Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand, Higgins, Collins Announce USDA Has Issued Secretarial Disaster Declaration For 7 WNY Counties Devastated By November Snowstorm
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Brian Higgins and Chris Collins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved primary and contiguous disaster designations for seven Western New York counties, due to losses caused by excessive snow, flooding, freeze, and high winds that occurred from November 17 through November 24, 2014. The Secretarial natural disaster declaration will apply for the following counties: Genesee, Erie, … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Senate Panel Examines Role of Law Enforcement in Campus Sexual Assault Cases
Washington, DC - With some estimates indicating that nearly one in five women experience some form of sexual assault in college but that the vast majority go unreported, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism today held a hearing about the role of law enforcement in campus sexual assault cases. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) chaired the hearing, which examined whether victims of sexual assaults should be encouraged to report their experiences to the police; why victims … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Gillibrand Testimony Before Senate Judiciary Committee At Hearing To Examine Role Of Law Enforcement In Campus Sexual Assault Cases
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand testified today on behalf of the bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism at a hearing entitled, "Campus Sexual Assault: the Roles and Responsibilities of Law Enforcement." Senator Gillibrand, who is an author of this legislation, also addressed the recent Rolling Stone story creating national headlines. Following are the full prepared remarks of her testimony at today's … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Fallen Cia Officer Gregg David Wenzel Has Cleared Congress; Now Heads To President’s Desk For Final Signature – Urge President To Sign Bill Into Law, Name Post Office After Cia Hero
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Sean Patrick Maloney announced that legislation that would rename the Post Office at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe the "National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office" has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. With passage secured in both chambers of Congress, the bill now heads to the President's desk for his signature. … Continue Reading
December 05, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce FEMA Fixes To Help Homeowners Fallen Victim To Flood Insurance Process That’s Stacked Against Them
United States Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a critical commitment they received from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to take major actions to help homeowners still struggling to rebuild their homes by increasing transparency, fairness and credibility within the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims process. Senators Schumer, Gillibrand, Menendez and Booker met with FEMA Administrator Fugate this week to push for many of these … Continue Reading
December 05, 2014
Senator Gillibrand And Congressman Collins Announce House Approval Of DOD Pilot Program To Bring High-Tech Innovation To The Marketplace
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) announced that the House of Representatives has approved as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) a provision to extend and enhance a Department of Defense (DOD) Proof of Concept Commercialization Pilot Program based on key provisions from their legislation to help accelerate the commercialization of basic research. This provision authorizes military departments across DOD to make … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Meeks, Schumer, Gillibrand Secure Passage of Bill Honoring Queens’ Cynthia Jenkins
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today concerning the passage of the renaming of the post office at 218-10 Merrick Boulevard in Springfield Gardens, New York to the Cynthia Jenkins Post Office Building: "Today, with the passage of the Cynthia Jenkins Post Office Building renaming, the legacy of Southern Queens's first African-American Assemblywoman, Cynthia Jenkins, has been recognized. … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Meeks, Schumer, Gillibrand Secure Passage Of Bill Honoring Queens’ Cynthia Jenkins
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today concerning the passage of the renaming of the post office at 218-10 Merrick Boulevard in Springfield Gardens, New York to the Cynthia Jenkins Post Office Building: "Today, with the passage of the Cynthia Jenkins Post Office Building renaming, the legacy of Southern Queens's first African-American Assemblywoman, Cynthia Jenkins, has been recognized. … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Shaheen, Cantwell and Gillibrand Announce Inclusion of Women’s Small Business Procurement Parity Act in National Defense Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today announced that the Women's Small Business Procurement Parity Act has been included in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Their legislation would encourage women's business ownership and give women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) more opportunities to win federal contracts. It would provide tools available under other contracting programs to help federal agencies … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Gillibrand and Maloney Announce Renewal of Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area
Washington - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) today announced the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area designation will be reauthorized as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This extension through 2021 keeps the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area operating to promote recreation and tourism, as well as enables the area to access federal funding for local projects. After passage in the House of Representatives … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Senator Gillibrand & Congressman Higgins Announce House Approval Of Measure Reauthorizing Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced the House of Representatives has approved reauthorization of the Erie Canal as a National Heritage Corridor. Through this legislation the federal designation, which is set to expire in 2015, will be renewed for the next fifteen years. The bill is expected to be before the Senate next week. "This is an important step for communities on the Canalway Corridor," said Senator Gillibrand. "New York State is blessed … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $336 Million In Federal Sandy Funding For MTA’s Brooklyn Battery Tunnel & Queens Midtown Tunnel
