Skyrocketing Costs This Thanksgiving, Ensuring Pregnant Women’s Healthcare Access, Increasing Social Security Benefit Levels, Supporting Victims Of Human Trafficking, Honduran President Pardon, Connecting Seniors To Community This Holiday Season, New Yorkers Getting Scroog’d: Senator Gillibrand

Skyrocketing Costs This Thanksgiving, Ensuring Pregnant Women’s Healthcare Access, Increasing Social Security Benefit Levels, Supporting Victims Of Human Trafficking, Honduran President Pardon, Connecting Seniors To Community This Holiday Season, New Yorkers Getting Scroog’d by Scams: Senator Gillibrand

STOP NEW YORKERS FROM GETTING SCROOGE’D: 

AS FINANCIAL SCAMS SPIKE DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, SENATOR GILLIBRAND DEMANDS STRONGER SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT SENIORS

Americans Lost $16.6 Billion To Scams In 2024; $4.8 Billion Was Stolen from Seniors

Gillibrand’s National Strategy for Combating Scams Act Would Help “Sleigh” Scammers by Requiring the FBI to Develop a Coordinated National Strategy to Combat Scams

New York, NY – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, was joined by New York State Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright and senior advocates to send a warning to senior citizens across New York State about the uptick in scams targeting older adults during the holiday season. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), seniors in New York State lost over $250 million to scams last year. Gillibrand’s bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to develop a coordinated national strategy to combat scams.

“In 2025, Americans had over $16 billion stolen from them in scam attacks. Hardworking New Yorkers across the state are losing a staggering amount of money,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Since state lines don’t stop scammers, it’s clear that we need a coordinated national strategy to tackle the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting our seniors. We need to protect Americans from losing their paychecks, savings, or holiday gifts. This legislation brings that strategy to fruition. With the holiday season bringing an increased risk of scams, I am proud to introduce the bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to help make sure seniors don’t get scrooged.”

“As we enter the holiday season, attempted scams will surge—and we need to make sure scammers end up exactly where they belong: on the naughty list. Elder financial exploitation is a global epidemic robbing older adults of their hard-earned savings. In New York, I’m proud to sponsor legislation empowering bank tellers to halt suspicious transactions, and I applaud Senator Gillibrand’s National Strategy for Combating Scams Act, which will finally bring the multi-agency coordination we urgently need. Last year alone, older New Yorkers lost more than $203 million to scams—about $23,200 every hour. This is shocking and absolutely unacceptable. I urge everyone to remain vigilant: Stop. Think. Delete. Report. And above all—Educate,” said Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging.

“Fraud and scams are increasing at alarming rates, with older adults losing $81.5 billion each year,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “This bipartisan legislation is a critical step forward in the fight against fraud and scams that threaten the financial security and well-being of older Americans and their families. AARP thanks Senator Gillibrand for her leadership on this important issue and urges Congress to pass the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act to protect older Americans from financial harm and ensure their voices are heard in the fight against scams.”

“We thank Senator Gillibrand for introducing the National Strategy for Combatting Scams Act.  As an organization that partners with the federal government to prevent, detect & report health care fraud, we recognize that scams are not limited to one neighborhood or community.  The business of scamming has evolved at the same pace as the global economy to the point where rings of thieves work to regularly perpetrate crimes on society, including on senior citizens and their families.  By forming an inter-agency national strategy, law enforcement will be able to identify trends quickly and shut down criminal enterprises more efficiently, thereby avoiding the loss of billions of tax payer dollars,” said Maria Alvarez, Executive Director NY StateWide Senior Action Council.

More than four in ten Americans say they have lost money to scams or had their sensitive information obtained fraudulently. Criminals increasingly utilize advanced tools like generative AI and voice deepfakes to deceive victims, disproportionately targeting older adults. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) identified at least 13 agencies involved in anti-scam efforts, each working independently under different mandates and authorities. GAO has recommended that the FBI take the lead in creating a National Strategy for Combating Scams to enhance federal coordination and effectiveness in fighting these crimes. Gillibrand’s legislation would give the FBI a legal obligation to follow through on this recommendation.

