Tammy Duckworth

Tammy Duckworth
Junior U.S. Senator from Illinois From: January 3, 2017 – present
Predecessor	Mark Kirk
Successor	Incumbent (no successor)
Former U.S. Representative from Illinois's 8th Congressional District From: January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2017
Predecessor	Joe Walsh
Successor	Raja Krishnamoorthi
Information
Party	Democrat
Spouse(s)	Bryan Bowlsbey
Military Service
Service/branch	United States Army
Service Years	1992 – 2014
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Battles/wars	Iraq War

Ladda Tammy Duckworth (born March 12, 1968) is a United States Senator from the state of Illinois, serving since 2017, and a former U.S. Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district, from 2013 to 2017. Duckworth also served as a former Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the 2006 Democrat nominee for Illinois's 6th congressional district. She is a left-wing Democrat^[1] and racist who refuses to vote for any white people.^[2]

Political career[edit]

Despite having served in Iraq, Duckworth opposed and opposes Operation Iraqi Freedom, making this a central theme of her 2006 campaign. Despite this, and despite massive endorsements from various liberal politicians, such as former President Bill Clinton, and Hollywood figures, Duckworth lost the election by 2%. Some have blamed this defeat on a focus on non-local issues, compared to her opponent, Peter Roskam, a Republican local politician, and for constant criticism of foreign policy.^{[Citation Needed]} At age 90 Chicago Communist Party USA member Frank Lumpkin was still active, including a labor walk for Tammy Duckworth, a candidate for Congress in 2006 in the 6th CD in Illinois.^[3]

In September 2008, Chicago based socialist journal In These Times asked its editors and writers to suggest their top progressive choices for a potential Obama Cabinet.^[4]

We asked that contributors weigh ideological and political considerations, with an eye toward recommending people who have both progressive credentials and at least an arguable chance at being appointed in an Obama White House.

This group of people would represent at once the most progressive, aggressive and practical Cabinet in contemporary history. Of course, it is by no means a definitive list. It is merely one proposal aimed at starting a longer discussion about the very concept of a progressive Cabinet—and why it will be important to a new administration, especially if that administration is serious about change.

Luis Carlos Montalván suggested Tammy Duckworth for Secretary of Veterans Affairs:

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the federal government’s second largest department (after defense). With an annual budget of more than $90 billion, the VA employs more than 230,000 people at hundreds of VA medical centers, clinics and benefits offices that assist many of the 60 million U.S. veterans and their families.

But the Bush administration has woefully mismanaged the department, which is suffering from overcrowded facilities, lengthy waiting lists and a backlog of disability claims. The present state of affairs is the result of poor leadership and a failure to anticipate and allocate the requisite funding to support the needs of an escalating veteran population.

According to Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz, “The number of disability claims exceeds 600,000, with another 1.6 million claims expected in the next two years.” Overcrowded VA mental health facilities cannot provide comprehensive care to the hundreds of thousands of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. Not surprisingly, the suicide rate among veterans and service members is the highest it has ever been.

Maj. Tammy Duckworth, a double amputee pilot of the Iraq War, has the character and credentials to serve as our nation’s secretary of veterans affairs. Her years of distinguished military service and her firsthand knowledge of the VA system — she has served as director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs since 2006 — would serve her well.

Duckworth is the best choice to deliver what millions of veterans need — and have failed to receive from the current administration.

Duckworth was appointed to her former role as Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by President Barack Obama in 2009. She resigned from that position on Monday, June 30, 2011. In July 2011 she launched her campaign to run in 2012 for Illinois's 8th congressional district against conservative Congressman Joe Walsh, who she won the election against due to redistricting by the Democrat-controlled Illinois legislature.

U.S. House[edit]

The socialist infiltrated, anti-Israel "two state solution" JStreet PAC endorsed Tammy Duckworth in her 2014 Congressional race. ^[5]

Awan scandal[edit]

Bill Clinton with Democratic Congressional staffer Imran Awan. Awan is an Advisor to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. Source:LinkedIn

See also: Democrat IT scandal

Three brothers who managed office information technology for members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and other lawmakers were abruptly relieved of their duties, on suspicion that they accessed congressional computers without permission.

Brothers Abid Awan, Imran Awan, and Jamal Awan were barred from computer networks at the House of Representatives Thursday February 2, 2017.

Three members of the intelligence panel and five members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs were among the dozens of members who employed the suspects on a shared basis.

Also among those whose computer systems may have been compromised is Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Florida Democrat who was previously the target of a disastrous email hack when she served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 campaign.

The brothers are suspected of serious violations, including accessing members’ computer networks without their knowledge and stealing equipment from Congress.

Jamal handled IT for Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat who serves on both the intelligence and foreign affairs panels.

“As of 2/2, his employment with our office has been terminated,” Castro spokeswoman Erin Hatch told TheDCNF.

Jamal Awan also worked for Louisiana Democrat Rep. Cedric Richmond, who is on the Committee on Homeland Security.

Imran worked for Reps. Andre Carson, an Indiana Democrat, and Jackie Speier, a California Democrat. Both are members of the intelligence committee. Imran Awan, also worked for the House office of Wasserman Schultz.

Then-Rep. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, employed Abid Awan for IT work in 2016. She was a member of House committees dealing with the armed services, oversight, and Benghazi. Duckworth was elected to the Senate in November, 2016. Abid Awan has a prior criminal record and a bankruptcy.

Abid Awan also worked for Rep. Lois Frankel, a Florida Democrat who is member of the foreign affairs committee.

The three men are “shared employees,” meaning they are hired by multiple offices, which split their salaries and use them as needed for IT services. It is up to each member to fire them.

