Press Releases
Gillibrand Announces Key Legislative Victories For New Yorkers In American Rescue Plan
Aided by aggressive action by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Senate today passed the American Rescue Plan to support American families and small businesses, and deliver critical resources for public health, health care, economic recovery and essential services. Gillibrand successfully negotiated the inclusion of several provisions in the relief package-she authored legislation to create a Health Force to aide vaccine distribution and deliver funding for cash-strapped state and local … Continue Reading
March 05, 2021
Gillibrand Announces Bills To Strengthen And Expand Background Check Requirements To Reduce Gun Violence
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate Democrats to introduce two bills to strengthen and expand background check requirements as communities across New York State experience increased gun violence during the pandemic. Today, Senator Gillibrand cosponsored the Background Check Completion Act, legislation that would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer. Senator Gillibrand also reintroduced the bicameral … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Senators Gillibrand And Rubio, Representatives Cohen And Desaulnier Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Safety Measures To Prevent Deadly ‘Underride’ Accidents Involving Tractor-Trailers
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen safety measures to prevent deadly underride accidents involving tractor-trailers and straight trucks. The bipartisan Stop Underrides Act would require underride guards on the sides and front of all new trucks and update outdated standards for underride guards on the rear of trucks. An underride crash … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $2 Million In Federal Head Start Funding For Delaware Opportunities, Inc.
U.S. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,361,543 in Head Start funding for Delaware Opportunities, Inc. in Hamden. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and will be used to enhance early child development programs and foster productive learning for children in low-income families, with a focus on early learning and development, health, and family well-being. "Study after study shows that … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act To Compensate Essential Workers Affected By COVID-19
U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the introduction of the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act, which will create a new program for all essential workers and personnel who have been injured or impacted by COVID-19. Modelled after the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF), the new fund would provide compensation to any individuals, or their families, who were deemed essential workers that were required to leave their home to perform services, and became ill or died as a result of … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Gillibrand, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration To Prioritize ATF Leadership And Gun Violence Prevention
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a dozen Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to quickly nominate a permanent Director for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) who is committed to increasing public safety and addressing the gun violence epidemic across the country. In the letter, the Senators highlighted public transparency, information-sharing practices, oversight of the gun industry, the proliferation of ghost guns, and dealer … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Gillibrand Calls On Biden Administration To Establish Office Of Sexual And Reproductive Health And Wellbeing
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a letter alongside U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) urging the Biden administration to establish an Office of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellbeing (OSRHW) within the Domestic Policy Council. Following years of Republican-led policies on the federal level and in states across the country that have weakened reproductive rights and health care, Gillibrand and her colleagues are pushing President Joe Biden and Vice President … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
As Senate Negotiates Coronavirus Relief Package, Gillibrand Fights For Robust LIHEAP Funding To Help Families Struggling To Keep Heat On
As the Senate negotiates the House passed coronavirus relief package, Gillibrand is urging Senate leadership to maintain House negotiated funding levels for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at $4.5 billion. Within the last year, the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has put an unprecedented financial burden on New Yorkers. Millions of New Yorkers are finding it more difficult to afford the cost of keeping the heat turned on in their homes during the cold … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Gillibrand Announces Disclose Act To Combat Special Interests And Dark Money Influence In Federal Elections
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced bicameral legislation to help reduce corruption in politics by cracking down on special interests and dark money influence in federal elections. The DISCLOSE Act would increase transparency of political spending by requiring organizations and corporations to disclose donors who have given $10,000 or more during an election cycle. "We have to get dark money out of politics and combat special interest spending in federal elections," said Senator … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Gillibrand Announces Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act To Build Fairer Economy
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation to create an ultra-millionaire tax on fortunes over $50 million. The bicameral Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act - led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA) - would build a fairer economy and help narrow the racial wealth gap by asking the wealthiest 100,000 households in America, or the top 0.05%, to pay their fair share. The legislation creates a 2% … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Senators Gillibrand And Cotton, Representatives Nadler And Herrera Beutler Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Protect Organ Donors
