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

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

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

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

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

As Communities Across New York Suffer From Aging Water Infrastructure, Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Help Fund Critical Water System Upgrades

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced new legislation, the Promoting Infrastructure and Protecting the Economy (PIPE) Act, which would create a new grant program for water infrastructure projects. The bill would authorize $5 billion over 10 years to provide discretionary grants to state and local governments, tribal governments, and public water utilities for projects related to drinking water and waste water infrastructure. Grants funded by Gillibrand's PIPE Act … Continue Reading

Gillibrand And Twelve Senate Colleagues Demand Answers From Army Corps Of Engineers Following Reports That Personnel Will Leave Puerto Rico

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and twelve Senate colleagues called on the Army Corps of Engineering to answer questions regarding recent reports that personnel are leaving the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico before power restoration on the island is complete. "While we recognize that much progress has been made in restoring power to the majority of customers, the job is not done," the Senators wrote. "The federal government has a responsibility to the remaining customers … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Announces Bipartisan Legislation To Expand Small Business Administration’s Microloan Program, Help Women- And Minority-Owned Businesses Succeed

New Rochelle, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today stood with local business owners and community leaders at Modern Paint and Hardware to announce bipartisan legislation, the Microloan Modernization Act, to expand the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Microloan Program that provides loans and technical assistance to women and minority business owners, among other entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs face challenges accessing the capital needed to start and expand small businesses … Continue Reading

In Marcy, Gillibrand Pushes Bipartisan Legislation To Increase Access To Capital For Small Manufacturers

Marcy, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood today with community leaders at Advanced Tool Inc to push bipartisan legislation, the Investing in America's Small Manufacturers Act, that would increase the availability of affordable loans for small manufacturers through the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 7(a) and 504 loan guarantee programs. The bipartisan legislation would increase the loan guarantee limit for loans to small manufacturers, eliminate a penalty that new manufacturers … Continue Reading

Senator Gillibrand Statement On House and Senate Leadership Stripping Sexual Harassment Language From Omnibus Bill At 11th Hour

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement after reports that House and Senate leadership stripped her Congressional Harassment Reform Act language from the omnibus bill. Provisions from Gillibrand's bipartisan Congressional Harassment Reform Act, which is currently cosponsored by over a quarter of the Senate, were included in the omnibus bill throughout the negotiation process, but were removed by Leadership at the last minute: "I am appalled that … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $125,000 In Federal Funding For Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $125,000 in federal funding for Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. (COI). The funds were provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Education and Outreach Initiative grants. The funding will specifically be used for outreach and education efforts on discriminatory housing practices for minorities, non-English … Continue Reading

Senators Schumer, Gillibrand And Congresswoman Clarke Introduce Legislation To Name Brooklyn Post Office In Honor Of Major Owens

Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced new legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office at 1234 Saint Johns Place in Brooklyn, New York, after former U.S. Representative Major Owens. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke with the full support of the New York delegation. "Brooklynites, like myself, will never forget Rep. Major Owens's tireless … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Statement On The Passing Of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released the following statement on the passing of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter: "I am deeply saddened that my dear friend and colleague Louise Slaughter has passed away. As a long-serving leader of the House Rules Committee, she tirelessly fought for Democratic principles and gave a voice to those who needed it. Louise devoted her life to serving the Rochester community, she never wavered in her fierce defense of our shared values as … Continue Reading

As New York Dairy Farmers Struggle With Historically Low Milk Prices, Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Create New Dairy ‘Price Floor’

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced new legislation, the Dairy Farm Sustainability Act, to create a new 'price floor' for milk that would help New York's dairy farmers continue operating while milk prices are historically low. Gillibrand's legislation would work in tandem with the Margin Protection Program (MPP) and would bring back effective provisions of older dairy programs to create a 'price floor' for milk. The … Continue Reading

After Alarming Report About Patient Death At Buffalo VA And Systemic Failures By Facility Leadership, Gillibrand Urges Immediate Changes To Protect Western NY Veterans

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on Michael Swartz, Interim Healthcare Systems Director of the VA Western New York Healthcare System, to implement immediate changes to the Buffalo VA after the release of the Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General report that highlights major systemic problems including mismanagement of a resuscitation and other concerns affecting the care and treatment of patients. "Providing the highest standard of care for our veterans … Continue Reading

Senator Gillibrand’s Legislation To Designate Finger Lakes Region As A National Heritage Area Passes Key Committee

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that legislation she authored to designate the Finger Lakes Region as a National Heritage Area (NHA) passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Gillibrand's legislation would authorize the National Park Service to take the first step toward designating the region as a National Heritage Area by conducting a feasibility study in Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $125,000 In Federal Funding For CNY Fair Housing, Inc. In Syracuse

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $125,000 in federal funding for CNY Fair Housing, Inc. in Syracuse. The funds were provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) Education and Outreach Initiative grants. The funding will specifically be used to increase education efforts on fair housing rights throughout Central New York. CNY Fair Housing, Inc. … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Demand Answers From New York’s Utilities As Tens Of Thousands Of New Yorkers Faced Extended Power Outages In The Wake Of Winter Storms

Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today wrote letters to the heads of two major power utility companies, Con Edison and New York State Electric and Gas, demanding answers for why thousands of New Yorkers still lack power in the wake of winter storms Riley and Quinn. The letters also questioned the utility companies about whether they are following the recommendations made by New York State's Moreland Commission on Utility Storm … Continue Reading

Gillibrand Pushes Bipartisan Legislation To Increase Access To Capital For Small Manufacturers

Binghamton, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood today with community leaders and the co-owners of 3i Graphics & Signs to push bipartisan legislation, the Investing in America's Small Manufacturers Act, that would increase the availability of affordable loans for small manufacturers through the Small Business Administration's (SBA) 7(a) and 504 loan guarantee programs. The bipartisan legislation would increase the loan guarantee limit for loans to small manufacturers, eliminate a … Continue Reading

Schumer, Gillibrand Urge FEMA To Reverse Decision Denying Disaster Declaration For The Damage Caused By Severe Summer Storms In Upstate New York; Senators Say Flooding Cost Millions Of Dollars In Damages And That FEMA’s Denial Is Shortsighted

U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reconsider their decision to deny New York State's recent appeal of FEMA's initial denial of a disaster declaration for New York State. The senators said 15 counties in New York State were devastated by severe storms and flooding between June 30th and July 24th 2017. That destroyed public infrastructure and caused tens of millions of dollars in … Continue Reading