with an Independent Review Board to examine and evaluate worthwhile projects focused on building infrastructure, stimulating economic development and providing essential services for Illinois communities.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-votes-against-confirming-john-ratcliffe-as-cia-director,Duckworth Votes Against Confirming John Ratcliffe as CIA Director,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed John Ratcliffe by a vote of 74-25 to serve as CIA Director under President Trump:

“When questioned during his last confirmation hearing about his views on torture during the first Trump Administration, John Ratcliffe had weak responses even compared to his fellow nominees—refusing to openly condemn torture as a tactic against captured adversaries. He has failed to prove he’s changed his stance—and for that reason and more, I voted against his nomination today. When you’re stuck bleeding in a helicopter behind enemy lines like I was, you hope and pray that if the enemy finds you first, they treat you humanely. Anyone who can’t categorically condemn torture—which is illegal, immoral and has been proven time and again to be ineffective in extracting accurate intelligence—cannot be trusted to lead the CIA.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-meets-with-southern-illinois-airport-director-tours-sius-glenn-poshard-transportation-education-center,"Duckworth Meets with Southern Illinois Airport Director, Tours SIU’s Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center",2024-12-14,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[MURPHYSBORO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, met with Gary Shafer, Director of the Southern Illinois Airport that she recently secured $500,000 in federal funding for, and toured Southern Illinois University’s Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center with SIU Chancellor Dr. Austin Lane and former U.S. Representative Glenn Poshard.

“Southern Illinois Airport is an essential economic hub for our state and the region, and making sure it has the federal support to thrive is a top priority,” Duckworth said. “I had a good conversation with Director Shafer, Chancelor Lane and Rep. Poshard about plans for Southern Illinois Airport and the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center. I will continue to work alongside airport leadership as I advocate for additional federal investments to make our aviation system safer, modernize our infrastructure and support economic development in Illinois.”

Earlier this year, Duckworth successfully authored and championed key provisions that were signed into law under President Biden’s bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2024. These provisions will improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities. In October, Duckworth secured $500,000 in Delta Regional Authority (DRA) SEDAP Funding for Southern Illinois Airport to support hangar expansion projects.

The Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center at Southern Illinois Airport is considered the premier transportation education center in the Midwest and among the top such facilities in the country. In October 2022, SIU renamed the Center to the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center to honor the former SIU System president, whose efforts are credited with helping secure funding for the state-of-the-industry facility that houses Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s nationally recognized automotive and aviation programs.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-over-7-million-to-help-prepare-young-illinoisans-to-succeed-in-high-demand-careers,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $7 Million to Help Prepare Young Illinoisans to Succeed in High-Demand Careers",2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced more than $7 million in grant funding for five youth organizations in Illinois participating in the U.S. Department of Labor’s YouthBuild Program, which is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational services for 16 to 24 year-olds who left school without a secondary diploma.

“I’m glad to see this funding go to these important organizations across our state to help educate and train even more young Illinoisans for good-paying jobs in high-demand industries while at the same time helping create more affordable housing throughout our state,” said Senator Duckworth. “These sorts of investments can help change lives and communities for the better, and I’ll keep working to bring additional federal funding like this home to Illinois.”

“Communities are made stronger when the federal government invests in building careers,” said U.S. Senator Durbin. “Through hands-on job training and educational services, today’s announced grants will equip young Illinoisans with the tools and skills necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving workforce.”

Under this announcement, the following organizations will receive funding:

Kennedy-King College (Chicago, IL): $1,492,128

Community Youth Development Institute (Chicago, IL): $1,500,000

Homework Hangout Club, Inc. (Decatur, IL): $1,500,000

Metropolitan Family Services (Chicago, IL): $1,219,000

Youth Conservation Corps, Inc. (Waukegan, IL): $1,500,000

Participants in YouthBuild programs split their time between the vocational training work site and the classroom, where they earn their high school diploma or equivalency degree, learn to be community leaders and prepare for postsecondary training opportunities, including college, apprenticeships and employment. YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as a mentoring, follow-up education, employment and personal counseling services, as well as participation in community service and civic engagement. There are approximately 210 actively funded DOL YouthBuild programs at any given time in more than 40 states, serving over 6,000 youth nationally per year.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-quigley-call-on-transportation-leaders-to-reach-agreement-finalize-federal-funding-for-chicago-hub-improvement-project,"Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley Call on Transportation Leaders to Reach Agreement, Finalize Federal Funding for Chicago Hub Improvement Project",2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The lawmakers sent a letter to the leaders of Amtrak, Canadian National, Union Pacific, and Metra calling on them to reach an agreement on project details for the Chicago Hub Improvement Project

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today sent a letter to the leaders of Amtrak, Canadian National, Metra, and Union Pacific, urging the leaders to reach an agreement on all outstanding aspects of Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s upcoming federal grant application to advance the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP) for Chicago Union Station (CUS). The application for the 2024 Federal-State Partnerships for Intercity Passenger Rail grant, which would help fund the completion of CHIP, is due by December 16. Since the members met with Union Pacific (UP) CEO Jim Vena in February 2024, UP has been a collaborative partner with Amtrak and has been helpful with advancing the project.

The lawmakers emphasized the magnitude of completing the application by writing, “There is much at stake—not only for Chicago, but the entire Midwest—that hinges upon successful submission of a robust application for one of the few remaining rounds of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.”

Chicago is a national hub for passenger, commuter, and freight rail, with more trackage radiating in more directions than any other city in North America. CUS serves 3.3 million Amtrak riders annually, along 16 Amtrak intercity rail lines, and has more than 30 million riders across all rail services. Chicago is also at the center of Amtrak’s Midwestern 15-year expansion plan to connect dozens of cities in roughly 160 communities with Amtrak service.

The lawmakers then called on the transportation leaders to work together to submit a coordinated grant application to ensure that the City of Chicago receives the necessary funds to support CHIP.

“If all parties fail to submit and support a coordinated application, the entire region will be at a disadvantage to plan for the future. Aside from the much-needed upgrades that CHIP would make to the internal station, upgrading and enhancing the infrastructure around the station is desperately needed to more safely and efficiently move passenger trains in and out of the station,” the lawmakers wrote.

“We can make these meaningful changes, which will benefit all of the people and goods that move through Chicago, but only with the steadfast dedication and support of all stakeholders. We strongly encourage all parties to come to an agreement so that Chicago, and the future of Midwest passenger rail, do not suffer as a result,” the lawmakers concluded their letter.

In December 2023, DOT announced $93.6 million in federal funding for CHIP through the Federal-State Partnerships for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program, which helped several components of the project to modernize CUS. This included renovating and expanding the station platforms, adding an ingress/egress to improve passenger capacity, bringing platforms in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and improving ventilation systems and air quality for nearly 120,000 Amtrak and Metra weekly passengers. The grants also went toward repurposing the Station’s mail platform, which has been out of use since 2005, for intercity rail service, enabling CUS to accommodate passenger growth and support long-term rail service expansion across the Midwest.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

December 13, 2024

Dear Mr. Gardner, Ms. Robinson, Mr. Derwinski, and Mr. Vena:

We are writing to urge a swift, mutually acceptable agreement on all outstanding aspects of Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s upcoming federal grant application to advance the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP) for Chicago Union Station (CUS). As you are aware, applications for the Federal-State Partnerships for Intercity Passenger Rail (Fed-State) grant are due imminently, on December 16, 2024.

There is much at stake—not only for Chicago, but the entire Midwest—that hinges upon successful submission of a robust application for one of the few remaining rounds of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. The City of Chicago is the nation’s passenger, commuter, and freight rail hub, with more trackage radiating in more directions than any other city in North America. CUS serves 3.3 million Amtrak riders annually, along 16 Amtrak intercity rail lines, and has more than 30 million riders across all rail services. Further, Chicago is at the center of Amtrak’s Midwestern 15-year expansion plan to connect dozens of cities in roughly 160 communities with Amtrak service.

If all parties fail to submit and support a coordinated application, the entire region will be at a disadvantage to plan for the future. Aside from the much-needed upgrades that CHIP would make to the internal station, upgrading and enhancing the infrastructure around the station is desperately needed to more safely and efficiently move passenger trains in and out of the station.

We can make these meaningful changes, which will benefit all of the people and goods that move through Chicago, but only with the steadfast dedication and support of all stakeholders. We strongly encourage all parties to come to an agreement so that Chicago, and the future of Midwest passenger rail, do not suffer as a result.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-need-to-protect-ivf-access-pass-her-right-to-ivf-act-during-carterville-roundtable,"Duckworth Highlights Need to Protect IVF Access, Pass Her Right to IVF Act During Carterville Roundtable",2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Despite Trump’s campaign promises, Republicans have continued their efforts to restrict IVF coverage and access

[CARTERVILLE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a discussion at John A. Logan College with IVF providers, advocates and families on the challenges they face with IVF access at risk across the country after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justices overturned Roe v. Wade. She was joined by local IVF recipients, as well as doctors, medical professionals and leaders from SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Shawnee Health, Washington University and Deaconess Illinois. Duckworth, the author of the Right to IVF Act, has been leading the charge in Congress to protect access to IVF nationwide in the face of Republicans’ continued crusade against women’s access to critical reproductive health care. Photos from today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.

“Despite promising to protect IVF access on the campaign trail, no one should forget that IVF access is only at risk in the first place because Donald Trump overturned Roe, and when he had the chance this week to keep his promise by pushing to protect IVF for servicemembers—he did nothing,” Duckworth said. “Struggling with infertility is painful enough—and every American deserves access to the treatment and tools they need to build the family of their dreams without the fear of being prosecuted for it. That’s one reason why—regardless of Trump continuing to break his own promises—I’m going to do everything I can to protect IVF access nationwide by working to pass my Right to IVF Act.”

Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, comprehensive legislation she led with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees and help lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Despite many of them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the bill in June and again in September. This was the second time this year that Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide.

The Right to IVF Act builds upon Duckworth’s previous legislation, the Access to Family Building Act that was also blocked by Senate Republicans earlier this year. After the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that put access to IVF at risk for families across that state, Duckworth led a group of Senate Democrats in calling for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act through unanimous consent—however, Republican U.S. Senator of Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith objected, ultimately blocking Duckworth’s effort.

Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018 she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/12/2024/duckworth-meets-with-illinois-gun-violence-prevention-advocates-reiterates-call-to-protect-lives,"Duckworth Meets with Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Advocates, Reiterates Call to Protect Lives",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois community members and gun violence prevention advocates and survivors to discuss their shared efforts to save American lives and pass common-sense gun safety reform like the federal assault weapons ban. The meeting included representatives from Highland Park, Moms Demand Action in Illinois and the Newtown Action Alliance. Photos from today’s meeting are available on the Senator’s website.

“The needless and preventable gun violence that too many Illinoisans—and Americans across the country—experience is heartbreaking and not reflective of the kind of future my daughters or any of our young people deserve,” Duckworth said. “And yet, these leaders and community advocates continue to show their courage and dedication every day as they work to make our communities safer. I was proud to meet with them today, and I’ll never stop working for commonsense gun safety reforms that can save lives and help prevent future tragedies from ever happening.”

Duckworth has been a fierce advocate of getting weapons of war off our streets. She supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which President Biden signed into law to help crack down on straw purchasing, expand background checks for buyers under 21 years of age, take steps to close the “boyfriend loophole,” support state red flag laws and offer billions in funding for counseling, mental health, and trauma support for victims of gun violence.

In May, Duckworth and U.S. Representative Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01) introduced the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act to help reduce firearm violence in Illinois and across the country by prohibiting unlicensed firearm ownership and the transfer of firearms without a valid firearms license. The legislation, which Duckworth has been pushing for since 2018, would also direct the U.S. Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system and conduct fingerprint-based nationwide criminal background checks. This past Fourth of July, Duckworth returned to Highland Park to join with community members and leaders for a remembrance ceremony commemorating the two-year anniversary of the Fourth of July mass shooting.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/aviation-safety-subcommittee-chair-duckworth-reacts-to-faa-administrator-whitakers-decision-to-resign,Aviation Safety Subcommittee Chair Duckworth Reacts to FAA Administrator Whitaker’s Decision to Resign,2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement in reaction to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker’s decision to resign on January 20, 2025:

“I am saddened to learn of FAA Administrator Whitaker’s plan to resign next month. His leadership has been invaluable during this critical time, and our aviation system is safer because of his service. Our nation owes him a debt of gratitude. His oversight of Boeing’s ongoing safety issues has been so important, and whoever replaces him at FAA must continue these important efforts in order to keep the flying public as safe as possible.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-cardin-and-colleagues-venezuelas-demand-for-freedom-will-not-be-silenced,"Duckworth, Cardin and Colleagues: Venezuela’s Demand for Freedom Will Not Be Silenced",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)—joined SFRC Chair Ben Cardin (D-MD) and other members of SFRC in issuing the following statement condemning the Maduro regime’s ongoing campaign of intimidation against opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, her family and peaceful protestors across Venezuela:

“On July 28, despite arbitrary candidate bans, rampant censorship, and organized intimidation, Nicolas Maduro suffered a resounding electoral defeat by the people of Venezuela. Their overwhelming support for Edmundo González Urrutia sent a clear message to Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and all his enablers: state-sponsored violence and disinformation will never silence Venezuela’s cry for freedom. The world has heard this cry, and we will not ignore it.

“We call on the Maduro regime to immediately release the thousands of political prisoners unjustly held in its custody – peaceful protestors, women, and children included. The relentless harassment and intimidation of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her family are shameless acts of desperation. Maduro must uphold international law, honor Venezuela’s obligations under the Vienna Convention, and end threats to opposition figures who have sought refuge in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas, under the protection of the Brazilian government.

“The Maduro regime must respect the results of the July 28 election and conduct a peaceful transfer of power to the democratic opposition. While last week’s announcement of a UN Human Rights Council probe into Maduro’s efforts to subvert Venezuela’s election is a welcome step forward, this alone is not enough. The Biden administration and incoming Trump administration must intensify efforts to address the Maduro regime’s abuses, as true accountability and lasting justice are only possible through sustained action. The U.S. Congress remains firmly dedicated to championing policies to support the Venezuelan people in their enduring pursuit of democracy – a dedication that will never waver.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-celebrates-commerce-committee-advancing-amtrak-board-of-directors-disability-advocate,Duckworth Celebrates Commerce Committee Advancing Amtrak Board of Directors Disability Advocate,2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and author of the All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act—issued the following statement after the full committee voted to advance David Capozzi to serve on Amtrak’s Board of Directors. Capozzi would serve in the designated disability advocate seat on the board, which was created by a provision Duckworth authored and successfully included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. If confirmed, Capozzi would help ensure the senior Amtrak leadership hears the voices of individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated histories or experience with accessibility, mobility and inclusive transportation in passenger rail or commuter rail. His nomination now heads to the Senate floor for final confirmation.

“I worked hard to create this position on Amtrak’s Board of Directors because it is important that the disability community is represented at the table, and today I’m proud to have helped advance David Capozzi’s nomination to serve in this important role,” said Senator Duckworth. “It’s long past time Amtrak prioritizes the voices of the disability community and ensures the more than 70 million Americans living with a disability are heard by our nation’s premier passenger rail service. I hope the full Senate confirms Mr. Capozzi soon so he can begin working with the rest of the Amtrak board and other stakeholders to implement policies that do more to protect the dignity of passengers with disabilities.”

David Capozzi is a retired federal senior executive. He was the Executive Director of the U.S. Access Board from 2008-2020 and was the Director of the Board’s Office of Technical and Information Services from 1992-2008. Prior to joining the Access Board, Capozzi was Director of Project ACTION and Vice President of Advocacy for Easter Seals, as well as the National Advocacy Director for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. He was a member of the legal team and lobbying captain for the disability community that helped craft the Americans with Disabilities Act. Capozzi was the lead negotiator on the Department of Transportation’s Federal Advisory Committee, whose work resulted in proposed regulations implementing the Air Carrier Access Act. He also chaired the Urban Mass Transportation Administration’s (UMTA) ADA Federal Advisory Committee. Capozzi serves on the United Spinal Association’s Board of Directors, Mobility Fitness’ Advisory Committee and Access Living’s Program Committee.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworths-aviation-safety-subcommittee-emphasizes-urgent-need-to-improve-air-traffic-control-systems-to-prevent-near-misses-and-protect-flying-public,Duckworth’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee Emphasizes Urgent Need to Improve Air Traffic Control Systems to Prevent Near-Misses and Protect Flying Public,2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator and pilot Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—led a subcommittee hearing focused on the challenges facing our passenger aviation system amid the busy holiday travel season, where she underscored the urgent need to invest in updated air traffic control (ATC) systems and equipment to prevent near-misses and protect the flying public. This hearing comes amid the chilling surge in near-deadly close calls involving commercial airlines that is adding serious pressure to our aviation workforce and putting the safety of the flying public at risk, and after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a September report that determined a significant amount of ATC equipment was outdated, unsustainable and in urgent need of modernization. Full videos of Senator Duckworth’s opening remarks and questions are available on YouTube.

“The safety of the flying public depends upon well-equipped air traffic control systems—and right now, it is deeply troubling that more than one third of them are unsustainable,” said Aviation Safety Chair and Senator Duckworth. “While our new bipartisan FAA Reauthorization law—which I’m proud to have co-authored—makes important investments in air traffic controller staffing and surface detection technology, the alarming rise in close calls coming out of the pandemic underscores that we cannot rest on our laurels. Safety requires constant vigilance, and I’m proud to have led this important hearing to help us better understand what Congress must do to help modernize our ATC systems and ensure our air traffic controllers have the support and equipment they need to keep passengers and crew safe.”

In her opening statement during today’s hearing, Duckworth recounted multiple near-misses that occurred at airports across the country this year, underscoring the urgent need for the FAA to act swiftly to modernize ATC systems. In April, a JetBlue plane had to abort takeoff to avoid colliding with a Southwest plane on the runway—the two aircraft came within 1,000 feet of each other. In May, at the same airport, an American Airlines plane had to abort takeoff to after reaching nearly 100 miles per hour to avoid another plane that was about to land on an intersecting runway. And most recently, in September, an Alaska Airlines plane had to break so hard during its takeoff to avoid a Southwest plane that was about to cross the same runway that its tires reportedly blew out.

Last month, Duckworth held a listening session with Chicagoland members of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) to hear their concerns and discuss some of the challenges our passenger aviation system faces ahead of the busy holiday travel season. Thanks to provisions that Duckworth championed in the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization law she helped co-author, FAA is working to boost air traffic controller training and staffing and grow the aviation workforce to enhance safety, grow capacity and reduce passenger delays. Additionally, the law requires FAA to deploy more airport surface situation awareness technology to help prevent runway incursions and close calls and included several of Duckworth’s provisions to improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-discusses-northeastern-illinois-water-infrastructure-projects-with-us-army-corps-of-engineers-chicago-district,Duckworth Discusses Northeastern Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Chicago District Commander Colonel Kenneth Rockwell to discuss a number of issues, including updates on their flood risk management, ecosystem restoration and invasive species protection efforts throughout Northeastern Illinois. Photos from the meeting are available on the Senator’s website.

“Protecting and strengthening our inland waterways is critical to growing our local economies and protecting the health and safety of our communities,” Duckworth said. “I was glad to meet with Colonel Rockwell to discuss the importance of water infrastructure and the ongoing projects throughout Northeastern Illinois. I look forward to continuing to work with USACE to help protect our environment, modernize our water infrastructure and grow good-paying, local jobs for the region.”

As a leading voice on water infrastructure and environmental justice, Duckworth secured several provisions in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022. The Senator’s provisions, which include support for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), are aimed at bringing environmental justice to marginalized communities by supporting projects in economically disadvantages communities and lowering costs for major water infrastructure projects critical to Illinois and throughout the country. In addition, the Duckworth-authored Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which was included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead service line replacement. DWWIA also focuses on disadvantaged communities by helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-joins-durbin-colleagues-in-requesting-president-biden-protect-immigrant-families-ahead-of-the-inauguration-of-president-elect-trump,"Duckworth Joins Durbin, Colleagues in Requesting President Biden Protect Immigrant Families Ahead of the Inauguration of President-Elect Trump",2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and other Senate Democrats in sending a letter calling on President Joe Biden to protect immigrant families before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

“As Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent millions of immigrant families, we write to express our deep concern about the threat the incoming administration poses to immigrants in our communities,” the Senators wrote in a letter to President Biden. “Mass deportations would jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear in the communities we represent, and destabilize the U.S. economy. While we support common-sense steps to better secure our borders and improve border processing, we will continue to oppose any policies that contradict our nation’s core values.”

The letter continued, “We write now because the window to secure and finalize your administration’s policies is closing rapidly. We urge you to act decisively between now and the inauguration of the President-elect to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.”

The Senators went on to request that the Biden Administration prioritize the following actions:

Designate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for all eligible countries and consider providing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as appropriate;

Expedite the processing of benefit requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients;

Protect the ability for DACA holders and others to travel on advance parole;

Prioritize adjudication of pending asylum claims; and

Finalize the rule providing automatic extensions for those with work permits and prioritize work permit processing.

The Senators concluded their letter, “We stand ready to support you in these efforts and are committed to working together to ensure that these priorities are realized. Thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to the betterment of our nation.”

Along with Duckworth and Durbin, the letter is co-signed by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).

The full text of the letter is available on Senator Durbin’s website and below:

Dear President Biden:

As Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent millions of immigrant families, we write to express our deep concern about the threat the incoming administration poses to immigrants in our communities. Mass deportations would jeopardize the safety and security of millions of mixed-status families, sow deep distrust and fear in the communities we represent, and destabilize the U.S. economy. While we support common-sense steps to better secure our borders and improve border processing, we will continue to oppose any policies that contradict our nation’s core values.

We write now because the window to secure and finalize your administration’s policies is closing rapidly. We urge you to act decisively between now and the inauguration of the President-elect to complete the important work of the past four years and protect immigrant families.

With this in mind, we respectfully urge you to prioritize the following actions:

Redesignate and Extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for All Eligible Countries and Consider Providing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) As Appropriate. Worsening crises in countries across the world, including in Ukraine, Nicaragua, and eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, continue to endanger hundreds of thousands, underscoring the need for TPS. Additionally, the administration has already affirmed that conditions in El Salvador continue to justify TPS, with over 180,000 Salvadoran nationals having lived in the United States for more than 23 years. We urge your administration to offer vital protections via TPS for eligible countries or parts of countries, providing relief from deportation while allowing these individuals to continue working and contributing to our economy. Where TPS is not an option, we strongly urge the administration to protect qualified vulnerable noncitizens through DED.

Expedite the Processing of Benefit Requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Recipients. With the ongoing uncertainty around the future of DACA, we urge DHS to process all DACA renewals, Advance Parole requests, 212(d)(3) waivers, and H-1B premium processing applications from DACA recipients as expeditiously as possible. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should also allow early renewals of DACA and allow DACA grants to maximize each individual’s time in status.

Protect the Ability for DACA Holders and Others to Travel on Advance Parole. Toward the end of the first Trump Administration, the Executive Office for Immigration Review proposed a rule restricting the ability of Immigration Judges to manage their court dockets. The rule also proposed, among other things, overturning the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision in Matter of Arrabally—a seminal case that clarified rules around Advance Parole and has helped many DACA recipients travel to their home countries for the first time in their lives. We request that your administration withdraw the bulk of this proposed rule and codify the Arrabally decision by making it clear that a noncitizen who leaves the country temporarily under a grant of Advance Parole has neither “departed” nor made a “departure” for purposes of triggering an inadmissibility bar under 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B), as well as all other grounds of inadmissibility. In the alternative, the administration should withdraw the proposed rule in its entirety.

