Schumer, Gillibrand Announce USDA Expands Disaster Declaration To Help More Upstate Farms Damaged By Deep Winter Freeze

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an agriculture disaster declaration for more upstate counties where grape farms and vineyards were damaged by a long winter of sub-zero temperatures. The secretarial disaster declaration now includes Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca and Wyoming Counties as part of the primary disaster declaration, giving farms in these counties additional time to … Continue Reading

On Equal Pay Day, Gillibrand Fights To Ensure Women Workers Have A Fair Shot At Earning Their Financial Security

Washington, DC - On Equal Pay Day, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand continues her fight to ensure more working women have a fair shot at earning financial security by closing the pay gap and raising the minimum wage. Equal Pay Day marks the additional time women must work into 2014 - for a total of more than 15 months - to match what their male counterparts made in 2013 in just 12 months. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on both pieces of legislation within the next month. With more dual … Continue Reading

After Taking On Sexual Assault In The Military, Gillibrand Joined By NYC Student Survivors Launches New Effort Fighting Sexual Assaults On College Campuses

New York, NY - Just weeks after her year long fight to reform how the U.S. military justice system handles sexual assault cases came to the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was joined by New York City students and college sexual assault survivors in launching a new effort to combat the disturbing prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses. Studies show nearly one in five women in college nationwide will be victims of attempted or actual sexual assault in the course of their … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Mccaskill Lead Bipartisan Letter For New Resources To Fight Sexual Assaults On College Campuses

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today released a bipartisan letter signed by 10 of their colleagues to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, & Education leaders calling for new federal funding to investigate and enforce sexual assault laws at colleges and universities. "When our young people go on to higher education, it should be an opportunity to learn, grow, pursue their dreams and prepare for … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Bill To Revitalize Industrial Sites Clears Senate Committee

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored to clean up and rebuild on industrial brownfield sites passed through the committee. The Brownfields Utilization, Investment and Local Development (BUILD) Act would jumpstart development efforts and provide additional resources for sites in need of redevelopment. The measure would allow local municipalities and non-profit … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Bishop Urge Usda To Designate Long Island Sound Watershed A Critical Conservation Area – Move Would Provide More Federal Funding To Protect Water Quality, Help Long Island Farmers

Long Island, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Congressman Tim Bishop today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to designate the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay watershed as a critical conservation area. Such a designation would open additional federal investment to help protect and improve the quality of our drinking water and estuaries by assisting the agricultural community in adopting more water-friendly practices. … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Appointed To West Point Board Of Visitors, Attends First Meeting Today

West Point, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today she has been appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point Board of Visitors by Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Gillibrand is attending the board's first meeting of the year today at West Point. Topics on the agenda to be discussed include cadet barracks, Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program (SHARP), Cadets Against Sexual Harassment and Assault (CASH/A), … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Hails Citizens Campaign For The Environment’s Maureen Dolan Murphy As Environmental Champion

Long Island, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, congratulated Maureen Dolan Murphy, Executive Programs Manager of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) for winning the 2014 Environmental Quality Award. The Farmingdale-based organization - which Senator Gillibrand nominated this past February - will receive the Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious honor for their commitment and significant contributions to … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Innovative Education Agenda To Boost Stem Proficiency For Southern Tier Students

Horseheads, NY - Standing at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Greater Southern Tier BOCES Board Chairman Don Keddell and Horseheads Superintendent Ralph Marino, announced today her innovative education agenda to encourage more youths, especially women, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), bolster engineering education programs across New York's elementary, middle, and high schools and encourage the development of … Continue Reading

At Gillibrand Urging, Department Of Labor Will Provide Trade Adjustment Assistance For Laid-Off Alcoa Workers

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has approved a much-needed Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) certification for laid off workers at Alcoa in Massena. Former employees can now apply for critical TAA benefits. Earlier this month, Senator Gillibrand wrote U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez urging him to support Alcoa employees' petition for TAA, citing that this will impact a significant number of workers. "This support is … Continue Reading

At Gillibrand’s Urging, Usda Issues Disaster Declaration To Help Upstate Farms Damaged By Deep Winter Freeze

