Press Releases
Schumer, Gillibrand Demand Review Of Process For New York’s Utilities As Thousands Of New Yorkers Faced Extended Power Outages In The Wake Of Wind Storms
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today wrote a letter to the President and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E, demanding a review of the process for restoring full power after outages in the wake of last week's wind storms. The letter also requests transparency about what concrete steps the utility companies are taking when responding to major storm events. "We write to express our deep concern over the extended power outages for … Continue Reading
April 06, 2018
Gillibrand Demands Answers From VA Leadership After Alarming Reports Of Sexual Misconduct By Watertown VA Doctor
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today wrote to Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie and Syracuse VA Medical Center Director Judy Hayman, who oversees the VA's services at the CANI Building Medical Complex in Watertown, NY, demanding answers for the timeline on events surrounding reports that Dr. Jerome Cuyler sexually abused service members undergoing examinations in Watertown. "Providing the highest standard of care for our service members and veterans is … Continue Reading
April 04, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $89 Million In Federal Funding For Youthbuild Program In Just-Passed Bipartisan Omnibus Legislation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the just-passed bipartisan omnibus included $89,500,000 for the U.S. Department of Labor's YouthBuild program, a $5 million increase from Fiscal Year 2017. YouthBuild is a pre-apprenticeship program that helps at-risk youth from ages 16 to 24 develop skills and knowledge to obtain industry-recognized job credentials, apprenticeships, and employment. There are 147 national … Continue Reading
April 03, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $4 Million In Federal Funding For Westchester County To Replace Buses On The Bee-Line Bus System
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $3,600,000 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant for Westchester County. The funding will be used to purchase new articulated vehicles and modernize the Bee-Line's bus fleet. The senators said this funding will help the Bee-Line replace outdated vehicles. The Bee-Line Service provides roughly 2.5 million rides to Westchester County residents on a monthly basis and … Continue Reading
April 03, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $2 Million In Federal Funding For Broome County Department Of Public Transportation
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $2,040,000 in federal funding for the Broome County Department of Public Transportation (BC Transit). The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This funding will allow BC Transit to purchase new hybrid electric buses. These new buses will replace older diesel model buses and reduce emissions and … Continue Reading
April 03, 2018
Gillibrand Announces National Historic Registry Listing For Lyons Downtown Historic District
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Lyons Downtown Historic District in Wayne County has been granted a designation on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation will encourage economic development in the Lyons community and allow for repairs and revitalization in the historic district. "The Lyons Downtown Historic District is one of New York's treasured communities along the Erie Canal and this designation on the National Register of … Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Murray Lead Bipartisan Push With All 22 Women Senators Calling On Senate Leadership To Bring Forward Legislation To Reform Sexual Harassment And Discrimination Rules In Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Patty Murray, led a letter with all 22 Democratic and Republican women Senators calling on Senate leadership to bring legislation up for a vote that would update and strengthen the current reporting process for survivors of all forms of sexual harassment and discrimination in Congress. The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation in February that would help prevent sexual harassment and … Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
Senator Gillibrand, Congressman Nadler Urge Usda To Label Kosher And Halal Food For The National School Lunch Program
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue food codes for kosher and halal foods to be used in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The National School Lunch Program is a federal meal program that provides low-cost or free lunches to school children. Schools receive funding to spend on government food for the program, however, they cannot use the entirety of their NSLP funds for kosher and … Continue Reading
March 27, 2018
Senator Gillibrand Announces Provision In Omnibus Appropriations Package That Would Prevent DOJ From Interfering With Implementation Of State Medical Marijuana Laws
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the inclusion of a provision in the Omnibus Appropriations package that will prohibit the use of federal funds by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to interfere with the implementation of states' medical marijuana laws. Even though 29 states and the District of Columbia have made medical marijuana legal, marijuana in any form is still prohibited at the federal level. "I am pleased that this provision is included in the … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Secure $70 Million In Fed Funding For Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, Including National ‘Remade’ Manufacturing Hub Led By Rochester Institute Of Technology; Rit-Led Institute Won The National 5-Year Doe Competition Last Year To Build A New Manufacturing Institute In Rochester; Vital Funding Will Keep Remade’s Doors Open And Allow Rit To Be On The Forefront Of Innovation & Creating Clean Energy, High-Tech Jobs
Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the recently passed Omnibus spending bill, which funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, includes $70 million for the Department of Energy's (DOE) five Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, including the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)-led REMADE Institute. The funding will support Rochester's Reducing Embodied-Energy and Decreasing Emissions … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand: Just-Passed Federal Funding Bill Provides More Than $6.2 Billion For Labs And Scientific Research, Including At Long Island’s Brookhaven National Lab; Bill Provides $30 Million Alone For Bnl Revitalization Project
