Pass School Meals For All, $10 Billion IRS Payday, Surging Gas Prices, Collective Bargaining Rights DOD, Iran War Gas Prices, Mattydale Gas Prices, Police Over Ballroom, Helping Civilians Exposed To Toxic Burn Pits: Senator Gillibrand
Editor’s note: See below for the video from the two press conferences mentioned in the article below. She discusses the issues related to rising gas prices, and pushes for the passage of her school meals bill that would provide free meals to all schoolchildren regardless of their ability to pay.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference today to demand passage of her legislation to address the cost-of-living crisis and reduce childhood hunger by providing free meals to all schoolchildren.
Senator Gillibrand’s Universal School Meals Program Act would guarantee free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for all K-12 students, taking the cost of meals during the school week off the table for families. It would do this permanently and regardless of a family’s ability to pay.
AT 7:08 – WHEN ASKED ABOUT TRUMP’S NEW $1.8 BILLION SLUSH FUND FOR HIS FRIENDS AND ALLIES:
GILLIBRAND SAID: “It’s a shining example of the grift and corruption of the Trump administration. He literally is getting a slush fund to pay his buddies and his friends and people he likes. He’s been on this retribution tour since he was reelected, and it’s not only unethical and likely illegal, it just again shows that this president is bought and paid for and wants to pay off his allies. It’s disgusting, it’s immoral, and we will try to lift up our concerns as aggressively as possible in the hopes of winning over some Republicans, because if we could have bipartisanship on this issue, hopefully we can limit how this fund is actually implemented.”
AT 1:14 – ON HER LEGISLATION TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST TRUMP’S CUTS TO FOOD ASSISTANCE AND STOP CHILDREN FROM GOING HUNGRY:
GILLIBRAND SAID: “SNAP, as we know, is a lifeline for nearly 3 million New Yorkers, including children, seniors, and working families. Trump and congressional Republicans slashed this benefit so they could give the wealthiest Americans tax cuts. In the richest country in the world, it’s a moral failure. By doubling down on these cruel cuts while prices skyrocket, the Trump administration is letting American kids go hungry. My Universal School Meals Program Act would help provide much-needed relief to working families. This legislation would guarantee free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for all schoolchildren, taking the cost of meals during the school week off the table for families’ budgets. It would do this permanently and regardless of a family’s ability to pay. This would mean one less impossible calculation for working parents every single week, and it would help guarantee that every child in New York has access to nutritious meals, no matter their zip code or their family’s financial situation.”
AT 2:28 – ON THE BENEFITS OF FREE SCHOOL MEALS FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL:
GILLIBRAND SAID: “Studies show that when students have access to free school meals, they do better in school. Attendance rates go up, behavior incidents go down. Kids are overall healthier, happier, and ready to learn. In fact, for every dollar our country invests in school meal programs, we get more than two dollars back in health and economic benefits annually. That’s a huge return on investment that keeps our economy, our kids, and our future strong.”
GILLIBRAND DEMANDS PASSAGE OF BILL TO PROVIDE FREE MEALS FOR ALL K-12 STUDENTS TO HELP NEW YORK FAMILIES STRUGGLING AMID RISING GROCERY AND GAS PRICES
Over 14 million children are food insecure, and nearly 40% of SNAP recipients are 18 or younger
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) held a virtual press conference to call for passage of her Universal School Meals Program Act, legislation that would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all schoolchildren.
This legislation comes as New York families are struggling to make ends meet as prices for groceries, gas, and other necessities increase due to inflation and President Trump’s war with Iran. Gillibrand’s legislation would help ease the financial burden on families and improve educational outcomes by providing free meals to all schoolchildren, regardless of where they live or their family’s ability to pay.
“Working families are struggling to put food on the table because of skyrocketing prices in Donald Trump’s economy,” said Senator Gillibrand. “In the richest country in the world, that is a moral failure. My Universal School Meals Program Act would provide real relief to working families by guaranteeing free breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack for all schoolchildren. This is critical legislation, and I am determined to get it passed.”
The Universal School Meals Program Act comes at a critical moment: the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have enacted the deepest cuts to federal nutrition programs in history. Over the last year, they have slashed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion, imposed harsh new bureaucratic requirements that have stripped food assistance from millions of Americans, and refused to fund SNAP during the federal government shutdown in fall 2025.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent food security report, 48 million Americans, including over 14 million children, are food insecure. Nearly 40% of SNAP recipients are 18 or younger.
Studies show that students with free access to school meals have improved attendance, better performance in school, and fewer behavioral incidents. Free meals also reduce financial stress for both students and families, improve health outcomes, and relieve the stigma associated with school meals.
The Universal School Meals Program Act provides the most cost-effective and inclusive model for students, families, teachers, public schools, childcare providers, and communities by:
- Providing free breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to every student — regardless of income.