Prioritize Adjudication of Pending Asylum Claims. Many asylum claims have been pending in the backlog for many years. We request that your administration ensure that those who started the process, in some cases even years before you took office, can finally complete their cases.

Finalize the Rule Providing Automatic Extensions for Those with Work Permits and Prioritize Work Permit Processing. Earlier this year, USCIS published a temporary final rule that increased the automatic extension period for work authorization from 180 days to at least 540 days. This important step helped reduce the risk of employment authorization documents becoming invalid before USCIS could renew them, but the temporary final rule will sunset on October 15, 2025, unless the rule is finalized. We urge your administration to finalize this rule and extend work permits for at least 540 days to ensure work-authorized immigrants do not lose their jobs. The Department of Homeland Security and USCIS should also take immediate action to prioritize work permit processing for vulnerable noncitizens, especially asylum applicants, DACA recipients, and TPS holders.

We stand ready to support you in these efforts and are committed to working together to ensure that these priorities are realized.

Thank you for your continued leadership and dedication to the betterment of our nation.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-tours-halsey-village-brings-together-community-and-navy-leadership-to-chart-path-forward-for-improving-servicemember-housing-conditions,"Duckworth Tours Halsey Village, Brings Together Community & Navy Leadership to Chart Path Forward for Improving Servicemember Housing Conditions",2024-12-07,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[NORTH CHICAGO, IL] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Armed Services Committee (SASC)—toured the Halsey Village housing community, visited Naval Station Great Lakes and brought together Navy and community leaders to discuss their shared efforts to remediate and redevelop Halsey Village as well as help chart a part forward to improve the deplorable housing conditions our servicemembers at the Naval Station have faced for almost 20 years. Duckworth also received a briefing from Navy leadership about the current state of recruitment while visiting the Naval Station. Photos from today’s events are available on the Senator’s website.

“While we’re all clear-eyed that remediating the deplorable housing conditions at Halsey Village and redeveloping it into something that improves this community will take years, I was proud to convene so many leaders from Lake County, the North Chicago community and the Navy to help chart a path forward and discuss real solutions that not only recognizes the needs of the residents in the area, but that also prioritizes the wellbeing and health of our servicemembers while ensuring they have a safe place to call home,” Duckworth said. “I think we made some real progress in our discussions and I am optimistic that all parties will continue working together to ensure we achieve these important goals together.”

During a SASC hearing in May, Duckworth secured a commitment from Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to work with her to ensure that remediating and redeveloping the deplorable housing conditions in Halsey Village at North Chicago’s Naval Station Great Lakes remains a priority for the Navy and that these efforts are resourced appropriately, as well a commitment from the Secretary to personally visit to Halsey Village. Duckworth also highlighted her oversight efforts on Halsey Village and urged the Navy to do more to remedy the neighborhood for military families and the Lake County community. Video from the hearing is available on the Senator’s website.

There are 353 housing units within Halsey Village. Currently, 249 housing units are uninhabitable, with another 44 so badly deteriorated they are cordoned off behind a chain link fence.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/12/06/2024/duckworth-discusses-rail-accessibility-and-improvements-with-metra-leadership,Duckworth Discusses Rail Accessibility and Improvements with Metra Leadership,2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) this week met with Metra leadership to discuss ongoing rail improvements throughout the Chicagoland area, including Metra’s work on expanding services to O’Hare International Airport and the upcoming Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization. Duckworth, a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, met with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and Metra Deputy Executive Director Janice Thomas, who provided updates on their work on accessibility improvements made possible through the All Station Accessibility Program (ASAP) Duckworth successfully created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Her ASAP Law is providing $1.75 billion over five years to build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure that all of America’s public transit stations finally become fully accessible for all.

“Many Illinoisans rely on Metra to get to work and for so much more, so it’s critical that they can get where they’re going safely, easily and efficiently,” Duckworth said. “As Metra works to improve and expand its services, I look forward to them continuing to use my ASAP program funding to make its stations accessible to everyone, so all Illinoisans can access the commuter rail they need to get to work, get to school or just move throughout the region. I was glad to meet with Metra officials today and look forward to continuing our work together to help folks in Illinois.”

In February, Duckworth and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) helped Metra secure $100 million in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) FY24 Rail Vehicle Replacement Program to purchase 50 modern, ADA-accessible, multilevel railcars to replace 40-year-old cars. In December 2022, Duckworth and Durbin helped Metra secure two All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) grants, including $37.6 million to improve accessibility at the 59th/60th Street Station on the Metra Electric Line and $29 million to make the 95th Street-Chicago State University station fully ADA-accessible.

In January 2023, Duckworth and Durbin also helped Metra secure a $117 million Mega grant from DOT to replace 11 bridges with walkways, and pedestrian and traffic improvements, as well as replace four miles of track and two miles of retaining wall.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-cassidy-applaud-senate-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-support-veteran-organizations-which-is-now-set-to-become-law,"Duckworth, Cassidy Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Support Veteran Organizations, Which Is Now Set to Become Law",2024-12-06,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., (R-LA) celebrated the U.S. Senate passing their Veteran Service Organization (VSO) Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act, which would expand the deductibility of charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations serving current and former members of the Armed Forces. Specifically, it overturns a provision that prohibits Veteran organizations from accepting tax-deductible donations if their membership contains over 10 percent peacetime Veterans. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in September and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“It’s critical we do all we can to support Veterans Service Organizations, which provide vital assistance and community programming for those who served our nation,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud our bipartisan legislation passed the Senate and is now that much closer to reforming our tax code so that it promotes—rather than discourages—involvement in these community organizations, helping ensure they can continue to be a resource for Veterans to lean on.”

“Giving back to the men and women who wore the uniform for our freedom is a noble cause,” said Dr. Cassidy. “If this bill incentivizes one more American to help our veterans, then it has been a good day in the U.S. Senate.”

Nearly 2.5 million of the 20 million Veterans across the U.S. are peacetime Veterans. Certain congressionally-chartered Veterans organizations are forced to deny peacetime Veterans membership to avoid dipping below the 90% threshold and losing their ability to accept tax-deductible donations.

The VSO Equal Tax Treatment Act would:

Provide that charitable contributions made to a federally chartered Veteran Service Organization exempt from tax under section 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code are deductible for Federal income tax purposes.

Amend the current law requiring 90 percent of members of these organizations to be considered “wartime Veterans.”

Stipulate that such charitable contributions qualify for the more generous charitable contribution percentage limitations that apply to contributions to organizations listed in section 170(b)(1)(A) of the Code.

The VETT Act is endorsed by AMVETS, American Legion, AMSUS, Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS, Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the World Wars, Non Commissioned Officers Association, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association and TREA: The Enlisted Association.

Duckworth has dedicated her life to serving America’s servicemembers and Veterans. This year, she helped secure $2.9 billion to support family caregivers of disabled Veterans and $2.4 billion to expand benefits and services for military and Veteran caregivers to include health care and mental health services, among other things. Duckworth is leading the push to pass her bipartisan Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Act, which would codify the Small Business Administration’s “Boots to Business” (B2B) program—a successful entrepreneurship education and training program for servicemembers, Veterans, National Guard and Reserve Members as well as military spouses transitioning from military service to civilian life—into law through 2028.

Duckworth is also a strong advocate for our Veterans who were wrongfully deported by the same nation they sacrificed to defend. For years, Duckworth has reintroduced her Strengthening Citizenship Services for Veterans Act, which would help wrongfully deported Veterans gain citizenship. She has also repeatedly introduced and pushed for a comprehensive package of bills that would help prevent future wrongful servicemember and Veteran deportations.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-capito-applaud-senate-passage-of-their-bipartisan-bill-to-promote-accessibility-at-amtrak-stations-across-the-country,"Duckworth, Capito Applaud Senate Passage of Their Bipartisan Bill to Promote Accessibility at Amtrak Stations Across the Country",2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)—both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—applauded the Senate unanimously passing their bipartisan legislation that would help break down unnecessary barriers Americans with disabilities continue to face at Amtrak stations across the country. Building on Duckworth’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, which became law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is already helping improve transportation accessibility nationwide, the bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act would help bring Amtrak stations up to standards enshrined in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by requiring the rail agency to submit annual reports to Congress on the status of its compliance with accessibility standards set by the ADA.

“When the ADA was signed into law, it promised that intercity passenger rail would become accessible within 20 years, yet—more than 30 years later—too many Amtrak stations still fail to live up to that promise,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud that our bipartisan bill—which builds on the progress that my ASAP Act in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already making toward improving transit accessibility—passed the Senate. This bill sends the message that it’s long past time to ensure our rail stations are accessible for everyone. Whether on transit, rail or a plane, all Americans with disabilities should be able to safely and easily access the transportation systems they need to get around—and I won’t stop working until that’s a reality.”

Amtrak serves over 28 million riders per year—however, the ADA requiring intercity passenger rail to become accessible within a 20-year time frame is not yet implemented across all Amtrak stations. From 2017 to 2021, Amtrak received $275 million in federal funds to continue making accessibility upgrades and will continue to receive federal funding to do so through 2025 as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. As of July 2023, Amtrak has only made 30% of its 385 stations accessible to those with disabilities.

This legislation builds on the language of the bipartisan Think DIFFERENTLY Transportation Act, which was introduced by U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) and originally cosponsored by U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ-10). The bipartisan bill passed the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure via voice vote on January 31, 2024.

Duckworth has long advocated that Americans with disabilities should receive the dignity and respect they deserve while traveling. Duckworth authored the ASAP Act provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provide $1.75 billion over a five year period to help build ramps, install elevators and make other improvements to help ensure our nation’s transit systems are actually, finally usable for those with disabilities. As Chair of the CST Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation, Duckworth helped author the landmark FAA reauthorization that was signed into law in May to extend FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities.

Additionally, as a result of legislation that was written by Duckworth, the Department of Transportation implemented a rule requiring air carriers to disclose for the first time how many checked bags, wheelchairs and motorized scooters they damage or mishandle each month.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-emphasizes-environmental-justice-issues-with-league-of-conservation-voters-and-illinois-environmental-council,Duckworth Emphasizes Environmental Justice Issues with League of Conservation Voters and Illinois Environmental Council,2024-12-05,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator and co-founder of the first-ever Senate Environmental Justice Caucus Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) to discuss a number of issues, including her work to help create good-paying union jobs, get the lead out of our children’s water, promote clean energy and bring environmental justice to communities that have been ignored for too long.

“In order to help preserve our environment for generations to come, we need to make significant investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and the well-paying climate-friendly jobs those investments create,” said Duckworth. “Doing so gives us a chance to not only rebuild and repair communities and support the American workforce, it also creates an opportunity to confront the environmental injustices that low-income communities and communities of color too often bear the burden of. I appreciated today’s opportunity to speak with the League of Conservation Voters and the Illinois Environmental Council about our shared work to achieve these goals, and I will continue to work in Congress to move our country forward in the push against climate change.”

As co-chair and co-founder of the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, Duckworth has been a strong advocate for bringing environmental justice to Illinois and across the country. She led the charge in the U.S. Senate to remove lead drinking water pipes across the country. Her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which was included in the BIL, is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead service line replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, is helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-to-trump-you-campaigned-on-promises-made-promises-kept-you-should-start-by-preventing-gop-from-blocking-ivf-coverage-for-servicemembers-and-military-families,"Duckworth to Trump: You Campaigned on “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” You Should Start by Preventing GOP from Blocking IVF Coverage for Servicemembers and Military Families",2024-12-04,2024,2024-12,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"In a letter, Senator Duckworth urges President-elect Trump to use his influence among Congressional Republicans to prevent them from blocking already-passed legislation that would ensure IVF services are covered for servicemembers and their families

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee—called on President-elect Donald Trump to prove that he is serious about keeping his bold promise that he would mandate the federal government and insurance companies pay for all costs associated with IVF services. The House-passed NDAA, as it currently stands, would provide our nation’s servicemembers with the same level of IVF coverage that Members of Congress receive in 2025—though some Republicans in Congress are quietly attempting to remove that coverage after the House voted 217-199 to pass it. Trump could begin keeping his promise by simply telling those Republicans to end their efforts and ensure IVF is covered for servicemembers and military families.

“Although the NDAA will be finalized by the 118th Congress, the fate of one key provision in H.R. 8070, the House-passed NDAA, will make or break your ability to fulfill your election night pledge to ‘…govern by a simple motto: promises made, promises kept,’” wrote Duckworth in her letter to President-elect Trump. “Specifically, I am referring to your bold campaign promise on in vitro fertilization (IVF).”

Duckworth continued: “If Republican Members of Congress successfully strike Section 701 from the final bill, they will sabotage your ability to fulfill the promise you made to the American people, including our military families, that, ‘We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.’”

In conclusion, Duckworth wrote: “Covering IVF for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and military families should boast unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans alike—especially given your clear and repeated declaration that Americans will be able to access IVF at no cost. Period.”

A copy of the letter is available on the Senator’s website and below:

Dear President-Elect Trump:

As you prepare to take office on January 20, 2025, I write to make you aware of ongoing negotiations in Congress to finalize the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA). Although the NDAA will be finalized by the 118th Congress, the fate of one key provision in H.R. 8070, the House-passed NDAA, will make or break your ability to fulfill your election night pledge to “…govern by a simple motto: promises made, promises kept.”

Specifically, I am referring to your bold campaign promise on in vitro fertilization (IVF). I believe you are the first presidential candidate in the history of our Nation to promise the American people that, if elected:

“Your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment.”

I am the author of legislation that would require health insurance companies cover IVF, and that would require the Federal Government cover IVF through the Veterans Health Administration. I hope you will act now to keep your clear and explicit promise to the American people.

As the leader of the Republican Party, it would be appropriate for you to exercise your influence to prevent Congressional Republicans from undermining your ability to govern by your own “promises made, promises kept” motto before your second term even begins.

Many Republican Members of Congress publicly dismissed your campaign promise, with certain officials expressing opposition to your IVF affordability proposal. For example, one prominent Republican Senator dismissed your pledge as an unserious, empty campaign talking point that was nothing more than you, “… just trying to show [your] support for IVF treatments.”

A headline from September 2024 summarized the negative response to your promise among Congressional Republicans succinctly: “Donald Trump's call to mandate free IVF coverage baffles Republicans in Congress.” Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans appear to be acting on their opposition to your bold IVF campaign proposal.

Specifically, I fear that the respective Republican leaders on the Senate and House Armed Services Committees might strike Section 701 of H.R. 8070 from the final version of the NDAA. Section 701 simply requires that, beginning in the first year of your second term, TRICARE prime and TRICARE select—the health insurance program for members of the U.S. Armed Forces—cover IVF services that are performed in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care.

Since TRICARE coverage decisions for 2025 will be determined in the final version of the fiscal year 2025 NDAA, it is vital that the final bill includes Section 701.

Section 701 was not a secret provision. The amendment adding Section 701 was agreed to by voice vote without controversy during the House Armed Services Committee NDAA markup. House Republicans then chose to preserve Section 701 in the version of the NDAA that almost every House Republican voted to pass on a near-party line vote. If Republican Members of Congress successfully strike Section 701 from the final bill, they will sabotage your ability to fulfill the promise you made to the American people, including our military families, that, “We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”

The behind-the-scenes negotiations on NDAA threaten to force you to back down on your promise to cover the costs of IVF for all Americans. In fact, one of the few Republican Members of Congress audacious enough to go on the record opposing your pro-family view on IVF voted against passing the NDAA, saying he could not support TRICARE covering IVF services for U.S. servicemembers and military families because he believes it is a “life destroying practice.”

Fortunately, a clear and simple declaration of your support for preserving Section 701 of H.R. 8070 in the final NDAA should be sufficient to ensure the Republican Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Republican Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee are loyal to you and your ability to fulfill your August 29, 2024 promise to the American people that:

“Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment. Or we’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”

Covering IVF for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and military families should boast unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans alike—especially given your clear and repeated declaration that Americans will be able to access IVF at no cost. Period. Thank you for taking this bold stance for our servicemembers and their families, who deserve nothing less.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-reflects-on-the-20th-anniversary-of-her-alive-day-the-day-she-almost-diedbut-didnt,"Duckworth Reflects on the 20th Anniversary of Her Alive Day, the Day She Almost Died—But Didn’t",2024-11-11,2024,2024-11,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"In the last 20 years, the Senator has been a champion for historic laws that protect traveling mothers, clean up our drinking water and more

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement ahead of her “Alive Day,” the day she almost died in a shootdown that took both of her legs and partial use of her right arm:

“Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of my Alive Day, the day I almost died in a dusty field in Iraq after our Blackhawk was shot out of the sky—but didn’t. I’m only alive today because my buddies—who thought I was dead—refused to leave my body behind. As our nation marks Veterans Day, I’m thinking of their heroism that gave me the opportunity to not only live, but live a life so much fuller than I ever imagined.

“I’m humbled by and grateful for the trust that my neighbors in Illinois have placed in me in the years since that day, which has given me the opportunity to accomplish more for my fellow Americans than I ever thought possible before being shot down. While I really would have been perfectly content retiring as a helicopter pilot, I’m deeply honored to have had the chance to champion laws that are improving the lives of traveling mothers and making air travel safer and more accessible, to author the law that is making the most significant federal investment in getting the lead out of our children’s drinking water ever, to work to expand our nation’s presence and interests in the Indo-Pacific region while bringing back significant investments and creating jobs here at home, and to help lead the charge to protect reproductive freedom and IVF in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade—and so much more. I’m proud to have been able to continue giving back to the country I love, but as threats against our rights and freedoms continue to escalate at home and abroad, my life’s work—my new mission—is far from finished.

“So while I can’t fly combat missions anymore or help drag Soldiers from a burning Blackhawk if the worst should strike again, I will always keep using my current role—serving no longer from the cockpit but the Senate—to improve lives, support our Veterans and ensure our Armed Forces are the strongest they can be.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:02:12Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-belleville-duckworth-honors-and-celebrates-veterans,"In Belleville, Duckworth Honors and Celebrates Veterans",2024-11-11,2024,2024-11,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[BELLEVILLE, IL] — Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today celebrated Veterans Day. Duckworth honored Veterans and their families today during the City of Belleville’s 26th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony alongside Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory and John Lawson, Superintendent for the Veterans Assistance Commission at St. Clair County. Photos from today’s ceremony are available on the Senator’s website.

“Veterans Day is a day of celebration, it’s a moment for all of us to take some time to recognize and honor the service of everyone willing to put on the uniform and sacrifice to keep our great nation safe,” Duckworth said. “Despite the risks, despite the danger, thousands of the bravest people that you and I could ever meet still volunteer to serve in our country’s uniform every year. And when these heroes come home, they deserve more than just an ovation on Veterans Day itself. They deserve to be honored the other 364 days of the year, as well. They deserve access to good-paying jobs, high-quality accessible health care, affordable housing and much more.”

Duckworth began the day helping distribute meals with the St. Louis Area Food Pantry and meeting with food-insecure Veterans in Belleville. Photos from this event are available on the Senator’s website.

Duckworth has been a fierce supporter of and an effective legislator for our Veterans. She helped pass the Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, historic legislation that was signed into law to overhaul the VA’s processes for toxic-exposed Veterans to include presumptions for several illnesses associated with burn pits and Agent Orange exposures to help deliver long-overdue VA healthcare and benefits across all generations of Veterans. Duckworth’s bipartisan Protecting Moms Who Served Act was signed into law to help address the maternal mortality crisis among women Veterans by helping improve care at VA facilities and shed light on the scope of this crisis, particularly among women of color. Duckworth has also pushed to expand IVF coverage for Veterans and has been a leader in protecting and supporting immigrant Veterans and servicemembers who have proven they are willing to make tremendous sacrifices to defend our nation.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:02:12Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-reacts-to-election-outcome-reaffirms-commitment-to-upholding-the-will-of-the-american-people,"Duckworth Reacts to Election Outcome, Reaffirms Commitment to Upholding the Will of the American People",2024-11-06,2024,2024-11,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States:

“As deeply, deeply disappointed as I am by the results of the election, make no mistake: my Democratic colleagues and I—unlike many Republicans after the 2020 election—will uphold the will of the American people, fulfill our constitutional duty and do our part to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. Vice President Harris should be proud not only of her campaign, but also of helping reestablish the quintessential American tradition of accepting the results of our elections. In this country, party loyalty must never take priority over the oath we swore to support and defend our Constitution.

“I also sympathize with the millions of Americans who are distraught by the knowledge that Donald Trump will soon be President once again. To each of you, please know that I am as dedicated today as I’ve ever been to doing absolutely everything in my power as a United States Senator to defend our rights and our freedoms. Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that my buddies and I didn’t sign up to defend our democracy in warzones thousands of miles away only to watch it crumble in hallowed halls back at home.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:02:12Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-budzinski-announce-157-million-in-federal-funding-for-springfield-rail-improvements-project,"Duckworth, Durbin, Budzinski Announce $157 Million in Federal Funding for Springfield Rail Improvements Project",2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced $157,126,494 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the final segment of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project (SRIP).

The multi-phased project is a large-scale effort supported by local, state and federal funding designed to alleviate rail congestion in downtown Springfield by consolidating train traffic from Third Street to 10th Street and constructing a series of overpasses and underpasses along the corridor.

“Investing in our rail infrastructure is about growing our economy and making it easier, faster, safer and more efficient so people and goods can get where they need to go,” Duckworth said. “This significant federal investment in the Springfield Rail Improvements Project will help us build a new multimodal transportation center, improve efficiency for passengers traveling between St. Louis and Chicago, support good-paying jobs and make Springfield safer for pedestrians and drivers. I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Budzinski to ensure that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“Connecting communities is at the heart of transportation and today’s announced federal funding for a new Amtrak Station, rail improvements, and track realignment in Springfield will better connect passengers between St. Louis and Chicago,” said Durbin. “The Springfield Rail Improvements Project is dramatically changing downtown Springfield by reducing rail congestion, creating jobs, and improving safety for passengers, drivers, and pedestrians. I will continue advocating for strong investments in Illinois’ transportation infrastructure.”

“The Springfield Rail Improvements Project is revitalizing our downtown by reconnecting our community, reducing rail noise and enhancing public safety. It’s also creating good-paying union jobs along the way,” said Budzinski. “I’m honored to join Senators Durbin and Duckworth to announce $157 million in federal funding to complete the final phase of this important work. This investment and the new 1908 Springfield Race Riot National Monument along the project’s route will honor our history and build a bright future for our city.”

This phase of the SRIP includes rail improvements, track realignment and the construction of a new Amtrak Station in Springfield. This project will complete the final segment of track realignment to consolidate the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern corridors into one multitrack corridor through the city, which will advance the efforts to provide a higher speed intercity passenger rail connection between St. Louis and Chicago. In addition to various track improvements and grade crossing separations, the project will also construct a Multimodal Transportation Center to improve public transportation connectivity among intercity passenger rail, local bus service and intercity bus service.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-jacobs-seek-to-protect-ivf-coverage-in-final-ndaa,"Duckworth, Jacobs Seek to Protect IVF Coverage in Final NDAA",2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) continued their push to ensure the final FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) preserves language contained in both the Senate-reported and House-passed versions of the NDAA that would require TRICARE coverage of fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), for our nation’s servicemembers. In a letter to Senate and House Armed Services Committee leadership, the lawmakers—who authored and successfully secured inclusion of the IVF coverage provisions in the Senate and House bills, respectively—called for servicemembers and military families to receive the same level of IVF coverage that’s accessible to Members of Congress and federal employees next year. Senator Duckworth is a combat Veteran who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years and is a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC).

“We strongly believe U.S. servicemembers and military families deserve fertility benefit coverage in 2025 that is at least comparable to what Members of Congress will receive,” the lawmakers wrote. “It would be hypocritical for Members of Congress to enjoy high quality fertility benefit coverage next year, right on the heels of denying such IVF coverage to brave Americans willing to defend our country in uniform, and the dedicated military families that sacrifice to support their loved ones’ service to our great country.”

