Press Releases
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
May 07, 2012
Gillibrand Calls On U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to Consider Rochester for Satellite Office
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to consider Rochester as a site for a satellite office. New York State is the second highest patent issuer in the nation, with Rochester specifically known for its renowned reputation in higher education, providing New York with an abundance of creative minds. A USPTO Rochester office would cultivate a workforce of well-paid patent examiners, and foster the region's reputation … Continue Reading
May 04, 2012
Standing with Westchester Veterans, Gillibrand & Lowey Announce Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Yonkers, NY -Standing with Westchester County veterans, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey 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 lower … Continue Reading
May 04, 2012
Gillibrand Announces More than $200,000 Ffor North Country Rural Economic Development
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, today announced $203,600 in federal grant funding for three North Country rural economic development organizations to provide capital and other support for local small businesses. The 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
May 04, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Nearly $100,000 for Tompkins County Area Development Corp to Support Small Business Development in Ithaca
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, today announced a $99,900 federal grant for Tompkins County Area Development Corp (TCAD) to help provide access to capital for local small businesses. 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 development of small and emerging rural … Continue Reading
May 04, 2012
Gillibrand Announces $60,000 for the Binghamton Local Development Corporation
Binghamton, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, announced a $60,000 federal grant for the Binghamton Local Development Corporation (BLDC). Senator Gillibrand pushed for funds, which would establish a specialized revolving-loan program in the City of Binghamton to create green jobs in the contracting industry. Federal funding is allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Economic Business … Continue Reading
May 04, 2012
Standing with Student Veterans at Adelphi University, Gillibrand & Mccarthy Announce Legislation to Assist Veterans in Education, Job Training and Skill Recognition
Garden City, NY -Standing with student veterans at Adelphi University, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy today announced bipartisan legislation to help provide education and job training for young veterans and streamline the certification processes for civilian jobs. Both members are also encouraging all Long Island businesses to participate in local Veterans employment events later this month. Last year, … Continue Reading
May 04, 2012
Gillibrand Brings USDA Official to Batavia to Join Local Business Leaders for Rural Business Roundtable
Batavia, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, New York's first member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in four decades, today brought a USDA official specializing in rural business development to Batavia to meet with local business leaders and staff members from Senator Gillibrand's office to discuss new initiatives to help develop rural economies and to tour the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park to assess future opportunities for USDA investments. The roundtable, featuring USDA Rural … Continue Reading