Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand, Bishop Intervene to Help Binational LGBT Couple Cut Through Immigration Red Tape to Stay Together in the United States
New York - A same-sex couple, an ailing New Yorker and his partner from South Africa, who faced the threat of being torn apart, since federal immigration benefits do not extend to same-sex couples, have won a reprieve due to the intervention of three local federal lawmakers. For years, binational couple Edwin Blesch from Orient, NY, who has HIV, and his husband and primary caretaker from South Africa, Tim Smulian, fought to have him stay with him in New York. U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and … Continue Reading
February 10, 2012
Gillibrand Praises White House for Ensuring All Women Have Access to Contraceptive Care While Respecting Religious Beliefs
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement today after the White House announced a final rule that ensures every single woman in America will have access to basic preventive health care, including contraception medication, while re-affirming that church institutions will be able to adhere to their religious teachings: "While I remain dumbfounded that in the year 2012 we still have to fight over birth control, I commend the White House for its … Continue Reading
February 10, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Introduce Legislation to Ensure U.S. Military Buys Steel Made in America—Rather than China—For Armor Plates
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined a group of their Senate colleagues in introducing new legislation to ensure that armor plate for America's military is made in America. The bill would restore a 35-year rule, overturned by the Department of Defense in 2009, requiring that steel purchased by the U.S. military be 100 percent made in America-that is, both melted and finished in the United States. The … Continue Reading
February 10, 2012
Gillibrand, Senators Urge Continuation of Unemployment Insurance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined 13 of her Senate colleagues to urge the conference committee negotiating the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act to renew federal unemployment insurance provisions through the end of the year without new barriers to participation or new burdensome requirements for states. "This assistance is a lifeline for New Yorkers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own so they can continue to make ends meet," Senator … Continue Reading
February 09, 2012
A Contraception “Religious Exemption” for Taco Bell Employees?
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) released the following statement today after a USA Today story today revealed the extent to which opponents of women's access to the full range of preventive health services, including contraception want a "religious exemption" to go. Anthony Picarello, general counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops argued any business or corporation owned by Catholics should be excluded when he cited the problem that would be created for, … Continue Reading
February 09, 2012
Gillibrand Announces More Than $90,000 for Pound Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $90,440 in federal funding for the Pound Ridge Fire Department to upgrade their equipment. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This is an important investment for the Pound Ridge Volunteer Fire Department," Senator Gillibrand said. "Our first responders need the proper and up-to-date resources to protect themselves and our communities. … Continue Reading
February 09, 2012
Gillibrand Statement on House Passage of Stock Act
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed their version of the STOCK Act: "We are entrusted with a profound responsibility by the American people to look out for their best interests, and nothing else, certainly not our own financial interests," said Senator Gillibrand, the first member of Congress to post her official daily schedule, all earmark requests and personal financial disclosure online. "Today, we … Continue Reading
February 08, 2012
Gillibrand Announces More Than $80,000 for East Area Volunteer Emergency Services Inc.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $83,872 in federal funding for East Area Volunteer Emergency Services Inc. (EAVES) to purchase new emergency response equipment for their trained volunteers. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. In October, Senator Gillibrand wrote FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate to encourage FEMA to fully fund the EAVES funding request through their … Continue Reading
February 08, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Nearly $50,000 in Value-Added Producer Grant for Long Island Farm
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $49,990 in federal funding for Martin Sidor Farms, Inc. in Mattituck, New York to revamp their marketing strategy to raise brand awareness and increase sales of their North Fork Potato Chips. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program. "This is great news for Martin Sidor Farms," said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "We … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Hochul, Schumer, Gillibrand Announce EPA Decision to Remove Barrels from Leroy Superfund Site
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After Congresswoman Kathy Hochul spoke with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Judith Enck yesterday, Congresswoman Hochul, along with Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, announced that the EPA will remove barrels from the federal Superfund site in LeRoy by the end of February. "I'm proud to announce that the EPA will finally help clean up LeRoy and will remove these barrels by the end of this month," said Congresswoman Hochul. … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Over $40,000 in Value-Added Producer Grants for Central New York Farms
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $40,150 in federal funding for two farms in Central New York to help revamp their marketing strategies, conduct research and create new retail opportunities. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) Program. "This is great news for these Central New York farms," said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. "We need our farmers … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Over $500,000 in Value-Added Producer Grants for Rochester-Finger Lakes Farms
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $506,291 in federal funding for local farms in the Rochester Finger-Lakes Region to help revamp their marketing strategies, conduct research and develop new products. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. "This is great news for these farms in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region," said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Committee on … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Over $333,000 in Value-Added Producer Grants for Hudson Valley Farms
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $333,179 in federal funding for five local Hudson Valley farms to help expand their market opportunities and grow their businesses. The funding was allocated through the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. In September 2011, Senator Gillibrand wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging him to support Maple Shade Farm's application for a VAPG grant to expand … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Nearly $50,000 in Value-Added Producer Grants for Capital Region Farm
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $49,500 in federal funding for Kings Brothers Dairy in Schuylerville to help expand their retail capabilities and update company software. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value-Added Grant (VAPG) Program. "This is great news for Kings Brothers Dairy," said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. "This federal grant will help ensure they have the … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Nearly $395,000 in Value-Added Producer Grants for Western New York Farms
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $394,499 in federal funding for three local farms in Western New York to help revamp their marketing strategies and develop new products. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. "This is great news for Western New York farms," said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. "These federal grants will help ensure that our … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Calls On U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to Consider Capital Region for Satellite Office
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to consider the Capital Region as a site for a satellite office. New York State is the second highest patent issuer in the nation, with the Capital Region specifically known for its renowned innovative, high-tech companies, and expertise in fields such as nanotechnology. The USPTO Capital Region office would cultivate a workforce of well-paid patent examiners, and foster the … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012
Gillibrand Announces More Than $285,000 for Five Dutchess County Fire Departments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $286,380 in federal funding for the New Hackensack, Beacon, Beekman, Pleasant Valley and LaGrange Fire Districts to upgrade their communications system and improve interoperability to help them respond to emergencies more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This is an important investment for firefighters in Dutchess County," … Continue Reading
February 02, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Final Senate Passage of Stock Act to Make Insider Trading by Members of Congress Illegal
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced final Senate passage of the STOCK Act, bipartisan, common sense legislation to make insider trading in Congress clearly and expressly illegal. The Senate voted 96 to 3 to approve the bill. Senator Gillibrand has been a leading advocate for increasing the accountability and transparency of Congress. "We are entrusted with a profound responsibility by the American people to look out for their best interests, and nothing else, … Continue Reading
February 02, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $400,000 in Federal Grants for Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District and New Hyde Park Fire District
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced that the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District will receive a grant totaling $249,920 and the New Hyde Park Fire District will receive a grant totaling $164,295 in Round 8 of the FY11 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. AFG awards are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are designed to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective … Continue Reading
February 02, 2012
Key Senate Committee Passes Gillibrand-Schumer-Brown Bill to Enforce Sanctions Against Syria
Washington, DC - United States Senators Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Charles E. Schumer and Sherrod Brown announced today that the Senate Banking Committee passed their bill to impose sanctions against the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad in the face of a violent and bloody crackdown the government has executed on opposition protestors in the country. The Gillibrand-Schumer-Brown bill would require the President to identify those persons in the Syrian government, and those helping them, who … Continue Reading
