Calling On Residents To Help Neighbors Struggling With Food Insecurity, Delivering $104M For NY State Projects, Supporting Veterans, Medicare Open Enrollment Options, Flood Resiliency Legislation, Starbucks Union Busting, Tariffs Raising Consumer Costs, Boosting Benefits For Seniors: Senator Gillibrand

Calling On Residents To Help Neighbors Struggling With Food Insecurity, Delivering $104M For NY State Projects, Supporting Veterans, Medicare Open Enrollment Options, Flood Resiliency Legislation, Starbucks Union Busting, Tariffs Raising Consumer Costs, Boosting Benefits For Seniors: Senator Gillibrand

Editor’s note: Staten Islanders and New Jerseyans can help ensure that children in their local area do not suffer without gifts for the holidays this year, since so many are being forced to choose between getting gifts and putting food on the table in the midst of the insecurity caused by the longest government shutdown in history – at 40 days – caused by a stalemate over ACA credits, which were not extended.  The impacts of the shutdown and the ensuing legislation are also likely to have a devastating impact on the burgeoning hemp, CBD, and related product industry.  CBD in particular is a medically accepted and effective treatment for many types of epilepsy, including those that do not respond well to other medications.  Readers learned about some of their Medicare options at the latest local information events presented by the NYC Dept for the Aging.

Republican Legal Battle Against SNAP, WIC Distribution – With Hunger Increasing, Benefits Decreasing, NY Senator Calls On Residents To Help Local Food Banks:  

Last week, at the West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sounded the alarm about the growing food insecurity brought on by the Republican-led government shutdown [the pointless 40 day shutdown has now finally ended – without any of the concessions the Democrats were asking for and with multiple provisions set to devastate $2B hemp, CBD oil industry]. With the holidays approaching, the Trump administration repeatedly pulled away food assistance from New York families and refused to resolve the hunger crisis in the United States.

I wanted to share a quick recap of the senator’s media availability below. At the event, Senator Gillibrand was joined by City Harvest CEO Jilly Stephens and WSCAH CEO and Executive Director Greg Silverman:

AT 0:11 – ON THE IMPACT OF TRUMP’S CUTS ON NEW YORK FAMILIES:

GILLIBRAND SAID: “With the Trump administration cutting access to food stamps, cutting access to so many social safety net programs like Medicaid, a lot of families in New York are really suffering. And so today I am going to talk to those families about what I can do for them, and how I can fight for them in Washington, and how I can make a difference for their lives. And most importantly I’m here to hand out some food.”

AT 0:53 – ON TRUMP’S DANGEROUS ATTACKS ON FOOD ASSISTANCE:

GILLIBRAND SAID: “The critical funding for City Harvest is at risk because of the Trump administration. They do not want to fund food stamps. They do not want to fund nutrition programs. They are dead set on making sure the most vulnerable in our city cannot get the support that they need.”

AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND AMIDST NATIONWIDE FOOD INSECURITY DUE TO THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, GILLIBRAND HOLDS MEDIA AVAILABILITY OUTSIDE OF HER VISIT TO WEST SIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST HUNGER

New York, NY – Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and amidst nationwide food insecurity due to the Republican-led government shutdown, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held media availability outside of West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH) food distribution on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 263 West 86^th Street at 10:25am. The senator was joined by Jilly Stephens, CEO of City Harvest, and Greg Silverman, CEO and Executive Director of WSCAH.

The senator underscored the importance of supporting providers like WSCAH, and she will follow her brief remarks with off-topic questions. [The senator also helped give out food at the pantry after her remarks]

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GILLIBRAND, SCHUMER DELIVER $104 MILLION FOR NEW YORK STATE PROJECTS

New York, NY – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Minority Leader Charles Schumer announced that they secured $104 million for critical local projects in New York State in the FY2026 Agriculture-Rural Development and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs funding bills. The senators personally delivered funding for these projects as congressionally directed spending items.

“I am proud to have secured more than $100 million in funding for essential projects across New York State,” said Senator Gillibrand. “These critical improvements – from strengthening rural hospitals and upgrading facilities at Fort Drum to modernizing and expanding arts and culture hubs in rural communities – will directly impact the lives of New Yorkers. Every community deserves the tools to thrive, and I will continue to work tirelessly to make sure families, workers, artists, and businesses in New York State have what they need to succeed.“

“From building a new facility at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, to making much-needed upgrades at Upstate NY’s rural hospitals and fire departments, I am proud to deliver this $104 million federal boost for community-driven projects across New York,” said Senator Schumer. “I will always fight to bring home federal dollars to give New York communities the support they deserve.”

Full List of Funded Projects by Region

Western New York:

• $16.11 million for Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station to construct a Combined Operations Airfield Facility (COAF), which will streamline and modernize flight operations.

Southern Tier:

• $2 million for the Tri-County YMCA of New York to support the development of the David A. Gray Discovery Center, a community facility featuring a 110 slot day care center, a senior center, and a maker space.
• $811,000 for Owego Apalachin Central School District to renovate a building to serve as a BOCES satellite campus and adult education facility.
• $667,000 for Chenango Memorial Hospital to replace its existing roof, windows, and exterior doors, reducing energy costs and improving safety and security.

