Gillibrand Secures Posthumous Purple Heart for WWII Vet’s Family

Canandaigua, NY - After the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to issue Purple Heart honors for a Canandaigua veteran's tombstone and family due to an erroneous omission in its records, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) secured a posthumous Purple Heart and funeral plaque for the family of the deceased World War II veteran and corrected his records. Senator Gillibrand presented the Purple Heart to the Frasca family today at Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center. "Mr. Frasca … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Applauds Steps to Repeal “Defense Of Marriage Act”

Washington, D.C. - As Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announces the Judiciary Committee will begin markup of the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in November, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "I applaud Chairman Leahy for taking these steps to end the discrimination that is currently enshrined into U.S. law. "Marriage is the true foundation for strong families. Every loving, committed … Continue Reading

Gillibrand: New York Shortchanged By COPS Hiring Program

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) urged the U.S. Department of Justice to fully disclose the factors that went into assessing grant applicants' commitment to community policing and how those factors were used decide how grant funding to hire and retain police is allocated to local law enforcement. The Justice Department recently announced more than $243 million in nationwide COPS Hiring Program (CHP) grants to hire and retain police - with only $4 million - or 1.6 … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $9.5 Million in Federal Investments for Capital District Transportation Authority; Investment Will Replace Transit Buses, Complete Station Construction Projects

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $9,500,000 to the Capital District Transportation Authority. Specifically, $4 million will be used for the replacement of transit buses in the fleet. An additional $5.5 million will be used to fund eight bus shelters, emergency phones, additional real time signs and security cameras, and other amenities for NY5 bus rapid transit, a 17-mile corridor that … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Chemung County Set to Receive Nearly $1.3 Million in Department of Transportation Funding for New Buses

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Chemung County Transit System is set to receive $1,290,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds to support the Transit Vehicle Replacement program. The funds will be used to replace outdated vehicles in the system's fleet. Gillibrand and Schumer commend DOT for their work to improve transit facilities across the state. "Safe and reliable buses and transportation are critical to the economic future … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $13.4 Million Grant for Central New York Transportation Authority; Investment Will Replace Transit Buses, Improve Transit for Commuters

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded a total of $13,418,960 to the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority to replace transit buses in the fleet. Schumer and Gillibrand applaud DOT for their efforts to improve quality and efficiency in New York's transit systems. "Safe and reliable buses and transportation are critical to the economic future of Syracuse and Central New York," Schumer said. … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $4.7 Million in Department of Transportation Funding for Western New York

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is set to receive more than $4.7 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support the Niagara Street Corridor Project and for an Amherst-Buffalo Corridor Alternatives Analysis. Gillibrand and Schumer commend DOT for their work to improve transit facilities across the state. Earlier this year, Senator Schumer wrote a letter of support for this … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces More Than $6.6 Million for Cutting-Edge Broadcasting Facility at WCNY

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $6,640,287 grant to consolidate the broadcast operations of the nine New York State public television stations into a single facility at WCNY in Syracuse. The project is expected to save participating stations more than $25 million in operating costs over the next decade, savings that will be invested in increasing local content and services, including much-needed K-12 educational activities, local election coverage and … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Disaster Recovery Center Set to Open in Oneida County This Week

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that a new state and federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open this week in Oneida County on Thursday, October 13th. The DRC will assist individuals, households and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Lee and the subsequent flooding. Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays. "This disaster recovery center is a critical step in helping residents and business owners in … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers Set to Open in Broome, Chenango Counties

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that two more state and federal Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) will open for three days starting this Friday. One center will open in Broome County and Chenango County on Friday October 14th. The DRCs will assist individuals, households and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Lee and the subsequent flooding. Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday, October 16th. "These mobile … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement on Thwarted Terror Plot

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after U.S. authorities thwarted an Iranian plot to bomb the Israeli and Saudi Arabian embassies in Washington and assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States: "I want to thank the intelligence and law enforcement communities for their dedicated and outstanding work in thwarting this attempted attack. Iran has shown the world once again it poses an existential threat to the world community. We … Continue Reading

At Hypres In Westchester County, Gillibrand, Lowey Announce “Made In America” Grant Bill to Bolster High-Tech Manufacturing for New York

Elmsford, NY - While New York has lost a total of more than 123,000 manufacturing jobs since 2005, advanced and high-tech manufacturing jobs are thriving. Computer and electronic manufacturing industries increased employment by 9 percent from 2004 to 2008. To spark more growth in high-tech manufacturing in New York and create more of these good-paying jobs right here, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Nita Lowey today announced their new manufacturing agenda. Senator … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Fulton County To Receive Critical FEMA Assistance

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Fulton County individual assistance to help rebuild and repair homes and businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Lee. Schumer personally called Administrator Fugate, urging FEMA to extend this type of assistance as quickly as possible. Schumer and Gillibrand said that this was an important first step in making sure that Fulton County gets the help it needs to … Continue Reading

Senators Schumer, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Create Jobs by Boosting Tourism In New York

Washington, DC - To create jobs in New York and across the country and strengthen the American tourism industry, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today joined with Senators Mark Begich, Mark Pryor, and Amy Klobuchar to introduce the Travel Regional Investment Partnership (TRIP) Act. The TRIP Act would promote domestic tourism by partnering public and private dollars through a competitive matching grant program within the U.S. Department of Commerce. "New York is chock … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Renews Call For Congress To Create Jobs By Upgrading Infrastructure, Homes, Offices, Communities

Washington, D.C. - In an effort to create new jobs upgrading New York's crumbling infrastructure and rehabilitating outdated homes and office buildings, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is renewing her call for Congress to create jobs by making immediate investments in infrastructure upgrades, as included in the American Jobs Act, that would inject nearly $3 billion for New York and support approximately 38,800 New York jobs. Senator Gillibrand is also working to establish a National … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Ulster and Orange County to Receive Critical FEMA Assistance

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Orange County and Ulster County individual assistance to help rebuild and repair homes and businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Lee. Ulster County has also received public assistance for debris removal, emergency protective actions, and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Orange County is already eligible for public assistance. Schumer … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Oneida County to Receive Critical FEMA Assistance

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Oneida County individual assistance to help rebuild and repair homes and businesses damaged by Tropical Storm Lee. Schumer personally called Administrator Fugate, urging FEMA to extend this type of assistance as quickly as possible. Schumer and Gillibrand said that this was an important first step in making sure that Oneida County gets the help it needs to … Continue Reading

With More Than 700,000 New Yorkers Living In Poverty, Gillibrand Urges Feds To Boost Funds For SNAP Benefits, Emergency Food

Washington, DC - With more than 700,000 New Yorkers living in poverty, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, called for more federal funding for the nation's food stamp and emergency food programs to aid impoverished New York families and underserved communities. For many families trying to survive on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or monthly food stamps, their benefits only last until the third week of the month while many soup … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Disaster Recovery Centers Set to Open In Broome, Chemung Counties This Week

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that two more state and federal Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) will open this week. One center will open in Broome County on Wednesday, October 5, and the other in Chemung County on Thursday, October 6. The DRCs will assist individuals, households and businesses affected by Tropical Storm Lee and the subsequent flooding. Operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays. "These disaster … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Urge President Obama, FEMA to Provide Individual Assistance to Oneida County After Lee

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on President Barack Obama and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to immediately approve individual assistance for Oneida County residents in the wake of Tropical Storm Lee. Residents along Sauqoit Creek sustained substantial damage to their homes, losing furnaces and other essential equipment just as cold weather begins to set in. Individual assistance exists to help provide housing and aid in rebuilding efforts. "I visited … Continue Reading