Two-thirds of servicemembers, who often spend their prime reproductive years in hazardous conditions and away from their partners, have reported experiencing family-building challenges after returning home. As a result, many TRICARE beneficiaries pay tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for fertility treatment. Expanding IVF coverage would strengthen recruitment, retention and readiness efforts—all while supporting those who have sacrificed greatly for the United States.

“Failing to provide high-quality IVF coverage through TRICARE would perpetuate an unfair system that forces military families to confront an impossible and unjust choice between serving their country in uniform or starting a family without the risk of financial ruin,” the lawmakers concluded. “We are gravely concerned that this will inevitably deter recruitment and retention efforts and ultimately decrease our Nation’s military readiness. Providing U.S. servicemembers and military families with robust IVF coverage is the least we can do for those Americans who have sacrificed so much for us.”

A full copy of the letter is available below and on Rep. Jacobs website:

Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith:

Because of hard work conducted under your respective leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and House Armed Services Committee (HASC), Congress is poised to ensure the final legislative text of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA) preserves language contained in both the House-passed and Senate-reported versions of the NDAA that require TRICARE cover fertility services, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Accordingly, we write to request that in negotiating the final conference report to accompany the NDAA, you ensure U.S. servicemembers and military families receive IVF coverage in 2025 that is on par with the IVF coverage Members of Congress and Federal employees will be provided access to in 2025 by taking one of these courses of action:

House recedes regarding Section 701 of H.R. 8070, and the final bill includes Section 705 of S. 4638;

Senate recedes regarding Section 705 of S. 4638 and the final bill includes Section 701 of H.R. 8070; or

The final bill merges and harmonizes Sections 701 and 705.

Since HASC added the provisions (sec. 701) requiring TRICARE cover fertility services, including IVF, by voice vote without controversy; and then House Republicans chose to preserve these Democratic-authored provisions in the version of the NDAA that the House narrowly passed along party-lines; we are hopeful that achieving fertility benefit parity between Members of Congress, Federal employees and members of the U.S. Armed Forces can avoid controversy and be preserved in the final NDAA that President Joe Biden signs into law.

In the coming months, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Senators will have the opportunity to select health insurance from 2025 marketplace plans that all include high quality, affordable fertility benefit coverage—including excellent IVF coverage that, absent action by Congress, will be far superior to the restrictive fertility benefit coverage offered to U.S. servicemembers and military families under current law. Under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, Federal employees will also receive high quality fertility benefit coverage, including IVF, in 2025.

Importantly, every Member of Congress will be able to enroll in a 2025 marketplace plan that covers IVF services provided in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) professional guidelines—which includes coverage of at least three complete oocyte retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers from those oocyte retrievals, and standard fertility preservation services.

We strongly believe U.S. servicemembers and military families deserve fertility benefit coverage in 2025 that is at least comparable to what Members of Congress will receive.

It would be hypocritical for Members of Congress to enjoy high quality fertility benefit coverage next year, right on the heels of denying such IVF coverage to brave Americans willing to defend our country in uniform, and the dedicated military families that sacrifice to support their loved ones’ service to our great country. That is why we strongly agree with the position taken by a broad coalition of Military Service Organizations (MSOs) and Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) that these MSOs and VSOs expressed to you in their October 10, 2024, joint letter:

‘The health care benefit is an earned benefit and an essential part of military compensation. Coverage should not be contingent on a service member’s willingness or ability to accept an additional service commitment. For that reason, we caution Congress against adopting Section 627 of S. 4638, which would require a service member benefiting from expanded reproductive health coverage to accept an additional service commitment of four years. Again, military members deserve coverage that is on par with civilian plans, and civilian plans make no such demands of their beneficiaries [emphasis added].’

We share the opposition of MSOs and VSOs to including Section 627 of S. 4638 in the final bill text because it falls woefully short of providing servicemembers and their families with comparable coverage to the coverage Members of Congress receive. Unfortunately, Section 627 goes beyond TRICARE fertility coverage requirements and injects controversial and divisive language relating to abortion services and embryonic personhood, which are contrary to the bipartisan tradition of the NDAA and distract from what should be our overriding priority: making sure that in 2025, U.S. servicemembers and military families receive high quality and affordable fertility services coverage that is on par with fertility benefits that Members of Congress and Federal employees will receive in the coming year.

Servicemembers are disproportionately impacted by infertility and face unique challenges in trying to start and build their families. Two-thirds of servicemembers, who often spend their prime reproductive years in hazardous conditions and away from their partners, have reported family-building challenges due to military service. Most TRICARE beneficiaries must pay out of pocket for fertility treatment, costing tens of thousands of dollars, all while navigating challenging duty station moves and a complex healthcare system bureaucracy.

Failing to provide high-quality IVF coverage through TRICARE would perpetuate an unfair system that forces military families to confront an impossible and unjust choice between serving their country in uniform or starting a family without the risk of financial ruin. We are gravely concerned that this will inevitably deter recruitment and retention efforts and ultimately decrease our Nation’s military readiness. Providing U.S. servicemembers and military families with robust IVF coverage is the least we can do for those Americans who have sacrificed so much for us.

We thank you in advance for your consideration of our request to make sure that we complete the mission of ensuring members of the U.S. Armed Forces achieve parity with Members of Congress and the civil service by finalizing a conference report and passing a NDAA that, for the first time in history, requires TRICARE cover fertility services, including IVF, without harmful and onerous restrictions that violate widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care and fail to comport with ASRM professional guidance.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-join-sanders-peters-stabenow-and-18-fellow-senators-in-demanding-stellantis-keep-its-promises-to-autoworkers,"Duckworth, Durbin Join Sanders, Peters, Stabenow and 18 Fellow Senators in Demanding Stellantis Keep Its Promises to Autoworkers",2024-10-24,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In a letter sent yesterday to the automotive giant responsible for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and more, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and 18 of their colleagues in urging Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to honor the collective bargaining agreement signed last year with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the promises the company made to strengthen and expand good-paying union jobs in America. The Senators also reinforced the importance of re-opening the idled Stellantis plant in Belvidere.

“We are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year’s collective bargaining agreement…” wrote the Senators. “We urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.”

In the contract ratified last year, Stellantis committed to:

Make nearly $19 billion in new investments and product commitments in the U.S.;

Re-open the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was “indefinitely idled” last year;

Establish a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere;

Continue to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025; and

Manufacture the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.

Instead, Stellantis has taken actions that undermine the commitments made to the UAW and leave “behind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today,” wrote the Senators. These actions may include moving the next generation Dodge Durango out of the U.S. and into “low-cost” countries like Mexico, as well as delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant.

This year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world. The company has also benefited from billions of dollars in financial assistance from American taxpayers and the federal government. In July, the Department of Energy announced Stellantis would receive nearly $335 million in federal dollars to support Belvidere Assembly Plant’s conversion to electric vehicle production.

“Last year, while blue collar auto workers in Belvidere were being laid off indefinitely, you were able to receive a 56 percent pay raise, boosting your total compensation to $39.5 million, which made you the highest paid executive among traditional auto companies,” wrote the Senators. “We believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW. This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.”

Joining Duckworth, Durbin, Sanders, Peters and Stabenow on the letter are U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

The full letter is available here and below.

Dear Mr. Tavares:

We are writing to express our growing concerns about the failure of Stellantis, under your leadership, to honor the commitments it made to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in last year’s collective bargaining agreement.

In that contract, ratified by UAW members, Stellantis committed to “establish long-term stability and job security” for its workforce. The agreement includes nearly $19 billion in new investment and product commitments in the United States, including promises to:

Re-open the plant in Belvidere, Illinois that was “indefinitely idled” last year;

Establish a parts and customer care Mega Hub in Belvidere;

Continue to manufacture the Dodge Durango in Detroit through 2025;

and Manufacture the next generation Dodge Durango in Detroit starting in 2026.

We are deeply concerned that Stellantis is not keeping the promises it made to strengthen and expand good-paying union jobs in America.

Specifically, Stellantis is now delaying planned investments to reopen and expand the Belvidere assembly plant, leaving behind thousands of American workers who built the company into the auto giant it is today. We are also concerned with reporting that Stellantis is planning to move production of the next generation Dodge Durango out of the United States, after previously announcing layoffs that threaten the economic security and well-being of thousands of autoworkers. Moreover, Stellantis has stated publicly that it plans to source 80 percent of supply from “low-cost countries” like Mexico. By your own admission, Stellantis’s growth plan hinges on shifting “industrial production into cost competitive countries” like Mexico, where workers are making substandard wages. These actions violate the obligations Stellantis made to the UAW. We urge Stellantis not to renege on the promises it made to American autoworkers and to provide details on the timelines for these investments.

This year, Stellantis has spent over $8 billion on stock buybacks and dividends to benefit its wealthy executives and stockholders. Last year, while blue collar auto workers in Belvidere were being laid off indefinitely, you were able to receive a 56 percent pay raise boosting your total compensation to $39.5 million, which made you the highest paid executive among traditional auto companies. During the first six months of this year, Stellantis has generated over $6 billion in profits, making it one of the most profitable auto companies in the world.

We believe that if Stellantis can afford to spend over $8 billion this year on stock buybacks and dividends, it can live up to the contractual commitments it made to the UAW. This is especially true given the billions of dollars in financial assistance American taxpayers have spent to support your company and the enormous sacrifices autoworkers have been forced to make over many decades.

For example, the Department of Energy announced in July that nearly $335 million in federal dollars would be going to supporting Belvidere Assembly Plant’s conversion to electric vehicle production. With hundreds of millions of dollars of federal support going towards ensuring strong union jobs stay in the U.S., Stellantis must honor the promises it made to UAW workers and the Belvidere community.

We urge you to deliver on the commitments you made to the UAW in your 2023 national agreement without further delay.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-quigley-sorensen-announce-335-million-in-federal-funding-for-peoria-and-chicago-airports,"Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley, Sorensen Announce $33.5 Million in Federal Funding for Peoria and Chicago Airports",2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced $33,510,000 in federal funding from the Department of Transportation’s Airport Terminal Program.

With today’s announced funding, General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport will receive $13,510,000 for the replacement of their air traffic control tower, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport will receive $20,000,000 for an expansion to Terminal 5.

“Illinois’s airports are critical economic engines for our state,” Duckworth said. “This funding will help improve and modernize O’Hare and Downing International Airports and, after years of neglecting our nation’s infrastructure, I’m proud every day to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work rebuilding infrastructure all across our country. I will continue to work alongside Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to make traveling safer and more reliable for all passengers while ensuring that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“By improving and modernizing airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced federal funding for upgrading our airports across Illinois will enhance the travel experience for passengers and promote economic growth. I will continue working with Senator Duckworth and our Congressional colleagues to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep passengers safe and connected.”

“This important funding coming to Peoria International Airport is about connecting my neighbors in Central Illinois to the world. The new air traffic control tower will allow controllers to see the end points of both runways and all taxiways, making it safer for travelers and airport staff. I am grateful to Senators Durbin and Duckworth for their support of this project as we continue our work to keep air travel safe and open Peoria to new destinations,” said Sorensen.

“Throughout my career, I have worked tirelessly to ensure that travelers receive the best and most efficient service possible at O’Hare. Today’s funding announcement will build on the progress we have already made. This expansion will benefit not only our constituents but also travelers across the country, while boosting our economy. When I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I did so knowing it would bring vital investments like these and create lasting benefits across our state. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future and a stronger transportation network for everyone,” said Quigley.

Duckworth and Durbin previously worked to secure a provision in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to make Peoria’s airport-owned air traffic control tower (ATCT) eligible for federal funding. Following the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the ATCT has received $29 million in federal funding across two previous grants.

Duckworth and Durbin helped secure two previous BIL Airport Terminal Program grants for Chicago O’Hare International Airport for the Terminal 3 Project totaling $90 million, a 2023 grant of $50 million and a 2024 grant of $40 million.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-reacts-to-american-airlines-landmark-50-million-fine-for-mistreating-wheelchairs,Duckworth Reacts to American Airlines’ Landmark $50 Million Fine for Mistreating Wheelchairs,2024-10-23,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"This penalty would likely not have happened without a Duckworth-authored law requiring air carriers to disclose the number of wheelchairs it damages each month, protecting and improving consumer experience for passengers with disabilities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a $50 million penalty against American Airlines after the carrier mishandled thousands of wheelchairs between 2019 and 2023. This outcome would not have been possible had Senator Duckworth not authored a law requiring air carriers to disclose how many wheelchairs, motorized scooters and other mobility devices they damage or mishandle each month.

“I know from personal experience that when an airline damages or breaks a wheelchair, it’s much more than a simple inconvenience—it’s the equivalent of breaking someone’s legs,” said Duckworth. “After writing the first law to require airlines to disclose the number of lost and damaged wheelchairs, this settlement between DOT and American Airlines is an important move to incentivize American Airlines—and all other carriers operating in the United States—to better handle wheelchairs and mobility devices, which millions of Americans rely on when traveling, in the future. I look forward to working with American Airlines, the disability community and the Administration in fully implementing my many other accessibility and disability provisions in this year’s bipartisan FAA reauthorization law to help ensure every passenger with a disability is treated with the dignity and respect all of us deserve.”

In 2018, Duckworth authored a first-of-its kind law requiring air carriers to disclose the number of mobility devices they damage, break or lose monthly. Since the DOT began implementing the Duckworth law, it found that American Airlines mishandled thousands of wheelchairs and in many cases treated passengers with disabilities in an unsafe, undignified manner. These findings prompted the department to issue the $50 million penalty—the largest DOT fine against an airline for violating disability regulations in history.

According to the DOT, more than 25 million Americans—over 14 percent of whom use wheelchairs—report they have disabilities that limit their travel. Yet, thousands of wheelchairs and other mobility aids continue to be mishandled, damaged or lost each year. A fierce advocate for travelers with disabilities, Duckworth secured several provisions in the bipartisan 2024 FAA Reauthorization law to make travel easier and more accessible for people with disabilities, including:

A New Airport Accessibility Grant Program: New grant program to help airports make their facilities more accessible.

The Mobility Aids On Board Improve Lives and Empower All (MOBILE) Act: Based on the bipartisan, bicameral bill that Senator Duckworth introduced with Senator John Thune (R-SD), this provision requires air carriers and foreign air carriers to publish information related to powered wheelchairs including the dimensions of aircraft cargo holds, issue refunds if a passenger cannot fly due to the wheelchair no longer fitting in the cargo hold (e.g., if there was a change in aircraft type) and evaluate the frequency and types of mishandling of mobility aids as well as take actions toward making in-flight wheelchair seating available.

The Prioritizing Accountability and Accessibility for Aviation Consumers Act of 2023: Based on the bipartisan bill Senator Duckworth introduced with Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), this provision requires the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to publish an annual report on how quickly, effectively and efficiently consumer complaints related to traveling with a disability are received, addressed and resolved by DOT.

The Access and Dignity for All People who Travel (ADAPT) Act: This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations regarding seating accommodations for passengers with disabilities and requires the Secretary of Transportation to establish an optional Known Service Animal Travel Pilot Program, providing service animal users the opportunity to participate in a streamlined pre-registration process

The Equal Accessibility to Passenger Portals (Equal APP) Act: This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to ensure that customer-facing websites, applications and kiosks of an air carrier, foreign air carrier or airport are accessible. It requires the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee to periodically study web accessibility in this context and requires the Secretary to update regulations as necessary. This language reflects a merging of Senator Duckworth’s Equal APP Act and provisions in Senator Baldwin’s Air Carrier Access Amendment Act (which Senator Duckworth cosponsors).

The Store On-board Wheelchairs in Cabin (STOWIC) Act: This provision requires airlines to provide information on the airline website regarding the rights and responsibilities of both airlines and passengers about the availability of on-board wheelchairs. Under other provisions on personnel training standards regarding assistance of passengers with disabilities, staff would be required to demonstrate every 18 months a knowledge of on-board wheelchairs and accessible lavatories.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-join-congressional-democrats-in-filing-amicus-brief-urging-ninth-circuit-court-to-affirm-that-emtala-requires-hospitals-to-provide-emergency-stabilizing-care-including-abortion-care-preempting-idahos-dacronian-abortion-ban,"Duckworth, Durbin Join Congressional Democrats in Filing Amicus Brief Urging Ninth Circuit Court to Affirm that EMTALA Requires Hospitals to Provide Emergency Stabilizing Care, Including Abortion Care, Preempting Idaho's Dacronian Abortion Ban",2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"After the Supreme Court dismissed the case, returning it to the Ninth Circuit Court, 259 Members of Congress ask the Ninth Circuit to affirm district court decision that under EMTALA, hospitals participating in Medicare must provide emergency stabilizing treatment to patients, including abortion care when necessary

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined more than 250 Members of Congress in submitting an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, two consolidated cases concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) under consideration by the en banc Ninth Circuit. EMTALA is a federal law that requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide necessary “stabilizing treatment” to patients experiencing medical emergencies, which can include abortion care.

After the Dobbs decision in 2022, a draconian anti-abortion law in Idaho went into effect that makes it a felony for a doctor to terminate a patient’s pregnancy unless it is “necessary” to prevent the patient’s death. The United States sued the State of Idaho, arguing that the state’s law is preempted by EMTALA in those circumstances in which abortion may not be necessary to prevent imminent death, but still constitutes the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition. The district court agreed; it held that in those limited, but critically important situations, EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion as an emergency medical treatment. Idaho Republicans appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court, which lifted the injunction and took the case in January. In March, 258 Members filed an amicus brief, asking the Supreme Court to affirm the district court decision. In June, the Supreme Court dismissed the case but without a ruling on the merits, sending the case back to the Ninth Circuit Court and reinstating the district court’s injunction.

In their brief in support of the Justice Department, the lawmakers ask the Ninth Circuit to uphold the district court’s ruling. They argue that the congressional intent, text and history of EMTALA make clear that covered hospitals must provide abortion care when it is the necessary stabilizing treatment for a patient’s emergency medical condition and that EMTALA preempts Idaho’s abortion ban in emergency situations that present a serious threat to a patient’s health.

“[T]he 99th Congress passed EMTALA to ensure that every person who visits a Medicare-funded hospital with an ‘emergency medical condition’ is offered stabilizing treatment,” the Members write in their amicus brief. “Congress chose broad language for that mandate, requiring hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide ‘such treatment as may be required to stabilize the medical condition.’… That text—untouched by Congress for the past three decades—makes clear that in situations in which a doctor determines that abortion constitutes the ‘[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment’ for a pregnant patient, federal law requires the hospital to offer it. Yet Idaho has made providing that care a felony, in direct contravention of EMTALA’s mandate.”

Importantly, the Members note that in this case, “respecting the supremacy of federal law is about more than just protecting our system of government; it is about protecting people’s lives. If this Court allows Idaho’s near-total abortion ban to supersede federal law, pregnant patients in Idaho will continue to be denied appropriate medical treatment, placing them at heightened risk for medical complications and severe adverse health outcomes… And health care providers, unwilling to let Idaho’s law override their medical judgment regarding their patients’ best interests, will continue their exile from Idaho, creating maternity-care ‘deserts’ all over the state.” The Members point to numerous reports of OB/GYNs leaving Idaho en masse since the state’s abortion ban went into effect. Idaho has since lost 55 percent of its maternal-fetal medicine specialists and three rural hospitals have shut down maternity services altogether.

“These are not hypothetical scenarios. Because Idaho’s abortion ban contains no clear exceptions for the ‘emergency medical conditions’ covered by EMTALA, it forces physicians to wait until their patients are on the verge of death before providing abortion care. The result in other states with similar laws has been ‘significant maternal morbidity,’” write the Members, pointing to harrowing reports of pregnant women with severe health complications being denied necessary abortion care, including an Idaho woman who was flown to Utah for an abortion while hemorrhaging, leaking amniotic fluid and terrified that she would not survive to care for her two other children. “Federal law does not allow Idaho to endanger the lives of its residents in this way.”

In their brief, the Members also clarify that the references to “unborn child” in EMTALA were intended to expand hospitals’ obligations with respect to providing stabilizing treatment—not contract them or take away the obligation to provide abortion care in certain circumstances.

The Members’ brief also counters an argument from Idaho and its amici that the Supremacy Clause does not apply in this case because EMTALA was passed using Spending Clause authority, and therefore acts only as a condition on Medicare funding. The Members make clear that all laws passed by Congress are entitled to preemption—regardless of their source of constitutional authority and states cannot pass laws that make it impossible for private parties to accept federal funding, inhibiting the purpose of the federal law.

“EMTALA requires abortion when necessary to stabilize a patient with an emergency medical condition, Idaho’s near-total abortion ban is preempted to the extent that it prevents doctors from providing that care,” the Members write. “This Court should reject Appellants’ novel theory that EMTALA is not entitled to preemptive effect because it was enacted pursuant to Congress’s spending power. Under the Supremacy Clause, all ‘the constitutional laws enacted by congress,’ constitute ‘the supreme Law of the Land,’. As the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, the principle of federal supremacy applies to laws passed pursuant to Congress’s spending authority no less than it does to laws effectuating other enumerated powers.”

“In sum, EMTALA plainly requires hospitals that participate in the Medicare program to provide abortion care when, in a doctor’s medical judgment, it constitutes the ‘[n]ecessary stabilizing treatment’ for a patient’s ‘emergency medical condition.’”

The lawmakers conclude by asking the Ninth Circuit to affirm the district court’s decision that EMTALA requires Medicare-participating hospitals to provide abortion care when it is necessary as emergency medical treatment.

In the Senate, the amicus brief was signed by 48 U.S. Senators, including Duckworth and Durbin. Also signing the amicus brief were U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey Jr. (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), George Helmy (D-NJ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King Jr. (D-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

In the House, the brief was signed by 211 U.S. Representatives.

The lawmakers’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court can be read in full HERE.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-applications-closing-soon-for-class-of-2029-service-academy-nominations,Duckworth Applications Closing Soon for Class of 2029 Service Academy Nominations,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today announced that her office is accepting applications from high school students seeking a Congressional nomination to a United States Military Service Academy for the Class of 2029 through Friday, November 1. Each year Duckworth, along with a nomination committee, selects from the applicants a group of outstanding Illinois students to receive Congressional nominations to attend West Point, the Air Force Academy, the Naval Academy or the Merchant Marine Academy. Information on how to complete Duckworth’s academy nomination application can be found here.

“It takes a special kind of young person to succeed at a U.S. Military Service Academy,” said Duckworth. “The rigorous nomination process demands outstanding test scores, a high GPA and a commitment to community service. I encourage all interested Illinois students to apply for a nomination through my website, and I applaud their desire to serve our country.”

Service academies allow young people to serve their country while receiving a full four-year scholarship. Upon acceptance of an appointment into an Academy, a student commits to five years of active duty service after graduation. U.S. citizens between the ages of 17 and 23 may receive appointment from one of the four service academies.

In order to be considered, a student must get a formal nomination from their Member of Congress, Senator or the Vice President. Students must apply directly to the Military Service Academy and elected official of their choice in order to be considered. A nomination does not guarantee an offer of appointment. Interested students should follow the instructions on Senator Duckworth’s website. Applications for the Class of 2029 are due Friday, November 1.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-quigley-announce-more-than-81-million-in-additional-federal-funding-for-the-create-program,"Duckworth, Durbin, Quigley Announce More than $81 Million in Additional Federal Funding for the CREATE Program",2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $81,301,065 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) Program for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, which aims to reduce traffic delays, increase rail junction safety, and improve mobility throughout Chicago.

DOT’s INFRA Grant Program provides federal funding for large projects of regional significance and is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the lawmakers worked to pass in 2021.

Last month, Durbin, Duckworth, and Quigley announced $209 million in federal funding for the CREATE Program through DOT’s Mega Grant Program, bringing the total with today’s announced funding to $291,179,049.

