With Holiday Shopping in Full Swing, Gillibrand Announces Plan to Protect Children from Toxic Toys

Washington, DC - While New York parents shop for gifts this holiday season, only a fraction of the chemicals commonly found in children's toys are tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A new report released today by "Safer Chemicals, Health Families" entitled Poison in Paint, Toxins in Toys reveals that more than 650 household products contain one of two toxic chemicals of high concern, including BPA in 280 plastic toys. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her plan to … Continue Reading

With Holiday Shopping in Full Swing, Gillibrand Announces Plan to Protect Children from Toxic Toys

Washington, DC - While New York parents shop for gifts this holiday season, only a fraction of the chemicals commonly found in children's toys are tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A new report released today by "Safer Chemicals, Health Families" entitled Poison in Paint, Toxins in Toys reveals that more than 650 household products contain one of two toxic chemicals of high concern, including BPA in 280 plastic toys. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her plan to … Continue Reading

With Holiday Shopping in Full Swing, Gillibrand Announces Plan to Protect Children from Toxic Toys

Washington, DC - While New York parents shop for gifts this holiday season, only a fraction of the chemicals commonly found in children's toys are tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A new report released today by "Safer Chemicals, Health Families" entitled Poison in Paint, Toxins in Toys reveals that more than 650 household products contain one of two toxic chemicals of high concern, including BPA in 280 plastic toys. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her plan to … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces City of Buffalo to Receive $15 Million DOT Grant

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that the City of Buffalo will receive $15 million in Department of Transportation (DOT) grants from the National Infrastructure Investments or TIGER III Discretionary Grants program, funds that would allow the city to upgrade transit and pedestrian amenities by returning automobile access to Main Street and restore aging Metro Rail facilities in downtown Buffalo. Senator Gillibrand wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces $10 million in Federal Funding to Complete Construction of Syracuse Connective Corridor

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kristen Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the City of Syracuse will receive $10 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to complete Phases II and III of Syracuse Connective Corridor, a project to connect downtown Syracuse and University Hill, two burgeoning areas of economic and cultural growth. Senator Gillibrand personally spoke with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week in support of the funding and wrote a letter in October … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Urges Hearing Aid Company to Stay in New York

Long Island, NY - After reports that a manufacturer of hearing aids is looking to relocate their offices to Suffolk County, New Jersey or Pennsylvania, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today urged the President and CEO of Widex USA to keep their corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in New York. While Senator Gillibrand encourages the company to remain at its current locations in Nassau and Queens, she pointed out that Suffolk County is a strong choice for merging its … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Fights for TAA Assistance for Fulton Birds Eye Workers

Washington, D.C. - With the impending closure of the Birds Eye plant in Fulton expected to affect upwards of 300 workers in Central New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the U.S. Labor Department to support Workers United's bid for Trade Adjustment Assistance ( TAA) to provide impacted workers with new training opportunities, job search and income support, relocation allowances and other important assistance. "We need to stand by these Central New York workers who are losing … Continue Reading

Gillibrand’s Bipartisan Stock Act Continues to Build Momentum as Key Senate Committee Moves Forward On Closing Insider Trading Loopholes

Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) commended Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT) for continuing to build momentum around her strong bipartisan STOCK Act legislation to close loopholes for any insider trading by lawmakers, their families and staffs. Senator Lieberman has referred to his committee members a newly revised comprehensive measure today which builds on Gillibrand's initial legislation and will be marked-up by … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Hochul, Schumer, Higgins, Slaughter Urge Farm Aid to Choose Buffalo as Host for 2012 Benefit Concert

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Representative Kathy Hochul joined with Senator Charles E. Schumer and Representatives Brian Higgins and Louise Slaughter today in urging Farm Aid to choose Buffalo as the host city for the annual Farm Aid benefit concert in 2012. World-renowned artists, including Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, are slated to perform at next year's benefit concert. The benefit not only has potential to generate millions in … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Reveal: House Budget Cuts Could Delay Construction of Brookhaven National Lab’s National Lightsource II; Senators Urge Key Senate Committee to Fully Fund BNL’s Crucial Programs

