Amid Looming Government Shutdown, Health Care Crisis and ICE Activity, Duckworth Hosts Telephone Town Hall

Amid Looming Government Shutdown, Health Care Crisis and ICE Activity, Duckworth Hosts Telephone Town Hall

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) last night hosted a telephone town hall for more than 8,500 Illinoisans to answer constituents' questions and discuss how Democrats repeatedly urged Republicans to work across the aisle on a bipartisan bill to keep the government open and meet the needs of the American people-while Trump waited until the last second to even start a conversation. Duckworth also warned listeners of the imminent health care crisis hardworking families will face as a direct result of Republicans' "Big Beautiful Bill," which would cause premiums to skyrocket and strip millions of their coverage. Audio of the Senator's telephone town hall is available on the Senator's YouTube page.

"Another Trump shutdown wouldn't just be needless and preventable-it would hurt millions of middle-class families who rely on government services and programs like Medicare and Social Security just to get by," said Duckworth. "Democrats are fighting to stop costs from skyrocketing while also pushing back against Trump's threats to deploy troops to Chicago. Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House-and if they wanted to stop costs from skyrocketing while keeping the government open, they could. If they choose to do nothing to help their constituents, then they'll only have themselves to blame for a shutdown."

In last night's town hall, Duckworth also responded to reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has requested 100 military personnel be sent to Illinois from the U.S. Department of Defense following the events over the weekend where federal agents were seen using tear gas, rubber bullets and other chemical irritants against protesters demonstrating outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Earlier this month, Duckworth hosted a town hall in Rockford and a telephone town hall highlighting the Trump Administration's plans for immigration enforcement and military deployments in Chicago. She also discussed how Republicans' "Big Beautiful Bill" will profoundly harm Illinoisans as a result of giving Trump and his billionaire buddies a massive tax cut paid for by increasing taxes on and cutting basic needs services for the most vulnerable Americans and the middle class. Duckworth also hosted a telephone town hall in June ahead of Republicans' "Big Beautiful Bill" being passed as well as a Veterans town hall in McHenry County in May.

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