“Investing in our transportation infrastructure is about growing our economy and making it easier, faster, safer and more efficient so people and goods can get where they need to go,” Duckworth said. “This significant federal investment in the CREATE Program—which Senator Durbin, members of the Illinois Delegation and I have been championing for years—will help us modernize our rail system for all Chicagoans while supporting good-paying South Side jobs and strengthening our region’s economy.”

“Today’s additional funding announcement is a major investment in the future of our transportation infrastructure. Chicagoans will be better connected because of the CREATE Program, which will improve the safety and quality of our rail system and roadways,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and I have long supported these investments, and I’m glad to see these federal dollars go toward improving safety and alleviating congestion in a region that desperately needs it.”

""The CREATE Program is fundamentally changing rail operations in Chicago for both commuters and freight. Last month, we secured $209 million in funding for this program. Today’s announcement marks another significant step toward fulfilling CREATE’s mission to improve safety, alleviate congestion, and boost mobility throughout our city,” said Quigley.

The CREATE Program brings together the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation’s freight railroads in a partnership to eliminate transit bottlenecks, boost the economy, and improve overall safety of the Chicagoland area.

Today’s announced funding will advance the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, a three-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago’s South Side, which approximately 90 freight trains and 30 Metra commuter trains use daily. The project will reconfigure track segments and signals at Belt Junction, add a third track to the Norfolk Southern line, replace and restore 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures, and implement mobility improvements on surface streets throughout the corridor.

Durbin and Duckworth have long championed rail improvements, having helped secure $132 million in federal funding to begin this project in 2018.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-foster-reinforce-support-for-ivf-providers-and-families,"Duckworth, Foster Reinforce Support for IVF Providers and Families",2024-10-17,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[NAPERVILLE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today hosted a discussion with IVF providers, advocates and families on the challenges they face with IVF access at risk across the country after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justices overturned Roe v. Wade. Duckworth and Foster were joined by Dr. Amanda Schwartz of the Reproductive Medicine Institute, Dr. Megan Sax of Fertility Centers of Illinois and the Beck Family, a Crystal Lake-based family who used assisted reproductive technology to conceive their two children. Photos from today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.

“After a decade of struggling with infertility, I was only able to have my two beautiful girls through the miracle of IVF,” Duckworth said. I’m grateful I had access to IVF to become a mom when I wanted to become a mom but now, thanks to Donald Trump, that right to reproductive care is at risk for millions of women across this country. And while so many Republicans continue to claim to support families and IVF, their actions and their votes prove that the American people can’t take them at their word.”

“I was proud to join Senator Duckworth in Naperville today to reinforce our commitment to protecting access to reproductive treatments like IVF,” said Foster. “Far-right politicians and judges have no business meddling in how Americans choose to start and grow their families. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that every woman – no matter what state she lives in – has access to IVF and all forms of reproductive health care.”

Duckworth has been the leader in Congress on protecting access to IVF. Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, comprehensive legislation she led with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees and help lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Despite publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the bill in June and again last month.

The Right to IVF Act builds upon Duckworth’s previous legislation, the Access to Family Building Act. Earlier this year, after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that put access to IVF at risk for families across that state, Duckworth led a group of Senate Democrats in calling for the bill’s passage through unanimous consent, only for Republican U.S. Senator of Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith to object and block Duckworth’s effort. This was the second time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide. The Access to Family Building Act builds on previous legislation she introduced in 2022.

Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018 she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-visits-chicago-state-university-to-discuss-efforts-to-support-student-parents,Duckworth Visits Chicago State University to Discuss Efforts to Support Student Parents,2024-10-17,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Chicago State University (CSU) to tour their campus child care center and meet with Chicago Alderwoman Michelle Harris, Illinois State Representative Marcus Evans Jr. (IL-HD-33), CSU leadership and parents. Last month, Duckworth reintroduced her Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act, legislation which builds on her previous efforts to help increase access to on-campus child care for the more than 4 million parenting students currently enrolled in postsecondary education programs. Duckworth and University leadership also discussed funding for CSU, including $800,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending Duckworth secured for the University. Photos from today’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.

“As college costs continue to skyrocket, we can't simply stay on the sidelines as it gets even harder for parenting students to afford higher education,” said Duckworth. “The more than 4 million college students who are also raising children already have enough to worry about—child care should not be one of them. It was great to visit Chicago State today and see the University’s efforts to support its students to help them provide a better, stronger future for their families.”

The CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act would help increase the rate of parenting students attending postsecondary education by reauthorizing and fully funding the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services and ensure the U.S. Department of Education is meeting the needs of parenting students. Duckworth originally introduced this legislation when she was in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In Fiscal Year 2023, Duckworth secured $800,000 in federal funding through a Congressionally Directed Spending Request for Chicago State University. This federal investment supported redesigning the CSU curriculum and increasing access to the internet by improving and expanding computer facilities. In August, Duckworth and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) secured $22.7 million for the Strengthening Predominately Black Institutions (PBI) program as a part of their Illinois priorities for FY25 advancing through the Senate Appropriations Committee. This funding will support the Strengthening PBIs program by helping to expand their capacity to serve low- and middle-income students, especially Black students. Chicago State University is a PBI.

Chicago State University is a predominantly black public university in Chicago. It includes an honors program for undergraduates, and offers bachelors and masters degrees in the arts and sciences. CSU was founded in 1867 as the Cook County Normal School, an innovative teachers college.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-members-of-illinois-delegation-announce-158-million-in-federal-funding-for-chicago-transit-authority-improvements,"Duckworth, Durbin, Members of Illinois Delegation Announce $15.8 Million in Federal Funding for Chicago Transit Authority Improvements",2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representatives Jesus “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07) today announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $15,805,600 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for improvements to the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Forest Park Branch. This track modernization project will lead to increased service reliability, speed, and environmental resiliency.

“No matter their zip code, Chicagoans deserve efficient public transit to get to school, get to work and more easily move throughout the city,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to see today’s funding go toward modernizing the CTA’s Forest Park operations, including increasing service reliability, speed and protecting against the effects of climate change. I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to ensure that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“Robust and reliable public transit is crucial for Chicagoans,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced funding will allow for an efficient travel alternative in an area where congestion makes getting around more difficult. I’ll keep working with Senator Duckworth and members of the Illinois Delegation to do all that we can to help improve transit development and access for all Chicagoans.”

“When public transportation is unreliable or inefficient, it disrupts the daily lives of countless Chicagoans. We have the solutions to keep things moving, and now it’s time to put them into practice. Today's funding is a positive development. It will assist us in transforming an area burdened by congestion and delays and finally establish an environment that allows commuters to reach their destinations safely and on time,” said Rep. Quigley.

""Investing in our public transit infrastructure is crucial to ensuring that Chicago remains a vibrant, accessible city for all its residents. This funding for the CTA's Forest Park Branch will not only improve service and efficiency but also promote sustainability and economic growth across our communities. I am proud to work alongside my colleagues in securing these essential federal resources that will benefit the people of Chicago and the surrounding areas,” said Rep. Davis.

Durbin and Duckworth have previously pushed for federal funding for CTA improvement projects, having secured $746 million for the CTA Red Line Extension Project.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-honors-indigenous-peoples-day-with-visit-to-mitchell-museum-of-the-american-indian,Duckworth Honors Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Visit to Mitchell Museum of the American Indian,2024-10-14,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[EVANSTON, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Duckworth met with the museum’s Executive Director Kim Vigue, Board President Susan Kelsey and community leaders and members to discuss how she can help advocate for the Indigenous community at the federal level, as well as toured the museum that honors and highlights the history and culture of Indigenous peoples and communities. Photos from today’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.

“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor and celebrate the Indigenous communities who have long contributed to our country as we continue to reckon with our nation’s horrific legacy of colonization,” Duckworth said. “I was pleased to visit and meet with the leaders of the Mitchell Museum to learn more about their mission to preserve the rich history of Indigenous peoples and pass on the culture and traditions to the next generation.”

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian is one of a few museums across the country that focuses exclusively on the histories, cultures, traditions and arts of Indigenous people from the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1977, the museum has become a cherished resource and education center committed to promoting a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples and serving as a space to celebrate their diverse cultures, rich histories and present-day experiences and contributions.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/during-domestic-violence-awareness-month-duckworth-hosts-domestic-violence-listening-session,"During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Duckworth Hosts Domestic Violence Listening Session",2024-10-14,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a listening session with local domestic violence support organizations to learn more about the impact domestic violence has in communities across Illinois and the solutions to support, uplift and protect survivors while preventing further violence. Today’s roundtable was led by Amanda Pyron, President and CEO of The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

“During Domestic Violence Awareness Month and every day, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting and supporting all survivors of abuse,” Duckworth said. “Today, I was proud be a part of such an important conversation about preventing domestic violence in our communities and how we can lift up survivors’ voices. I will continue to work with The Network and our local leaders to provide essential life-saving support and tools so that everyone has the knowledge to help domestic violence victims.”

“We were grateful to welcome Senator Duckworth to The Network today to discuss the importance of community outreach in ending gender-based violence,” Pyron said. “Through congressionally directed funds from Senator Duckworth, the Network has expanded the reach of the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline. The SALONS Act will further enhance the capacity for domestic violence service providers across the state to provide education and training to trusted salon professionals.”

In Fiscal Year 2023, Duckworth secured $550,000 in federal funding through a Congressionally Directed Spending Request for The Network. This federal investment supported an essential expansion of the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline. Duckworth also introduced the bipartisan Supporting the Abused by Learning Options to Navigate Survivor (SALONS) Stories Act, legislation to increase already-established grants to states that require beauty professionals and cosmetologists to undergo free and easily accessible domestic violence awareness training in order to help ensure more of these individuals are trained to successfully navigate conversations with clients who could be in danger.

The Network is a group of 40+ member organizations dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by gender-based violence through education, public policy and advocacy as well as connecting community members with direct service providers. We lead collaborative work to imagine and realize radical ways to respond to and end gender-based violence, focusing on the intersections between systemic violence and gender-based violence.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-reacts-to-new-federal-report-detailing-faas-boeing-oversight-failures,Duckworth Reacts to New Federal Report Detailing FAA’s Boeing Oversight Failures,2024-10-11,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the Senate’s Aviation Safety Subcommittee—issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its new comprehensive audit of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) oversight of Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft production, which revealed weaknesses and failures in FAA’s oversight processes and systems that limit its ability to identify and resolve Boeing production issues.

“From seeking to recreate the type of permissive policies that allowed Boeing to sell flawed aircraft that later crashed and killed hundreds to classifying obviously systemic safety concerns as merely ‘isolated’ issues, this report’s findings underscore my longstanding belief that FAA is not effectively holding Boeing accountable and ensuring it meets production safety standards and requirements,” said Senator Duckworth. “As the federal agency responsible for ensuring Boeing improves its safety culture and making sure every Boeing plane that leaves the factory fully meets approved standards that are in place to keep passengers safe, FAA clearly has work to do to better protect the flying public and I will continue my close Congressional oversight of those efforts.”

Duckworth has long pushed for improved federal oversight of Boeing. In June, she urged FAA Administrator Whitaker to make sure the FAA requires transparency and accountability as it oversees Boeing’s Safety and Quality Plan. In April, Duckworth implored FAA to scrutinize Boeing’s bad behavior and use its civil enforcement authority more often, when appropriate, and also called on the agency to review Boeing’s disturbing pattern of failing to disclose critical safety information about 737 MAX planes to pilots. In January, Duckworth called on FAA to reject a petition by Boeing for a safety exemption to allow the 737 MAX 7 to be certified to fly despite having another known safety defect that has not yet been fixed. The Senator subsequently met with Boeing’s CEO David Calhoun and urged him to withdraw the company’s petition, which the company did just days later, crediting Duckworth’s reasoning for the decision.

Duckworth helped author the landmark bipartisan FAA reauthorization that was signed into law in May to extend the FAA’s funding and authorities through Fiscal Year 2028. The reauthorization included several of her provisions to improve consumer safety, expand the aviation workforce and enhance protections for travelers with disabilities. Duckworth noted that while it was a tremendous victory for the flying public, more needs to be done to address the recent issues that have come to light with Boeing since a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines flight mid-flight.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-meets-with-thomson-union-members-prison-leadership-to-reinforce-workforce-and-facility-support,"Duckworth Meets with Thomson Union Members, Prison Leadership to Reinforce Workforce and Facility Support",2024-10-10,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[THOMSON, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Thomson to meet with both members and leaders from AFGE Local 4070 and FCI Thomson leadership to discuss federal support for facility staffing needs and the conditions and support for current staff. Thomson recently transitioned from a Special Management Unit (SMU) security to a low-security federal prison.

“It is critical that FCI Thomson has the resources it needs to fulfill its mission, and that includes being able to support a strong and stable workforce,” said Duckworth. “Today, we had a productive conversation with Thomson and AFGE Local 4070 leadership about ongoing staffing and retention efforts, and I’ll continue to work closely with federal leaders to support the dedicated workforce at Thomson.”

In 2021, Duckworth, along with Judiciary Chair Senator Durbin (D-IL) and former U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), secured a retention pay bonus for law enforcement officers at Thomson. Earlier this year, Duckworth and Durbin sent a letter to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Peters to request that BOP reinstates and maintains Thomson’s 25 percent incentive bonus.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-sorensen-visit-rock-island-arsenal-to-reinforce-support-for-local-servicemembers,"Duckworth, Sorensen Visit Rock Island Arsenal to Reinforce Support for Local Servicemembers",2024-10-10,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[ROCK ISLAND, IL] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today visited Rock Island Arsenal to discuss current manufacturing operations and how Congress can continue to support the Arsenal. Duckworth and Sorensen met Arsenal Leadership, including LTG Mark Landes, Commanding General, First Army, BG John “Brad” Hinson, Army Sustainment Command and COL William ""Joe"" Parker, III, Garrison Commander, to tour the Arsenal’s Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center and learn about their metal manufacturing operations.

“Rock Island Arsenal plays an important role in the strength of both our national security and the Quad Cities community,” Duckworth said. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to see how the Arsenal’s expertise and resources are helping protect our nation and keep the region’s economy strong. I’ll keep working with Congressman Sorensen to ensure the men and women of Rock Island Arsenal have the support they need and that the Arsenal can succeed for years to come.”

“The Rock Island Arsenal, and the brave men and women that work there, help make the Quad Cities community such a special place to live in,” Sorensen said. “I was honored to join Senator Duckworth and the Arsenal’s leadership in touring the facility and talking about ways we can work together to create more jobs and strengthen its operations. The Arsenal has always been an important part of how we keep our nation safe, and I will always work hard with Senator Duckworth to bring resources from Washington back home to support the Arsenal’s work.”

As a member of SASC, Duckworth has helped secure critical resources for Rock Island Arsenal and the surrounding communities through the yearly National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). In this year’s Senate-passed NDAA, Duckworth secured provisions to allow the Department of Defense to make grants to local communities to improve infrastructure around military bases that benefit local communities, like those surrounding Rock Island Arsenal. In the Fiscal Year 2022 NDAA Duckworth secured $14 million for the Arsenal to support Army’s development of additive manufacturing capabilities in austere operating environments, and another $75 million in the FY 2020 NDAA for eligible projects near the Arsenal that would improve military value and enhance the lives of servicemembers who live in the surrounding communities.

Last month, Duckworth helped announce more than $11 million in federal funding to support the rehabilitation of critical bridge access to Rock Island Arsenal. This funding was awarded as one of fourteen Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) grants from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-leaders-commemorate-1908-race-riot-national-monument-designation,"Duckworth, Leaders Commemorate 1908 Race Riot National Monument Designation",2024-10-09,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined local and federal leaders in commemorating the designation of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot site as a national monument. Duckworth has worked for years to secure national monument recognition for the site, which the Biden-Harris Administration designated in August. The 1908 Springfield Race Riot was a pivotal event in American history that spurred the creation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). With less than a quarter of National Parks devoted to recognizing the histories of diverse peoples and cultures, designating this site as a national monument also helps guarantee that public lands reflect the diversity of our country. Photos from today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.

“The 1908 Race Riots and the history that happened here deserve to be commemorated,” said Duckworth. “And now, I’m proud it will be, thanks to President Biden’s action to designate this site as a national monument—an action which not only makes sure the painful lessons learned here will not be lost for generations to come, but also helps ensure our national parks better reflect our nation’s people and stories.”

Duckworth was joined today by local and national leaders including U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Julianna Stratton and more.

116 years ago, a violent mob of white residents murdered at least six Black Americans, burned down Black homes and businesses and attacked hundreds of residents for no other reason than the color of their skin. Duckworth began calling for national monument recognition in 2018, first leading the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument Act, with U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), in 2019 and again in 2021. Last year they re-introduced the legislation, which was reported favorably out of committee, with U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) introducing companion legislation in the House.

During an excavation as part of the Springfield High Speed Rail project, foundations and artifacts from homes destroyed during the riot were uncovered. An agreement with community members was reached in 2018 to excavate the remains and designate the uncovered site a memorial.

Duckworth has made elevating disenfranchised communities and their stories one of her main priorities while in Congress. Last year, after continued efforts from Duckworth, the Biden-Harris Administration designated the church that held Emmett Till’s pivotal open-casket wake in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood as a national monument. Duckworth’s leadership was critical in the site designation, originally introducing the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley, and Roberts Temple National Historic Site Act in 2021 and again in 2023.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-applaud-finalization-of-new-lead-and-copper-rule-improvements-announcement-of-over-75-million-in-new-funding-to-help-remove-lead-pipes-in-illinois,"Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Finalization of New Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, Announcement of Over $75 Million in New Funding to Help Remove Lead Pipes in Illinois",2024-10-08,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—co-founder of the U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, EPA also announced that Illinois will receive $75,558,000 in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.

“Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth. “We’ve been working hard in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and $75 million in new funding for Illinois to replace lead pipes will help us make it a reality while preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect. This is a win-win for all Americans.”

“The newly finalized Lead and Copper Rule Improvements is nothing short of historic. For decades, we have understood the severe risks of lead exposure, which have disproportionally harmed low-income families and communities of color. Today, EPA has made a commitment to Americans to replace all lead pipes over the next ten years because everyone deserves to have safe, clean drinking water,” said Durbin. “We have a monumental task ahead of us in replacing lead service pipes in Illinois, particularly in Chicago, but I’m encouraged by this significant step by the Biden-Harris Administration to support states in lead pipe remediation and look forward to supporting this plan in Congress.”

The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Illinois has reported more than 667,000 lead service lines (LSLs) and another almost 820,000 service lines of unknown material, which the newly announced funding will help remove. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells.

Duckworth has led the charge in the U.S. Senate to remove lead drinking water pipes across the country. Her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA), which was included in the BIL, is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead pipe replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, is helping rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

Last month, Duckworth called on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of LCRI. In May, Duckworth announced over $240 million in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund investment to help Illinois identify and replace lead service lines and prevent lead poisoning among our state’s children and families—funding that comes directly from Duckworth’s DWWIA—and in August she and Durbin announced more than $1 million to address lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities in Illinois.

Following the 2016 report of lead in Chicago’s drinking water, Durbin and then-Rep. Duckworth urged EPA to use its full authority and resources to address the issue, including reviewing the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) and immediate notification of lead contamination. In March 2021, Durbin and Duckworth sent a letter to EPA urging it to update the LCR.

Duckworth, Durbin and Sen. Booker, members of the Senate Lead Taskforce, led 87 of their colleagues supporting EPA’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) and urging for more community protections and expedited removal of all lead pipes. Last March, Durbin and Duckworth sent letters to five Medicaid managed care companies (MCOs) in Illinois, urging them to address lead poisoning risks to children in Chicago by preemptively sending drinking water test kits, water filters, home visitors, and educational materials to all enrolled children in the city.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-one-year-anniversary-of-hamass-horrific-october-7th-attacks,Duckworth Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Hamas’s Horrific October 7th Attacks,2024-10-07,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"As conflict in the region escalates, Duckworth reiterates call for permanent mutual ceasefire that secures release of hostages and alleviates suffering of innocent civilians

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s terror attacks against Israel on October 7th, 2023:

“One year ago, Hamas committed the single deadliest atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, killing nearly 1,200 innocents and taking hundreds more hostage—nearly 100 of whom remain in captivity to this day. My thoughts are with them, and with their loved ones, today and every day.

“My heart breaks for those who lost loved ones during the attacks, for the families of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians killed in the days since, for those who suffered the unique torture of having their hopes of ever seeing their captive loved ones again so heartlessly dashed—like the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin—and for the millions in Gaza who are still suffering through unimaginable, inhumane conditions.

“As we reflect on the tragedies of the last year—and as tensions in the region rise—the urgent need for a permanent, mutual ceasefire that ends this devastating war is as critical as it’s ever been. For my part, I will do everything in my power to encourage de-escalation that ultimately brings about a two-state future that strengthens the safety of Israel, eliminates the threat posed by Hamas and ends the prolonged and continuing suffering of innocent Palestinians.”

Since October 7th, 2023, Duckworth has worked with her Senate colleagues to end the war in Gaza and ensure the safe return of hostages. A comprehensive account of the Senator’s efforts can be found on her website.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-more-than-2-billion-in-federal-funding-to-improve-highway-infrastructure-across-illinois,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $2 Billion in Federal Funding to Improve Highway Infrastructure Across Illinois",2024-10-04,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,327,751,005 in total formula funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to build and maintain roads, bridges and tunnels that will improve efficiency, reduce congestion, improve resiliency against climate change and modernize key infrastructure of the Illinois highway system. This funding was made possible through the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Investing in our transportation infrastructure is about more than just improving our roads and bridges, it’s about growing our economy and making getting to work, school and throughout our communities faster, safer and more efficient,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to see this federal funding coming to our state today for critical upgrades to Illinois’s highway network. I will continue to work alongside Senator Durbin to ensure that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“Today’s funding is a major investment in the future of Illinois’ transportation. Our state’s communities will be better connected because of these infrastructure projects that support Illinois’ rail industry, highways, electric vehicle network, and roads,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure our state has the federal resources to improve and expand Illinois’ infrastructure.”

Programs providing FHWA formula funding to Illinois include:

National Highway Performance Program: $1,060,692,724

Surface Transportation Block Grant Program: $516,012,677

Highway Safety Improvement Program: $109,009,408

Railway-Highway Crossings Program: $11,270,541

Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program: $127,299,951

Metropolitan Planning: $23,887,494

National Highway Freight Program: $52,324,691

Carbon Reduction Program: $46,011,130

PROTECT Formula Program: $52,317,952

Bridge Formula Program: $297,268,565

National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program: $31,655,872

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-more-than-36-million-to-help-address-opioid-crisis-in-illinois,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $36 Million to Help Address Opioid Crisis in Illinois",2024-10-03,2024,2024-10,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $36,714,994 in federal funding for the Illinois Department of Human Services to help support treatment and prevention services for substance and opioid use disorders and overdoses. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a part of their State Opioid Response grants program.

“The opioid epidemic has taken far too many lives, and resolving this crisis requires a comprehensive effort from officials at every level of government and from local organizations,” Duckworth said. “I will continue working with Senator Durbin to ensure those treating and preventing opioid addiction have the resources they need to serve all Illinoisans.”

“As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage our state, we need prevention, treatment, and recovery services to break the cycle of addiction,” said Durbin. “This federal funding will give our state crucial resources for individuals and families who need it the most, and I hope this investment will put our communities on the road to recovery.”

