Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $6.67 Million in Federal Funds for City of Long Beach for Sandy Cleanup Costs
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced $6,679,908.58 in federal funds for the City of Long Beach to cover costs associated with hazardous debris removal in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. This work was undertaken after the storm deposited over 150,000 cubic yards of sand and other debris across Long Beach roads. The funds, which come from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), cover 90% of costs. "Long Beach was extremely hard hit by Hurricane … Continue Reading
January 06, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $141.6 Million in Federal Funds for LIPA for Major Hurricane Sandy Cleanup Work
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced $141,647,444.80 in federal funds for Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to be put towards reimbursement of additional line- and tree-removal crews who aided in post-Sandy cleanup and expenses associated with the effort. These crews were hired in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy to assist LIPA in the massive, Island-wide cleanup and power-restoration operation. "Long Islanders already went through enough … Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Gillibrand Statement In Response To President’s Plan To Address Military Sexual Assault
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement today in response to President Obama's comments on addressing sexual assault in the military: "I appreciate the President's deep commitment to solving the sexual assault crisis in the military. I had the opportunity to speak with President Obama yesterday on the topic and look forward to working with the President and Secretary of Defense moving forward. However, my immediate focus will remain on earning the … Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Gillibrand, Schumer, Nadler, Velázquez, Grimm Urge FAA to Develop Plan to Reduce Excessive Helicopter Noise for Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island Residents
New York, NY - Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Michael Grimm (R-NY) pressed the FAA to take action to reduce excessive helicopter noise for Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island residents. With the rising level and frequency of tourist helicopter noise negatively impacting the quality of life for many New Yorkers, the elected officials asked FAA Eastern Regional … Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
At Gillibrand & Kirk’s Urging, Both Houses of Congress Approve Measure Requiring Defense Department Report on U.S.-Israel Cooperative Missile Defense Programs – Heads to President’s Desk as Part of 2014 Defense Bill to be Signed into Law
Washington, DC - At the urging of U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), both chambers of Congress today passed a measure, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2014, which requires the Defense Secretary to submit a report on the status of U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation in an effort to evaluate the U.S. partnership with Israel and determine ways to advance the countries' partnership in defending against acts of terror. The NDAA … Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Gillibrand, Rangel Announce Final Congressional Approval of $31 Million for the Historic Harlem Armory
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Congressman Charles B. Rangel, today announced that $31 million in authorized funding for the renovation of the National Guard offices of the historic 369th Infantry Regiment Armory located in the heart of Harlem has passed both chambers of Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2014 and now heads to President Obama to be signed into law. The … Continue Reading
December 17, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1.6 Million Grant for Cattaraugus-Wyoming Counties Project Head Start
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Cattaraugus and Wyoming Counties Project Head Start will receive a $1,651,138 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The grant funding will help Cattaraugus-Wyoming Head Start continue their programming through June 2014, including their Early Head Start Program - a transitional program that provides health services and preparation for infants and toddlers expected to enter the Head … Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, Goldfeder Announce $1.86 Million in Federal Funds to Repair Sandy-Inflicted Damage at P.S. 207 Rockwood Park in Howard Beach
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, and Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder today announced $1,861,901.33 in federal funds for the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) in support of major Sandy-related repairs at P.S. 207 Rockwood Park. This funding will reimburse 90% of the cost of repairs undertaken throughout the building. "This infusion of federal money is helping P.S. 207 Rockwood Park put the damaging effects of Hurricane Sandy in the rear-view mirror and … Continue Reading
December 13, 2013
Billie Jean King, Neera Tanden Keynote Gillibrand’s 2013 Women’s Economic Empowerment Summit Focused on Working Women & Families Having a Fair Shot at Earning Financial Security, Helping Women Lead the Way to Growing Economy, Stronger Middle Class
New York, NY - Today, Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden hosted U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's 2013 "Women's Economic Empowerment Summit" at New York University's Rosenthal Pavilion to discuss the need to modernize the nation's outdated workplace rules and empower families to ensure more middle class women workers have a fair shot at earning financial security and help lead in the new economy. The fabric of the American workforce has changed over the past several decades … Continue Reading
December 13, 2013
New York, Connecticut Delegation Members Lead Effort to Strengthen Metro-North Safety
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) today met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and other senior Department of Transportation (DOT) officials to push for stronger federal oversight of Metro-North and discuss measures to improve safety. Also in attendance were … Continue Reading
