Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Capital District Transportation Authority Set to Receive $2.5 Million in DOT Funding for Hybrid Electric Buses

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is set to receive $2.5 Million in funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for the purchase of hybrid electric buses. Gillibrand and Schumer commend DOT for their work to improve transit vehicles across the state. "The Capital Region is growing through green jobs and new technologies and our public transit system must be ready to handle the load. I … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $90,000 in Federal Investments for Schuyler County Veterans’ Service Agency; Investment will Implement State-Of-The-Art System that Secures Reliable Transit for Veterans

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative grant totaling $93,750 to Schuyler County Veterans' Service Agency (VSA). The grant, administered through the Federal Transit Administration, will help implement a one-call/one-click system to accommodate veterans' transit needs. Specifically, this ride reservation system will provide up to date software to … Continue Reading

On Veteran’s Day, Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Navy Cross, Purple Heart for Family of Long Island Vietnam Vet

Long Island, NY - Forty-five years after a Long Island marine died in combat in Vietnam, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully secured long overdue posthumous medals for the family of Lance Corporal Richard Kaler. Standing at the North Shore LIJ Health System's Rosen Family Wellness Center, Senator Gillibrand and State Senator Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) presented the soldier's family with the following medals on Veteran's Day: … Continue Reading

After Years of Waiting, Disabled Saratoga Veteran Finally Receives $3k in Monthly Benefits After Gillibrand Comes to His Aid

Corinth, NY - After a bungled application process left a disabled 46 year-old veteran waiting years for VA benefits, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully expedited Daniel Sweet's case, securing nearly $3,000 in monthly benefits for the Saratoga soldier and approximately $23,000 in retroactive benefits over the past year. Senator Gillibrand is now taking on a new fight for the veteran, pushing the Veterans Affairs to reopen Mr. … Continue Reading

To Salute Veteran’s Day, Gillibrand Launches New Online Tool for Service Members, Veterans and Families to Gain Access to Resources

New York - To help salute Veteran's Day, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, launched a new online comprehensive government tool on her Senate website today to provide a one-stop online shop for New York's men and women in the military, veterans, and their families. The site aims to support veterans' local needs and equip them with federal agency resources across a wide range of topics including federal job listings, career counseling, … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage of Legislation to Put America’s Heroes Back to Work

Washington, D.C. - As the nation prepares to honor our veterans tomorrow, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced Senate passage of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, legislation that addresses unacceptably high rates of unemployment among veterans including measures to incentivize their hiring and ease their transition into the work force. The bill, which passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support, aims to ensure that all troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have the necessary … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce: Bill to Create Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn Passes Key Senate Committee for the First Time

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that, for the first time ever, legislation to create a national park at the Harriet Tubman House has passed the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The bill must now be voted on by the full Senate. The Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act would establish two parks, one in New York and one in Maryland. The National Historic Park in Auburn, NY would focus on Tubman's later years, where she was active in … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement as Key Senate Committee Passes Bill to Repeal “Defense of Marriage Act”

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA): "This is a major step forward to end the discrimination that is currently enshrined into U.S. law, and I applaud Chairman Leahy for pushing us forward. "Marriage is the true foundation for strong families. Every loving, committed couple deserves the basic human right to get … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Truck Stop Safety Measure Clears Key Senate Committee

U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that "Jason's Law," a measure to increase security and improve conditions at truck stops across the country is included in the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee's Transportation Reauthorization bill. The legislation is named in honor of Schoharie County trucker Jason Rivenburg, who tragically lost his life during a robbery attempt on March 5, 2009 while resting at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina. … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Measure to Improve Funding for NYS Border Infrastructure Projects Clears Key Senate Committee

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced that a provision she wrote to reform the Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) Program and invest in rail infrastructure at border regions is included in the EPW's Transportation Reauthorization bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). Specifically, Senator Gillibrand's measure would allow states to use funding to improve freight mobility … Continue Reading

