Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Call On Con Edison For Answers Regarding Massive Power Outages Impacting New Yorkers
Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter to Consolidated Edison CEO John McAvoy expressing deep concern over the prolonged power outages facing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers after Tropical Storm Isaias. More than one week after the storm tore through the New York region, nearly 600 Consolidated Edison customers were still without power on Wednesday morning. "New Yorkers are rightfully frustrated with the lasting power outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias, … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Call To Extend Census Deadlines, Ensure Full And Accurate Count In Wake Of COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan group of 50 senators urging congressional leadership to extend deadlines to deliver data for the 2020 Census in the next coronavirus relief package. Due to the pandemic, additional time is needed to ensure an accurate and complete count as field operations have been delayed and significantly reduced in order to protect the safety of respondents and Census employees. However, the Trump administration recently announced its decision to end … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Bipartisan Restart Act To Support Small And Mid Sized Businesses; Bill Would Especially Help New York’s Theaters, Live Events, Restaurants And Hospitality
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a group of more than 30 senators to cosponsor the bipartisan Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery in Twenty-Twenty (RESTART) Act to support small- and mid-sized businesses that have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus crises. While the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was intended to support small- and mid-sized businesses weather the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, many have slipped through the cracks and are struggling to … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $5 Million In Federal Funding For Telehealth Services
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $5,308,428 in federal funding to provide additional telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The thirteenth set of telehealth funding was administered through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program as allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). This federal funding will be used to purchase telehealth … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Address Maternal Health Disparities And Combat Maternal Mortality Crisis Exacerbated By COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Tina Smith (D-MN), and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood to introduce legislation to address maternal health disparities and ensure pregnant people-- especially people of color and other at risk populations-- are supported in the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The maternal health crisis in the United States has been exacerbated by the … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Gillibrand, Collins Lead Bipartisan Call To Provide More Than $1 Billion In Funding To Help Older Adults During The COVID-19 Crisis, Including $750 Million For Nutrition Services In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Special Committee on Aging, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, led Senate colleagues in calling for the inclusion of $1.1 billion in funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, including $750 million in funding for the OAA Nutrition Services in the next coronavirus relief package. The funding would provide grants to states, territories, and tribes to help support the delivery of nutritious … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Gillibrand, Collins Lead Bipartisan Call To Provide More Than $1 Billion In Funding To Help Older Adults During The COVID-19 Crisis, Including $750 Million For Nutrition Services In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Special Committee on Aging, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, led Senate colleagues in calling for the inclusion of $1.1 billion in funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, including $750 million in funding for the OAA Nutrition Services in the next coronavirus relief package. The funding would provide grants to states, territories, and tribes to help support the delivery of nutritious … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act To Prevent Domestic Abusers From Obtaining Firearms
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and congressional colleagues introduced bicameral legislation to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence. The Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act is narrowly crafted to close loopholes that allow domestic abusers to legally obtain weapons. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, an Oxford, Connecticut mother of two who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband, who had legally obtained a handgun even though he … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
In Albany, Senator Gillibrand And Congressman Tonko Call For Direct Federal Relief Funding To Local Governments Responding To And Recovering From Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Paul Tonko stood at Albany City Hall and called for legislation to provide local governments with direct federal relief that can be used to pay for essential services, offset lost revenues and increased costs stemming from the COVID-19 crisis. As local governments face massive budget deficits due to the pandemic, direct assistance is needed to help state and local governments recover from this crisis. Concerned about the layoffs … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
In Ogdensburg, Gillibrand Urges Congress To Stabilize Child Care Industry
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand met with local child care providers in Ogdensburg to discuss the need for critical support for the child care industry. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly half of all child care providers have had to shut their doors. The industry faces a potential loss of more than 4 million child care slots which would leave millions of families without access to essential child care services when normal work and life schedules resume. Now, with communities across the … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Proposal To Expand Pandemic EBT Program During Visit To Feedmore WNY
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visitedFeedMore WNY Falconer Distribution Center to discuss the need to expand the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program as millions of New Yorkers struggle with food insecurity due to the pandemic. The Pandemic EBT Program provides nutritional resources to families who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to school closures caused by the pandemic. In Chautauqua County, more than half of K through 12 students receive free or reduced-price … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand, Morelle Announce $9.2 Million In Federal Funding For Transportation Services In Rochester
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Joe Morelle today announced $9.2 million in federal funding for the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA). This federal funding was allocated by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the CARES Act and will help ensure the RGRTA can continue offering essential public transportation during the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, this funding will encourage revitalization … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Gillibrand, Warren, Waters Introduce Legislation Requiring The Federal Reserve To Act To Close Racial Employment And Wealth Gaps
Yesterday, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced legislation to require the Federal Reserve to use its existing authorities to close racial employment and wage gaps and report on how the gaps change over time. "The pandemic has further revealed and deepened significant racial disparities in wages, economic opportunity and wealth," said Senator Gillibrand. "A hands off approach to addressing institutional … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $300K In FEMA Funding For Firefighters
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $327,456.49 in federal funding to provide essential PPE for New York's firefighters responding to COVID-19. The federal funds are administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) - COVID-19 Supplemental Program. "From the peak of the pandemic to normal times, our brave firefighters are always on … Continue Reading
August 05, 2020
As Congress Negotiates Next Phase Of Coronavirus Relief, Gillibrand Outlines Priorities For Senate Package; Presses For State And Local Aid, Enhanced Unemployment, Eviction Moratorium, Expanded Snap, MTA Funding, And More
As the Senate negotiates the next coronavirus relief legislation, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for vital support for American families. While the House passed the HEROES Act more than two months ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell failed to present comprehensive legislation to address the compounding crises families are facing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, some of the desperately needed benefits authorized under the CARES Act have expired and left millions … Continue Reading
August 05, 2020
Democratic Senators Push To Include Proposal To Create Jobs That Will Fight COVID-19 And Strengthen Our Health And Service Systems In Upcoming Relief Package
Today, a working group of Senate Democrats sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging the inclusion of the Force to Fight COVID-19 joint proposal in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. The proposal combines seven health and social service workforce bills into one dynamic package that would combat the unprecedented economic and public health crisis, support efforts to address its wide-ranging harms, address the racial and ethnic health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, and … Continue Reading
August 05, 2020
Gillibrand Leads Push To Include Proposal To Create Jobs That Will Fight COVID-19 And Strengthen Our Health And Service Systems In Upcoming Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a group of Senate Colleagues in a letter to Senate and House leadership urging the inclusion of the Force to Fight COVID-19 joint proposal in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. The proposal combines seven health and social service workforce bills into one dynamic package that would combat the unprecedented economic and public health crisis, support efforts to address its wide-ranging harms, address the racial and ethnic health disparities … Continue Reading
August 04, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Push For Support Of School Meals Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently joined 35 colleagues to urge the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue critical flexibilities that have allowed students to access much-needed meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If extended throughout the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial relief. To help ensure school meal program directors … Continue Reading
August 04, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand, Rice Announce Nearly $3 Million In Federal Funding To Resolve Hempstead Beach Erosion Due To Flooding And Tropical Storms
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice today announced $2,861,087 in federal funds to repair beach erosion associated with Tropical Depression Ida and a Nor'easter, and to prepare for future damage caused by flooding and severe storms in the Town of Hempstead. The funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal … Continue Reading
August 04, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $12 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Coronavirus Testing Across New York State
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11,649,036 in federal funding to help health centers respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program. "As New York rebuilds and recovers from this unprecedented health and economic crisis, it's imperative that hospitals and health centers have … Continue Reading
