Gillibrand Meets With Schoharie County Farmers, Continues Listening Tour To Discuss 2012 Farm Bill

Cobleskill, NY - As Congress begins debate over the next Farm Bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, the first New Yorker to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, today met with Schoharie County farmers to continue her statewide listening sessions to discuss new efforts to help New York farmers and farming communities. Senator Gillibrand plans to focus on key areas of the Farm Bill that will have major influence on New York, including access to financing, new market … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Urges Transportation Secretary Lahood to Redirect $2.4 Billion in High-Speed Rail Funding Rejected by Florida to New York

Washington, D.C.-With today's decision by Florida Governor Rick Scott to turn away federal funding for the development of high-speed passenger rail, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand immediately wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urging him to redirect the $2.4 billion in funding towards high-speed rail projects for New York's Empire and Northeast Corridors. Advancing high-speed rail for New York, which has one of the nation's most heavily utilized rail corridors, would create … Continue Reading

Senators Gillibrand and Kirk, Representatives Deutch and Burton Introduce New Bipartisan Iran Sanctions Legislation

Washington, D.C. - As American businesses continue to invest in Iran's energy sector, funding Iran's illicit quest for nuclear weapons, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Dan Burton (R-IN) today introduced the Iran Transparency and Accountability Act. The bipartisan legislation would require companies to disclose any sanctionable investments in Iran in their quarterly and annual reports to the Securities and Exchange … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Resolution Celebrating Black History Month Passes U.S. Senate

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced today that a resolution she introduced with more than 30 of her colleagues commemorating Black History Month has unanimously passed the U.S. Senate. The resolution pays tribute to the legacy and contributions of African American pioneers who have fought in the face of hardship and oppression for freedom, equality and opportunity for all Americans. Senator Gillibrand said, "We cannot move forward on the path to freedom, justice … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Introduces Her First Bill Of The New Congress – Legislation To Provide Property Tax Relief To 1.1 Million NY Homeowners

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the first piece of legislation she is introducing in the 112th Congress is a bill to provide property tax relief for more than 1 million New York homeowners. Senator Gillibrand's legislation would enable all New Yorkers that pay property taxes to deduct the full amount of money they pay from their federal income taxes. Currently, only homeowners that itemize their federal taxes can deduct the cost of property taxes. … Continue Reading

Gillibrand On Budget: Time To Get Serious About Cutting Wasteful Spending, But Still Protect Small Businesses, Security

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement today on the 2012 federal budget: "We need to come together - Democrats and Republicans - to take a hard look at ways we can cut spending and lower the deficit. Current spending is not sustainable and we need to cut the waste, fraud and abuse. But the cuts must be responsible and preserve security funding and critical investments in small businesses and economic development. "House Republicans' plan is … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Her First Bill Of The New Congress – Legislation To Provide Property Tax Relief To Nearly 300,000 NYC Homeowners

New York, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by a Staten Island family struggling with high property taxes and the financial difficulties of raising a child with special needs, today announced that the first piece of legislation she is introducing in the 112th Congress is a bill to provide property tax relief for 1.1 million New York homeowners, including nearly 300,000 in New York City. Senator Gillibrand's legislation would enable all New Yorkers that pay property taxes to deduct … Continue Reading

Nearly 700 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Rochester/Finger Lakes – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions

Rochester, NY - With nearly 700 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in the Rochester / Finger Lakes Region, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at Klein Steel Service in Rochester to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and … Continue Reading

More Than 1,000 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Western NY – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions

Buffalo, NY - With more than 1,000 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in Western New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, … Continue Reading

With U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Unable To Attend Jones Beach Memorial Weekend Air Show, Gillibrand Asks Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps To Send Additional Aerial Demonstration Teams

Washington, D.C. - With the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds unable to attend this year's Memorial Day weekend air show at Jones Beach, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to send additional demonstration teams to ensure the event remains top-notch. The Jones Beach Memorial Day weekend event, known as the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show, attracts upwards of 400,000 people each year and features some of America's Armed Force's most talented … Continue Reading

More Than 900 Vets From Iraq & Afghanistan Out Of Work In Central NY – Gillibrand Hosts Important Roundtable With Local Veterans And Business Leaders To Find Solutions

