Press Releases
Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage Of Tough New Sanctions Against Iran
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced Senate passage of new legislation that allows President Obama to block contracts for companies that do business with Iran and enforce tough penalties against any companies that falsely claim they do not conduct business with Iran's energy sector. The legislation, which was passed by a vote of 99 to 0, will also place tough sanctions against the sale of gasoline to Iran and … Continue Reading
June 23, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand And Owens Urge Dhs Secretary To Address Northern Border Narcotics Trafficking At Upcoming Summit With Canadian Public Safety Minister
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Bill Owens announced that they have written a personal letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, asking her to use an upcoming summit with her Canadian counterpart, the Minister of Public Safety, to develop a comprehensive approach to stemming the exploitation of Indian Reservations on the northern border by narcotics traffickers. Next month, Napolitano is scheduled to meet with Vic … Continue Reading
June 23, 2010
Gillibrand, Senate Colleagues Urge Obama Administration To Investigate Gaza Flotilla Group Ties To Terrorists, Determine Whether Group Should Be Added To Foreign Terrorist List
Washington, DC - After last month's Israeli naval blockade, which intercepted a six-ship flotilla to Gaza, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with more than 80 senators, affirmed their support for Israel's right to self-defense, questioned United Nations bodies which unfairly criticized Israel before all of the facts are known, and called on the Obama Administration to determine whether or not an organizer of the flotilla, the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), should be … Continue Reading
June 22, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand, Lautenberg, Menendez: Pakistani Taliban Bankrolled & Trained Times Square Bomber, But Group Still Has Not Been Added To Terrorist List—Senators Announce Bill To Automatically Designate Them Terrorists
WASHINGTON, DC-A day after the man behind the Times Square terror plot confessed to receiving training and financing from the Pakistani Taliban, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) revealed Tuesday that the U.S. State Department still has not added the organization to the official list of terrorist groups. The senators announced they would offer legislation to require the Pakistani Taliban to be immediately … Continue Reading
June 22, 2010
Arcuri, Schumer, Gillibrand Push To Move Marcy Nanotech Project Forward
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter on Thursday, June 17, 2010, U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri (NY-24) and U.S. Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) called on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District Commander LTC Daniel Snead to remove a special condition in the draft wetlands permit that would prevent development of the Marcy Nanotech site until a semiconductor manufacturer has been identified and brought under contract. "From the beginning, the goal has always … Continue Reading
June 22, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand, Tonko Urge HUD Sec To Accept Amsterdam Housing Authority’s Grant App After Technical Glitch By Feds Tossed Out Application
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko announced that they have sent a personal letter to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Shaun Donavan, urging him to reexamine the Amsterdam Housing Authority's (AHA) grant application. AHA's grant application was denied based on a technicality after HUD mistakenly sent applicants the wrong due date and failed to properly notify applicants of the new date. The loss of this … Continue Reading
June 22, 2010
Gillibrand Announces Reform Agenda To Clean Up Washington, Make Congress More Accountable And Transparent
Washington, DC - Tired of business as usual in Washington D.C., U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced her reform agenda to clean up Washington, and make Congress more accountable and responsible. The centerpiece of Senator Gillibrand's agenda includes new, bipartisan legislation that would require complete transparency for all federal earmark requests. Senator Gillibrand's plan will also end automatic pay raises for Members of Congress, rein in corporate special interest influence … Continue Reading
June 18, 2010
Gillibrand Joined By Maloney, 9/11 First Responders, Workers, Families Of Fallen Heroes, Lower Manhattan Residents Announce First-Ever Senate Hearing On James Zadroga 9/11 Health And Compensation Act This Month
New York, NY - On the heels of a key House panel's passage last month of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) stood at Ground Zero today with Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Councilwoman Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan), 9/11 first responders, workers, families who lost loved ones on 9/11 and Lower Manhattan residents to announce that on Tuesday, June 29th, the U.S. Senate will hold its first-ever hearing on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health … Continue Reading
June 18, 2010
Gillibrand Urges Aetna And Continuum Health Partners CEO’s To Come Back To The Negotiating Table
New York, NY - As contract negotiations between Aetna, Inc. and Continuum Health Partners have stalled, forcing thousands of New Yorkers to face higher health care costs at five major hospitals in Manhattan and Brooklyn, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged the CEO's of both companies today to return to the bargaining table to reach a new three-year agreement so patients can continue to receive quality, affordable care. Senator Gillibrand wrote, "I urge you to re-enter negotiations … Continue Reading
June 17, 2010
Senators Want Justice To Investigate Whether BP Willfully Low-Balled Oil Spill Estimates
Washington, DC - With the amount of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico now estimated at as much as 60,000 barrels per day, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand joined with five of their colleagues today urging U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to ensure that his criminal investigation into the spill includes a focus on BP's incorrect estimates of the spill rate and its alleged withholding of information necessary to determine the spill rate. Estimates have been … Continue Reading
