Press Releases
Senators Gillibrand, Markey, Rubio, And Gardner Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen America’s Bioeconomy
Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen America's bioeconomy. As scientists and researchers rush to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2020 would strengthen and broaden engineering biology by establishing an initiative to advance research and development, advance biomanufacturing, develop the future bioeconomy workforce, and support … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Bill To Help Families Of First Responders Lost To COVID-19
*** WATCH HERE*** U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the unanimous Senate passage of a bipartisan bill to ensure families of public safety officers lost to COVID-19 can quickly access survivor benefits. The Safeguarding America's First Responders Act (SAFR) clarifies certification requirements for survivor benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program to account for the unique challenges presented by the current coronavirus pandemic. "Our brave first … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bicameral Push For Federal Civil Rights Investigation Into Murder Of Ahmaud Arbery
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bicameral call on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a criminal civil rights investigation into the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and an independent investigation into local authorities' handling of the case. Last week, Arbery's killers were arrested, yet Gillibrand and her colleagues expressed serious concern about the prosecutorial misconduct that allowed the killers to walk free for more than two months. Senator Gillibrand pushed the DOJ to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
ICYMI: Gillibrand Fast Company Op-Ed: The American Workplace Was Already Broken. This Is How We Rebuild It.
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand published an opinion piece in Fast Company, outlining her plan to rebuild the American workplace by closing the pay gap, instituting universal paid sick and family leave, paying workers a livable wage, and more. In the piece, Gillibrand highlights how the American workplace was broken before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and outlines transformative legislation that will reshape the way we value workers. The full text of Gillibrand's op-ed may be found here … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Gillibrand Leads Group Of Senators To Call For Support For Postal Employees, Including 100,000 Veterans Employed By USPS
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a group of Senate colleagues calling on Senate leadership to protect and fully support the thousands of employees, including 100,000 veterans employed by the United States Postal Service (USPS), who are playing a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-signers of the letter include: Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). USPS employees have … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Congress To Support Vulnerable Renters And Homeless Americans In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined bicameral calls for Congress to prioritize the needs of homeless and housing insecure Americans by providing robust funding in the next coronavirus relief package. As a cosponsor of the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act of 2020, Senator Gillibrand is pushing Congress to establish an Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help families and individuals pay their rent and … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $22.5 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Coronavirus Testing In New York City
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $22,875,973 in federal funding to help health centers in New York City respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, this funding will help health centers purchase, administer, and expand the use of COVID-19 testing. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program. "Testing … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $16.5 Million In Emergency Federal Funding For Coronavirus Testing In Upstate New York
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $16,790,380 in federal funding to help health centers in Upstate New York respond to and contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, this funding will help health centers purchase, administer, and expand the use of COVID-19 testing. The funding was allocated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Expanding Capacity for Coronavirus Testing (ECT) program. … Continue Reading
May 13, 2020
As Americans Increasingly Rely On Food Delivery During Coronavirus Pandemic, Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Push To Expand Delivery For SNAP Recipients
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan group of senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure SNAP participants can receive home food delivery and curbside pickup during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Gillibrand expressed concern that SNAP recipients - especially seniors and immunocompromised individuals, individuals with disabilities, and families who lack reliable transportation - are often unable to … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Senators Gillibrand And Rounds, Representatives Cisneros And Mast Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To End Military-Connected Child Abuse And Neglect
Today, U. S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) and U.S. Representatives Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA-39) and Brian Mast (R-FL-18) introduced the End Military-Connected Child Abuse and Neglect Act. The bipartisan and bicameral bill would improve how the Department of Defense tracks and responds to incidents of child abuse and neglect occurring on military installations or involving military dependents. There are approximately 1.2 million school-aged military dependents … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Invest $4 Billion To Close Growing Education Gap Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced legislation to invest $4 billion in educational funding in the next relief package to ensure students have access to technology and broadband in order to continue their education during the COVID-19 outbreak. Research shows the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the "homework gap" experienced by an estimated 12 million students who lack reliable internet access at home. This problem particularly affects students in rural and urban areas, as … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $4 Billion In Emergency Federal Funding For The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,910,000,000 in federal funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), allocated in the CARES Act through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The funding will be used to offset major revenue losses for the agency, which operates the New York City Subway, Buses, and Metro-North and Long Island Railroads. The COVID-19 crisis has had a major impact on the MTA's system, resulting in a … Continue Reading
May 11, 2020
After Firing Of Amazon Whistleblowers, Gillibrand Calls For Information On Discipline Policies
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate Democrats in calling for information on Amazon's discipline and termination policies, as reports emerged about the firing of employees who have publicly raised concerns about the company's safety conditions in warehouses during the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the senators called for information on internal policies that resulted in the termination of at least four employees that have advocated on behalf of health and … Continue Reading
May 11, 2020
As EPW Committee Passes 2020 Senate Water Resource Development Act, Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Inclusion Of Key Projects For New York’s Water Resources
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, 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) that the EPW Committee approved this week. In the legislation, called "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2020," the senators secured language that would authorize and advance Army … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
Gillibrand Calls For Increased Funding To Support Neighborhood And Minority Owned Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bicameral call to increase federal grant funding for neighborhood and micro-businesses burdened by the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Saving Our Street (SOS) Act would support local economies and business by establishing a Microbusiness Assistance Fund of $124.5 billion to provide the resources and direct funding needed to offset lost revenues and increased costs. The bulk of the funding would be dedicated to historically … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020
ICYMI: Senator Gillibrand Medium Piece: State And Local Governments Need Federal Relief Now
In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand published a piece on Medium highlighting the urgent need to deliver direct federal relief funding to state and local governments responding to and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. The piece comes as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the unemployment rate has surged nearly 15%. The report also noted that nearly 1 million state and local government jobs have been lost throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily in … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Following Push From Gillibrand And Schumer, USDA Approves New York State’s Pandemic EBT Program
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced that, following their push, the Trump administration approved New York State's request to operate the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program authorized under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. New York State had submitted their plan for P-EBT-which provides nutritional resources to families that have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals-on March 25, 2020. … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Call On Trump Administration To Raise SBA’s PPP Non-Payroll Forgiveness Cap
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today joined a bipartisan group of senators to urge the Trump Administration to raise the Paycheck Protection Program's (PPP) non-payroll forgiveness cap from 25% to 50%. PPP loans allow loan proceeds used towards payroll, utilities, mortgage interest, and rent payments to be forgiven when at least 75% of the loan is spent on payroll. In a letter sent to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, Gillibrand and her … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Gillibrand, Schumer, Jones, Manchin, Brown, Bennet, Peters Announce Legislation To Deliver Direct Federal Relief Funding To Local Governments Responding To And Recovering From Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Doug Jones (D-AL), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Gary Peters (D-MI) today announced a plan to provide local governments with direct federal relief that can be used to pay for essential services and offset lost revenues and increased costs from the COVID-19 emergency. The Direct Support for Communities Act would complement direct relief to states, which is also vital in this crisis. … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $45.6 Million In EPA Funding For New York; Funds Will Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas, Fight Climate Change And Promote Clean Water
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today announced $45,682,712 in federal funding allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help reduce diesel emissions, continue financing clean water projects, and promote workforce development. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant secured $515,712 in funding for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation … Continue Reading
