Ever since I lost my legs when an RPG tore thru the cockpit of my Blackhawk I was flying over Iraq, getting around has been difficult—even w/the #ADA, I can’t always enter public spaces & have to spend a lot of time planning how to get frm 1 place to the next
Supporters of #HR620 don’t deny that they’re violating the law—they just resent being sued for “minor” #ADA infractions. But an incline that is “only” a few degrees too steep, or an entrance that is “only” a few inches high, can determine if I’m able to access an area w/out help
Being unable to independently enter a movie theater, store, hotel or restaurant is not only humiliating, it limits the freedom to pursue certain jobs, access necessary services & enjoy basic conveniences that most Americans don’t think twice about
I understand that not everyone thinks about these things because for most of my adult life I didn’t either. But the truth is that everyone is just one bad day away from needing accessible options the #ADA requires to help them get around
If you don't live with a disability, you might not think of #ADA violations as significant at 1st glance, but I assure you they're significant for those of us who do live with disabilities
My heart is heavy today as I join countless Americans across our country in mourning the loss of one of our nation’s greatest leaders and statesmen, one of my personal heroes, @SenJohnMcCain.
Throughout his life – as a Naval Aviator, a Prisoner of War who endured years of torture, a Congressman, and a six-term Senator – John repeatedly showed how anything is possible when armed with determination, a deep sense of patriotism and an unbreakable will.
His refusal to give up in the face of adversity inspired me when I was a mission-less helicopter pilot with no legs recovering at Walter Reed. In fact, I met him there for the first time when he visited us Wounded Warriors.
This past weekend we saw 12 people lose their lives to senseless gun violence in Chicago, with more than 74 people shot. Our own streets shouldn’t be more deadly than war zones. When will enough be enough? duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-rel…
I joined @RepBobbyRush yesterday to call for the passage of the Blair Holt Firearm Licensing bill to stop the flow of guns into Illinois from neighboring states with weak firearm laws
In addition to improving gun safety, resources and job opportunities, we must do a better job of providing treatment in communities that need trauma care—not just the kind of trauma that leaves scars, but the kind that stays with you for a lifetime
There is no question that the residents of Elmwood and McBride suffered through decades of neglect, inadequate oversight and outright discrimination thesouthern.com/news/local/ach…
The findings in the Inspector General report underscore what we’ve already known – HUD and the Alexander County Housing Authority failed the people of Cairo, IL
@SenatorDurbin and I also urge the HUD Office of the Inspector General to complete its investigation into wrongdoing by Alexander County Housing Authority officials as soon as possible and make its findings public
The Trump Administration’s practice of shackling and detaining pregnant women must stop immediately. This policy puts mothers and their infants at risk while also denying these women the essential maternal care they deserve
I’m proud to join @PattyMurray & 20 Senators in calling for an end to this egregious policy. Our legislation will help ensure all women are treated humanely and set new standards for the treatment of pregnant and young women in detention duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-rel…
@PattyMurray I applaud the Illinois legislature for acting on this issue at the state level by passing a bill to keep pregnant women out of jail while awaiting trial for nonviolent offenses chicagotribune.com/news/local/bre…
It's difficult to overstate the damage done by Donald Trump’s shocking & disgraceful show of weakness on the world stage. The strong global alliances & global belief in American leadership that he has taken just days to tear down over the last wk will take generations to rebuild
This is a man who wants to work closely with our fiercest adversaries and believes our allies in the European Union are our foes, but refuses to believe the consensus of his entire intelligence community about Russian interference in the election and its continued threat
Just days after the indictments of 12 Russian military officials for their attacks on our country during the 2016 election, Trump is not only willing to let Vladimir Putin off the hook, he actually holds America responsible for allowing the attacks to happen
I’m spending a lot of time reviewing Judge Kavanaugh’s rulings to see if he has the temperament and wisdom—and whether he has shown the independence needed of our next #SupremeCourt Justice. Very disappointed by what I’m seeing:
He disagreed with, and wrote a dissent against, a court ruling that the punishment for entering this country illegally cannot be “forcing a child to have a baby”
His opinion would have allowed the government to use delay tactics to prevent women and girls from controlling what happens to their own body. Or, in other words, he drafted a (losing) legal argument that would have forced a child to have a baby acludc.org/sites/default/…