Press Releases
Gillibrand – Schumer Amendment Passes to Provide Emergency Resources to Help NY Farmers Recover from Irene & Lee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer announced passage of their farm aid amendment that would provide the resources that farmers across New York State need to help recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The provision would invest an additional $110 million for a total of $437.2 million to support the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and the Emergency Watershed Program (EWP) that provide emergency services and … Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Introduce Legislation to Protect New York’s Maple Syrup Producers and Consumers
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today introduced legislation that would make intentionally mislabeling food products as "maple syrup" a federal crime. Currently this form of food fraud is only a misdemeanor. The legislation would make these crimes a felony, increasing sentences that prosecutors can seek for people who defraud consumers and farmers by intentionally mislabeling maple syrup. "Maple farmers across New York state produce some of the … Continue Reading
October 20, 2011
Gillibrand Statement on Death of Muammar Qaddafi
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement today on the death of Muammar Qaddafi: "Qaddafi was a brutal dictator who killed 189 Americans and his own people. His death will allow the people of Libya to unify and write the next chapter of Libya's history. As the new Libyan government moves forward on the path toward democracy, they must hold all those responsible for terrorist acts under Qaddafi's brutal … Continue Reading
October 19, 2011
During Teen Driver Safety Week, Gillibrand Calls for Support of Legislation to Save Lives – Passage of Critical Safety Law
Washington, D.C. - In honor of National Teen Driver Safety Week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on her fellow Senators to join her in support of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STAND UP) Act, legislation she wrote to set minimum standards for states to enact Graduated Drivers License (GDL) programs that will prepare teens to be responsible drivers. Senator Gillibrand's STAND-UP Act was included in the Senate Commerce Committee's Highway Safety package in July, … Continue Reading
October 19, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand: Ruling Protecting Nucor Corporation in Auburn from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices About to Expire, Putting Jobs at Risk – Urge U.S. International Trade Commission to Keep Protections in Place
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they are urging the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to keep in place import duties on unfairly-traded, foreign-manufactured steel plate that threatens to undercut domestic steel plate producers, including Nucor Steel in Auburn. Currently, the U.S. imposes duties, ranging from 1 to 59 percent, on imports of dumped and subsidized steel plate from India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Korea. These duties help … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
New Report Gives U.S. Failing Grade on Preparedness On Tenth Anniversary of Anthrax Attacks – Gillibrand Announces Strategy to Strengthen Biosecurity
Washington, D.C. - After a new report on the 10th anniversary of the anthrax attacks concludes the threat of infectious disease and bioterrorism outweighs the threat of nuclear attack, and the U.S. is currently inadequately prepared to prevent and respond to a large-scale outbreak of infectious disease, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is announcing a new strategy to strengthen America's biosecurity. According to a report card released last week by the WMD Center, the United States receives … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Higgins, Schumer & Gillibrand Want Answers on Bethlehem Steel
Today Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27, ) Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Director John Howard to further investigate and report on the clean-up at Bethlehem Steel after highly radioactive uranium was processed there during the Cold War. Former Bethlehem Steel workers attest that the facility where uranium was rolled was not adequately decontaminated until 1976, despite earlier company reports claiming … Continue Reading
October 17, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $400,000 in Federal Investments for Capital District Transportation Authority; Funding Will Help Improve Efficiency Along Washington and Western Ave Corridors
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $400,000 to the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) through its Alternatives Analysis program. Specifically, the investment will fund the Washington Western Bus Rapid Transit Study, in order to evaluate and develop the most efficient route from downtown Albany at Broadway northwest to the Crossgates Mall. This corridor is home to some of the … Continue Reading
October 17, 2011
Valerie Jarrett, Sandra Lee, Christine Quinn, Carmen Wong Ulrich, Majora Carter, Kathryn Wylde, Business Leaders Kick Off Gillibrand Summit Aimed to Help Women Lead Economic Recovery
New York, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) hosted her first annual "Women's Economic Empowerment Summit" in partnership with New York University at the Rosenthal Pavilion in New York City today to provide an important opportunity for women across New York to build professional skills, network, and engage in a direct conversation about the many opportunities and challenges women face in gaining equal footing in business. With more than half of all U.S. households today relying on … Continue Reading
October 17, 2011
Senate Democrats Announce Agreement with GOP’s Paul to Extend Expired Benefits for Elderly and Disabled Refugees