Gillibrand: Our Servicemembers Put Their Lives on the Line for This Country and Deserve to Come Home to Good-Paying Jobs

Washington, D.C. - As Veterans' Day approaches, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on her Senate colleagues to swiftly pass legislation to address unacceptably high rates of unemployment among veterans including incentivize their hiring and ease their transition into the work force. The VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which includes bipartisan job training provisions from both the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees, aims to ensure that all troops returning from Iraq and … Continue Reading

At Gillibrand’s Urging, USDA to Ease Regulations on New York Apple Producers

Washington, D.C. - At the urging of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) will ease insurance regulations on fresh apple producers. The rule change will help New York apple producers cut costs and boost efficiency in the record-keeping of their production and distribution, allow them to receive the best possible crop insurance, and end discrimination against smaller apple producers. "New York State is home to the … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement on UN Nuclear Watchdog’s Report on Iran’s Secret Work Towards Building a Nuclear Weapon

Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today after the United Nation's nuclear watchdog released a report saying the Agency "has serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program." The report found, "The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. The information also indicates that prior … Continue Reading

As New Yorkers Prepare to Honor All Veterans, Gillibrand Announces Plan to Strengthen Job Protections, Open Access to Financial Counseling, Mental Health for National Guard and Reserve Members

Washington, D.C. - With approximately 25,000 full and part-time National Guard and Reserve Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in New York State, including approximately 1,300 serving in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is announcing a new plan to give National Guard and Reserve members access to the services and opportunities they deserve in return for their service and sacrifice. Senator … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce New York Set to Receive $2 Million in Emergency Funding for Highway Flood Damage from Hurricanes Irene and Lee

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration is releasing $2 million in emergency relief money for New York State after Hurricanes Irene and Lee. Specifically, this funding will help fund repairs to washed out roads and bridges, debris deposits on roadways, damaged roadway surfaces and more. Schumer applauds the DOT for its allocation of funding to New York, as it will provide critical aid to the … Continue Reading

Schumer & Gillibrand Fight to Prevent Cuts to Disaster Relief Funding

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the members of the House-Senate Conference Committee to include the $3.176 billion for disaster relief in the Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill that passed the full Senate earlier this week. New York State is still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee this summer. The Senate version of the … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand, Maloney, Crowley, King, Rangel, Israel Successfully Change Medicare Rule to Provide $28 Million per Year to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney, Joe Crowley, Peter King, Charles Rangel, and Steve Israel announced that they have successfully secured a Medicare payment improvement resulting in Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) receiving $28 million more each year from the federal government to provide state-of-the-art cancer care to New Yorkers. MSKCC is the world's oldest and largest private cancer center, and one of the … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement as Key Senate Committee Begins Debate to Repeal “Defense of Marriage Act”

Washington, D.C. - After the Senate Judiciary Committee began debate this morning on the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "I applaud Chairman Leahy for beginning this historic debate to end the discrimination that is currently enshrined into U.S. law. "Marriage is the true foundation for strong families. Every loving, committed couple deserves the basic human right to get … Continue Reading

Key Senate Panel Approves Gillibrand Recommended Ronnie Abrams for U.S. District Court Judge, Southern District of New York

Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously voted for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's nominee Ms. Ronnie Abrams to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York. Senator Gillibrand recommended her for the position in April as her first judicial recommendation. Her appointment would add another exceptional female jurist to the federal bench. Ms. Abrams nomination now heads to the full Senate. A distinguished prosecutor, Ms. Abrams rose … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand, Higgins Successfully Change Medicare Rule To Provide $3.2 Million Per Year To Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced that they have successfully secured a Medicare payment improvement resulting in Roswell Park Cancer Institute receiving $3.2 million more each year from the federal government to provide state-of-the-art cancer care to New Yorkers. Roswell Park, Upstate New York's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, is a leader nationwide in alleviating suffering due to cancer. Due to … Continue Reading