Press Release

Senator Gillibrand Meets with Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen

Feb 26, 2009

Washington, DC – New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, met this morning with Admiral Mike Mullen,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss his recent visit to
Fort Drum and the deployment of the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division this month.

“I
have immense gratitude to the members of our military who put their
lives on the line to keep us safe. I look forward to working with
Admiral Mullen and our military leaders to strengthen our armed forces
and keep our nation safe,” said Senator Gillibrand.

Senator
Gillibrand and Admiral Mullen discussed the need for additional money
for the State Department to help the military’s mission in Afghanistan.
They discussed priorities including instability in Pakistan and
Afghanistan, the current situation in Iraq, and new efforts to take
care of returning veterans. Senator Gillibrand pledged to work with the
military on legislation that will assist wounded soldiers and their
families and create jobs for veterans.

“I
am pleased that as we refocus our mission in Afghanistan, we will
ensure our soldiers have a longer break at home between missions. I
will continue to work to provide the needed assistance for the men and
women returning home and deliver the benefits our veterans have
earned,” Senator Gillibrand continued.

“It
was nice that Admiral Mullen took time during his visit to Fort Drum to
meet with spouses of deployed soldiers. We are lucky to have such a
strong and supportive community for our military families. Fort Drum is
growing quickly, and can truly be a catalyst for economic growth in the
North Country.”