Press Releases
ICYMI: Following Gillibrand Questioning, Experts Confirm National Paid Leave Program Would Protect Workers And Older Americans In Nursing Homes Amid COVID-19 Crisis
*Watch Special Committee on Aging Hearing Video HERE* In case you missed it, last week U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Special Committee on Aging, questioned experts on the impact of lacking a national paid leave program on the COVID-19 crisis in the nation's nursing homes. Following her questions, expert witness Dr. R. Tamara Konetzka confirmed that the availability of paid leave would help keep sick and contagious workers home and keep older Americans safer as the coronavirus … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Push To Fund Gun Violence Prevention And Support Programs Amidst Covid-19 Crisis
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on Senate leadership to include funding for gun violence prevention and support services in the next coronavirus relief package. Recent reports show that gun sales have increased and emergency health services have been strained since the coronavirus pandemic began. Stay-at-home orders have led to an increase in truancy among youth due to school closures, unemployment, and housing and food insecurity. These effects have exacerbated community gun … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Legislation To Establish Victim Compensation Fund For Essential Workers Affected By COVID-19
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation to establish a new fund to provide compensation for essential workers that were required to leave their home to perform services and became ill or died as a result of COVID-19. The fund would cover their families, as well. The Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act is modeled after the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and follows similar bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Gillibrand … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Video: As Communities Of Color Suffer Disproportionately From COVID-19, Gillibrand Presses EPA Administrator On Rollbacks Of Clean Air Guidelines
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, pressed EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler about the health effects related to air pollution after the EPA rolled back clean air protections amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Research has shown that communities of color in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens have some of the highest death rates from COVID-19 - these same communities also have the highest rates of hospitalizations for cardiovascular and … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $650K For Broadband Projects Across Rural New York
Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $640,296 in federal funding to connect rural and unserved New York communities to high-speed internet. The funding was awarded to the Mid-Hudson Data Corporation through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Connect America Fund program. The program is part of a broader effort by the FCC to close the digital divide in rural America by ensuring all Americans have access to critical voice … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Congress To Increase And Expand SNAP Benefits As Millions More Americans Seek Food Assistance Amid The COVID-19 Crisis
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Congress to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and increase benefits in the next coronavirus relief package. Before the coronavirus crisis began, SNAP was providing food assistance to 38 million Americans. The program is widely used in both rural and urban localities - in New York, 13% of rural families depend on SNAP while 15% of those in metro areas rely on the program. Now, with millions more Americans dealing with … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Gillibrand, Murkowski Urge Congress To Prioritize Impact Aid Funding In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led a bipartisan group of senators urging Congress to prioritize Impact Aid funding for federally impacted schools in the next coronavirus relief package. Federally impacted school districts educate some of the most vulnerable student populations - including Native American and military connected children and children living in federal low-rent housing - and rely on Impact Aid for resources. As these school districts struggle to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $11 Million In Federal Funding For Health Care Centers In New York State During COVID-19
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $10,777,076 in federal funding to provide health services for New Yorkers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The growing coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed New York's hospital system -- decimating supplies and creating a crisis for health care workers on the frontlines of combatting the virus. This funding, awarded to six New York health centers through the Department of Health & Human … Continue Reading
May 18, 2020
Following Push, Gillibrand Announces Inclusion Of Bipartisan Legislation To Address PFAS In Drinking Water And Other Key Provisions In Senate Water Resource Development Act And Drinking Water Infrastructure Act Passed By EPW Committee
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced that, following her push, essential legislation for safe drinking water and key provisions for New York's water resources are included in two pieces of water infrastructure legislation recently approved by the EPW Committee: the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and the Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020. The Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 includes … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $16 Million EPA Water Infrastructure Loan For The City Of Cortland
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today announced a $16 million Water Infrastructure Loan allocated through the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). This funding will support sewer rehabilitation and water main replacement projects to provide safe drinking water and dependable wastewater services for Cortland, New York. … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Gillibrand Calls For Legislation To Ban “Ghost” Guns
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a group of 15 senators to introduce legislation to ban "ghost" guns. As reports emerge that the health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic have increased demand and sales of untraceable weapons, the Untraceable Firearms Act would require distributors and manufacturers to comply with federal firearm safety guidelines. "The notion that anyone - including convicted felons, domestic abusers, and other dangerous individuals - can download … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $1.6 Million In Federal Funding For Telehealth Services
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,589,591 in federal funding to provide telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The funding was allocated through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). Telehealth Program funding will help connect providers with patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Senators Gillibrand, Markey, Rubio, And Gardner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen America’s Bioeconomy
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen America's bioeconomy. As scientists and researchers rush to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2020 would strengthen and broaden engineering biology by establishing an initiative to advance research and development, advance biomanufacturing, develop the future bioeconomy workforce, and support … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Bill To Help Families Of First Responders Lost To COVID-19
*** WATCH HERE*** U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the unanimous Senate passage of a bipartisan bill to ensure families of public safety officers lost to COVID-19 can quickly access survivor benefits. The Safeguarding America's First Responders Act (SAFR) clarifies certification requirements for survivor benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program to account for the unique challenges presented by the current coronavirus pandemic. "Our brave first … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bicameral Push For Federal Civil Rights Investigation Into Murder Of Ahmaud Arbery
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bicameral call on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a criminal civil rights investigation into the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and an independent investigation into local authorities' handling of the case. Last week, Arbery's killers were arrested, yet Gillibrand and her colleagues expressed serious concern about the prosecutorial misconduct that allowed the killers to walk free for more than two months. Senator Gillibrand pushed the DOJ to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
ICYMI: Gillibrand Fast Company Op-Ed: The American Workplace Was Already Broken. This Is How We Rebuild It.
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand published an opinion piece in Fast Company, outlining her plan to rebuild the American workplace by closing the pay gap, instituting universal paid sick and family leave, paying workers a livable wage, and more. In the piece, Gillibrand highlights how the American workplace was broken before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and outlines transformative legislation that will reshape the way we value workers. The full text of Gillibrand's op-ed may be found here … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Gillibrand Leads Group Of Senators To Call For Support For Postal Employees, Including 100,000 Veterans Employed By USPS
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a group of Senate colleagues calling on Senate leadership to protect and fully support the thousands of employees, including 100,000 veterans employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS), who are playing a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-signers of the letter include: Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). USPS employees have … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Congress To Support Vulnerable Renters And Homeless Americans In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined bicameral calls for Congress to prioritize the needs of homeless and housing insecure Americans by providing robust funding in the next coronavirus relief package. As a cosponsor of the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020, Senator Gillibrand is pushing Congress to establish an Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help families and individuals pay their rent and … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $22.5 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Coronavirus Testing In New York City
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $22,875,973 in federal funding to help health centers in New York City respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, this funding will help health centers purchase, administer, and expand the use of COVID-19 testing. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program. "Testing … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $16.5 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Coronavirus Testing In Upstate New York
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $16,790,380 in federal funding to help health centers in Upstate New York respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, this funding will help health centers purchase, administer, and expand the use of COVID-19 testing. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program. … Continue Reading
