
Veterans
"Our nation’s veterans and active duty military have sacrificed for all of us. They deserve the very best opportunities and benefits we can provide." - Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator
New York is home to over 890 thousand men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Gillibrand is working hard to improve the lives of the millions of Americans currently serving in our military and our veterans. Gillibrand has championed an agenda to improve access to benefits for our veterans and ensure that when active duty servicemembers return home, there are more job opportunities available to them, and the educational and training tools needed for success in the private sector are easily accessible.
Ensuring Educational Opportunities For Our Veterans
Having fought for passage of the new Post 9/11 GI bill during her time in the House of Representatives, Senator Gillibrand continues the fight in the Senate by supporting legislation to improve and protect the education of America’s veterans. Now, she is working to ensure that veterans have the support they need during their education and have access to the tools necessary to for success in academic and training programs. Additionally, too many of America’s veterans are unable to find a job when they get home. Senator Gillibrand has been a strong advocate for legislation to improve employment opportunities for returning veterans.
Since the VOW to Hire Heroes Act was passed, Senator Gillibrand is working to further strengthen the Transition Assistance Program by enabling veterans to retake the program at a later date and make the program available at additional locations away from Department of Defense facilities.
Senator Gillibrand also announced bipartisan legislation last year to address the skills gap employers face and enhance job training to help workers develop the skills they need for good-paying, high-demand jobs. The Apprenticeship and Jobs Training Act of 2015 would create a $5,000 tax credit for employers that use apprenticeship programs to train workers in high-demand professions such as health care, manufacturing and technology. The bill also would allow veterans in apprenticeships to get credit for previous military training and experience, as well as incentivize mentoring of apprentices by senior employees.
Protecting Vietnam Veterans Exposed To Agent Orange
During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam to remove jungle foliage. This toxic chemical had devastating health effects on millions serving in Vietnam. In 1991, Congress passed a law requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide presumptive coverage to Vietnam veterans with illnesses that the Institute of Medicine has directly linked to Agent Orange exposure. However, in 2002, the VA decided that it would only cover Veterans who could prove that they had orders for “boots on the ground” during the Vietnam War. This exclusion prevents thousands of sailors from receiving benefits even though they had significant Agent Orange exposure from drinking and bathing in contaminated water just offshore. Senator Gillibrand reintroduced the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, legislation to ensure that thousands of Navy veterans, known as “Blue Water” veterans, are able to receive the disability and health care benefits they earned after exposure to Agent Orange while fighting in the Vietnam War.
Senator Gillibrand has been pushing for the passage of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act alongside a bipartisan coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would clarify the existing law so that Blue Water veterans would be covered by the VA if they served within “territorial seas,” or approximately 12 miles offshore of Vietnam. The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act would make it easier for the VA to process Vietnam War veterans’ claims for service-connected health conditions and alleviate a portion of the VA’s backlog by extending presumptive coverage of Agent Orange benefits to these veterans. In April 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims struck down VA rules that denied compensation for veterans who were docked at certain harbors in Vietnam, and ordered the VA to review its policy. A bicameral concurrent resolution was introduced in support of Senator Gillibrand’s bill, also calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs to extend presumptive coverage to all veterans exposed to Agent Orange while serving in water during the Vietnam War.
Ensuring Access To Benefits and Care
The transition from Active Duty member to retired veteran can be confusing and complicated. As thousands of men and women return from service overseas, it is vital that the process be easy and that servicemembers have access to all of the benefits they have earned. Unfortunately, for too many veterans, receiving the VA benefits they deserve is a frustrating and exhausting process, requiring them to onerously document their eligibility and prove that they have earned the benefits they’re entitled to. Senator Gillibrand is actively working to connect veterans with resources and services in their area, by offering a page on her website with a comprehensive index of veterans’ services across New York State. The online tool aims to support those that serve and have served us bravely by locally equipping them with federal resources across a wide range of topics including federal job listings, career counseling, education benefits and scholarships, small business grants, housing assistance, health services, resources for women veterans, wounded warriors, and family and caregiver assistance. To assist New York military servicemen and women, veterans, and their families, Senator Gillibrand’s site maps resources and contacts in each of New York’s 62 Counties. Click here to visit the Veteran’s Resources page. Senator Gillibrand is also passionate about America’s veterans having access to timely and appropriate healthcare. She was a strong supporter of both the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act, a bill aimed at improving the mental health and substance abuse related treatments offered at the VA, and the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act, a piece of legislation that directs the VA to identify mental health and suicide prevention programs that are both effective and have the highest satisfaction for female veterans.
