LCCR Honors Civil Rights Leaders: L. Tammy Duckworth
Feature Story by Shayna Wareing - 5/3/2007
After losing both her legs in a 2004 helicopter accident in Iraq, L. Tammy Duckworth decided to go into public service.
On May 10, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) will honor Duckworth's extraordinary service at its annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner.
"Tammy Duckworth made the health and welfare of returning veterans a priority in her public service work," said LCCR President and CEO Wade Henderson. "Her tireless efforts on behalf of children, families, and veterans embody the true spirit of civil rights and we are honored to celebrate her work."
For her military service, she received a Purple Heart and promotion to the rank of major at Walter Reed Medical Hospital. In 2006, Duckworth ran for a seat in Congress from Illinois, calling for equal access to health care.
"I've been talking about health care this whole time … The fact that there are kids who don't have access to health insurance; we need to be expanding SCHIP. The fact that there are 25 percent of Americans between 50 and 64 who don't have access to health insurance, we need to let them buy into the federal employee health care system … So that's what I'm worried about," she said, on CNN's American Morning in March 2006.
During her campaign, Duckworth also supported common-sense immigration reform, mandatory funding of veterans' health care, and improvements in transition assistance for those returning to civilian life, particularly for those with disabilities.
After a narrow loss on Election Day, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich appointed her as Director of the Illinois Veterans' Affairs Department. She also serves as a major in the Illinois National Guard.
LCCR's Civil Rights Award honors the legacy of former United States vice president, senator, and civil rights pioneer Hubert H. Humphrey, who's years of public service, leadership, and dedication to equal opportunity changed the face of America.
Awardees are selected based on their distinguished contributions to the advancement of civil and human rights. Previous recipients include Senator Edward Kennedy; Representative John Lewis; civil rights leader Julian Bond; disability rights advocate Justin Dart; and actor-activist Danny Glover, among others.
