Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Federal Investment to Buy New Clean Energy Buses for Chemung County – Over $1.3 Million Will Fund New Buses and Power Generator, Boosting Transit System
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $1,370,000 in federal funding was awarded to the Chemung County Transit System through the Department of Transportation State of Good Repair Program. Chemung County Transit System will use this federal grant to purchase eight new clean energy buses and a power generator that can be used in inclement weather and during emergencies. "Transit systems across the state are making strides toward cleaner, more efficient … Continue Reading
May 21, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand: New FDA Delays Will Allow Misleading Sunscreen to Be Sold Throughout Summer – Senators Blast Delays and Call on FDA to Protect Consumers as Summer Begins
Washington, DC -- In an effort to ensure sunscreen labels are clear, accurate, and provide consumers with the information they need to protect themselves, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to abandon their recently announced timeline for new standards that would allow manufacturers to continue to put products on the shelf this summer without updated labels. Last year at the request of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, the FDA … Continue Reading
May 20, 2012
With 14 Lifesaving Cancer Drugs in Short Supply and Over 100 Drug Shortages This Year Alone, Gillibrand, Parents, and Doctors Urge Congress to Pass Legislation This Week Providing Relief for Sick Patients, Children
New York, NY - With over 100 drug shortages reported this year, including 14 lifesaving cancer medications currently in short supply, and a record-high 267 drug shortages in 2011, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged Congress to pass legislation this week to combat drug shortages. The current shortage of cancer drugs such as daunorubicin, used to treat childhood leukemia, and doxorubicin, used to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia, puts young lives in danger. Gillibrand, joined by … Continue Reading
May 20, 2012
Gillibrand Statement on Death of Lockerbie Bomber
New York, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the death of Libyan terrorist and convicted Lockerbie bomber, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi: "The deaths of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and Muammar Gaddafi brings to a close the total miscarriage of justice that needlessly brought more pain to the families of Pan Am Flight 103. While this will never heal the pain of the horrific day that took so many innocent lives, I hope this will bring families the comfort that Mr. … Continue Reading
May 18, 2012
Senators Gillibrand, Blunt Bolster Efforts to Address Needs of U.S. National Guard
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Roy Blunt sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense calling for an update on the implementation status of the "National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2011," a critical law introduced by Blunt and cosponsored by Gillibrand that amends the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). Upon passage of the act last November, the Secretary of Defense was tasked with extending USERRA protections to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2012
Gillibrand Urges EDA to Fund Photech Redevelopment Project in Rochester
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called for federal support for the City of Rochester's proposal to redevelop the Photech Manufacturing site into an industrial park. With the support of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the park would be used by private businesses to create an estimated 200 to 250 jobs for the Rochester area. "Rochester is working hard to revitalize the local economy and this proposal would help create new jobs in our community," Senator … Continue Reading
May 18, 2012
Gillibrand Urges Amtrak to Include Bicycle Racks on New Baggage Cars
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged Amtrak to include bicycle racks in its plans to modernize the rolling stock used in train services between New York City and Buffalo. The inclusion of bicycle racks would provide ease of access for those wishing to bike to tourist destinations throughout New York State, providing more streamlined travel for active tourism along New York's Erie Canalway Trail and creating the opportunity to generate revenue from these tourists. … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand Helps Queens Resident who Served in Afghanistan Reunite with His Family After Helicopter Crash Left Combat Translator Paralyzed
Queens, NY - A 31 year-old Queens resident who served in Afghanistan as a combat translator became paralyzed from the waist down when the helicopter he was in crashed in the city of Kabul in 2010. Queens resident Jamil Patkik was a linguist with the Navy Seals unit and one of three people who survived the crash, which killed a total of nine troops. After the tragedy, Mr. Patkik faced roadblocks in bringing his wife and four children from Pakistan to Queens, who he desperately wanted by his … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand Helps Capital Region Soldier Stationed in Hawaii Get to Buffalo in Time for His Fiance’s Graduation at SUNY Buffalo Law School
Buffalo, NY - After a Columbia county senior's attempt to help a 26 year-old Marine Corps soldier from the Capital Region get from his base in Hawaii to Buffalo in time for his fiancé's graduation ceremony at SUNY Buffalo Law School hit a snag, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that her office has ensured that Sergeant Jordan Good will be there for graduation day after all. When Lorayne Seibert first tried to donate a plane ticket to Sergeant Good using her frequent flyer … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand Urges U.S. Commerce Department to Invest in Griffiss Institute to Develop New Cyber Security Technologies in Rome
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to fully support the Rome-based Griffis Institute's (GI) request for federal funding to support research to develop and implement new cyber security standards and guidelines. Senator Gillibrand has toured both the Rome Air Force Research Lab and private companies at the Griffiss Technology Park that work hand-in-glove to develop cyber security technologies. "Cyber technology is playing an essential … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Schumer & Gillibrand Push to Secure Federal Investment to Build New Intermodal Transportation Center in Downtown Rochester – Project Would Prime City for High-Speed Rail Service, Unleash Business Development & Job Creation
