Posts from Senator Gillibrand

Welcome to Kirsten’s New York Minute!

February 28, 2026

President Trump’s tariffs are hurting American families and wreaking havoc on New York’s economy.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that the bulk of these tariffs are illegal, Kirsten demanded that the Trump administration follow the law, end the president’s harmful tariffs once and for all, and refund small businesses and consumers for the billions of dollars these illegal tariffs have cost them.

Read more.

Public safety officers risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe. When tragedy strikes and an officer loses their life or becomes permanently disabled in the line of duty, we must look out for them and their family.

This week, Kirsten introduced bipartisan legislation that would amend the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program to speed up benefit determinations and extend benefits to permanently disabled officers currently excluded from the program. This is commonsense legislation that will help support our public safety heroes, and Kirsten is determined to get it passed.

Read more.

3. Demanding accountability from DHS

Kirsten is deeply disturbed by recent reports that a nearly blind Buffalo man was abandoned by Border Patrol agents miles from his home, leading to his death, and that DHS agents misrepresented their purpose to gain entry to a Columbia University-owned apartment to detain a student.

If true, these incidents are absolutely unacceptable. Kirsten has demanded a full account of the events and actions taken by federal agents in Buffalo and condemns their actions at Columbia University in the strongest possible terms. She won’t stop fighting for justice.

Read more.

As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, Kirsten held a hearing to examine how regulatory processes and evolving standards at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can unintentionally delay patient access to safe and effective therapies, particularly for individuals living with rare diseases.

Watch here.

It is heartbreaking that so many Americans die while waiting for the lifesaving organ transplants they need.

This week, Kirsten’s Living Donor Protection Act passed out of committee. This vital legislation would encourage organ donation by making sure that people who are willing to donate can do so without jeopardizing their job security and facing barriers to insurance coverage.

Read more.

A Queens County constituent and retired federal employee contacted Kirsten’s office for help changing her last name on file with the Office of Personnel Management after struggling to change it for years. The constituent’s health insurance and prescription drug benefit documents did not match her current name or identification, which led to serious concern that she might be denied vital benefits at the point of service.

Within weeks of Kirsten’s team contacting OPM on the constituent’s behalf, her name change was reflected in her file.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

February 21, 2026

No one should have to choose between a paycheck and taking care of a sick loved one or themselves.

That’s why Kirsten introduced legislation that would guarantee paid sick leave for workers across the country. Paid sick leave is a fundamental right and a commonsense protection that provides stability, economic security, and peace of mind to working families. Kirsten will do everything she can to get this legislation across the finish line.

Read more.

Rural communities are the backbone of Upstate New York’s economy. We must do everything we can to help them grow and thrive.

This week, Kirsten introduced legislation that would help strengthen rural economies, expand opportunity, and support local efforts to create good-paying jobs and grow small businesses. The Rural Innovation for a Stronger Economy (RISE) Reauthorization Act would expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s grant program for rural job accelerator partnerships that support in-demand job training and rural business formation and expansion efforts.

Read more.

This week, Kirsten secured over $50 million to upgrade bus transit facilities across Central and Western New York.

These federal dollars will enhance bus service, improve reliability, and help ensure that New Yorkers can get where they need to go safely and efficiently. Kirsten was proud to deliver these vital funds, and she’ll keep fighting to improve transit and infrastructure across New York.

Read more.

President Trump’s tariffs are a hidden tax on hardworking New Yorkers and small businesses. Kirsten has fought these tariffs since their inception.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed that in addition to being reckless and vindictive, President Trump’s tariff scheme was also unconstitutional. Kirsten demanded that President Trump respect this ruling, reimburse small businesses for these illegal taxes, end the tariffs immediately, and shift his focus to lowering costs for American families.

Read Kirsten’s full statement.

A Queens County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office for assistance after waiting over a year for the replacement of a stolen tax refund check.

Kirsten’s team worked with both the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service to make sure the funds were released, and the constituent promptly received her refund of over $8,000.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

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February 14, 2026

1. Working to increase food assistance

No child should go hungry in the richest country in the world. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is one of the most effective ways that we can help children and mothers get the nutrition they need – and it’s past time that we modernize this program.

