I had been pursuing a Ph.D. in political science when my National Guard unit was sent to Iraq. Eight months into our deployment, in November 2004, a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents tore through the pilot's side of the Blackhawk helicopter I was flying.

Tammy Duckworth

The American Dream I believe in is one that provides anyone willing to work hard enough with the opportunity to succeed.

Tammy Duckworth

I know from personal experience that engaging with your community and helping others helps foster a sense of shared sacrifice and - at a time when our politics seem more focused on tearing us apart than bringing us together - that shared sacrifice will help us rekindle the national unity that has made us the strongest nation in the world.

Tammy Duckworth

We must be an inclusive nation that respects and supports all of its citizens: a nation that doesn't give up on anyone who hasn't given up on themselves.

Tammy Duckworth

Sometimes it takes dealing with a disability - the trauma, the relearning, the months of rehabilitation therapy - to uncover our true abilities and how we can put them to work for us in ways we may have never imagined.

Tammy Duckworth

I get up every single day trying to repay a debt that I can never repay. Never. And I will work hard. Because I don't know why I was saved. I don't know.

Tammy Duckworth

The ADA is the living testament to our Nation's commitment that we will always stand up for our neighbors' right to live fulfilling lives.

Tammy Duckworth

It's really hard to use a laptop when you only have half a lap.

Tammy Duckworth

I shouldn't even be here, so if I'm here, I better do something good.

Tammy Duckworth

Nobody wants to be on food stamps, but when my family lost everything, we were grateful for it. I was grateful the program was there so I could concentrate on my schoolwork and not on my empty belly. We were grateful that we had the support we needed to roll up our sleeves and rebuild our lives.

Tammy Duckworth

When I joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1992, there were no female four-star generals. I still remember the day in 2008 when a woman first achieved that rank.

Tammy Duckworth

The ADA is essential in helping me overcome the obstacles I face as a Wounded Warrior and empowers me to assist other veterans. It allows me to be physically active, have my pilot's license, and serve in Congress.

Tammy Duckworth

The contributions of African Americans, Native Americans, and immigrants throughout our nation's history are undeniable, but the tendency to overlook their gallant efforts is pervasive and persistent.

Tammy Duckworth

We owe it to all our veterans to make sure they have a chance to achieve the American Dream, just like the rest of us.

Tammy Duckworth

I'd do anything to help veterans.

Tammy Duckworth

As Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, a constant concern for me is having our veterans dragged into partisan politics.

Tammy Duckworth

In the military, a combatant command is the ultimate job. It's the pointy tip of the spear, overseeing the people carrying the rifles and flying the aircraft.

Tammy Duckworth

I think back to the 1990s, when I joined the Army, and all those peacetime years that we had, thinking, 'Will we ever go into combat?'

Tammy Duckworth

If you come from a military culture, and you go into see the general or the commander, and he talks to you very calmly and says, 'I'm very disappointed in you,' that's devastating.

Tammy Duckworth

Life isn't fair, and it isn't government's job to make life fair. But if you're not willing to give up on yourself, then we shouldn't give up on you, either.

Tammy Duckworth

It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in combat missions and achieve my American Dream.

Tammy Duckworth