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act was introduced into the Senate alongside Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ashley Moody (R-FL). It was introduced into the House of Representatives by Representative Gabe Amo (D-RI-01) and Representative Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02).

The National Strategy for Combating Scams Act builds on Senator Gillibrand’s work to address scams as the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee. She has led the fight to protect seniors from financial frauds and scams, raised awareness about predatory scammers targeting seniors, and demanded answers from those attempting to cut funding for agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She has also introduced legislation such as the Senior Financial Empowerment Act, the Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception (GUARD) Act, and the DO NOT CALL Act. These vital bills would help seniors avoid financial scams, support law enforcement efforts to catch fraudsters, and establish new criminal penalties for robocallers, including prison time.

The full text of the National Strategy for Combating Scams Act can be found here.

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Here are selections from her press conference: 

With the holidays fast approaching, Senator Gillibrand held a press conference this morning in Manhattan to call for stronger safeguards to protect seniors from scams during the holiday season. She highlighted the need to pass her recently introduced bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act, which would direct the FBI to develop a coordinated anti-scam plan, bolster interagency cooperation, and more effectively “sleigh” scammers:

AT 6:42 – ON HER LEGISLATION TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO CRACK DOWN ON SCAMS:

GILLIBRAND SAID: “Just last week, I introduced my bipartisan National Strategy for Combating Scams Act, which would require the FBI to develop a coordinated plan to fight scams. Right now, 13 different agencies are involved in anti-scam efforts, each operating independently under different mandates and authorities, and not communicating with each other. That has to stop. The siloing of operations has to stop. We need a community-based approach, we need everyone working together in a coordinated way, so every one of these agencies knows exactly who the scammers are, what the latest scam is, and what tactics they are using to be successful.”

AT 0:37 – ON THE GROWING SCAM CRISIS:

GILLIBRAND SAID: “From Social Security scams to imposter scams, New Yorkers are being bombarded, and scammers are working harder than ever during this holiday season to get you to depart from your money. That’s all they are doing. They are criminal networks, they are highly sophisticated, and all they are trying to do is steal your hard-earned retirement money.”

AT 5:53 – ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING SCAMS AND ENDING THE STIGMA:

GILLIBRAND SAID: “Reporting these crimes is essential. Any senior that this happens to—anyone you know or love—beg them to report it to the AARP. Beg them to report it to the FBI or the NYPD, because they can then go after the scammer, and they can tell everybody else, ‘Don’t fall for this scam.’ Being up to date on what the latest scam is is one of our greatest weapons; it allows us to actually protect people. So we need people to talk more openly about these dangerous scams, we need to work together to end the stigma, and we need to bring these scammers to justice.”

Meeting Prep for 911 First Responders Funding. Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand

GILLIBRAND SLAMS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER SKYROCKETING COSTS THIS THANKSGIVING

With the Holiday Season Approaching, Trump Administration Actions Are Increasing Thanksgiving Expenses For New Yorkers

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is slamming the Trump administration for rising food costs that are squeezing families and forcing New Yorkers to pay more at the grocery store this holiday season.

“As American families struggle to put food on the table this Thanksgiving, the Trump administration is spending billions on ballrooms, private jets, and foreign bailouts,” said Senator Gillibrand. “While New Yorkers face soaring prices, this administration has slashed support for working families and imposed reckless tariffs that are driving up the cost of everything from groceries to household essentials. As the administration turns its back on working people, I will keep fighting to lower costs so every family can afford to celebrate the holidays.”

Turkey costs are soaring this Thanksgiving — wholesale prices have jumped 75% since October 2024, leading to significantly higher prices at the grocery store. Over the past year, overall food prices have risen by more than 3%, and holiday staples like meat, poultry, fish, and eggs are up 5.2%. President Trump’s tariffs have contributed directly to these price increases.

New research shows nearly 60% of Americans now feel “priced out” of their own kitchens, and almost half say they’re swapping out turkey at the Thanksgiving table for cheaper alternatives.

Senator Gillibrand’s statement comes as grocery giants like Walmart, Target, and Aldi scale back their Thanksgiving meal deals, shifting to cheaper products and reducing the number of items provided.