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand today revealed that under the budget passed by the House of Representatives, funding for key programs at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) would be slashed, jeopardizing research and high-tech jobs on Long Island. The House version of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill would cut funding for the ongoing construction of the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), delaying and increasing the total cost of … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement on Obstruction of Consumer Watchdog

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after Senate Republicans blocked the confirmation of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: "The American people expect and deserve better than today's filibuster in the Senate. Creating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was an important step to ensure fundamental fairness for consumers when it comes to lending practices and much more. Richard Cordray has all the qualities … Continue Reading

With Final Decision Approaching, Gillibrand Renews Call for Historic Landmark Designation for USS Slater

Washington, DC - After a key decision last week paving the way to designate the USS Slater, one of the remaining World War II naval ships and only destroyer escort afloat in the United States, as a National Historic Landmark, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is renewing her call for its final approval, a decision expected within months. In her letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senator Gillibrand wrote, "The USS Slater played a prominent role in American naval strategy and … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Approval of Petition for Compensation for Linde Ceramics Workers Exposed to Harmful Radiation

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health has unanimously approved the petition for eligible retirees of Linde Ceramics facility for the illnesses caused from radiation exposure on the job between November 1, 1947 and December 31, 1953. During the Cold War, employees of Linde Ceramics were exposed to radioactive materials, which then caused a variety of cancers and other injuries in many of those exposed. For … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Urges DOD to Require U.S.-Made Steel for Military Vehicles

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today urged the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to require American made steel be used for military vehicles. This change would boost domestic steel production and bring jobs to upstate New York. "In these tough economic times, it is critical that the federal government does everything it can to encourage manufacturing in the U.S.," Senator Gillibrand said. "I want to see 'Made in America' … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Schneiderman Announce Federal Measure to Crackdown on Illegal Guns on the Heels of A.G.’S Investigation Finding Blatant Disregard of Current Law

New York, NY - Just days after New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's undercover investigation led to criminal charges against 10 New York gun dealers for illegal gun sales, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was joined today by Schneiderman, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence to announce the introduction of federal legislation to crack down on corrupt gun dealers and eliminate the steady flow of illegal guns into New York. Nearly 90 … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Secures Senate Approval of Defense Department Review Boosting Minorities and Women in Military Leadership Positions

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced that her amendment requiring a Defense Department review of key Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommendations, including strengthening diversity among military leadership, and repealing the policy blocking women from serving in combat, was included in the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the Senate late last night. "More than sixty … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Secures Senate Approval for $50 Million for Nanotechnology Research and Development

Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Armed Services Committee, secured Senate approval for an increased focus on nanotechnology research by the Defense Department, including a study to determine the need for a center for nanotechnology. If a new center is established, it is likely to be located at the University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering devoted to research and development of nanotechnology. Senator Gillibrand included language in the … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Takes Action to Preserve Jobs of Members of the National Guard Who Serve the Nation

Washington D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that her bipartisan amendment to preserve civilian jobs of National Guard members is included in the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act that passed the full Senate last night. "This amendment is critical for members of the National Guard," Senator Gillibrand said. "Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line every day in the service of this country and it … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Secures Senate Approval for Defense Department Study on Recruiting and Retaining Cyber Warriors

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced the inclusion of her Cyberspace Warriors Act in the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate late last night. While the establishment of U.S. Cyber Command and cyber components in each of the four services has been crucial to the development of military cyber security, military leaders recognize that attracting, retaining and maintaining cyber warriors … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Secure Senate Passage of $20 Million for Schenectady Army Reserve Center from Key Senate Committee

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that the Senate has fully authorized $20 million for the construction of a new Army Reserve Center in Schenectady. The new facilities would allow for state-of-the-art, high security military and counter-terrorism training. "This federal investment would mean that state of the art, cutting edge training could happen right here in Schenectady," said … Continue Reading