Press Releases
Gillibrand Pushes For Increased Funding For Lyme Disease And Tick-Borne Illness Research
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called for $12 million for the Department of Defense's Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) and additional funding for tick-borne disease research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). New York State has experienced an overwhelming increase of ticks, Lyme disease, and other tick-borne diseases with 92,577 cases of Lyme being reported over the last two decades. Despite the high number of vector-borne diseases in New York and … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Gillibrand Announces New Legislation To Clean Up PFAS At New York State Military Installations With Highest Levels Of Contamination
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced two much needed pieces of legislation, the Clean Water for Military Families Act and the Filthy Fifty Act, directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify and clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at U.S. military installations with some of the highest detections across the country. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.-14) will introduce both measures in the House. The hundreds of contaminated military sites across the country … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $1 Million For Public Park Repairs In The Town Of North Hempstead
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,007,533.80 in federal funding to repair the Harbor Hills Park that incurred severe damages during Superstorm Sandy. The park posed a serious threat to public health and safety after undergoing strong winds, heavy rain, and up to eight feet of storm surge. This funding was allocated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will help return … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan And Bicameral Bill To End LGBTQ+ And Religious Discrimination In The Child Welfare System
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-7), Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), Angie Craig (D-MN-2) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18), is leading the bipartisan and bicameral John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act. This bill would prohibit discrimination against prospective foster or adoptive parents, and children and youth in the foster care system on the basis of religion, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and … Continue Reading
June 07, 2021
Gillibrand, Espaillat, James Stand At Youth Action YouthBuild In East Harlem Calling For Funding To Support Apprenticeship Program For At-Risk Youth
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer visited the YouthAction YouthBuild (YAYB) center in East Harlem to call for an increase in federal funding for the YouthBuild program, which helps at-risk youth from ages 16 to 24 develop skills and knowledge to gain industry-recognized job credentials, apprenticeships, and employment. In the United States alone, there are … Continue Reading
June 07, 2021
Gillibrand: Time For Pathway To Citizenship For Essential Workers, Dreamers, TPS Recipients
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement calling for lawmakers to consider all options to create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers who were on the frontlines of the pandemic response: "We must reimagine an immigration system that is both fair and transparent, and that upholds the dignity of immigrants and asylum seekers looking to build better lives. Undocumented immigrants were on the frontlines of New York's response to the … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Gillibrand, Meng, Ocasio-Cortez Push For Federal Funding To Fight Maternal Mortality At Elmhurst Hospital
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Representative Grace Meng, member of the House Appropriations Committee, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stood in front of Elmhurst Hospital to advocate for the much-needed renovation of New York City Health + Hospitals Elmhurst Obstetrical Inpatient facilities, in order to provide a more modern, safe, and equitable maternal health care experience to surrounding working class and immigrant communities. They were joined by Queens Borough President … Continue Reading
June 03, 2021
As Caregivers Are Forced To Choose Between Financial Security And Staying Home To Care For A Loved One, Gillibrand Pushes For Caregiver Social Security Credit
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate colleagues to announce legislation that would help caregivers who left the workforce receive retirement compensation through Social Security credits. The Social Security earnings provided in the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would be added to an individual's earnings to determine future Social Security benefits and can be claimed for up to 60 months. In order to qualify, caregivers must provide care for a minimum of 80 hours per month to … Continue Reading
June 03, 2021
ICYMI: NYT: Old-Guard Senators Defy Changes In How Military Treats Sex Assault Cases
In case you missed it, today, the New York Times published a piece highlighting one of the last remaining hurdles to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's major push to enact the widely bipartisan Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act (MJIIPA), which would remove the decision to prosecute serious crimes from the chain of command and put it in the hands of trained, independent military prosecutors, and would implement strong measures to prevent military sexual assault. … Continue Reading
June 03, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $2.6 Million For Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development To Provide Direct Access To Capital For Small Farms And Food Businesses
U.S. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2.6 million in Recovery Assistance funding for the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation. This federal investment was allocated by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was championed by the senators. Specifically, this funding will be used to create a $2,088,000 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), which will … Continue Reading
June 02, 2021
As Pride Month Begins, Gillibrand Calls For The Inclusion Of A Permanent Gender Inclusive Marker (“X”) On All Federal Ids
