Press Releases
Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Bill To Revitalize Industrial Sites Clears Senate Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored to clean up and rebuild on industrial brownfield sites passed through the committee. The Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development (BUILD) Act would jumpstart development efforts and provide additional resources for sites in need of redevelopment. The measure would allow local municipalities and non-profit … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Gillibrand, Bishop Urge Usda To Designate Long Island Sound Watershed A Critical Conservation Area – Move Would Provide More Federal Funding To Protect Water Quality, Help Long Island Farmers
Long Island, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Tim Bishop today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to designate the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay watershed as a critical conservation area. Such a designation would open additional federal investment to help protect and improve the quality of our drinking water and estuaries by assisting the agricultural community in adopting more water-friendly practices. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2014
Gillibrand Appointed To West Point Board Of Visitors, Attends First Meeting Today
West Point, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today she has been appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point Board of Visitors by Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Gillibrand is attending the board's first meeting of the year today at West Point. Topics on the agenda to be discussed include cadet barracks, Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program (SHARP), Cadets Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (CASH/A), … Continue Reading
March 31, 2014
Gillibrand Hails Citizens Campaign For The Environment’s Maureen Dolan Murphy As Environmental Champion
Long Island, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, congratulated Maureen Dolan Murphy, Executive Programs Manager of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) for winning the 2014 Environmental Quality Award. The Farmingdale-based organization - which Senator Gillibrand nominated this past February - will receive the Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious honor for their commitment and significant contributions to … Continue Reading
March 31, 2014
Gillibrand Announces Innovative Education Agenda To Boost Stem Proficiency For Southern Tier Students
Horseheads, NY - Standing at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Greater Southern Tier BOCES Board Chairman Don Keddell and Horseheads Superintendent Ralph Marino, announced today her innovative education agenda to encourage more youths, especially women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), bolster engineering education programs across New York's elementary, middle, and high schools and encourage the development of … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
At Gillibrand Urging, Department Of Labor Will Provide Trade Adjustment Assistance For Laid-Off Alcoa Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has approved a much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) certification for laid off workers at Alcoa in Massena. Former employees can now apply for critical TAA benefits. Earlier this month, Senator Gillibrand wrote U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to support Alcoa employees' petition for TAA, citing that this will impact a significant number of workers. "This support is … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
At Gillibrand’s Urging, Usda Issues Disaster Declaration To Help Upstate Farms Damaged By Deep Winter Freeze
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an agriculture disaster declaration that will help send relief to upstate grape farms and vineyards in the Finger Lakes, Western, Central and Northern New York that were damaged by a long winter of sub-zero temperatures. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this month, Senator Gillibrand requested the disaster declaration to expedite federal … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Gillibrand Presses Epa, Coast Guard For New Oil Spill Contingency Plan To Protect New Yorkers
Washington, D.C. - With the rise of transporting crude oil through New York State and a series of derailments and spills that potentially put New York communities at risk, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard to quickly update contingency plans for oil spills in the New York and New Jersey region. The safety plans are due for an update this year and with concerns rising over the danger of crude oil transported … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Gillibrand, Schumer, Bipartisan Group Of Congressional Members Urge Secretary Of Defense To Expedite Clean-Up Efforts At Islands Of Vieques And Culebra In Puerto Rico
Washington, DC-U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Charles Schumer and Congressman Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner, led a bipartisan group of Senators and House Members urging U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the cleanup of the islands of Vieques and Culebra, which were used as military training ranges for many years. The cleanup of Vieques is being conducted by the Navy, while … Continue Reading
March 22, 2014
In Seneca Falls During Women's History Month, Gillibrand Outlines Plan To Update The Rules Of The Modern Workplace, Ensure Women Workers Have A Fair Shot At Earning Their Financial Security, Strengthen Middle Class Families
Standing at the First Presbyterian Church in Seneca Falls, where Alice Paul, a suffragist leader, argued the right to vote alone would not end discrimination based upon sex and first drafted the Equal Rights Amendment, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand outlined her five-point package aimed at ensuring more working women have a fair shot at earning financial security by modernizing America's outdated workplace policies that have failed to keep pace with the demands on the new workforce driving … Continue Reading
