Press Releases
As House Votes For Farm Bill without Food Stamps, Gillibrand Joins With 16 Colleagues Fighting to Keep Farm Bill Whole
Washington, DC - As the U.S. House of Representatives voted today to on a split farm bill that only addresses agricultural interests and leaves out nutrition programs including food stamps, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Senators Tammy Baldwin, Mark Begich, Richard Blumenthal, Bob Casey, Dianne Feinstein, Angus King, Patrick Leahy, Robert Menendez, Chris Murphy, Patty Murray, Bernie Sanders, Brian Schatz, Chuck Schumer, Tom Udall, Elizabeth Warren, and Ron Wyden urged Senate … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Gillibrand, Murray Call for Comprehensive Review of New Policy That Would Deny Therapy for Thousands of Military Children With Disabilities
Washington, DC - The recent announcement of new federal rules to the military health insurance program (TRICARE) would put thousands of military children with developmental disabilities such as autism at-risk of losing critical behavioral treatment and care. Today, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, expressed their outrage over the new policy which cuts off care for … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Gillibrand Makes Personal Appeal to DHS Secretary for Emergency Disaster Declaration
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today made a personal appeal to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano in support of a major disaster declaration for parts of the Mohawk Valley, Southern Tier and North Country. On Monday, July 1, Senator Gillibrand toured the flood zone in Montgomery and Herkimer Counties, seeing the devastation first hand and meeting with local officials, first responders, families, and businesses. Today, in a phone call with the … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Gillibrand, Kaine Urge Defense Secretary Hagel to Allow Sikh Soldiers Who Wear Beards, Turbans to Serve in the Military
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) urged U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to remove an Army policy that currently bars Sikh Americans from serving in the military if they choose to wear beards and turbans as part of their faith. The request comes after a recent news report that several members of the Sikh community have won exceptions from the military, but many others have failed and face an uphill battle. The Defense Department's decades-old rule, … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Western New York Delegation Announces FAA Release of New Rules on Pilot Training
Members of the Western New York federal delegation called the release of new pilot training rules by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) welcome news. "This is an important step in the essential process of improving flight safety in the United States," said Congressman Brian Higgins. "We learned valuable lessons after the crash of Flight 3407 and rules like those released today will go a long way toward preventing future tragedies." "We knew that after Flight 3407 we had to improve … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Call for Emergency Food Assistance for Struggling New Yorkers Reeling from Heavy Rain, Flooding
Washington, D.C. - As heavy rain and flooding leaves hundreds of upstate New Yorkers in the Mohawk Valley and surrounding communities without shelter or access to food, including many who were already struggling to make ends meet, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on the USDA to implement emergency food resources. Specifically, the Senators are calling for an extension for replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 30 days in … Continue Reading
July 09, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $3.6 Million in Federal Funds to Improve Port Jervis Water Filtration Plant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a federal loan worth $3,620,000 for the City of Port Jervis to finance a project to improve the city's water filtration plant. This loan is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. "This USDA Rural Development funding will bring cleaner, better-tasting water to residents and businesses in the Town of Port Jervis," said Senator … Continue Reading
July 09, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Town of Prattsburgh to Receive Over $1.1M in Federal Funding for Water Treatment Upgrades
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Town of Prattsburgh has received a Water and Waste Disposal Loan for $1,155,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The Town of Prattsburgh will use funding to replace approximately 5,350 linear feet of water main along with various rehabilitation and upgrades to the water treatment facility and well source. "This USDA Rural … Continue Reading
July 08, 2013
Western New York Delegation Keeps Pressure on FAA to Meet Deadlines for Pilot Training
Following two deadly airplane crashes, members of Western New York's federal delegation are calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to move quickly to finalize aviation safety rules requiring new pilot training standards. "We are urging the FAA to work with expediency to finalize what has been a long, bureaucratic process of rule implementation prompted by the lessons we learned after the crash of Flight 3407," said Congressman Brian Higgins. "More than four years have passed … Continue Reading
July 08, 2013
At Gillibrand & Hanna’s Request, New York Schools Selected for Greek Yogurt Pilot Program
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Richard Hanna today announced that New York State schools have been chosen to participate in a Greek yogurt pilot program issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). New York State was one of four states chosen for this program, and is a natural fit because of its burgeoning Greek yogurt manufacturing sector and high favorability toward the program among New York school districts. Senator Gillibrand and … Continue Reading
