Press Releases
As Trump-Era Drug Policies Continue To Target Communities Of Color For Low-Level Marijuana Possession, Senator Gillibrand And Assemblymember Peoples-Stokes Push Legislation To Legalize Marijuana
Buffalo, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today stood with Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes at Legal Aid in Buffalo to push legislation to legalize marijuana and help reverse decades of failed drug policies that have disproportionately hurt communities of color and low-income communities in New York and across the country. Assemblymember Crystal Peoples-Stokes has been a champion of this issue and has passed legislation in the State Assembly to permit the sealing of certain marijuana … Continue Reading
June 22, 2018
After Major Push By Schumer And Gillibrand, Just-Passed Senate Defense Bill Approves $14 Million In Federal Funding For New Training Center For NFARS; Senators Say Training Center Will Improve Mission Readiness
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that following their push, the Senate version of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes $14 million in federal funding for the construction of a new training center for Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) in Niagara County. The senators said the new funding will allow NFARS' pilots to train and complete physical requirements. The senators vowed to fight to secure … Continue Reading
June 22, 2018
As New Yorkers Continue To Suffer Due To PFAS Contamination, Schumer, Gillibrand Announce That After Their Push, $20 Million To Study The Health Effects Of PFAS Water Contamination Passes Senate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the recently passed Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $20 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a public health assessment for sites affected by polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Specifically, $10 million is allocated to study the health effects … Continue Reading
June 21, 2018
After Major Push By Schumer and Gillibrand, Just-Passed Senate Defense Bill Approves $14.2 Million Federal Funding To Enhance Perimeter Security At Rome Lab
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that following their push, the Senate version of the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes $14.2 million in federal funding to enhance security at Rome Lab. Schumer and Gillibrand said the funds would enhance anti-terrorism perimeter security and entry point control point at the Lab. The senators vowed to fight to secure funding for the project in the Senate through the … Continue Reading
June 21, 2018
Following Reports That Defense Department Is Sending Jags To Southern Border To Prosecute Immigration Cases, Senators Gillibrand, Ernst, Leahy Demand Answers From Secretary Mattis, Urge Him To Immediately Reverse This Inappropriate Policy
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today wrote to Secretary of Defense James Mattis urging him to reverse his recent decision to send military Judge Advocates (JAGs) to the Southern border to prosecute immigration cases. … Continue Reading
June 20, 2018
Following New AP Report That Babies And Toddlers Are Being Held In “Tender Age” Detention Camps At Southern Border, Gillibrand Takes To Senate Floor To Urge End To Government’s Immoral Family Separation Policy, Record Details Of These Detention Camps In Official Senate Record
**WATCH Senator Gillibrand's Speech on the Senate Floor HERE** Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today took to the Senate floor to read an AP story published last night describing the conditions of "tender age" shelters used to hold babies and toddlers who have been separated from their parents entering the United States. The shelters are located along the U.S.-Mexico border. Gillibrand spoke on the Senate floor to document the details of the Trump Administration's actions in … Continue Reading
June 20, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce University At Albany Receives Prestigious Academic Excellence In Cyber Defense Education Designation
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the University at Albany has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA), in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The CAE-CD program was created to recognize and grant designations to schools that offer rigorous degree programs in information security. Through … Continue Reading
June 19, 2018
Following Her Successful Push, Gillibrand Announces That Her Bipartisan Legislation To Help Create New Manufacturing Jobs And Revive Local Economies Across New York State Just Passed The Senate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, today announced that following her successful push, her bipartisan Made in America Manufacturing Communities Act, which would help create new manufacturing jobs and invest in local economies throughout New York State, has passed the Senate. Gillibrand's legislation was included in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed the Senate yesterday … Continue Reading
June 18, 2018
As DHS Continues To Tear Children Away From Their Parents At The Border, Gillibrand Speaks On Senate Floor, Calls On Trump Administration To End Cruel Family Separation Policy
**WATCH Senator Gillibrand's Speech on the Senate Floor HERE** Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today took to the Senate floor to speak out against the Trump Administration's inhumane practice of separating children from their parents as families enter into the United States. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that federal officials removed over 2,000 minors from adult custody between May 5th and June 9th. In most cases, families are unaware of where … Continue Reading
June 18, 2018
Senators Gillibrand And Wicker Announce Passage Of Bipartisan Resolution Designating “Juneteenth Independence Day”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today announced the passage of their resolution designating June 19, 2018, as "Juneteenth Independence Day," in recognition of June 19, 1865, the day slavery legally came to an end in the United States. "Every year on Juneteenth we celebrate Emancipation, recognize the work left to do, and continue our commitment to a more equal future for all. Juneteenth is a holiday for all of us to observe the end of … Continue Reading
June 18, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $100,000 In Federal Funding For Drug Prevention And Treatment Programs In The North Country To Address The Scourge Of Opioids