- Eliminating school meal debt for every public school student in America by reimbursing schools and ending harassment of parents and students over unpaid bills. In a 2025 survey, the School Nutrition Association found that hundreds of school districts across the country hold a median of $6,000 in unpaid meal debt.
- Increasing the reimbursement rate for schools to get closer to the actual cost of producing meals.
- Incentivizing schools to buy from local farms, bringing food from nearby farms into schools while supporting local economies.
- Providing summer meals to all children and increasing SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) to lower-income children. Currently, only communities where 50% of children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch may operate a summer meals program. This bill makes all communities eligible, regardless of income.
- Strengthening and expanding the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to allow three meals and a snack each day, eliminate the two-tiered reimbursement rate for CACFP, and allow childcare providers to receive the highest reimbursement rate regardless of income.
Joining Senator Gillibrand on the Universal School Meals Program Act are Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), John Fetterman (D-PA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and 85 members of the House of Representatives.
This legislation is endorsed by nearly 100 organizations, including the American Heart Association, Food Research & Action Center, Hunger Free America, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, National Education Association (NEA), and the National Family Farm Coalition.
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
See the above video for the press conference described below:
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) held a virtual press conference slamming President Trump for causing the highest gas prices in years.
The average cost of gas in New York state today is $4.59 per gallon—nearly 50 percent more than it was a year ago. In some parts of New York, gas is over $5.00 per gallon. This is a direct result of President Trump’s war with Iran, which has driven inflation to its highest level in three years and put further financial stress on working families.
AT 1:05 – ON OUT-OF-CONTROL INFLATION STRIPPING AMERICANS’ PURCHASING POWER:
GILLIBRAND SAID: “Earlier this week, the Department of Labor released a report on consumer prices. I won’t sugarcoat it; the numbers are dismal. Inflation is at its highest level in three years, and for the first time in years, wages are not keeping pace with inflation. This is a hidden double tax on New York families. Inflation is stripping away Americans’ purchasing power, making essentials like gas and groceries and heat unaffordable for far too many. At the same time, it’s making every aspect of our supply chain cost more. Transportation costs more, the diesel that powers farm equipment costs more, and the raw materials needed to make almost every item that you buy cost more.”
AT 2:52 – ON THE NEED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO DO HIS JOB AND PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF WORKING AMERICANS:
GILLIBRAND SAID: “I’m calling on the administration to stop the escalation, return to the path of diplomacy and provide real relief to families who are bearing the brunt of rising prices here at home. New Yorkers are doing their part. They work hard, they play by the rules, and they take care of their neighbors. It’s time for President Trump to do the same.”
AT 5:27 – WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S COMMENT THAT HE DOESN’T “THINK ABOUT AMERICANS’ FINANCIAL SITUATION”:
GILLIBRAND SAID: “He promised to get costs down for groceries and housing and food and everything else, and he’s not. And so people are angry, and they’re frustrated that he’s involved in a war that’s driving up their costs so high and spending a billion dollars a day on bombs that they didn’t ask for or we don’t need.”
GILLIBRAND, SCHUMER PUSH SECRETARY HEGSETH TO RESTORE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS TO 300,000 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EMPLOYEES
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, along with Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Congressmen Paul Tonko (D-NY) and John Mannion (D-NY), criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unilateral termination of collective bargaining rights for 300,000 Department of Defense (DoD) employees. These include more than 1,400 civilian defense workers at Fort Drum and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) in Rome, New York in addition to nearly 800 civilian employees at Watervliet Arsenal in New York’s Capital Region.
The termination, which took place on April 9, impacted employees who have “dedicated decades of service to the American people, including by previously serving in the military—support the readiness of our armed forces, manage essential financial operations, and sustain mission critical Department of Defense infrastructure and support elements.”
In the letter, the members emphasized, “Stripping these employees of their collective bargaining rights undermines not only their workplace protections, but also the stability, morale, and effectiveness of the civilian workforce that our military depends on so our servicemembers—especially those who are forward deployed—can focus on their warfighting missions.”
The civilian-led operations at Fort Drum, DFAS Rome, and Watervliet Arsenal are vital pillars of national security. Their work is essential to ensuring the military remains combat-ready and capable of responding to global threats at a moment’s notice. Fort Drum has the largest in-house Directorate of Public Works (DPW) in the U.S. Army, consisting of more than 300 civilian employees, and Watervliet Arsenal is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States, run almost entirely by its civilian workforce for the last 212 years.
The members continued the letter by underscoring the urgency of collective bargaining rights restoration, writing, “When workplace protections are stripped away, it creates uncertainty, lowers morale, and increases the risk of workforce attrition in highly specialized roles that cannot be easily or quickly replaced.” For example, they wrote, “Breakdowns in reimbursement systems could hinder troop mobility, slowing deployments and reassignments at a time when agility and precision are essential.” Weakening the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce doesn’t just impact personnel; it actively erodes the combat readiness of the entire military.
