Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand, McCarthy Announce Bill Passes Senate that Renames East Rockaway Post Office After Dedicated Postal Worker John J. Cook
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy today announced that a bill has passed in the Senate to rename an East Rockaway Post Office after John J. Cook, a dedicated and beloved postal worker. The bill renames an East Rockaway post office for Cook, a World War II veteran who worked at the post office located at 10 Main Street in East Rockaway, NY, as one of the longest serving mailmen in United States Post Office history. John J. Cook retired … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
Gillibrand, Bipartisan Senate Women Call on Boehner to Pass Senate’s Violence Against Women Act
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan coalition of 13 Women Senators called on House Speaker John Boehner to pass the bipartisan, Senate-passed version of the Violence Against Women Act. In their letter, the Senators noted that the Senate reauthorization honors the bipartisan history of the bill by strengthening protections for all victims of domestic violence. The House version of the bill, which is scheduled to be voted on today, excludes many of the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
With One of Two New York Terrorism Emergency Task Forces At-Risk of Being Cut from Defense Budget, Gillibrand Introduces Amendment to Preserve New York’s National Guard WMD Civil Support Teams
Washington, DC - With a New York City terrorism emergency task force at-risk of being eliminated in the Pentagon's upcoming budget, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill today as debate is set to begin on the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would authorize and preserve New York's two National Guard teams. Currently, New York has one unit that helps authorities fight terror in the Big Apple and another unit … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
With One of Two New York Terrorism Emergency Task Forces At-Risk of Being Cut from Defense Budget, Gillibrand Introduces Amendment to Preserve New York’s National Guard WMD Civil Support Teams
Washington, DC - With one of two New York terrorism emergency task forces at-risk of being eliminated in the Pentagon's upcoming budget, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bill today as debate is set to begin on the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would authorize and preserve New York's two National Guard teams. Currently, New York has one unit near Schenectady that helps authorities fight terror and another unit … Continue Reading
May 15, 2012
New Gillibrand Legislation Pushes Defense Department to Combat Hazing, Promote Diversity Among Senior Military Ranks
Washington, DC - With the Senate Armed Services Committee set to debate the military budget bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, today called on the Department of Defense to create a database in order to track and respond to hazing incidents in the military. The Defense Department currently does not have a database in place to monitor hazing incidents across all services, making it difficult to determine how widespread the problem of hazing poses in … Continue Reading
May 15, 2012
New Report: Doubling of Student Loan Interest Rates Will Cost New Yorkers Nearly $420 Million if Congress Doesn't Act by July 1st
Washington, D.C. - According to a new report by the Public Policy and Education Fund of New York, USAction Education Fund, and Campus Progress released on Tuesday, New York students would save almost $420 million if Congress takes action to maintain the current Stafford student loan interest rate of 3.4 percent. Details of the report, How New York Will Be Affected if Stafford Loan Interest Rates Double, were announced by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and members of Citizen Action of New … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Standing with Student Veterans at D’youville College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Buffalo, NY -Standing with student veterans at D'Youvulle College, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans and streamline certification processes for civilian jobs. Last year, Senator Gillibrand hosted a roundtable with local business and veterans leaders to discuss innovative ways to address veterans' unemployment in Western New York. As a result, … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
At Schumer, Gillibrand & Owens’s Urging, Feds Back Plan to Reopen Tahawus Rail Line Between North Creek & Newcomb – Lawmakers Announce that Feds Have Granted Status that Will Resume Rail Service & Provide Huge Boost to Local Economy
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Bill Owens announced that the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) has heeded their call and approved Iowa Pacific Holdings' request for common carrier status, which will allow them to reopen the Tahawus Line between North Creek and Newcomb, and resume hauling freight to and from businesses along that line. Iowa Pacific Holdings has been seeking this rail status for several months, and after the Department … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Standing With Student Veterans at Nazareth College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Rochester, NY -Standing with student veterans at Nazareth College, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans and streamline certification processes for civilian jobs. Last year, Senator Gillibrand hosted a roundtable with local business and veterans leaders to discuss innovative ways to address veterans' unemployment in the Rochester/Finger Lakes … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Gillibrand, Schumer: Veterans Returning to CNY from Iraq & Afghanistan Deserve Support Finding Jobs – Senators Launch Proposal to Help CNY Vets Access the Education, Job Training & Skills they Need to Find a Job
Syracuse, NY -Standing with student veterans at Syracuse University, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Charles E. Schumer today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans throughout Central New York and streamline certification processes for civilian jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that in 2011, more than 12 percent of veterans who have served post 9/11 were unemployed, and … Continue Reading