Related News
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $14 Million In Federal Funds To Support Homeless Veteran Families In New York City And On Long Island
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $1 Million In Federal Funds To Support Homeless Veteran Families In Central New York And The North Country
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $3 Million In Federal Funds To Support Homeless Veteran Families Across Rochester-Finger Lakes and Western New York Regions
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Senator Gillibrand Statement On Veterans First Legislation
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Gillibrand And King Present Medals To Family Of Fallen World War II Veteran
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Senator Gillibrand Urges Senate To Pass Legislation To Provide Full Funding For Veterans Crisis Line
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Senators Gillibrand and Ernst Urge Department of Veterans Affairs to Screen Veterans for Food Insecurity
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As Deadline Approaches for VA to Renew its Rule that Prohibits Medical Marijuana, Senator Gillibrand Urges VA to Fix Discriminatory Policy & Allow Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Veterans
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Gillibrand, Daines, Merkley, Blumenauer, Titus, and Rohrabacher Lead Bipartisan Effort Urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to Change its Current Policy, Allow VA Doctors to Discuss and Recommend Medical Marijuana in States where it is Legal
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce, Following Their Push, Funding for Floyd Bennet Field's Brooklyn Marine Corps Base in Military Construction Appropriations Bill has Passed Congress & is Now on its Way to the President's Desk - Legislation Includes Funding for $2.4 Million Facility Upgrade
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Gillibrand Delivers Remarks at the Greenburgh Veterans Day Ceremony and Veterans Memorial Park Groundbreaking
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Gillibrand & Maloney Award Navy Veteran With 4 Medals, Air Crewman Badge
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Bill to Rename Kingston Post Office in Honor of World War II Soldier Robert H. Dietz has Cleared First Key Senate Hurdle- Senate Committee has Passed Bill and it Now Heads to Floor for Full Senate Vote; Senators Vow to Fight for Passage
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Gillibrand Urges Passage of Legislation to Help Thousands of "Blue Water" Vietnam Vets Exposed to Agent Orange in Veteran Affairs Hearing
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Gillibrand Secures Benefits for Albany Veteran Exposed to Agent Orange
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Bill to Name Kingston Post Office in Honor of World War II Soldier
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Manchin, Kirk, Ernst, Gillibrand Launch Post 9/11 Veterans Caucus
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Gillibrand, Hanna Announce New Push To Help Thousands Of “Blue Water” Vietnam Vets Harmed By Agent Orange But Ignored By Feds Due To Technicality In The Law
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Gillibrand, Gibson & Tonko Announce New Push To Help Thousands of “Blue Water” Vietnam Vets Harmed By Agent Orange But Ignored By Feds Due To Technicality In The Law
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Gillibrand, Maloney Announces New Push To Help Thousands of “Blue Water” Vietnam Vets Harmed By Agent Orange But Ignored By Feds Due To Technicality In The Law
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Gillibrand Pays Tribute To World War II Veteran, Secures Posthumous Medals For His Family Members
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Gillibrand Secures Medals For Two Long Island WWII Veterans
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Gillibrand Testifies Before VA Committee To Help Hundreds Of Thousands Of “Blue Water” Vietnam Vets Exposed To Agent Orange But Denied Health And Disability Benefits
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After Three Decades, Glens Falls Navy Vet Finally Receives War Medals
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Booker, Paul & Gillibrand Announce Bipartisan New Medical Marijuana Bill to Allow Patients – Including Veterans – to Access Necessary Care without Fear of Federal Prosecution
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Gillibrand, Daines To Help Thousands Of "Blue Water" Vietnam Vets Harmed By Agent Orange, But Ignored By Feds Due To Technicality In The Law
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At North Shore Lij’s Unified Behavioral Health Center, Gillibrand, King And Zeldin Hail Passage Of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention For American Veterans Act And Make Push For Continued Bipartisan Action To Help Veterans
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At Central New York Veteran’s Outreach Center, Senator Gillibrand Hails Passage Of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention For American Veterans Act And Makes Push For Continued Bipartisan Action To Help Veterans
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At Watertown Vet Center, Senator Gillibrand Hails Passage Of The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention For American Veterans Act And Makes Push For Continued Bipartisan Action To Help Veterans
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Senate Passes Gillibrand Legislation Requiring Mental Health Professional On Military Review Board
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $122.4 Million in Federal Funds for Canandaigua VA is Included in Just-Unveiled Omnibus Bill; Will Help Move Construction Forward – Passage in Congress Would Send Legislation to President’s Desk
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Gillibrand Awards Veteran With Army Commendation Medal
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Schumer, Gillibrand Call On Va Secretary To Swiftly Approve Contract That Would Enable Local Veterans To Receive Inpatient Psychiatric Care Right Here In Finger Lakes – Va Currently Sending Vets To Buffalo, Syracuse & Albany
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $130,000 In Housing And Urban Development Funding For Geneva And Rochester
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Schumer, Gillibrand, Maffei Announce More Than $530,000 In Housing And Urban Development Funding For Onondaga, Oneida, Oswego & Tompkins Counties
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $3.3 Million In Housing And Urban Development Funding For The Capital Region