July 03, 2013
On Eve of Fourth of July, Sen. Gillibrand, Rep. Israel Announce Legislation to Require National Parks to Sell Merchandise ‘Made in the USA’
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Steve Israel today announced new legislation that would require U.S. National Parks to sell merchandise "Made in the USA." America's national parks and monuments are home to gift shops selling patriotic products. However, a large number of those products sales aren't helping to create jobs for American manufacturing workers, as they are produced in China or elsewhere around the globe. "This is commonsense legislation … Continue Reading
July 03, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge USDA to Issue Agricultural Disaster Declaration to Expedite Federal Aid to Farms Damaged by Heavy Rains, Floods
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue an agriculture disaster declaration and expedite disaster assistance for upstate farmland damaged by heavy rain and flooding, extending from parts of Central New York, the Mohawk Valley, the Capital Region, the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas. As much as 15 … Continue Reading
July 02, 2013
Gillibrand, Entire NYC Congressional Delegation Urge HUD Secretary to Reform Sandy Aid Regulations, Allowing City to Aid More Impacted Businesses, Homeowners, Displaced Residents Currently Deemed Ineligible
New York - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading New York City's entire Congressional delegation today in urging Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan to cut bureaucratic tape within the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program that hinders the City from providing Sandy recovery aid to businesses, homeowners, and displaced residents who desperately need relief but are currently ruled ineligible for aid. The bipartisan, bicameral group of New York … Continue Reading
July 01, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge FEMA to Swiftly Approve Major Disaster Declaration for New York State, 15 Severely Impacted Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to swiftly approve New York State's request for a federal state of emergency declaration in light of the severe flooding in the Capital Region, Central New York, the Southern Tier and the Hudson Valley after days of heavy rainfall. In their letter, the Senators pointed out that the power outages and significant damage to businesses, homes and public property clearly warrants the disaster … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
$470,585 Federal Grant for Mt. Sinai Fire District, Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Announce
MT. SINAI - Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Tim Bishop announced today that the Mt. Sinai Fire District will receive a federal grant of $470,585 in round 32 of the FY 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The Mt. Sinai Fire District will use the federal funding to address much needed equipment upgrades, most specifically to modernize outdated communications equipment in compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
Gillibrand Urges FEMA to Review Flood Insurance Policy, Reverse Denials of Sandy Flood Insurance Claims Based on ‘Earth Movement’ Exclusion
Washington, DC - After a recent news report revealed that Sandy flood insurance claims of thousands of homeowners across New York and New Jersey were being denied based on an exclusion under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) managed by FEMA, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged FEMA to review its regulatory mandates and reverse denials for homeowners hit by Superstorm Sandy who purchased federal flood insurance and rely on critical funds to repair and rebuild their homes. Currently, … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $6 Million in Federal Funding for Debris Removal in Smithtown after Superstorm Sandy
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $6,227,731 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for the Town of Smithtown which will reimburse the cost of collection, removal, and disposal of debris deposited on Smithtown roads as a result of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy wreaked significant damage throughout the Town of Smithtown, creating a massive cleanup effort," said Schumer. "This federal reimbursement for debris cleanup … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on Final Senate Passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the U.S. Senate passed the comprehensive immigration reform bill. "America, especially New York, was built by the contributions of immigrants who came to America in search of opportunity, enriching our country and our culture one generation after the next. "Comprehensive immigration reform is the right step to bring our immigration system into the 21st century, improving our economy, strengthening … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $50k for Naples Ambulance Inc.; Funding Means Vital Equipment for First Responders
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the Naples Ambulance Inc, is set to receive $51,671 in Round 32 of the FY12 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. AFG awards are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are designed to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $11 Million in FEMA Funding for Debris Removal in Nassau County After Superstorm Sandy
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11,339,605 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for the Nassau County Public Works Department which will reimburse the costs of the contracted collection, hauling, segregation, final disposal, and debris monitoring necessary due to Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy wreaked significant damage throughout Nassau County, creating a massive cleanup effort," said Schumer. "This federal … Continue Reading
