Democratic U.S. House member Tammy Duckworth represents the 8th Congressional District of Illinois and is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate. She will face Republican incumbent Mark Kirk, Libertarian candidate Kenton McMillen, Green Party candidate Scott Summers, Constitution Party candidate Chad Koppie and Veterans Party of America candidate Chris Aguayo.
Duckworth – a U.S. Army veteran – has a platform focused on Veteran advocacy, small business opportunity, infrastructure investment, and cutting government waste and fraud.
One of our biggest concerns was her lack of presence within the African-American community. As we near close to Nov. 8th, we understand this race is a crucial one for the Democratic Party to gain control of the U.S. Senate.
Just recently, President Obama was in Chicago making a appearance at a fundraiser in her honor – showing support for his former Veteran Affairs official.
Speaking with the Chicago Defender, Duckworth understands she has a great deal to learn outside of her North Suburban Congressional District when it comes to working with the African American community.
“I’m very proud of my work with homeless Veterans. In fact, I’ve been out there working with homeless veterans for a very long time. Some of the groups that have received grants. The fact is people talk about homeless Veterans as if it’s the post-traumatic stress or the drug use that is making them homeless, when the number one predictor of Veterans’ homeless-ness is job loss. You don’t have a job, you can’t pay the rent, you start couch surfing and then you end up on the streets. That’s when your medical care goes untreated.
Her preparations in covering Criminal Justice Reform, Gun Violence, Law Enforcement, and Community Relations as well as increasing assistance for Pell Grants were very thorough, and she spoke in detail to issues that serve our community.
Duckworth currently serves on the Armed Services Committee, including the Subcommittee on Readiness and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, including the Subcommittee on Information Technology and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets, on which she is the ranking member. She also serves on a select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi.
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