Senator Gillibrand: President Obama’s Budget Has Right Priorities – Jobs, Education, Security

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today applauded President Obama's budget, which prioritizes job creation, education, and security. Senator Gillibrand will work to improve funding for Medicaid and infrastructure, which would help hold the line on rising property taxes. "Over the past year, I have met with New Yorkers across the state and the number one concern is the economy," Senator Gillibrand said. "New Yorkers expect Washington to be focused on solutions. The President's … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand, Nadler Seek Hud Mortgage Assistance To Help Keep St. Vincent’s Doors Open

New York, NY - With St. Vincent's Hospital on the brink of bankruptcy, U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) urged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help the only Level-1 trauma center serving neighborhoods from Midtown to Downtown stave off closure. Lawmakers warned that closing the hospital's emergency room and trauma center would be devastating to the community. Senator Schumer said, "St. Vincent's plays … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement Following EPA Order To Tonawanda Coke To Clean Up

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, commented on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calling on Tonawanda Coke to comply with the Clean Air Act, fix wastewater leaks, and stop dumping coal tar sludge: "I am pleased that the EPA is continuing to demand that Tonawanda Coke not only meet New York State air pollution requirements, but also clean up their leaks and sludge. It is clear that Tonawanda Coke … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces $151 Million For High-Speed Rail In New York

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that New York State is receiving $151 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to build new high-speed rail lines across New York. "This is great news for New York," Senator Gillibrand said. "Building high-speed rail here will connect more commuters and businesses, create jobs immediately and help rebuild our economy for the long term. We've worked hard for a long time to bring high-speed rail to New York. This … Continue Reading

Gillibrand: President’s Historic Call For Repeal Of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Begins A New Era Of Equality And Justice In America

Washington, D.C. - As President Obama issues a historic call to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and unveils a new way forward for hardworking middle class families in his State of the Union Address, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "President Obama's call to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' marks the beginning of a new era of equality and justice in America. The military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy is an unfair, outdated measure that … Continue Reading

In Message To Pentagon Leadership, Gillibrand, Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Say It’s Time To Repeal “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”

Washington, D.C. - Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili today joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's call for action to finally end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by issuing the following statement urging top leadership at the Department of Defense to move forward on repealing the policy:STATEMENT FROM GEN. SHALIKASHVILI:"Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts about the Policy Concerning Homosexuality in the Armed Forces. When I was Chairman of the … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Fights To Extend Unemployment Insurance For Struggling New Yorkers

Washington, D.C. - With the number of jobless claims and the cost of health insurance premiums on the rise, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pushed for an extension to unemployment insurance benefits and the COBRA Premium Assistance Program through the end of the year. More than 850,000 New Yorkers are out of work -- with many relying on the assistance they receive from unemployment insurance benefits and the COBRA Premium Assistance Program. Without an extension, the benefits will expire … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Urges Feds To Provide Haiti Debt Moratorium

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to press the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for a debt moratorium for Haiti. Currently, Haiti faces approximately $429 million of external debt to the IDB, as well as other debt obligations to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and bilateral debt to Venezuela and Taiwan totaling almost $900 million. While the U.S. has established a trust fund to help service Haiti's debt, this only addressed a … Continue Reading

With Dropping Temperatures And Rising Energy Costs, Gillibrand Calls On Obama To Send All Available Home Heating Assistance Resources For New York

Washington, DC - With dropping temperatures and rising energy costs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on President Obama to release an additional $100 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that cold-climate states like New York need and were promised. Last month, Senator Gillibrand helped secure $5.1 billion for the program that helps seniors and low-income families heat their homes during the winter months. An additional $45 million was sent to New … Continue Reading

Senators Menendez And Gillibrand, Congresswoman Clarke, Councilwoman Letitia James Urge Feds To Protect Thousands Of Orphaned Haitian Children In Aftermath Of Devastating Earthquake

New York, NY -- In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti which has left hundreds of thousands of children as orphans, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) and Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn) urged the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help orphaned children in Haiti by clearing the legal adoption process logjam … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Makes Personal Call To National Grid: Keep Jobs In New York