Syracuse, NY - With more than 900 veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan out of work in Central New York, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today held an important roundtable meeting with veterans and business leaders at the South Side Innovation Center in Syracuse to discuss solutions. Senator Gillibrand, who began work on the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, discussed her plans to provide tax credits for businesses who hire vets, provide more job training for veterans, and … Continue Reading

Gillibrand To USDA: Approve Request For Disaster Assistance To Expedite Federal Aid To Three Counties In Capital Region Impacted By Severe Snow

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to approve a disaster declaration for Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington Counties. In recent weeks, farmers in these counties have incurred significant property damage and livestock losses from the collapse of buildings under the weight of snow and ice. Senator Gillibrand is urging the USDA to immediately approve disaster assistance so farmers … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces More Than $1.3 Million Coming To New York State To Help Spur Manufacturing Jobs

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a total of $1,367,000 in federal funding for the New York State Foundation for Science Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). These federal funds will be used by NYSTAR to help strengthen and grow New York's manufacturing industry. This funding is being allocated through the National Institute of Standards & Technology's (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) under the U.S. Department of Commerce. "This is a … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Fema To Issue Disaster Declaration For New York City, Long Island And Rensselaer County Following Historic Christmas Storm; Clean Up Costs For New York Taxpayers In Tens Of Millions

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand urged President Obama to quickly approve Governor Cuomo's request for a Disaster Declaration for New York City, Long Island and Rensselaer County after the devastating storm on December 26th and 27th that buried the areas in over two feet of snow, shut down public transportation for days, and left thousands of streets completely impassable. These cities and towns incurred millions of dollars in costs due to serious damage to … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Border State Senators Urge Feds To Deploy Military-Grade Radar To Combat Increased Airborne Drug Smuggling Across US-Canada Border

Washington, DC- With recent reports showing incidents of drug smuggling along the northern border increasing, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Herb Kohl (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) urged federal authorities to deploy tried and tested, military-grade radar technology to combat the illegal smuggling of drugs into the United States from Canada. In a letter to Department … Continue Reading

Gillibrand To House GOP: Security Funding For NYC Is National Priority

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is fighting back against House Republican plans to cut $100 million of federal funding for critical security upgrades, which were requested by the New York Police Department, at one of New York's top terror targets, the United Nations Headquarters. In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor sent this morning, Senator Gillibrand is urging the House leadership to maintain critical funding that would help protect … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Senate Democrats Speak Out Against Republican Efforts To Restrict Women’s Access To Health Care

Washington, D.C. - At a press conference today, Senate Democrats spoke out to express their opposition to legislation being pushed by House Republicans this week that would endanger women's health by severely limiting their access to affordable health care and reproductive health services. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Al Franken (D-MN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called on House Republicans to join in efforts to … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Applauds Obama Administration’s Renewed Commitment To Develop High-Speed Rail

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today applauded the Obama Administration's renewed commitment to high-speed rail, as Vice President Joe Biden announced a comprehensive plan to dedicate $53 billion over six years to continued construction of a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network. The plan includes $8 billion to expand high-speed rail next year. "If we're going to rebuild our economy and create new jobs across the state, we need to connect all of our … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Call On Fema To Prohibit All-Or-Nothing Flood Modeling – Proposal Could Cost Southern Tier Taxpayers Millions

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prohibit all-or-nothing modeling to determine new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The current FEMA approach, which does not take into consideration existing levee or flood control structures, could cost Southern Tier taxpayers millions. With new modeling, 6,500 additional buildings would be considered in a food zone, costing property owners more for … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Fights Attempt To Eliminate Essential Air Service – Urges Senate To Pass Faa Bill With $73 Million Increase In Program

Washington, D.C. - As the Senate debates the FAA Reauthorization Bill, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today is fighting a proposal to eliminate Essential Air Service (EAS) and is urging her colleagues in the Senate to pass a $73 million increase for the program. The EAS program subsidizes service at small airports and provides communities with better air service. Currently, more than 150 communities rely on EAS for access to the nation's air transportation system. In New York, six airports … Continue Reading