Press Releases
Local Long Island Veteran Prompts Senator Gillibrand to Introduce New Legislation Requiring Mental Health Professional on Military Review Board
Bill Would Ensure Service Members With PTSD Get 'Fair Shake' Garden City, NY - After hearing from a local Long Island veteran who was discharged from the military as the result of an undiagnosed mental health condition, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation that would require the panel that reviews military discharges to have at least one mental health professional on its board. Senator Gillibrand's legislation would ensure these service members' appeals are expertly … Continue Reading
April 16, 2014
Feinstein, Durbin, Gillibrand Call for Safety Standards to Lower Bacteria Rates in Poultry
Washington-Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) today called on the Department of Agriculture to develop food safety standards that will significantly reduce the levels of Salmonella and Campylobacter in chicken and turkey products. "We write to urge you to develop strong performance standards for poultry products that will significantly reduce foodborne illnesses and deaths," the senators wrote to Agriculture Secretary Tom … Continue Reading
April 16, 2014
Gillibrand Calls for Usda Disaster Declaration to Help North Country Farms Damaged by Flooding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue an agriculture disaster declaration to send relief to farms in Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties where severe flooding is destroying roads and bridges, isolating local dairy farms, and damaging feed, bunker silos and wells. The ongoing flooding also threatens to submerge farmland and poses a significant threat to livestock. "When … Continue Reading
April 14, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Call for Designation for Rochester, Finger Lakes to Support New Manufacturing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new effort to launch new manufacturing initiatives to the city of Rochester that can help businesses grow and support job creation. The Senators released a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker calling for the swift approval of the city of Rochester's application for the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) Program. If approved, Rochester and the Finger Lakes region … Continue Reading
April 11, 2014
At Gillibrand’s Urging, Funding Secured for Owego Creek, Susquehanna, Chemung River Stream Gauges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will provide long term funding for the Owego Creek stream gauge and other key locations along the Susquehanna and Chemung River that provide a warning system to local families and businesses that endure yearly threats to dangerous flooding. Along with the Village of Owego, USGS committed to restoring funding for stream gauges at the Susquehanna River at Unadilla, Susquehanna River at … Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Nearly $500,000 for Clarkson University for Clean Energy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $499,124 in federal funding for Clarkson University to expand its clean energy work by developing anaerobic digesters for North County farms. The federal funding comes from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and allows Clarkson to join its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI). "Clarkson University is leading the way on clean energy innovation that can strengthen our farms and our economy," … Continue Reading
April 10, 2014
As Tax Day Nears, Gillibrand Announces Irs Has Finally Clarified That 9/11 First Responders and Survivors Eligible for Tax Relief
Gillibrand: 'Our 9/11 Heroes and Families Deserve the Tax Relief They Are Owed' Washington, DC - As tax day nears, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has updated and clarified the guidelines to ensure that it's clear that those that have fallen ill due to their work after 9/11 are still entitled to the tax benefits provided by the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief law. This action comes after Senator Gillibrand, last month, urged the federal … Continue Reading
April 09, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand and Maffei Announce Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans & Military Families to Receive $9 Million Contract from Small Business Administration to Help Veterans Start and Create Businesses
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Dan Maffei today announced that Syracuse University is receiving a $9 million contract from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to continue the great work of its Boots to Business (B2B) program, which provides top-notch entrepreneurship training and education for veterans. The B2B program has been run by Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) for the past year, and this contract … Continue Reading
April 09, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce USDA Expands Disaster Declaration To Help More Upstate Farms Damaged By Deep Winter Freeze
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an agriculture disaster declaration for more upstate counties where grape farms and vineyards were damaged by a long winter of sub-zero temperatures. The secretarial disaster declaration now includes Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca and Wyoming Counties as part of the primary disaster declaration, giving farms in these counties additional time to … Continue Reading
April 08, 2014
On Equal Pay Day, Gillibrand Fights To Ensure Women Workers Have A Fair Shot At Earning Their Financial Security
Washington, DC - On Equal Pay Day, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand continues her fight to ensure more working women have a fair shot at earning financial security by closing the pay gap and raising the minimum wage. Equal Pay Day marks the additional time women must work into 2014 - for a total of more than 15 months - to match what their male counterparts made in 2013 in just 12 months. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on both pieces of legislation within the next month. With more dual … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