The members continued their letter by writing that eliminating collective bargaining rights amid existing staffing shortages creates a dangerous cycle of instability. In today’s hyper-competitive labor market, these actions will inevitably drive away seasoned professionals and cripple recruitment efforts. This is a national security risk that threatens to hollow out the readiness of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum and the entire U.S. military.
The members closed the letter by underscoring, “National security and labor rights are not mutually exclusive. A strong and secure nation depends on a federal workforce that has robust job protections and is treated with the respect it has earned.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
GILLIBRAND TO SLAM PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR RISING GAS PRICES, CALL FOR AN END TO THE IRAN WAR
Press Conference Follows Release Of A New Consumer Price Report That Shows That Inflation Is At Its Highest Level In Three Years
Washington, D.C. – May 13th, 2026 at 11:30AM: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) held a virtual press conference to slam President Trump for causing the highest gas prices in years. She will call for an immediate and permanent end to the president’s war in Iran, which is directly responsible for raising costs for hardworking Americans.
FRIDAY IN MATTYDALE: SENATOR GILLIBRAND TO SOUND THE ALARM ON RAPIDLY RISING GAS PRICES
Mattydale, NY – On Friday, May 15, 2026 at 1:15pm at Byrne Dairy, 2307 Brewerton Rd #1620, Mattydale, NY 13211, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will gaggle with reporters to address the rising anxiety across New York State regarding rapidly increasing gas prices. The senator will also address the rising costs impacting the dairy industry and the sky-high inflation numbers released this week.
President Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran, which has now gone on for two and a half months, has caused costs to soar for American families, spiked gas prices to over $4.50 a gallon in the Syracuse metro area, and induced the highest inflation in years. Gillibrand will raise the alarm about the impact that these price spikes are having on New York families and farms.
FRIDAY IN BUFFALO: SENATOR GILLIBRAND TO SOUND THE ALARM ON RAPIDLY RISING GAS PRICES
Buffalo, NY – On Friday, May 15, 2026 at 10:30am at ARCO Gas Station, 272 E Ferry Street in Buffalo, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand gaggled with reporters to address the rising anxiety across New York State regarding rapidly increasing gas prices.
President Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran, which has now gone on for two and a half months, has caused costs to soar for American families; spiked gas prices to over $4.50 a gallon in the Buffalo metro area; and induced the highest inflation in years. Gillibrand will raise the alarm about the impact that these price spikes are having on New York families.
FRIDAY ON LONG ISLAND: SENATOR GILLIBRAND TO SOUND THE ALARM ON RAPIDLY RISING GAS PRICES
Long Island, NY – On Friday, May 15, 2026 at 3:15pm at the Mobil Gas Station, 950 Carmans Rd., Massapequa, NY 11758, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand gaggled with reporters to address the rising anxiety across New York State regarding rapidly increasing gas prices.
President Trump’s unauthorized war in Iran, which has now gone on for two and a half months, has caused costs to soar for American families, spiked gas prices to over $4.50 a gallon on Long Island, and induced the highest inflation in years. Gillibrand will raise the alarm about the impact that these price spikes are having on New York families.
GILLIBRAND SLAMS PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR RISING GAS PRICES, CALLS FOR AN END TO THE IRAN WAR
Press Conference Follows Release Of A New Consumer Price Report That Shows That Inflation Is At Its Highest Level In Three Years
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) held a virtual press conference slamming President Trump for causing the highest gas prices in years. She called for an immediate and permanent end to the president’s war in Iran, which is directly responsible for raising costs for hardworking Americans.
“Every commute to work, every ride to a doctor’s appointment, and every carpool to school costs 50 percent more today than it did just a year ago due to skyrocketing gas prices. That is a direct result of President Trump’s reckless war with Iran,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The American people do not want this war; they want lower costs. President Trump must end the war once and for all and provide relief to Americans struggling with higher costs in his economy.”
The average cost of gas in New York state today is $4.59 per gallon—nearly 50 percent more than it was a year ago. In some parts of New York, gas is over $5.00 per gallon. A full breakdown of gas prices by county can be found here.
This is a direct result of President Trump’s war with Iran, which has caused the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a quarter of the world’s oil passes.
In today’s press conference, Senator Gillibrand reiterated her call for President Trump to end the war to provide relief to American consumers.
Senator Gillibrand has made clear that she will not provide a blank check for President Trump’s reckless war in Iran. She has voted yes multiple times on war powers resolutions to reassert Congress’ responsibility, demand accountability, and send a clear message that military force must be debated, justified, and authorized before American lives are put at risk. She has repeatedly called for the president to prioritize lowering costs at home rather than reckless foreign wars abroad.