March 20, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $1.3 Million For Binghamton Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,340,168 in federal funding for the Binghamton Fire Department to hire firefighters. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. "These much-needed federal funds will provide the assistance the City of Binghamton needs to maintain and expand its fire department. First responders are our … Continue Reading
March 14, 2014
Gillibrand Works To Secure Funding For Owego Stream Gauge
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to restore funding for the Owego Creek stream gauge that provides a key warning system to local families and businesses that endure yearly threats to dangerous flooding. "After back-to-back years of storms that swept away roads, bridges, businesses and entire communities, we know stream gauges are a key tool to staying ahead of the storm, and keeping our families safe," Senator Gillibrand … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
As USPS Moves Ahead With The Sale of the Historic Bronx Post Office, Gillibrand Urges USPS To Meet With The Bronx Community Before Choosing A Winning Bid
Bronx, NY - As the United States Postal Service (USPS) moves ahead with the second phase of the sale of the historic Bronx post office, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged USPS to meet with the Bronx community and hear their concerns before deciding on a winning bid. With the review process underway of at least eleven submitted plans, Senator Gillibrand pressed the agency to choose proposals that would transform the City landmark into a space that would benefit the community and grow the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2014
Gillibrand Statement On White House Meeting On Women's Economic Opportunity
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement Wednesday after meeting with President Obama, White House officials and Congressional colleagues to discuss new steps to help women and families succeed in the economy. The meeting follows a previous bipartisan women of the Senate dinner hosted by President Obama at the White House where Gillibrand pressed the President for his support for her American Opportunity Agenda. "Today's discussion with President … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
With New York Ranked Second Least-Affordable For Full-Time Infant Day Care, Gillibrand Announces Legislation Expanding Tax Breaks Aimed At Easing Burden Of Child Care Costs For Working Families
Washington DC - With the rising cost of child care across New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today unveiled her plan to make child care more affordable and accessible for working parents. In 2012, New York was ranked the second least-affordable in the nation for full-time day care for an infant, according to a report by Child Care Aware. A two-parent family in New York spent an average of 16.5 percent of their annual income on care for their infant. For a single mother in New York, the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
At Gillibrand’s Urging, Feds Approve Effort To Boost Ontario County’s Exports
Geneva, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of President Obama's Export Council, today announced the U.S. Commerce Department approved Ontario County's application for its Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program, which would encourage more companies with import and export operations across the region to take advantage of associated tax breaks and incentives. Senator Gillibrand called on the Commerce Department to make this FTZ designation for Ontario County and the surrounding area after … Continue Reading
March 09, 2014
As Tax Season Begins, Gillibrand Announces New Legislation To Expand Tax Breaks Easing Burden Of Sky-High Child Care Costs For Working Families
New York, NY - As tax season begins to get into full swing, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was joined today by New York City parents and advocacy groups to announce new legislation being offered by Gillibrand that would change the federal tax system to help make child care more affordable and accessible for working parents and families. New York City families face sky-high child care costs - the average City family now spends approximately $15,210 per year for an infant, $12,116 for a … Continue Reading
March 07, 2014
After Last Friday’s Capital Region Derailment of Tanker with Crude Oil, Gillibrand Calls on DOT to Expedite New Rules for Transporting Hazardous Materials
Washington, DC - After another derailment of tankers carrying crude oil, this time in the Capital Region, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand renewed her call for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to urgently update and implement guidelines for safer transport of hazardous liquids. According to the Association of American Railroads, oil shipments have increased from 9,500 carloads in 2008 to an estimated 400,000 carloads in 2013 nationally. Terminals at the Port of Albany have the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2014
Gillibrand Statement on Senate Vote to Reform Military Justice System
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered the following remarks Thursday following the vote on the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act, which despite having the support of a bipartisan majority of the Senate, fell five votes shy of breaking a filibuster. Senator Gillibrand's remarks as prepared for delivery: I want to first thank my colleagues who stood so strong and united in this effort from the very beginning. Your leadership truly made the difference to gain … Continue Reading
February 28, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Homeland Security Secretary to Boost New York’s Share of Critical Anti-Terror Funding as NYC Remains Top Terror Target in the Nation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to provide New York with a boost in anti-terror funding given that the federal budget this year for state and local homeland security funding increased by an estimated 16 percent. New York City remains the top terror target in the nation and federal funds are used to protect New York's transit systems, ports and urban non-profits against security threats and … Continue Reading
