Rebuilding the Economy through Small Business, Passing the Farm Bill, Treatment for Our 9/11 Heroes, A Transportation Bill that Works for New York

July 13th, 2012 Unsubscribe WEBSITE | ABOUT | NEWS | ISSUES | AGENDA | SERVICES | CONTACT Senator Gillibrand has been hard at work to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges New York families are facing. This past month, Senator Gillibrand fought for a Farm Bill that would strengthen New York’s farmers and agriculture industry while also protecting hungry children and seniors from devastating cuts to food assistance. Together with bipartisan women of the Senate, she introduced legislation to help small business grow and hire more workers. Senator Gillibrand also continued her effort to ensure our first responders have the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe. Gillibrand Jobs Agenda Rebuilding the Economy through Small Business Senator Gillibrand understands that middle class New York families are struggling, and there is no higher priority than creating new jobs. After hearing from small business owners and community leaders all across the state, Senator Gillibrand is leading the effort in the Senate to spark new growth among small businesses – which are responsible for 60 percent of all new jobs created. Senator Gillibrand’s bill, which has the support of the bipartisan women of the Senate, would renew effective tax incentives to support the growth of small businesses, encourage them to hire new workers, and increase wages. Click here for more information.  Senator Gillibrand with Small Business Owner Tyra Johnson at Blue Sky Design Supply, Buffalo News You Need to Know Passing the Farm Bill As the first member from New York to serve on the Senate Agriculture Committee in nearly 40 years, Senator Gillibrand worked tirelessly to ensure the 2012 Farm Bill works for New York’s farms and families. The final Senate Farm Bill includes important provisions that Senator Gillibrand fought for to strengthen specialty crops, expand broadband access into rural communities, supports commercial fisherman as they recover for disaster, and begins to reform dairy pricing structures to give dairy farmers a better, more just pricing system.   Just as important as the health of our agriculture industry, is the health and nutrition of New York’s children and families, millions of who are struggling in this tough economy. Senator Gillibrand led the effort in the Senate to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from devastating cuts, and will continue to work to bring healthy, nutritious food within reach of New York’s children.  Click here for more information. Click here to watch Senator Gillibrand’s floor speech on the Farm Bill.  Treatment for Our 9/11 Heroes With the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in effect, providing health care and compensation to the heroic first responders who came to America’s rescue on 9/11, Senator Gillibrand continued the fight for New York’s first responders to ensure a broad range of cancers are covered under the law she fought so hard to pass. In June, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Senator Gillibrand announced a proposed rule to make first responders eligible to receive treatment and compensation for 14 different categories of cancer that affect both the respiratory and digestive systems.  The rule would expand access to thousands of 9/11 heroes to the treatments and benefits they deserve. Click here for more information. Senator Gillibrand Meeting with New York First Responders A Transportation Bill that Works for New Yorkers In June, Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together to pass the Transportation Reauthorization bill which makes key investments to rebuild America’s highways, bridges and rail infrastructure, while creating the construction jobs needed to complete these projects. Senator Gillibrand worked hard to include several initiatives in the final bill that the President has now signed into law, including national standards to prepare teenagers to be more responsible drivers and strengthening truck stop safety to save more lives on the road, and improving cross border infrastructure to help grow the economy along New York’s border regions. Click here for more information.   The Gillibrand Agenda Keeping Our Children Safe by Banning Dangerous Toys Since 2010, at least 43 children, including four from New York, have ingested high-powered magnets, which can cause severe stomach and intestinal damage, and even has the potential to result in death. In June, Senator Gillibrand urged the Consumer Protection Safety Commission to ban the sale of dangerous magnetic balls from retail markets. Currently, the magnets are labeled as toys for children ages 14 and up, but that has not prevented these dangerous magnets from getting into the hands of young children. Click here for more information. Protecting Those That Protect Us As state and local governments are tightening their belts to deal with shrinking budgets, public safety services are often a target of tough budget cuts -- reducing important resources for our police, firefighters, and first responders. This month, Senator Gillibrand announced her plan to equip first responders with the