WASHINGTON, DC-Today, leading Senate Democrats announced a bipartisan agreement has been reached with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) that will grant one of the nation's most vulnerable populations-elderly and disabled refugees-a one-year extension of their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Roughly 5,600 elderly and disabled refugees who have been granted legal status in the U.S. on humanitarian grounds saw their SSI benefits expire on September 30th. With Paul's hold now lifted, the … Continue Reading
October 14, 2011
At Gillibrand Urging, FAA Approves Flights of Hancock Air National Guard Unmanned Aircraft Above Fort Drum
Washington, D.C. - At the urging of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved a Certificate of Authorization for a program to fly unmanned aircraft in Northern New York from Fort Drum into the special use airspace. These flights provide invaluable training for pilots of unmanned flight vehicles. Earlier this year, Senator Gillibrand fought for the approval of an evaluation of the pilot program as … Continue Reading
October 14, 2011
Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Purple Heart for WWII Vet’s Family
Canandaigua, NY - After the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to issue Purple Heart honors for a Canandaigua veteran's tombstone and family due to an erroneous omission in its records, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) secured a posthumous Purple Heart and funeral plaque for the family of the deceased World War II veteran and corrected his records. Senator Gillibrand presented the Purple Heart to the Frasca family today at Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "Mr. Frasca … Continue Reading
October 14, 2011
Gillibrand Applauds Steps to Repeal “Defense Of Marriage Act”
Washington, D.C. - As Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announces the Judiciary Committee will begin markup of the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in November, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "I applaud Chairman Leahy for taking these steps to end the discrimination that is currently enshrined into U.S. law. "Marriage is the true foundation for strong families. Every loving, committed … Continue Reading
October 14, 2011
Gillibrand: New York Shortchanged By COPS Hiring Program
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged the U.S. Department of Justice to fully disclose the factors that went into assessing grant applicants' commitment to community policing and how those factors were used decide how grant funding to hire and retain police is allocated to local law enforcement. The Justice Department recently announced more than $243 million in nationwide COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grants to hire and retain police - with only $4 million - or 1.6 … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $9.5 Million in Federal Investments for Capital District Transportation Authority; Investment Will Replace Transit Buses, Complete Station Construction Projects
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $9,500,000 to the Capital District Transportation Authority. Specifically, $4 million will be used for the replacement of transit buses in the fleet. An additional $5.5 million will be used to fund eight bus shelters, emergency phones, additional real time signs and security cameras, and other amenities for NY5 bus rapid transit, a 17-mile corridor that … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Chemung County Set to Receive Nearly $1.3 Million in Department of Transportation Funding for New Buses
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Chemung County Transit System is set to receive $1,290,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to support the Transit Vehicle Replacement program. The funds will be used to replace outdated vehicles in the system's fleet. Gillibrand and Schumer commend DOT for their work to improve transit facilities across the state. "Safe and reliable buses and transportation are critical to the economic future … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $13.4 Million Grant for Central New York Transportation Authority; Investment Will Replace Transit Buses, Improve Transit for Commuters
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $13,418,960 to the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority to replace transit buses in the fleet. Schumer and Gillibrand applaud DOT for their efforts to improve quality and efficiency in New York's transit systems. "Safe and reliable buses and transportation are critical to the economic future of Syracuse and Central New York," Schumer said. … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $4.7 Million in Department of Transportation Funding for Western New York
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is set to receive more than $4.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the Niagara Street Corridor Project and for an Amherst-Buffalo Corridor Alternatives Analysis. Gillibrand and Schumer commend DOT for their work to improve transit facilities across the state. Earlier this year, Senator Schumer wrote a letter of support for this … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Gillibrand Announces More Than $6.6 Million for Cutting-Edge Broadcasting Facility at WCNY
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $6,640,287 grant to consolidate the broadcast operations of the nine New York State public television stations into a single facility at WCNY in Syracuse. The project is expected to save participating stations more than $25 million in operating costs over the next decade, savings that will be invested in increasing local content and services, including much-needed K-12 educational activities, local election coverage and … Continue Reading
October 11, 2011
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Disaster Recovery Center Set to Open in Oneida County This Week
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that a new state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open this week in Oneida County on Thursday, October 13th. The DRC will assist individuals, households and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Lee and the subsequent flooding. Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays. "This disaster recovery center is a critical step in helping residents and business owners in … Continue Reading
