Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge FEMA to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Orange and Putnam Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, urging the immediate approval of New York State's recent request to amend the major disaster declaration to include Orange and Putnam Counties in light of the severe storm damage in the Hudson Valley. In their letter, the Senators highlight the destruction Hurricane Sandy caused in Orange and Putnam Counties, including loss of electricity and significant damage to businesses and homes, both … Continue Reading
November 08, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge FEMA to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Sullivan County
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve New York State's request and declare a federal state of emergency for Sullivan County in light of the severe storm damage in the Hudson Valley. In their letter, the Senators highlight the destruction Hurricane Sandy caused in Sullivan County, including loss of electricity, and significant damage to businesses and homes, all of which clearly warrants the same major declaration as … Continue Reading
November 07, 2012
As NYC Recovers from Hurricane Sandy, Schumer, Gillibrand Urge USDA to Provide Free School Meals to NYC Children
New York, NY - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide free school meals to New York City children as New York City recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The Senators backed New York State Department of Education's request for full reimbursement of city school meals through the end of this year. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack, "We … Continue Reading
November 05, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Emergency Food Assistance Approved For Struggling New Yorkers Reeling From Hurricane Sandy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the USDA has approved New York State's request for emergency food resources. Roughly 1.1 million pounds of household-size USDA food items will be distributed to households through 1,000 designated emergency feeding outlets in the areas of Westchester and Rockland counties, New York City, and Long Island. This distribution will take place from November 4 through November 30. Additionally, the USDA … Continue Reading
November 03, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce FEMA Has Expanded Disaster Declaration To Include All Public Assistance For NYC, Long Island, Westchester & Rockland Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has heeded their call and expanded the President's major disaster declaration to include all categories of Public Assistance for the counties impacted by Superstorm Sandy.. Specifically, the Senators announced that the storm-ravaged counties under the disaster declaration are now eligible for full Public Assistance, Categories C - G, which are as follows: Category C: Roads and … Continue Reading
November 03, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Call For Emergency Food Assistance For Struggling New Yorkers Reeling From Hurricane Sandy
Washington, D.C. - As Hurricane Sandy leaves millions of New Yorkers without shelter or access to food, including those who were already struggling to make ends meet, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on the USDA to implement emergency food resources. Specifically, the Senators are calling for approval for a mass Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reimbursement for recipients in the impacted counties as well as approval to implement a Disaster … Continue Reading
November 02, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $14 Million To Hire Clean-Up Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand today announced a federal grant of $13,896,148 for the New York State Department of Labor to hire approximately 1,400 dislocated workers to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy in Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and Rockland Counties. "This federal funding will deliver a one-two punch in New York's efforts to recover from Hurricane Sandy, by investing in … Continue Reading
November 02, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand: Fallen Trees And Branches Greatly Slowing Power Restoration Efforts – Announce Expert Federal Teams Are On Their Way To New York To Help Clear Roads And Power Transmission Lines
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided the Army Corps of Engineers with $10 million to provide expert teams to help clear major debris standing in the way of restoring power in New York. Hurricane Sandy caused downed trees and broken limbs throughout busy roadways and these debris have created an obstacle for utility workers working to restore power to devastated areas. With this funding, … Continue Reading
November 02, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce FEMA Has Approved Major Disaster Declaration For Westchester & Rockland Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate has heeded their call and amended the President's major disaster declaration for New York to include Westchester and Rockland Counties in light of the severe flooding and wind damage in the Hudson Valley following Sandy. Specifically, residents will be eligible for Individual Assistance and the counties will be eligible for Public Assistance categories A & B, which includes … Continue Reading
November 01, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand, Hochul Highlight Important Work of NFARS National Guard Members During Sandy Response; Urge DOD to Consider Lifesaving Efforts in Future Base Decisions
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative Kathy Hochul urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to closely examine the importance of the National Guard 107th Airlift wing, based at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS), to both Western New York, the state, and the entire Northeast. They emphasized in their letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that the 107th Airlift Wing, which has served as a proven resource in the Western New York … Continue Reading