tools and resources they need to keep our communities and families safe by protecting federal grant funding that is available to fire departments and first responders. Over the last several months, Senator Gillibrand’s staff has been hosting grant workshops across the state to ensure that fire departments and emergency response agencies are taking advantage of the resources available to them, and submitting competitive proposals to win the funding they need. Click here for more information. Senator Gillibrand with First Responders at Public Safety Training Facility, Rochester Office Locations Albany/Capital District Office Leo W. O'Brien Federal Office Building 1 Clinton Square, Room 821 Albany, NY 12207 Tel. (518) 431-0120 Fax (518) 431-0128 Rochester Office Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building 100 State Street, Room 4195 Rochester, NY 14614 Tel. (585) 263-6250 Fax (585) 263-6247 Syracuse/Central NY James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street, Room 1470 PO Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261 Tel. (315) 448-0470 Fax (315) 448-0476 New York City Office 780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 New York, New York 10017 Tel. (212) 688-6262 Fax (212) 688-7444 Buffalo Office Larkin At Exchange 726 Exchange Street, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14210 Tel. (716) 854-9725 Fax (716) 854-9731 Long Island Office 155 Pinelawn Road Suite 250 North Melville, NY 11747 Tel. (631) 249-2825 Fax (631) 249-2847 North Country Office PO Box 273 Lowville, NY 13367 Tel. (315) 376-6118 Westchester Office Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Tel. (914) 725-9294 Fax (914) 472-5073 Hudson Valley Office PO Box 893 Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel. (845) 875-4585 Fax (845) 875-9099 Washington, DC Office 478 Russell | Washington, DC 20510 | Tel. (202) 224-4451 | Fax (202) 228-0282 Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy

 

Training for the Future, Protecting New York's Auto Parts Manufacturers, Leveling the Playing Field for New York Families with Equal Pay, Keeping Interest STOCK Act Becomes Law

May 30th, 2012 Unsubscribe WEBSITE | ABOUT | NEWS | ISSUES | AGENDA | SERVICES | CONTACT With our economy still in recovery, the top priority for every New Yorker is having a job and the ability to provide for their family. Senator Gillibrand has heard the concerns of people from Long Island to Western New York and is working hard toward finding bipartisan solutions that work: solutions that will create opportunities and level the playing field for people to get back on their feet through their own hard work and policies that keep elected officials accountable to the people they serve.   With the summer months here, Senator Gillibrand is turning up the heat on making New York a leader in job creation and is working tirelessly to strengthen our communities. Gillibrand Jobs Agenda Training for the Future New York is on the cutting edge of new industries with tremendous potential for growth, yet many of these jobs are going unfilled because workers do not have the training needed for these high-skill, emerging industries. Manufacturing jobs in clean energy, computer technology, aerospace, biotechnology and other fast-growing industries often require  workers with additional post-secondary education and job training. To help ensure more New Yorkers have the necessary skills for these good-paying jobs, Senator Gillibrand announced legislation that would better prepare New York’s workforce with the training needed for jobs in growing industries. The plan focuses on strengthening job training programs at community colleges, supporting collaborative efforts among academic institutions and local businesses, providing more businesses with on-the-job training programs, while investing in workforce training programs. Click here for more information. Protecting New York's Auto Parts Manufacturers   With close to 200 auto parts manufacturers throughout New York State employing over 16,000 people, Senator Gillibrand urged the Obama administration to protect auto parts manufacturers from unfair foreign trade practices. Currently, there is an increasing concern that China has begun to target the auto parts industry, increasing their exports by nearly 900 percent since 2000. This has caused the auto parts manufacturing industry to struggle even as U.S. auto producers begin to show signs of recovery. Senator Gillibrand urged President Obama to have the new International Trade Enforcement Center investigate Chinese subsidies for auto parts manufacturing and seek ways to remedy these unfair practices. In March, Senator Gillibrand announced new bipartisan legislation that was eventually passed into law to combat these and other unfair trade practices. In a victory for New York, the new law allows the Department of Commerce to impose duties on subsidized goods from China, providing a major roadblock to Chinese products that threaten jobs here in America. Click here for more information.  