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Department of Transportation to select the City of Rochester's application for a TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant, for Rochester's Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC). The RITC project will replace the existing Intercity Passenger Rail station and single low-level platform with a new multi-modal facility and a high-level island platform for efficient and convenient … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand, Sanchez Introduce Bills in Both Houses of Congress Encouraging Pentagon to Repeal Policy Restricting Women from Combat
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today announced their new legislation introduced in both chambers of Congress which encourages the Department of Defense to repeal the Ground Combat Exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces - an outdated policy that does not acknowledge the combat role our service women in Afghanistan and around the world are already filling successfully. Women currently comprise approximately … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand, McCarthy Announce Bill Passes Senate that Renames East Rockaway Post Office After Dedicated Postal Worker John J. Cook
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy today announced that a bill has passed in the Senate to rename an East Rockaway Post Office after John J. Cook, a dedicated and beloved postal worker. The bill renames an East Rockaway post office for Cook, a World War II veteran who worked at the post office located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, NY, as one of the longest serving mailmen in United States Post Office history. John J. Cook retired … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
Gillibrand, Bipartisan Senate Women Call on Boehner to Pass Senate’s Violence Against Women Act
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan coalition of 13 Women Senators called on House Speaker John Boehner to pass the bipartisan, Senate-passed version of the Violence Against Women Act. In their letter, the Senators noted that the Senate reauthorization honors the bipartisan history of the bill by strengthening protections for all victims of domestic violence. The House version of the bill, which is scheduled to be voted on today, excludes many of the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
With One of Two New York Terrorism Emergency Task Forces At-Risk of Being Cut from Defense Budget, Gillibrand Introduces Amendment to Preserve New York’s National Guard WMD Civil Support Teams
Washington, DC - With a New York City terrorism emergency task force at-risk of being eliminated in the Pentagon's upcoming budget, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill today as debate is set to begin on the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would authorize and preserve New York's two National Guard teams. Currently, New York has one unit that helps authorities fight terror in the Big Apple and another unit … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
With One of Two New York Terrorism Emergency Task Forces At-Risk of Being Cut from Defense Budget, Gillibrand Introduces Amendment to Preserve New York’s National Guard WMD Civil Support Teams
Washington, DC - With one of two New York terrorism emergency task forces at-risk of being eliminated in the Pentagon's upcoming budget, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill today as debate is set to begin on the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would authorize and preserve New York's two National Guard teams. Currently, New York has one unit near Schenectady that helps authorities fight terror and another unit … Continue Reading
May 15, 2012
New Gillibrand Legislation Pushes Defense Department to Combat Hazing, Promote Diversity Among Senior Military Ranks
Washington, DC - With the Senate Armed Services Committee set to debate the military budget bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, today called on the Department of Defense to create a database in order to track and respond to hazing incidents in the military. The Defense Department currently does not have a database in place to monitor hazing incidents across all services, making it difficult to determine how widespread the problem of hazing poses in … Continue Reading
May 15, 2012
New Report: Doubling of Student Loan Interest Rates Will Cost New Yorkers Nearly $420 Million if Congress Doesn't Act by July 1st
Washington, D.C. - According to a new report by the Public Policy and Education Fund of New York, USAction Education Fund, and Campus Progress released on Tuesday, New York students would save almost $420 million if Congress takes action to maintain the current Stafford student loan interest rate of 3.4 percent. Details of the report, How New York Will Be Affected if Stafford Loan Interest Rates Double, were announced by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and members of Citizen Action of New … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Standing with Student Veterans at D’youville College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Buffalo, NY -Standing with student veterans at D'Youvulle College, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans and streamline certification processes for civilian jobs. Last year, Senator Gillibrand hosted a roundtable with local business and veterans leaders to discuss innovative ways to address veterans' unemployment in Western New York. As a result, … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
At Schumer, Gillibrand & Owens’s Urging, Feds Back Plan to Reopen Tahawus Rail Line Between North Creek & Newcomb – Lawmakers Announce that Feds Have Granted Status that Will Resume Rail Service & Provide Huge Boost to Local Economy
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Bill Owens announced that the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) has heeded their call and approved Iowa Pacific Holdings' request for common carrier status, which will allow them to reopen the Tahawus Line between North Creek and Newcomb, and resume hauling freight to and from businesses along that line. Iowa Pacific Holdings has been seeking this rail status for several months, and after the Department … Continue Reading
