Press Releases
Gillibrand Helps Queens Resident who Served in Afghanistan Reunite with His Family After Helicopter Crash Left Combat Translator Paralyzed
Queens, NY - A 31 year-old Queens resident who served in Afghanistan as a combat translator became paralyzed from the waist down when the helicopter he was in crashed in the city of Kabul in 2010. Queens resident Jamil Patkik was a linguist with the Navy Seals unit and one of three people who survived the crash, which killed a total of nine troops. After the tragedy, Mr. Patkik faced roadblocks in bringing his wife and four children from Pakistan to Queens, who he desperately wanted by his … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand Helps Capital Region Soldier Stationed in Hawaii Get to Buffalo in Time for His Fiance’s Graduation at SUNY Buffalo Law School
Buffalo, NY - After a Columbia county senior's attempt to help a 26 year-old Marine Corps soldier from the Capital Region get from his base in Hawaii to Buffalo in time for his fiancé's graduation ceremony at SUNY Buffalo Law School hit a snag, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that her office has ensured that Sergeant Jordan Good will be there for graduation day after all. When Lorayne Seibert first tried to donate a plane ticket to Sergeant Good using her frequent flyer … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand Urges U.S. Commerce Department to Invest in Griffiss Institute to Develop New Cyber Security Technologies in Rome
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to fully support the Rome-based Griffis Institute's (GI) request for federal funding to support research to develop and implement new cyber security standards and guidelines. Senator Gillibrand has toured both the Rome Air Force Research Lab and private companies at the Griffiss Technology Park that work hand-in-glove to develop cyber security technologies. "Cyber technology is playing an essential … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Schumer & Gillibrand Push to Secure Federal Investment to Build New Intermodal Transportation Center in Downtown Rochester – Project Would Prime City for High-Speed Rail Service, Unleash Business Development & Job Creation
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Department of Transportation to select the City of Rochester's application for a TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant, for Rochester's Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC). The RITC project will replace the existing Intercity Passenger Rail station and single low-level platform with a new multi-modal facility and a high-level island platform for efficient and convenient … Continue Reading
May 17, 2012
Gillibrand, Sanchez Introduce Bills in Both Houses of Congress Encouraging Pentagon to Repeal Policy Restricting Women from Combat
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) today announced their new legislation introduced in both chambers of Congress which encourages the Department of Defense to repeal the Ground Combat Exclusion policy for female members of the Armed Forces - an outdated policy that does not acknowledge the combat role our service women in Afghanistan and around the world are already filling successfully. Women currently comprise approximately … Continue Reading
May 16, 2012
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