Leveling the Playing Field for New York Families with Equal Pay Across New York, working mothers earn 14.6 percent less than men for doing the exact same work. With our economy still recovering, over 40 percent of households statewide rely on women as the main source of income. That is why Senator Gillibrand is leading the effort to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, comprehensive legislation that would close loopholes employers use to shortchange workers, hold employers accountable for pay inequity, make it easier for workers to pursue back pay, and provide working women with access to training and other resources to help empower them to negotiate the fair paycheck that they deserve.  Click here for more information.  Senator Gillibrand at her Women's Economic Empowerment Forum   News You Need to Know Keeping Interest Rates on Student Loans Down With families across the state burdened with the rising cost of education, Senator Gillibrand is urging her colleagues to work on a bipartisan solution to prevent the interest rates on Stafford Loans from doubling on July 1. If interest rates are allowed to double, approximately 7 million students will be paying nearly $1,000 more in interest every year on their student loans. This added burden is on top of the record amount of debt already confronting students when they graduate and start job hunting in a still recovering economy. This past month, Senator Gillibrand traveled around the state to hear the stories of New Yorkers who would be deeply affected by the doubling of interest rates and will continue to seek bipartisan solutions to keep interest rates right where they are. Click here for more information. Click here to watch Senator Gillibrand’s floor speech on student loan interest rates.   Senator Gillibrand at a Senate Hearing Gillibrand Led STOCK Act Becomes Law  Senator Gillibrand has made government accountability and transparency a top priority since being elected. Last month, the STOCK Act, introduced by Senator Gillibrand, was signed by the President into law. The STOCK Act explicitly bars a member of Congress, their staff and all federal employees from engaging in insider trading or otherwise using nonpublic information gained through their work for their own personal benefit. The new law clarifies that this provision constitutes a sufficient basis for the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate and prosecute members of Congress engaging in insider trading, including the “tipping” of non-public information. Click here for more information.     The Gillibrand Agenda Cameras in the Courtroom Senator Gillibrand believes that transparency in government should extend to the U.S. Supreme Court. Last month, Senator Gillibrand continued to build support for legislation that would authorize U.S. Supreme Court proceedings to be televised unless it was determined by a majority vote that such coverage would violate the due process rights of any party involved. Click here for more information. Increasing Safety Measures for New Drivers From 2005 to 2009 more than 280 New Yorkers died and over 46,000 were injured in car accidents involving 16 and 17-year-old drivers. In order to help keep New York’s teen drivers safe, Senator Gillibrand implemented important provisions to the bipartisan Senate transportation bill through her Safe Teen and Novice Driver Protection (STAND UP) Act. The new provisions added to the transportation bill through the STAND UP Act would set a national standard for states to implement Graduated Drivers License programs that prepare teens to be safer, more responsible drives. In addition to fighting for these improved safety measures to the transportation bill that passed the Senate, Senator Gillibrand urged her colleagues in the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead on this important legislation.  Click here for more information. Watch video of Senator Gillibrand talking about the STAND UP Act on the Senate Floor here. Senator Gillibrand speaking at a press conference for the STAND UP Act Office Locations Albany/Capital District Office Leo W. O'Brien Federal Office Building 1 Clinton Square, Room 821 Albany, NY 12207 Tel. (518) 431-0120 Fax (518) 431-0128 Rochester Office Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building 100 State Street, Room 4195 Rochester, NY 14614 Tel. (585) 263-6250 Fax (585) 263-6247 Syracuse/Central NY James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street, Room 1470 PO Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261 Tel. (315) 448-0470 Fax (315) 448-0476 New York City Office 780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 New York, New York 10017 Tel. (212) 688-6262 Fax (212) 688-7444 Buffalo Office Larkin At Exchange 726 Exchange Street, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14210 Tel. (716) 854-9725 Fax (716) 854-9731 Long Island Office 155 Pinelawn Road Suite 250 North Melville, NY 11747 Tel. (631) 249-2825 Fax (631) 249-2847 North Country Office PO Box 273 Lowville, NY 13367 Tel. (315) 376-6118 Westchester Office Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Tel. (914) 725-9294 Fax (914) 472-5073 Hudson Valley Office PO Box 893 Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel. (845) 875-4585 Fax (845) 875-9099 Washington, DC Office 478 Russell | Washington, DC 20510 | Tel. (202) 224-4451 | Fax (202) 228-0282 Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy

 

Hold Down Student Debt Rates, for the Good of U.S.

