Press Releases
Gillibrand Statement on Obama Announcement of U.S. Transition from Combat Operations in Afghanistan this Spring
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement following President Obama's announcement that U.S. forces in Afghanistan will end most combat operations starting this spring and transition to a support role. Senator Gillibrand was one of the Senate's leading voices pressing for an aggressive drawdown of combat troops from Afghanistan. "President Obama's announcement today regarding his policy winding down … Continue Reading
January 11, 2013
At Gillibrand Urging, FEMA Extends Deadline for Thousands of Superstorm Sandy Victims Living in Temporary Hotels and Motels
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today announced that FEMA granted a two-week extension that allows an estimated 2,400 New York residents displaced from Superstorm Sandy to temporarily live in hotels and motels through January 27, 2013. With an upcoming deadline looming for displaced residents who would have been forced to leave their temporary shelters this Sunday, Senator Gillibrand pressed FEMA Administrator Fugate earlier this week to extend their stay as they … Continue Reading
January 11, 2013
As Temperatures Drop and Heating Bills Soar, Gillibrand & Maffei Urge Administration to Fund Weatherization Assistance Program
Syracuse, NY - With temperatures in Central New York dropping and heating bills soaring, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Dan Maffei urged the Administration to fund the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the State Energy Program (SEP). WAP helps families reduce energy bills by making homes more energy efficient. Funds are used to improve the energy performance in homes using the most advanced technologies and testing protocols available in the housing industry. In New … Continue Reading
January 11, 2013
As Temperatures Drop and Heating Bills Soar, Gillibrand Urges Administration to Fund Weatherization Assistance Program
Buffalo, NY - With temperatures in Western New York dropping and heating bills soaring, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Administration to fund the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the State Energy Program (SEP). WAP helps families reduce energy bills by making homes more energy efficient. Funds are used to improve the energy performance in homes using the most advanced technologies and testing protocols available in the housing industry. In New York, SEP helps fund the New … Continue Reading
January 10, 2013
Gillibrand Announces $45,000 for Elmira Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $45,000 in federal funding for the Elmira Fire Department to purchase a new breathing air compressor for their first responders to help improve safety as they respond to emergencies. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This is an important investment for the Elmira Fire Department," said Senator Gillibrand. "It's our responsibility to … Continue Reading
January 08, 2013
As Temperatures Drop and Heating Bills Soar, Gillibrand & Hanna Urge Administration to Fund Weatherization Assistance Program
Owego, NY - With temperatures in the Southern Tier dropping and heating bills soaring, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna urged the Administration to fund the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the State Energy Program (SEP). WAP helps families reduce energy bills by making homes more energy efficient. Funds are used to improve the energy performance in homes using the most advanced technologies and testing protocols available in the housing industry. In New … Continue Reading
January 08, 2013
As Temperatures Drop and Heating Bills Soar, Gillibrand, Lowey, Engel Urged Administration to Fund Weatherization Assistance Program
Elmsford, NY - With temperatures in the Hudson Valley dropping and heating bills soaring, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman Eliot Engel urged the Administration to fund the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the State Energy Program (SEP). WAP helps families reduce energy bills by making homes more energy efficient. Funds are used to improve the energy performance in homes using the most advanced technologies and testing protocols available in … Continue Reading
January 06, 2013
Gillibrand, Schumer to Urge Obama Administration’s “Task Force to Prevent Gun Violence” to Include First Federal Law Cracking Down on Illegal Guns and Enhanced-Background Check Legislation in Final Recommendations Due this Month
New York, NY - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer today urged Vice President Joseph Biden to include two important measures in his task force's final recommendations to combat gun violence, set to be released this month - a measure to prevent scores of illegal guns from being trafficked into New York, and a measure to make it harder for felons and the mentally ill from purchasing guns. V.P. Biden is leading the Obama administration's efforts examining ways to reduce gun … Continue Reading
January 04, 2013
Gillibrand Announces More Than $125,000 for Cortland Area Fire Departments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $40,708 in federal funding for the City of Cortland Fire Department and $84,797 for the Virgil Fire District to purchase new equipment. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. "This is an important investment for the Cortland area's fire departments," Senator Gillibrand said. "When our first responders go into harm's way to keep our … Continue Reading
January 04, 2013
Gillibrand Announces Over $40,000 for Niagara Falls Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $42,400 in federal funding for the City of Niagara Falls Fire Department to provide crucial training courses and equipment from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) for their first responders to help improve response to emergencies. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This is an important investment for the Niagara … Continue Reading
January 04, 2013
At Gillibrand’s Urging, FDA Issues First Rules for Food Safety Overhaul