May 11, 2012
Standing With Student Veterans at Mohawk Valley Community College, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Rome, NY -Standing with student veterans at Mohawk Valley Community College, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans, and streamline certification processes for civilian jobs. Last year, Senator Gillibrand hosted a roundtable with local business and veterans leaders to discuss innovative ways to address veterans' unemployment in the Mohawk Valley. As … Continue Reading
May 11, 2012
Standing with Student Veterans at SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus, Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Newburgh, NY -Standing with student veterans at SUNY Orange Newburgh Campus, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans and streamline certification processes for civilian jobs. Last year, Senator Gillibrand hosted roundtables with local business and veterans leaders to discuss innovative ways to address veterans' unemployment across New York. As a … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012
Gillibrand Statement on President Obama’s Support for Marriage Equality
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, one of the Senate's leading voices for marriage equality, issued the following statement today after President Obama announced his support for same sex marriage: "Throughout the 2008 campaign President Obama called on all of us to bend the moral arc of history towards justice. As President, he has backed up those words for LGBT Americans through his leadership in repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and by instructing his Justice Department to … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012
Gillibrand Takes to Senate Floor in Fight to Protect Low-Interest Student Loans, Make College More Affordable
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand spoke on the Senate floor today to urge all her colleagues to work together to find a solution to prevent interest rates on Stafford Loans from doubling on July 1, which would force more than 420,000 young New Yorkers to pay an additional $340 million in interest on student loans. WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE Senator Gillibrand's remarks: I rise today to join my colleagues in calling for a real solution to the impending student debt crisis. … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Nearly $270,000 for New York State to Increase Access to Farmers Markets for Families on Nutrition Assistance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, today announced New York State is set to receive $269,446 in federal funding from the USDA to help expand the availability of wireless technology at farmers' markets that are not currently participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The funding provides SNAP participants greater access to fresh and healthy food, while supporting New York … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012
Gillibrand Pushes Feds to Update Years-Old Study on Summer Flounder Population
Washington, DC -U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today urged the U.S. Commerce Secretary to immediately update the years-old national study assessing the population of summer flounder, which could impact quotas for Long Island fishermen. With summer flounder season beginning, Senator Gillibrand pointed out that a new assessment is overdue and must include new scientific data to accurately determine the fish population and summer flounder quotas. Senator Gillibrand wrote in a letter to … Continue Reading
May 08, 2012
Gillibrand Statement on Senate Vote to Protect Low-Interest Student Loans
Washington, D.C. - As President Obama travels to the Capital Region today to urge Congress to take action to protect low-interest student loans and other initiatives for a strong economy and thriving middle class, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who was unable to join President Obama due to this important vote, issued the following statement: "A strong economy starts with the opportunity for all to achieve their full potential. Higher education should be the ticket to get there - not to … Continue Reading
May 08, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $2.5 Million Federal Investment in UB Emergency Medicine Department – New Health System Will be Designed to Reduce ER Visits and Cost of Care
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $2,570,749 in federal funding is headed to the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University at Buffalo to implement a new patient care system in emergency rooms, designed to lower the cost of health care. UB has won one of 26 national Health Care Innovation Awards, designed to provide funding to implement new patient care systems that will result in health care cost savings. Under the UB plan, community health … Continue Reading
May 07, 2012
While Military Proposes Plan to Offset Budget Cuts, Gillibrand Calls for Upgrades to C-17 Fleet that Would Strengthen Stewart Air National Guard Base for Long Term
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today urged the Air Force to deliver C-17s equipped with extended range (ER) fuel tanks to Stewart Air National Guard Base. In her letter to Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Senator Gillibrand asked that they review and expedite the Air Force's scheduled upgrades that would allow the 105th Airlift Wing's fleet to fully participate in defense and homeland security mission sets. Senator … Continue Reading
May 07, 2012
Gillibrand Announces $20,000 for Mohawk Valley Economic Development District
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, today announced a $20,000 federal grant for the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District to purchase new equipment that will help the Jones Family Farm expand their operations in Herkimer. Federal funding was allocated through the USDA's Rural Economic Business Enterprise Grant program (RBEG), which provides grants for rural projects that finance and facilitate … Continue Reading