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand led a bicameral letter with Senator Baldwin (D-WI), Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), and nearly two dozen colleagues in support of a permanent, gender-neutral marker ("X") option for all federal IDs. Establishing a third gender marker as an option for identification is an important step toward equality for transgender, intersex, and non-binary Americans and will help ensure all individuals can obtain identification that accurately reflects who they are, regardless … Continue Reading
June 01, 2021
Gillibrand, Pappas, Delgado Reintroduce Legislation To Finally Stop Polluters From Contaminating Waterways With Toxic Levels Of Pfas
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representatives Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Antonio Delgado (D-NY) reintroduced their bicameral Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act, which would regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals under the Clean Water Act to finally stop manufacturers and other polluters from contaminating our nation's waterways with toxic levels of PFAS. Currently, there are no Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations limiting how much PFAS polluters … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Release Of Gateway Environmental Impact Statement Is Long-Awaited Greenlight For Gateway Tunnel
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement in response to the Biden administration's release of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Gateway Tunnel Project, which clears the path for the project to receive federal funding: "Repairing and strengthening the Hudson River tunnels, which were severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy, is critical to New York and the Northeast economies. I am thankful for the Biden administration's commitment to pushing this … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Gillibrand, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Recent Global Surge Of Antisemitism
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism joined nearly 60 senators in the introduction of a bipartisan resolution condemning recent antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the world. The resolution also includes a call for leaders to denounce antisemitism and take specific steps to address it and prevent it. "The surge of hate crimes and violence against Jewish New Yorkers demands action and accountability. No one … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
ICYMI: Video: Ahead Of Memorial Day, Senator Gillibrand And Veterans Advocate Jon Stewart Double Down On Push To Secure VA Benefits For Veterans Exposed To Toxic Burn Pits
In case you missed it, PBS NewsHour aired a segment highlighting the major push from U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, veterans advocate and comedian Jon Stewart, VA officials, and veterans advocates to pass legislation to help the millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits while serving overseas. In the piece, Gillibrand discusses the Presumptive Benefits For War Fighters Exposed To Burn Pits And Other Toxins Act, which would establish presumption of service connection for veterans … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $2.5 Million For The BOC Capital Corporation To Support Minority Entrepreneurs And Small Businesses In New York City
U.S. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2,400,000 in federal funding for the BOC Capital Corporation in New York City. This funding was allocated by the Economic Development Administration (EDA) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was championed by the senators. Specifically, this funding will be used to create a $2,000,000 Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) to support minority communities and … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Gillibrand Reintroduces Safe School Meals For Kids Act; Calls On Congress To Eliminate Harmful Pesticides From Produce In School Meals
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, reintroduced the Safe School Meals for Kids Act to eliminate harmful pesticides from produce served in kids' school meals. Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide that is widely used on fruits and vegetables across the country - including on apples, oranges, strawberries, corn, and wheat that regularly end up in school meals - and studies have shown that it can harm the nervous system and has been linked to symptoms like nausea, … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Schumer, Gillibrand Deliver Nearly $80 Million In Economic Relief To NYC And LI Airports For Operational And Cleaning Costs
U.S. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $79,342,581 in federal funding for three major New York City and Long Island airports. Secured in the CARES Act championed by the senators, this funding was allocated through the Department of Transportation (DOT) and will serve as a lifeline to local airports struggling to stay afloat after more than a year of limited operations. This funding will help alleviate the cost required to meet increased … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Amendment Calling For Transparent And Thorough Investigation Into COVID-19 Origins
Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan amendment offered by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Roger Marshall M.D. (R-KS) that calls for transparency into the World Health Organization's (WHO) potentially flawed report on the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak, which largely dismissed the possibility that the virus had accidentally escaped from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. Additionally, the amendment calls for a comprehensive … Continue Reading
May 26, 2021
Gillibrand, Schumer Call On USDA To Deliver Additional Relief To New York Dairy Farmers To Support Recovery From Economic Crisis
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Dairy, and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer are calling on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional relief to New York dairy farmers who have taken a financial hit during the COVID-19 crisis. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) was created last year to provide direct relief to farmers and help keep them afloat as agricultural markets, supply chains, … Continue Reading