Since their inception in 2018, State and Tribal Opioid Response grants have enabled states, territories and tribal entities to fund treatment and recovery services for people across the country. Awards also support overdose prevention and response, with almost 2.7 million naloxone kits distributed and more than 92,000 reported overdose reversals. A report to Congress detailing such efforts can be found here. This particular grant funding is a critical investment in President Biden’s Unity Agenda for the Nation and the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:55:29Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-joins-wyden-and-hassan-in-introducing-legislation-to-help-stop-labor-and-delivery-unit-closures-in-rural-and-underserved-communities,Duckworth Joins Wyden and Hassan in Introducing Legislation to Help Stop Labor and Delivery Unit Closures in Rural and Underserved Communities,2024-09-30,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), along with 15 other Senate Democrats in introducing the Keep Obstetrics Local Act (KOLA) to help address the rising trend of rural hospitals and hospitals in underserved areas closing their labor and delivery units with significant consequences for expectant parents, families and their local communities. This legislation would help provide additional resources through Medicaid funding and make sure that hospitals are required to use them to invest in the maternal healthcare needs of the local communities they serve.

“It is absolutely unconscionable that hundreds of expectant and new moms in maternity deserts are left without access to the care they need,” Duckworth said. “Every mother, no matter their zip code, deserves access to high-quality maternal health care. I’m proud to join Senators Wyden and Hassan and my Senate colleagues in introducing this critical legislation that would help make sure that rural hospitals have the resources needed to support mothers throughout their pregnancy and beyond.”

“Too many rural communities have become maternity deserts, leaving families without access to care. It’s time we reverse this trend and offer some stability to rural hospitals so they can keep their labor and delivery ward doors open,” Wyden said. “This legislation will give rural hospitals the means to continue serving their communities, and ensures that large hospital chains can’t exploit the funds for profit.”

“No matter where they live, expectant moms deserve access to high-quality care to protect their health and the health of their babies,” Hassan said. “As more maternity wards in rural areas of New Hampshire and in states across the country close, this important legislation will help give rural hospitals the resources that they need to support labor and delivery units and provide the high-quality care that women deserve, while also making it easier for more women to get postpartum care after they give birth.”

Between 2012 and 2022, approximately one-quarter of all rural hospitals stopped providing obstetrics services, impacting 267 communities. This trend of closures is caused by several overlapping challenges, including the high fixed operating costs of these units, low volumes of births and difficulties in attracting and retaining OB-trained clinical staff, all of which are made worse by inadequate reimbursement for labor and delivery services.

Along with Duckworth, Wyden and Hassan, this legislation was also joined by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), George Helmy (D-NJ), Corey Booker (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

The KOLA Act would help increase Medicaid payment rates for labor and delivery services for eligible rural and high-need urban hospitals, provide “standby” payments to cover the costs of staffing and maintaining an obstetrics unit at low-volume hospitals, create low-volume payment adjustments for labor and delivery services at hospitals with low birth volumes and require all states to provide postpartum coverage for women in Medicaid for 12 months, among other steps. The legislation helps make sure that hospitals are required to use these additional resources to invest in the maternal health care needs of the local communities they serve.

A section-by-section summary of the bill and the bill text can be found on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's website.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-laud-scott-airforce-bases-selection-as-finalist-for-new-kc-46a-aircraft-main-operating-base,"Duckworth, Durbin Laud Scott Airforce Base’s Selection As Finalist for New KC-46A Aircraft Main Operating Base",2024-09-28,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Scott’s selection as Main Operating Base could safeguard 347 Metro East Air National Guard (ANG) positions, while creating 94 new ANG positions and helping ensure the future of the base

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed their support for Scott Air Force Base’s 126th Air Refueling Wing’s bid to become a KC-46A’s main operating base (MOB) after the Air Force announced Scott was selected as a finalist for the role. The KC-46A aircraft is the first phase in modernizing the U.S. Air Force's aging tanker fleet and selecting Scott would protect the 347 ANG positions currently overseeing the KC-135 aircrafts while adding 94 new ANG positions to support the incoming KC-46A’s— overall expanding the Metro East’s local economy as well as helping to ensure the continued success of the Base.

“Scott Air Force Base (AFB) is an important driver of our state’s economy, a key piece to our country’s national security and a critical support network for the individuals who serve, along with their families,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to see U.S. Air Force leadership recognize the 126th Air Refueling Wing as one of the top prospective basing sites for the new KC-46A aircraft. The work done at Scott AFB is something all Illinoisans can be proud of, I hope the Air Force ultimately selects it for this MOB and I will continue to push for the support and resources that Scott AFB deserves.”

“The airmen and women at Scott Air Force Base have shown time and time again that they are up to any task put before them. The 126th Air Refueling Wing has proven itself to be a strong candidate for a new set of KC-46 aircraft, and I'm pleased that U.S. Air Force leadership has recognized that with its recent selection of a shortlist,” said Durbin. “I believe that no base is better equipped to receive new aircraft than Scott Air Force Base and look forward to the Air Force giving them full and fair consideration as it makes a final decision in the months ahead.”

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Airland, Senator Duckworth has been pushing for Scott Air Force base to be chosen as the new MOB 7 location. In May, asked the Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Programs, Lieutenant General Richard Moore Jr., USAF about the basing criteria for MOB 7 and plan for the aging national guard aircraft during a hearing on Air Force modernization and FY25’s budget.

For Fiscal Year 2023, Duckworth and Durbin secured $2.5 million for the planning and design of a new Refueling Hangar Facility at Scott Air Force Base for the 126th Air Refueling Wing. The original hangar was constructed in 1956 and with help from this funding, the new facility is now equipped to house the KC-46A aircraft. The KC-46A provides greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities compared to the KC-135, the KC-46A will provide aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and partner-nation receivers.

Duckworth and Durbin have been champions in strengthening Illinois’s military bases and National Guard units. Duckworth and Durbin worked tirelessly to support the 182nd Airlift Wing and protect the future of C-130 aircraft, ensuring that the mission of the182nd Airlift Wing is safeguarded, protecting the jobs of 1,200 Airmen and approximately 370 full-time employees. Duckworth secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act to establish a minimum inventory for the Air Force’s C-130 fleet, ensuring that the Air Force has sufficient C-130 capacity to carry out critical missions domestically as well as overseas. In the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Durbin, a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure $1.7 billion for 16 new C-130J aircraft for the Air National Guard, which Duckworth also supported.

Scott Field was one of 32 Air Service training camps established after the United States entered World War I. Since then, Scott Air Force Base’s mission has been to develop and care for Airmen and their families, while promoting base and community partnerships extending beyond their location in St. Clair County. The base is home to the headquarters of many major military organizations and currently employs 13,000 people.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-more-than-200k-in-federal-funding-for-arts-programming-in-illinois,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $200K in Federal Funding for Arts Programming in Illinois",2024-09-27,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $222,400 in federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through the ArtsHERE grant program for two Illinois organizations.

Free Spirit Media, which works with young creators primarily from the West and South sides of Chicago, will receive $110,000 for their Reimagining Evaluation project to create new evaluation tools rooted in storytelling, reflection, social justice and equity. Free Spirit Media focuses on community-building, skill-sharing and career and education pathways. The Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center (UCIMC) will receive $112,400 to support a five-year strategic planning process, including cultural strategy training and a study series for local artists and community leaders. Founded in 2001, UCIMC has transformed a historic post office into a community media and arts center, supporting various community programs and financially sponsoring more than 60 organizations.

“Arts like theater, music and design are some of the building blocks of a community’s culture,” Duckworth said. “I'm glad this federal support will help allow arts programs across Illinois to continue fostering, sharing and promoting connection and creativity in their communities.”

“The arts have not only played a major role in our state’s economy, but they have made substantial contributions to our communities, making these federal investments all the more important,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced funding will help develop young artists and foster creativity and connection.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-duckworth-daines-hirono-bill-to-better-protect-parents-traveling-with-breast-milk-passes-senate,Bipartisan Duckworth-Daines-Hirono Bill to Better Protect Parents Traveling with Breast Milk Passes Senate,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Bipartisan legislation led by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to make it easier for parents to safely embark on air travel with breast milk and breastfeeding supplies unanimously passed the U.S. Senate this week. The Senator’s Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act, co-led by U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), would require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to clarify and regularly update guidance on handling breast milk and breastfeeding supplies, baby formula and other related products in consultation with leading maternal health groups. Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA-47) is the lead sponsor of bipartisan companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“This is an important vote for traveling moms everywhere after too many of them have been mistreated and wrongfully denied access to their breast milk and the breastfeeding equipment that they need,” said Senator Duckworth. “I hope the House swiftly passes our bill so we can finally move closer to preventing these incidents from ever happening again—because all parents should be able to travel through airports with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

“Being a mom is a tough job, and supporting families is one of my top priorities. I’m glad to see the bipartisan BABES Enhancement Act pass the Senate, which will streamline TSA interactions for mothers transporting breastmilk, making it easier and safer for them to travel while breastfeeding,” said Senator Daines.

“Thousands of families with young children travel by air every day, so it is critical that the TSA has updated and clear guidance on how to handle breast milk, baby formula, and other related products during their screening process,” said Senator Hirono. “The BABES Act will help ensure that families can travel without fear of being harassed or humiliated simply for traveling with the supplies they need to keep their babies fed. This legislation will help preserve the health, safety, and dignity of parents and families as they travel through airports across the country and I’m proud that it has passed in the Senate.”

The Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Enhancement Act would help keep breastfeeding parents and their kids safe and healthy while traveling by air. Mishandled breast milk can become contaminated, which puts children at risk. Moreover, parents who lactate typically need to breastfeed or pump once every few hours. Failure to do so can result in a clogged milk duct, or a painful infection called mastitis. The legislation would better protect families by requiring TSA to:

Issue guidance promoting the hygienic handling of any breast milk, baby formula or other infant nutrition products, as well as accessories required to preserve these products;

Consult with nationally recognized maternal health organizations in establishing and communicating this guidance; and

Update guidance every five years to respond to emerging needs of parents and to account for developments in technology.

This legislation would also direct an independent government watchdog to conduct an audit of compliance with TSA screening policies for passengers traveling with breast milk and other infant nutrition products, providing lawmakers with information related to violations of policies.

Duckworth has been a strong advocate in ensuring new moms receive the dignity and respect they deserve while traveling. In 2022, Duckworth pressed TSA Administrator David Pekoske for improved treatment of new mothers and Americans with disabilities from employees of the TSA. That same year, Duckworth and Hirono also called on TSA to address inconsistent implementation of the 3-1-1 Liquids Rule Exemption travel policy for breastmilk and formula at airport security checkpoints as well as ensure new moms and their infants can travel safely without fear of harassment.

Duckworth has also championed several policies that help make air travel easier for new moms and Americans with disabilities, including her Friendly Airports for Mothers (FAM) Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation ensuring that small airports across the country support new moms and promote breastfeeding-friendly environments, was signed into law in 2020. The legislation builds on Duckworth’s success in enacting a law that ensures all large and medium airports provide a clean, private space where moms can breastfeed or pump. As a result of her legislation, O’Hare and Midway Airports both installed free-standing lactation pods for new mothers as a result of Duckworth’s FAM Improvement Act.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-joins-tillis-and-blumenthal-in-introducing-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-eliminate-barriers-to-justice-for-camp-lejeune-victims,Duckworth Joins Tillis and Blumenthal in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Help Eliminate Barriers to Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and combat Veteran who served 23 years in the Reserve Forces—joined U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in introducing the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act. This bipartisan legislation would help improve access to health care and benefits for individuals exposed to toxic chemicals at Camp Lejeune by making technical corrections to the original Camp Lejeune Justice Act, clarifying the right to jury trials and the appropriate causation standard, capping attorneys’ fees and expanding jurisdiction to alleviate the backlog of toxic water claims. These corrections would help ensure that Veterans and other victims have all the rights and opportunities for relief that Congress had originally intended.

“After selflessly answering the call to serve our nation, too many brave servicemembers were exposed to toxic chemicals from Camp Lejeune’s drinking water—but could not receive the justice and care they deserve due to unnecessary roadblocks,” said Senator Duckworth. “This bipartisan legislation would help make it easier for impacted servicemembers and Veterans to access the care and benefits they’ve earned through their service. It’s the least we could do after all they sacrifice for us.”

“Currently, veterans and other victims exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are running into roadblocks that are denying them their day in court before a jury for the often-crippling and deadly medical conditions they have suffered,” said Senator Tillis. “Since coming to office, I have worked alongside those who lived and worked at Camp Lejeune that were unknowingly exposed to harmful chemicals to finally give them the health care and benefits they deserve. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to bring justice for victims and provide a path forward for justice after decades of delay.”

“Victims of Camp Lejeune’s contaminated water deserve recompense and accountability,” said Senator Blumenthal. “With this essential legislation, we eliminate roadblocks and provide a pathway to seeking justice for our veterans and their families affected by toxic exposure, ensuring access to well-deserved benefits and relief.”

Along with Duckworth, Tillis and Blumenthal, this bipartisan legislation is also supported by U.S. Senators Ted Budd (R-NC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Gary Peters (D-MI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).

Specifically, the Ensuring Justice for Camp Lejeune Victims Act would:

Help permit cases to be heard in any district court in the 4th Circuit.

Explicitly provide for jury trials.

Expressly state that victims must only show general causation, including for latent or potential harm.

Help formalize attorney fees caps at 20% for settlements and 25% for trials.

Help ensure there is no room for interpreting Congress’ original intent to provide complete and swift relief to victims of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

Full text of the bill is available on Senator Tillis’s website.

Duckworth is a fierce advocate for our servicemembers, Veterans and their families. Duckworth was a strong supporter of the PACT Act, which was signed into law in 2022 and is helping millions of toxic-exposed Veterans access the care and benefits they deserve. In March, Duckworth also announced that she helped secure $2.4 billion to expand benefits and services for military and Veteran caregivers to include health care and mental health services, training adapted to the Veterans’ individual care needs and a direct stipend payment as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills.

As co-founder of the U.S. Senate’s Environmental Justice Caucus, Senator Duckworth also successfully included her Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is helping clean up our nation’s water by investing $15 billion to replace lead service lines across the nation.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-applauds-biden-harris-administrations-expansion-of-ivf-coverage-for-federal-employees,Duckworth Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s Expansion of IVF Coverage for Federal Employees,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"For years, the Senator has led the charge to ensure IVF treatment is covered for more Americans Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, which Republicans blocked just last week, would enshrine this expansion in law

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—author of the Right to IVF Act and the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act—applauded the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will, for the first time ever, offer multiple plans with comprehensive IVF coverage to the entire federal workforce and their families, no matter their zip code. The FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering more than 8 million employees, retirees, family members and others.

“I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for taking this decisive action that I’ve called for to ensure all federal employees have access to IVF coverage—because everyone deserves the ability to access the fertility treatment they need to build their families, no matter where they live.

“While this is welcome news, any future President could reverse this decision—so it’s critical we permanently protect and expand access to IVF nationwide and ensure no patient or doctor is criminalized simply for trying to start or grow their family. Last week, the Senate had the opportunity to do just that. But when it came time for Senate Republicans to put their votes where their mouths are and help pass my Right to IVF Act, the same Republicans claiming to ‘support IVF’ blocked it and made sure this expansion—and the other common sense IVF protections in the bill—would not be enshrined in federal law.

“Struggling with infertility is painful enough without the GOP’s hypocrisy, and I won’t stop working until every American in every state can access IVF and experience the joys of parenthood if, when and how they want to.”

In April, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11)—led 176 of their colleagues in urging OPM to help ensure all insurance carriers in FEHB program to cover IVF medical treatments and medications in plan year 2025.

Last week, Senator Duckworth—along with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—led Senate Democrats in trying to pass the Right to IVF Act for the second time, comprehensive legislation led by Duckworth that would require all health insurers to cover IVF. This renewed effort by Senate Democrats came after Donald Trump claimed he wanted IVF to be covered and represented a second chance for Senate Republicans to actually do something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. Despite claiming to support IVF, Senate Republicans blocked the legislation for the second time in just a few months.

Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act also includes the bipartisan Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, legislation the Senator has led for years that would require carriers to cover IVF and ART and would give the OPM one year to implement its requirements from the date of enactment.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-booker-blunt-rochester-tlaib-dingell-lee-call-for-expedited-review-and-implementation-of-biden-administrations-proposed-strengthening-of-the-lead-and-copper-rule,"Duckworth, Booker, Blunt Rochester, Tlaib, Dingell, Lee Call for Expedited Review and Implementation of Biden Administration’s Proposed Strengthening of the Lead and Copper Rule",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—co-founders of the new U.S. Senate Lead Task Force and the U.S. Senate Environmental Justice Caucus—along with U.S. Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) are calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. The lawmakers’ bicameral letter underscores the importance of OMB completing its review ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk. Congresswomen Blunt Rochester, Tlaib and Dingell are co-founders and co-leads of the Get the Lead Out Caucus in the House.

In the letter, the lawmakers outlined what’s at stake if the proposed LCRI is not finalized by October 16th: “…water systems and states will be required to start complying immediately with the deeply problematic LCRR. EPA concluded that temporary implementation of the LCRR rule from the prior administration will create bureaucratic complexity and confusion for regulated entities, waste scarce resources, result in widespread non-compliance and risk delaying or failing to realize the full benefits of the LCRI… In addition to the unnecessary potential confusion and complexity, the prior administration’s LCRR would put public health at risk by implementing inadequate policies that do not meaningfully address the lead contamination problems in communities across the country.”

In addition to preventing water systems from being forced to comply with Trump Administration’s previously proposed LCRR, swiftly finalizing the Biden Administration’s proposed LCRI would help ensure full implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s provisions aimed at removing lead pipes and advancing environmental justice. The lawmakers wrote: “The commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration and EPA extends beyond the LCRI, but a timely final LCRI is necessary to stop the ongoing environmental health crises. The $15 billion in dedicated funding for lead pipe replacement and additional $11.7 billion in grants, loans and principal forgiveness made possible through Congress’s passage of Senator Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources, need the proposed LCRI to be finalized to ensure safe and expedient implementation.”

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA) and is the most significant federal investment in water infrastructure in history, including $15 billion for national lead pipe replacement. DWWIA, which focuses on disadvantaged communities, will help rebuild our nation’s crumbling and dangerous water infrastructure and enable communities to repair and modernize their failing wastewater systems.

Along with Duckworth and Booker, the letter is co-signed in the Senate by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Along with Blunt Rochester, Tlaib, Dingell and Lee, the letter is co-signed in the House by: Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL-20), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Daniel Kildee (D-MI-08), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), James P. McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38), John Sarbanes (D-MA-03), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-07), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-13), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Patrick Ryan (D-NY-18), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Katie Porter (D-CA-47), David J. Trone (D-MD-06), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Gerald Connolly (D-VA-11), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51) and Darren Soto (D-FL-09).

After leading a dozen of their Senate colleagues in calling on EPA to strengthen and enforce the Lead and Copper Rule, Duckworth and Booker applauded the Biden Administration for heeding their request in November of last year. In February, Duckworth, Booker, Tlaib and Dingell urged the Biden Administration to strengthen the rule further by considering additional provisions that would improve and expedite the Biden Administration’s effort to remove all lead service lines from our nation.

The letter is endorsed by: Natural Resources Defense Council, League of Conservation Voters, EarthJustice, Protect Kids From Lead Coalition, National Association of Water Companies, BlueGreen Alliance, Environmental Defense Fund, Unleaded Kids and National Center for Healthy Housing.

The full letter can be found below or on Senator Duckworth’s website:

Dear Director Young:

We appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration’s bold leadership and substantial efforts to remove nearly all lead service lines from across our nation within 10 years. The commitment to ensure safe, lead-free drinking water in every community has been evident through both federal investments and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) proposed rule that was published in December 2023 and submitted for finalization to the White House Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in August 2024. This proposal represents another critical step forward that will protect public health, create jobs and ensure a better future for our children. We write to underscore the importance of finalizing the LCRI before October 16, 2024, to avoid a default implementation of the previous administration’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR).

As you know, if the rule is not finalized by October 16, water systems and states will be required to start complying immediately with the deeply problematic LCRR. EPA concluded that temporary implementation of the LCRR rule from the prior administration will create bureaucratic complexity and confusion for regulated entities, waste scarce resources, result in widespread non-compliance and risk delaying or failing to realize the full benefits of the LCRI. See 88 Fed. Reg. at 84,903, 84,967-69. In addition to the unnecessary potential confusion and complexity, the prior administration’s LCRR would put public health at risk by implementing inadequate policies that do not meaningfully address the lead contamination problems in communities across the country.

Finalizing the LCRI in a timely way also works to protect our most vulnerable. Lead service lines are disproportionately located in low-income communities and communities of color. This increased risk of lead-contaminated drinking water factors into disadvantaged communities’ greater cumulative risk of lead exposure. Early lead exposure can lead to lasting behavioral and intellectual disabilities and research shows that children who were exposed to lead are more likely to have lower socioeconomic statuses than their parents in adulthood. But adults are not exempt from lead’s impacts; exposure causes cardiovascular and renal problems as well as an increase in all-cause mortality. There is no safe level of lead exposure.

The commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration and its EPA extends beyond the LCRI, but a timely final LCRI is necessary to stop the ongoing environmental health crises. The $15 billion in dedicated funding for lead pipe replacement and additional $11.7 billion in grants, loans and principal forgiveness made possible through Congress’s passage of Senator Duckworth’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources, need the proposed LCRI to be finalized to ensure safe and expedient implementation.

A timely final LCRI is necessary to immediately and urgently address lead contamination in communities across the country and remove the estimated 9 million service lines across the nation that contain lead. The final rule will ensure that safe and lead-free drinking water is available in all communities and we look forward to continue working with you on this effort.

Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-ramirez-underwood-celebrate-senate-passage-of-resolution-honoring-wadee-alfayoumi,"Duckworth, Durbin, Ramirez, Underwood Celebrate Senate Passage of Resolution Honoring Wadee Alfayoumi",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) celebrated Senate passage of a resolution honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, a six-year-old Palestinian American boy who was murdered as a victim of a hate crime in Plainfield, Illinois, on October 14, 2023. The lawmakers introduced the resolution earlier this year.

“My heart breaks for the family of Wadee Alfayoumi, the precious, innocent 6-year-old who lost his life in an unimaginably cruel way, just because of his Palestinian Muslim identity,” Duckworth said. “This barbaric, cold-blooded murder was a chilling act of hate against the Palestinian community in Illinois, and we must do everything in our power to denounce and stop more hatred and violence. I’m proud our resolution passed honoring Wadee’s life and legacy. May his memory live on and serve as a reminder that we must be united in our shared goal of ending—rather than perpetuating—the needless suffering of innocent human beings.”

“Wadee Alfayoumi and his mother were violently attacked for no apparent reason other than their religion and their ethnicity. Targeting someone based on their ethnicity or religion is wrong, and targeting an innocent child based on those characteristics is pure hatred. Nearly a year after Wadee Alfayoumi’s young life was taken too soon, our nation continues to mourn with his family,” said Durbin. “By passing this resolution, the United States Senate is honoring and remembering Wadee’s life and condemning all forms of hate.”

“Yesterday’s Passage of S.Res. 847, honoring Wadee Alfayoumi, was an incredibly important step for humanity, for the movement against hate and bigotry, and for this moment,” said Ramirez. “We are 12 days from October 7th and 19 days from the anniversary of Wadee’s murder - both dates marked by children torn from their mothers. While time has passed, we continue to see an escalation of violence in the Middle East, a rise in bigotry and dehumanizing rhetoric, and a rejection of our shared humanity. We must remember Wadee. And his memory must move Speaker Johnson and the House to take up the Concurrent Resolution and bring it to the Floor for a vote after the October Recess.”

“Our community lost a beautiful light when Wadee Alfayoumi was taken from us. He brought so much sunshine and joy to his loved ones and classmates,” Underwood said. “The hatred that took him has no place in our community or in our country. I’m glad to see this resolution pass the Senate, and proud to have worked on it with Wadee’s family and community leaders to honor his life and his memory.”