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced over $336 million in federal funding for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to make permanent repairs on the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and the Queens Midtown Tunnel. The funding is authorized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Alternative Procedures, which provides a lump sum payment instead of the typical incremental funding by FEMA. "New York City's Brooklyn Battery and Queens Midtown … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Shaheen, Cantwell And Gillibrand Announce Inclusion Of Women’s Small Business Procurement Parity Act In National Defense Bill
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today announced that the Women's Small Business Procurement Parity Act has been included in the FY2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Their legislation would encourage women's business ownership and give women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) more opportunities to win federal contracts. It would provide tools available under other contracting programs to help federal agencies … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Gillibrand Statement On Grand Jury Decision Over Death Of Eric Garner
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement today after a grand jury did not indict a New York City police officer for the death of Eric Garner: "While this decision is shocking, I want to echo the statement of a wide range of leaders inside and outside of government who are urging that protests remain peaceful in the aftermath of this decision. The death of Eric Garner is a tragedy that demands accountability. Nobody unarmed should die on a New York … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Gillibrand Statement on New Disappointing Military Sexual Assault Data - Nearly Two-Thirds of Those Who Reported an Assault Say Faced Retaliation Despite Reforms Made Making Retaliation a Crime
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement tonight after news reports of data to be released tomorrow by the Pentagon in their annual survey on sexual assaults: "For a year now we have heard how the reforms in the previous Defense bill were going to protect victims, and make retaliation a crime. It should be a screaming red flag to everyone when 62% of those who say they reported a crime were retaliated against - nearly two-thirds - the exact same … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Gillibrand, Schumer, Hanna Announce After Their Push, Provisions that Would Provide Congress With More Oversight Over DFAS Personnel Plans and Add Protections for Rome DFAS Workers Included in Annual Defense Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer and Representative Richard Hanna today announced, after their push, a measure that would help provide additional protections for the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) is included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The language included in FY 2015 NDAA requires an independent review by the Deputy Chief Management Officer of an Army pilot program that threatens to harm DFAS. The bill also … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand, Maffei Announce Provision to Create Harriet Tubman National Historical Park Included in National Defense Bill Unveiled Today – Urge Colleagues to Support Bill; House Will Vote This Week, Senate Next Week; Passage in Both Houses Would Then Send Request to President’s Desk
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Dan Maffei today announced that a provision to establish the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn as a National Historical Park, which would also encompass the Tubman Home for the Aged, the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church and Rectory, is included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was unveiled today. The provision also establishes the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland. … Continue Reading
December 02, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More than $72 Million in Federal Funding to Upgrade & Replace Flood-Prone Upstate New York Bridges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $ $72,263,840.00 to update and replace 29 bridges throughout Upstate New York. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and will fund the necessary improvements for bridges in high-risk flood areas throughout the Capital Region, Central New York, Southern Tier, Hudson Valley and North Country. This $72 million in federal … Continue Reading
December 02, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey Announce More than $1.7 Million in Fed Funds for the Village of Nyack for Hurricane Sandy Repairs
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative Nita Lowey announced that the Village of Nyack will receive $1,762,175.82 in federal funds to cover costs for repairs made to Memorial Park and the local marina, which were damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The funding is being allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) public assistance grant program. As a result of Hurricane Sandy, the Village of Nyack needs to repair many of the … Continue Reading
December 02, 2014
With NDAA Expected on Senate Floor in December, Former Air Force Chief Prosecutor Don Christensen Joins Gillibrand, Collins, Boxer, Grassley, Blumenthal, Cruz, Hirono, Paul, Heller in Push for Independent Military Justice System
Washington, D.C. - With the U.S. Senate expected to take up the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) before the end of the year, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Rand Paul (R-KY) and Dean Heller (R-NV) were joined today by former Air Force Chief Prosecutor Colonel Don Christensen (Ret.) to renew the push for passage of the bipartisan Military … Continue Reading
