Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Direct at Least $30 Million in Federal Funds for Dredging & Navigation Projects along the Great Lakes – Congress Just Boosted USACE Funding in Recent Budget
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to dedicate at least $30 million from their budget for infrastructure improvements along the Great Lakes. The Senators sent the letter, along with Senators Kirk, Levin, Baldwin, Klobuchar, Franken, Brown, Portman, Stabenow, Donnelly, Johnson and Durbin, to push for dedicated Great Lakes funding from the $200 million pot of eligible funding in the USACE budget. Senators Schumer and … Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
Ahead of Sexual Assault Vote Expected on Senate Floor Next Week, Bipartisan Group of Senators, Survivors, Advocates Continue Push for Independent Military Justice System
Washington, D.C. - As the U.S. Senate prepares for an expected vote on the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act next week, a strong bipartisan coalition continued the push earlier today for an independent, objective and unbiased military justice system. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Ted Cruz (R-TX), together with Jeremiah Arbogast, … Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
Gillibrand, Schumer, Blumenthal, Murphy Announce Key Senate Committee Passes Legislation to Protect Long Island Sound
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Charles Schumer (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today announced a key Senate committee's passage of legislation to bring federal dollars to support the restoration of Long Island Sound. The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act that Senators Gillibrand, Schumer, Blumenthal and Murphy introduced last year passed out of the Senate Environment and Public … Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
Gillibrand, Schumer, King, Israel, Bishop Urge FEMA to Award Disaster Funding for Suffolk County to Make Needed Upgrades to Bergen Point Outfall Pipe
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Charles Schumer, and Congressmen Pete King, Steve Israel, and Tim Bishop today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to back Suffolk County's application for federal disaster funding through the agency's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to help make critical infrastructure upgrades to the county's largest sewage treatment plant. The Bergen Point Sewage … Continue Reading
February 05, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand, Hanna Call on Army to Provide Answers on Potential Changes to DFAS Rome, Drop Any Plan that Would Negatively Impact the Operation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Richard Hanna in a letter to U.S. Army Secretary John McHugh underscored their unified support for maintaining and growing the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in Rome, N.Y., and requested a thorough explanation of any proposals now in formulation that impact the facility. The Members of Congress emphasize that they are strongly opposed to any changes or efforts to reduce or transfer … Continue Reading
February 03, 2014
Gillibrand, Maloney Announce Federal Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act
Newburgh, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney today announced federal legislation that would create paid family and medical leave. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program, ensuring that American workers would no longer have to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a family member. "When a young parent needs time to care for a newborn child - it should … Continue Reading
February 03, 2014
Gillibrand Unveils Plan to Update Rules of the Modern Workplace, Ensure Women Workers Have a Fair Shot at Earning Their Financial Security, Strengthen Middle Class Families
Ithaca, NY - In a policy speech today at Ithaca College, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand unveiled a five-point package aimed at ensuring more working women have a fair shot at earning financial security by modernizing America's outdated workplace policies that have failed to keep pace with the demands on the new workforce driving our economy and limits economic growth. With more dual income households than ever before, and 40 percent of women with children at home serving as sole breadwinners, … Continue Reading
February 03, 2014
Gillibrand, Hanna Announce Legislation to Expand Access to Pre-K Programs
Herkimer, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Richard Hanna today announced legislation to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. The Strong Start for America's Children Act focuses on four key goals: boosting funding for high-quality preschool programs serving low- and moderate-income families; increasing the quality of infant and toddler care offered by providers; supporting broad-scale quality improvements to child … Continue Reading
January 31, 2014
Gillibrand Statement on New GAO Report Released Showing Federal Government Profit of $66 Billion on Federal Student Loans – Graduates Currently Saddled with Over $1 Trillion in Student Loan Debt
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement today after a new GAO report shows the federal government received $66 billion in profits on student loans between 2007-2012, a 14 percent profit margin. With student loan debt at approximately $1.2 trillion, surpassing auto loan and credit card debt, and New Yorkers facing sky-high student debt at an average of more than $27,000 per graduate, Senator Gillibrand has repeatedly called for allowing … Continue Reading
January 31, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has agreed to Purchase $11.5 Million in Surplus Concord Grape Juice to Stabilize Prices for Grape Growers in Upstate New York
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that they have successfully petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use $11.5 million in Section 32 funds to purchase concord grape juice for use in domestic nutrition programs. The grape industry currently has a surplus of Concord grapes used to make Concord juice, as a carryover from a large 2013 crop of grapes. The Senators had written the USDA to help purchase some of this surplus product to … Continue Reading
January 31, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1.7 Million for New Drinking Water System in Town of Volney