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $100,000 in federal funding for two opioid prevention programs in the North Country. Specifically, the Alliance for Better Communities in Jefferson County and the Massena Drug-Free Community Coalition in St. Lawrence will each receive $50,000, respectively. The funding was allocated by the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) program and will be used to … Continue Reading
June 18, 2018
Gillibrand Calls On Trump Administration To Reject Atlantic Seismic Testing Permits In The Atlantic Ocean To Protect Environment, Marine Ecosystems and Mammals
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Dr. Walter Cruickshank, Acting Director of the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), calling on them to reject the requests for permits to conduct seismic surveys in the Atlantic for oil and gas exploration. Seismic testing is a tool used by the oil and gas industry to help determine locations … Continue Reading
June 18, 2018
Following Her Push, Gillibrand Successfully Adds Reauthorization And Expansion Of The Northern Border Regional Commission To Senate Farm Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that after her push, the Northern Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act was included as an amendment to the Senate Farm Bill that just passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a federal-state partnership that invests in economic and community development projects throughout the North Country and Central New York, as … Continue Reading
June 15, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Deliver Major Victories For Upstate New York In The Senate Farm Bill; Senators Went To Bat For Upstate New York Farmers – Say New Bill Includes Vital Victories And Will Boost Upstate New York’s Economy; Urge Their Colleagues In The Senate To Pass Farm Bill Immediately
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today revealed the details of the newly-released Senate Farm Bill. The senators said the bill could benefit key Upstate New York industries, and urged their colleagues in the Senate to pass the bill as quickly as possible. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand detailed several major areas in which the Farm Bill will be a major boost to Upstate farmers, growers, and producers, as well as other New York businesses, like … Continue Reading
June 14, 2018
Following Her Push, Gillibrand Successfully Adds Bipartisan Rural Broadband Legislation To Senate Farm Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that after her push, her bipartisan Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act (B-CROP Act), was included as a provision in the Senate Farm Bill that just passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Senator Gillibrand and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), would make grant funding available for rural broadband projects … Continue Reading
June 13, 2018
Following Her Push, Gillibrand Provision To Put $77 Million Back Into The Pockets Of Dairy Farmers Included In Senate Farm Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that following her push, her Dairy Premium Refund Act will be included as a provision in this year's Senate version of the Farm Bill. This provision will return $77.1 million in insurance premiums paid by farmers for an insurance program that left them empty-handed when milk prices plummeted. The refunded premiums paid by farmers from 2015-2017 will be returned to them from the U.S. … Continue Reading
June 13, 2018
After Meeting With Businesses Throughout New York That Support Workers Through Employee Ownership And Pushing For Legislation To Help Companies Transition To ESOPs or Co-Ops, Gillibrand Announces Her Bipartisan Employee Ownership Bill Included In National Defense Bill
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, announced that following her push, her bipartisan Main Street Employee Ownership Act was included as a provision in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This provision would support small businesses that invest in and reward their workers and communities by transitioning to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) or a cooperative (co-op). Co-ops and … Continue Reading
June 12, 2018
As Sexual Assault And Harassment Remain Pervasive Throughout The Military, Gillibrand Calls For A Vote On The Bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act On The Senate Floor To Finally Address Crisis And Protect Service Members
**WATCH Senator Gillibrand's Speech on the Senate Floor HERE** Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, today took to the Senate floor to call for a vote on the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act. Gillibrand introduced the Military Justice Improvement Act as an amendment to the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Sexual assault and harassment remain … Continue Reading
June 12, 2018
As Automation Continues To Threaten Jobs Across New York, Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Support Workers Who Face Job Loss Due To Automation
Washington, DC - As increasingly sophisticated automation threatens jobs throughout New York and the country, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the TAA for Automation Act, new legislation that would provide Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits, including job training and reemployment services, to workers who are displaced due to automation. According to a study released this week by the Center for an Urban Future, more than one million current jobs throughout New York … Continue Reading
June 11, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce, Following Their Push: $190 Million To Complete Last Phase Of Canandaigua VA Campus Expansion Included In Senate VA Appropriations Bill; Senators Say $190 Million Would Complete Long-Sought Upgrade, Boost Quality Care For Veterans & Economic Development To Rochester Region
Senators: Rochester-Area Veterans Deserve To Finally Have The State-Of-The-Art Facility They Need U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that, after their push, $190M in funding for the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Campus modernization project was included in the Fiscal Year 2019 Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Bill. The much-needed funding would enable the … Continue Reading