SENATOR GILLIBRAND HIGHLIGHTS HOW $1 BILLION COULD FUND LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTEAD OF TRUMP’S BALLROOM
Washington, D.C.– During National Police Week, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is highlighting data showing how the $1 billion in taxpayer dollars congressional Republicans want to pay for Donald Trump’s ballroom project could instead be used to fund vital federal programs that would support hiring and training for law enforcement agencies across the country, as well as benefits programs for officers and their families.
“Instead of wasting $1 billion in taxpayer dollars into President Trump’s vanity project, this money should go toward helping local law enforcement attract and retain new talent, support officers injured in the line of duty, and receive improved training and new equipment,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I urge my Republican colleagues to reject the president’s wasteful proposal and instead support the law enforcement officials who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe.”
Below are estimates of what this funding could do for these crucial police programs instead of a ballroom:
Providing Child Care for Police Officers:
- $1 billion could provide full funding and expansion of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act’s pilot program.
- $25 million a year would fund Senator Gillibrand’s legislation to expand access to childcare and promote innovative solutions for our first responders and their families to ease the burdens of overtime and irregular hours.
Access to Mental Health:
- $1 billion could fund Senator Gillibrand’s First Responders Wellness Act to establish a national mental health hotline for first responders.
- The legislation allocates $10 million a year to expand access to mental and behavioral health support that is specifically tailored to the needs of first responders and staffed by peer specialists and counselors who have an understanding of the occupational stressors experienced by first responders and have completed trauma-informed training.
- $1 billion could provide funding to establish a first responders mental health professional pilot program designed to increase the number of culturally competent, confidential, and independent mental health services to law enforcement officers.
COPS Hiring Program:
- $1 billion could provide nearly four years of full funding for the COPS Hiring Program.
- In Fiscal Year 2026, over $250 million was appropriated for this program, which is designed to provide funding directly to local law enforcement agencies to hire and/or retain officers and support community policing efforts.
Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program:
- $1 billion could fully fund four years of the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program, providing benefits to over 2,000 first responders and their families.
- In Fiscal Year 2026, $236 million was appropriated for this program, which provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program:
- $1 billion could fund a full year of Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants.
- This program is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. It provides funding to support personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, training, technical assistance, and information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings for a multitude of programs, including:
- Law enforcement
- Prevention and Education
- Corrections
- Drug treatment
- Witness protection
- Mental health and behavioral programs
GILLIBRAND STATEMENT ON TRUMP’S POSSIBLE $10 BILLION DOJ PAY DAY AND HOW IT COULD BE BETTER SPENT REVERSING CUTS TO NEW YORK
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) issued the following statement on the New York Times report that the Justice Department is holding internal discussions about settling the president’s dubious $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that could “involve the government directly providing taxpayer funds or another public benefit to the president.”
“The president is using his power to secure himself potentially a $10 billion payout from taxpayers. Meanwhile, at the gas pump, in the grocery store, and across everyday life, his agenda is driving up costs for working families. It’s blatant corruption and a betrayal of the American people. He’s getting a pay day, and Americans are paying the bill.”
To put in this perspective, here are multiple examples of what $10 billion would mean for New York:
- $7.5 billion in federal funding for New Yorkers’ health care that was cut by Trump and Republicans last year
- $8 billion in funding for New York’s hospitals and health care systems that was cut because of Trump and Republicans
- $1.4 billion in funding for food assistance that was cut by of Trump and Republicans
- $850 million in federal funding for lifesaving biomedical research at New York universities and research institutions that Trump and Republicans attempted to cut last year
- $433 million was the proposed cut to New York State education programs in Trump’s latest budget
- $400 million was the proposed cut to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in New York State in Trump’s budget
- $139 million in federal grants for transportation projects in New York State that the Trump administration has canceled
SEN. GILLIBRAND, REPS. POU AND FITZPATRICK, AND ADVOCATES TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE, INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CIVILIAN VICTIMS OF TOXIC EXPOSURE
***The event will be livestreamed on Senator Gillibrand’s Facebook***
The Kenya Merritt Renewing Our PACT Act would allow civilians who served with U.S. troops in proximity to toxic burn pits to receive compensation for illnesses
Washington, D.C. – Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 2:45PM, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representatives Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) will stand alongside advocates to introduce new legislation to support victims of toxic exposure.
The Kenya Merritt Renewing Our PACT Act would make it easier for federal employees who served with U.S. troops overseas to receive workers’ compensation for diseases and conditions associated with toxic exposure. This would allow civilians who worked in proximity to toxic burn pits to receive compensation for their illnesses.
Attending: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
U.S. Representative Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09)
U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01)
Stephanie Merritt, widow of former FBI Agent Kenya Merritt, a victim of toxic exposure
Natalie Bara, President of the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA)
Jeremy O’Hara, National Recruitment Director at the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)
Justin Brown, Senior Advisor for Government Affairs at AMVETS