Senator Gillibrand has long championed efforts to ensure working families can afford to put food on the table. During the government shutdown, she demanded that the Trump administration stop dangerously withholding SNAP benefits from people across the country, including nearly 3 million New Yorkers. She has also introduced legislation to increase SNAP benefits and help those with high medical and housing costs qualify for the program, and she introduced separate proposals to end food deserts and combat food insecurity among older Americans.

Senator Gillibrand at Thanksgiving. Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand

GILLIBRAND, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO HELP ENSURE HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced the Healthy Maternity and Obstetric Medicine (MOM) Act, legislation designed to expand health care access for pregnant women and ensure they receive coverage that meets their needs.

The Healthy MOM Act would ensure that women eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, as well as those eligible for other individual or group health plans, can access affordable health care throughout their pregnancies. The bill would also establish a special enrollment period for expectant mothers. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Currently, marriage, divorce, having a baby, adoption, and changing jobs are considered qualifying life events that trigger a special enrollment period; however, becoming pregnant is not considered a qualifying event. The Healthy MOM Act would change that.

Along with Senators Gillibrand and Alsobrooks, the Healthy MOM Act is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

“As a mother, I know firsthand that your health care needs can change when you become pregnant, and you should have the option to change your coverage to address them,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Especially as Republicans continue to put up barriers to health coverage enrollment and block efforts to lower costs, we must keep pushing to make care accessible for everyone. I am proud that our legislation would allow pregnant women to access affordable coverage that best meets their evolving needs, and I will keep fighting to get it across the finish line.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure pregnant women have access to the best health care. The Healthy MOM Act would trigger a special enrollment period so expectant mothers can get critical health care coverage for themselves and their baby, building on the example of my own state of Maryland. As Republicans try to rip away health care from Americans, including mothers, I’m proud to fight back and partner with Congresswoman Watson Coleman to expand access to affordable care for new mothers,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

“Events like the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, divorce, or even moving to a new state all trigger a special window to get or change your health insurance. Meanwhile, pregnancy, one of the most life-altering events a mother can experience, doesn’t,” said Congresswoman Watson Coleman. “We’re dealing with maternal mortality rates that are, in some places and among some groups, worse than developing nations. It is inexcusable that the United States, the wealthiest nation on Earth, has such a high maternal mortality rate. Ensuring every woman can access the care she needs during pregnancy and after giving birth is a critical part of ending this crisis. This is a simple, logical way to make sure that happens.”

“Access to affordable health care is essential to every pregnant person’s safety and well-being, but it remains out of reach for far too many. We need to make it easier for pregnant mothers to get care – and creating a special enrollment period through the ACA marketplaces would do just that. This legislation will help more expectant mothers get the coverage they need to stay healthy throughout pregnancy and beyond,” said Senator Van Hollen. 

“While pregnancy can be a joyous time, it also comes with unique health risks that deserve real attention,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “No mother should have to navigate those risks without access to the high-quality, affordable health care they need for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.”

“Moms deserve affordable, accessible health care––full stop. No one should have to fight an insurance company or put off care because they don’t have the money,” said Senator Fetterman. “Our country’s maternal mortality rate is too high, and this bill is a step toward improving health outcomes for mothers and children. We should be doing what we can to help them get the coverage and care they need, when they need it.”

“When a woman gets pregnant, she should be able to enroll in or change health coverage, no matter what time of year it is. But right now, pregnancy isn’t a qualifying life event—and that blocks women across the country from signing up for health coverage when they find out they’re expecting, or changing plans for coverage that better meets their needs. Our Healthy MOM Act will fix this gap and take a small but important step to help more women get the prenatal care they need to stay healthy,” said Senator Patty Murray. 

In 2016, New York became the first state to make pregnancy a qualifying event for a special enrollment period, allowing pregnant women to obtain or change their health insurance plan outside of the annual open enrollment period, even if they are already covered. This gives women the ability to enroll in, switch, or select a new health plan when they become pregnant to better meet their evolving health care needs. Policies like this strengthen New York’s ability to support pregnant women, and implementing similar policies at the federal level would extend these protections to women across the country.