June 17, 2010
Gillibrand Pushes To Preserve The U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperative Agreement
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development to provide at least $2 million in funding to preserve the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperative Agreement in the FY2011 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. To date, appropriations for the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperative Agreement have yielded advances in important areas such as energy grid management, biodiesel, and solar energy - creating numerous … Continue Reading
June 17, 2010
Gillibrand Requests New GAO Report To Investigate Toxic E. Coli Infecting American Beef
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant and Animal Health and the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, formally requested a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to investigate the underlying causes of toxic E. coli strains that so frequently contaminates beef made for American families. More than 100 beef recalls have occurred in … Continue Reading
June 16, 2010
After Nearly 40 Years, Albany Navy Vet Finally Receives War Medals
Albany, NY - After nearly 40 years, an Albany navy vet finally received the war medals he deserved. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand helped secure the medals, which arrived just in time for this week's Flag Day ceremony at South Mall Towers, where an Albany police officer and Navy veteran Eric Sprague proudly presented the honors to the 63 year-old soldier. The Albany resident, who wore the same flight suit he donned during his Vietnam-era service, received the National Defense Service Medal, … Continue Reading
June 16, 2010
With Up To 50,000 Gang Members In New York, Gillibrand Announces New Legislative Agenda To Combat Gang Activity
Washington, DC - With as many as 50,000 gang members in New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is announcing a new legislative agenda to combat gang activity, keep at-risk youth out of gangs, and keep our communities safe and economy growing. Senator Gillibrand's plan increases resources for law enforcement to fight gang activity, toughens penalties for gang-related offenses, expands access to effective mentoring programs to keep children out of gangs, and brings community leaders together … Continue Reading
June 13, 2010
Gillibrand Fights To Prevent Foreclosure For Thousands In Hudson Valley Who Are Out Of Work And Struggling To Remain In Their Homes
Washington, DC - As families across New York and around the country struggle to find work after losing their jobs through no fault of their own, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is advancing legislation to provide temporary mortgage relief for struggling families to stave off the threat of foreclosure. The Homeowners' Relief and Neighborhood Stabilization Act would provide $4 billion in foreclosure mitigation funds - $3 billion for loans for up to 24 months for out of work homeowners so they … Continue Reading
June 11, 2010
With Summer Vacations Nearing And Tourism Still Lagging, Senator Gillibrand Unveils New Effort To Promote Tourism In The Region
Buffalo, NY - With summer vacations nearing and tourism still lagging, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held an event at the Darwin Martin House with local tourism leaders and unveiled new efforts to help promote New York tourism, one the state's leading industries and job generators. The cornerstone of her agenda is the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act, which would create a competitive matching grant program within the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote domestic tourism … Continue Reading
June 11, 2010
With Summer Vacations Nearing And Tourism Still Lagging, Senator Gillibrand Unveils New Effort To Promote Tourism In The Region
Rochester, NY - With summer vacations nearing and tourism still lagging, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a roundtable at the George Eastman House with local tourism leaders and unveiled new efforts to help promote New York tourism, one the state's leading industries and job generators. The cornerstone of her agenda is the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act, which would create a competitive matching grant program within the U.S. Department of Commerce to promote domestic … Continue Reading
June 10, 2010
Atlantic Senators Seek Preparedness In Case BP Oil Spill Hits East Coast
WASHINGTON - With some communities along the eastern seaboard concerned that the BP oil spill could reach their waters, a bipartisan group of Atlantic Coast U.S. Senators wants to coordinate preparedness between their states and federal response agencies. In a letter to the heads of the relevant federal departments, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and 21 of his East Coast colleagues asked specifically for: Immediate communication with all Atlantic Coast state emergency preparedness agencies … Continue Reading
June 10, 2010
Senators Urge Overhaul Of Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill As The House Unveils More Robust Plan
Washington, D.C. - As the House of Representatives unveiled their Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, along with six of her colleagues, sent a letter to Senate Leaders, urging them to overhaul the Senate version of the legislation to include a significant increase in the reimbursement rate for school meals. Joining Senator Gillibrand are Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Al Franken (D-MN), Tim … Continue Reading
June 09, 2010
Gillibrand Statement On UN Security Council Vote To Implement Sanctions Against Iran
Washington, DC - As the U.N. Security Council voted to implement new sanctions against Iran, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement: "I commend President Obama, Secretary Clinton, Ambassador Rice, and their team for their work and determination to pass international sanctions. While many of us would have liked to have seen stronger sanctions, this move by the UN Security Council demonstrates international solidarity … Continue Reading