In addition to Duckworth and Durbin, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-highlights-need-to-better-support-our-nations-military-and-veteran-caregivers-during-dole-foundation-annual-conference,Duckworth Highlights Need to Better Support Our Nation’s Military and Veteran Caregivers During Dole Foundation Annual Conference,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Yesterday, 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 before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel—joined the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s 9th Annual National Convening to highlight the ways Congress can better address and respond to the challenges facing our nation’s more than 14 million military and Veteran caregivers. During a fireside chat at the conference this week, Senator Duckworth also discussed the many ways she’s working to support military families and Veterans to help ensure they have the high-quality care they deserve and have earned through their service. Full video of Senator Duckworth’s conversation at the event can be found on the Dole Foundation’s YouTube page. Photos from the event can be found on the Senator’s website.

“I know from personal experience that we can’t afford for our troops who are in harm’s way to second guess what might happen to them or their family if they become wounded—it hurts our military readiness,” said Senator Duckworth. “Supporting caregivers and supporting the VA isn’t just about doing something humanitarian. It’s about the safety and security of our nation.”

At this year’s annual conference, the Dole Foundation also unveiled a new RAND study that shows the number of military and Veteran caregivers in the U.S. has increased by nearly 9 million over the past decade, and that these caregivers’ health is at risk as they tend to Veterans and Wounded Warriors at home. The significant increase of military and Veteran caregivers across the country and the health risks associated with their work underscores the need for more support from federal programs to help caregivers do these critical jobs.

Duckworth is a fierce advocate for our servicemembers, Veterans and their families. She recently helped secure $2.9 billion to support family caregivers of disabled Veterans and the expansion of the program to include pre-9/11 Veterans in the Fiscal Year 2025 spending bills. In March, Duckworth also announced that she helped secure $2.4 billion to expand benefits and services for military and Veteran caregivers to include health care and mental health services, training adapted to the Veterans’ individual care needs and a direct stipend payment as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-merkley-push-to-ensure-health-insurers-cover-and-provide-lactation-care-for-pregnant-and-nursing-parents,"Duckworth, Merkley Push to Ensure Health Insurers Cover and Provide Lactation Care for Pregnant and Nursing Parents",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans are required to cover lactation services—but many still fail to comply

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) to issue strong recommended guidance for private health insurance plans and insurers to comply with federal law by covering in-person lactation support, supplies and counseling for pregnant and nursing parents across the country. Most health plans are required to cover lactation services under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Senators’ letter expresses concerns that many still fail to comply with federal law, making it harder for pregnant and nursing parents to access quality lactation care.

In their letter, the Senators wrote: “Ensuring that new mothers and the more than 10,000 babies born each day in the United States receive critical preventive care, including comprehensive lactation care, is one of our top priorities… We respectfully request that the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) utilize its existing authority to issue strong, recommended guidance for the legally required coverage of in-person lactation support, supplies and counseling from trained providers for pregnant and nursing parents across the country, as outlined in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).”

The Senators continued: “… the ACA mandated that all non-grandfathered, fully insured and self-insured plans in individual, small group and large group markets are required to cover certain preventive health services without cost-sharing for enrollees. These preventive health services include lactation support, supplies and counseling from trained providers. Despite this mandate, many plans fail to cover and provide adequate access to lactation care.”

Along with Duckworth and Merkley, the letter was cosigned by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

A full copy of the letter is available below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:

Dear Assistant Secretary Gomez:

We write to express our concerns regarding coverage for lactation services by group health plans and health insurance issuers covered under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). We respectfully request that the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) utilize its existing authority to issue strong, recommended guidance for the legally required coverage of in-person lactation support, supplies and counseling from trained providers for pregnant and nursing parents across the country, as outlined in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

On November 18, 2022, Senator Duckworth wrote to the EBSA to voice concerns that insurers were failing to comply with the ACA’s requirements. In response to that correspondence, on December 22, 2022, the EBSA stated they, “share your concern about consumer-reported denials of coverage for lactation care by group health plans and health insurance issuers,” and noted that the EBSA, “work[s] diligently to ensure that coverage of breastfeeding services and supplies is available as required by the ACA and its implementing regulations, and we take the enforcement of these requirements very seriously.”

As you know, the ACA mandated that all non-grandfathered, fully insured and self-insured plans in individual, small group and large group markets are required to cover certain preventive health services without cost-sharing for enrollees. These preventive health services include lactation support, supplies and counseling from trained providers.

Despite this mandate, many plans fail to cover and provide adequate access to lactation care. Our constituents have experienced several barriers to accessing quality lactation care imposed by their health plans or insurers that violate the ERISA and ACA, including:

Inadequate Provider Networks: Some plans do not have enough in-network lactation care providers to cover the needs of enrollees, demonstrating an unwillingness to provide adequate access to such care, as mandated by the ACA;

Failure to Cover Out-of-Network Provider Services: Some plans require cost-sharing or do not pay for claims from out-of-network lactation care providers, despite their own network’s inadequate coverage. This is in direct conflict with applicable regulations that require plans to cover items or services rendered by an out-of-network provider when the plan does not have an in-network provider that can furnish the item or service;

Lack of In-Person Service Coverage: Though lactation care can be provided in person or via telemedicine, there are distinct advantages that come with each type of visit and therefore should be covered equally. From our understanding, some plan’s in-network lactation care providers primarily offer services via telemedicine and do not cover in-person visits in a similar manner. Given their small number of in-network providers, inability to offer adequate in-person services and refusal to pay claims from out-of-network providers who offer in-person services, these plans have effectively created a de facto telemedicine-only network for lactation care. While plans may engage in “reasonable medical management” of lactation care under the ACA, de facto prohibitions on the modality used to provide care are contrary to the law. In a 2015 guidance document, DOL addressed a similar situation, finding that plans limiting coverage of lactation care to services provided during an inpatient hospital admission did not constitute “reasonable medical management.” Similarly, limiting the availability of in-person lactation care by creating a telemedicine-only network is equally problematic under the ACA.

Plans have also imposed referral requirements and have failed to create directories of in-network providers, which also curtail the ACA’s mandate and inhibit access to crucial preventive care for new and expecting mothers and their babies.

As such, we respectfully request that the EBSA utilize its oversight powers to engage with plans about the concerns described above, including potential violations of the ERISA. We also request that the EBSA provide further sub-regulatory guidance to clarify that plans must demonstrate sufficient coverage for all lactation care modalities, including in-person lactation care. Such guidance should provide information on how plans should form and demonstrate a sufficient network of lactation care providers, and, in the absence of a sufficient network, reimburse out-of-network claims.

Ensuring that new mothers and the more than 10,000 babies born each day in the United States receive critical preventive care, including comprehensive lactation care, is one of our top priorities. With our joint commitment to the health and well-being of new mothers and babies in mind, we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-moran-boozman-klobuchar-launch-senate-sustainable-aviation-caucus,"Duckworth, Moran, Boozman, Klobuchar Launch Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus",2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—U.S. Senator and Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently launched the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus to promote the longevity of the aviation industry and renewable fuels.

“As we continue our work to reduce emissions and foster energy independence, one of the most important things we can do is make aviation more sustainable by increasing the use and supply of American-grown, American-made sustainable aviation fuel,” said Senator Duckworth. “To help us do just that, I’m proud to join Senators Moran, Klobuchar and Boozman in launching the Senate’s first-ever Sustainable Aviation Caucus. With this new caucus, I look forward to continuing our work to protect and grow American SAF production for use around the world, while also reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our domestic farmers and economy.”

“As the aviation industry strives for lower emissions and cleaner energy sources, the development and utilization of sustainable aviation fuel will be a critical element,” said Senator Moran. “To help spur development, I am launching the Senate Sustainable Aviation Caucus. The caucus will work together to find ways to promote technologically innovative solutions to create a sustainable aviation industry and increase our nation’s competitiveness in the domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel.”

“I’m pleased to join this initiative to promote education and policies that support sustainable industry practices,” said Senator Boozman. “I look forward to working with leaders of the caucus and stakeholders to advance measures that continue to advance aviation in an environmentally sound manner.”

“Airlines across the country are committed to developing technologies to reduce carbon emissions from air travel,” said Senator Klobuchar. “The expanded use of sustainable aviation fuel will create jobs in rural areas, bolster our national security, and slash carbon emissions. This caucus aims to promote data, research, and innovation in sustainable aviation to ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in this field.”

Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Earlier this year, she helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act which would help accelerate the production and development of SAF through existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs to allow further growth for alternative fuels to be used in the aviation sector and create new markets for American farmers.

Last year, Duckworth introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuels Accuracy Act of 2023 which would identify the standards required to meet the definition of SAF at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Additionally, the Senator created a pilot project in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to promote the use of SAF at military installations and will continue to increase these efforts to expand the use on biofuels whenever possible.

Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL) also created the Congressional Sustainable Aviation Caucus for members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-statement-on-senate-passage-of-continuing-resolution,Duckworth Statement on Senate Passage of Continuing Resolution,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 20, 2024, keeping our government open and sparing working families the pain of a shutdown:

“Today’s vote is good for working families, our economy and our entire nation because it prevents another damaging, needless MAGA shutdown that only hurts our servicemembers, Veterans and taxpayers.

“The House GOP’s efforts to include partisan poison pills and bring our nation to the brink of a shutdown have failed, proving once again that bipartisanship is the only way to move forward. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner ahead of the December funding deadline to pass the critical appropriations bills that our nation needs to keep our government fully funded and working for working families.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-nearly-11-million-in-federal-funding-for-health-care-research-in-illinois,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce Nearly $11 Million in Federal Funding for Health Care Research in Illinois",2024-09-24,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $10,906,668 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grants for Illinois institutions. The federal funding through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from lung diseases to mental health research.

“Investing in our world-renowned medical research facilities and institutions is a critical part in helping ensure high quality health care for all Illinoisans,” Duckworth said. “I will keep working with Senator Durbin to make sure our health organizations have the federal support they need to continue improving mental health research and advancing medical treatments for patients and families across Illinois.”

“Federal investments in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us new treatments for the serious conditions that impact so many American families,” said Durbin. “Illinois’ world-class research institutions will make good use of this federal funding to make devastating diseases more treatable.”

Recipients of HHS grants include:

Chestnut Health Systems, Inc (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs): $759,748

Northwestern University at Chicago (Research for Mothers and Children): $718,900

Northwestern University at Chicago (Nursing Research): $827,872

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Research and Training in Complementary and Alternative Medicine): $671,176

Northwestern University at Chicago (Lung Diseases Research): $2,803,961

Northwestern University at Chicago (Human Genome Research): $745,930

Northwestern University (Aging Research): $388,067

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Mental Health Research Grants): $535,696

Northwestern University at Chicago (Aging Research): $1,536,774

Northwestern University at Chicago (Cancer Treatment Research): $90,538

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-their-letter-duckworth-durbin-applaud-biden-administration-for-approving-illinois-disaster-declaration-following-summer-tornadoes-extreme-weather,"Following their Letter, Duckworth, Durbin Applaud Biden Administration for Approving Illinois Disaster Declaration Following Summer Tornadoes, Extreme Weather",2024-09-23,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The Senators led the Illinois delegation in calling for federal assistance for seven counties

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Biden Administration for approving Governor JB Pritzker’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of Illinois, to support seven Illinois counties in recovering from severe storms in which more than 40 tornadoes spun through Central and Northern Illinois and downstate Illinois flooded between July 13 and July 16, 2024. On August 29, Duckworth and Durbin led the Illinois delegation in sending a letter to President Biden in support of Governor Pritzker’s request for federal assistance.

“As communities across Illinois continue recovering from this summer’s severe storms, it’s clear we must do everything possible to better prepare for and mitigate additional loss in the future,” said Duckworth. “I'm thankful President Biden is heeding our request for assistance and providing this federal support to impacted communities. I’ll continue working to bring home critical resources that help folks in every corner of the state prepare for and recover from future hazardous weather and natural disasters.”

“Severe summer storms have become increasingly common, placing strain on communities left in its wake. This summer, Illinois saw tornadoes, flooding, and damaging winds that put Illinoisans in danger and impacted several counties across the state,” said Durbin. “Thankfully, President Biden has recognized the severity of the situation and responded to our request. Illinoisans will have access to the federal support they need to rebuild and prepare for the next disaster.”

The federal assistance includes grants for individuals to recover from the storms, as well as take hazard mitigation measures to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from future natural disasters. The counties eligible for the assistance are Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago Counties.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance today by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-join-murray-senate-democrats-in-introducing-resolution-to-recognize-patients-rights-to-emergency-health-care,"Duckworth, Durbin Join Murray, Senate Democrats in Introducing Resolution to Recognize Patients’ Rights to Emergency Health Care",2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Abortion Bans Have Delayed Emergency Medical Care. In Georgia, Experts Say Were This Mother’s Death Was Preventable.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 38 of their Democratic colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution to reinforce the standard that every patient has the basic right to emergency health care, including abortion care, regardless of where they live. The introduction comes as new reporting from ProPublica makes plain that Republican abortion bans are preventing women from receiving lifesaving emergency health care and resulting in preventable deaths.

“When we warned Donald Trump and Senate Republicans that women would die if they succeeded in overturning Roe, they called us fearmongers. Tragically, it’s now painfully obvious that we were right,” Duckworth said. “We cannot wait for more women to die a preventable death because of Republicans’ draconian abortion bans—we must protect reproductive rights and women’s access to emergency medical care nationwide, and Democrats are working tirelessly to do just that.”

“When a woman arrives at the emergency room, she should not be worried about whether or not she will receive necessary medical treatment. Her family should not have to worry that their loved one may die because politics interfered with medical decision making. But because the right-wing supermajority on the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, as Donald Trump promised, that is exactly what is happening,” said Durbin. “I’m joining my colleagues in introducing this legislation to make clear that we will not give up the fight for women to receive the medical care they need, especially in emergency circumstances where access to care is a matter of life and death.”

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade over two years ago, nearly two dozen US states led by Republicans have passed, banned or severely restricted access to abortion. These strict laws have created confusion around the treatment doctors can provide even when a pregnant patient’s life is in danger, as physicians fear that they may lose their medical license, be sued, or even charged with a felony if they perform life-saving emergency care. Despite the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act’s (EMTALA) requirements that Medicare-participating hospitals treat and stabilize pregnant patients in need of emergency medical care, women are being turned away from emergency rooms following the Dobbs decision.

In Moyle v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court had the opportunity to reaffirm that federal law requires pregnant patients to have access to life-saving emergency care in every state, but instead, the Court dismissed the case and sent it back to the lower courts, effectively punting on making a decision on the case itself. While the litigation continues in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the health and lives of women remain at risk as uncertainty around emergency abortion care persists. 121 Congressional Republicans, including 26 Senators, filed an amicus brief arguing that EMTALA does not require hospitals to provide abortion care as emergency stabilizing care in order to save a patient’s life.

In addition to Duckworth, Durbin and Murray, this resolution is co-led by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and co-sponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Marin Heinrich (D-NV), George Helmy (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

The resolution is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Reproductive Freedom For All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Power to Decide, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Guttmacher Institute, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, All* Above All, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, National Council of Jewish Women and National Partnership for Women and Families.

Last week, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) introduced the House companion to yesterday’s Senate resolution.

The full text of the resolution can be found on Senator Murray’s website.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-quigley-announce-more-than-300-million-in-federal-funding-for-transportation-infrastructure-improvements-in-chicago,"Duckworth, Durbin Quigley Announce More Than $300 Million in Federal Funding for Transportation Infrastructure Improvements in Chicago",2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $305,467,517 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Mega Program. With this federal funding, the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $209,877,984 for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program and $95,589,533 for the I-290/IL171 (1st Avenue) Interchange Project. These projects will aim to reduce traffic delays, increase rail junction safety, and improve mobility throughout Chicago.

DOT’s Mega Grant Program provides federal funding for large projects of regional significance and is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the lawmakers worked to pass.

“Investing in our transportation infrastructure is about more than just improving our roads, bridges and rail lines, it’s about growing our economy and making getting to work, school and throughout our communities faster, safer and more efficient,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to see this federal funding coming to our state today for two critically important projects Senator Durbin and I have been championing for years and with it improvements in these local communities, and an increase in good-paying jobs in our region and more.”

“Today’s funding is a major investment in the future of our transportation infrastructure. Chicagoans will be better connected because of these two infrastructure projects, which will improve the safety and quality of our rail system and roadways,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and I have long supported these investments, and I’m glad to see these federal dollars go toward improving safety and alleviating congestion in a region that desperately needs it.”

“This funding announcement is critical to helping CREATE in their mission to improve rail operations in Chicago for both passengers and freight. As the Ranking Member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee, I have an in-depth understanding of the needs facing our freight, commuter, and intercity passenger rail,” said Quigley. “Luckily, the CREATE Program has stepped up to the task and broken ground on numerous rail improvement projects throughout the region. In May, I visited their Forest Hill Flyover site, where I witnessed firsthand the efficiency and safety improvements CREATE is making. From adjacent neighborhoods to the nation's supply chain, I know that the benefits of this funding will extend far beyond Chicago’s city limits.”

The CREATE Program brings together the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Metra, Amtrak, and the nation’s freight railroads in a partnership to eliminate transit bottlenecks, boost the economy, and improve overall safety of the Chicagoland area.

Today’s announced funding will advance the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, a three-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago’s South Side, which approximately 90 freight trains and 30 Metra commuter trains use daily. The project will reconfigure track segments and signals at Belt Junction, add a third track to the Norfolk Southern line, replace and restore 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures, and implement mobility improvements on surface streets throughout the corridor. Durbin and Duckworth have long championed rail improvements, having helped secure $132 million in federal funding to begin this project in 2018.

The I-290/IL 171 (1st Avenue) Interchange Project will reconstruct portions of I-290, reconstruct and upgrade the 1st Avenue interchange, and implement signalized interchanges at Van Buren Street and Maybrook Drive. It also will install a supplemental trunk sewer along I-290 and a frontage road sewer along Bataan Drive. This work aims to alleviate congestion and address flooding issues.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-ricketts-bera-wittman-launch-bipartisan-bicameral-quad-caucus-ahead-of-quad-leaders-summit,"Duckworth, Ricketts, Bera, Wittman Launch Bipartisan, Bicameral Quad Caucus Ahead of Quad Leaders Summit",2024-09-20,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE)—members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee— joined U.S. Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06) and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) in launching the bipartisan Senate and House Quad Caucuses. This announcement comes ahead of this weekend’s Quad Leaders Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, where President Biden will welcome heads of state from Australia, India and Japan. The Quad is committed to supporting the region’s development, stability and prosperity to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. The leaders’ ambitious efforts include major initiatives on infrastructure, maritime security, public-private partnership, climate, health, critical and emerging technologies and space.

“Over the years, the Quad has represented the United States’ steadfast commitment to the current and future prosperity, strength and stability of the Indo-Pacific region—and proof of our ability to come together with allies and partners to uphold our shared principles,” said Senator Duckworth. “In a strong display of bipartisan support for the region, I’m proud to help launch the Senate’s first-ever Quad Caucus alongside co-chair Senator Ricketts ahead of President Biden’s leaders’ summit this weekend. Together, we’re sending a strong message to our allies and partners—and our competitors—that the United States is here for the long haul.”

“Partnerships like the Quad are our greatest strength in protecting a prosperous, free and open Indo-Pacific against coercion and malign aggression The launch of the bipartisan Senate Quad Caucus should send a clear signal about the growing importance of the United States, Australia, Japan, and India working closely together in the region. We are committed to finding tangible ways to bolster collaboration with our Quad partners,” said Senator Ricketts.

“As the Indo-Pacific becomes increasingly important to global security and economic prosperity, it is essential that the United States continues to strengthen relationships with our Quad partners,” said Congressman Bera. “The launch of the Quad Caucus underscores our shared commitment to fostering peace, stability, and development in the region. By promoting collaboration on key issues like maritime security, infrastructure, and climate, we can ensure a safer and more prosperous future for all.”

“Cooperation between the United States, Japan, India, and Australia is crucial for the future stability of the Indo-Pacific,” said Congressman Wittman. “The Quad’s support for the governance of emerging technologies, countering illegal fishing, and enhanced maritime domain awareness proves that we will build a better future for the region by working together. I am proud to join my colleagues to launch this bicameral, bipartisan Quad Caucus to foster stable collaboration for years to come.”

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been a leader in strengthening relationships with countries in the Indo-Pacific. In July, Duckworth led an official Senate visit to Laos and Vietnam to reinforce America’s commitment to our partners in ASEAN and strengthen U.S.-ASEAN economic ties. In May, Duckworth led a bipartisan delegation to Singapore to participate in this year’s International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, where she and other Senators reaffirmed our nation’s strong bipartisan commitment to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific. Last year, Duckworth met with ASEAN leaders on an official Senate visit to Indonesia to reinforce U.S. partnership throughout the region and find opportunities to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as countering climate change, increasing energy security and ensuring regional stability and freedom of navigation.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-booker-introduce-legislation-to-protect-kangaroos-by-ending-the-sale-of-commercial-products-made-with-kangaroo-skin-in-the-us,"Duckworth, Booker Introduce Legislation to Protect Kangaroos by Ending the Sale of Commercial Products Made with Kangaroo Skin in the U.S.",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation to protect the estimated two million wild kangaroos who are needlessly killed every year for the use of their leather in commercial products. The killing of kangaroos for their leather, also known as “k-leather,” is currently the largest commercial slaughter of mammals worldwide driven by demand for their skin in certain models of soccer cleats. To help reverse this inhumane trend and safeguard the kangaroo species from commercial exploitation, the Senators’ Kangaroo Protection Act would ban the sale and manufacturing of products made from kangaroo skin, as well as the sale of kangaroo skin itself. Additionally, this legislation would empower the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with other agencies, to issue civil and criminal penalties of fines up to $10,000 and other regulations.

“The mass killing of millions of kangaroos to make commercial products is needless and inhumane—and we must do better,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to introduce this bill with Senator Booker that would help prevent the deadly exploitation of kangaroos and promote the use of more humane alternatives to k-leather.”

“We must take action to conserve the kangaroo species and end their inhumane exploitation,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will ensure that no one in the United States can distribute kangaroo products for commercial benefits.”

The commercial slaughter of kangaroos isn’t just widespread—it’s unnecessarily cruel. It uses similar killing methods and is ten times larger than the infamously brutal Canadian seal hunt, which prompted the United States to ban the import of seal pelts in 1972. Despite having similar import bans for other animals, the U.S. is currently the second largest commercial market for k-leather products in the world. The Senators’ proposed legislation would help change that.

Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

A similar version of the bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2021, which had 17 co-signers and strong bipartisan support.

“Commercial shooters slay perhaps 1.5 million kangaroos a year in their native habitats for parts, mainly used in soccer cleats, sold across the world,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. “Senator Duckworth’s bill puts a stop to that commerce in the United States, and it will prevent the mass orphaning of joeys whose mothers are killed in merciless and indiscriminate nighttime shoots.”

