Press Releases
Gillibrand Statement On President Trump And Senate Republicans Forcing The Nominations Of Two Far-Right New York Circuit Court Judges Over Strong Objections From Both Home-State Senators
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement after President Trump and Senate Republicans ignored strong objections from both New York Senators and forced through the nominations of Michael Park and Joseph Bianco, two far-right-wing judicial nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which is in New York City. President Trump and Senate Republicans' decision to force these nominees through the Senate, over the strong objections of … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce That Senate Clears Legislation To Permanently Reauthorize The Land And Water Conservation Fund To Preserve And Protect Public Lands, Water Resources, And Historic Sites
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that, following their push, the Natural Resources Management Act that just passed the Senate permanently reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF has been instrumental in preserving some of and the nation's most important and iconic public spaces, and has invested more than $336 million in funding to protect public lands, water resources, and historic … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Gillibrand Joins Senator Sanders To Introduce Bill To Expand Social Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR-04) today stood with workers and advocates to introduce legislation that would expand Social Security benefits and strengthen the retirement program so that it would be solvent for decades to come. Since its creation nearly 80 years ago, Social Security has kept millions of senior citizens, widows, dependent children, and the disabled out of poverty. "We must not … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Schumer, Gillibrand And Brindisi Urge Fema To Approve Much-Needed $3.9 Million Grant To Help Alleviate Severe & Repetitive Flooding Along Sauquoit Creek; Say Fed Funding Would Advance Critical Phases Of Current Mitigation Projects Intended To Protect Residents & Businesses From Further Destruction
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Anthony Brindisi today wrote to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to give their full support for the Town of Whitestown's application for $3.9 million in federal funding through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to alleviate repetitive flooding along Sauquoit Creek. The Representatives explained that this funding would allow Whitestown and Oneida County to implement critical aspects of the Sauquoit Creek … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Gillibrand Announces That Her Legislation To Begin Process Of Designating The Finger Lakes Region As A National Heritage Area Clears Senate In Just-Passed Lands Package
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that her legislation to take the first step towards designating the Finger Lakes Region as a National Heritage Area has passed the Senate as a provision in the just-passed Natural Resources Management Act. Gillibrand's legislation, the Finger Lakes National Heritage Area Study Act, authorizes the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study in Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Gillibrand Announces That Her Legislation To Expand The FDR National Historic Site Clears Senate In Just-Passed Lands Package
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that her legislation to expand the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) National Historic Site just passed the Senate as a provision in the Natural Resources Management Act. Gillibrand's FDR Historic Preservation Act authorizes the National Park Service to acquire 89 acres of land that are directly adjacent to the Home of FDR National Historic Site in Hyde Park and are currently owned by Scenic Hudson. "Franklin D. Roosevelt was … Continue Reading
February 12, 2019
As Momentum Continues To Grow For Congress To Take Action On Paid Family Leave, Gillibrand, DeLauro Stand With Workers, Business Leaders And Advocates To Reintroduce The Family Act To Give Every American Worker Access To Paid Family And Medical Leave
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today stood with workers, business leaders, and advocates to announce the reintroduction of the Family and Medical Insurance Leave Act, or FAMILY Act, legislation that would create a universal, gender-neutral, national paid family and medical leave program. The FAMILY Act is the gold standard for paid leave legislation in Congress and would ensure that workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave … Continue Reading
February 12, 2019
Schumer, Gillibrand, Rice Announce Nearly $13 Million In Federal Funds For Hardening Of Sandy-Damaged Infrastructure For Lawrence Union Free School District On Long Island, NY
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice today announced that the Lawrence High School Building in Nassau County, NY, has been awarded $12,948,307.94 in federal funds for building repairs as a direct result of Superstorm Sandy. The federal funds are administered through U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funding will be used to fix and replace piping in the high school's basement, as well … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Gillibrand Joins Senator Markey, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez And Other Members Of The House And Senate To Introduce Historic Resolution To Set Framework For A Green New Deal For America; Landmark Legislation Comes After Gillibrand’s Public Call Last Month Urging Her Senate Colleagues To Solve The Climate Change Crisis, Eliminate Carbon Emissions, Modernize Our Economy And Create Good, New Jobs For American Workers Throughout New York And All Across The Country
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), and other members of the House and Senate to introduce a bold and ambitious resolution to set a framework for creating a Green New Deal for America. The landmark bicameral resolution comes after Gillibrand's public call to action in a letter last month to Senate Environment and Public … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Gillibrand, Collins, Reed Introduce New Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Transgender Service Members