This week, Kirsten introduced bipartisan legislation to allow WIC participants to complete certification and recertification through secure phone or video appointments. Through the use of technology, this legislation expands access for busy families, reduces the need for transportation and time off work to secure benefits, and brings WIC into the next generation for moms and their children.

Read more.

2. Fighting for healthy moms and babies

More women in the United States die from pregnancy-related complications than in any of our peer countries. That is outrageous and downright shameful. Kirsten believes we must do more to support women at every step of their maternal health journey.

This week, she introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Healthy Start program – a critical federal initiative that supports community-based efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. This program provides vital services in communities that experience disproportionately high rates of infant mortality and maternal health complications, and Kirsten will do everything she can to ensure continued federal support.

Read more.

3. Celebrating wins for first responders

First responders put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities at the expense of their own health.

Kirsten joined firefighters in New York to celebrate the federal funding she secured to support first responders’ physical and mental health. This funding includes $632,000 for mental health and wellness programming through Friends of Firefighters, along with the full funding of the World Trade Center Health Program.

Read more.

4. Supporting SUNY community colleges

By providing access to affordable, high-quality education, SUNY community colleges give New York students the tools they need to thrive.

This week, Kirsten met with SUNY community college students and leaders to discuss their vital work and how she can best support them.

5. Fighting for transparency in Washington

For her entire career, Kirsten has believed elected officials should be focused on serving their constituents, not amassing personal wealth.

That’s why this week, she introduced a bill to increase transparency around government officials’ financial disclosures. This commonsense legislation would update and expand the monetary values that elected and senior government officials are required to disclose in order to increase transparency and accountability.

Read more.

The Lake Champlain Basin is a vast, historic, and invaluable resource that is deeply important to communities in the North Country.

This week, Kirsten introduced legislation to support ongoing conservation efforts surrounding Lake Champlain. This legislation would help make sure the Basin continues to provide clean drinking water, safeguard critical wildlife habitats, and support tourism and local jobs for years to come, and Kirsten is committed to getting it passed.

Read more.

7. Helping New Yorkers with Social Security

A St. Lawrence County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office for help after waiting over two months for an update on his Social Security Retirement benefits application.

After Kirsten’s team contacted the Social Security Administration on his behalf, the agency promptly issued the constituent’s first $2,470 monthly retirement benefit payment.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

February 7, 2026

1. Securing health care for 9/11 heroes

Making sure that 9/11 first responders and survivors have the resources they need to deal with the long-term health effects from toxic exposure has been one of Kirsten’s top priorities during her time in Congress.

This week—after over a decade of fighting alongside our 9/11 heroes—Kirsten finally got it done. The funding bill signed into law this week includes legislation to fully fund the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) through 2040.

Since its creation in 2011, WTCHP has provided treatment and medical monitoring for over 150,000 Americans with 9/11-related conditions. With the funding guaranteed this week, the program will be able to continue its vital work for years to come.

Read more.

2. Federal dollars –> NY

The funding bill signed into law this week contains millions of federal dollars for New York projects that Kirsten has been fighting for. This includes major wins to protect New Yorkers’ health care, improve affordable housing, strengthen infrastructure, and increase education funding:

$194 million to upgrade the New York National Guard’s “Ski Bird” fleet at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Schenectady County. Read more.
Over $93 million for affordable housing upgrades, infrastructure improvements, economic development projects, and more in New York City. Read more.
Nearly $30 million for transportation improvements, public safety investments, and local projects in the Hudson Valley. Read more.
$9.6 million for affordable housing, infrastructure upgrades, and apprenticeship programs in the Rochester area. Read more.
Over $9 million for a new community center and economic development projects in Western New York. Read more.
Nearly $3 million for food bank expansion, Hudson Valley Community College, and the Capital District Jewish Holocaust Memorial in the Capital Region. Read more.
$1 million for the Corning Museum of Glass to expand educational programs. Read more.
$1 million for economic development projects in the North Country. Read more.
$850,000 for Syracuse International Airport. Read more.
$500,000 for the New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program. Read more.

3. Hosting the National Prayer Breakfast

This week, Kirsten hosted the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast, continuing a bipartisan tradition that serves as an opportunity for members of Congress to come together in fellowship and prayer for the nation, its leaders, and the American people.