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the just-passed federal spending agreement provides $6.259 billion for the Office of Science, which helps fund universities and national laboratories like Long Island's Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), a world-renowned lab responsible for innovation, research and nearly 3,000 LI jobs. This is a $867 million increase from last year. The bill provides $30 million specifically for core facility revitalization at BNL, which … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Senator Gillibrand Announces New Major Federal Investment To Expand Broadband Infrastructure For Rural Communities
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the omnibus spending bill passed last week includes significant investments that will expand access to high-speed broadband service in rural communities and other high-need areas. The bill provides $600 million for a new grant-loan program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS), which would provide much-needed investments in improving broadband service in rural and tribal areas. The … Continue Reading
March 26, 2018
Schumer And Gillibrand: Just-Passed Federal Spending Bill Includes More Than $700 Million In Funds For U.S. Israeli Missile Defense Programs
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced a substantial increase in funding for U.S. - Israeli missile defense programs in the bipartisan federal funding bill. Specifically, the omnibus spending bill provides $705.8 million in funding to the programs, an increase of $105.4 million over last year. The senators said this vital investment in funds will further defend Israel, our closest ally … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand: Just-Passed Federal Spending Bill Includes $12 Million To Protect Long Island Sound—Highest Level Of Funding In 25 Years; Senators Say 50 Percent Increase In Funds From Last Year Will Help Better Protect Environment & LI Economy
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the just-passed federal spending bill includes $12 million to fund the Environmental Protection Agency's Long Island Sound program, an increase of $4 million from the year prior. The Senators said this is the highest level of funding for the LI Sound program in twenty-five years. "The Long Island Sound is a natural treasure and an economic engine for the whole region that draws families, boaters, tourists and anglers … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $40 Million In Federal Funding For The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the recently passed omnibus bill includes $40 million in federal funding for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC), which is $3.972 million more than it received last year. The funding will support the continued operations of the SLSDC, as well as projects to modernize the agency's facilities. "The Saint Lawrence Seaway helps sustain tens-of-thousands of … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $75 Million In Funding For Rochester Laser Lab Included In Just-Unveiled Omnibus Spending Bill – Passage In Congress Would Send Legislation To President’s Desk
Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Omnibus spending bill - a must-pass bill that funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year - includes $75 million for the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and its OMEGA Laser Facility. Today's announcement is the continuation of their multi-year effort of advocating for federal investment in LLE. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 spending bill, … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Secure $75 Million In Fed Funding For Cleanup Of The West Valley Demonstration Project In 2018 Spending Bill; Program Has Been Shortchanged For Years & Site Continues To Pose Environmental Risk To WNY; Senators Say Funding Will Be Used For Waste Cleanup At The Cattaraugus County Site
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced more than $75 million was included in the recently announced omnibus bill for cleanup of the West Valley Demonstration Project. Schumer and Gillibrand were able to successfully secure an additional $8.6 million above FY17 levels in the spending bill. The funding was included as part of the FY18 Omnibus, which is set to pass Congress in the coming days, to pay for ongoing cleanup efforts at the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Secure Major Victories For Upstate New York In Just-Announced Federal Funding Bill
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced major victories that will greatly help Upstate New York in the bipartisan federal funding bill. The senators said these victories will boost the economy and support vital programs, including funding for the opioid prevention, Great Lake Restoration Initiative (GLRI), funding HOME/CDBG Program, critical railroad safety programs, support for education and higher-education and much more. Schumer … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce More Than $21 Million In Additional Federal Funding For Rome Lab In Just-Unveiled Omnibus Bill
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U. S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the bipartisan spending bill includes an increase of more than $21 million in funding for Rome Lab. The senators were successful in securing a total of $243,329,000 in funding for Rome Lab's operations and personnel. "In an era of constant hacking and cyber-spying, Rome Lab is at leading edge of countering cyber threats. Clearly, we must double down on our national investment in the work … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce: Amtrak Will Rename Rochester Train Station After Friend & Colleague Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced Amtrak will rename the Rochester Intermodal Station the "Louise M. Slaughter Intermodal Station in Rochester." Last week, Schumer and Gillibrand in a letter to Amtrak said, renaming the train station is fitting for such an individual who busted through every bureaucratic hurdle and was solely responsible for securing the necessary federal funding for a train station that will strengthen … Continue Reading
