Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $500,000 in Federal Funding for Public Transportation in the City of Long Beach after Superstorm Sandy
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced over $500,000 in emergency relief funding for the City of Long Beach. This federal funding is administered through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and will provide the City of Long Beach with funding for emergency operating costs incurred after Superstorm Sandy to keep the bus fleet operational. These operating costs include repairing the damaged maintenance facility, moving transit equipment to higher ground … Continue Reading
April 26, 2013
Gillibrand Hails City of Binghamton as Environmental Champion
Binghamton, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, congratulated the City of Binghamton for winning the 2013 Environmental Quality Award. The City, which Senator Gillibrand nominated this past February, will receive the Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious honor for their commitment and significant contributions to greening the region. "I congratulate the City of Binghamton for their dedication to securing a cleaner … Continue Reading
April 26, 2013
Gillibrand Urges Feds to Boost Suffolk County’s Exports
Melville, NY - Standing at International Warehouse Group, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of President Obama's Export Council, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today urged the U.S. Commerce Department to approve Suffolk County's request to expand its Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program, which would encourage more companies with import and export operations across the county to take advantage of associated tax breaks and incentives. Currently, Suffolk County and the Town of … Continue Reading
April 26, 2013
At the Healthy Living Market in Wilton Mall, Gillibrand Announces New Jobs Bill Aimed at Helping Expand Markets for Farmers and Increasing Availability of Nutritious Locally-Grown Food
Wilton, NY - After touring the Healthy Living Market in Wilton Mall, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced new legislation that would expand markets for farmers and increase the availability of nutritious locally-grown food for consumers. The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act would help New York farmers by addressing production, aggregation, marketing and distribution needs while helping consumers access and afford fresh, nutritious food. "By investing in local and regional agriculture, … Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $300,000 Federal Grant for Andover Fire Department; Investment Means Vital Equipment for First Responders
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Andover Fire Department will receive a $303,789 federal grant in Round 23 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 … Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
Gillibrand Announces $200,000 for Groundwork Hudson Valley for Brownfield Revitalization Effort in Yonkers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a federal grant worth $200,000 for Groundwork Hudson Valley to plan the clean-up and reuse of abandoned brownfield property in Yonkers. The federal investment is allocated through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Area-Wide Planning program. The effort follows legislation that Senator Gillibrand introduced in September to revitalize brownfield sites across the country. "Yonkers is bursting with … Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $270,000 Federal Investment for Rochester – Finger Lakes Area Fire Departments; Funding Means Vital Equipment for First Responders
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Chili Fire Department in Rochester will receive $56,150 and the Hopewell Volunteer Fire Department in Canandaigua will receive $217,091 in federal grants in Round 23 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 … Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, Markowitz, Hynes Announce $200,000 Investment for Brooklyn; Funding for Domestic Violence Homicide Reduction Demonstrative Initiative
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes, today announced that Brooklyn will receive $200,000 in funds from the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) through the Domestic Violence Homicide Prevention Demonstration Initiative. Specifically, Brooklyn will use this money in collaboration with Safe Horizon, a local nonprofit domestic violence service … Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
Gillibrand, Crowley Announce Legislation to Increase Kosher Food in Emergency Food Supply
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY) today announced legislation they introduced in both chambers of Congress to ensure that kosher food pantries receive adequate supply of food for hungry families as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). With an estimated 117,000 Jewish households in New York City living in poverty, the lawmakers' legislation requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to target, label, and track … Continue Reading
April 24, 2013
Lautenberg, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Provide Unemployment Aid for Families and Businesses Affected by Superstorm Sandy
Washington, D.C- With federal disaster unemployment benefits to victims of Superstorm Sandy scheduled to end this month, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today introduced legislation to extend through July federal disaster unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs due to Superstorm Sandy. In New Jersey and other states impacted by Superstorm Sandy, higher than average unemployment continues in the wake of the storm. In addition to extending … Continue Reading
April 24, 2013
