Gillibrand Statement on Senate Filibuster Reform

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after voting to change the Senate rules to limit the use of a filibuster: "Yesterday we saw a glimpse of how the senate is supposed to work - two bipartisan coalitions fiercely debating a critically important issue to our country on the senate floor, until it crashed into the wall of obstructionism we have seen all too often in this broken Congress. "We have no choice but to reform the overused and … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $1 Million in FEMA Funds for Canal Flood Warning System Designed to Predict & Protect Upstate Communities – Federal Funding to Install New Precipitation Gauges Along Mohawk River, Oswego River and Upper Hudson River Basin in 23 Upstate Counties

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the New York State Canal Flood Warning System has received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding obligation totaling $1 million for the installation of precipitation gauges along the Mohawk River, Oswego River and Upper Hudson River Basin. Precipitation gauges, or rain gauges, measure rainfall in areas at risk of flooding. The Canal Flood Warning System is a NYS program that will combine forecasting, … Continue Reading

Air Force Major General (Ret.) Martha Rainville, Army Brigadier General (Ret.) Loree Sutton, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Service Women's Action Network, Survivor/Protect Our Defenders Advocacy Committee Kate Weber, Sarah Plummer, Survivor & Advocate, Author/Leadership Coach Arrive on Capitol Hill to Continue Push for Independent Military Justice System

Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rand Paul (R-KY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Dean Heller (R-NV) were joined on Capitol Hill today by Air Force Major General (Ret.) and former Vermont National Guard Adjutant General Martha Rainville, who served in the military for twenty-seven years, including fourteen years in command positions, plus Brigadier General (Ret.) Loree Sutton who served as the top … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $35,000 for Robbins Family Grain Company to Purchase Energy Efficient Grain Dryer in Jefferson County

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a federal grant worth $35,282 for the Robbins Family Grain Company, LLC. The funding is allocated through the USDA's Rural Development Rural Energy for America Grant Program and will be used to purchase and install an energy efficient grain dryer. "Smaller farms often have difficulty affording the high-cost of equipment, and that's exactly the problem this loan will help solve," said Senator Schumer. … Continue Reading

Ten Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Infrastructure Financing Authority

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan coalition of ten U.S. Senators introduced legislation today to establish a new infrastructure financing authority to help states and localities better leverage private funds to build and maintain the nation's outdated infrastructure. The Building and Renewing Infrastructure for Development and Growth in Employment Act, or BRIDGE Act, helps to address the nation's alarming investment shortfall in maintaining and improving our transportation network, water and … Continue Reading

After Calling for its Formation, Reps. Israel And Meng, Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand Commend Creation of Airplane Noise Community Roundtable

Washington, D.C.- Today, Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY) and Grace Meng (D-NY) and Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced that their work to form an airplane noise community roundtable has paid off with the announcement by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo that he has directed the Port Authority to form this roundtable and conduct noise studies. The representatives and senators sent a letter in July, signed by a total of 12 Members of Congress, requesting the formation of … Continue Reading

Durbin, Gillibrand Introduce Legislation to Promote Entrepreneurship and Innovation Through ‘Fab Lab’ Network

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation to invest in the next generation of American entrepreneurs and innovators by establishing a national network of fabrication laboratories, known as "fab labs." Fab labs are small, community-based workshops that give members of the public - from students to small businesses - access to educational resources and high-tech equipment that can design, develop, and create new … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $50,000 for New Solar Powered System for Rush-A-Round Acres Dairy Farm in Erie County

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a federal loan worth $50,000 for the Rush-A-Round Acres, LLC. The funding is allocated through the USDA's Rural Development Rural Energy for America Grant Program and will be used to purchase and install a 50 kilowatt solar powered system. "Rural farms often have difficulty accessing efficient sources of power, and that's exactly the problem this grant will help solve," said Senator Schumer. "The solar … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $400,000 for Woodcrest Dairy in St. Lawrence County for Energy Generation Project

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Woodcrest Dairy in St. Lawrence County will receive a $403,627 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This funding will be used to purchase an anaerobic digester, which is expected to generate enough electricity to power their farm and potentially add power back onto the grid. "Rural farms often have difficulty accessing efficient sources of … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $38,000 Grant for Bishop Sheen Housing Foundation in Monroe County – Funding Will Go Towards Critical Housing Repairs Before Winter Sets in

