Press Releases
Gillibrand Praises Obama Administration’s Decision to No Longer Defend DOMA in Court
Washington D.C. - After U.S. Attorney General Holder's announcement today that the Department of Justice, at the instruction of President Obama, will no longer defend Section 3 of Defense of Marriage Act lawsuits in court, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a leading voice in the Senate to repeal DOMA, released the following statement: "Sexual orientation discrimination has no place in American law. I commend the Obama administration for upholding this American value today by concluding this … Continue Reading
February 22, 2011
22% Of Young Vets Out Of Work – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Long Island Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Farmingdale, NY - With 22 percent of young veterans out of work, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with Long Island veterans and business leaders at Farmingdale State College to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and establish better methods to prepare troops that are … Continue Reading
February 22, 2011
More Than 300 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Westchester And Rockland Counties – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Dobbs Ferry, NY - With more than 300 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in Westchester and Rockland Counties, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at Mercy College to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and establish … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
Gillibrand Statement On U.S. Veto Of U.N. Resolution On Israel
Washington, DC - After the U.S. vetoed an anti-Israeli resolution at the U.N. Security Council today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement: Today, when a resolution that could have damaged the fragile Middle East peace process was offered at the United Nations Security Council, the United States did the right thing and stood up for a consistent and principled position. Issues involved in the peace process can only be resolved by the two parties negotiating … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
More Than 800 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Capital Region – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Albany, NY - With more than 800 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in the Capital Region, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders in Albany to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and establish better methods to prepare troops … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
23 Year-Old Haitian Amputee Begins Life-Saving Recovery After Gillibrand, Engel Help Extend His U.S. Stay
Rockland, NY - A 23 year-old Haitian engineer, who was trapped under a collapsed school in Haiti and underwent an amputation of his left leg, faced the threat of ending his medical recovery in the U.S. and returning to Haiti after his humanitarian parole was set to expire this week. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) announced today they have secured a one-year extension allowing Ralph-Marie Gedeon to continue … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
Gillibrand Statement On House Passage Of Pence Amendment
Washington, DC - After the House voted today to pass Representative Mike Pence's (R-IN) amendment slashing critical funding for women's health services, including cancer screenings and standard contraception through Title X, U.S. Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement: "When we should all be focused on creating jobs and growing our economy, House Republicans are mounting an egregious, ideological effort to please their base and threaten the lives of women and girls. … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
More Than 300 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Mohawk Valley – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Johnstown, NY - With approximately 325 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in the Mohawk Valley, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at Fulton-Montgomery Community College to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
Gillibrand Meets With Schoharie County Farmers, Continues Listening Tour To Discuss 2012 Farm Bill
Cobleskill, NY - As Congress begins debate over the next Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, today met with Schoharie County farmers to continue her statewide listening sessions to discuss new efforts to help New York farmers and farming communities. Senator Gillibrand plans to focus on key areas of the Farm Bill that will have major influence on New York, including access to financing, new market … Continue Reading
February 16, 2011
Gillibrand Urges Transportation Secretary Lahood to Redirect $2.4 Billion in High-Speed Rail Funding Rejected by Florida to New York
Washington, D.C.-With today's decision by Florida Governor Rick Scott to turn away federal funding for the development of high-speed passenger rail, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand immediately wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urging him to redirect the $2.4 billion in funding towards high-speed rail projects for New York's Empire and Northeast Corridors. Advancing high-speed rail for New York, which has one of the nation's most heavily utilized rail corridors, would create … Continue Reading
February 16, 2011
Senators Gillibrand and Kirk, Representatives Deutch and Burton Introduce New Bipartisan Iran Sanctions Legislation
Washington, D.C. - As American businesses continue to invest in Iran's energy sector, funding Iran's illicit quest for nuclear weapons, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Dan Burton (R-IN) today introduced the Iran Transparency and Accountability Act. The bipartisan legislation would require companies to disclose any sanctionable investments in Iran in their quarterly and annual reports to the Securities and Exchange … Continue Reading
February 15, 2011
Gillibrand Resolution Celebrating Black History Month Passes U.S. Senate
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced today that a resolution she introduced with more than 30 of her colleagues commemorating Black History Month has unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. The resolution pays tribute to the legacy and contributions of African American pioneers who have fought in the face of hardship and oppression for freedom, equality and opportunity for all Americans. Senator Gillibrand said, "We cannot move forward on the path to freedom, justice … Continue Reading
February 15, 2011
Gillibrand Introduces Her First Bill Of The New Congress – Legislation To Provide Property Tax Relief To 1.1 Million NY Homeowners
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the first piece of legislation she is introducing in the 112th Congress is a bill to provide property tax relief for more than 1 million New York homeowners. Senator Gillibrand's legislation would enable all New Yorkers that pay property taxes to deduct the full amount of money they pay from their federal income taxes. Currently, only homeowners that itemize their federal taxes can deduct the cost of property taxes. … Continue Reading
February 14, 2011
Gillibrand On Budget: Time To Get Serious About Cutting Wasteful Spending, But Still Protect Small Businesses, Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement today on the 2012 federal budget: "We need to come together - Democrats and Republicans - to take a hard look at ways we can cut spending and lower the deficit. Current spending is not sustainable and we need to cut the waste, fraud and abuse. But the cuts must be responsible and preserve security funding and critical investments in small businesses and economic development. "House Republicans' plan is … Continue Reading
February 13, 2011
Gillibrand Announces Her First Bill Of The New Congress – Legislation To Provide Property Tax Relief To Nearly 300,000 NYC Homeowners
New York, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by a Staten Island family struggling with high property taxes and the financial difficulties of raising a child with special needs, today announced that the first piece of legislation she is introducing in the 112th Congress is a bill to provide property tax relief for 1.1 million New York homeowners, including nearly 300,000 in New York City. Senator Gillibrand's legislation would enable all New Yorkers that pay property taxes to deduct … Continue Reading
February 11, 2011
Nearly 700 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Rochester/Finger Lakes – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Rochester, NY - With nearly 700 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in the Rochester / Finger Lakes Region, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at Klein Steel Service in Rochester to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and … Continue Reading
February 11, 2011
More Than 1,000 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Western NY – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Buffalo, NY - With more than 1,000 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in Western New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, … Continue Reading
February 11, 2011
With U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Unable To Attend Jones Beach Memorial Weekend Air Show, Gillibrand Asks Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps To Send Additional Aerial Demonstration Teams
Washington, D.C. - With the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds unable to attend this year's Memorial Day weekend air show at Jones Beach, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to send additional demonstration teams to ensure the event remains top-notch. The Jones Beach Memorial Day weekend event, known as the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show, attracts upwards of 400,000 people each year and features some of America's Armed Force's most talented … Continue Reading
February 11, 2011
More Than 900 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Central NY – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions
Syracuse, NY - With more than 900 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in Central New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at the South Side Innovation Center in Syracuse to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and … Continue Reading
February 11, 2011
Gillibrand To USDA: Approve Request For Disaster Assistance To Expedite Federal Aid To Three Counties In Capital Region Impacted By Severe Snow
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve a disaster declaration for Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington Counties. In recent weeks, farmers in these counties have incurred significant property damage and livestock losses from the collapse of buildings under the weight of snow and ice. Senator Gillibrand is urging the USDA to immediately approve disaster assistance so farmers … Continue Reading