Washington, DC - Following the recent Supreme Court ruling that will allow President Trump's ban on transgender military service to go into effect, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced new bipartisan legislation to protect transgender service members. This bill would protect currently serving transgender service members and continue to allow new transgender service members to join the military. The Senators introduced similar … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Gillibrand Statement On President Trump’s State Of The Union Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement in response to President Trump's State of the Union address: "President Trump has had years to bring this country together, but instead he has chosen to divide the country across every single line he can imagine. If President Trump wants to convince the country that he actually cares about bringing us together, then he can start by no longer using government workers as political pawns, reuniting the … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
As EPA Prepares To Release Second 5-Year Review Of Hudson River PCB Superfund Site To Determine Whether Cleanup Is Protective Of Human Health, Schumer, Gillibrand Call On EPA To Deny A Certificate Of Completion To GE
Washington, DC - As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) prepares a second five-year review of the Hudson River Superfund site to determine whether the dredging remedy is complete, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are calling on EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to deny a certificate of completion to General Electric at this time. The EPA is expected to soon issue its final report on the Second 5-Year Review of the Hudson River … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $11 Million In Federal Funds For 24 Western New York Organizations Working To End Homelessness
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11,455,427 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for services in Western New York that promote the goal of ending homelessness. The funding was allocated through HUD's Continuum of Care Program, which provides funding to non-profits, as well as local and state governments, to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families and promote access to programs that encourage … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $1.1 Million In Federal Funding For Commission On Economic Opportunity For The Greater Capital Region Youthbuild Program
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1.1 million in federal funding for the Commission on Economic Opportunity (CEO) for the Greater Capital Region YouthBuild program in Troy to help disadvantaged young adults earn degrees and build job experience. The funding is authorized by the Department of Labor's YouthBuild program, aimed to support academic and occupational skills training for at-risk youth. "This federal funding will help … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Gillibrand Invites Decorated Transgender Navy Lieutenant Commander To State Of The Union Address After Supreme Court Allows President Trump’s Transgender Military Service Ban To Go Into Effect; Senator Ready To Introduce New Legislation To Protect Transgender Troops
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced that she will bring decorated transgender Navy Lieutenant Commander Blake Dremann to this year's State of the Union address as she readies new legislation to protect transgender service members in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing President Trump's ban on transgender military service to go into effect. Gillibrand introduced bipartisan legislation with the late … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $9 Million In Federal Funds For 45 Rochester-Finger Lakes Organizations Working To End Homelessness
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $9,959,907 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for organizations in the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region that promote the goal of ending homelessness. The funding was allocated through HUD's Continuum of Care Program, which provides funding to non-profits, as well as local and state governments, to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families and promote access to programs … Continue Reading
February 03, 2019
Gillibrand Demands Urgent Action And Answers From Bureau Of Prisons (BOP) Concerning Inhumane Conditions At Metropolitan Detention Center In Brooklyn; Calls For Immediate Action To Restore Full Heat And Power To The Facility
New York, NY - In response to reports of detainees being held in inhumane conditions without heat or electricity at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker and the Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Hugh Hurwitz to take immediate action to fix this situation and also provide a detailed plan within 24 hours for the full restoration of heat and power. "These conditions are unacceptable … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
Gillibrand Statement On New Pentagon Report Revealing An Increase In Sexual Assault And Harassment At Military Academies
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement on the new Pentagon report showing that sexual harassment and assault at the three military service academies has significantly increased, despite promises of zero tolerance from military leaders: "Despite years of promises from the Pentagon to eliminate sexual harassment and assault from the Service Academies, this new report shows that unwanted sexual contact has increased by a staggering 47% in the … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
As Reports Indicate EPA On Verge Of Not Setting Drinking Water Standard For Highly Toxic PFOA/PFOS, Schumer & Gillibrand Demand EPA Issue Standard For Maximum Exposure To Protect Public Health; Carcinogenic Chemical Has Contaminated Drinking Water & Endangered Public Health In Newburgh, Suffolk & Rensselaer Counties; Senators Call On EPA To Immediately Reverse Course
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Andrew Wheeler to reverse course and commit to setting a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFOA and PFOS as soon as possible. The senators explained that perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a class of toxic chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA, that have contaminated drinking water and impacted thousands of lives in communities … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
Gillibrand Statement On Court Ruling Ordering VA To Provide Long Overdue Benefits To Blue Water Navy Veterans
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement regarding this week's ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturning a sixteen year old VA policy that denied benefits to thousands of Navy veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War: "It is long overdue for the federal government to recognize the sacrifices of our Blue Water Navy veterans and meet its sacred obligation to these veterans. The VA must honor this … Continue Reading
