Press Releases
Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Invest $735 Million In The Fight Against Housing Discrimination
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside a group of colleagues led by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), announced legislation to address the affordable housing crisis and fight housing discrimination. The Housing Fairness Act of 2020 would allocate $735 million to increase funding to enforce programs under the Fair Housing Act that prevent discrimination in housing, reduce segregation, and provide additional funds for the Fair Housing Initiative Program. Over the years, the Trump … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Gillibrand Statement On Army’s Report On Command Culture At Fort Hood
Addressing the release of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee's (FHIRC) report, which found significant failures with how the Army handles instances of sexual assault and harassment, and the news that Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy will fire or suspend a number of officers at Fort Hood due to a command culture that has been permissive of sexual harassment and sexual assault, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement: "This report shows why cases of sexual assault and … Continue Reading
December 07, 2020
Gillibrand Statement And Photo Following Meeting With Treasury Secretary-Designate Janet Yellen
Following her meeting with Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen-the first of Yellen's confirmation process-U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement: "Today I had a productive meeting with Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen about the incoming Biden administration's approach to the economic challenges facing our nation. Not only is Janet an accomplished, crisis-tested and eminently qualified public servant, but she is a trailblazer; she was the first woman … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $600,000 To Support Halomine Inc’s Research Efforts To Improve Food Safety And Disinfectant Process
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $600,000 in federal funding for Halomine, Inc, a Cornell University-based company. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR), and will support groundbreaking research to modernize the way food processing plants sanitize food processing equipment. "Amidst the … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $5 Million For New York State In Housing And Urban Development Vouchers To Prevent Youth Homelessness And To Support Independent Living For The Disabled
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $4,842,051 in federal funding allocated through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The COVID-19 health and economic crisis has put 30-40 million people at risk of eviction. This federal funding will provide direct financial assistance for at-risk tenants to prevent homelessness in New York's communities. Specifically, this funding will provide support and assistance to youth … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Gillibrand Urges Senate Leadership To Extend Enhanced Unemployment Benefits In Next Coronavirus Relief Package
With less than a month remaining before enhanced unemployment benefits expire, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is urging Senate leadership to extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs in the next coronavirus relief package. During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of workers have lost their jobs and nearly 8 million Americans have slid into poverty. Rising COVID-19 cases in New York and across the country continue to threaten … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Gillibrand Statement And Photo Following Meeting With Secretary Of State-Designate Tony Blinken
Following her meeting with Secretary of State-designate Tony Blinken, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement: "Today I had a constructive and deeply informative conversation with Secretary of State-designate Tony Blinken about the incoming Biden administration's approach to U.S. foreign policy and national security. Tony is a dedicated and uniquely qualified public servant whose extensive experience in world affairs will help restore American leadership and repair … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
As Record Numbers Of New Yorkers Face Food Insecurity, Gillibrand Urges Congress To Invest $6 Billion To Meet Growing Nutrition Needs
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on Congress to invest $6 billion in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in next year's spending bill. Nationwide, 1 in 5 parents do not have enough to feed their children. Millions of Americans, especially women, continue to be affected by widespread business closures and subsequent job loss and more low-income households are relying on social safety nets to feed themselves and their families. WIC … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Gillibrand Leads Bicameral Call On Congressional Leadership To Include Health Force Proposal In Next COVID Relief Package
In preparation for a COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on congressional leadership to include the Health Force and Resilience Force Proposal in the next coronavirus relief package. The Health Force and Resilience Force proposal, championed by Senators Gillibrand and Michael Bennet (D-CO), and supported by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), would invest billions in local public health infrastructure and … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Gillibrand Responds To The Passing Of Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement in response to the passing of former New York City Mayor David Dinkins: "Today, I join millions of New Yorkers in mourning the remarkable life of former New York City Mayor David Dinkins. A steadfast champion for the poor, Mayor Dinkins broke barriers as New York City's first Black mayor and his unwavering belief in human rights and the need for equality will continue to serve as a shining example for us all. Mayor Dinkins will be … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey, Engel, Maloney Issue Joint Response To Nrc Staff’s Approval Of Indian Point License Transfer
