Press Releases
Gillibrand Statement on President Obama’s Plan to Address Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama announced a new plan to help address climate change: "There is no doubt that climate change is real and that it is here. In New York, we had two 'storms of the century' one year apart. We can't pretend that climate change is not happening and hope it will go away on its own. We have to take this issue head on and I … Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Voting Rights Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Voting Rights Act: "The Voting Rights Act has been a cornerstone of ensuring the rights won in the Civil Rights movement continue to stand strong today. The Supreme Court's ruling is a significant setback that will put Congress to the test of whether we can move quickly and without partisanship. I urge my colleagues to meet that test. "We … Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $2 Million in Federal Funds to Repair Boardwalk at Jones Beach Due to Superstorm Sandy-Related Damages
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the New York State Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation will receive $2,469,057 in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for repairs to the two-mile long Jones Beach State Park boardwalk after it was damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The NYS Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation awarded a contract to repair and replace boardwalk decking. "Long Island's much-loved … Continue Reading
June 24, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, Owens Announce Town of Peru to Receive $500k in Federal Grant for Repairs to Flood-Damaged Drinking Water System
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congressman Bill Owens announced that the Town of Peru has received a Water and Waste Disposal Grant for $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The funding will be used to repair flood-related damage to the Town of Peru's drinking water system. Specifically, during Hurricane Irene, storm runoff from the Furnace Creek washed away the Reservoir … Continue Reading
June 21, 2013
Gillibrand Urges Feds to Conduct Investigation Into Train Derailments in Metro New York Area After Recent Derailed Train Accidents
Washington, DC - After a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train derailed in an Amtrak tunnel under the East River earlier this week and caused major commuter delays, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today urged Federal Railroad Administrator (FRA) Joseph Szabo, Federal Transit Administrator (FTA) Peter Rogoff, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Deborah Hersman to conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the recent train derailments run by the … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $100,000 Federal Grant for Milton Engine Co.
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the Milton Engine Company will receive $105,403 in federal grants to purchase new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air packs. The funding comes from 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 … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on House Farm Bill Vote
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives rejected a Farm Bill that would have cut $20.5 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "Just as important as the health of our agriculture industry, is the health and nutrition of our children and families. I am proud to see House Democrats stand strong and reject this draconian cut that would literally take food away from millions of … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $360,000 in Federal Funds to Improve Wastewater Treatment Plant for Families, Businesses in Antwerp
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced federal funding worth $360,000 for the Village of Antwerp to help finance a project to make improvements to the existing wastewater treatment plant. The federal funding is allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. "Effectively supporting our rural communities with funding for clean water and sewer treatment is pivotal for our … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
$600,000 Federal Grant for Holbrook Fire District, Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop, King Announce
HOLBROOK -- Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressmen Tim Bishop and Peter King announced today that the Holbrook Fire District will receive a federal grant of $600,000 in round 31 of the FY 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Holbrook Fire District will use the federal funding to address much needed equipment upgrades, specifically the purchase two new Base Stations. These Base Stations will replace now outdated equipment in compliance with Federal … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $200,000 in Federal Funds to Bolster Food Hub, Create Jobs in Sullivan County
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $213,400 for the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to launch a satellite Food Distribution Hub Project, providing Sullivan Country farmers an effective distribution line to move their goods to local and regional markets, an effort that is expected to create up to 19 new local jobs. The federal funding is allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Enterprise … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Gillibrand, Tonko, Kennedy Introduce Bill to Improve Engineering Education in Schools
WASHINGTON - Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA) introduced legislation this week that would help boost science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) education programs in the nation's elementary, middle and high schools. The Educating Tomorrow's Engineers Act (ETEA) would help increase student achievement and interest in science and engineering disciplines by removing barriers at the federal level that prevent schools from … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on Pentagon Women in Service Review
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, issued the following statement today as the Pentagon made its formal announcement on setting goals to allow women to serve in elite combat roles: "This is another step in the right direction in opening combat roles to women. Women are already fighting and dying for our country shoulder-to-shoulder with their brothers in uniform on the frontlines, but without the formal recognition … Continue Reading
June 17, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $5 Million in Federal Investment to Help Improve Water Service to City of Norwich Residents
Today, United States Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Program will award the City of Norwich with a $5,022,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant. Specifically, this $4,022,000 loan and $1,000,000 grant will go towards the construction of a much-needed water treatment plant (WTP) in Norwich, to replace a century-old facility. In March 2013, Schumer argued in his letter to the USDA that a new WTP is … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Schumer and Gillibrand: New York Set to Receive $211 Million Boost in Sandy Recovery Costs – At Senators’ Urging, Feds Agreed to Cover 90% of Federal Share After NYS Crossed Critical Threshold Allowing for Increased Federal Aid
After Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House heeded U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand's recent call and agreed to increase the share the federal government is paying for repairing public property damage by Superstorm Sandy from 75% to 90%, the Senators announced today that more than a dozen Sandy recovery projects across New York City and Long Island will now be eligible for an additional $211 million in federal funds. The more than $1 billion in … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Secure Nearly $60,000 Federal Grant for Livingston Fire District
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the Livingston Fire District will receive $59,531 in federal funds to upgrade their air compressor system. The funding comes from 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, … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Gillibrand Joins Kaine, Rubio, 11 Other Senators in Letter to Egyptian President Morsi Condemning June 4 Sentencing of NGO Workers as Broader Threat to Human Rights
Washington, D.C. - In a letter sent to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jon Tester (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) expressed grave concern about the June 4, 2013 decision by an Egyptian court to sentence 43 Egyptian … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on Senate Armed Services Committee Dropping Military Justice Improvement Act from National Defense Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, issued the following statement today after the Senate Armed Services Committee cut the Military Justice Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation she wrote and introduced with the support of 27 co-sponsors, from the markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014: "I am deeply disappointed the voices of the victims of sexual assault have been drowned out by … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $21 Million in Sandy Relief Funds Being Delivered to NYC Dept of Transportation—Large Portion of Funding Will Go Towards Staten Island Ferry
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that $21,889,326 in federal emergency funding from the Sandy Relief Bill will be obligated to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) for transportation projects including the Staten Island Ferry. The projects being funding are for preparation or response to the effects of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on New York City's transit systems, including the heavily used Staten Island … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $54 Million in Federal Sandy Aid for Port Authority of NY & NJ
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today the Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey $54,243,826 million in federal funding for infrastructure repairs in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Federal funds will go towards Sandy-related emergency preparation and response, including replacement and repair of mechanical and electrical equipment, structural and architectural rehabilitation, and emergency operating … Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Village of Morris to Receive Over $2 Million in Federal Funding for Water Management
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Village of Morris has received a Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant for a total of $2,475,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The funding will be used for several water management projects, including construction of a new water storage tank that will replace the existing 130 year old tank. In addition, Morris will replace aging … Continue Reading