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $1,765,000 loan and grant for the Town of Volney in Oswego County to bring clean drinking water to more local residents. The federal investment is awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. "This targeted federal investment will help Volney improve its infrastructure, enhance public health, and spare local finances," said Senator Schumer. … Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
Gillibrand Announces More Than $50 Million for Home Heating Aid for New York State from Federal Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that New York State is set to receive more than $50 million for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as part of the 2014 omnibus appropriations bill that passed Congress and was signed by the President earlier this month. LIHEAP funds are critical in helping millions of Americans who struggle with their energy bills during the winter season. More than one million New Yorkers rely on LIHEAP to heat their homes … Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage of Bipartisan Flood Insurance Bill to Delay Rate Hikes, Includes her Amendment Protecting New York City Homeowners Whose Homes are Impossible to Elevate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that today, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act that she has co-sponsored to delay the most aggressive rate increases and fix major flaws in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform law to make the National Flood Insurance Program affordable, accessible and self-sustainable. The bill, which also includes Gillibrand's amendment that will help thousands of New York City homeowners whose … Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage of Bipartisan Flood Insurance Bill to Delay Rate Hikes, Provide Relief for Thousands of NY Homeowners
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that today, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act that she has co-sponsored to delay the most aggressive rate increases and fix major flaws in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform law to make the National Flood Insurance Program affordable, accessible and self-sustainable. The bill now heads to the House for a vote. Specifically, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act would … Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1.2 Million in FEMA Funds for Canal Flood Warning System to Protect Upstate Communities – Fed Funding to Install New Rain & Stream Gauges Along Mohawk River, Oswego River and Upper Hudson River Basin in 23 Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the New York State Canal Flood Warning System has received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding obligation totaling $1.2 million for the installation of rain and stream gauges along the Mohawk River, Oswego River and Upper Hudson River Basin. Rain gauges, also known as precipitation gauges, measure rainfall in areas at risk of flooding; and stream gauges measure the water level of rivers and stream … Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Flood Insurance Bill to Delay Rate Hikes Will Include her Amendment Protecting New York City Homeowners Whose Homes are Impossible to Elevate – Senate Vote on Final Passage Set for Tomorrow
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that her amendment to help thousands of New York City homeowners whose homes are impossible to elevate reduce their flood risk and lower flood insurance rates will be included in the bipartisan Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved her amendment today to be part of the latest flood insurance legislation and is set to vote on final passage of the bill tomorrow. Gillibrand's amendment would … Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
Gillibrand Commends President Obama for his Focus on Middle Class Economic Agenda, Including Focus on Women's Vital Role in the Economy and Updating Workplace Policies that Remain from "Mad Men" Era
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) issued the following statement tonight after President Obama delivered his State of the Union address: "Everywhere I travel across New York the issue that middle class families are still most worried about is the economy. They are finding it harder and harder to get by and they want action from Congress. The time to act is now. This evening President Obama presented a compelling plan of how to achieve real opportunity for all hard … Continue Reading
January 27, 2014
Schumer & Gillibrand Announce $1.2 Million in Federal Funds to Elevate Flood-Prone Buildings in Owego – Owego One of the Hardest-Hit Villages in NY Following Tropical Storm Lee
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced $ 1.2 million in federal funds to elevate twenty-seven flood prone structures in the Village of Owego, the majority of them residential properties, to minimize their risk of future flooding. This grant, which is being awarded as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) will offset 75% of the costs for the first phase of construction. The Village of Owego was … Continue Reading
January 27, 2014
Gillibrand Introduces Amendment to Help NYC Homeowners Reduce Flood Risk, Lower Flood Insurance Rates – Senate Debate on Flood Insurance Bill Begins Tonight
Washington, DC - As the Senate gets ready to vote tonight to begin debate on a bill to delay flood insurance premiums, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced an amendment to the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which will help New York City and other urban homeowners of buildings such as brownstones, brick buildings, and multi-family homes that are physically impossible to elevate to reduce their flood risk and lower their flood insurance rates. Currently, the only way to … Continue Reading
January 26, 2014
As President Obama Readies his State of the Union Address, Gillibrand, College Graduates Urge Commitment to Allow Grads Saddled with Over $1 Trillion in Federal Student Loan Debts to Refinance their Loans, Boost Economy
New York, NY - As President Obama prepares to deliver his sixth State of the Union address on Tuesday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was joined today by New York City students, graduates and the New York Public Interest Research Group's (NYPIRG) Higher Education Program Coordinator Kevin Stump in urging the President to commit to help tens of millions of graduates saddled with soaring debt by allowing them to refinance their federal student loans. With student loan debt at … Continue Reading
