As Momentum For 9/11 Health Bill Grows, Gillibrand Aiming For A Christmas Miracle

Washington, DC -Momentum for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act continues to grow, as Majority Leader Reid announced his intentions to bring the bill to another vote and Republican leaders, Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Governor Mike Huckabee, announced their support for the bill. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "I'm aiming for a Christmas miracle that would fulfill our moral obligation to these heroes before the end of the year. "Due to the tireless … Continue Reading

After More Than 30 Infant Deaths Since 2001, CPSC, Gillibrand, Crowley, Schakowsky Announce Approval Of New Federal Rules To End Dangerous Drop-Side Cribs

Washington, DC - U.S. Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Representatives Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and a parent whose child died from a faulty crib announced today that the CPSC has approved new federal rules to end dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs. The new federal crib standards, set to take effect in June, would stop the sale, re-sale, manufacture, and distribution of drop-side cribs and would also … Continue Reading

Gillibrand On Extending Bush Tax Cuts To Wealthy: Wrong For Economy, Wrong For Future Generations

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after voting against cloture on legislation to extend the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires: "I'm opposing this deal in its current form because right now we need to focus on the middle class, who are always left behind, not the people at the very top, who are doing just fine in this economy. "Although this deal includes important measures I have fiercely advocated for, extending Bush tax … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Praises Signing Of Child Nutrition Bill

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today praised the signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act - the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act - calling the legislation, "a step in the right direction." The overhaul of the child nutrition programs includes a number of measures that Senator Gillibrand pushed for, including an increase in the reimbursement rate for schools, new regulation to eliminate junk food, major expansion of access to include all foster children, and new … Continue Reading

Reps. Lee and Higgins and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand Join With Flight 3407 Families to Call On Department of Transportation to Fully Enforce Aviation Safety Reforms

BUFFALO - Western New York Congressmen Chris Lee (NY-26) and Brian Higgins (NY-27), and Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand joined with the Flight 3407 family members today to publicly call upon the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement ticketing requirements included in the comprehensive aviation safety reforms signed into law earlier this year. The reforms passed in August as a result of the February 12, 2009 crash of Flight 3407 in Clarence Center included a … Continue Reading

As Cyberattacks Over Wikileaks Grows, Gillibrand, Clarke Call On U.S. To Launch Global Effort To Crack Down On Cyber Criminals

New York, NY - After a week in which WikiLeaks supporters launched cyber attacks targeting American companies MasterCard, Visa, and PayPal, Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representative Yvette D. Clarke, Chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, called on President Obama to launch a global effort to crackdown on cyber criminals. Standing at Symantec's New York City office, lawmakers urged … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement On Senate Dream Act Vote Today

Washington, DC -U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today issued the following statement on the Senate Dream Act vote today: "Cada estudiante en Nueva York y en todo el país merece la oportunidad de realizar todo su potencial," indicó la Senadora Gillibrand. "La ley actual castiga injustamente a miles de jóvenes que se han recibido toda su educación en los Estados Unidos y conocen a los Estados Unidos como su único hogar. Esta legislación … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement On Senate Republicans Filibustering 9/11 Health

Washington, DC - After Senate Republicans today voted against moving the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to formal debate until the Bush tax breaks are extended for millionaires and billionaires, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "The idea that tax cuts for millionaires would derail this legislation is simply outrageous and offensive. The men and women who rushed to the burning towers and worked for hundreds of hours on the pile did not delay and … Continue Reading

With Approximately 800,000 Unemployed New Yorkers, Gillibrand Fights To Extend Emergency Unemployment Assistance For Struggling Families

Washington, DC - With approximately 800,000 New Yorkers out of work and approximately 200,000 about to lose the emergency unemployment insurance assistance they depend on, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is fighting to extend long-term unemployment insurance assistance through the end of 2011. Without an extension, the 200,000 total New Yorkers who will lose their benefits by the end of this year will nearly double to approximately 400,000 by May of 2011. More than 40,000 New York jobs will … Continue Reading

As International Talks Of Iran’s Nuclear Program Begin, Gillibrand, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urge U.S. To Ratchet Up Pressure On Iran Until It Halts Nuclear Ambitions

Washington, DC - Ahead of today's talks on Iran's nuclear program that are now underway between six world powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - and Iran, Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with a group of bi-partisan Senate colleagues urged President Obama to continue to ratchet up the pressure on Iran through comprehensive enforcement of existing sanctions and new measures until Iran halts its nuclear ambitions and … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Bi-Partisan Coalition Of Congressional Leaders Call For Special Inspections Of Syrian Suspected Nuke Sites After Report Finds Continued Efforts To Block Un Inspectors