Gillibrand: End Major Flight Delays by Closing Corporate Jet Loophole to Pay for Air Traffic Controllers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced new legislation that would end the flight delays Americans have faced since sequestration forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to furlough air traffic controllers across the country. The legislation would close a tax loophole for corporate jets, and use that funding to reinstate air traffic controllers nationwide. More than 1,200 flight delays on Monday were attributed to furloughed air traffic controllers from … Continue Reading
April 23, 2013
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduces Legislation Lifting Ban on Use of Private Funds for Abortions in Military Hospitals
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined with more than a dozen of her colleagues today introducing the Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health (MARCH) Act of 2013, allowing women in the military to use their own money to pay for abortions in military medical facilities. Currently, there is a ban on using private funds to pay for abortions in military hospitals, except in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest. Under the current law, servicewomen who have an … Continue Reading
April 23, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Push Two-Pronged Plan to Keep Ithaca Airport Contract Tower Open For Long-Term – Calls On FAA To Reverse Course Considering Grave Safety & Economic Implications for Travelers & Upstate Communities
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the federal government to avoid closing the air traffic control tower at the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport, which is critical to the local communities, businesses and economic growth. Specifically, Schumer and Gillibrand wrote a letter to FAA Administrator Huerta to urge that he reverse course on plans to close the towers at Ithaca-Tompkins and Griffiss International Airport on June 15, 2013; these are the only airport … Continue Reading
April 23, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Push Two-Pronged Plan to Keep Griffiss Airport Contract Tower Open for Long-Term – Calls on FAA to Reverse Course Considering Grave Safety & Economic Implications for Travelers & Upstate Communities
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the federal government to avoid closing the air traffic control tower at the Griffiss International Airport, which is critical to the local communities, businesses and economic growth, and national security. Specifically, Schumer and Gillibrand wrote a letter to FAA Administrator Huerta to urge that he reverse course on plans to close the towers at Griffiss and Ithaca-Tompkins Regional on June 15, 2013, which are the only … Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
Gillibrand Responds to New DOD Survey Showing More Than 1 in 5 Women Servicemembers Reported Unwanted Sexual Contact in 2011
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement today after the Defense Department released a new Health-Related Behaviors Survey of Active Duty Military Personnel for 2011, that shows more than 1 in 5 female servicemembers reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact. It appears from the survey done every three years that a higher percentage of men and women reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact from the 2008 survey. This past March, as … Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
Gillibrand, Johanns Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Use of Mechanical Insulation – Help Businesses Cut Energy Costs, Create New Green Jobs
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mike Johanns (R-NE) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help businesses cut energy costs and create new, green jobs. The Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act would create a tax credit for commercial buildings and industrial and manufacturing facilities, including power plants, refineries, hospitals, schools, and universities to increase the use of mechanical insulation. "Investment in energy efficiency is a … Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
Senate Confirms Gillibrand Recommended Judge Analisa Torres to Sit on Federal Bench
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that the U.S. Senate confirmed her second judicial nominee, Ms. Analisa Torres, to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York. Senator Gillibrand recommended her for the position last November in an effort to add another exceptional female jurist to the federal bench. Judge Torres currently serves as Justice on the New York County Supreme Court, criminal term. Throughout her lifetime of … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on Today's Gun Safety Votes in the U.S. Senate
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate voted down a number of gun safety measures: "Today has been one of the most deeply disappointing days of my short time in the U.S. Senate. Families from coast to coast deserved better from this Congress. The Newtown parents who came to Washington to bravely tell their stories deserved better than this body turning their backs on them. The families of Aurora deserved better. The … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
In Floor Speech, Gillibrand Urges Colleagues to Support Common Sense Gun Control Measures
April 17, 2013
Gillibrand Announces New Legislation to Include Farmed Shellfish in the Specialty Crops Services at USDA
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, today announced new legislation to include farmed shellfish as a specialty crop. The Shellfish Marketing Assistance Fairness Act would make farmed shellfish producers eligible for the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Currently, shellfish are ineligible for farm bill programs. However, these farmers of the sea face the same challenges as they compete with … Continue Reading
