Press Releases
As NJ Gov. Christie Turns Away Federal Transportation Funds, Gillibrand Urges Transportation Sec. To Redirect Investment To NY
Washington, DC - As New Jersey Governor Chris Christie turns away federal funding for the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) project, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urging him to redirect this funding for two of New York's most critical infrastructure projects: the Long Island Rail Road East Side Access project and the construction of the Second Avenue Subway line. Advancing these two projects would help relieve massive traffic … Continue Reading
October 29, 2010
Following Terror Threat From Yemen, Gillibrand Calls For Greater Surveillance Of Air Cargo, More Funding For Security At Religious Institutions
Washington, DC -- Following the interception of cargo containing explosive materials originating in Yemen and targeting Jewish centers in Chicago, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "Clearly, we need to look at greater surveillance of all air cargo coming from abroad and more security funding for our religious institutions. We must always remain vigilant to all potential terror threats. Authorities have assured me that they are taking all the proper steps to … Continue Reading
October 29, 2010
Senators Query Secretary Clinton On Pending Decision On TransCanada Tar Sands Pipeline
WASHINGTON (FRIDAY, Oct. 29) - Led by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), 11 U.S. senators are raising questions about the pending approval of the TransCanada Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. In a letter sent Thursday to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the lawmakers sought answers to a series of concerns they have about the pipeline. Signing the letter, in addition to Leahy and Merkley, are Senators Roland Burris (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), … Continue Reading
October 28, 2010
Gillibrand Urges President Obama To Press China On Rare Earth Minerals At Upcoming G-20 Summit
Washington, DC - With reports showing China using its stronghold of rare earth elements (REEs) production to restrict export shipments, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today wrote to President Barack Obama, urging him to press China on this matter during the November G-20 summit in Seoul, Korea, to keep REE markets fair and open. China accounts for over 95 percent of the world's production of REEs -- minerals used in a broad range of household consumer products, as well as high-tech, clean … Continue Reading
October 27, 2010
Gillibrand Announces New Effort To Strengthen GI Bill, Expand Education Opportunities To All Members Of Military
Amherst, NY - As recent veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle to find jobs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new push for legislation to expand the landmark G.I. Bill she helped pass as a Congresswoman and provide better higher education opportunities for more recent veterans, better preparing new veterans for the difficult economy. The Post-9/11Veterans Educational Assistance Act would: Expand the benefits of the existing G.I. Bill for National … Continue Reading
October 27, 2010
Gillibrand, Maffei Announce New Effort To Strengthen GI Bill, Expand Education Opportunities To All Members Of Military
Rochester, NY - As recent veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle to find jobs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Dan Maffei today announced a new push for legislation to expand the landmark G.I. Bill, provide better higher education opportunities for more recent veterans, better preparing new veterans for the difficult economy. The Post-9/11Veterans Educational Assistance Act would: Expand the benefits of the existing G.I. Bill for National Guard and Reserve … Continue Reading
October 27, 2010
Gillibrand Announces New Effort To Strengthen GI Bill, Expand Education Opportunities To All Members Of Military
Syracuse, NY - As recent veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle to find jobs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new push for legislation to expand the landmark G.I. Bill she helped pass as a Congresswoman and provide better higher education opportunities for more recent veterans, better preparing new veterans for the difficult economy. The Post-9/11Veterans Educational Assistance Act would: Expand the benefits of the existing G.I. Bill for National … Continue Reading
October 25, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand, Tonko Announce $2 Million In Federal Funding Coming To Bolster Livingston Avenue Bridge Replacement Project
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko announced that the Livingston Bridge project will receive $2 million in federal funding to lay the groundwork for a major revitalization to the 144 year old bridge. Today's announced funding will finance an engineering study that will serve as a blueprint for major upgrades to the bridge including an eventual full replacement. "The Livingston Avenue Bridge project will create jobs and lay down the building … Continue Reading
October 19, 2010
Members Of The Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force Urge President Obama To Award Dolores Huerta The Presidential Medal Of Freedom
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined with members of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force to send a letter to President Obama urging him to award Dolores Huerta the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award. The letter was also signed by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ),Chairman of the Hispanic Task Force, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and Senator John Kerry (D-MA). In their letter, the Senators … Continue Reading
October 19, 2010
Senator Gillibrand Challenges McConnell On Social Security
Washington, DC - With more than 50 million retirees and disabled Americans facing a second straight year with no increase in Social Security benefits, U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand today joined with five of her colleagues asking the Senate Republican leader to support a $250 emergency payment. "We hope that you will agree with us that it is far more important to provide $250 in emergency relief to senior citizens and disabled veterans than it is to provide an average tax break of over … Continue Reading
October 18, 2010
