Press Releases
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
April 30, 2020
Gillibrand Calls On Federal Communications Commission (FCC) To Notify Snap And Medicaid Recipients Eligible For Broadband And Telephone Services
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bicameral call to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to work alongside U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to notify new and current Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid recipients of their eligibility for the FCC's Lifeline Program, which helps low-income families access broadband and telephone services. Reliance on connectivity has only increased during … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Urge Congress To Include Protections For People With Disabilities In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand co-led a letter alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urging Congress to protect people with disabilities in the next coronavirus relief package. As Congress begins negotiations for a fourth stimulus package, Gillibrand and her Senate colleagues are pushing to prioritize the needs of the more than 60 million Americans with disabilities, in order to mitigate the health, … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Call To Fund Northern Border Regional Commission As Congress Begins Negotiations On Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan, bicameral call to include dedicated funding for the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) in upcoming COVID-19 relief legislation. The NBRC is a federal-state partnership that provides economic and infrastructure development assistance for rural counties across New York. Northern communities have faced unique challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and additional NBRC funding would ensure the Commission can help communities fund … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $1 Million In Federal Funding To Promote Connected Care For New Yorkers
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $938,519 in federal funding to provide telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 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). The third round of Telehealth Program funding awarded the NYU Grossman School of Medicine $772,687 to … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
As Second Round Of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Funds Are Made Available, Gillibrand, Colleagues Urge Administration To Ensure Small Businesses Access Emergency Relief
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the Trump administration to develop strong guidance to oversee distribution of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to ensure they reach small businesses that need the most support. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, Gillibrand and more than 20 Senate Democrats urged Treasury to develop strong supervisory mechanisms to identify instances of unjust enrichment in order to root out … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
As Coronavirus Threatens United States Postal Service, Gillibrand Calls For Legislation To Establish Postal Banking, Fund USPS, And Guarantee Access To Ballot Box
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on Congress to strengthen the United States Postal Service, re-establish postal banking to provide financial security to millions of Americans, and reinvigorate voting rights. Following her New York Times op-ed, Senator Gillibrand argued that legislation like her Postal Banking Act is desperately needed to protect the Postal Service as it faces renewed attacks from the Trump administration, which is unwilling to provide emergency funding during the … Continue Reading
April 27, 2020
Following Push, Gillibrand Announces Inclusion Of Legislation To Help New York Repair Aging Water Infrastructure In Recently Released 2020 Senate Water Resource Development Act And Drinking Water Infrastructure Act
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced that, following her push, essential provisions for New York's water resources are included in two pieces of water infrastructure legislation simultaneously released by the EPW Committee, the 2020 Water Resources Development Act and Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020. The legislation includes the Promoting Infrastructure and Protecting the Economy (PIPE) Act, which … Continue Reading
April 26, 2020
ICYMI: NY Times Gillibrand Op-Ed: Where’s The Nearest Bank And Ballot Box? Try The Post Office.
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand penned an opinion piece in the New York Times laying out her solution to strengthen the United States Postal Service, re-establish postal banking to provide financial security to millions of Americans, and reinvigorate voting rights. In particular, the piece focuses on Gillibrand's Postal Banking Act, which would leverage the Postal Service's 30,000-plus locations to create access to a nonprofit bank in every community in the country, which would offer … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Bill To Repeal GOP Tax Giveaway To Millionaires In CARES Act
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bicameral push to repeal GOP provisions of the CARES Act that provide a massive tax giveaway to a small group of wealthy individuals, instead of hardworking Americans the economic relief funding was intended for. According to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), GOP changes in the CARES Act will reduce government revenue by $195 billion over ten years, overwhelmingly benefitting wealthy taxpayers like hedge fund managers and real … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Gillibrand Calls For Over $15 Billion In Funding For Workforce Development In Fourth COVID-19 Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Congress to include $15.1 billion in workforce development system funding in the next phase of coronavirus relief legislation. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs as the coronavirus pandemic has forced workplaces to close or limit services. As unemployment in New York soars, Senator Gillibrand joined her Senate colleagues in calling for direct support for critical workforce development and career and technical education, particularly in industries … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Gillibrand Demands Investigation Into Inconsistent Distribution Of Medical Supplies To States
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined her Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Inspector General to investigate the management and distribution of medical supplies to states. Medical supplies, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, are critical to containing the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of healthcare workers, frontline workers, and … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Gillibrand, Schumer Announce Authorization Of Critical Provisions For New York’s Water Resources Included In Recently Released 2020 Senate Water Resource Development Act
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a 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) released this week by the EPW Committee. In the legislation, called "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020," the senators secured language that would authorize a new Great Lakes … Continue Reading
April 23, 2020
Gillibrand, Harris, Sanders Announce Bill To Fight Hunger, Help Families Afford Food Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), announced the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020, legislation that would expand and strengthen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for vulnerable community members struggling to make ends meet. With food banks experiencing skyrocketing demand across the country, the COVID-19 crisis has drastically increased the need for SNAP to combat food insecurity. This … Continue Reading
April 23, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $145K In Federal Funding To Binghamton And Albany
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $145,510 in federal funding to help offset the cost of preparing and responding to the coronavirus health crisis. The City of Binghamton received $87,502 and the Albany County Courthouse received $58,008. The funding was allocated through the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES). "These critical dollars will help keep the fight … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
Gillibrand, Bennet Announce ‘Health Force’ To Recruit, Train And Employ Americans As United States Battles Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) announced legislation to build the Health Force, which would recruit, train and employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in order to provide public health capacity for the surge in COVID-19 patients, prepare for future public health care needs, and build skills for new workers to enter the public health and health care workforce. As the United States battles the coronavirus pandemic and lays plans to reopen the economy, … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
Gillibrand Denounces Mcconnell Statement That States And Localities Should Declare Bankruptcy
Addressing Senator McConnell's comments endorsing states declaring bankruptcy, Senator Gillibrand issued the following statement: "Senator McConnell's comments today on hitting the "pause button" on further federal emergency legislation, and that cities and states should declare bankruptcy, are utterly reprehensible. "Mitch McConnell eagerly passed billions in tax breaks for wealthy companies and made sure to take care of big companies and the airlines last month, but now he is telling … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $2 Million In Federal Funding To Promote Connected Care For New Yorkers
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,049,639 in federal funding to provide telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 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). The first round of Telehealth Program funding awarded $312,500 to Mount Sinai Health System in New … Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Trump Administration To Modify IRS Guidelines To Ensure Veterans, SSDI Beneficiaries Can Access Full Recovery Rebates From CARES Act
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Trump administration to modify guidelines that impede access to direct cash payments for millions of low income Americans. On Monday, the IRS announced that people that receive federal benefits and don't need to file taxes to receive direct cash payments under the CARES Act - like Social Security retirement, disabled, and survivors insurance beneficiaries, railroad retirement beneficiaries, and veterans - have only until 12 PM Wednesday - … Continue Reading
April 21, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $4.5 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For New York City Housing Assistance
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $4,500,000 in federal funding allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Compass Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program (Community Compass). This funding was secured under the CARES Act and will support technical assistance to help HUD grantees navigate a wide variety of complex housing issues. The Corporation for Supportive Housing will receive $4,000,000 … Continue Reading