At the start of National Kidney Month, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) and U.S. Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) introduced legislation to protect the rights of living organ donors. The Living Donor Protection Act would protect living donors from high insurance premiums, codify Department of Labor (DOL) guidance that covers living donors under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the private and civil service, remove … Continue Reading
February 28, 2021
Gillibrand Calls for NY Attorney General Investigation
Addressing the sexual harassment allegations against New York Governor Cuomo, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement: "These allegations are serious and deeply concerning. As requested by Attorney General James, the matter should be referred to her office so that she can conduct a transparent, independent and thorough investigation with subpoena … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Gillibrand Announces Over $40K Investment In New York University Transportation Research Fellowship
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $41,500 in federal funding for the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP). This federal funding was allocated through the Federal Highway Administration's Technology Partnership Program and will be used to provide financial support for students pursuing masters and doctoral degrees in transportation-related disciplines at New York University. "The transportation industry is critical in New York. In order to retain … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Gillibrand, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Support Families Struggling With Substance Use Disorder As Addiction Crisis Intensifies During COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide families with the tools they need to support their loved ones living with addiction. The Family Support Services for Addiction Act would provide $25 million in grant funding to help nonprofits and community organizations provide support services to families with loved ones seeking addiction treatment. "The pandemic has exacerbated our country's addiction crisis and we … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
ICYMI: Senator Gillibrand Watertown Daily Times Op-Ed: VA Should Cover Veterans’ Claims Of Burn Pit Illnesses
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, published an opinion piece in the Watertown Daily Times outlining her agenda for veterans and military families in the new Congress. Additionally, Gillibrand details one of her main priorities, the Presumptive Benefits For War Fighters Exposed To Burn Pits And Other Toxins Act, which would establish presumption of service connection for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins and … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Gillibrand Calls For Full Funding Of Community Development Block Grant Program And Provide Lifeline For Cash-Strapped Upstate Communities Struggling To Afford Essential Services
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate Democrats to call for full funding of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which funds local community development initiatives that support jobs, housing, infrastructure, and public services for millions of Americans. CDBG funding provides a lifeline for cash-strapped upstate communities whose budgets have been hit hard by the pandemic. The funding provides municipalities with the resources to support affordable housing, economic … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Dot To Implement Local Hire Pilot Program For Highway And Other Infrastructure Projects
Today, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging the DOT to implement a new local hire program that would allow state and local governments to use targeted hiring programs that connect local workers - especially in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities - to construction jobs created by DOT-funded infrastructure projects. The program is modeled after the 2015 Special … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Gillibrand, Cortez Masto, Jayapal Unveil Bicameral Legislation To Protect Immigrant Children In Government Custody
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), along with U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) led their Senate and House colleagues in the introduction of the Protection of Kids in Detention (PROKID) Act, which would provide a new, stronger layer of oversight to ensure and enforce transparency, protection, and accountability for all immigrant children in any kind of government custody. A key piece of PROKID includes the creation of a permanent Office of the … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Gillibrand, Cortez Masto Y Jayapal Presentan Un Proyecto Bicameral Para Proteger A Los Niños Inmigrantes Que Están Bajo La Custodia Del Gobierno
Las senadoras de los Estados Unidos, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) y Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), junto con la representante Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) lideran a sus colegas en el Senado y la Cámara de Representantes en la presentación de la Ley de Protección a los Niños en Detención (PROKID, por sus siglas en inglés), que proveería una supervisión nueva y más fuerte para asegurar y hacer valer la transparencia, la protección y la … Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $5 Million In NeighborWorks America Grants For 16 Organizations Across New York
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $5,395,000 in NeighborWorks America grants for 16 community development organizations to bring local solutions to affordable housing challenges across New York. NeighborWorks America is a nonprofit organization that brings residents, private-sector business leaders, and representatives of local government together to support affordable housing initiatives, neighborhood revitalization projects, small … Continue Reading