With Record Manufacturing Job Loss In NYS, Gillibrand Unveils Plan To Help Manufacturers Transition To Clean Energy Production, Create Jobs
Huntington, NY - New York has lost more than 160,000 manufacturing jobs since 2001, or nearly one-quarter of its manufacturing base. Long Island alone lost nearly 17,000 manufacturing jobs. To help New York's manufactures get back on track and to strengthen the economy for the long term, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today discussed her plan at a roundtable discussion at Telephonics in Huntington to help New York's manufacturers transition to clean energy production, including legislation to … Continue Reading
October 18, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Opening Of New Passport Office In Buffalo
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the opening of a new passport office on Genesee Street in downtown Buffalo. The passport center was unveiled this morning in a ribbon cutting ceremony with Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick F. Kennedy; the new office will be one of only 23 nationwide and will work to boost regional commerce and make travel easier for Western New Yorkers. "The opening of the new passport office in Buffalo is a win-win-win. … Continue Reading
October 18, 2010
Paterson, Schumer, Gillibrand, Nadler, Lahood, And Bloomberg Break Ground On New Moynihan Station
Governor David A. Paterson, Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other officials broke ground today on phase I of the construction for Moynihan Station. The groundbreaking takes place on the 100th anniversary of the opening of Penn Station, the largest and most widely used train station in the United States. Prior to the groundbreaking, Governor … Continue Reading
October 15, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand, Slaughter Announce $16.5 Million Coming For Revitalization Of Niagara Falls International Railway Station And Intermodal Transportation Center
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter announced that $16,500,000 in federal grant funding would be coming to Niagara Falls to revitalize the Niagara Falls Customhouse which will soon be known as the Niagara Falls International Railway Station. The funding comes from the Department of Transportation's competitive TIGER grant program which was enacted as part of the stimulus bill. "Over two decades ago this community set its mind to … Continue Reading
October 15, 2010
At Senator Gillibrand’s Urging, USTR To Investigate China’s Unfair Green Technology Trade Practices
Washington, DC - At U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's urging, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will investigate alleged practices by the Chinese government that protect Chinese producers of renewable and alternative energy products - including wind turbines, solar panels, next generation batteries and energy efficient vehicles. Last month, the United Steelworkers (USW) filed a petition to the asserting that China has provided more than $200 billion in subsidies and support to their local … Continue Reading
October 14, 2010
After House Passes 9/11 Health Bill, Gillibrand, Mcmahon, Staten Island First Responders And Community Residents Announce “Fast Track” Of Legislation In The Senate
Staten Island, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Senate's chief sponsor of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, joined by Congressman Michael E. McMahon (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn), a lead co-sponsor of the 9/11 health care bill in the House, Staten Island first responders and community residents, announced today that the Senate Leadership supports Gillibrand's request to fast track the legislation. This move bypasses the lengthy Committee process and provides an … Continue Reading
October 13, 2010
Federal Representatives To EPA: Amend Chesapeake Bay Rules Unfair To New York
WASHINGTON, DC-Today, Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Congressmen Michael Arcuri, Maurice Hinchey, Christopher Lee, Daniel Maffei, Scott Murphy, Bill Owens and Paul Tonko sent a letter to Administrator Lisa Jackson of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing strong concerns over the requirements that would be placed on New York by the draft Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) that EPA recently released. "We are all strongly committed … Continue Reading
October 12, 2010
With Judge Ordering End to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Udall, Gillibrand, 19 Other Senators Urge White House not to Appeal
Washington, D.C. - Today, after a federal judge in California ordered a halt to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law banning gays from serving openly in the military, U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-CO) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) wrote a letter signed by 19 other Senators, urging U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder not to appeal the judge's original decision and to allow the injunction to stand. Not appealing the decision would allow Congress to act to repeal the unconstitutional law, which harms … Continue Reading
October 11, 2010
Gillibrand Announces $26 Million For Jewish Home To Build New Facility For Low-Income Bronx Seniors
Bronx, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced today that Jewish Home Lifecare will receive $26 million to construct a new assisted living facility for low-income Bronx seniors. Senator Gillibrand, along with Congressman José Serrano (D-Bronx), Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., State Assemblymembers José Rivera (D-Bronx), Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx), and Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan) urged New York State Health Commissioner Richard Daines to grant the … Continue Reading
October 09, 2010
Gillibrand: Malicious Bronx Hate Crime An Atrocity
New York, NY - Seven suspects have been taken into custody and two more are being sought for beating, sodomizing and robbing two men and attacking a third in the Bronx. The suspects range in age from 16 to 23. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, an original co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed into law last year, issued the following statement condemning the hate crime: "The malicious hate crime that took place in the Bronx is an … Continue Reading