November 01, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge FEMA to Approve Major Disaster Declaration for Westchester & Rockland Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve New York State's anticipated request and declare a federal state of emergency for Westchester and Rockland Counties in light of the severe flooding in the Hudson Valley following Sandy. In their letter, the Senators pointed out that neighboring counties in New York City and Long Island have already received a major disaster declaration, and that the devastation in Westchester and … Continue Reading
November 01, 2012
Schumer and Gillibrand Announce FEMA will Fully Reimburse New York State and City for Cost of Emergency Public Transportation and Restoring Power
This morning Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, at the request of President Barack Obama, has agreed to reimburse New York City and State for the full cost of emergency public transportation and restoring power to the region for the time period between October 30th and November 9th. These costs include things like repairing substations, power plants and power lines, and providing extra buses and overtime for the drivers. … Continue Reading
October 26, 2012
Gillibrand Statement on UN Investigator’s Call for Boycott of Companies in Israel Settlements
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement after UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk issued a report calling for a boycott of companies tied to Israel's settlements in the Palestinian territories: "It is shameful that the UN Human Rights Council continued its anti-Israel rhetoric yesterday by calling for a boycott of private U.S. and international companies. It is not only divisive, but irresponsible. The report by Richard Falk, the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2012
Standing with Hudson Valley Women Entrepreneurs, Gillibrand Calls for Federal Investment for Women’s Enterprise Development Center Satellite Office
New Windsor, NY - Standing with Hudson Valley women entrepreneurs at OXYVITA, Inc., U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called for targeted federal investment into the Women's Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) through the Economic Development Administration. The federal investment that Senator Gillibrand is working to secure would be used to create a WEDC satellite center at Marist College that would aid minority and women-owned businesses by promoting economic self-sufficiency through … Continue Reading
October 24, 2012
Standing at Syracuse Center of Excellence, Gillibrand Announces Bill to Spur the Growth of New Science and Technology Jobs in Central New York
Syracuse, NY - After touring the Syracuse Center for Excellence, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Executive Director of Syracuse Center of Excellence Edward Bogucz, President of Ephesus Technologies Joe Casper, and Assemblyman William Magnarelli, today announced legislation to spur the growth of new science and technology jobs in Central New York and across the country. The America Innovates Act would help scientists and researchers secure valuable resources and training to turn new … Continue Reading
October 24, 2012
Standing at UB Clinical and Translational Research Center, Gillibrand Announces Bill to Spur the Growth of New Science and Technology Jobs in Western New York
Buffalo, NY - After touring the University at Buffalo's Clinical and Translational Research Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by University at Buffalo President Satish Tripathi, Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes and Clinical and Translational Research Center Director Tim Murphy, today announced legislation to spur the growth of new science and technology jobs in Western New York and across the country. The America Innovates Act would help scientists and researchers secure … Continue Reading
October 24, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Dozens of Counties in Upstate NY Eligible for Disaster Funding After this Year’s Drought-Damaged Crops Across the State
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 29 counties in Upstate New York as "primary natural disaster areas" and 21 "contiguous counties" that will be eligible for critical Farm Service Agency (FSA) loan assistance after the drought that decimated crops throughout the state starting in June. As damage assessments were completed throughout the state after the May freeze, Schumer and Gillibrand worked … Continue Reading
October 22, 2012
Gillibrand, Meng Tour Innovative Queens Senior Center, Urge Feds to Reauthorize Bill to Provide Critical Care, Technology Training, and Social Services to Seniors
Queens, NY - After touring Selfhelp's Benjamin Rosenthal Prince Street Innovative Senior Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Special Committee on Aging, and Assemblywoman Grace Meng today urged Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, major legislation which provides critical in-home care, nutrition, technology training, housing, transportation and social services programs for seniors. In Queens, there are approximately 402,000 seniors and an estimated … Continue Reading
October 22, 2012
Gillibrand, Savino Visit Staten Island Seniors, Urge Feds to Reauthorize Bill to Provide Critical Care and Services to Seniors
Staten Island, NY - Standing at New Lane Senior Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Special Committee on Aging, and State Senator Diane Savino today urged Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act, major legislation which provides critical in-home care, nutrition, housing, transportation and social services programs for seniors. In Staten Island, there are approximately 87,000 seniors and an estimated 30,000 people who will reach the age of 60 over the next … Continue Reading
October 17, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand: More Than $635k Coming to Upstate New York Communities for New Bulletproof Vests
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced today that they have secured $635,012.90 for law enforcement entities across Upstate New York from the U.S Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest Partnership, a program Schumer co-sponsored that splits the cost of new body armor with localities. This will provide enough funding for 2,811 vests. "The bottom line is that bullet proof vests save cops' lives and it is worth every penny of federal help to make sure cops on … Continue Reading