May 8th, 2012 Unsubscribe WEBSITE | ABOUT | NEWS | ISSUES | AGENDA | SERVICES | CONTACT Dear Friend,             In this challenging economy, a college education means more than ever to reaching for the American Dream.  However, increased costs are making that harder and harder on today’s students, saddling them with too much debt. That is why I am urging my colleagues in Congress to do the right thing and place politics aside to prevent student debt rates from rising. Below is an op-ed I recently wrote in the Albany Times Union which highlights the need for a bi-partisan solution to keeping the student debt rate down to allow our young people to flourish and adequately prepare for the next generation. Sincerely,                                              Kirsten E. Gillibrand                      U.S. Senator for New York  Hold Down Student Debt Rates, for the Good of U.S.    The keys to the American dream in the 21st century start with a college education. Unfortunately, the cost of higher education continues to become increasingly out of reach for too many students. Everyone agrees this is a trend that needs to be reversed, however, if Congress doesn't end the partisan gridlock and act soon, the interest rates on federal loans will double July 1.    This would be disastrous for our nation's students and their families, who are doing nothing but working hard, playing by the rules and meeting the requirements asked of them.    America is home to the best colleges and universities in the world, and our most precious natural resource is our students. Our community and technical colleges are preparing more students every day with the skills they need for the new jobs of the new economy. Just two years of additional education or training can change a person's life with higher income throughout their career, keep families on stable ground and help grow our entire economy.  If we are going to maintain our competitive edge and out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the global competition — it is these students who will lead the way in creating new economic opportunities as we rebuild our economy. I believe their promise is unlimited, but today's students are starting off too far behind as it is — paying tuition that has tripled over the last 30 years, and entering a job market unlike any before this.    Young adults suffer from the highest unemployment rate than anyone else in America at 16.3 percent — almost double the national average.    Those lucky enough to land a job in this tough market are earning less than any other age group, with wages falling 6 percent over the past five years. Instead of finishing college and staking their own claim, they are moving back in with their parents.    Already, student loan debt in the U.S. has topped $1 trillion, even higher than credit card debt. This is a major economic issue that Congress must address in a bipartisan fashion. In 2010, graduates who took out loans left college owing an average of more than $25,000. Fifteen million students benefited from the action Congress took five years ago to lower interest rates on Stafford Loans each year to a low and manageable rate of 3.4 percent.    Now, Congress needs to act again to keep interest rates from doubling to 6.8 percent. If we do not, 7 million students will pay an average of $845 more each year in added interest, including more than 420,000 students in New York who will have to pay an additional $340 million starting July 1. That's an extra $6.3 billion in debt in just one year.    When we price young people out of a college education, we all pay a price. When we limit opportunity, we hold our entire country back — robbing ourselves of a future engineer or biologist. We need young people today to be the ones who develop the next big ideas that spark new businesses, create the jobs of the future, and reach the next great scientific breakthrough capable of curing humanity's oldest and deadliest diseases, saving lives and improving lives for generations to come.    American exceptionalism relies on our ability to equip our students with knowledge and opportunity to achieve their full potential, and more importantly, to take our country to new heights.    That starts by making college more affordable, opening the door of higher education for any young person who is willing to work their hardest and earn it — allowing them the same opportunities for success as those who were born into it.    Congress shouldn't stand in their way of getting a fair shot at the American dream. It is time to change the rules of student loans to reward hard work and responsibility — instead of risk.    We all know the consequence we face. And we all know the one simple step we can take right now to begin to rein in the massive amount of student debt this nation carries. There is no excuse for inaction.    