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $3.4 Million In Housing And Urban Development Funding For New York City
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Higgins & WNY Veterans Celebrate Congressional Approval and Presidential Authorization on the Legislation Keeping Kids Korner Open
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Gillibrand Announces Final Passage of Bill to Keep Northport VA’s Child Care Program Open
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Gillibrand Announces Final Passage of Bill to Keep Buffalo VA’s Child Care Program Open
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES To Receive More Than $135,000
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Tester, Gillibrand, Walsh, Blumenthal Applaud PTSD Change at DOD
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After Gillibrand’s Push, Va Replaces Cross With Star Of David On Wwii Veteran’s Grave
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Gillibrand Urges VA to Reimburse NY Veterans Who Sought Emergency Care at Civilian Hospitals
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Key Senate Committee Passes Gillibrand Legislation Requiring Mental Health Professional on Military Review Board
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Ahead Of Memorial Day Weekend, Gillibrand Honors 83 Year-Old Korean War Veteran From Orange County
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $122 Million In Funding for Canandaigua Va Campus Clears Key Senate Hurdle – Senators Urge Colleagues to Pass Military Funding Bill So Long-Awaited Construction At Canandaigua Va Can Get Underway
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Local Long Island Veteran Prompts Senator Gillibrand to Introduce New Legislation Requiring Mental Health Professional on Military Review Board
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Schumer, Gillibrand and Maffei Announce Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans & Military Families to Receive $9 Million Contract from Small Business Administration to Help Veterans Start and Create Businesses
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Gillibrand Fights to Keep Child Care Assistance Pilot Program at VA Medical Center for Long Island Veterans
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Gillibrand Fights to Keep Child Care Assistance Pilot Program at VA Medical Center for Buffalo Veterans
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Gillibrand, Murray Call for Comprehensive Review of New Policy That Would Deny Therapy for Thousands of Military Children With Disabilities
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Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Defense Department to Work To End the Backlog of Veterans’ Disability Claims
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Federal Delegation Urges VA to Fulfill Commitment to Host Golden Age Games in Western New York
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Gillibrand Urges VA Secretary to Reduce Over One-Year Long Backlog of Veterans Claims at New York City VA Office
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Gillibrand, Hochul Announce Senate Passage of Bipartisan Clothe Homeless Hero’s Act
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Gillibrand Announces Over $1.2 Million to Fight Homelessness Among Veterans and Families in Hudson Valley
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After Meeting with Young Veterans Across the State Earlier this Month, Gillibrand Announces Key Senate Panel Passage of TAP Amendment
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Standing with Student Veterans at D’youville College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
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Standing With Student Veterans at Nazareth College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
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Gillibrand, Schumer: Veterans Returning to CNY from Iraq & Afghanistan Deserve Support Finding Jobs – Senators Launch Proposal to Help CNY Vets Access the Education, Job Training & Skills they Need to Find a Job
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Standing With Student Veterans at Mohawk Valley Community College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
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Standing with Student Veterans at SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
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Standing with Westchester Veterans, Gillibrand & Lowey Announce Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
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Standing with Student Veterans at Adelphi University, Gillibrand & Mccarthy Announce Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Naming of Geneva Post Office on Castle Street in Honor of Corporal Steven Blaine Riccione, a Brave Geneva Native & Vietnam War Veteran
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Schumer, Gillibrand, Hochul: VA Decision to Close Warsaw Clinic Doesn’t Meet VA’s Clinic Closure Standards – Urges VA to Conduct Further Investigation to Understand True Importance to WNY Vets
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Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Bronze Star, Purple Heart for Buffalo Family Member of World War II Veteran
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Schumer, Gillibrand, Hochul Urge Feds to Abandon Plans to Close the Warsaw VA Clinic – Lawmakers Say Decision Could Harm Vets’ Access to Care, Must Be Reconsidered
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Gillibrand Provision to Preserve Jobs of National Guard Members Passes Full Congress
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $90,000 in Federal Investments for Schuyler County Veterans’ Service Agency; Investment will Implement State-Of-The-Art System that Secures Reliable Transit for Veterans
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On Veteran’s Day, Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Navy Cross, Purple Heart for Family of Long Island Vietnam Vet
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After Years of Waiting, Disabled Saratoga Veteran Finally Receives $3k in Monthly Benefits After Gillibrand Comes to His Aid
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To Salute Veteran’s Day, Gillibrand Launches New Online Tool for Service Members, Veterans and Families to Gain Access to Resources
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As New Yorkers Prepare to Honor All Veterans, Gillibrand Announces Plan to Strengthen Job Protections, Open Access to Financial Counseling, Mental Health for National Guard and Reserve Members
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Gillibrand Helps Decorated NY Soldier on his Mission to Replace 14 Stolen Medals for his Service Overseas
