October 12, 2023
FROM SENATOR KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND: The State Department will begin coordinating travel out of Israel for U.S. citizens in the coming days. I’m grateful that my efforts to assist New Yorkers in Israel will help them return home ASAP.
For more information or to request help from my office: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/resources-for-american-citizens-israel/?fbclid=IwAR0Hm0uZFYfsCZOY-eP-fqkFETArq8UM_4EuLN5lMo7c3V4YwRFlJH06Yfw
October 12, 2023
FROM SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER (WHO IS IN SOUTH KOREA)
“I urged President Yoon to continue to stand with the people of Israel and do all he can to join the U.S. by supporting Israel’s efforts to defend itself. I described the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists. I saw he was moved and affirmed South Korea’s committment to Israel’s security.”
From Senator Gillibrand’s Office: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood in unity with prominent New York Jewish leaders to call for full military aid for Israel, including replenishing of the Iron Dome air defense system, evacuation flights out of Israel for American citizens, and enhanced security funding for synagogues. Senator Gillibrand was joined by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, UJA-Federation of NY, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, The New York Board of Rabbis and other advocates and faith leaders. “I strongly condemn the unprovoked terrorist attack launched by Hamas and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people. My heart goes out to the people of Israel whose lives have been torn apart by these savage acts of brutality. Throughout my career, I have worked with my colleagues in Congress to deliver hundreds of millions of dollars for Israel’s defense systems, and now that work will be more critical than ever. Today, I’m calling for more funding and resources to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome and for evacuation flights out of Israel to help Americans return home. I’m also calling on the Biden administration to swiftly deliver to Congress any supplemental funding requests to aid Israel. I’m also fighting to increase funding for at-risk non-profit institutions, including synagogues, to make security enhancements that will allow New Yorkers to gather safely. This is a moment to come together in unity and show the world that we are unwavering in our stance against antisemitism and hate,” said Senator Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Intelligence Committee.
VIDEO: CONGRESSMAN NICK LANGWORTHY TALKS ABOUT THE U.S. STANDING WITH ISRAEL
August 9, 2023
Sen Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement about today’s deadline for toxic-exposed veterans to receive retroactive PACT Act benefits.
“One year ago, I helped get the PACT Act signed into law to provide expanded health care and benefits to the millions of veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving abroad. While there is no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits, today is the last day for toxin-exposed veterans to apply to receive a year’s worth of retroactive PACT Act benefits dating back to August 10th, 2022. I urge anyone who was exposed to burn pits to submit your claim or intent to file a claim at VA.gov/PACT by tonight’s deadline or to contact my office at casework@gillibrand.senate.gov for assistance.”
Gillibrand first introduced the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act in September 2020, alongside a bicameral group that included Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA), comedian Jon Stewart, activist John Feal, and a strong coalition of veterans service organizations. The group introduced an updated, bipartisan version in the spring of 2021 together with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).
In May 2022, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester and Ranking Member Jerry Moran announced a bipartisan deal on toxic exposure legislation, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. Gillibrand’s Presumptive Benefits bill formed the cornerstone of the presumptive care section of the final package. The final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 86-11 and was signed into law by President Biden on August 10th, 2022.
July 16, 2023
Click here For Full Statement From Sen Gillibrand.
From Senator Gillibrand’s Office: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced the bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act, legislation that would help reduce fentanyl overdoses. Fentanyl is a silent killer that cannot be detected by taste, smell, or sight when mixed with other drugs. The synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized over 379,000,000 deadly doses of fentanyl across the U.S. – enough to supply a lethal dose to every American. Senator Gillibrand announced the bill at the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management and was joined by Assemblymember Jen Lunsford and the family of Paige Gibbons, who lost her life to a fentanyl overdose.
“No community, including Rochester, has been left untouched by the deadly impacts of silent killers like fentanyl. Just last year, the DEA seized enough deadly doses of fentanyl in New York for more than three times the state’s population,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The bipartisan FEND Off Fentanyl Act would target both cartels and individuals involved in producing and trafficking these dangerous drugs. It will better empower the government to sanction drug traffickers and combat money laundering schemes that make this trade profitable. We have lost far too many lives to fentanyl overdoses and I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress to keep our communities safe.”
“Too many innocent lives have been lost and too many families torn apart by the devastating consequences of fentanyl,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “We must do more to combat the trafficking that allows this dangerous drug to spread across our streets, which is why I’m proud to support the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. I’m grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this important issue and look forward to our continued work together to keep our communities safe.”
The majority of illegal fentanyl entering the United States is made with Chinese precursor chemicals and manufactured in Mexico. This bill will empower the U.S. government to go after the cartels bringing these dangerous drugs into the United States and those producing and shipping the precursor materials. It also enhances sanctions enforcement and gives the Treasury Department tools to combat fentanyl-related money laundering.
Specifically, to disrupt the flow of illicit opioids into the United States, the FEND Off Fentanyl Act would:
Declare the international trafficking of fentanyl a national emergency.
Require the president to sanction transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels’ key members engaged in international fentanyl trafficking.
Enable the president to use proceeds of forfeited, sanctioned property of fentanyl traffickers to further law enforcement efforts.
Enhance the ability to enforce sanctions violations, making it more likely that people who defy U.S. law will be caught and prosecuted.
Require the administration to report to Congress on actions the U.S. government is taking to reduce the international trafficking of fentanyl and related opioids.
Allow the Treasury Department to utilize special measures to combat fentanyl-related money laundering.
Require the Treasury Department to prioritize fentanyl-related suspicious transactions and include descriptions of drug cartels’ financing actions in Suspicious Activity Reports.
This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Brown (D-OH), Wicker (R-MS), Reed (D-RI), Vance (R-OH), Tester (D-MT), Lummis (R-WY), Sinema (I-AZ), Britt (R-AL), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kennedy (R-LA), Fetterman (D-PA), Hagerty (R-TN), Smith (D-MN), Menendez (D-NJ), Risch (R-ID), Van Hollen (D-MD), Moran (R-KS), Warner (D-VA), Daines (R-MT), Hassan (D-NH), Crapo (R-ID), Shaheen (D-NH), Collins (R-ME), Heinrich (D-NM), Braun (R-IN), Rosen (D-NV), Ernst (R-IA), Casey (D-PA), Cramer (R-ND), Baldwin (D-WI), Rounds (R-SD), Kelly (D-AZ), Capito (R-WV), King (I-ME), Scott (R-FL), Whitehouse (D-RI), Budd (R-NC), Tillis (R-NC), Manchin (D-WV), Cassidy (R-LA), Cornyn (R-TX), Wyden (D-OR), Schmitt (R-MO), Kaine (D-VA), Lankford (R-OK), Boozman (R-AR), Padilla (D-CA), Blumenthal (D-CT), Thune (R-SD), Peters (D-MI), Rubio (R-FL), Stabenow (D-MI), Sullivan (R-AK), Schatz (D-HI), Ricketts (R-NE), Klobuchar (D-MN), Blackburn (R-TN), Markey (D-MA), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Barrasso (R-WY), and Graham (R-SC).