Press Releases
Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To Take Step Toward Creating Hudson River Valley National Park
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today introduced legislation that would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study on whether the Hudson River Valley should become a unit of the National Park system. This designation would provide significant resources to the Hudson River Valley, including increased federal funding for environmental conservation and economic development programs, and would increase tourism to the area. Rep. Maurice Hinchey sponsored the House … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Bipartisan Group Of Senators Unveils New Legislation To Crack Down On Unfair Currency Manipulation By Countries Like China
WASHINGTON, DC - Responding to the failure of both Republican and Democratic administrations to confront China's currency manipulation, a bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators announced new legislation Tuesday to vigorously address currency misalignments that unfairly and negatively impact U.S. trade. If passed, the legislation would provide less flexibility to the Treasury Department when it comes to citing countries for currency manipulation. It would also impose stiff new penalties on … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Gillibrand Statement On Recent Developments In The Middle East
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today on the recent developments in the Middle East: "The close bond between the United States and Israel remains unbreakable, and America must continue to show unyielding support for Israel's security. "While the timing of the East Jerusalem housing announcement was regrettable, it must not be used by any party to stall peace negotiations or cloud the most critical foreign policy issue facing both countries - … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand, Arcuri Announce Increased Funding For Village Of Newport Water Supply System Revitalization Project
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri (NY-24) announced that the Village of Newport has received an adjusted funding amount from US Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Rural Development. The village will receive a federal grant worth $775,000 and a low interest loan for $1,400,000 in order to comply with an Environmental Protecting Agency (EPA) order to fix a covering system at their water … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Gillibrand Introduces Legislation To Quickly, Effectively Communicate Food Recalls To Consumers, Health Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the first New York senator to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, today introduced new legislation that will overhaul the way food recall notifications are distributed. Senator Gillibrand's Consumer Recall Notification Act would make sure consumers and health workers know when food recalls are made and would require that notices are posted on shelves at food retailers where recalled foods are sold, require that … Continue Reading
March 15, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $3.5 Million Coming To Elmira Corning Regional Airport For Apron Rehabilitation
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that Elmira/Corning Regional Airport will receive a grant totaling $3,515,000.00 from the Department of Transportation. The grant will fund the rehabilitation of the airport's apron, the area contiguous to the terminal where planes are parked, loaded, and unloaded. The rehabilitation ensures safe aircraft operations. "This is great news for the Southern Tier Region and for travelers who use Elmira Corning Regional … Continue Reading
March 15, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand, Owens Continue Campaign To Secure Increased Resources To Combat Drug-Related Crime In Central New York; Urge Drug Policy Chief To Bring Important Drug Fighting Resources To Jefferson County
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Bill Owens today continued their push to bring more federal resources to combat drug smuggling networks in Jefferson County New York. Specifically, the legislators wrote in support of Jefferson County's application to the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). Acceptance into the program would bring Jefferson County additional federal resources to combat drug trafficking. "This has been … Continue Reading
March 15, 2010
After Heavy Storms Ravage New York, Gillibrand Calls On Feds To Assess Storm Damage In NYC, Long Island, And Lower Hudson Valley
Washington, DC - After a weekend of extreme weather that killed several people and left more than half a million New Yorkers without power, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide federal assistance to conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment for Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland and Orange Counties, and all five boroughs of New York City that were ravaged by this weekend's storms. In her letter to FEMA Administrator … Continue Reading
March 15, 2010
With Census 2010 Forms Arriving In Mailboxes This Week, Gillibrand, Hispanic Federation And Coalition Of Advocacy Groups Urge New Yorkers To Participate
New York, NY - As Census 2010 forms arrive in the mailboxes of New York City residents this week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a coalition of advocacy groups and the U.S. Census Bureau urged all New Yorkers to participate in this year's census. At the event hosted and organized by Lillian Rodríguez-López at the office of the Hispanic Federation, Senator Gillibrand showed just how safe, easy, and fast it is to fill out and return the questionnaire. The Senator also announced … Continue Reading
March 12, 2010
Gillibrand Pushes Legislation To Help Jumpstart Lending To Small Businesses, Create Jobs In Syracuse – Urges Senate Leaders To Include In Upcoming Jobs Package
Syracuse, New York - At the Syracuse Fire Department Federal Credit Union, U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed bipartisan legislation to spur small business growth and create jobs by increasing access to loans from credit unions. Senator Gillibrand promoted the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act that would increase access to credit union loans. By law, credit unions are required to limit member business lending to 12.25 percent of the credit union's total assets. Senator Gillibrand's bill … Continue Reading
March 12, 2010
Gillibrand Legislation – “Flight 3407 Memorial Act” – Included In FAA Overhaul