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Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Purple Heart for WWII Vet’s Family
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Gillibrand, Graham To Help 250,000 Vietnam Vets Harmed By Agent Orange, But Ignored By Feds Due To Technicality In The Law
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With High Unemployment Among Recent Vets, Gillibrand Announces New Push To Equip Returning Troops With Job Training
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With High Unemployment Rate Among Young Vets, Gillibrand Joined By NYC Vets Announces New Push To Equip Returning Troops With Job Training Skills
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Schumer, Gillibrand And Meeks Announce V.A. Abandons Plan To Allow Private Development At St. Albans Veteran's Facility
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Bipartisan Group Of Senators Calls On Veterans Affairs To Do More To Prevent Veteran Suicides
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On Memorial Day, Gillibrand Pays Tribute To World War II Vets, Secures Posthumous Medals For Albany Family Members
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As Nation Honors Fallen Heroes On Memorial Day, Gillibrand Fights For Legislation To Proactively Provide NY Vets With Care, Benefits
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Gillibrand Joins With Bipartisan Coalition of Senators to Introduce “Serve” Act to Protect Sanctity of Military Funerals
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22% Of Young Vets Out Of Work – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Long Island Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
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More Than 300 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Westchester And Rockland Counties – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
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More Than 800 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Capital Region – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
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More Than 300 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Mohawk Valley – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
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In Honor Of Brooklyn Native’s World War Ii Service, Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Medals For His Family
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Gillibrand, Staten Island Business Community And Veterans Announce New Push To Make Tax Cut Permanent For Businesses That Hire Troops Returning Home
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Gillibrand Announces New Push To Make Tax Cut Permanent For Businesses That Hire Veterans
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Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Their Request For $200,000 For Monroe County Veterans Outreach Center
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After Gillibrand Push, 75 Year-Old Queens Vet No Longer Faces $24,000 In Retroactive Debt Due To Veterans Affairs Accounting Error
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After Nearly 40 Years, Albany Navy Vet Finally Receives War Medals
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Ahead Of Memorial Day Weekend, Senator Gillibrand Announces New Effort To Help Prepare New York Veterans For The Jobs Of Tomorrow
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Senator Gillibrand Statement On Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing On Her Agent Orange Legislation
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Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Announce Legislation To Name Long Island Post Office In Honor Of Vietnam Veteran Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Has Passed Committee And Is Headed For A Vote On Senate Floor
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Gillibrand, Coalition Of Over 130 New York Art Museums And Cultural Institutions Announce Free Admission For All Active Duty Service Members And Veterans This Memorial Day Weekend
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Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Announce Legislation To Name Long Island Post Office In Honor Of Vietnam Veteran Private First Class Garfield M. Langhorn Has Passed Senate
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Gillibrand, Coalition Of 54 New York City Art Museums And Cultural Institutions Announce Free Admission For All Active Duty Service Members And Veterans This Memorial Day Weekend
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Gillibrand Honors WWII’s Unsung Women Heroes – Five New Yorkers Honored In Washington, DC Today
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Gillibrand Urges Feds To Support Proposal To Construct Home For Veterans In Canandaigua
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On Veterans Day, With More Than 14 Percent Of Young Veterans Unemployed, Gillibrand Makes Personal Pitch To Businesses: Hire A Vet, Get A Tax Break
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On Day Before Veterans Day, Senator Menendez Introduces Bill In Support Of Military Family Unity
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63 Year Old Brooklyn Vietnam Vet Harmed By Agent Orange, But Along With Thousands Of Others Ignored By Feds
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With No Cost Of Living Adjustment For 3.4 Million NY Seniors, Veterans And Disabled, Gillibrand Pushes For One-Time $250 Emergency Payment
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Gillibrand To Help 800,000 Vietnam Vets Harmed By Agent Orange, But Ignored By Feds Due To Technicality In The Law
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Gillibrand Applauds New GI Bill
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As Nation Honors Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day, Gillibrand Announces New Legislation to Improve Health Care Access for NY Veterans
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Higgins, Schumer, Gillibrand & Slaughter Ask VA to Establish Job Center for Disabled Vets in Buffalo
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Gillibrand: G.I. Benefits Should Extend to Veterans Enrolled at Online Universities
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Gillibrand Visits Fort Drum
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Senator Gillibrand Announces $103 Million For Veterans & $117.7 Million For Military Construction Projects In New York
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Senator Gillibrand Demands Better Benefits for Veterans