So instead of putting the fate of our young people's ability to pay for college and pursue their dreams in the hands of partisan politics, let's take this commonsense step today to hold down interest rates on student loans.    Kirsten Gillibrand is a Democratic senator from New York. Office Locations Albany/Capital District Office Leo W. O' Building 1 Clinton Square, Room 821 Albany, NY 12207 Tel. (518) 431-0120 Fax (518) 431-0128 Rochester Office Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building 100 State Street, Room 4195 Rochester, NY 14614 Tel. (585) 263-6250 Fax (585) 263-6247 Syracuse/Central NY James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street, Room 1470 PO Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261 Tel. (315) 448-0470 Fax (315) 448-0476 New York City Office 780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 New York, New York 10017 Tel. (212) 688-6262 Fax (212) 688-7444 Buffalo Office Larkin At Exchange 726 Exchange Street, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14210 Tel. (716) 854-9725 Fax (716) 854-9731 Long Island Office 155 Pinelawn Road Suite 250 North Melville, NY 11747 Tel. (631) 249-2825 Fax (631) 249-2847 North Country Office PO Box 273 Lowville, NY 13367 Tel. (315) 376-6118 Westchester Office Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Tel. (914) 725-9294 Fax (914) 472-5073 Hudson Valley Office PO Box 893 Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel. (845) 875-4585 Fax (845) 875-9099 Washington, DC Office 478 Russell | Washington, DC 20510 | Tel. (202) 224-4451 | Fax (202) 228-0282 Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy

Take a Do-It-All Approach to Expand America's Energy Portfolio

April 17th, 2012 Unsubscribe WEBSITE | ABOUT | NEWS | ISSUES | AGENDA | SERVICES | CONTACT Dear Friend, I know first-hand how tough New York families are struggling in this challenging economy. I also know the recent spike in gas prices causes real stress on family budgets. That is why I am pushing a common sense “Do-It-All” plan to increase America’s energy portfolio. Below is an op-ed I recently authored in the Buffalo News I wanted to share with you that outlines my plan to hold the big 5 oil companies accountable and invest in American Made energy, by Americans –for Americans. Sincerely,                                              Kirsten E. Gillibrand                      U.S. Senator for New York   Taking a Do-It-All Approach To Expand Nation's Portfolio   As gas prices continue to rise in this challenging economy, it is clearer than ever that we need a new “do-it-all” energy policy that expands America’s energy portfolio. We need to increase domestic production in a responsible way, keep American oil here, not ship it overseas and develop new sustainable technologies that will power our economy for years to come. And we need to finally hold the oil industry accountable for the wild price swings. We can start by ending the wasteful government subsidies for the five biggest oil companies—BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell. Combined, these companies made $137 billion in profits in 2011, a 75 percent increase from 2010 alone. When every penny increase at the pump puts an additional $200 million right in their pockets, big oil companies don’t need any more handouts from American taxpayers. But politicians in Washington, who gladly take their money for campaigns, continue to protect them from any efforts that would end this scam. The free ride for big oil has to stop. I propose we start      immediately by repealing the $4 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies the oil companies now reap and reinvesting those funds in ways that make the United States less dependent on foreign oil and protect us from the current manufactured spikes we see year in and out. Second, we need a “Keep it in America” law. Any oil drilled in the United States on publicly leased lands should be required to stay in America to help ease the price at the pump. Currently, too much of this oil is being sent to countries like China and India. Third, currently oil companies have permits to drill on thousands of acres of leased land in the United States that they are just sitting on. If they won’t drill in preapproved federal lands, we should withdraw their permits. Last, we need to continue to demand more fuel-efficient cars and trucks to better serve consumers and decrease our reliance on oil. The same goes for new sustainable energy research and development and manufacturing. Critics say that clean energy technology is science fiction and just the latest trend in going green. But that just gives countries like China and India that are capitalizing on this technology more time to take the lead. New York is up to the challenge. I’ve traveled all across New York State, and I’ve seen our amazing potential in this industry firsthand. We are home to the proudest manufacturing tradition, world-class universities and research institutions, the hardest workers and the brightest minds — every resource we need to fuel our economy with new energy, new businesses and new jobs, and lead us to energy independence. Now is the time to make this our future. No more gas price gimmicks. Cut the big oil tax subsidies, cut our dependence on foreign oil, and harness the potential in New York to produce clean energy that’s made in America.   