Press Releases
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
April 16, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, Israel, King Announce Over $17 Million in Federal Funding for Cleanup after Superstorm Sandy in Oyster Bay
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Steve Israel and Congressman Peter King today announced that the Town of Oyster Bay was awarded $17,525,038 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding, which will reimburse the town for the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy caused significant damage in Oyster Bay necessitating a massive cleanup effort for the towns that, in turn, had the potential to … Continue Reading
April 15, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Defense Department to Work To End the Backlog of Veterans’ Disability Claims
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have joined with a bipartisan coalition to send a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel urging greater cooperation between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help address the severe backlog of veterans' disability claims. A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that delays in obtaining service and medical records from the Department of Defense have "significantly … Continue Reading
April 15, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge President Obama to Issue Disaster Declaration For New York State Following Winter Storm Nemo
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand urged President Obama to quickly approve Governor Cuomo's request for a Disaster Declaration for New York State after this year's winter storm on February 8th and 9th that caused extensive damage and required state resources as New Yorkers were beginning the recovery process to recover and rebuild from Superstorm Sandy. In an effort to help local communities and expedite aid, Schumer and Gillibrand today, in a personal letter to … Continue Reading
April 12, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $52,000 Federal Grant for Pleasantdale Fire District; Investment Means Vital Equipment for First Responders
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Pleasantdale Fire District will receive $52,868 in federal grants in Round 21 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 … Continue Reading
April 12, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $138,000 Federal Grant for Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Co; Investment Means Vital Equipment for First Responders
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. will receive $138,472 in federal grants in Round 21 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, … Continue Reading
April 11, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand, King Announce Over $200,000 for Farmingdale Fire Department; Investment Means Vital Equipment for First Responders
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congressman Peter King today announced that the Farmingdale Fire Department will receive a total of $200,450 in federal funding in Round 21 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, … Continue Reading
April 11, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Secure More Than $30,000 Federal Grant for Laurelton Fire District
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $30,284 in federal funding for the Laurelton Fire District to purchase a new fire hose. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. "With this funding, Laurelton firefighters can focus on their important work knowing they have a reliable new hose that will help ensure a steady supply of water while fighting fires," … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
With More Than One-Third of Minority Youth Unemployed, Gillibrand, Fattah Introduce Legislation to Connect At-Risk City Youth With Job Opportunities
Washington, D.C. - With more than one-third of the nation's minority youth unemployed, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Chaka Fattah today announced legislation aimed at increasing employment among at-risk youth. The Urban Jobs Act would provide federal funding to nonprofit organizations, allowing them to carry out programming to prepare youth for employment, particularly those who have dropped out of high school or have been subject to the criminal justice process. The smart … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Lautenberg, Gillibrand Reintroduce “Safe Chemicals Act” to Protect Americans from Toxic Chemicals in Consumer Products
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), the leader in Congress on reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today reintroduced the "Safe Chemicals Act" to protect Americans from dangerous toxic chemicals that are found in everyday consumer products. Senators Lautenberg and Gillibrand have been working to reform TSCA and provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the authority to protect Americans from harmful chemicals. The … Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
After Senators’ Push: Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Long Island Farms Eligible for Funding to Repair Storm-Damaged Levees, Protecting Over 700 Acres of Land
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that, after their push, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has determined that five Long Island farms are eligible for funding to repair 4.5 miles of levees that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The levees protect over 700 acres of farmland and Suffolk County applied for Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funds to repair the damaged levees. Although USDA guidelines suggested that EWP funding only be … Continue Reading
April 08, 2013
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $150,000 for Hudson Valley Fire Departments
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Yulan Fire Department Inc. is set to receive $34,913 to purchase turnout gear and the Pelham Manor Fire Department is set to receive $108,175 in federal funding to purchase a new SCOTT SCBA's and bottles. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. "With this funding, first responders in the Hudson Valley can focus on their important work … Continue Reading
