Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $11.5 Million In Federal Funding For Busing Services In New York City And Long Island
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11.6 million in federal funding for Suffolk County and the New York City Department of Transportation. This funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation's Buses and Bus Facilities Grant Program and will be used to purchase new buses, rehabilitate worn equipment, and construct busing facilities. "In order to recover and rebuild our communities from this health and economic … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Gillibrand Leads 23 Senators To Submit Amicus Brief On Ending Discrimination In Foster Care And Adoption
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led 23 Senate colleagues to submit an amicus brief in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, an impending Supreme Court case focused on anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the foster care and adoption system. In March 2018, the City of Philadelphia learned that two of the agencies it partners with to provide foster care services to children in the public child welfare system would not allow same-sex couples to be foster parents, based on the agencies' religious beliefs. The … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Urge HHS And CMS To Provide Critical Resources To Home Health And Community Based Care Services As They Adapt To COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ensure home health care and home- and community-based services (HCBS) have the critical resources needed to continue providing care to older adults and people with disabilities, two communities most vulnerable to COVID-19. The pandemic has made it difficult for older adults and people with disabilities to receive home health services and has … Continue Reading
August 21, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bicameral Call To Invest In Socially Disadvantaged And Veteran Farmers Struggling To Stay Afloat During The Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, joined a bicameral call for continued investment in socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers, many of whom have been hit hard by the pandemic and are in need of direct support. In a letter to the USDA, Senator Gillibrand, alongside her colleagues Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), expressed concerns over the Trump administration's decision to divert funding away … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Legislation To Provide Emergency Federal Relief To Vital Bus, Motorcoach And Ferry Service Operators
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently cosponsored the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act of 2020. This bipartisan legislation would provide $10 billion in emergency economic relief funding, in the form of grants (no less than 50 percent of total funding) and other economic assistance, through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, to motorcoach operators, school bus companies, U.S. flag passenger vessel operators, and other U.S. transportation service … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Legislation To Provide Emergency Federal Relief To Vital Bus, Motorcoach And Ferry Service Operators
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently cosponsored the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS) Act of 2020. This bipartisan legislation would provide $10 billion in emergency economic relief funding, in the form of grants (no less than 50 percent of total funding) and other economic assistance, through the U.S. Department of the Treasury, to motorcoach operators, school bus companies, U.S. flag passenger vessel operators, and other U.S. transportation service … Continue Reading
August 19, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $300K In Federal Funding To Support Nursing Workforce In The Southern Tier
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $286,263 in federal funding to expand nursing opportunities and combat workforce shortages in the Southern Tier. Specifically, this funding will be used to establish clinical education and training programs in the region. "The COVID-19 crisis has proven to us the importance of nurses in keeping the Southern Tier healthy," said Senator Schumer. "While we have tremendous nurses providing world-class care … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Gillibrand: Postmaster General Statement “Leaves Too Many Important Questions Unanswered” About USPS Future
In response to the postmaster general's latest statement about suspending operational changes until after the 2020 election, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following: "The postmaster general's latest statement leaves too many important questions unanswered about protecting the sanctity of our voting system this November. These operational changes should have never have happened in the first place, and they must now be reversed. "Compromising critical mail service for veterans, … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Gillibrand Calls For Robust Funding To Support Substance Use Disorder And Mental Health Care Services In Next Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged Senate leadership to include robust funding for substance use disorder and mental health care services in the next coronavirus relief package. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues and substance use disorders, while support services have been reduced. Additional funding for substance use disorder and mental health care services is crucial in order to provide individuals with the essential resources to begin and sustain … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million In Agricultural Research Funding For Cornell University And The New York Agricultural Research Station
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced $1,379,996 million in federal funding for food and agriculture research at Cornell University and the New York Agricultural Experiment Station. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Specifically, this funding was awarded through NIFA's Agriculture and Food … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Senator Gillibrand Calls For Full Funding Of Post Office To Protect Jobs, Public Health, And Democracy
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand demanded answers on the state of operations in the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and urged him to address delays in mail delivery that are putting lives, the economy, and our democracy at risk. Recently, disturbing reports have emerged of slow mail delivery, mail left sitting in facilities overnight, and the sudden removal of mail collection boxes. The delays have shone a light on the challenges of delivering and receiving … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Support For Bicameral Legislation To Help Achieve Environmental Justice For All
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced her cosponsorship of bicameral legislation to ensure environmental justice and health equity for all. Environmental racism has fueled disparities in environmental and public health outcomes on communities of color across the country. Additionally, systemic barriers such as redlining, intentional disinvestment, and unregulated pollution have systematically harmed and disadvantaged communities of color and low-income communities. The Environmental … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $6 Million In FEMA Funding For Firefighters
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $5,333,677.90 in federal funding to provide essential PPE, training, and supplies for firefighters responding to the COVID-19 outbreak across New York State. Additionally, the Morrisvile Fire District received $642,857.14 to purchase emergency rescue vehicles. This federal funding was administered through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Impact Aid Infrastructure Act To Support School Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tom Udall (D-NM), introduced legislation to provide $1 billion in supplemental funding for school infrastructure construction grants through the Impact Aid program. Federally impacted school districts educate some of the most vulnerable student populations - including Native American and military connected … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Call On Con Edison For Answers Regarding Massive Power Outages Impacting New Yorkers
Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter to Consolidated Edison CEO John McAvoy expressing deep concern over the prolonged power outages facing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers after Tropical Storm Isaias. More than one week after the storm tore through the New York region, nearly 600 Consolidated Edison customers were still without power on Wednesday morning. "New Yorkers are rightfully frustrated with the lasting power outages caused by Tropical Storm Isaias, … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Call To Extend Census Deadlines, Ensure Full And Accurate Count In Wake Of COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan group of 50 senators urging congressional leadership to extend deadlines to deliver data for the 2020 Census in the next coronavirus relief package. Due to the pandemic, additional time is needed to ensure an accurate and complete count as field operations have been delayed and significantly reduced in order to protect the safety of respondents and Census employees. However, the Trump administration recently announced its decision to end … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Gillibrand Cosponsors Bipartisan Restart Act To Support Small And Mid Sized Businesses; Bill Would Especially Help New York’s Theaters, Live Events, Restaurants And Hospitality
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined a group of more than 30 senators to cosponsor the bipartisan Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery in Twenty-Twenty (RESTART) Act to support small- and mid-sized businesses that have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus crises. While the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was intended to support small- and mid-sized businesses weather the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, many have slipped through the cracks and are struggling to … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $5 Million In Federal Funding For Telehealth Services
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $5,308,428 in federal funding to provide additional telehealth services for New Yorkers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The thirteenth set of telehealth funding was administered through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program as allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). This federal funding will be used to purchase telehealth … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Address Maternal Health Disparities And Combat Maternal Mortality Crisis Exacerbated By COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Tina Smith (D-MN), and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood to introduce legislation to address maternal health disparities and ensure pregnant people-- especially people of color and other at risk populations-- are supported in the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The maternal health crisis in the United States has been exacerbated by the … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Gillibrand, Collins Lead Bipartisan Call To Provide More Than $1 Billion In Funding To Help Older Adults During The COVID-19 Crisis, Including $750 Million For Nutrition Services In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Special Committee on Aging, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, led Senate colleagues in calling for the inclusion of $1.1 billion in funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, including $750 million in funding for the OAA Nutrition Services in the next coronavirus relief package. The funding would provide grants to states, territories, and tribes to help support the delivery of nutritious … Continue Reading
