Press Releases
Senator Gillibrand Urges HHS To Protect Older Adults And People With Disabilities From COVID-19 Treatment Discrimination
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Aging Committee, called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, and HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Director Roger Severino to ensure the equitable distribution of health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the coronavirus outbreak strains New York's health care system, Senator Gillibrand expressed concern that health care providers … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
As New Yorkers Remain At Home Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic, Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Call To Support Domestic Violence And Sexual Assault Survivors
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a champion in the Senate for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, joined a bipartisan group of senators calling on Congress to include support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the next phase of COVID-19 relief legislation. Historically, instances of domestic violence have increased in times of national crisis and, according to the United Nations, there has been "horrifying global surge in domestic violence" as … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Amazon, Walmart To Waive Delivery Fees And Minimum Order Requirements For Snap Recipients
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on Amazon and Walmart to eliminate delivery fees and minimum order requirements for customers using SNAP benefits. As more New Yorkers have turned to grocery delivery services amidst the coronavirus pandemic, additional costs - such as fees and minimum order requirements - have placed additional financial strain on food insecure families. The inability to afford these delivery services forces people to shop in person and potentially expose themselves … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Administration To Protect Frontline Transit Workers, Update Safety Guidelines
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate colleagues urging the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to update safety guidelines and ensure all frontline transit workers have access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensuring that we have safe and reliable public transit is indispensable for healthcare workers, first responders, grocery and food industry workers and other essential personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
As Family Farms Face Economic Crisis Due To COVID-19 Outbreak, Gillibrand Announces Landmark Legislation To Provide Direct Relief
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced landmark legislation, The Relief for America's Small Farmers Act, to provide economic relief for small farmers suffering from massive financial losses due to reduced demand and supply chain disruptions during the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, farm bankruptcies are at an eight year high and net farm income has dropped by nearly half since 2013. The financial struggles of more than 30,000 New York … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Treasury Secretary Mnuchin To Ensure Americans Experiencing Homelessness Receive Coronavirus Stimulus Payments
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined with her Senate colleagues call to push Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to ensure Americans without a permanent address receive their coronavirus stimulus payments. New York City has the largest homeless population in America and reports have shown that people experiencing homelessness are at much greater risk of contracting and perishing from COVID-19. In the letter, Sen. Gillibrand and her colleagues ask the Trump administration to grant all qualifying … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Senator Gillibrand, Congresswomen DeLauro And Pressley Urge Trump To Support Emergency Paid Leave In Next Economic Relief Package
Confronting the public health crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate lead on the FAMILY Act, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), House lead on the FAMILY Act and Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) today called on President Trump to support including a comprehensive paid leave program in the potential fourth relief package. They were joined … Continue Reading
April 08, 2020
Gillibrand Urges CDC To Report Comprehensive Demographic Data On COVID-19 Cases
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate colleagues to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publicly report all available demographic data for COVID-19 cases. Across the country, reports have emerged of disturbing rates of COVID-19 infection and death among African Americans and Latinos. Currently, the CDC is disclosing data on age distribution, hospitalization rates, and fatalities. However, the CDC is not disclosing other important demographic data, including … Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Trump Administration To Protect Food Supply, Support Farmers As COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts U.S. Food System
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, urged the Trump administration to support farmers throughout the coronavirus pandemic in order to protect the United States' food supply from major disruptions. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to shift daily life for Americans, farmers, and dairy producers in rural areas face rapidly changing demand for their goods since big buyers - such as schools and restaurants - have been forced to close or to drastically … Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bicameral Push To Protect Immigrants, Vulnerable Communities Impacted By COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Lou Correa (D-CA) to introduce bicameral legislation that will protect immigrants and other vulnerable communities during the growing coronavirus pandemic. The Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act would ensure that everyone in America - regardless of immigration status, socio-economic status, or English-language proficiency … Continue Reading
