Press Releases
U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Designating National Estuaries Day
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a resolution declaring this Saturday, September 24, to be National Estuaries Day. The resolution was sponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Scott Brown (R-MA) Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ben Cardin (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Kerry (D-MA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Patty Murray … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga And Tompkins County To Receive Public Assistance From FEMA
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga and Tompkins Counties public assistance to help rebuild and repair infrastructure damaged by tropical storm Lee. After this type of assistance was not made available in the President's initial emergency declaration, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand immediately called for Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce City Of Utica Set To Receive Over $1.3 Million In Department Of Transportation Funding For New Bus Transfer Facility
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the City of Utica is set to receive $1,350,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to construct a new bus transfer facility. Gillibrand and Schumer commend DOT for their work to improve transit conditions at all bus transfer facilities. "This transportation investment is great news for Downtown Utica, as it will create jobs, make transportation more efficient for bus riders and add to Genesee Street's … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Sullivan County International Airport Set To Receive Over $1 Million In Department Of Transportation Funding For Airport Fire Fighting & Rescue Program
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Sullivan County International Airport is set to receive $1,034,621 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds for airport facility upgrades. Specifically, the grant will allow Sullivan County International Airport to construct an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) building to house and extend the life of their life-saving ARFF equipment by protecting it from adverse weather conditions. Schumer and … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011
Gillibrand Opposes Palestinian’s Unilateral Bid For Statehood Through The UN
New York, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement today after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke at the United Nations and officially submitted an application for a unilateral bid for statehood: "I am deeply disappointed in Palestinian President Abbas' actions today. The Palestinians' unilateral bid for statehood through the United Nations is a harmful distraction from achieving true peace and stability between Israel and Palestine. The only … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011
Gillibrand Statement On Senate’s Rejection Of House Political Games On Disaster Relief Funding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after voting against the House of Representative's attempt to play politics with FEMA disaster relief funding: "Americans have always stood by those who are suffering and need relief to help rebuild. That's exactly what we need to do right now for families and businesses struggling to recover from the trail of devastation that Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee left across New York State. No one can … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011
Gillibrand Votes To Secure More Aid For Laid-Off Workers
Washington, D.C. - Facing an ongoing economic crisis and continuing manufacturing job losses, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Senate passed legislation to extend support for American workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas. The legislation makes a long-term extension of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), a federal program that has helped nearly 19,000 laid-off workers in New York continue to make ends meet since 2009, provided nearly $24 million for New York … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011
Gillibrand Fights For Greater Police Hiring Grants To Protect NY Communities, Families From Violent Crime
Washington, D.C. - To help put more police in communities across New York affected by rising rates of violent crime, drug trafficking and gang activity, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to put greater emphasis on COPS Hiring Program grants for New York State. The Police Hiring Grants program authorizes $500 million per year - enough to hire up to 50,000 officers across the country for community policing. "Law enforcement agencies across New York … Continue Reading
September 21, 2011
Senators Gillibrand, Kirk, Levin And Congressman Meeks Announce Bill To Confer A Congressional Gold Medal Upon Raoul Wallenberg
Washington, DC-Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) announced that they introduced companion bills today to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on Raoul Wallenberg, a hero who saved thousands of lives during Nazi occupation of Hungary during World War II. "The heroic rescue of Hungarian Jews by Raoul Wallenberg during one of the darkest hours of human history exemplifies his outstanding spirit … Continue Reading
September 20, 2011
Gillibrand Applauds Repeal Of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the military officially ended the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy: "Today, we're ending nearly two decades of injustice in our military. "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' has been a drain on our military, our readiness, and our national security for too long, and it must end. Every American, no matter who you are, or who you love, can now serve our … Continue Reading
September 20, 2011
Gillibrand Announces Priorities For Next Farm Bill