Today, Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Bishop Sheen Ecumenical Housing Foundation will receive a $38,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically from the Housing Preservation Grant program. This funding will be used in all twelve units owned by the Bishop Sheen Housing Foundation to replace roofs, furnaces, and address accessibility issues, like installing handicap ramps. "With winter right around the corner, this funding will make … Continue Reading

With Trade Talks Set for Next Week, Schumer, Gillibrand Push to Expand Access for New York Apples and Pears

Washington, D.C. - As the Obama Administration prepares for trade talks set to begin next week with European authorities, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are pushing the administration to prioritize reducing trade barriers that New York's apple and pear growers face in European markets. U.S. and European trade officials completed the first round of talks in July on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) to boost trading between U.S. and European … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Announce Over $3 Million in Federal Funding for Debris Removal in Brookhaven After Superstorm Sandy

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Tim Bishop today announced over $3 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for the Town of Brookhaven which will reimburse the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "After Superstorm Sandy hit communities in the town of Brookhaven, the roads and right of ways were ridden with debris causing a very dangerous situation for residents," said Schumer. "This federal reimbursement … Continue Reading

Bipartisan Group of Senators Joined by Survivors, Retired General, Advocates Kick Off Final Two-Week Push for Creating an Independent Military Justice System -- Defense Bill Expected On the Floor Before Thanksgiving

Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Susan Collins (R-ME) kicked off their final two week push to create an independent, objective and non-biased military justice system with the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) expected to be debated on the floor before the Thanksgiving recess. The … Continue Reading

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Military Sexual Assault Victims During Article 32 Proceedings

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Max Baucus (D-MT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), and John McCain (R-AZ) today introduced bipartisan legislation to amend Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to help prevent abusive treatment of sexual assault victims in a pre-trial setting. In … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand, Hanna Call on Army Corps to Quickly Approve Mohawk Valley Edge’s New Wetland Permit – With End-User Determined, Permit Approval One of Last Major Hurdles in Moving Chip Fab Forward in Oneida County

WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Richard Hanna called on the Army Corps of Engineers to swiftly review and approve a new wetland permit for the site being developed by Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises (EDGE) to attract the chip fabrication industry to Marcy, N.Y. For several years, EDGE has been actively engaged in the development of site to attract a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Marcy; the … Continue Reading

As Conference Committee Debates Final Farm Bill, Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan Effort to Keep Dairy Pricing Reforms

Washington, D.C.- As the House and Senate Conference Committee negotiate the final 2013 Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins today urged the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee to include their bipartisan measure in the final Farm Bill that would help stabilize milk prices. The bipartisan Gillibrand-Collins proposal, known as the Dairy Pricing Reform Act, would require the USDA to begin a … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Commends President’s Executive Order to Establish Task Force on Storm Resiliency Strategy

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today praised President Obama's Executive Order that establishes an interagency Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience to advise the Administration on how the federal government can help protect our nation's critical infrastructure and respond to the needs of communities that are preparing for the impacts of climate change and strengthening their resilience to future natural disasters. The Task Force members would include federal … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand, Owens Announce $1,469,077 Grant for Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County Head Start

WASHINGTON-Today, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Bill Owens announced the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County (CAPC) will receive a $1,469,077.00 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The grant represents 70 percent of the total $2,098,680 HHS has allocated for CAPC's Head Start program. "Giving children a chance to be prepared for kindergarten and years beyond is the key to a bright academic future," said … Continue Reading

In Floor Speech, Gillibrand Marks One-Year Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy

Washington, DC - On the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand took to the Senate floor today to honor the lives lost and stand in unity with hundreds of thousands of struggling New Yorkers whose lives remain uprooted by the devastation. Senator Gillibrand urged her colleagues to pass a bipartisan bill she co-sponsored today called the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act that would require FEMA to complete an affordability study and provide real … Continue Reading

Menendez, Isakson Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Protect Homeowners from Flood Insurance Rate Spike

WASHINGTON, DC - On the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) today led a bipartisan coalition of members to introduce the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act which will protect millions of homeowners from facing huge flood insurance premium rate hikes and require FEMA to complete an affordability study and propose real solutions to address affordability issues before any flood insurance premiums can be raised in the … Continue Reading