Central New York:

• $1 million for the City of Oswego to construct a new joint police station, emergency operations center, and community center facility.
• $358,000 for Oneida Health to support essential improvements to aging electrical infrastructure, including an additional electrical feed and modernized backup generators.

North Country:

• $9.5 million for the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar Addition at Fort Drum to support new aircraft maintenance bays for the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade.
• $8.3 million for Fort Drum to develop a new training barracks that will support the installation’s status as a Regional Collective Training Center.
• $1 million for the Lake Placid Center for the Arts to modernize and expand its 50-year-old annex facility to create a new arts and early childhood education complex.
• $1 million for renovation and expansion of the dialysis treatment center at Adirondack Medical Center.
• $466,000 for a new outdoor exhibit to increase visitor access to native animal species at the Wild Center.

Capital Region:

• $29 million for the construction of a new electrical switching station at Watervliet Arsenal.
• $1 million for Art Omi Pavilions in Chatham to construct an arts and education center that will drive economic development in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley.

Finger Lakes: 

• $1.75 million for Orleans County for improvements to their public safety facilities.

New York City:

• $31 million for construction of a child development center at Fort Hamilton that will provide service members with expanded access to child care.

GILLIBRAND STATEMENT ON VETERANS DAY

New York, NY –  Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, made the following statement in recognition of the roughly 18 million veterans in America:

“Today, I am thinking about the millions of veterans across the country who put their lives on the line to defend our nation,” said Senator Gillibrand. “During the longest government shutdown in American history, with VA services impacted for more than 1,000,000 veterans, I am reminded by their bravery and sacrifice that the fight cannot stop to ensure their full access to the benefits that they have earned. I am proud to have passed multiple pieces of legislation that directly help this community, and I will continue to advocate for them in the halls of Congress.”

New York State is home to more than 600,000 veterans, and Senator Gillibrand has spent her career in Congress fighting for them. In 2020, Gillibrand first introduced the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act, which would become the centerpiece of the 2022 Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act – the landmark legislation expanding health care access to millions of service members exposed to toxic burn pits. In 2023, she reintroduced the Restore Honor to Service Members Act to help veterans who were discharged solely because of their sexual orientation correct their records and gain access to benefits. In April 2024, Gillibrand announced the introduction of the Blast Overpressure Safety Act, which would help mitigate the risk of traumatic brain injuries among service members and veterans from blast overpressure. Earlier this year, Gillibrand cosponsored the bipartisan Veterans Accessibility Advisory Committee Act, which would require the VA to create an advisory committee to improve the accessibility of services, facilities, and benefits for veterans and VA employees.

WITH MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT UNDERWAY, GILLIBRAND HIGHLIGHTS RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP SENIORS EXPLORE THEIR OPTIONS

Washington, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is offering seniors a slate of resources to help them navigate this year’s Medicare Open Enrollment period.

During Medicare Open Enrollment, which started on October 15, 2025 and will last through December 7, 2025, beneficiaries can make changes to their Medicare coverage that will be effective on January 1, 2026. For example, seniors can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change their Medicare drug plan, or add on supplemental insurance. To learn more, seniors can visit Medicare.gov’s Open Enrollment page.

As the top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senator Gillibrand is also highlighting a list of resources available on the committee’s website to help seniors explore the benefit options available to them. Some of these resources include:

• Find a health insurance counselor: Provides local, in-depth, and objective insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers.
• Find and compare nursing homes, hospitals, and other providers: Lists information about health care providers and facilities based on individual needs.
• BenefitsCheckUp: Connects individuals with benefits they may qualify for.

For more information and additional helpful links, seniors and their caregivers should visit the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Resource Library.

Senator Gillibrand has worked throughout her career to protect and strengthen Medicare. In September, she called on the Trump administration to halt an experiment that would allow private insurance companies and AI tools to delay and deny care to certain Medicare beneficiaries. Earlier this year, she reintroduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which would improve access to care for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. She is also an original cosponsor of the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, which would lower the cost of some of the most expensive and commonly used prescription medications covered under Medicare Part D.

GILLIBRAND, RICKETTS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN FLOOD AND INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCY

New York Experiences Dozens Of Floods Per Year Resulting in More Than $130 Million in Annual Damages

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced bipartisan legislation to boost long-term flood resilience and help communities rebuild stronger after disasters.

Gillibrand and Ricketts’ Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act would help communities make long-term flood prevention improvements after disasters, reduce the burden placed on local communities by allowing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase the federal share of funds available through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, and officially make flood prevention and resilience a key priority within the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

“As the climate crisis worsens and devastating floods become increasingly common, we must be better prepared and equipped to respond,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our bipartisan legislation will strengthen USDA’s ability to help communities recover and rebuild. I will keep fighting to get this across the finish line to protect New Yorkers and improve resiliency across the country.”

“After big floods, federal red tape often slows recovery and delays rebuilding,” said Senator Ricketts. “These restrictions also make it difficult to modernize the infrastructure that keeps our communities safe. This bipartisan bill will improve flood protection and infrastructure resiliency. It will help communities rebuild stronger, preventing future damage.”

