Press Releases
Gillibrand Announces $151 Million For High-Speed Rail In New York
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that New York State is receiving $151 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build new high-speed rail lines across New York. "This is great news for New York," Senator Gillibrand said. "Building high-speed rail here will connect more commuters and businesses, create jobs immediately and help rebuild our economy for the long term. We've worked hard for a long time to bring high-speed rail to New York. This … Continue Reading
January 27, 2010
Gillibrand: President’s Historic Call For Repeal Of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Begins A New Era Of Equality And Justice In America
Washington, D.C. - As President Obama issues a historic call to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and unveils a new way forward for hardworking middle class families in his State of the Union Address, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "President Obama's call to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' marks the beginning of a new era of equality and justice in America. The military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy is an unfair, outdated measure that … Continue Reading
January 27, 2010
In Message To Pentagon Leadership, Gillibrand, Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Say It’s Time To Repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
Washington, D.C. - Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili today joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's call for action to finally end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by issuing the following statement urging top leadership at the Department of Defense to move forward on repealing the policy:STATEMENT FROM GEN. SHALIKASHVILI:"Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts about the Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces. When I was Chairman of the … Continue Reading
January 25, 2010
Gillibrand Fights To Extend Unemployment Insurance For Struggling New Yorkers
Washington, D.C. - With the number of jobless claims and the cost of health insurance premiums on the rise, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed for an extension to unemployment insurance benefits and the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through the end of the year. More than 850,000 New Yorkers are out of work -- with many relying on the assistance they receive from unemployment insurance benefits and the COBRA Premium Assistance Program. Without an extension, the benefits will expire … Continue Reading
January 25, 2010
Gillibrand Urges Feds To Provide Haiti Debt Moratorium
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to press the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for a debt moratorium for Haiti. Currently, Haiti faces approximately $429 million of external debt to the IDB, as well as other debt obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and bilateral debt to Venezuela and Taiwan totaling almost $900 million. While the U.S. has established a trust fund to help service Haiti's debt, this only addressed a … Continue Reading
January 25, 2010
With Dropping Temperatures And Rising Energy Costs, Gillibrand Calls On Obama To Send All Available Home Heating Assistance Resources For New York
Washington, DC - With dropping temperatures and rising energy costs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on President Obama to release an additional $100 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that cold-climate states like New York need and were promised. Last month, Senator Gillibrand helped secure $5.1 billion for the program that helps seniors and low-income families heat their homes during the winter months. An additional $45 million was sent to New … Continue Reading
January 22, 2010
Senators Menendez And Gillibrand, Congresswoman Clarke, Councilwoman Letitia James Urge Feds To Protect Thousands Of Orphaned Haitian Children In Aftermath Of Devastating Earthquake
New York, NY -- In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti which has left hundreds of thousands of children as orphans, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) and Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) urged the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help orphaned children in Haiti by clearing the legal adoption process logjam … Continue Reading
January 22, 2010
Gillibrand Makes Personal Call To National Grid: Keep Jobs In New York
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made a personal phone call last night to the President of National Grid urging him to not outsource New York jobs as they proceed through their organizational review. Following news reports that National Grid was considering outsourcing much of its information services work, including software programming, computer networking and other functions, outsourcing as many as 1,200 jobs in the Northeast, Senator Gillibrand sent a letter on January 4 to … Continue Reading
January 21, 2010
Senator Gillibrand Blasts Murkowski Amendment As “An Assault On The Clean Air Act”
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement to the record against Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski's amendment to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act: "Mr. President, I rise today to speak against the proposed Amendment from the Senator from Alaska. Mr. President, this resolution of disapproval goes against good public health … Continue Reading
January 20, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Feds To Protect Buffalo’s Statler Building By Recognizing It As One Of The Most Endangered Historic Places
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the National Trust for Historic Preservation to protect the Statler Building in Buffalo by recognizing it as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. "The Statler Building is a cultural gem that has been a centerpiece of Niagara Square for over a century," said Senator Schumer. "Classifying it as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places will help protect this historic and architecturally … Continue Reading
January 20, 2010