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the FDA is releasing its first proposed rules as part of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act - the first major, comprehensive update to America's food safety laws in over a century - that was signed into law two years ago. The first rules will regulate the safety of fresh produce and set new preventive measures at food manufacturers. Senator Gillibrand joined with Senate colleagues to urge the Office of Management and Budget … Continue Reading
January 02, 2013
Gillibrand Responds to House Leadership Pulling Sandy Aid Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today responding to House Republican leadership's decision to deny a vote on the Sandy aid bill: "As many Republicans said on the House floor last night, what House leadership did last night by turning its back on families still suffering from Hurricane Sandy was indefensible and shameful. Speaker Boehner should come to Staten Island and tell families trying to rebuild their businesses why they need to wait … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Measure Requiring a Feasibility Report on DOD Plans to Open More Combat Roles to Women Passes Congress – Heads to President’s Desk as Part of 2013 Defense Bill to be Signed into Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, announced final Congressional passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, which includes a provision that requires the Defense Secretary to issue a feasibility report on opening more combat service and career opportunities for qualified female service members. The legislation now heads to the President's desk for his signature. Gillibrand led the charge in the Senate encouraging the … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Gillibrand Measure to Remove Convicted Sex Offenders from Military Passes Congress – Heads to President’s Desk as Part of 2013 Defense Bill to be Signed into Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a Senate Armed Services Committee member, today announced final Congressional passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, which includes her legislation requiring that any service member convicted of a sexual assault be processed for discharge from the military. The bill now heads to the President's desk for his signature. "Our brave service members answer a call higher than any other to defend our nation," said … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $1.1 Million EDA Funding for City of Kingston After Hurricane Irene and Lee – Kingston will Use Funding for Critical Infrastructure Repairs to Mitigate Economic Hardship for Local Businesses After Storms
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that $ 1,120,000 in federal funding was awarded to the City of Kingston in Ulster County by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Relief Opportunity program. The City of Kingston will use the funding to make critical infrastructure repairs that will restore access to commercial and small businesses in the Kingston city center. These efforts aim to minimize the financial strain in the region from … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Final Congressional Approval of $50 Million for Nanotechnology R&D
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Armed Services Committee, today announced Congressional passage of approval for an increased focus on nanotechnology being done in conjunction with the University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. Senator Gillibrand fought to continue nanotechnology research she helped initiate in the Fiscal Year 2012 Defense bill with an additional $50 million of federal funds in Fiscal Year 2103. Albany's NanoCollege … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
With One of Two New York Terrorism Emergency Task Forces At-Risk of Being Cut from Defense Budget, Gillibrand Announces Final Congressional Passage of Provision 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, announced today that the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 that included her provision that would permanently authorize New York's two National Guard teams has cleared both chambers of Congress. Currently, New York has one unit near Schenectady that helps … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Final Congressional Approval of $24 Million for New York Army National Guard Construction Project – Military Construction Project Will Build State-of-the-Art Maintenance Shop on Base
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that a $24 million construction project in Stormville, NY, for the New York Army National Guard has passed both chambers of Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 and now heads to President Obama to be signed into law. Specifically, the $24 million federal investment would allow the construction of a new maintenance shop to provide field and sustainment … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Final Congressional Approval of More Than $190 Million to Build New Barracks at West Point
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that $192 million in authorized funding for the construction of new barracks at West Point as part of the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act has passed both chambers of Congress and now heads to President Obama to be signed into law. In the Armed Services Committee, Senator Gillibrand wrote and filed an amendment that included the funding for West … Continue Reading
December 21, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Final Congressional Approval of Nearly $140 Million for Construction at Fort Drum
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that $138.2 million in funding for the construction of several facilities at Fort Drum, including a new specialty care clinic, a new aircraft maintenance hangar, and a complex for missile tracking technology has now passed both chambers of Congress. The funding for construction is included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which now heads to President Obama to be … Continue Reading