4. Protecting Americans on the roads

Truck underride guards are one of the best and easiest solutions for protecting road users during collisions with large trucks.

This week, Kirsten introduced legislation that would require these guards to be installed on the sides of new trucks and to direct additional research and data collection about underride crashes. This commonsense legislation will make our roads safer for drivers, passengers, and vulnerable road users, and Kirsten will do everything she can to get it passed.

Read more.

5. Honoring the Oneida Indian Nation’s contributions

Kirsten was proud to join members of the Oneida Indian Nation to celebrate the minting of $1 dollar coins to honor Oneida heroine Polly Cooper, who played an integral role in supporting George Washington’s army during the Revolutionary War.

The stories of New York, America, and the Oneida Indian Nation have been deeply intertwined since America’s founding, and Kirsten was honored to recognize their contributions.

Read more.

6. Helping New Yorkers with their employment paperwork

A New York City constituent from Ukraine contacted Kirsten’s office when he needed to expedite processing of his employment authorization documents to continue working so he could pay his bills.

After Kirsten’s team contacted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on his behalf, the agency approved his documents quickly, allowing the constituent to return to work.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

January 31, 2026

1. Delivering for New York

After Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding was removed from the most recent government funding agreement, Kirsten was proud to vote for the package, which will deliver billions of dollars to New Yorkers for critical affordable housing and transit upgrades, quality child care, vital mental health services, and health care for 9/11 first responders and survivors.

The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for final passage.

Read more.

2. Demanding ICE reforms

Following the murder of two U.S. citizens at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Minnesota, Kirsten announced that she would not vote to fund DHS without serious reforms to the agency and increased accountability for federal agents conducting immigration enforcement.

After her and other Senate Democrats’ advocacy, funding for DHS was removed from the funding package that passed the Senate this week. Kirsten is committed to working across the aisle to secure meaningful reforms to ICE.

Kirsten has also made clear that the fatal shootings in Minnesota demand full scrutiny, transparency, and accountability from law enforcement authorities. She is committed to continuing to push for justice and accountability.

President Trump’s threat to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods would be detrimental to New York’s economy—driving up costs, killing good-paying jobs, and harming small businesses.

At a time when prices are already soaring, working families shouldn’t have to pay more for what they need. That’s why this week, Kirsten demanded that President Trump stop illegally threatening tariffs against American allies. She will continue to do everything in her power to hold the president accountable for the hardship he’s causing for New Yorkers.

Read more.

As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, Kirsten, along with Chairman Rick Scott, held a hearing to discuss the lack of transparency in labeling for drugs sold in the United States. Kirsten examined the potential risks this poses to patients and the drug supply chain and discussed potential legislative solutions.

This hearing follows up on a bipartisan Aging Committee investigative report detailing the need to strengthen oversight of America’s pharmaceutical supply chains and expose the U.S.’ dangerous overreliance on foreign-manufactured generic drugs.

Watch here.

Farmers are the backbone of our Upstate economy. We must support our farmers to make sure they can continue to deliver fresh, healthy food to our communities.

This week, Kirsten reintroduced legislation that would promote sustainable farming and help eliminate the steep barriers that farmers face when transitioning to organic methods.

Read more.

The widow of a 9/11 responder contacted Kirsten’s team after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. The constituent’s insurance company was delaying her request to be transferred to a specialized cancer center despite her doctors approving the move.

Kirsten’s team reached out to her insurance company, and the constituent was approved for immediate transfer so that she could start receiving the treatment she needed.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

January 24, 2026

1. Federal $$$ –> New York

Kirsten, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured millions of federal dollars for New York projects and organizations in a series of recently-passed funding bills. This includes:

$90 million for cleanup of nuclear waste at the West Valley Demonstration Project site in Western New York. Read more.
Over $6.3 million for critical science and public safety projects in New York City, including quantum research at New York University, construction of a microelectronics nanofabrication facility at Queens College, and crime prevention programs. Read more.
Millions more to help bolster economic development, aid in efforts to protect our environment, and preserve historic sites for future generations in New York and across the country. Read more.

Clean drinking water should be a right—not a privilege.

This week, Kirsten visited Cheektowaga to announce $1.6 million in federal funding for the Erie County Water Authority to replace lead pipes and improve water infrastructure. These federal dollars will help make sure that every New Yorker has access to safe, reliable drinking water, and Kirsten was proud to secure these funds.

