Press Releases
As Americans Increasingly Rely On Food Delivery During Coronavirus Pandemic, Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Push To Expand Delivery For SNAP Recipients
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan group of senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure SNAP participants can receive home food delivery and curbside pickup during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Gillibrand expressed concern that SNAP recipients - especially seniors and immunocompromised individuals, individuals with disabilities, and families who lack reliable transportation - are often unable to … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Senators Gillibrand And Rounds, Representatives Cisneros And Mast Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To End Military-Connected Child Abuse And Neglect
Today, U. S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) and U.S. Representatives Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA-39) and Brian Mast (R-FL-18) introduced the End Military-Connected Child Abuse and Neglect Act. The bipartisan and bicameral bill would improve how the Department of Defense tracks and responds to incidents of child abuse and neglect occurring on military installations or involving military dependents. There are approximately 1.2 million school-aged military dependents … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Invest $4 Billion To Close Growing Education Gap Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation to invest $4 billion in educational funding in the next relief package to ensure students have access to technology and broadband in order to continue their education during the COVID-19 outbreak. Research shows the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the "homework gap" experienced by an estimated 12 million students who lack reliable internet access at home. This problem particularly affects students in rural and urban areas, as … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $4 Billion In Emergency Federal Funding For The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,910,000,000 in federal funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), allocated in the CARES Act through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The funding will be used to offset major revenue losses for the agency, which operates the New York City Subway, Buses, and Metro-North and Long Island Railroads. The COVID-19 crisis has had a major impact on the MTA's system, resulting in a … Continue Reading
May 11, 2020
After Firing Of Amazon Whistleblowers, Gillibrand Calls For Information On Discipline Policies
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate Democrats in calling for information on Amazon's discipline and termination policies, as reports emerged about the firing of employees who have publicly raised concerns about the company's safety conditions in warehouses during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the senators called for information on internal policies that resulted in the termination of at least four employees that have advocated on behalf of health and … Continue Reading
May 11, 2020
As EPW Committee Passes 2020 Senate Water Resource Development Act, Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Inclusion Of Key Projects For New York’s Water Resources
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced that, following their push, essential provisions for New York's water resources are included in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that the EPW Committee approved this week. In the legislation, called "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020," the senators secured language that would authorize and advance Army … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
Gillibrand Calls For Increased Funding To Support Neighborhood And Minority Owned Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bicameral call to increase federal grant funding for neighborhood and micro-businesses burdened by the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Saving Our Street (SOS) Act would support local economies and business by establishing a Microbusiness Assistance Fund of $124.5 billion to provide the resources and direct funding needed to offset lost revenues and increased costs. The bulk of the funding would be dedicated to historically … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
ICYMI: Senator Gillibrand Medium Piece: State And Local Governments Need Federal Relief Now
In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand published a piece on Medium highlighting the urgent need to deliver direct federal relief funding to state and local governments responding to and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. The piece comes as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate has surged nearly 15%. The report also noted that nearly 1 million state and local government jobs have been lost throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily in … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Following Push From Gillibrand And Schumer, USDA Approves New York State’s Pandemic EBT Program
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced that, following their push, the Trump administration approved New York State's request to operate the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. New York State had submitted their plan for P-EBT-which provides nutritional resources to families that have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals-on March 25, 2020. … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Call On Trump Administration To Raise SBA’s PPP Non-Payroll Forgiveness Cap
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today joined a bipartisan group of senators to urge the Trump Administration to raise the Paycheck Protection Program's (PPP) non-payroll forgiveness cap from 25% to 50%. PPP loans allow loan proceeds used towards payroll, utilities, mortgage interest, and rent payments to be forgiven when at least 75% of the loan is spent on payroll. In a letter sent to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, Gillibrand and her … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Gillibrand, Schumer, Jones, Manchin, Brown, Bennet, Peters Announce Legislation To Deliver Direct Federal Relief Funding To Local Governments Responding To And Recovering From Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Doug Jones (D-AL), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Gary Peters (D-MI) today announced a plan to provide local governments with direct federal relief that can be used to pay for essential services and offset lost revenues and increased costs from the COVID-19 emergency. The Direct Support for Communities Act would complement direct relief to states, which is also vital in this crisis. … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $45.6 Million In EPA Funding For New York; Funds Will Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas, Fight Climate Change And Promote Clean Water
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 $45,682,712 in federal funding allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help reduce diesel emissions, continue financing clean water projects, and promote workforce development. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant secured $515,712 in funding for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Gillibrand, Schumer, Booker, Menendez Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Help Families Of First Responders Lost To COVID Access Public Service Benefits
As New York and New Jersey's first responders face perils on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D) and Chuck Schumer (D), along with New Jersey Senators Cory Booker (D) and Bob Menendez (D), introduced 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 the certification requirements for survivor benefits under the … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Gillibrand, Schumer Urge USDA To Approve New York State’s Pandemic EBT Program
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer are calling on the Trump administration to quickly approve New York State's request to operate the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. As schools across the country close indefinitely in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the senators urged USDA to approve New York's program to provide nutritional resources to families that have … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To Create Direct Supply Chain Between Farms And Food Banks
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced legislation to address disruptions in the food supply chain caused by the coronavirus pandemic and directly connect farms to food banks. As restaurants, hotels, schools, and other food service entities cease operations to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, reports have emerged that millions of pounds of produce have been left to rot. Meanwhile, food banks across the country are facing unprecedented … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Gillibrand Urges USDA To Include Fishermen And Aquaculture Farmers In Purchase And Distribution Program
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include fishermen and aquaculture farmers in the agency's food purchasing and distribution program, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. While produce, livestock, and dairy farmers have been supported by the program, commercial fishermen and aquaculture farmers have been largely excluded. The coronavirus pandemic has caused … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $9 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Upstate Housing Assistance
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $9,220,564 in federal funding allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding was secured under the CARES Act for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, which funds the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program supports activities that help or maintain the health and safety of assisted individuals and families. Additionally, the program covers increased subsidy and … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $33 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Housing Assistance In New York City And Long Island
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $33,441,456 in federal funding allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This funding was secured under the CARES Act for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, which funds the HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program. The program supports activities that help or maintain the health and safety of assisted individuals and families. Additionally, the program covers increased subsidy and … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $1 Million In Federal Funding For Telehealth Services
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $980,062 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, while … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Call To Include $50 Billion For Childcare System In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined more than 30 Senate Democrats in calling for $50 billion for the childcare system to respond to and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. As Congress begins negotiations on a fourth coronavirus relief package, Senator Gillibrand and her colleagues are prioritizing the needs of the childcare system so that childcare providers - which are often small businesses - can maintain operations and parents can to return to work when states begin reopening. While … Continue Reading