After Taking On Sexual Assault In The Military, Gillibrand Joined By NYC Student Survivors Launches New Effort Fighting Sexual Assaults On College Campuses
New York, NY - Just weeks after her year long fight to reform how the U.S. military justice system handles sexual assault cases came to the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was joined by New York City students and college sexual assault survivors in launching a new effort to combat the disturbing prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses. Studies show nearly one in five women in college nationwide will be victims of attempted or actual sexual assault in the course of their … Continue Reading
April 04, 2014
Gillibrand, Mccaskill Lead Bipartisan Letter For New Resources To Fight Sexual Assaults On College Campuses
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today released a bipartisan letter signed by 10 of their colleagues to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, & Education leaders calling for new federal funding to investigate and enforce sexual assault laws at colleges and universities. "When our young people go on to higher education, it should be an opportunity to learn, grow, pursue their dreams and prepare for … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Bill To Revitalize Industrial Sites Clears Senate Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored to clean up and rebuild on industrial brownfield sites passed through the committee. The Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development (BUILD) Act would jumpstart development efforts and provide additional resources for sites in need of redevelopment. The measure would allow local municipalities and non-profit … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Gillibrand, Bishop Urge Usda To Designate Long Island Sound Watershed A Critical Conservation Area – Move Would Provide More Federal Funding To Protect Water Quality, Help Long Island Farmers
Long Island, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Tim Bishop today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to designate the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay watershed as a critical conservation area. Such a designation would open additional federal investment to help protect and improve the quality of our drinking water and estuaries by assisting the agricultural community in adopting more water-friendly practices. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2014
Gillibrand Appointed To West Point Board Of Visitors, Attends First Meeting Today
West Point, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today she has been appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point Board of Visitors by Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Gillibrand is attending the board's first meeting of the year today at West Point. Topics on the agenda to be discussed include cadet barracks, Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program (SHARP), Cadets Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (CASH/A), … Continue Reading
March 31, 2014
Gillibrand Hails Citizens Campaign For The Environment’s Maureen Dolan Murphy As Environmental Champion
Long Island, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, congratulated Maureen Dolan Murphy, Executive Programs Manager of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) for winning the 2014 Environmental Quality Award. The Farmingdale-based organization - which Senator Gillibrand nominated this past February - will receive the Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious honor for their commitment and significant contributions to … Continue Reading
March 31, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Innovative Education Agenda To Boost Stem Proficiency For Southern Tier Students
Horseheads, NY - Standing at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Greater Southern Tier BOCES Board Chairman Don Keddell and Horseheads Superintendent Ralph Marino, announced today her innovative education agenda to encourage more youths, especially women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), bolster engineering education programs across New York's elementary, middle, and high schools and encourage the development of … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
At Gillibrand Urging, Department Of Labor Will Provide Trade Adjustment Assistance For Laid-Off Alcoa Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has approved a much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) certification for laid off workers at Alcoa in Massena. Former employees can now apply for critical TAA benefits. Earlier this month, Senator Gillibrand wrote U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to support Alcoa employees' petition for TAA, citing that this will impact a significant number of workers. "This support is … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
At Gillibrand’s Urging, Usda Issues Disaster Declaration To Help Upstate Farms Damaged By Deep Winter Freeze
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an agriculture disaster declaration that will help send relief to upstate grape farms and vineyards in the Finger Lakes, Western, Central and Northern New York that were damaged by a long winter of sub-zero temperatures. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this month, Senator Gillibrand requested the disaster declaration to expedite federal … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Gillibrand Presses Epa, Coast Guard For New Oil Spill Contingency Plan To Protect New Yorkers
Washington, D.C. - With the rise of transporting crude oil through New York State and a series of derailments and spills that potentially put New York communities at risk, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard to quickly update contingency plans for oil spills in the New York and New Jersey region. The safety plans are due for an update this year and with concerns rising over the danger of crude oil transported … Continue Reading