Washington, DC - After a new report shows that Syria continues to block a UN nuclear watchdog agency from accessing suspected nuclear sites, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a bi-partisan coalition of Congressional leaders are urging President Obama to request the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to pursue "special inspections" in Syria. The Senate and House leaders said Syria's transparency is "alarmingly inadequate" and … Continue Reading

With 55,700 Unemployed Western New Yorkers, Gillibrand Fights To Extend Emergency Unemployment Assistance For Struggling Families

Buffalo, NY - With 55,700 Western New Yorkers out of work and approximately 14,390 about to lose the emergency unemployment insurance assistance they depend on, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is fighting to extend long-term unemployment insurance benefits through the end of 2011. Without an extension, approximately 200,000 total New Yorkers will lose their benefits by the end of this year, and will nearly double to approximately 400,000 by May of 2011. More than 40,000 New York jobs will be … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Senate Vote On 9/11 Health Bill

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is announcing that Majority Leader Harry Reid intends to file for cloture on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act on Monday and that an initial Senate vote to begin formal debate on the bill will likely take place on Wednesday. Senator Gillibrand released the following statement: "When I first introduced this bill in the Senate last year, no one thought we would make it to this point. Due to the tireless effort of so many first … Continue Reading

Gillibrand On Tax Votes: Republicans Have Wrong Priorities

Washington, DC - After Republicans today voted to obstruct efforts to cut taxes for middle class families and small businesses, and extend emergency unemployment assistance for millions of Americans who are looking for jobs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "Republicans simply have the wrong priorities and are refusing to compromise. We need to deliver for the people in the middle, who are always left behind, not the people at the very top, who are doing just … Continue Reading

Gillibrand: New Jobs Report Shows Urgent Need To Extend Emergency Unemployment Assistance

Washington, DC - November unemployment data released today from the U.S. Department of Labor shows the unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "The new job numbers show that we need to extend emergency unemployment assistance for people that are out there desperately trying to find a job. The economy is simply not producing enough jobs to support these families right now. "I cannot believe that Republicans want to extend Bush … Continue Reading

New Unemployment Data: 40,000 NY Jobs, 200,000 NYers At Risk – Gillibrand Urges Extension Of Emergency Unemployment Assistance

Washington, DC - According to a new report out today from the White House Council of Economic Advisers, New York State would lose more than 40,000 jobs over the next year if Congress fails to extend emergency unemployment assistance. More than 200,000 New Yorkers, who are currently looking for work, could lose their assistance by the end of the year if an extension is not passed. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement urging Congress to pass an extension of emergency … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Inhofe, Landrieu Announce Final Passage Of Help Haiti Act – Proposal Clears Legal Hurdle For Adopted Haitian Orphans To Become U.S. Citizens

Washington, DC - Approximately 1,000 Haitian orphans who left the earthquake-ravaged country for the United States before all of their administrative steps were finalized are now facing legal limbo and fewer legal protections. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) today announced final passage of legislation to clear the way for these adopted Haitian orphans who were granted humanitarian parole to the U.S. to become citizens. Senator Gillibrand … Continue Reading

Lieberman, Udall, Gillibrand Praise Pentagon Report On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Repeal

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) issued the following statement today regarding the Pentagon's release of a report on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the law that prevents gay Americans from openly serving in the military: "The Pentagon report makes it unambiguously clear that the risk of repeal on military effectiveness is minimal, that any risks can be addressed by implementing the report's recommendations, and that a … Continue Reading

With More Than 50,000 Nyers Enrolled In Wtc Health Registry, Gillibrand Demands Senate Passage Of 9/11 Health Legislation

Washington, DC - With more than 50,000 New Yorkers, hailing from 58 of New York's 62 counties, enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today restated her call for passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would ensure proper monitoring and treatment for the innocent men, women and children who face potential life-threatening health effects due to the toxins released at Ground Zero in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage Of Food Safety Bill – Includes Gillibrand Recall Alert Measure

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced U.S. Senate passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act -- the first major, comprehensive update to America's food safety laws in over a century. The legislation includes a key measure authored and introduced by Senator Gillibrand that requires grocery stores and food distributers to effectively and proactively alert consumers when food recalls occur. "We must make it easier for consumers to know exactly which foods have … Continue Reading