This legislation is supported by over 150 organizations, including: Alaqua Animal Refuge & Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (Freeport, FL), Albuquerque Vegan (NM), Animal & Earth Advocates (Seattle, WA), Animal Advocates of South Central Pennsylvania, Animal Alliance Network, Animal Behavior and Healing (Portland, ME), Animal Care Society (Mathews, VA), Animal Protection Affiliates (NV), Animal Protection League of New Jersey, Animal Protection New Mexico, Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, Animal Rights Initiative, Animal Rights Maine, Animal Save Movement, Animal Welfare Society (Kennebunk, ME), Animal Wellness Action, Animal Wellness Foundation, Animals’ Angels, Arizona Humane Society, Arrow Fund (Louisville, KY), Ballydídean Farm Sanctuary (Clinton, WA), Berkshire Voters for Animals (MA), Bleating Hearts Sanctuary (Golden, CO), Boulder Bear Coalition (CO), Bucky’s Bull Rescue (Cedar Grove, WI), Cedar Cove Conservation & Education Center (Louisburg, KS), Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates (SC), Christian Animal Rights Association, Citizens for Alternatives to Animal Research and Experimentation (CAARE), Colorado Voters for Animals, Connecticut Votes for Animals, DC Voters for Animals, Difference Makers Media (Wilmette, IL), Direct Action Everywhere (Berkeley, CA), EarthAction, Endangered Habitats League (West Hollywood, CA), Endangered Species Coalition, Environmental Protection Information Center (CA), Fair Start Movement, Federation of Humane Organizations of West Virginia, Forever Home Beagle Rescue (Pittsburgh, PA), Four Paws USA (Boston, MA), Friends of the Merry Meeting Bay (Richmond, ME), Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf and Wildlife, Global Coalition of Farm Sanctuaries, Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Good Karma Pet Rescue (Pompano Beach, FL), Green Mountain Animal Defenders (Burlington, VT), Heart of Alabama (Killen, AL), Hope Haven Farm Sanctuary (Sewickley, PA), Hotchkiss Humane Society (CT), Howling for Wolves (Hopkins, MN), Humane Action Pennsylvania, Humane Action Pittsburgh (PA), Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh (PA), Humane Long Island (NY), Humane Society of Central Arizona, Humane Society of Huron Valley (MI), Humane Voters of Washington, In Defense of Animals, Indraloka Animal Sanctuary (Dalton, PA), Indraloka Sanctuary Children’s Programs (Dalton, PA), Jefferson County Humane Society (OH), Jewish Vegan Life, Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch (Darlington, PA), Klamath Forest Alliance (CA), LA Animal Save (Los Angeles, CA), Lancaster Farm Sanctuary (PA), League of Humane Voters – Georgia, League of Humane Voters - New Jersey, Los Angeles Alliance for Animals (CA), Maine Animal Coalition, Maine Friends of Animals, Marley’s Mutts (Tehachapi, CA), Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals (NY), Michelson Center for Public Policy, Misfits Coven Animal Haven (Pittsburgh, PA), New Hampshire Animal Rights League, North Country Animal League (Morrisville, VT), Northeast Equine Rescue (West Newbury, ME), NYC Plover Project (New York City, NY), NYCLASS (New York City, NY), Ocean Conservation Research, Oceanic Preservation Society, OceansWide (Newcastle, ME), Off the Plate Farm Animal Sanctuary (Montgomery, VT), Out to Pasture Animal Sanctuary (Estacada, OR), Off the Table Farm Sanctuary (Westfield, WI), Palm Springs Animal Shelter (CA), Pasado’s Safe Haven (Sultan, WA), Patchwork Pastures (Wantage, NJ), Pawsitive Beginnings, Inc. (Key Largo, FL), Peace Ridge Sanctuary (Brooks, ME), Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary (Deer Trail, CO), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Pigsburgh Squealers (Tarentum, PA), Pittie Posse Rescue (ME), Pittsburgh Vegan Society (PA), Plant-Based Treaty, Plant Peace Daily (Glorieta, NM), Pollination Project (Marin County, CA), Project Animal Freedom (Eureka, MO), Protect Our Wildlife Vermont, Revolution Philadelphia (PA), Rise for Animals, Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary (Imlay, NV), Sanctuary Education Advisory Specialists (East Hartford, CT), Santa Fe Vegan (NM), Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (CA), Save Our Sky Blue Waters (Duluth, MN), Social Compassion in Legislation (Laguna Beach, CA), SPCA International, SPCA of Hancock County (ME), Supporting and Promoting Animal Ethics for the Animal Kingdom (SPEAK) (Tucson, AZ), Switch4Good (Irvine, CA), The Center for a Humane Economy, The Urban Wildlands Group (Los Angeles, CA), The Wild Animal Sanctuary (Keenesburg, CO), Their Turn, Trailsafe Nevada, Turtle Island Restoration Network (CA/TX), Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry (Boulder, CO), Vegan Pittsburgh (PA), Veganville Animal Sanctuary (Seaside, OR), VENDX (Edgewater, FL), Vermont Wildlife Patrol, Victorian Kangaroo Alliance, Voice for Animals (York, ME), Voices of Wildlife in New Hampshire, Voters for Animal Rights (Brooklyn, NY), West Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare, Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates, Western Wildlife Outreach (WA), WildAid (San Francisco, CA), World Vegan Vision (Paterson, NJ) and Wyoming Wildlife Advocates.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-join-cortez-masto-in-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-hispanic-heritage-month-resolution,"Duckworth, Durbin Join Cortez Masto in Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing a bipartisan resolution to formally recognize Hispanic Heritage Month—which is celebrated from September 15 through October 15. The resolution successfully passed the Senate this week.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is a chance for us to come together to celebrate the leaders, change-makers and trailblazers of the Latino community throughout Illinois and our nation,” Duckworth said. “Their diversity makes us stronger—always.”

“I’m proud to join my Senate colleagues in celebrating the heritage and cultural traditions of the Hispanic and Latino community in Illinois and across the United States by cosponsoring and passing a resolution in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Our state, and country, are made better by the contributions of these communities,” said Durbin.

The resolution recognizes the immense contributions of Latinos and Latinas to the economy, culture and identity of the United States. Hispanic Americans are the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the U.S., representing more than 65 million people—19.5 percent of the U.S. population—plus another 3.2 million in Puerto Rico. Thirteen states, including Illinois, have one million or more Latino and Latina residents.

Along with Duckworth, Durbin, Cortez Masto and Cornyn, this resolution was co-sponsored by, Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), George Helmy (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Rick Scott (R-FL).

The full text of the resolution can be found here.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-lummis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-support-entrepreneurs-with-disabilities,"Duckworth, Lummis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Support Entrepreneurs with Disabilities",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship—and U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve reporting on entrepreneurs with disabilities so we can better understand what they need and help more of them start and grow successful small businesses. The bipartisan Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to file a report to Congress on the challenges and needs that entrepreneurs with disabilities face when starting or running a small business. Specifically, the report would include what resources the SBA currently offers entrepreneurs with disabilities, the challenges in meeting the needs of this community as well as any legislative recommendations to improve how SBA serves entrepreneurs with disabilities.

“We should be doing everything we can to provide Americans with disabilities with the support they need to start and grow small businesses and pursue careers in entrepreneurship,” said Senator Duckworth. “By improving our understanding of what entrepreneurs with disabilities need through better reporting, we can make well-informed decisions and enable more of them to make their dreams of starting a business a reality—all while boosting our economy along the way. This bipartisan bill already passed the House, and I’m proud to lead this legislation in the Senate with Senator Lummis as we push to get it signed into law.”

“Entrepreneurship is a vital part of the American dream, but a lack of resources often prevents many Americans with disabilities from owning their own business,” said Senator Lummis. “Our bipartisan solution will contribute to empowering Americans with disabilities to pursue their passions and realize their dreams of business ownership.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people with a disability in our country grew while the number of entrepreneurs with disabilities fell. The causes of this decline are under-researched due to lack of data on the resources available to entrepreneurs with disabilities. By directing the SBA to submit a report to Congress within 180 days after the legislation is enacted, the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act would help improve research so we could learn how to better support this community in their efforts to join the workforce and start or grow small businesses.

Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

This bipartisan legislation is an identical companion bill that was introduced by U.S. Representative Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3) and successfully passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives in April.

“Too often, Americans with disabilities face barriers to entrepreneurship and joining the workforce—my Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Reporting Act would help Congress better understand those barriers so we can break them down and give everyone a fair shot at the American dream,” said Congressman McGarvey. “We worked hard to get it passed through the House, and I’m grateful that Senator Duckworth and Senator Lummis are partnering with us to get it one step closer to the finish line. I look forward to working together to get our bill to President Biden's desk!”

The legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), CCD Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and Melissa Ortiz, founder of Capability Consulting and former Commissioner of the Administration on Disability at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Duckworth has consistently worked to help ensure disadvantaged small businesses owners have better access to capital, including passing legislation to leverage approximately $64 million in support of minority-owned small businesses and other underserved small business interests.

Duckworth is also leading the push to codify the highly popular and successful the “Boots to Business” program, an entrepreneurship education and training program for servicemembers, Veterans, National Guard and Reserve Members as well as military spouses transitioning from military service to civilian life. Duckworth previously introduced legislation to help increase support to female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses, and she helped introduce legislation that would increase fairness and equity in federal contracting to help small businesses owned by socially and disadvantaged individuals, including minorities, women and Veterans, secure federal contracts.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-excoriates-senate-gop-after-they-again-block-her-bill-to-protect-ivf-and-lower-costs-for-families-despite-republicans-claims-of-ivf-support,"Duckworth Excoriates Senate GOP After They Again Block Her Bill to Protect IVF and Lower Costs for Families, Despite Republicans’ Claims of IVF Support",2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"This is the second time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act and the fourth time they blocked Duckworth-led legislation to protect IVF access nationwide

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) called out Senate Republicans’ hypocrisy on the Senate floor after they once again blocked her Right to IVF Act—which they first blocked in June—while continuing to falsely claim that they support IVF. The Senate GOP’s disheartening decision to block the pro-freedom, pro-family legislation a second time comes after Donald Trump promised that the federal government would cover IVF if he is re-elected and proves that Republicans have no interest in actually doing something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. The Right to IVF Act would require health insurers to cover IVF and would establish a nationwide right for hopeful parents to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART). A video of Senator Duckworth’s remarks is available on YouTube.

Key quotes:

After 10 years of struggling with infertility after being wounded in combat, I was only able to have my two girls through the medical marvel that is IVF. The only reason there are PB&Js for me to make… the only reason there are only tiny sneakers for me to Velcro… is because after I came home from war, I had the freedom to seek the health care I needed to make my dream of going from “Tammy” to “mommy” a reality.

I doubt that Donald Trump even knows what the acronym “IVF” stands for. Half the time I wonder if he can even spell “IVF.” But despite the incoherent, delusional, frankly embarrassing ramblings that came out of his mouth last week, the reality is that he is the reason IVF is at risk in the first place. The Dobbs decision is what led us to today’s nightmare, taking the power to decide how and when to start families from us women and handing it to politicians in state houses across the country.

I went to war to defend this nation’s rights and freedoms. I did it because I believed so deeply in the importance of that mission. I wasn’t asking my GOP colleagues to head into combat to show that they cared deeply, too. I wasn’t asking them to do anything hard at all, actually. All I was asking of them was simply to support a bill that could’ve represented millions of women’s only chance of starting families. All I was asking of them was to vote in a way that reflected the position they claimed to have when they were spouting talking points on Fox News. They couldn’t even do that. So on behalf of every woman who has faced the heart-shattering struggle of infertility, all I can say to my Republican colleagues this afternoon is: Shame. On. You.

Senator Duckworth’s remarks as prepared are below:

This morning, I got to pack my daughters’ lunchboxes.

It sounds mundane, I know.

But when I spend just a second thinking about it, even that kind of everyday moment with my girls isn’t mundane at all.

It’s a miracle.

Because after 10 years of struggling with infertility after being wounded in combat, I was only able to have my two girls through the medical marvel that is IVF.

The only reason there are PB&Js for me to make…

The only reason there are only tiny sneakers for me to Velcro…

Is because after I came home from war, I had the freedom to seek the health care I needed to make my dream of going from “Tammy” to “mommy” a reality.

I was one of the lucky ones.

Because now, that freedom to get reproductive care is at risk for millions of other women whose most desperate hope in the world is to have a little one of their own.

Make no mistake: That isn’t some future nightmare. This is our present reality.

Countless women already had their IVF treatments interrupted this year after an Alabama State Supreme Court ruling painted women seeking fertility treatment as criminals.

And in this perilous moment for our country… as we stare down November and all the uncertainties that come with it… there’s no telling how many more will follow.

Look, I doubt that Donald Trump even knows what the acronym “IVF” stands for.

Half the time I wonder if he can even spell “IVF.”

But despite the incoherent… delusional… frankly embarrassing ramblings that came out of his mouth last week, the reality is that he is the reason IVF is at risk in the first place.

The Dobbs decision is what led us to today’s nightmare, taking the power to decide how and when to start families from us women and handing it to politicians in state houses across the country.

Donald Trump is the one who brags about taking down Roe.

Donald Trump is the one who acts like that’s something to be proud of.

He’s like a bank robber who steals cash out of the till and flees the scene, then still expects a reward for calling the police to report a crime.

So while it may now be convenient for him to claim that his support of IVF is as huge as the made-up crowd sizes at his rallies, we know the truth:

He is the reason that IVF is in danger.

He is to blame—he and every other Republican who cares more about staying good with Trump than about doing good for the Americans they are supposed to serve.

Many… too many… of those Republicans are in this very chamber.

I know that because today marked the THIRD time in the past seven months that I’ve come to the floor begging my Republican colleagues to help me pass legislation I wrote that’d protect every American’s right to IVF, regardless of what state they live in…

A bill that’d ensure no doctor or hopeful mom could be criminalized for trying to start a family…

One that would permit all health insurers to cover the treatments…

And one that would require the federal health insurance plan to cover reproductive technologies, allowing our troops to preserve their sperm or eggs before deploying to a combat zone.

When I tried to pass it in February, it took the junior Republican Senator from Mississippi what seemed like not even one full “Mississippi” second to block its passage.

Then, when I tried to pass it again in June, nearly every GOP member voted it down.

Today, it was the same old cynical story, as Republican after Republican voted “no,” “no,” “no.”

At this point, it’s obvious:

Despite whatever talking points they force through gritted teeth on cable news… when the rubber hits the road and the vote is called… Republicans will do anything to get out of actually passing legislation that would protect women’s right to access reproductive care.

Women in this country have been through enough.

What women don’t need is a man who was found liable for sexual abuse controlling what we can or can’t do with our bodies.

What we don’t need are politicians who have sworn fealty to a convicted felon treating us like we’re the ones who are criminals.

It’s tragic.

Republicans only seem to care about protecting life when it supposedly consists of some cells in a medical lab freezer.

But what about when that life is a fifth-grader’s, whose school day gets shattered by a man with an AR-15 who wants to turn math class into a massacre?

What about when that life is their neighbor’s, who is yet one more woman to bleed out on the delivery table, as the maternal mortality crisis among women of color rages on?

Well, then those same Republicans couldn’t seem to care less about defending the sanctity of life.

Listen, I’m sure that some of my colleagues will try to slink away from taking any accountability here.

Per usual, they’ll shout some ridiculous excuse, like that this bill would allow for human-animal hybrids, as if anyone would ever believe that.

Well, to those folks, I say that this afternoon’s vote was your chance to put your vote where your mouth is…

It was your chance to prove that you believe that every woman in this country deserves the chance to be called “mama” without also being called a criminal.

Instead, your true policy beliefs… your hypocrisy… your misogyny… showed through.

Look, I went to war to defend this nation’s rights and freedoms.

I did it because I believed so deeply in the importance of that mission.

I wasn’t asking my GOP colleagues to head into combat to show that they cared deeply, too.

I wasn’t asking them to do anything hard at all, actually.

All I was asking of them was simply to support a bill that could’ve represented millions of women’s only chance of starting families.

All I was asking of them was to vote in a way that reflected the position they claimed to have when they were spouting talking points on Fox News.

They couldn’t even do that.

So on behalf of every woman who has faced the heart-shattering struggle of infertility, all I can say to my Republican colleagues this afternoon is:

Shame. On. You.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-schumer-murray-booker-and-senate-democrats-urge-senate-republicans-to-pass-duckworths-right-to-ivf-act-make-it-easier-to-access-ivf-nationwide,"Duckworth, Schumer, Murray, Booker & Senate Democrats Urge Senate Republicans to Pass Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, Make It Easier to Access IVF Nationwide",2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Duckworth, Schumer, Murray, Booker & Senate Democrats Urge Senate Republicans to Pass Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, Make It Easier to Access IVF Nationwide

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and other Senate Democrats on the Senate Steps to urge Senate Republicans to pass Senator Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act when it comes to the floor for a vote today. This renewed effort comes after Donald Trump promised that the federal government would cover IVF if he is re-elected and represents a second chance for Senate Republicans to pass this pro-freedom, pro-family legislation and actually do something that would make it easier for Americans struggling with infertility to access IVF. In June, Senate Republicans blocked the Right to IVF Act, which would require health insurers to cover IVF—as well as establish a nationwide right for hopeful parents to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART). A video of Senator Duckworth’s remarks is available on YouTube and the full press conference can be found on the Senator’s Twitter/X page. Photos of the press conference are available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

“If Donald Trump—the self-proclaimed ‘leader of fertilization’ despite being the reason IVF is at risk in the first place—really wants IVF to be covered, now is the time for him to prove it,” said Senator Duckworth. “Now is the time for him to call on Senate Republicans to pass my Right to IVF Act today so we can protect IVF nationwide while making it easier for Veterans and middle class families to access the fertility treatment they need. The American people know by now we have to watch what Trump and Republicans do, not what they say. It’s past time for Senate Republicans to put their votes where their mouths are.”

“From the moment the MAGA Supreme Court eliminated Roe, the hard right made it clear that they would stop at nothing to limit choice and take away a woman’s right to her own reproductive freedom. Now, conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation have spoken plainly and clearly that IVF is their next target,” said Leader Schumer. “Today, the Senate will once again vote on the Right to IVF Act. If Senate Republicans vote no today, and strike IVF protections down yet again, it will be further proof that Project 2025 is alive and well. Republicans claim they are pro-family; well there is nothing more pro-family than IVF. I urge our Republican colleagues to allow us to get on this bill and codify the right to this vital protection.”

“The only reason IVF is in jeopardy is because Donald Trump overturned Roe v. Wade,” said Senator Murray. “Republicans are willing to say they support IVF but aren’t willing to vote for it and aren’t even willing to disavow fetal personhood. Republicans in Congress are playing the same game as Trump: posturing as pro-family while voting down this bill to help families grow, pretending to support IVF while championing fetal personhood. Despite Republicans’ record, their empty claims about IVF support are only getting more and more brazen. If Republicans are serious about supporting IVF and if Trump’s promise to help families pay for it is more than bluster, there is no reason we can’t pass this bill into law and help a lot of people. Republicans need to realize that families have been listening to what they say—and today they are going to be watching how they vote.”

“Today is a second chance for the Senate to pass the Right to IVF Act and protect the fundamental freedom to grow and start a family for every single American,” said Senator Booker. “Extreme court rulings across our country have continued to show us that reproductive freedoms and access to IVF treatments are in grave danger. In June, the GOP blocked this comprehensive bill and denied countless families the opportunity and right to make a personal decision about starting a family. I urge my Republican colleagues in the Senate to reconsider and join us today to pass this package of bills to protect IVF in America.”

Senator Duckworth’s remarks as prepared are below:

This morning, I got to pack my daughters’ lunchboxes.

It sounds mundane, I know.

But when I spend just a second thinking about it, even that kind of everyday moment with my girls isn’t mundane at all.

It’s a miracle.

Because after 10 years of struggling with infertility after being wounded in combat, I was only able to have my two girls through IVF.

The only reason there are PB&Js for me to make.

The only reason there are tiny sneakers for me to Velcro.

Is because after I came home from war, I had the freedom to seek the health care I needed to make my dream of going from “Tammy” to “mommy” a reality.

But now, thanks to Donald Trump, that right to get reproductive care is at risk for millions of women across this country.

Look, I doubt that Trump even knows what the acronym “IVF” stands for. Half the time I wonder if he can even spell “IVF.”

But despite the incoherent, delusional, frankly embarrassing ramblings that came out of his mouth last week, he is the reason IVF is at risk in the first place.

He’s like a bank robber who steals cash out of the till and flees the scene, then still expects a reward for calling the police to report a crime.

So while it may now be convenient for him to claim that his support of IVF is as huge as the made-up crowd sizes at his rallies, we know the truth:

He is to blame—he and every other Republican who cares more about staying good with Trump than about doing good for the Americans they serve.

Women in this country have been through enough.

What women don’t need is a man who was found liable for sexual abuse controlling what we can or can’t do with our bodies.

What we don’t need are politicians who have sworn fealty to a convicted felon treating us like we’re the ones who are criminals.

Listen, I’m sure that some of my Republican colleagues are gonna run to the nearest camera to claim that their actions have simply been misunderstood.

Well, to those colleagues, I say that today’s vote is your chance to put your vote where your mouth is.

To prove you believe that every woman in this country deserves the chance to be called “mama” without also being called a criminal.

Because look, I went to war to defend this nation’s rights and freedoms.

I did it because I believed so deeply in the importance of that mission.

I’m not asking Republicans to head into combat to show that they care deeply, too.

I’m not asking them to do anything difficult at all, actually.

All I’m asking of them is to simply support this bill that could represent millions of women’s only chance of starting a family.

All I’m asking of them is to vote in a way that reflects the position they claim to have when they’re spouting talking points on cable news.

With that, I’ll hand it over.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-schumer-murray-booker-slam-republican-hypocrisy-after-senate-gop-again-blocks-their-bill-to-protect-ivf-and-lower-costs-for-families-despite-republicans-claims-of-ivf-support,"Duckworth, Schumer, Murray, Booker Slam Republican Hypocrisy After Senate GOP Again Blocks Their Bill to Protect IVF and Lower Costs for Families, Despite Republicans’ Claims of IVF Support",2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"This is the second time Senate Republicans, who claim to be “pro-IVF,” blocked the Right to IVF Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) called out Senate Republicans’ hypocrisy after nearly every single Republican blocked the Senate Democrats’ Right to IVF Act—now the second time they’ve done so after first blocking the bill in June—despite them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families. This was Senate Republicans’ second chance to pass this pro-family, pro-freedom legislative package that would both establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees, as well as lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. In June, Duckworth slammed Senate Republicans for blocking her previous legislation to protect IVF access after the Alabama Supreme Court ruling shut down state clinics and painted IVF parents and their doctors as criminals. After doing the same thing today, the Senate GOP once again proved that their public “support for IVF” is nothing but a ruse to mislead voters—which Senator Duckworth highlighted in her floor remarks today.

“Today’s vote was Senate Republicans’ chance to put their vote where their mouths are—but instead, their true policy beliefs, hypocrisy and misogyny showed through,” said Senator Duckworth. “By blocking my Right to IVF Act for the second time in just a few months, Republicans proved that when the rubber meets the road they will do anything to get out of actually passing legislation that would protect women’s right to access reproductive care. On behalf of every woman who has faced the heart-shattering struggle of infertility, all I can say to my Republican colleagues is: Shame on you.”

“Republicans cannot claim to care about supporting families while voting against protections for IVF, but for the second time this year, they did just that,” said Leader Schumer. “Instead of standing with families struggling with infertility, they stood with Project 2025, showing once again just how strong a chokehold this extreme agenda has on Senate Republicans. Senate Democrats will not stop fighting to protect reproductive rights and access to IVF.”

“Trump doesn’t get credit for opposing a problem that he caused in the first place, especially when his party—the party he leads—won’t let us solve it,” said Senator Murray. “The entire country just saw, plain as day, that Donald Trump is lying again and that nothing has changed for Republicans since they overturned Roe v. Wade. Nothing has changed for Republicans despite Trump’s imaginary leadership on IVF. But Democrats are not going to stop pushing and I have a message for my Republican colleagues who think they can talk about this issue, make big promises to desperate families—like Trump’s promise to cover IVF treatment—and then fail to follow through: that promise may just be an empty soundbite to Donald Trump, but it is so personal to families, and those families have been listening to your words, they saw how you voted today, and they will not forget it.”