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued an agriculture disaster declaration that will help send relief to upstate grape farms and vineyards in the Finger Lakes, Western, Central and Northern New York that were damaged by a long winter of sub-zero temperatures. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack earlier this month, Senator Gillibrand requested the disaster declaration to expedite federal … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Presses Epa, Coast Guard For New Oil Spill Contingency Plan To Protect New Yorkers

Washington, D.C. - With the rise of transporting crude oil through New York State and a series of derailments and spills that potentially put New York communities at risk, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard to quickly update contingency plans for oil spills in the New York and New Jersey region. The safety plans are due for an update this year and with concerns rising over the danger of crude oil transported … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Schumer, Bipartisan Group Of Congressional Members Urge Secretary Of Defense To Expedite Clean-Up Efforts At Islands Of Vieques And Culebra In Puerto Rico

Washington, DC-U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Charles Schumer and Congressman Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico's Resident Commissioner, led a bipartisan group of Senators and House Members urging U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the cleanup of the islands of Vieques and Culebra, which were used as military training ranges for many years. The cleanup of Vieques is being conducted by the Navy, while … Continue Reading

In Seneca Falls During Women's History Month, Gillibrand Outlines Plan To Update The Rules Of The Modern Workplace, Ensure Women Workers Have A Fair Shot At Earning Their Financial Security, Strengthen Middle Class Families

Standing at the First Presbyterian Church in Seneca Falls, where Alice Paul, a suffragist leader, argued the right to vote alone would not end discrimination based upon sex and first drafted the Equal Rights Amendment, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand outlined her five-point package aimed at ensuring more working women have a fair shot at earning financial security by modernizing America's outdated workplace policies that have failed to keep pace with the demands on the new workforce driving … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $1.3 Million For Binghamton Fire Department

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,340,168 in federal funding for the Binghamton Fire Department to hire firefighters. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. "These much-needed federal funds will provide the assistance the City of Binghamton needs to maintain and expand its fire department. First responders are our … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Works To Secure Funding For Owego Stream Gauge

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to restore funding for the Owego Creek stream gauge that provides a key warning system to local families and businesses that endure yearly threats to dangerous flooding. "After back-to-back years of storms that swept away roads, bridges, businesses and entire communities, we know stream gauges are a key tool to staying ahead of the storm, and keeping our families safe," Senator Gillibrand … Continue Reading

As USPS Moves Ahead With The Sale of the Historic Bronx Post Office, Gillibrand Urges USPS To Meet With The Bronx Community Before Choosing A Winning Bid

Bronx, NY - As the United States Postal Service (USPS) moves ahead with the second phase of the sale of the historic Bronx post office, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged USPS to meet with the Bronx community and hear their concerns before deciding on a winning bid. With the review process underway of at least eleven submitted plans, Senator Gillibrand pressed the agency to choose proposals that would transform the City landmark into a space that would benefit the community and grow the … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement On White House Meeting On Women's Economic Opportunity

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement Wednesday after meeting with President Obama, White House officials and Congressional colleagues to discuss new steps to help women and families succeed in the economy. The meeting follows a previous bipartisan women of the Senate dinner hosted by President Obama at the White House where Gillibrand pressed the President for his support for her American Opportunity Agenda. "Today's discussion with President … Continue Reading

With New York Ranked Second Least-Affordable For Full-Time Infant Day Care, Gillibrand Announces Legislation Expanding Tax Breaks Aimed At Easing Burden Of Child Care Costs For Working Families

Washington DC - With the rising cost of child care across New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today unveiled her plan to make child care more affordable and accessible for working parents. In 2012, New York was ranked the second least-affordable in the nation for full-time day care for an infant, according to a report by Child Care Aware. A two-parent family in New York spent an average of 16.5 percent of their annual income on care for their infant. For a single mother in New York, the … Continue Reading

At Gillibrand’s Urging, Feds Approve Effort To Boost Ontario County’s Exports

Geneva, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of President Obama's Export Council, today announced the U.S. Commerce Department approved Ontario County's application for its Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program, which would encourage more companies with import and export operations across the region to take advantage of associated tax breaks and incentives. Senator Gillibrand called on the Commerce Department to make this FTZ designation for Ontario County and the surrounding area after … Continue Reading