Buffalo, New York - To address concerns raised by families of the victims of Colgan Air Flight 3407 and take a major step forward to strengthening air safety standards, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the crux of the Flight 3407 Memorial Act will be included in a broad overhaul of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Senator Gillibrand's legislation would require the FAA to report back to Congress on all new safety recommendations issues by the National … Continue Reading
March 11, 2010
After Gillibrand’s Urging, Senate Leaders Take Steps To Pass New Sanctions On Iran
Washington, DC - At the urging of U.S. Senate Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate leaders today moved forward on efforts to pass new legislation to strengthen sanctions and checks against companies tied to Iran, including blocking federal contracts to violators and imposing a three year ban on government contracts against companies who falsely claim they do not conduct business with Iran's energy sector. On Monday, Senator Gillibrand sent a letter to … Continue Reading
March 11, 2010
While NYers In Southern Tier And Finger Lakes Wait For New Member Of Congress, Gillibrand Makes It A Top Priority To Help New York’s 29th District
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today assured families and businesses in New York's 29th District that while they wait for new representation in the House of Representatives, she will make it a top priority to make sure local communities in the district are getting their fair share of federal dollars, that all casework is being handled efficiently and effectively, and constituents receive all the help they need navigating federal bureaucracies. "As I told Corning residents … Continue Reading
March 10, 2010
Gillibrand Honors WWII’s Unsung Women Heroes – Five New Yorkers Honored In Washington, DC Today
Washington, DC - After 65 years, five New York trailblazers who represent the first women pilots to fly U.S. military aircraft during World War II finally received national recognition for their service. Senator Gillibrand honored New York's heroic Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) who were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal today. Senator Gillibrand said, "Recognition for these unsung World War II heroes is long overdue. For decades, the pioneers who have laid the groundwork for future … Continue Reading
March 10, 2010
Thousands Of NY Seniors Could Be Living Independently Rather Than In Nursing Homes – Gillibrand Announces New Plan To Help These Seniors Remain In Their Homes For As Long As Possible, Save Taxpayers Millions Each Year
Washington, DC -With thousands of New Yorkers residing in nursing homes that could be living independently, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate's Special Committee on Aging, today announced a broad agenda to help more New York seniors live independently in their homes for as long as they are able by expanding access to in-home care, incentivizing more health professionals to work with seniors and investing in transportation to maximize independence for seniors. A cornerstone … Continue Reading
March 08, 2010
Gillibrand: Feds Must Cut Ties With Companies Doing Business With Iran
Washington, DC - After a recent analysis revealed that companies that do business with Iran's energy sector defied U.S. sanctions law by raking in tens of billions of dollars in federal contracts and loans, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for immediate passage of federal law that would allow President Obama to impose tougher sanctions and checks against companies tied to Iran, including blocking federal contracts to violators and … Continue Reading
March 04, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Question State Dept Decision To Purchase Glassware For US Embassies From Foreign Company Through A No-Bid Contract, Bypassing New York’s Steuben Glassware
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they have written a personal letter to the State Department questioning its decision to award a no-bid contract for glassware for U.S. embassies worldwide to a company that immediately outsourced all the glassware manufacturing work to a foreign manufacturer. The Senators said that American manufacturers of the formal stemware were not even invited to bid for the contract - leaving companies like New York's Steuben … Continue Reading
March 03, 2010
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge NYSEG, NY Public Service Commission To Recommit And Make Much Needed Improvements To Former Seneca Army Depot; Effort Will Continue Former Depot’s Progress Towards Economic Revitilization, Create Jobs
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand announced that they have written a personal letter to the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) and the New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) urging them to do all they can to make improvements to the former Seneca Army Depot, which is now operated by the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA). SCIDA has asked the New York Public Service Commission and NYSEG to make electrical improvements to the … Continue Reading
March 03, 2010
Gillibrand, Fellow Senators Introduce Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Washington, D.C. - - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined with a coalition of United States Senators today to introduce legislation to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and enhance our country's military effectiveness. The Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2010 contains three main provisions: it will repeal the law that prevents gay Americans from openly serving in the military, prohibit discrimination against current and prospective service members on the basis of sexual orientation, and … Continue Reading
March 03, 2010
To Help NY Dairy Farmers And Protect Consumers, Gillibrand Pushes Legislation To Require Country Of Origin Labeling On All Dairy Products
Washington, DC - Responding to yet another recall of milk from China, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced her push for legislation that would require country of origin labeling (COOL) on all dairy products. Just last month, the Chinese government recalled 170 tons of milk powder that had been tainted with melamine. In 2008, milk tainted with melamine killed at least six infants and sickened more than 300,000 in China. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), during … Continue Reading