Read more.

Every New Yorker deserves a safe place to live.

This week, Kirsten visited the Patterson Houses, a public housing complex in New York City. As the top Democrat on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she’s fighting to secure funding to improve overall living conditions there and at several other affordable housing buildings across the city.

Read more.

This week, Kirsten had a blast helping pack food and meeting future basketball stars during the Catholic Charities basketball tournament at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Community Center in Harlem.

This week, Kirsten celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at National Action Network’s (NAN) Public Policy Forum.

Kirsten was honored to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy by speaking about the importance of faith and action with some of New York’s most prominent advocates for justice.

In 2025, Kirsten’s office helped over 7,600 constituents requesting assistance with federal agencies. In total, her team helped secure over $187 million in benefits for New Yorkers last year.

Kirsten’s successful casework includes:

Over $1.3 million in Social Security benefits restored to seniors and Medicare bills covered for enrollees
Over $600,000 in benefits reinstated to veterans from the VA
Over $111 million for New York cultural organizations and businesses that were in danger of losing revenue without their top performers and staff
Over $56 million released back to constituents and small businesses from delayed tax refunds

Individual casework continues to be Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

Interested in learning more about Kirsten’s casework efforts? Subscribe to her Constituent Affairs Check In! This newsletter will contain the most up-to-date information about how Kirsten’s office can help constituents with issues including immigration, passports, taxes, and more.

January 18, 2026

1. Working to ban congressional stock trading

Members of Congress should be focused on serving their constituents, not growing their stock portfolios.

This week, Kirsten introduced a bipartisan bill to ban members of Congress and their immediate families from holding and trading stocks. This commonsense legislation would help hold elected officials accountable and restore New Yorkers’ faith in government, and Kirsten is fighting tirelessly to get it passed.

Read more.

2. Fighting for New York children

By freezing billions of dollars in funding that helps thousands of families afford child care, the Trump administration is jeopardizing the services that New Yorkers rely on.

This week, Kirsten joined kids, parents, and child care providers in New York City and Rochester to demand that the administration unfreeze these vital funds. She will continue working with state and local leaders to reverse these cuts.

Read more.

3. Celebrating investments in New York chip manufacturing

This week, Kirsten helped break ground at Micron’s new semiconductor manufacturing facility in Central New York.

This new facility will help bring chip manufacturing back to America, which will strengthen our economy, create tens of thousands of jobs in New York, secure our supply chains, and bring down costs for American families. It’s a win for America and a win for New Yorkers.

4. Fighting for New York energy projects

Last month, the Trump administration halted five offshore wind projects, including New York’s Empire Wind 1 and Sunrise Wind. This decision threatened to kill good-paying union jobs, undermine grid reliability, and raise electricity bills for New Yorkers.

This week, Kirsten demanded that the administration reverse this reckless pause, and a court injunction was granted to allow the Empire Wind project to resume construction.

Read more.

5. Passing legislation to support healthy kids

Kids need nutritious meals to learn and thrive, and whole milk provides those critical nutrients. This week, Kirsten’s Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was signed into law.

By allowing schools to offer whole milk and milk substitutes that are equivalent in nutrition, this legislation makes school meals healthier and supports New York dairy farmers. It’s a win for students, schools, and New York agriculture.

Read more.

6. Supporting New York farmers

As New York farmers face soaring input costs, trade uncertainty, and increasingly severe natural disasters, they cannot afford delays in critical assistance.

That’s why Kirsten is pushing the Trump administration to expedite economic and disaster assistance payments for farmers, especially for New York’s specialty crop farmers, which have been delayed significantly in recent months. New York’s farmers are the backbone of our Upstate economy, and Kirsten will continue fighting to make sure they have the resources they need to thrive.

Read more.

7. Helping veterans get their benefits

A Dutchess County veteran contacted Kirsten’s office for help after their Veterans Affairs (VA) disability case began to stall.

After Kirsten’s team contacted the VA on the veteran’s behalf, the agency granted a 100% service-connected disability rating. As a result, the veteran will now receive $4,500 per month in benefits, along with a retroactive payment of $11,000.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

January 11, 2026

1. Fighting child care cuts

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze up to $3 billion in child care and social service assistance for New York is unacceptable. This is a brazen political attack that will hurt New York families, children, and child care providers.