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand made a personal phone call last night to the President of National Grid urging him to not outsource New York jobs as they proceed through their organizational review. Following news reports that National Grid was considering outsourcing much of its information services work, including software programming, computer networking and other functions, outsourcing as many as 1,200 jobs in the Northeast, Senator Gillibrand sent a letter on January 4 to … Continue Reading

Senator Gillibrand Blasts Murkowski Amendment As “An Assault On The Clean Air Act”

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement to the record against Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski's amendment to stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act: "Mr. President, I rise today to speak against the proposed Amendment from the Senator from Alaska. Mr. President, this resolution of disapproval goes against good public health … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Feds To Protect Buffalo’s Statler Building By Recognizing It As One Of The Most Endangered Historic Places

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the National Trust for Historic Preservation to protect the Statler Building in Buffalo by recognizing it as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. "The Statler Building is a cultural gem that has been a centerpiece of Niagara Square for over a century," said Senator Schumer. "Classifying it as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places will help protect this historic and architecturally … Continue Reading

Senator Gillibrand Opening Statement for Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Yemen

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following opening statement from today's Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Yemen: Confronting Al-Qaeda, Preventing State Failure: "I appreciate Chairman Kerry convening this critical hearing on the first full day that the Senate begins its new session. The attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner on December 25was a chilling reminder of the looming threats facing our country. I want to welcome our administration and … Continue Reading

In Wake Of Haiti Earthquake, Gillibrand Presses Feds To Help Orphaned Children, Prioritize Orphanages In Haiti For Assistance, And Ensure Haitian American Families Fleeing Island Can Leave With Their Children

Washington, DC - In the wake of last week's earthquake in Haiti, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today pressed the State Department to help orphaned children, prioritize orphanages in Haiti for assistance, and ensure Haitian-American parents fleeing the island can leave with their children. Prior to last week's disaster, there were approximately 20,000 children living in Haiti's 187 licensed orphanages, and the U.N. estimates there was a total of 380,000 orphans. Adoption Of Orphaned … Continue Reading

Gillibrand, Maloney, Liu Announce Effort To Help Main Street By Cutting Taxes For Businesses That Create New Jobs

Queens, NY - Standing in a small business center located at LaGuardia Community College in Queens, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and New York City Comptroller John Liu were joined today by business owners to announce new federal legislation to help Main Street by cutting taxes for businesses that create new jobs. Senator Gillibrand is working to include the legislation as part of an upcoming jobs bill the Senate is expected to consider. With the U.S. now two … Continue Reading

Prepared Remarks Of Senator Gillibrand: Commemorating The Legacy Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

New York, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand delivered the following remarks in New York City to commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: I am thankful for the Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network. You are doing important work bringing voice to people and communities who are underserved. I am so thankful to be here to honor the memory, the life, and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King. As we honor Dr. King today, we must look at ways to continue his … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Praises Obama Administration For Announcing Temporary Protected Status To Haitians

Washington, D.C. - At the urging of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and 18 of her Senate colleagues, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced temporary protected status for Haitians now living in America. Senator Gillibrand made her case to the President the morning after a record-breaking earthquake devastated the capital city of Haiti. "The extreme loss of life that many are expecting from the disaster in Haiti is heartbreaking and tragic," Senator Gillibrand said. "My … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million For The University of Rochester For Research Into Next Generation Lighting

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the University of Rochester has been awarded $1,239,071 through the Department of Energy's solid-state lighting (SLL) awards. These awards are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and will provide for research, development and deployment for SLL technologies. The University of Rochester will gain access to funds specified for Core Technology Research, which will advance the technical … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand To Introduce New Legislation To Temporarily Waive Tax Deduction Limits On All Charitable Contributions For Haitian Relief Efforts – Would Provide Immediate Boost To Donations

Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that they will introduce legislation to temporarily halt certain tax rules in order to encourage and increase charitable contributions for Haitian relief efforts. Under current law, a taxpayer can only take a deduction for up to 50 percent of one's income in a certain year, meaning a person cannot pay no taxes by giving away all of their income in a given year, and a corporation can only donate 10 percent of its income. … Continue Reading