Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $24 Million Investment for New York Army National Guard Construction Project Clears Senate – Military Construction Project Will Build State-of-the-Art Maintenance Shop on Base

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that a $24 million construction project in Stormville, NY, for the New York Army National Guard has passed the U.S. Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Specifically, the $24 million federal investment would allow the construction of a new maintenance shop to provide field and sustainment maintenance for vehicles and equipment supported by this shop for … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Secures Senate Approval for New Air Force Cyber Security Strategy for R&D at Rome Labs

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the U.S. Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 which includes her amendment that requires the U.S. Air Force to establish a strategy to strengthen America's cyber security with new research and development, initiated at research institutions such as the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome. "Cyber technology is playing an essential … Continue Reading

With One of Two New York Terrorism Emergency Task Forces At-Risk of Being Cut from Defense Budget, Gillibrand Announces Senate 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 U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 which included her provision that would permanently authorize New York's two National Guard teams. Currently, New York has one unit near Schenectady that helps authorities … Continue Reading

U.S. Senate Passes Legislation Requiring a Report on Defense Department Plans to Open Combat Roles to Women

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, announced that the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which includes Gillibrand legislation that 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 … Continue Reading

U.S. Senate Passes Legislation Requiring a Report on Defense Department Plans to Open Combat Roles to Women

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, announced that the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which includes Gillibrand legislation that 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 … Continue Reading

U.S. Senate Passes Gillibrand Legislation Pushing Defense Department to Combat Hazing, Promote Diversity Among Senior Military Ranks

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, announced today that the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act for 2013, which included her legislation calling on the Armed Services to report on their policies to improve anti-hazing training, tracking and response to hazing incidents in the military. Currently hazing incidents are not adequately monitored and tracked, making it difficult to determine how widespread the problem … Continue Reading

U.S. Senate Passes Gillibrand Amendment to Cover Care for Military Kids with Autism and Other Disabilities

Gillibrand Pushing Legislation to Help Jumpstart Lending to Small Businesses, Create Jobs in New York

Washington, D.C. - With 422 credit unions across New York State held back from lending capital that is readily available, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed bipartisan legislation to spur small business growth and create jobs by increasing access to loans from credit unions. By law, credit unions are required to limit member business lending to 12.25 percent of the credit union's total assets. Senator Gillibrand is promoting the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act that would … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $13 Million in Federal Disaster Food Aid for Storm-Ravaged New Yorkers

New York - U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved $13 million in one-time disaster food aid benefits, also known as D-SNAP, to tens of thousands of storm-ravaged residents from the Rockaways, Coney Island, Red Hook, southeastern shore of Staten Island, and Lower Manhattan. Starting next Wednesday, December 12th through December 18th, the New York City Human Resources Administration will begin accepting applications … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $185 Million in Federal Funds for New York After Superstorm Sandy

New York, NY - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that N.Y.U. Langone Medical Center will receive approximately $114 million in federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the NYPD will receive approximately $75 million from FEMA Public Assistance (Category B Emergency Protective Measures). "The city's first responders and hospital workers put their lives on the line to take care of New Yorkers, and this first round of federal … Continue Reading

At Schumer & Gillibrand’s Urging, USDA to Provide Free School Meals To NYC Children as NYC Recovers from Hurricane Sandy

New York, NY - After U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to provide free school meals to New York City children as the city recovers from Hurricane Sandy, the Senators announced today that the USDA agreed to supply food relief for all school children citywide through the end of this year. "It's important for our children to have access to the nutritious food necessary to grow and learn while at school," said … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement on UN Vote Providing Non-Member Status to Palestinians

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement after the United Nations General Assembly voted to recognize Palestine as a nonmember observer state: "Today's political theater at the United Nations is a harmful distraction from achieving true peace and stability between Israel and Palestine. The only credible path for a two-state solution is through the negotiating table. The United States has made clear to the Palestinians and to others around the … Continue Reading

U.S. Senate Passes Gillibrand Amendment to Cover Care for Military Kids with Autism and Other Disabilities

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the Senate voted for her amendment that would cover behavioral treatment for military children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities. Based on the USA Heroes Act that Senator Gillibrand authored and introduced in 2009, this bipartisan amendment under the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill would help reduce the burden of military families and … Continue Reading

With Key Committee Advancing Historic Landmark Designation for Yaddo Today, Gillibrand Calls for Swift Decision by Administration

Washington, D.C. - As a key decision today moves Yaddo one step closer to gaining National Historic Landmark status, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for its swift approval by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The National Park Service Advisory Board officially recommended Yaddo's designation to Secretary Salazar today, with his final decision expected in the coming months. "Saratoga's own Yaddo has a legacy of artistic tradition that sparked a century's worth of … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Calls for New Tier of Emission Reduction Standards

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today urged the Obama Administration to implement a third tier of emission reduction standards that would increase vehicular fuel efficiency. The President initially instructed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move forward with a new proposal in 2010 as part of proposed vehicle efficiency standards, but the rules have yet to be formally proposed. Joined by twelve of her … Continue Reading

As Senate Begins Debate on 2013 Defense Bill, Gillibrand Introduces Bipartisan Amendment to Cover Autism Care for Military Families

Washington, DC - As the U.S. Senate begins debate today on the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced a bipartisan amendment that would cover behavioral treatment for military children with autism spectrum disorders. Based on the USA Heroes Act that Senator Gillibrand authored and introduced in 2009, this amendment would help reduce the burden of military families and their children living with autism by requiring the military health … Continue Reading

With NHL Lockout Costing Buffalo Businesses, Gillibrand Calls on SBA to Offer Assistance

Washington, D.C. - As the National Hockey League (NHL) lockout reaches its 11th week without resolution, local Buffalo businesses are being hit hard by the lack of hockey-related business revenues that usually increases this time of year. U.S. Senator Gillibrand today urged the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) to engage with small business owners in the Buffalo area regarding available assistance for their businesses during challenging situations. "The Buffalo Sabres are a … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Schumer Urge U.S. Postmaster General to Postpone Consolidation of Manor Road Mail Processing Facility in Aftermath of Storm

Staten Island, NY - As Staten Island begins the recovery from Hurricane Sandy that has ravaged the borough and taken more than a dozen lives, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer today urged the U.S. Postmaster General to postpone the decision to consolidate the Staten Island facility and move mail processing operations to Brooklyn. With more than 80 Staten Island postal workers impacted by reduced operations at Manor Road mail processing facility, which is set to take place in … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Crowley Announce New Legislation to Increase Kosher Food in Emergency Food Supply

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY) today announced new legislation they introduced in both chambers of Congress to ensure that kosher food pantries receive adequate supply of food for hungry families as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). With an estimated 244,000 Jewish households in New York City living in poverty, the lawmakers' legislation requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to target, label, and … Continue Reading

At Gillibrand’s Recommendation, White House Formally Nominates Valerie Caproni and Judge Analisa Torres for U.S. District Court Judges for Southern District of New York

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the White House has formally nominated Valerie Caproni and Judge Analisa Torres to be District Court judges for the Southern District of New York after Senator Gillibrand recommended both for the positions. "Valerie Caproni and Judge Torres are both highly experienced and exceptional legal minds," Senator Gillibrand said. "Their breadth of experience and knowledge make them ideal to serve on the federal bench. Both are … Continue Reading