“For a second time this summer, Senate Republicans voted to deny American families the fundamental right to make their own decisions about starting a family,” said Senator Booker. “I am disappointed to see the Right to IVF Act fail today and am disappointed that the majority of Senate Republicans voted against a legislative package to protect IVF despite publicly claiming over and over again that they support IVF. Democrats will continue fighting for all Americans’ reproductive freedom and advocate for comprehensive reproductive health care that is affordable, accessible, and safe. The American people deserve that.”

Ahead of today’s vote on their Right to IVF Act, Senators Duckworth, Schumer, Murray and Booker joined Senate Democrats for a press conference to underscore the urgent need to pass the Right to IVF Act as Republicans continue their anti-choice, anti-science crusade. Earlier this year, Senators Duckworth and Murray released the following fact sheet that outlines the very real and growing threat Republican lawmakers in Congress and across the country are posing to IVF and other ART.

Building on the lawmakers’ previous efforts to protect and strengthen access to IVF, the Right to IVF Act includes updated and enhanced versions of:

Senator Duckworth’s Access to Family Building Act, which would establish a nationwide right for patients to access IVF and other ART services, a right for doctors to provide IVF treatment in accordance with medical standards as well as a right for insurance carriers to cover IVF without prohibition, limitation, interference or impediment. By establishing a statutory right, this would pre-empt any state effort to limit such access and ensuring no hopeful parent—or their doctors—are punished for trying to start or grow a family.

In February, Senator Duckworth sought unanimous consent to pass this legislation. Republican U.S. Senator of Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith blocked it.

Senator Murray’s Veteran Families Health Services Act, which would expand the fertility treatments and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and Veterans’ health care to include—among other things—the option for individuals to cryopreserve their gametes (freeze their eggs or sperm) ahead of deployment to a combat zone and in vitro fertilization (IVF) for servicemembers and veterans who are unable to conceive without assistance.

In March, Senator Murray sought unanimous consent to pass this legislation. Republican U.S. Senator of Oklahoma James Lankford blocked it.

Senator Booker’s Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act, which would increase affordability of fertility care—including IVF—by requiring employer-sponsored insurance plans and other public insurance plans to cover fertility treatments. Additionally, it would standardize a baseline of high-quality fertility treatment coverage under private health insurance plans, while protecting Americans against excessive out-of-pocket costs.

Senator Duckworth’s Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, which would require Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program—the largest employer-sponsored health insurance plan in the world—carriers to cover IVF and ART to help more hardworking Americans start and grow their families.

Throughout her time in the Senate, Duckworth has made protecting reproductive freedom and expanding access to IVF top priorities in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade. When Senator Hyde-Smith blocked Senator Duckworth’s Access to Family Building Act from passing through unanimous consent, this was the second time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide. The Access to Family Building Act builds on previous legislation she introduced in 2022.

Meanwhile, while Senate Democrats continue their efforts to protect IVF and reproductive freedom, Senate Republicans continue to make it clear that they want to further undermine access to basic healthcare for millions of Americans. Duckworth condemned the so-called “IVF Protection” bill led by U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Katie Britt (R-AL) that wouldn’t do anything to protect IVF, but actually incentivize state legislatures to both ban IVF and defund Medicaid at the same time—unpopular, extreme policies that far-right Republican policymakers have sought to do for decades.

Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018, she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-reacts-to-preventable-death-in-georgia-that-resulted-from-republicans-extreme-abortion-bans,Duckworth Reacts to Preventable Death in Georgia that Resulted from Republicans’ Extreme Abortion Bans,2024-09-16,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In the wake of a ProPublica report detailing the needless, preventable death of a young woman who was unable to receive the lifesaving treatment she needed in Georgia as a result of the state’s then-two-week-old abortion ban, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement:

“When we warned Donald Trump and Senate Republicans that women would die if they succeeded in overturning Roe, they called us fearmongers. Tragically, it’s now painfully obvious that we were right. We cannot wait for more women to die a preventable death because of Republicans’ draconian abortion bans—we must protect reproductive rights nationwide, and Democrats are working tirelessly to do just that.”

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-clark-reintroduce-bill-to-expand-child-care-on-college-campuses-help-parenting-students-graduate,"Duckworth, Clark Reintroduce Bill to Expand Child Care on College Campuses, Help Parenting Students Graduate",2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA-05) today reintroduced a bill to help increase access to on-campus child care for the more than 4 million parenting students currently enrolled in postsecondary education programs. Despite the growing number of parenting students in postsecondary education, access to affordable on-campus child care services has dwindled since 2004. The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would help reverse this trend by reauthorizing and fully funding the only federal program that exclusively supports on-campus child care services and ensure the U.S. Department of Education is meeting the needs of parenting students. Duckworth originally introduced this legislation when she was in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As college costs continue to skyrocket, we can't simply stay on the sidelines as it gets even harder for parenting students to afford higher education,” said Senator Duckworth. “The more than 4 million college students who are also raising children already have enough to worry about—child care should not be one of them. This legislation would help increase access to child care services so parenting students can stay focused on getting an education that will help them provide a better, stronger future for their families.”

“High child care costs are holding parents back — making it impossible for many to remain in the workforce and get the education they need to get ahead. But it doesn’t have to be this way,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. “With this critical legislation, we can ensure student parents have the support they need and the fair shot they deserve.”

Parenting students already graduate with much higher levels of debt compared to non-parenting students because financial aid offerings do not cover child care. Since 2004, the number of parents enrolled in college has grown by 30 percent while on-campus childcare facilities have closed and services have been dropped. This leaves parenting students in a financial bind as they face exorbitant education costs and a lack of options for safe and affordable child care on their schools' campuses.

The Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools (CCAMPIS) Reauthorization Act would:

Reauthorize the CCAMPIS program through Fiscal Year 2030

Authorize CCAMPIS at $500 million per year, establish the annual maximum individual grant award level at $2 million and increase the annual minimum level to $75,000

Eliminate barriers for parenting students to access benefits

Streamline program requirements and enhance U.S. Department of Education technical assistance to make it easier for child care providers to apply for grants

Help connect parenting students to benefit programs that help with food, housing and health care services

Enhance program transparency and accountability by collecting disaggregated data on the parenting students served by the program

Along with Duckworth, the legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Along with Clark, the legislation is co-led in the House by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-03), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02).

The legislation has been endorsed by the following organizations: The Hope Center at Temple University, Young Invincibles, First Five Years Fund, National Women’s Law Center, MomsRising, Women Employed, Save the Children and Joliet Junior College.

Duckworth has been a strong supporter of expanding the CCAMPIS program. In 2019, Duckworth helped U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issue a report highlighting the challenges parenting students in college are facing while completing their degree. In the House, Clark helped lead the effort to increase funding for CCAMPIS in the annual budget as a Member of the Appropriations Committee. Now, as top House leadership, Clark champions the call to expand access to affordable child care for all Americans.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-more-than-37-million-for-illinois-airport-improvements,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $37 Million for Illinois Airport Improvements",2024-09-12,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $37,031,074 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements at airports across Illinois. This funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will go toward reinforcing the structural integrity of taxiways, expanding existing terminal buildings to accommodate more passengers and aircraft operations and installing various modernization measures, including mechanisms to alleviate noise pollution for surrounding residences, increase clean energy opportunities, improve drainage infrastructure and mitigate wildlife attractants.

“Illinois’s airports are critical economic engines for our state and the source of jobs for so many working families,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this investment of federal funding to help grow and modernize our airports across the state. I will continue to work alongside Senator Durbin to make traveling safer and more reliable for all passengers while ensuring that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“By improving and modernizing airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “Today’s announced federal funding for upgrading our airports across Illinois will enhance the travel experience for passengers and promote economic growth. I will continue working with Senator Duckworth to ensure Illinois airports have the necessary federal resources to keep passengers safe and connected.”

Recipients of funding through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Grant Program include:

Chicago Executive Airport (Wheeling): $1,800,000

Chicago Midway International Airport (Chicago): $555,019

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Chicago): $9,472,514

Chicago Rockford International Airport (Rockford): $7,946,166

Quad Cities International Airport (Moline): $2,765,727

Rantoul National Aviation Center-Frank Elliott Field Airport (Rantoul): $2,415,000

Scott Air Force Base / MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (Mascoutah): $3,536,912

St. Louis Downtown Airport (Cahokia): $4,740,328

Updates for the State of Illinois’ Airport System Plan (Springfield): $300,000

Vandalia Municipal Airport (Vandalia): $1,006,080

Vermilion Regional Airport (Danville): $2,179,546

Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (Marion): $313,782

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-join-klobuchar-colleagues-to-urge-doj-ftc-to-investigate-generative-ai-products-for-potential-antitrust-violations,"Duckworth, Durbin Join Klobuchar, Colleagues to Urge DOJ, FTC to investigate Generative AI Products for Potential Antitrust Violations",2024-09-11,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL)—Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee—joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) in sending a letter to Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to highlight the risks that new generative artificial intelligence (AI) features pose to competition and innovation in digital content, including journalism and to urge both agencies to investigate whether the design of these features violates the antitrust laws.

“Recently, multiple dominant online platforms have introduced new generative AI features that answer user queries by summarizing, or, in some cases, merely regurgitating online content from other sources or platforms. The introduction of these new generative AI features further threatens the ability of journalists and other content creators to earn compensation for their vital work. While a traditional search result or news feed links may lead users to the publisher’s website, an AI-generated summary keeps the users on the original search platform, where that platform alone can profit from the user’s attention through advertising and data collection,” wrote the lawmakers. “Moreover, some generative AI features misappropriate third-party content and pass it off as novel content generated by the platform’s AI.”

“For the reasons outlined above, we urge the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the design of some generative AI features, introduced by already dominant platforms, are a form of exclusionary conduct or an unfair method of competition in violation of the antitrust laws,” concluded the lawmakers.

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

September 10, 2024

Dear Assistant Attorney General Kanter and Chair Khan:

We write to highlight the risks that new generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) features pose to content creators, including journalists who report local news, and to urge you to investigate whether the design of these features violates the antitrust laws. It is crucial that we ensure that big tech platforms do not misappropriate content from journalists and other content creators, leading to less local news reporting and credible sources of information, along with lower levels of competition, investment, innovation in the digital marketplace.

Local news is facing a crisis. A recent study found that the U.S. has lost approximately 2,900 newspapers, and that a third of the newspapers that existed in 2005 will have disappeared by the end of this year. At the same time, dominant online platforms, such as Google and Meta, generate billions of dollars per year in advertising revenue from news and other original content created by others. New generative AI features threaten to exacerbate these problems.

Recently, multiple dominant online platforms have introduced new generative AI features that answer user queries by summarizing, or, in some cases, merely regurgitating online content from other sources or platforms. The introduction of these new generative AI features further threatens the ability of journalists and other content creators to earn compensation for their vital work. While a traditional search result or news feed links may lead users to the publisher’s website, an AI-generated summary keeps the users on the original search platform, where that platform alone can profit from the user’s attention through advertising and data collection. Although these features may provide partial citations or links to sources, they are often hidden behind tabs or at the bottom of a page where users are unlikely to scroll after already reading an answer. Moreover, some generative AI features misappropriate third-party content and pass it off as novel content generated by the platform’s AI.

These products also have significant competitive consequences that distort markets for content. When a generative AI feature answers a query directly, it often forces the content creator—whose content has been relegated to a lower position on the user interface—to compete with content generated from their own work. For example, if a user searches for a recipe, a search engine would have previously directed the user to a content-creator’s website. But today, many generative AI features will instead copy information from those websites (without authorization) and present it as an AI-generated recipe directly to the user, in direct competition with those websites. Publishers who wish to avoid having their content summarized in the form of AI-generated search results can only do so if they opt out of being indexed for search completely, which would result in a materially significant drop in referral traffic. In short, these tools may pit content creators against themselves without any recourse to profit from AI-generated content that was composed using their original content. This raises significant competitive concerns in the online marketplace for content and advertising revenues.

Dominant online platforms in areas like search, social media, e-commerce, operating systems, and app stores already abuse their gatekeeper power over the digital marketplace in ways that harm small businesses and content creators and eliminate choices for consumers. These platforms have long employed strategies to profit off users’ engagement with third-party content without fairly compensating the creators of that content. We are concerned about the potentially devastating impact of some new generative AI features, introduced by these same dominant platforms, on news organizations and other content creators.

For the reasons outlined above, we urge the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether the design of some generative AI features, introduced by already dominant platforms, are a form of exclusionary conduct or an unfair method of competition in violation of the antitrust laws.

We look forward to your prompt response.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-reintroduces-legislation-to-strengthen-us-asean-relations-bolster-regional-security,"Duckworth Reintroduces Legislation to Strengthen U.S.-ASEAN Relations, Bolster Regional Security",2024-09-10,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee—today reintroduced legislation to strengthen relations between the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Senator’s Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations (PARTNER) with ASEAN Act would authorize ASEAN’s formal designation as an international organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities, affording ASEAN secretariat personnel the same treatment in the United States as diplomats associated with other multilateral missions, paving the way for the creation of a permanent ASEAN U.S. mission.

“The United States’ longstanding partnership with ASEAN has resulted in diplomatic, economic, cultural and other benefits for our country and all those involved,” said Senator Duckworth. “This legislation would reaffirm and strengthen our relationship and provide ASEAN personnel with the diplomatic immunities they deserve as we work together to bolster regional security in the Indo-Pacific.”

Copy of the bill text is available on Senator Duckworth’s website.

This legislation is an identical companion bill to H.R. 406, legislation being led by U.S. Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) and Young Kim (R-CA-40).

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been a leader in strengthening relationships with Southeast Asian countries. In July, Duckworth led an official Senate visit to Laos and Vietnam to reinforce America’s commitment to our partners in ASEAN and strengthen U.S.-ASEAN economic ties. In May, Duckworth led a bipartisan delegation to Singapore to participate in this year’s International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, where she and other Senators reaffirmed our nation’s strong bipartisan commitment to our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific. Last year, Duckworth met with ASEAN leaders on an official Senate visit to Indonesia to reinforce U.S. partnership throughout the region and find opportunities to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as countering climate change, increasing energy security and ensuring regional stability and freedom of navigation.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-durbin-announce-over-32-million-in-federal-funding-for-pedestrian-and-bicyclist-safety,"Duckworth, Durbin Announce Over $32 Million in Federal Funding for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety",2024-09-06,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $32,165,705 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safe Street and Roads for All grant program. This funding will go towards pedestrian, bike and transit infrastructure and safety measures including bike lanes, speed reduction tactics and intersection improvements.

The DOT’s Safe Street and Roads for All program, established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funds regional, local and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

“I’m proud this federal funding will help repair and improve our infrastructure so that all pedestrians and cyclists across Illinois can travel safely,” Duckworth said. “This investment will go a long way in updating our roads, bike lanes and sidewalks— making them safer but also more accessible.”

“It’s time to bring an end to preventable tragedies on our roadways, bike lanes, and walkways,” said Durbin. “These investments will bolster pedestrian and cyclists' safety, reduce traffic incidents, and improve transit infrastructure.”

Recipients of funding through DOT’s Safe Street and Roads for All include:

North Avenue Corridor Improvements Project (Chicago, IL): $20,010,000

Solving Problems with Projects: Building Safer Roads for the Residents of Danville and Vermilion County (Danville, IL): $9,999,900

City of Waukegan: Demonstration Activities for Safer Streets (Waukegan, IL): $254,365

The City of Harvey's Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (Harvey, IL): $200,000

U.S. 52 Route Safety Planning Study (Manhattan, IL): $100,000

Vison Zero Oak Park: Applying the Safe System Approach (Oak Park, IL): $1,126,880

Advancing Roadway Safety: A Comprehensive Plan for Our Community (Chatham, IL): $120,000

Winnebago County Highway Department – Safe Roadway & Work Zone Initiatives (Winnebago County, IL): $234,560",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-touts-federal-funding-she-secured-for-current-chicagos-inclusive-water-education-and-workforce-training-program,Duckworth Touts Federal Funding She Secured for Current Chicago’s Inclusive Water Education and Workforce Training Program,2024-09-06,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with leadership from Current, highlighting the $225,000 she secured through a Fiscal Year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending Request for the development of a pilot, entry-level job training program centered on wastewater-based epidemiology. Duckworth also met with plumbers and apprentices to learn more about their in-field experience. A photo from today’s meeting is available on the Senator’s website.

“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s one of the things Congressionally Directed Spending allows us to do,” said Duckworth. “I’m so proud I was able to secure this critical support for Current that will not just help support workforce development but help ensure our water is safe. I’m dedicated to ensuring Illinois continues to build upon our career training efforts. Investing in workforce development—and in working families—is key to uplifting our state and building a better future.”

The workforce training program was built on a collaborative effort between Current, Discovery Partners Institute and the Chicago Department of Public Health to track pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 through community wastewater sampling. The Duckworth-secured federal funding will help build a new training program and accelerate the development of inclusive workforce pathways in water careers, creating opportunities for hands-on experience with wastewater sampling, specimen management, field work and community engagement for individuals from historically disinvested communities and those who are underrepresented in water-related industries in Illinois.

Duckworth and Current leaders also discussed NSF Engines: Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine Project, coordinated by Current, whose mission is to develop new ways to extract valuable minerals and toxic forever chemicals from our wastewater. This project is one of U.S. National Science Foundation's inaugural Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines), a program authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act.

Current is a Chicago-based nonprofit water innovation hub working to grow an inclusive blue economy, accelerate adoption of innovative water technologies and solve pressing water challenges. Current was founded in Chicago in 2016 in partnership with the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, World Business Chicago and the region’s research universities.

In Fiscal Year 2024, Duckworth and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) successfully secured more than $264 million through the CDS process for Illinois, $182 million in FY23 and another $211 million for Illinois in FY22. A map detailing where funding has gone throughout Illinois can be found on the Senator’s website. Senator Duckworth works with an Independent Review Board to examine and evaluate worthwhile projects focused on building infrastructure, stimulating economic development and providing essential services for Illinois communities.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/in-chicago-duckworth-highlights-illinoiss-strength-as-a-manufacturing-leader,"In Chicago, Duckworth Highlights Illinois’s Strength as a Manufacturing Leader",2024-09-06,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today toured NuMat Technologies, Inc.’s manufacturing site in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park neighborhood, meeting with leaders to learn more about the Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) manufactured by NuMat and how this technology can benefit our servicemembers and first responders. Today’s tour follows the Senator’s meeting yesterday with Jungham Kim, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago, where they discussed the importance of South Korea’s relationship with Illinois and how well-positioned Illinois is for future investments that would bring more jobs and economic growth to our state.

“Illinois is a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned for growth in all of these sectors,” Duckworth said. “As a member of both the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I’m committed to both growing our domestic defense manufacturing sector and promoting Illinois on a global level. Illinois is ready to help bring our world into the future—and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure the whole world knows it.”

Duckworth is a proven leader on strengthening our relations with international partners while successfully securing significant international investments in Illinois. This year alone Duckworth has led official Senate visits to Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan, Sweden and the Netherlands to meet with government, trade and economic leaders and corporate and business officials to highlight how Illinois is uniquely positioned for greater investment and increased exports with international partners.

Duckworth, a combat Veteran who served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years, is also a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). As a member of SASC, Duckworth has made restoring American competitiveness one of her core goals, securing a number of provisions in this year’s committee-passed National Defense Authorization Act.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-touts-1-million-in-federal-funding-she-secured-for-new-affordable-housing-projects-in-chicago,Duckworth Touts $1 Million in Federal Funding She Secured for New Affordable Housing Projects in Chicago,2024-09-05,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited Breakthrough Urban Ministries to highlight and discuss the $1 million federal investment she secured through a Fiscal Year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending Request to help build 14 new units of affordable housing on Chicago’s West Side. Groundbreaking on the new units will take place later this month, helping increase housing in the East Garfield Park neighborhood. Duckworth today met with Breakthrough Urban Ministries Executive Director Yolanda Fields and their leadership team for the celebration. Photos from today’s event can be found on the Senator’s website.

“Our state and our nation are stronger when we invest in our communities and families—and that’s one of the things Congressionally Directed Spending allows us to do,” Duckworth said. ““I’m proud I’ve been able to secure critical support for projects all across our state, including to help support Breakthrough Urban Ministry’s efforts in East Garfield Park. Expanding affordable housing options and improving housing conditions is critically important, and I’m proud to see this federal funding support new modern, affordable housing in communities that have been overlooked for far too long.”

Breakthrough Urban Ministries has been serving the neighborhood of East Garfield Park for nearly 30 years, partnering with those affected by poverty to build connections, develop skills and open doors of opportunity. They provide transitional and permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. In addition to housing services, Breakthrough also provides a variety of helpful community-based resources and programs covering topics such as education and youth development, economic opportunities, health and wellness, violence prevention and spiritual formation.

In Fiscal Year 2024, Duckworth and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) successfully secured more than $264 million through the CDS process for Illinois, $182 million in FY23 and another $211 million for Illinois in FY22. A map detailing where funding has gone throughout Illinois can be found on the Senator’s website. Senator Duckworth works with an Independent Review Board to examine and evaluate worthwhile projects focused on building infrastructure, stimulating economic development and providing essential services for Illinois communities.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-visits-the-chicago-abortion-fund-underscores-importance-of-restoring-reproductive-freedom-for-all,"Duckworth Visits The Chicago Abortion Fund, Underscores Importance of Restoring Reproductive Freedom for All",2024-09-05,2024,2024-09,Democrat,Senate,IL,Tammy Duckworth,D000622,www.duckworth.senate.gov,duckworth,https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today visited the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) office to meet with the Fund’s leadership team, tour their new facility and discuss how their day-to-day operations have changed in a post-Dobbs America. Duckworth met with the Fund’s Deputy Director Qudsiyyah Shariyf and staff to thank them for their service and share her support for ensuring women everywhere can access safe and necessary health care. Photos from today’s visit can be found on the Senator’s website.

“The work of Chicago Abortion Fund has been a lifeline to Illinoisans for years—but as neighboring red states continue to ban abortion as a result of the Supreme Court’s disastrous Dobbs decision the importance of this new office, and the work they do, will only continue to grow,” Duckworth said. “I’m thankful to the incredible staff and volunteers at the Chicago Abortion Fund who help ensure Illinois remains a safe haven for all women seeking the reproductive care they need. And I won’t stop working to enshrine Roe v. Wade protections into law to ensure reproductive freedoms are protected for all women in every state.”

The Chicago Abortion Fund is a statewide fund dedicated to removing barriers to abortion care in Illinois, the Midwest and beyond. CAF pays for procedure funding, covers travel and related needs, offers emotional support and provides logistical expertise so that women can access the abortion care they need and deserve.

Duckworth recently joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in releasing a study to show the harsh reality patients are facing in Wisconsin—a direct neighboring state of Illinois—when seeking access to abortion care. Prior to the Dobbs decision, only 16%, or one in six, of Wisconsin abortion patients received out-of-state care. In 2023, that number was up to 88%, meaning that nine out of ten patients had to seek out-of-state care. Specifically, a total of 5,230 Wisconsin patients received reproductive care in Illinois in 2023. Since the Dobbs decision, CAF has helped over 2,000 Wisconsinites seek care and distributed over $7.5 million overall for appointment costs and wrap-around support like hotels, transportation and child care.

Throughout her time in the Senate, Duckworth has made protecting reproductive freedom in the face of Republicans’ anti-choice crusade a top priority. Last year, Duckworth and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) re-introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, a bicameral bill that would help guarantee abortion coverage—without restrictions—for millions of Americans. The EACH Act ends the Hyde Amendment and lifts unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans or programs. Recent polling data also show that 62% of voters support lifting federal abortion coverage restrictions and believe Medicaid should cover abortion. In a post-Dobbs America, this legislation would help protect the right to abortion and ensure everyone can get the reproductive health care they need.

-30-",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:46:43Z