Our children deserve better.

That’s why Kirsten is demanding a reversal of this heartless decision. She will continue working with state and local partners to hold the administration’s feet to the fire until they restore the assistance that New Yorkers rely on.

Read more.

2. Curbing President Trump’s authority to take military action in Venezuela

While he cuts health care, child care, and essential services in the U.S., President Trump is spending New Yorkers’ tax dollars in Venezuela, trying to commit the United States to another protracted foreign regime change effort that he has said could last years.

Kirsten is fighting back against the Trump administration’s dangerous actions in Venezuela. This week, she voted to advance a bipartisan resolution to block President Trump from further military action within or against Venezuela without congressional approval. This vote was about standing up for the Constitution, protecting American troops, and making sure foreign policy decisions are made transparently and responsibly.

Read more.

3. Securing federal $$$ for New York

This week, Kirsten announced that she helped secure federal dollars for several critical local projects across New York State in the most recent government funding package. The bill passed the House this week and is expected to pass the Senate next week.

This funding includes:

$10 million for drinking water infrastructure upgrades in Genesee County. Read more.
Nearly $7 million for quantum research at RIT and the University of Rochester, water infrastructure improvements, and other vital Rochester-Finger Lakes projects. Read more.
$5 million for water infrastructure improvements, restorations at Fort Ticonderoga, and biodefense research in the North Country. Read more.
Over $4.5 million for upgrades to research facilities, electrical systems, and more in the Capital Region. Read more.
$3.6 million to replace lead pipes and upgrade water infrastructure in Western New York. Read more.
Over $2 million for upgrades to water systems in the Southern Tier. Read more.

4. Supporting the families of fallen first responders

New Yorkers know that our firefighters and first responders are selfless heroes who rush into danger every day to protect our communities. But we also know their fight does not end when their shift does, and that many are exposed to dangerous health risks that can surface years later.

This week, Kirsten announced that her bipartisan Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act was signed into law. This critical legislation expands access to federal support for the families of first responders who lose their lives or become permanently disabled because of service-related cancers.

Read more.

5. Helping trafficking survivors

Human trafficking survivors have endured unthinkable hardship. Once freed, they shouldn’t be held liable for nonviolent offenses that their traffickers forced them to commit.

Kirsten has been fighting for almost a decade to help human trafficking victims clear their records of these offenses. This week, her Trafficking Survivors Relief Act was signed into law. This landmark legislation allows survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent criminal convictions or arrest records they incurred while being trafficked vacated and expunged, shielding them from criminalization and helping prevent problems securing housing and employment as they work to reestablish their lives.

Read more.

6. Funding New York arts organizations

The arts are what connect us. From theaters and dance studios to museums and music halls, New York State is the arts capital of America.

This week, Kirsten was proud to announce $287,000 in funding for arts organizations in New York. These federal dollars are a meaningful investment in local organizations to advance art, music, and culture in our communities.

Read more.

7. Helping New Yorkers with Social Security

An Albany County constituent contacted Kirsten’s office for help when he experienced delays receiving his Social Security benefits despite having the necessary documentation on file.

Within a week of Kirsten’s staff contacting the Social Security Administration on his behalf, the constituent received nearly $70,000 in retroactive benefits. He is also set to receive $2,500 monthly going forward.

Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with any federal agency, contact her here.

December 27, 2025

Holiday greetings and happy new year!

From my family to yours, happy holidays.

As 2025 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect. This has been a challenging year for many New Yorkers. Costs are up, essential services have been undermined, and a Republican government shutdown left workers struggling and families facing higher health care costs in the new year.

And yet, even in the hardest moments, I remain hopeful. Across New York, neighbors showed up for each other. Local organizations stepped up to help families stay afloat. Advocates fought for a better tomorrow.

This year reminded us of our shared responsibility to care for one another and work toward a future rooted in dignity, fairness, and opportunity. It is that mentality that I am bringing into 2026.

As we look toward the new year, I remain committed to fighting for New Yorkers.

Wishing you all a peaceful New Year filled with blessings, joy, and love.

Best,

Kirsten

Come make your voice heard and begin advocating for our community!

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