Senator Gillibrand Opening Statement for Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Yemen
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following opening statement from today's Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Yemen: Confronting Al-Qaeda, Preventing State Failure: "I appreciate Chairman Kerry convening this critical hearing on the first full day that the Senate begins its new session. The attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner on December 25was a chilling reminder of the looming threats facing our country. I want to welcome our administration and … Continue Reading
January 19, 2010
In Wake Of Haiti Earthquake, Gillibrand Presses Feds To Help Orphaned Children, Prioritize Orphanages In Haiti For Assistance, And Ensure Haitian American Families Fleeing Island Can Leave With Their Children
Washington, DC - In the wake of last week's earthquake in Haiti, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pressed the State Department to help orphaned children, prioritize orphanages in Haiti for assistance, and ensure Haitian-American parents fleeing the island can leave with their children. Prior to last week's disaster, there were approximately 20,000 children living in Haiti's 187 licensed orphanages, and the U.N. estimates there was a total of 380,000 orphans. Adoption Of Orphaned … Continue Reading
January 19, 2010
Gillibrand, Maloney, Liu Announce Effort To Help Main Street By Cutting Taxes For Businesses That Create New Jobs
Queens, NY - Standing in a small business center located at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and New York City Comptroller John Liu were joined today by business owners to announce new federal legislation to help Main Street by cutting taxes for businesses that create new jobs. Senator Gillibrand is working to include the legislation as part of an upcoming jobs bill the Senate is expected to consider. With the U.S. now two … Continue Reading
January 18, 2010
Prepared Remarks Of Senator Gillibrand: Commemorating The Legacy Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
New York, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered the following remarks in New York City to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: I am thankful for the Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network. You are doing important work bringing voice to people and communities who are underserved. I am so thankful to be here to honor the memory, the life, and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King. As we honor Dr. King today, we must look at ways to continue his … Continue Reading
January 15, 2010
Gillibrand Praises Obama Administration For Announcing Temporary Protected Status To Haitians
Washington, D.C. - At the urging of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and 18 of her Senate colleagues, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced temporary protected status for Haitians now living in America. Senator Gillibrand made her case to the President the morning after a record-breaking earthquake devastated the capital city of Haiti. "The extreme loss of life that many are expecting from the disaster in Haiti is heartbreaking and tragic," Senator Gillibrand said. "My … Continue Reading
January 15, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million For The University of Rochester For Research Into Next Generation Lighting
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the University of Rochester has been awarded $1,239,071 through the Department of Energy's solid-state lighting (SLL) awards. These awards are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will provide for research, development and deployment for SLL technologies. The University of Rochester will gain access to funds specified for Core Technology Research, which will advance the technical … Continue Reading
January 14, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand To Introduce New Legislation To Temporarily Waive Tax Deduction Limits On All Charitable Contributions For Haitian Relief Efforts – Would Provide Immediate Boost To Donations
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they will introduce legislation to temporarily halt certain tax rules in order to encourage and increase charitable contributions for Haitian relief efforts. Under current law, a taxpayer can only take a deduction for up to 50 percent of one's income in a certain year, meaning a person cannot pay no taxes by giving away all of their income in a given year, and a corporation can only donate 10 percent of its income. … Continue Reading
January 13, 2010
Gillibrand To Obama: Grant Temporary Protected Status To Haitians
Washington, D.C. - After a 7.0 earth quake devastated Haiti's capital city, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today offered her thoughts and prayers for families who lost loved ones in the record-breaking earth quake, and renewed her call to the Obama Administration to grant temporary protected status for Haitians who fled to America because of past violence and disaster. Senator Gillibrand today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to grant the temporary protected status of Haitians … Continue Reading
January 13, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $2 Million In Economic Recovery Act Funding For Clean Energy Initiatives In Erie County
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a total of $2,903,000 to Erie County in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These funds are awarded to help communities improve their energy efficiency, reduce their energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create green jobs locally. Throughout the program's implementation, DOE will provide strong … Continue Reading
January 13, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $3.5 Million In Economic Recovery Act Funding For Clean Energy Initiatives In Orange County
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Department of Energy has awarded a total of $3,516,700 to Orange County in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This money will help finance upgrades to buildings that will increase energy efficiency, reduce energy usage and costs, create local jobs and lower carbon pollution. "There is nothing better than boosting the clean energy … Continue Reading
