Press Releases
Following LGBTQ SCOTUS Ruling, Gillibrand, Collins Introduce Amendment To Defense Bill To Give Transgender Service Members Anti-Discrimination Protections
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced an amendment to this year's National Defense Authorization Act that would grant anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to transgender service members. In landmark decision on Monday, June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ people are protected from workplace discrimination under Title VII of … Continue Reading
June 24, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Rename All Bases & Other Military Assets For Confederacy Within One Year
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 35 Senate Democrats introduced standalone legislation requiring the Pentagon to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America, and anyone who voluntarily served it, from all military bases and other assets of the Department of Defense. The Pentagon must rename the assets within one year. "Our country has the opportunity to decide who we are as a nation, and we … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
As The COVID-19 Crisis Causes New Yorkers To Work And Learn From Home, Gillibrand Renews Call For $100 Million In Broadband Funding For Rural Areas
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately release $100 million in rural broadband funding, as millions of families continue to adjust to a new normal of online learning, work, and health care due to the COVID-19 crisis. Before the coronavirus pandemic, rural and native communities already faced a substantial broadband gap. According to a recent FCC report, over 25% of rural Americans are without access to quality broadband, compared … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Over $2 Million In FEMA Funding For New York City
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,087,884.07 in federal funding for the Harper Street Asphalt Plant in New York City. The federal funds are administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will be used to repair damages sustained during Superstorm Sandy. The Harper Street Asphalt Plant produces recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) for the New York City Department of Transportation. By transforming worn asphalt into new … Continue Reading
June 20, 2020
Gillibrand Statement Calling For Jay Clayton To Withdraw His Name For Consideration As SDNY U.S. Attorney
Addressing reports that President Trump will nominate SEC Chairman Jay Clayton for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "I will not be complicit in helping President Trump and Attorney General Barr fire a U.S. attorney who is reportedly investigating corruption in this administration. Jay Clayton should withdraw his name from consideration immediately and remove himself from this sham. President Trump cannot be … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $300K In Funding For Tribal Communities During The COVID-19 Health Crisis
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $278,993 in federal funding to support New York's tribal communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. This federal funding was allocated through the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Supporting Tribal Public Health Capacity in Coronavirus Preparedness and Response program, and will be used to assist tribal health departments and the tribal public health system during the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Andrew Kearse Accountability For Denial Of Medical Care Act
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined colleagues to introduce the Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act, which would hold law enforcement and corrections officers criminally liable for failing to obtain medical assistance for people in custody experiencing medical distress. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) led the bicameral legislation-Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) is an original co-sponsor. On May 11, 2017, Andrew … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $3 Million In Federal Funding For Telehealth Services
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,053,074 in federal funding to provide additional telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The tenth set of telehealth funding was administered through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program as allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). This federal funding will help ensure New Yorkers have … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Legislation To Protect Americans’ Access To The Ballot Box During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand cosponsored legislation to protect Americans' access to the ballot box during the coronavirus pandemic. Following election chaos as primary voters went to the polls in Wisconsin and Georgia amidst a COVID-19 outbreak, the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 includes $3.6 billion in funding to safeguard elections. The legislation, originally introduced by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), would expand early in-person voting … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Gillibrand Statement On SCOTUS Ruling On DACA
Addressing the Supreme Court's ruling today that barred the Trump administration from ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "The Supreme Court's decision today to bar President Trump from ending DACA is a victory for DREAMers, their families, and all Americans who believe in compassion and our shared humanity. These young men and women make our country stronger-they are entrepreneurs, health care … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $2 Million In Agricultural Research Funding For Cornell University
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,917,799 in federal funding for agricultural research and development at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and will be used to increase food security and address workforce development in rural agriculture. "New York's farmers and the New York agricultural … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
As Nationwide Protests For Racial Justice Continue, Gillibrand And Colleagues Call For Oversight Of Use Of Rubber Bullets And Use Of Force Against Peaceful Protestors
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined her Senate colleagues to call for an immediate review of the safety of rubber bullets being used during civil rights protests, as well as the use of force against peaceful protesters. The push follows reporting that indicates there have been serious injuries resulting from law enforcement's use of rubber bullets and use of force to control and disperse protests against police brutality and for civil rights. Gillibrand also joined a call to investigate … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
As Communities Prepare For Reopening, Gillibrand Pushes For Legislation To Fund And Stabilize Child Care
Confronting shortages of essential child care caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for the inclusion of the Child Care Is Essential Act in the next coronavirus relief package. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of all child care providers have had to shut their doors and the industry faces a potential loss of more than 4 million child care slots, which would leave millions of families without access to essential child care services when normal … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $2.5 Million In Federal Funding For Telehealth Services
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,667,741 in federal funding to provide additional telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The ninth set of telehealth funding was awarded to seven New York health care organizations through the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). This federal funding will … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Gillibrand Urges Congress To Pass The Justice In Policing Act
**WATCH Senator Gillibrand's Speech on the Senate Floor HERE** U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today spoke on the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to pass the Justice in Policing Act amidst nationwide protests calling for actions to address systemic racism and police brutality. The legislation proposes sweeping reforms to hold police accountable for misconduct, improve transparency, establish lynching as a federal crime, ban chokeholds, and enact other essential police reform measures. In … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Co-Sponsor Bill To Make Safety Equipment Mandatory On Helicopters
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand co-sponsored the Helicopter Safety Act of 2020, a bill to require terrain awareness and warning systems, crash-resistant flight data, and voice recorders on all helicopters that carry six or more passengers. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced this bicameral legislation. Since 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board has issued and re-issued recommendations … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $4 Million In Federal Funding For Transportation Services In Chemung County
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,800,000 in federal funding for Chemung County's C-Tran System. This federal funding was allocated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the CARES Act and will help ensure the C-Tran busing system can continue offering essential public transportation during the COVID-19 outbreak. "As upstate communities in the Southern Tier reopen, it's imperative that they get all the federal tools … Continue Reading
June 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $7.8 Million In Federal Head Start Funding For Long Island
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $7,861,808 in federal funding for the Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County. The funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Head Start Program and will be used to support child care, early childhood education and support services for low-income families in the area. "Study after study shows that the better we prepare our young children through programs … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Gillibrand Works To Expand Health Care Access For Immigrant Women By Co-Sponsoring The Heal Act
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has joined the calls of over 250 organizations to co-sponsor the Health Equity and Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Women and Families Act. This legislation would remove barriers to health care for immigrants, as our country and immigrant communities in particular are grappling with the ongoing impact of COVID-19. The HEAL Act would expand access to care by removing the five-year bar that immigrants face before becoming eligible for Medicaid and the … Continue Reading
June 12, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Reiterate Call For Federal Investigation Into Racially Discriminatory And Violent Policing At Minneapolis Police Department After George Floyd’s Death
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined two dozen colleagues in a follow up letter to Attorney General Barr reiterating a previous request that the Department of Justice open an investigation into patterns and practices of racially discriminatory and violent policing practices in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The senators asked for an explanation from Attorney General Barr on why he did not respond to their letter and to explain his statements on June 7th in an appearance on … Continue Reading