Office Locations Albany/Capital District Office Leo W. O' Building 1 Clinton Square, Room 821 Albany, NY 12207 Tel. (518) 431-0120 Fax (518) 431-0128 Rochester Office Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building 100 State Street, Room 4195 Rochester, NY 14614 Tel. (585) 263-6250 Fax (585) 263-6247 Syracuse/Central NY James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street, Room 1470 PO Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261 Tel. (315) 448-0470 Fax (315) 448-0476 New York City Office 780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 New York, New York 10017 Tel. (212) 688-6262 Fax (212) 688-7444 Buffalo Office Larkin At Exchange 726 Exchange Street, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14210 Tel. (716) 854-9725 Fax (716) 854-9731 Long Island Office 155 Pinelawn Road Suite 250 North Melville, NY 11747 Tel. (631) 249-2825 Fax (631) 249-2847 North Country Office PO Box 273 Lowville, NY 13367 Tel. (315) 376-6118 Westchester Office Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Tel. (914) 725-9294 Fax (914) 472-5073 Hudson Valley Office PO Box 893 Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel. (845) 875-4585 Fax (845) 875-9099 Washington, DC Office 478 Russell | Washington, DC 20510 | Tel. (202) 224-4451 | Fax (202) 228-0282 Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy

Meeting with New York's Business Community, Protecting New York's Military Assets, Creating More Transparency and Accountability in Washington, Improving Services for Seniors

March 6th, 2012 Unsubscribe WEBSITE | ABOUT | NEWS | ISSUES | AGENDA | SERVICES | CONTACT U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been hard at work for New Yorkers. Senator Gillibrand is working to pass legislation that will create an environment for economic growth, and make Washington more accountable and transparent. Last month, Senator Gillibrand’s STOCK Act - which bans all Congressional insider trading and ensures that lawmakers play by the exact same set of rules as all Americans - passed the U.S. Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support. Senator Gillibrand also successfully passed another top priority - legislation to implement one of the final outstanding recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report. As part of the package to extend the payroll tax cut for middle class families, she helped secure passage of legislation to create a nationwide communications system for first responders so that all responders across levels of government and jurisdictions can communicate in real time in the event of a major crisis. Senator Gillibrand is also fighting to keep New York’s military bases strong, and advocated on behalf of essential services for New York’s growing senior population.  Gillibrand Jobs Agenda Meeting with New York's Business Community Over the past few months, Senator Gillibrand has met with leaders from businesses and Chambers of Commerce across the State to discuss her jobs agenda. During these tough economic times, Senator Gillibrand is committed to creating and retaining jobs and fostering local economic growth across New York. Senator Gillibrand’s plan for future economic growth includes upgrading our infrastructure, investing in manufacturing, encouraging research and development, and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. Click here for more information. Senator Gillibrand Touring Welch Allyn Medical Diagnostic Equipment Manufacturing Factory with Boad Member Eric Allyn, Skaneateles Protecting New York's Military Assets The U.S. Department of Defense is beginning to implement its plan to cut $487 billion from its budget over the next decade. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Gillibrand is working hard to protect and enhance New York’s military installations. From the Army base at Fort Drum, to the Air Force Research Lab, and all of the National Guard assets across the state, she is proactively working with the White House and Defense Department to put these installations in a strong position to maintain and attract new missions. Senator Gillibrand will continue to advocate on behalf of New York’s bases with top military officials. Click here for more information. The Gillibrand Agenda Creating More Transparency and Accountability in Washington Since joining Congress, Senator Gillibrand’s hallmark has been making Washington, DC more open, transparent, and accountable. In fact, Senator Gillibrand was the first member of Congress to post her official daily schedule, personal financial disclosure form, and all of her federal funding requests on her website. Now, Senator Gillibrand has taken on Congressional insider trading by helping pass legislation in the Senate to ensure Members of Congress are playing by the same rules as everyone else. Senator Gillibrand’s bipartisan STOCK Act outlaws insider trading by members of Congress and allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to prosecute cases of insider trading in addition to making Congressional insider trading a violation of House and Senate rules.  This will make those who take part in insider trading accountable to not only the Securities and Exchange Commission, but to Congress’ own ethics rules as well. The Gillibrand reform agenda also takes on special interest influence, makes all public government documents available online, and would allow U.S. Supreme Court proceedings to be televised. Click here for more information. Senator Gillibrand Speaking to Her Colleagues in a Senate Hearing Improving Services for Our Seniors With an estimate of over 3.5 million New Yorkers currently at least 60 years old, and another 1.2 million expected to reach 60 over the next five years, Senator Gillibrand is working to strengthen services for New York’s seniors as part of the Older Americans Act. This important legislation delivers a broad range of senior services, from funding for nutrition and in-home care, to housing, transportation and other services.  Senator Gillibrand’s priorities include providing better aging-in-place opportunities, so more seniors can get the care they need in their own homes instead of moving to costly nursing homes, providing more effective technology and financial literacy services, improving nutrition, and preventing elder abuse. Click here for more information.   News You Need to Know FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants Workshop In response to the devastation left by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, Senator Gillibrand’s office co-hosted a statewide Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazardous Mitigation workshop at SUNY New Paltz. The workshop provided information for communities on how to evaluate natural hazards, assess risks, develop mitigation strategies and identify viable projects, all in an effort to have the state take greater advantage of federal funding for hazard mitigation. Click here for more information. Click here to watch video of the workshop. New Nationwide Communications System for First Responders Last month, Senator Gillibrand helped pass the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act  to finally fulfill a crucial outstanding recommendation of the 9/11 Commission Report. The legislation would create a nationwide, interoperable wireless broadband network that would equip our first responders across local, state and federal levels with essential lifesaving communication tools and technology in the event of a major crisis. Click here for more information.   Senator Gillibrand with Members of FDNY Engine 160-Rescue 5 Group, Staten Island Office Locations Albany/Capital District Office Leo W. O'Brien Federal Office Building 1 Clinton Square, Room 821 Albany, NY 12207 Tel. (518) 431-0120 Fax (518) 431-0128 Rochester Office Kenneth B. Keating Federal Office Building 100 State Street, Room 4195 Rochester, NY 14614 Tel. (585) 263-6250 Fax (585) 263-6247 Syracuse/Central NY James M. Hanley Federal Building 100 South Clinton Street, Room 1470 PO Box 7378 Syracuse, NY 13261 Tel. (315) 448-0470 Fax (315) 448-0476 New York City Office 780 Third Avenue Suite 2601 New York, New York 10017 Tel. (212) 688-6262 Fax (212) 688-7444 Buffalo Office Larkin At Exchange 726 Exchange Street, Suite 511 Buffalo, NY 14210 Tel. (716) 854-9725 Fax (716) 854-9731 Long Island Office 155 Pinelawn Road Suite 250 North Melville, NY 11747 Tel. (631) 249-2825 Fax (631) 249-2847 North Country Office PO Box 273 Lowville, NY 13367 Tel. (315) 376-6118 Westchester Office Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Tel. (914) 725-9294 Fax (914) 472-5073 Hudson Valley Office PO Box 893 Mahopac, NY 10541 Tel. (845) 875-4585 Fax (845) 875-9099 Washington, DC Office 478 Russell | Washington, DC 20510 | Tel. (202) 224-4451 | Fax (202) 228-0282 Unsubscribe - Privacy Policy