A criminal investigation into five unnamed people began late last year related to serious and potentially illegal violations of House IT policies. Chiefs of staff for the members were briefed Thursday by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said the investigation was still ongoing, and arrests have not been made but staff were “asked to update their security settings.”

The Sergeant-at-Arms told staff that the subjects were four men who were brothers and one woman. It did not name them. It quoted one of the affected members as saying “they said it was some sort of procurement scam, but now I’m concerned that they may have stolen data from us, emails, who knows.”

The three brothers have all shared a house in Lorton, Virginia, that is owned by Hina Alvi. Alvi is a female House IT employee who works for many of the same members as the three brothers, as well as the House Democratic Caucus. Alvi has worked for reps Gregory Meeks, Yvette Clarke, Dave Loebsack, and Emanuel Cleaver.

Signs of trouble have long been visible in public records. The Congressional Credit Union repossessed Abid’s car in 2009, and he declared bankruptcy in 2012, facing multiple lawsuits.

Alvi, who did not respond to TheDCNF’s request for comment, has taken multiple second mortgages.

Jack Langer, spokesman for the intelligence committee, said the committee office has its own IT staff and security measures and classified information from the panel is not allowed to be sent to members’ personal offices.^[6]

China connection[edit]

The Committee of 100 convened its 22nd Annual Common Ground Conference April 24-25 2013 in Washington, D.C. The Conference Co-Chairs were Howard Li, Theodore Wang, and Benjamin Wu. The Platinum Sponsors for the Conference included J.T. Tai & Co. Foundation, represented by Ming Hsu, and Wells Fargo, represented by Nancy Wong.

The conference events began with the Opening Reception, held at the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building. Congress woman Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Representative of the 8th District of Illinois, welcomed C-100 participants to the historic space and discussed the contributions of C-100 to strengthening U.S.-China relations.

On April 25, the Annual Conference and Gala took place. The conference addressed four issues central to U.S.-China relations: building strategic trust in the bilateral relationship; economic cooperation and competition; Chinese investment in the United States; and media portrayals of China in U.S. political campaigns. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor (1977-1981), and Gao Xiqing, Vice Chairman and President of the China Investment Corporation, presented keynote addresses.^[7]

U.S. Senate[edit]

In 2016, Duckworth defeated liberal RINO Senator Mark Kirk,^[8] who publicly opposed Donald Trump and many conservative views. Duckworth was one of 12 progressives endorsed by 21st Century Democrats in the 2016 election cycle.^[9]

Duckworth voted to remove Trump on both articles of impeachment in the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump.^[10][11]

Abolish ICE[edit]

See also: Abolish ICE

They came from all over, took planes and buses from 47 states, slept at friends' homes or in churches and prepared to be arrested Thursday June 27, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Most of the participants were white women, stumbling over the syllables of Spanish-language chants.

Capitol Police said 575 protesters were arrested and escorted out of the Hart Senate Office Building in a mass demonstration that called for the abolishment of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and an end to migrant family detentions and the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" immigration policy. They were charged with unlawfully demonstrating.

"I have two kids, and as a white mother, there is almost no circumstance that they would be taken away from me - ever," said Victoria Farris, who slept Wednesday night in All Souls Church after participating in civil disobedience training. "I was awake one night because I couldn't sleep thinking about all those [immigrant] mothers and terrified children. I realized I had to do something more than protest, more than make a sign and march."

Protesters unfurled banners inside the Hart building Thursday as others staged a sit-in, wrapping themselves in shiny, silver space blankets. The political banners, which aren't allowed in the building's lobby, were confiscated by police. Then the arrests began.

Just after 3 p.m., protesters were rounded up in groups of a dozen or more and led out of the building. "Abolish ICE," they shouted as more were moved out. "Shut it down." Demonstrators continued to sing and chant as they were led away. When the first group was escorted out of the building, the remaining crowd erupted in cheers.

As police continued to clear the area, several senators greeted demonstrators, including Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

"I join them in calling on the Trump administration to reunite these families and give these kids back to their parents," Duckworth said. "On my side of things, I ask my colleagues, let's pass, finally, sensible immigration reform."

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., joined in the protest and was led out with marchers by Capitol Police. Actress Susan Sarandon, who marched at the front as the protest made its way down Constitution Avenue, was arrested with a group of demonstrators.

The protest began hours earlier at Freedom Plaza, where hundreds of women robed in white and carrying signs deriding the Trump administration's immigration policy had gathered. The protest was organized by a coalition of groups, including the Women's March and the immigrant advocacy organization Casa de Maryland. Several participants wrote "WE CARE" on their palms, a rebuke of the jacket first lady Melania Trump wore on her first trip to visit detained children near the border.

Ana Maria Archila, executive director of Center for Popular Democracy, said calling for the disbandment of ICE "would have seemed absurd even a few months ago." But now it is central to the mission of her group and Thursday's march. "This country has finally been exposed to the brutality and inhumanity of immigration enforcement," she said. "This barrage of injustices has inspired us to say, 'No more. We will not be silent. We will not obey.' "

After gathering at Freedom Plaza, the group marched to the Justice Department before heading to the Hart building, singing hymns and protest songs all the way. Organizers of the D.C. rally said similar protests will take place in 351 congressional districts across the country.^[12]

CAIR supporter[edit]

Duckworth has written letters in support to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) .^[13]

“By promoting and defending the constitutional rights of American Muslims, you support the rights of all Americans and the democracy upon which this country was founded.” -The Honorable Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) (September 2014). ^[14]

“We must continue to work together to support a new generation of leaders who will continue our mutual goal of guaranteeing equality and respect for all people [. . .] I would like to thank CAIR for [its] leadership.”^[15]

Service career[edit]

Duckworth is an Iraq War veteran and former U.S. Army helicopter pilot whose severe combat wounds cost her both of her legs and damaged her right arm.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Biography on the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress