Press Releases
Gillibrand Applauds Dot Important First Step to Address Oil Shipments, Calls on Administration to Finalize Permanent Rules
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today praised U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx's announcement of a new safety alert that energy companies and oil shippers should no longer use DOT-111 rail cars, and that those companies will be required to make public the routes that Bakken crude is being shipped on, and alert first responders along those routes. While this is a welcome and important first step, Senator Gillibrand also cautioned that we cannot … Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
Gillibrand Joins All Twenty Bipartisan Senate Women Condemning Abduction and Mistreatment of Girls in Nigeria by Boko Haram
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today joined all twenty Senate women in sending a bipartisan letter led by U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to President Obama condemning the abduction and mistreatment of more than 200 girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram in Chibok, Nigeria and calling for additional international sanctions against the organization. This comes after the U.S. Senate today unanimously passed a resolution condemning the group's … Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Secure $465,000 Grant For Wellsville to Build New Water Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $465,000 grant for the Town of Wellsville from the U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) Economic Development Assistance Programs. This federal funding will be used to update and expand the town's water infrastructure. In September, Senator Gillibrand sent a letter to the regional director of the EDA requesting funding for Wellsville. "Access to water is critical to economic growth, public … Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey & Maloney Announce Nearly $3.8 Million in Federal Funds to Elevate Flood-Prone Roads in Orange and Rockland Counties
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Representatives Nita Lowey and Sean Patrick Maloney today announced nearly $3.8 million in federal funds to elevate four locations along interstate 87 in the towns of Tuxedo and Ramapo in Orange and Rockland Counties to minimize the risk of future flooding. Project sites are between mile posts 39.77 and 39.53, between mile posts 37.92 and 37.76, between mile posts 32.2 and 32.1, and between mile posts 30.68 and 31.1. This grant, … Continue Reading
May 06, 2014
Senator Gillibrand Joins with Colleagues to Introduce Legislation Giving Students a Fair Shot At an Affordable Education
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today joined 15 of her colleagues in co-sponsoring Senator Elizabeth Warren's Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, which includes Gillibrand's proposal to allow those with outstanding federal student loan debt to refinance at lower interest rates. Many borrowers with outstanding student loans have interest rates of nearly 7 percent or higher for undergraduate loans, while students taking out new undergraduate loans pay a rate of … Continue Reading
May 05, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand, Nadler, Jeffries Announce Army Corps Project to Protect Coney Island Shoreline Clears Important Hurdle
Brooklyn, NY - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congress members Jerrold Nadler and Hakeem Jeffries today announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a Project Partnership Agreement to move forward with critical repairs and emergency beach restoration for the Coney Island shoreline. This is a longstanding U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' project to construct a series of T-Groin rock jetties to protect the peninsula and prevent further erosion that dates … Continue Reading
May 05, 2014
Gillibrand, Mangano Announce Plan to Improve Pedestrian Safety on Long Island Roadways, Reduce Fatalities and Injuries
East Meadow, NY - Standing at Eisenhower Park near Hempstead Turnpike, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, joined by Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, "Safe Kids" Nassau Coordinator Catherine Blotiau, and Vision Long Island Director Eric Alexander today announced a plan to improve pedestrian safety on Long Island roadways at a time when 80 fatalities and nearly 1,600 injuries involving pedestrians occurred on Long Island's main thoroughfares. In an … Continue Reading
May 05, 2014
Gillibrand, Hein Announce Plan to Improve Pedestrian Safety on Hudson Valley Roadways, Reduce Fatalities and Injuries
Saugerties, NY - Standing at L.M Cahill Elementary School on Main Street, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, joined by Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra and Cahill Elementary School students, today announced her plan to improve pedestrian safety on Hudson Valley roadways at a time when 23 fatalities and nearly 990 injuries involving pedestrians occurred on Hudson Valley thoroughfares. In an effort to reduce the number of pedestrian injuries and … Continue Reading
May 02, 2014
Gillibrand Urges Feds to Bring “Made In Rural America” Export Forum to Upstate New York
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the President's Export Council, today called on the Administration to host a "Made in Rural America" export forum in New York. New York State is one of the nation's top exporters, ranking third in total exports among all states. In 2013 alone, New York produced an estimated $84 billion in overseas business. "Made in Rural America" initiative would help strengthen rural exports by assisting … Continue Reading
May 01, 2014
Gillibrand Statement on New DOD Military Sexual Assault Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, released the following statement today after the Defense Department released a new report on military sexual assault. Today's report does not include a prevalence survey to determine the total number of estimated cases of unwanted sexual contact in FY2013, the prevalence survey conducted in FY2012 showed an estimated 26,000 cases of unwanted sexual contact. Earlier this week, … Continue Reading
May 01, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $13,000 for Belmont Fire Department in Allegany County
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $13,509 in federal funding for the Belmont Fire Department to replace aging hoses in their inventory. The money was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). "These much-needed federal funds will provide the assistance the Village of Belmont needs to replace their supply of hoses. First responders are our primary line of defense - they … Continue Reading
April 30, 2014
Gillibrand Statement on Senate Vote to Raise Minimum Wage
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement Wednesday after a Senate vote to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour fell six votes short of breaking a filibuster: "It is simply unacceptable that a single parent working a full 40 hours a week to support a family still has to live in poverty. America is a place where hard work is supposed to be rewarded, where anyone can earn their way ahead in our economy. But today, Senate obstruction denied an … Continue Reading
April 29, 2014
Gillibrand Statement on White House Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault Action Items
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement today after the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault announced initial steps to take to combat sexual assaults on college campuses, including an annual survey of campus assaults that Senator Gillibrand led a bipartisan group in calling for last week: "The price of a college education should never include a one in five chance of being sexually assaulted. I am pleased the Task Force … Continue Reading
April 28, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce, After Their Push, FEMA’s ‘Proof Of Loss’ Deadline Extended Six More Months; Will Help Ensure Sandy Victims Have Time to File Flood Insurance Claims
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that, after their push, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will grant an extension to Sandy victims who still need to file flood insurance claims. Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Sandy-impacted homeowners must file a "proof of loss" form, a statement on the amount that the homeowner is claiming under his or her flood insurance policy. Initially, the deadline was October 29th, 2013 in … Continue Reading
April 25, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $1.9 Million in Federal Support for Water Line Extension in Throop Bringing Clean Water to Town
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced an $855,000 grant and $1,100,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Throop in Cayuga Country. This federal funding will be used to create a water system that provides access to clean drinking water for Throop residents who currently extract their water from wells with poor water quality and/or purchase bottled water for consumption. No water lines currently exist in Throop's Water District #1, hampering … Continue Reading
April 25, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $981,000 USDA Grant for Wastewater Disposal Project in Hastings – Grant Will Improve Environment and Could Relieve Pressure on Local Budget
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced a $981,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Hastings in Oswego County. This federal funding will be used to improve the town's sewage system, which includes many on-site disposal systems that could potentially harm nearby groundwater. The USDA grant will help Hastings avoid wastewater failure and protect the local environment. "Access to an effective waste-water system is critical to … Continue Reading
April 25, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $5 Million to Build New Water Systems in Finger Lakes Region
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,515,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for Marion in Wayne County, along with $3,740,000 in USDA funding for Richmond in Ontario County. This federal funding will be used to build water systems that provide access to clean drinking water for local residents in both communities who today rely on low-quantity, poor-quality wells as a source for drinking water. "Access to clean … Continue Reading
April 25, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $1.8 Million in Federal Funding for Debris Removal in Town Of Brookhaven After Superstorm Sandy
New York, NY - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Town of Brookhaven, the largest town in Suffolk, will be receiving $1,831,687 in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for town-wide removal of debris that resulted from Superstorm Sandy. "After Superstorm Sandy hit, roads throughout the town of Brookhaven were covered with debris, causing a very dangerous situation for drivers and residents," said Schumer. "This FEMA aid will … Continue Reading
April 24, 2014
Schumer, Gillibrand, Higgins Urge Secretary of Interior to Approve HH Richardson Complex Preservation Certification; Say Approval Will Make Project Eligible for $21m in Historic Tax Credits
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand, and Congressman Brian Higgins urged the Secretary of the federal Department of Interior to approve the Richardson Center Corporation's application for Historic Preservation Certification. The corporation spent over $10M on Phase I and II stabilization projects for the 140-year old HH Richardson Complex and is now ready to move forward with a project to bring a hotel, event and conference space, and a Buffalo Architecture Center … Continue Reading
April 24, 2014
Gillibrand Joins Davidson Brothers Brewing, Calling on FDA to Ensure New Spent Grain Rules Don’t Hurt New York Breweries and Distilleries
Washington, D.C. - Just a week after hearing from Davidson Brothers Brewing at an economic development roundtable in Queensbury, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure that the new rule being considered on spent grains don't hurt local breweries, distilleries, and farmers. In her letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, Senator Gillibrand called for a risk assessment of the reuse of spent grains - byproducts of the brewing process - as … Continue Reading