December 12, 2013
Gillibrand, DeLauro Introduce Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today introduced new legislation that would create paid family and medical leave. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act would establish a national paid family and medical leave insurance program, ensuring that American workers would no longer have to choose between a paycheck and caring for themselves or a family member. They will be joined by business leaders and advocates, who will … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $400,000 Challenge Grant From the National Endowment for the Humanities for the Staten Island Museum; Prestigious Grant Will Help Garner Critical Individual Fundraising Support
U. S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that the Staten Island Museum will receive a prestigious $400,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This challenge grant - which will be available to the Staten Island Museum as long as it is able to raise $1.2 million before July 31, 2018 - will be put towards the Museum's endowment, exhibition infrastructure and technology at its new Snug Harbor campus, and fundraising … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Kennedy Introduce New Legislation to Promote Stem Opportunities for Women, Minorities and Economically Disadvantaged
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Kennedy (D-MA) today introduced new legislation to encourage women, minorities and economically disadvantaged students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The STEM Gateways Act would provide grants for classroom learning, career preparation, mentoring, internships, informal learning and other appropriate educational activities. "New York is home to the greatest colleges and … Continue Reading
December 09, 2013
Gillibrand Leads Group of Lawmakers Urging FDA to Immediately Put in Place Anti-Abuse Protections for Highly Addictive Zohydro Drug
Washington, DC - After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a powerful new opioid painkiller Zohydro recently, even after the agency's own panel voted against approving the drug, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) requested an explanation from the FDA on why the agency ignored its own panel's recommendations and called on the FDA to expedite the development of an abuse-deterrent formula that would make … Continue Reading
December 08, 2013
With Holiday Shopping in Full Swing, Gillibrand, NYPIRG, NYC Parents Unveil Annual Toy Safety Report on Dangerous and Toxic Toys on NYC Store Shelves
New York, NY - As the holiday shopping season kicks into full swing, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), joined by New York City parents, today unveiled NYPIRG's annual toy safety report, Treacherous Toys: Dangerous and Toxic Toys on New York's Store Shelves (www.nypirg.org/treacheroustoys), revealing that dangerous and toxic toys can be found on store shelves right here in New York. NYPIRG's Treacherous Toys report, which offers safety … Continue Reading
December 06, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million In Fed Health And Human Services Grant For University of Rochester – Grant Will Fund Clinical Trials in Search of HIV Vaccine
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that a $1,030,764 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has been awarded to the University of Rochester for research on the treatment and prevention of HIV. Specifically, the funding will go towards developing better treatment methods and standards of care for people living with HIV and would set up clinical trials for a preventive HIV vaccine at … Continue Reading
December 02, 2013
Gillibrand Urges Feds to Conduct Comprehensive Safety Review of MTA’s Commuter Rail System After Deadly Train Derailment in the Bronx
New York, NY - After a recent Metro-North train derailment in the Bronx killed at least four passengers and injured more than 60 others, according to the MTA, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pressed Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo for a swift and comprehensive safety evaluation of the MTA's commuter rail system in order to ensure that a similar tragedy does not happen again and steps taken by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to improve commuter rail safety. The … Continue Reading
November 25, 2013
WNY Delegation Urges Homeland Security to Set Up Shop at Niagara Falls Air Base
Members of Western New York's Congressional delegation are pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish missions at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS). In a letter to the Acting Secretary of DHS, Congressman Chris Collins, Congressman Brian Higgins, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Charles Schumer urged the Department to consider NFARS as a regional location for several DHS missions including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customers and Border … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Gillibrand Statement on Senate Filibuster Reform
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after voting to change the Senate rules to limit the use of a filibuster: "Yesterday we saw a glimpse of how the senate is supposed to work - two bipartisan coalitions fiercely debating a critically important issue to our country on the senate floor, until it crashed into the wall of obstructionism we have seen all too often in this broken Congress. "We have no choice but to reform the overused and … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $1 Million in FEMA Funds for Canal Flood Warning System Designed to Predict & Protect Upstate Communities – Federal Funding to Install New Precipitation Gauges Along Mohawk River, Oswego River and Upper Hudson River Basin in 23 Upstate Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the New York State Canal Flood Warning System has received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding obligation totaling $1 million for the installation of precipitation gauges along the Mohawk River, Oswego River and Upper Hudson River Basin. Precipitation gauges, or rain gauges, measure rainfall in areas at risk of flooding. The Canal Flood Warning System is a NYS program that will combine forecasting, … Continue Reading