April 07, 2020
Gillibrand Denounces Dismissal Of Critical Limo Safety Requirements
Today, addressing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) decision to dismiss recommendations for enhanced limo safety requirements, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement: "I am deeply disturbed by NHTSA's decision not to move forward with critical limousine safety recommendations put forward by the NTSB. The regulatory loopholes that allow stretch limousines, like the one involved in the tragic Schoharie crash, to operate without … Continue Reading
April 06, 2020
Gillibrand Calls On Trump Administration To Ensure Veterans, SSI Beneficiaries Automatically Receive Direct Cash Assistance
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, joined Senate colleagues to urge the Trump Administration to ensure that veterans and beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income program automatically receive stimulus payments even if they have not filed a tax return. The tax return requirement places a significant burden on low-income veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. Processing direct cash assistance automatically would … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
Gillibrand Pushes Trump Administration To Immediately Release $900 Million In LIHEAP As COVID-19 Causes Financial Crisis For Vulnerable New Yorkers
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan call urging the Trump Administration to immediately release $900 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that Congress included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Gillibrand and her Senate colleagues are further demanding the administration release $37 million that the White House transferred from the program earlier this year to offset the cost of coronavirus response. The growing … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
Following Dismissal Of Navy Captain From USS Theodore Roosevelt, Gillibrand Calls For Investigation Into His Removal And The Navy’s Response To COVID-19 Outbreak
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Committee, joined a group of 17 senators calling on the acting Department of Defense Inspector General Glenn Fine to conduct a formal investigation into troubling reports about the COVID-19 outbreak aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the subsequent decision to relieve Capt. Brett Crozier of his command. Crozier was removed days after he sent a letter up the chain of command expressing concern with the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
ICYMI: Video: Gillibrand Demands Answers On Federal Process For Delivering Disaster Assistance To States
***VIEW THE VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE*** Last night, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand appeared on MSNBC's The Beat with Ari Melber to discuss the need for increased transparency on how the Trump Administration is allocating resources for disaster assistance requested by New York State. Below is a transcript of the interview: Melber: I'm joined now by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. What else needs to be done for New York? Sen. Gillibrand: Well, I'm very concerned that FEMA is not actually … Continue Reading
April 03, 2020
Gillibrand Presses DOJ, BOP For Guidance On Federal Prison Preparedness And Response To COVID-19 Outbreak
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pressed the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for updates regarding the response and preparation at Federal Prison Facilities for the growing coronavirus pandemic. Prison facilities face unique public health challenges as inmates and staff are unable to follow social distancing and quarantine guidelines, and individuals in federal custody may also lack access to critical hygiene products and medical services to test for or treat … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Gillibrand Demands Answers From Trump About Unequal Allocation Of Medical Supplies And PPE
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sent a letter to President Trump demanding an explanation for why New York State, which has substantially more confirmed COVID-19 cases than any other state, has not received its full allotment of PPE and medical supplies, while other states, such as Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Florida, have reportedly had their requests filled completely. Gillibrand called on Trump to deliver clarity and transparency on how FEMA is allocating resources and provide … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Gillibrand Urges HHS To Immediately Ramp Up Emergency Funding To New York Hospitals
As New York health care providers battle the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately award funds for hospitals and health care providers that were appropriated in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Expediting this funding will help ensure New York's hospitals and health care providers have the vital resources to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. New York's health care … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Amidst Conflicting Guidance From IRS, Gillibrand Calls On Trump Administration To Simplify Access To Direct Cash Assistance For Social Security Recipients
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to ensure that all Social Security beneficiaries will automatically receive the direct cash assistance included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act without having to file tax returns. The CARES Act, which was signed into law last week, gives Treasury the authority to send direct cash assistance to social security recipients, even … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $3 Million In Federal Funding For New York City And Long Island
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,997,486 in federal funding for New York City and Long Island. The funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and will be used to support health centers providing care to communities affected by COVID-19. The growing coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed New York's hospital system -- decimating supplies and creating a crisis for health care workers on the … Continue Reading