Washington, D.C. - As Congress prepares to write and debate the next Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, today announced her priorities to make sure the next Farm Bill is a good deal for New York. Senator Gillibrand spent time over the last year visiting farm communities across the state, holding listening sessions to gather input from New York's own local farms on their needs from the broad and sweeping … Continue Reading
September 19, 2011
Senators Urge President Obama To Underscore Strong Support For Israel During UN General Assembly
Today, 14 U.S. Senators called on President Obama to issue a strongly worded defense of Israel during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. In a letter, the Senators highlighted a number of recent, troubling developments in the Middle East, including the attack on the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, anti-Israeli rhetoric from Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, and efforts to isolate Israel by unilaterally advancing a resolution on Palestinian statehood at the UN. The … Continue Reading
September 19, 2011
Gillibrand, Schumer, Higgins, Slaughter, Hochul Urge FAA To Implement New Pilot Training Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer, together with U.S. Representatives Brian Higgins, Louise Slaughter and Kathy Hochul, today wrote to FAA Administrator Randolph Babbitt urging him to implement new rules for pilot training that were included in the overhauled FAA regulations that the New York members worked hard to pass. Pilot error was identified as the cause of the Flight 3407 tragedy. In their letter to Administrator Babbitt, the members wrote, "In … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Plattsburgh International Airport Set To Receive $2.7 Million In Department Of Transportation Funding For Taxiway Rehabilitation
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Plattsburgh International Airport is set to receive $2,700,500 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds for airport facility upgrades. Specifically, the grant will allow Plattsburgh International Airport to rehabilitate Taxiway A, which will ensure safe airfield operations at the airport. Schumer and Gillibrand applaud DOT for their work to increase safety at all airports. "This is great news for the … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Key Senate Panel Includes Gillibrand Provision For $50 Million For Nanotechnology Development And Manufacturing
Washington D.C. - The Senate Appropriations Committee included U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's provision to increase focus on nanotechnology development and manufacturing by the Defense Department, including $50 million in the Defense Appropriations bill. The University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering will likely be a strong competitor for this funding. Senator Gillibrand, member of the Armed Services Committee included language in the FY 2012 National Defense … Continue Reading
September 15, 2011
Gillibrand Announces $55.4 Million In New Lending To New York Small Businesses, Help Create Jobs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the approval of New York's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) application. The allocation is expected to spur more than $550 million in small businesses lending to help create new private sector jobs. The funding comes through the Small Business Jobs Act that Senator Gillibrand voted to pass last year. "My number one focus is creating good-paying, family-supporting jobs for New York," Senator Gillibrand said. "But … Continue Reading
September 15, 2011
Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage Of Disaster Relief Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced Senate passage today of the Disaster Relief legislation. The $6.9 billion disaster funding bill included $5.1 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and $266 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Senator Gillibrand aggressively lobbied her Senate colleagues to pass this disaster package. Senator Gillibrand has traveled across the state, receiving briefings and viewing the damage caused by Hurricane … Continue Reading
September 15, 2011
Gillibrand Announces $150,000 For The Town Of Campbell To Develop Public Water Supply
Campbell, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) approved a $150,000 federal-state grant for the Town of Campbell to develop the Campbell Water District #3. The installation of a public water supply stretching more than 2.5 miles will be installed to provide quality water to dozens of residences, the Greater Southern Tier BOCES Coopers Education Facility, and possible commercial development sites. Last month, Senator … Continue Reading
September 15, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Buffalo Niagara International Airport Is Set To Receive Over $5 Million In Department Of Transportation Funding For Noise Mitigation For Nearly 300 Homes
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Buffalo Niagara International Airport is set to receive $ 5,221,553 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds for airport facility upgrades. Specifically, the grant will fund noise mitigation design for 149 nearby homes and noise mitigation construction efforts for 150 homes in close proximity to the airport. Schumer and Gillibrand applaud DOT for their work to increase safety at all airports. "This is great … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Schenectady County Residents Set To Receive Critical FEMA Assistance
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded individual assistance to Schenectady County. Schumer and Gillibrand said that this was an important first step in making sure that these counties get the help they needs to recover from Tropical Storm Lee. "I called Administrator Fugate to tell him that FEMA needs to work hand in glove with state and local leaders to make sure Schenectady County residents … Continue Reading