Senator Gillibrand has long championed legislation to make pregnancy more affordable and safer. Earlier this year, she introduced a bill to make childbirth free for families with private insurance. She also champions the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, a package of 13 bills – including her Moms Matter Act – that aims to address the Black maternal mortality crisis and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health care.

The Healthy MOM Act is endorsed by Chamber of Mothers, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, National Partnership for Women and Families, MomsRising, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and March of Dimes.

Read the full text of the bill here.

Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand

GILLIBRAND, HYDE-SMITH STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THEIR LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) released the following statement on the House’s unanimous passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which would enable survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent offenses that they were forced to commit vacated and expunged:

“We applaud the House’s passage of our Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, which represents a monumental step forward in supporting victims of human trafficking. This bill would help stop a vicious cycle that leaves trafficking survivors vulnerable to further exploitation, protecting those who escape their horrible circumstances from subsequently having to face criminal prosecution, imprisonment, and related problems finding employment and housing. We urge our Senate colleagues to pass this bill and get it to the president’s desk without delay.”

Senator Gillibrand first introduced the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act with a bipartisan group of colleagues in 2016. She has reintroduced the bill in every subsequent Congress, most recently with Senator Hyde-Smith in July 2025.

In addition to allowing survivors of human trafficking to have nonviolent criminal convictions or arrest records they incurred while being trafficked vacated and expunged, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act would also:

• Allow for an individual’s status as a victim of trafficking to be a mitigating factor for courts to consider when imposing a prison sentence for violent crimes.
• Require U.S. attorneys to submit a report one year after enactment detailing the number of motions filed under the law.
• Ensure that grant funding provided by the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women can be used for legal representation for post-conviction relief activities.

For a full list of endorsing organizations, please click here.

Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand

GILLIBRAND: TRUMP PARDON AND RELEASE OF CORRUPT, DRUG TRAFFICKING EX-HONDURAN PRESIDENT “IMMORAL AND INDEFENSIBLE”

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on Trump’s pardon and release of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted on drug trafficking and firearm charges:

“President Trump’s pardon and release of Juan Orlando Hernández is immoral and indefensible.

“The disgraced former Honduran president worked with drug traffickers to flood America with 500 tons of cocaine on behalf of the most brutal and violent drug cartels on the planet.

“Hernández boasted that he was ‘going to stuff the drugs up the gringos’ noses.’ Let’s be clear: he was bragging about putting toxic, addictive, and deadly drugs into the bodies of American children and families.

“This man does not deserve a pardon; he deserves punishment for his crimes. The president and his administration cannot defend or justify this grave and corrupt action that excuses the decades of harm Mr. Hernández inflicted on his country and ours.”

Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand

SENATOR GILLIBRAND, SCOTT TO HOLD HEARING ON CONNECTING SENIORS AND COMMUNITIES DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Washington, D.C. – TODAY, Wednesday, December 3rd at 3PM ET: Chairman Rick Scott and Ranking Member Kirsten Gillibrand of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging will convene a hearing to explore how strong community networks can support older adults during the holiday season when isolation peaks, offering a look at how these support systems help seniors stay connected, engaged, and independent. The witnesses will highlight successful programs supported by the Older Americans Act (OAA) and showcase how nonprofits, service organizations, and faith-based groups help families, including those in the “sandwich generation,” navigate increased caregiving demands throughout the holiday season. This hearing will also highlight the importance of home and community-based services (HCBS) for older adults and people with disabilities.

Building on the committee’s previous work, including its March hearing on senior loneliness and its July and November hearings on OAA programs, the chairman and ranking member will focus on practical, community-driven solutions that strengthen social ties and reduce reliance on institutional care. This hearing continues the committee’s bipartisan commitment to advancing programs that promote dignity, independence, and a better quality of life for America’s aging community. During the holidays, when community matters most, these support systems become even more essential to ensuring that older adults feel included, valued, and part of the places they call home.

 Witnesses for the hearing include:

• John Offerdahl, President, Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation
• Jason Resendez, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance for Caregiving
• Alison Barkoff, Hirsh Health Law & Policy Associate Professor and Director, Hirsh Health Law & Policy Program, George Washington University
• Emily Ladau, Author, Demystifying Disability

Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand