Press Releases
Senator Gillibrand Visits Stony Brook University, Calls For Public Service Loan Forgiveness In Upcoming COVID-19 Relief Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited Stony Brook University, standing with Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis, and Rukhsar Asfe to call on Senate leadership to include provisions from the What You Can Do For Your Country Act in COVID-19 relief legislation. The bill would address issues in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to keep public servants out of debt. In 2007, Congress established the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to help more students choose … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Push To Enforce USMCA Dairy Provisions
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined a bipartisan push to ensure key USMCA provisions for dairy farmers and Canadian dairy exports are enforced. In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, Gillibrand and more than 20 Senate colleagues pushed the administration to hold Canadian and Mexican trade partners accountable to their commitments. The outlined … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $950K In Federal Funding For Economic Development In Upstate New York
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $965,000 in federal funding awarded through the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) COVID-19 Recovery Assistance. This funding will support programs designed to reinvigorate regional economies that have been impacted by widespread business closures and economic stagnation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. "In these trying and unprecedented times, the federal government should do … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Gillibrand Denounces New CDC COVID-19 Testing Guidelines Directing People Not To Get Tested Even If They’ve Been Exposed To The Virus
Addressing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's updated COVID-19 testing guidelines-which say that people do not need to get tested for COVID-19, even if they've been exposed to the virus-U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "The truth is that we need more tests, not less. The Trump Administration's failure to lead on a national strategy for COVID-19 diagnostic testing means that we do not have enough tests for everyone who needs one. If we had a … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Following Alarming Reports Of Small Farmers Being Disadvantaged By Farm Relief Program, Gillibrand Demands USDA Answer For Inequitable Distribution Of Benefits And Urges Agency To Provide Direct Relief For New York’s Small Farmers
Following an alarming NBC report detailing striking disparities in the distribution of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) benefits, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is demanding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) answer for the inequitable distribution of CFAP benefits and is urging USDA Secretary Perdue to provide direct relief for New York's small farmers, who have been financially devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFAP … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Senators Gillibrand And Rounds, Representatives Cisneros And Mast Urge Congress To Include Bipartisan Bill To End Military Child Abuse In Final NDAA
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), are urging Congress to ensure their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address shortcomings in the Department of Defense's (DoD) reporting of child abuse is included in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The push was led in the House by Representatives Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Brian Mast (R-FL). The End Military-Connected Child Abuse and … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $11.5 Million In Federal Funding For Busing Services In New York City And Long Island
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11.6 million in federal funding for Suffolk County and the New York City Department of Transportation. This funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation's Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program and will be used to purchase new buses, rehabilitate worn equipment, and construct busing facilities. "In order to recover and rebuild our communities from this health and economic … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Gillibrand Leads 23 Senators To Submit Amicus Brief On Ending Discrimination In Foster Care And Adoption
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led 23 Senate colleagues to submit an amicus brief in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, an impending Supreme Court case focused on anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the foster care and adoption system. In March 2018, the City of Philadelphia learned that two of the agencies it partners with to provide foster care services to children in the public child welfare system would not allow same-sex couples to be foster parents, based on the agencies' religious beliefs. The … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Urge HHS And CMS To Provide Critical Resources To Home Health And Community Based Care Services As They Adapt To COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure home health care and home- and community-based services (HCBS) have the critical resources needed to continue providing care to older adults and people with disabilities, two communities most vulnerable to COVID-19. The pandemic has made it difficult for older adults and people with disabilities to receive home health services and has … Continue Reading
August 21, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bicameral Call To Invest In Socially Disadvantaged And Veteran Farmers Struggling To Stay Afloat During The Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined a bicameral call for continued investment in socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers, many of whom have been hit hard by the pandemic and are in need of direct support. In a letter to the USDA, Senator Gillibrand, alongside her colleagues Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), expressed concerns over the Trump administration's decision to divert funding away … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Legislation To Provide Emergency Federal Relief To Vital Bus, Motorcoach And Ferry Service Operators
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently cosponsored the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act of 2020. This bipartisan legislation would provide $10 billion in emergency economic relief funding, in the form of grants (no less than 50 percent of total funding) and other economic assistance, through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, to motorcoach operators, school bus companies, U.S. flag passenger vessel operators, and other U.S. transportation service … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Legislation To Provide Emergency Federal Relief To Vital Bus, Motorcoach And Ferry Service Operators
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently cosponsored the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act of 2020. This bipartisan legislation would provide $10 billion in emergency economic relief funding, in the form of grants (no less than 50 percent of total funding) and other economic assistance, through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, to motorcoach operators, school bus companies, U.S. flag passenger vessel operators, and other U.S. transportation service … Continue Reading
August 19, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $300K In Federal Funding To Support Nursing Workforce In The Southern Tier
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $286,263 in federal funding to expand nursing opportunities and combat workforce shortages in the Southern Tier. Specifically, this funding will be used to establish clinical education and training programs in the region. "The COVID-19 crisis has proven to us the importance of nurses in keeping the Southern Tier healthy," said Senator Schumer. "While we have tremendous nurses providing world-class care … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Gillibrand: Postmaster General Statement “Leaves Too Many Important Questions Unanswered” About USPS Future
In response to the postmaster general's latest statement about suspending operational changes until after the 2020 election, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following: "The postmaster general's latest statement leaves too many important questions unanswered about protecting the sanctity of our voting system this November. These operational changes should have never have happened in the first place, and they must now be reversed. "Compromising critical mail service for veterans, … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Gillibrand Calls For Robust Funding To Support Substance Use Disorder And Mental Health Care Services In Next Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Senate leadership to include robust funding for substance use disorder and mental health care services in the next coronavirus relief package. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues and substance use disorders, while support services have been reduced. Additional funding for substance use disorder and mental health care services is crucial in order to provide individuals with the essential resources to begin and sustain … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million In Agricultural Research Funding For Cornell University And The New York Agricultural Research Station
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced $1,379,996 million in federal funding for food and agriculture research at Cornell University and the New York Agricultural Experiment Station. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Specifically, this funding was awarded through NIFA's Agriculture and Food … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Senator Gillibrand Calls For Full Funding Of Post Office To Protect Jobs, Public Health, And Democracy
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand demanded answers on the state of operations in the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and urged him to address delays in mail delivery that are putting lives, the economy, and our democracy at risk. Recently, disturbing reports have emerged of slow mail delivery, mail left sitting in facilities overnight, and the sudden removal of mail collection boxes. The delays have shone a light on the challenges of delivering and receiving … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Support For Bicameral Legislation To Help Achieve Environmental Justice For All
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her cosponsorship of bicameral legislation to ensure environmental justice and health equity for all. Environmental racism has fueled disparities in environmental and public health outcomes on communities of color across the country. Additionally, systemic barriers such as redlining, intentional disinvestment, and unregulated pollution have systematically harmed and disadvantaged communities of color and low-income communities. The Environmental … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $6 Million In FEMA Funding For Firefighters
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $5,333,677.90 in federal funding to provide essential PPE, training, and supplies for firefighters responding to the COVID-19 outbreak across New York State. Additionally, the Morrisvile Fire District received $642,857.14 to purchase emergency rescue vehicles. This federal funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Impact Aid Infrastructure Act To Support School Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tom Udall (D-NM), introduced legislation to provide $1 billion in supplemental funding for school infrastructure construction grants through the Impact Aid program. Federally impacted school districts educate some of the most vulnerable student populations - including Native American and military connected … Continue Reading