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, joined by Representatives Nita Lowey, Eliot Engel, and Sean Patrick Maloney together issued a joint response to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff's approval of the application to transfer Indian Point's licenses from Entergy to Holtec International and allow the company to use funds from the plant's nuclear decommissioning trusts for spent fuel storage and site restoration on Monday: "Today's announcement by the NRC is an … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Appropriations Leadership To Keep Plum Island Sale Off The Table
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, joined colleagues in calling on the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government, to maintain language included in the House-passed Financial Services and General Government bill to prevent the sale of Plum Island. This language was included in past-years' appropriations legislation. "We must continue to do everything possible to protect and preserve Plum Island," said … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Gillibrand, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Block Trump Order Stripping Federal Employees Of Critical Protections
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined 40 of her colleagues in introducing legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the Administration to fire non-partisan civil servants with policy expertise. "Throughout this transition, the Trump administration continues to find ways to obstruct a historically peaceful and … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Gillibrand Calls On HHS, CDC To Strengthen Ultra-Cold Storage Infrastructure Needed To Ship, Handle, And Distribute COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Senate Democrats in calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen the nation's ultra-cold storage infrastructure needed to ship, handle, and distribute a forthcoming COVID-19 vaccine. In light of recent news that Pfizer/BioNTech is applying for Emergency Use Authorization for their COVID-19 vaccine candidate, providers are beginning to prepare for ultra-cold temperatures … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Gillibrand Announces Landmark Legislation To Address Systemic Discrimination In Federal Aid To Black Farmers
U. S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, alongside U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), introduced legislation to address systemic discrimination within U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) federal agriculture policy. Due to a history of discrimination, Black farmers were stripped of millions of acres of farmland and hundreds of billions of dollars of inter-generational wealth. Today, there are less than 50,000 remaining Black farmers. The Justice for Black Farmers Act will … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
As Overdoses Spike Across New York State During COVID-19 Pandemic, Gillibrand Pushes 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. Gillibrand called for robust emergency funds for providers of mental health and addiction treatment services to maintain operations, and ensure stability for the duration of the economic and public health crisis. "For many families the emotional strains and stress of the holidays are compounded when a … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Gillibrand: McConnell Must Work With Democrats To Pass COVID Relief For MTA, Public Transit
Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, released the following statement in response to the MTA's latest proposal for deep service cuts to subways and buses, which includes nearly 9,000 layoffs: "These drastic cuts could still be avoided if Mitch McConnell and President Trump would work with Democrats to pass a COVID relief package that includes funding for public transit. House Democrats passed a relief bill in May and since this … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $26 Million In Federal Head Start Funding For New York City And Long Island Organizations
U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $26,589,681 in Head Start funding for early childhood education providers in New York City and on Long Island. The funding was allocated through the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and will be used to narrow the achievement gap, fund family support services, and enhance early, comprehensive child development programs for … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Gillibrand Joins Bipartisan Call To Protect Integral C-130 Aircraft Fleet Operated By Nyang In Final National Defense Bill
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Senate colleagues in a bipartisan call on House and Senate Armed Services Committee leadership to ensure the final Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)includes language to maintain the nation's inventory of C-130 aircraft. Both Francis S. Gabreski and Stratton Air National Guard bases have C-130 wings, which provide experienced tactical airlift capability. Last month it was reported … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Nearly $43 Million In Federal Funding For New York City COVID-19 Emergency Management
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $42,997,137.20 in funding for New York City's Office of Management and Budget. New York City was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, and this critical funding will help the city cover previous COVID-19 expenses that helped protect New York's communities and mitigated the risk of COVID-19. Specifically, this funding covers the cost of enhanced protective measures that have been deployed … Continue Reading