The Flood Protection and Infrastructure Resilience Act would:

1. Improve the Emergency Watershed Protection Program’s ability to not only help communities recover from flood disasters, but also make critical watershed improvements that will help prevent damage caused by future disasters.
2. Allow the USDA Secretary to increase the federal cost share from 65 percent up to 90 percent under the Watershed Rehabilitation Program, which would help provide financial assistance to projects that repair and upgrade aging infrastructure to increase watershed resiliency.
3. Amend the USDA RCPP to include flood prevention and mitigation as part of its official purpose and help agricultural producers, communities, and nongovernmental partners carry out regional and watershed-scale flood solutions.

New York State is experiencing more frequent and severe flooding as the climate crisis worsens. Extreme rainfall events have increased by nearly 60% in recent decades across the Northeast, overwhelming outdated infrastructure that was never designed to handle today’s conditions. For example, New York City’s drainage systems were built to manage just 1.75 inches of rain per hour — yet recent storms have regularly produced 2 to 3 inches per hour, leading to widespread flooding.

Senator Gillibrand has long championed efforts to modernize aging infrastructure and strengthen its ability to withstand increasingly severe natural disasters. She previously introduced legislation to establish a dedicated stream of federal funding to improve the resilience of the nation’s public transportation systems and has called for strong state–federal cooperation to ensure New York is fully prepared to respond to wildfires and other threats.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Sanders, 25 Senators Call on Starbucks CEO to Stop Union-Busting and Negotiate a Fair Contract for Workers

WASHINGTON —  After 92% of unionized Starbucks workers voted to authorize a nationwide strike this week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a letter to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol demanding that the multibillion-dollar corporation stop its illegal union-busting campaign and negotiate a fair contract with its workers. The Starbucks Workers United union represents more than 12,000 workers at about 550 stores nationwide.

Sanders was joined on the letter by Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

“We are writing to express concern regarding Starbucks’ failure to reach a fair first contract with its baristas. Additionally, we have heard of a troubling return to union busting, which has impeded the ability of Starbucks workers—many of whom are our constituents—to exercise their statutory and constitutional right to organize,” Sanders and the senators wrote.

Since workers began organizing, Starbucks has waged an aggressive and illegal anti-union campaign. The company has been found guilty of more than 500 labor law violations and has been accused of 125 new allegations of union-busting since January of this year.

Last year, Starbucks and its workers made progress toward a fair contract, reaching 33 tentative agreements on key issues such as health and safety and protections against unfair firing and discipline. But after Niccol took over as CEO in September 2024, the company abruptly halted negotiations and walked away from the bargaining table.

“We are troubled by reports that since you started your role as CEO in September 2024, the company has failed to put forward a serious economic proposal, backtracking on the previously agreed-upon path forward,” Sanders continued. “As you well know Starbucks is not a poor company. Last year Starbucks made over $3.6 billion in profit and paid out nearly $5 billion in stock buybacks and dividends. In fact, in the first 3 quarters of the year, Starbucks made $1.7 billion in profit and paid out over $2 billion in dividends. Last year, you made $95 million in compensation for the four months you worked in 2024, roughly 6,666 times more than what your average worker was paid for the entire year.”

While Starbucks executives and wealthy shareholders reap enormous profits, the company continues to deny its workers a living wage, predictable scheduling and decent benefits — demands that would cost less than one day of Starbucks’ average sales. Instead, Starbucks has refused to settle the more than 700 union-busting charges against it and is implementing a restructuring plan to close stores and lay off hundreds of workers.

“It is clear that Starbucks has the money to reach a fair agreement with its workers,” Sanders concluded. “Starbucks must reverse course from its current posture, resolve its existing labor disputes, and bargain a fair contract in good faith with these employees.”

Read the letter here.

GILLIBRAND STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TARIFFS DRIVING UP COSTS FOR NEW YORK FAMILIES AND JEOPARDIZING AMERICAN JOBS

Washington, D.C. – Following reporting about the devastating costs for New York families and workers stemming from President Trump’s tariffs, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement:

“The numbers don’t lie. President Trump’s tariffs are hitting New Yorkers like a sledgehammer. They are driving up costs, putting jobs at risk, and acting as a hidden tax on working families. President Trump needs to get serious about protecting American jobs and stop taxing families. These tariffs are economic self-sabotage, and New Yorkers are paying the price.”

According to a report released today by the office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the Trump administration’s tariffs are costing New York households an estimated $4,200 annually and could jeopardize 500,000 jobs tied to trade and manufacturing in the state.

GILLIBRAND INTRODUCES TWO BILLS TO BOOST BENEFITS FOR SENIORS AMID RISING COST OF LIVING

The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act would add $200 per month to Social Security checks until July 2026

The Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act would change the formula used to calculate yearly cost-of-living adjustments to more accurately account for seniors’ expenses

More than four million New Yorkers would benefit from the two bills

Washington, D.C. – Amid skyrocketing prices in President Trump’s America, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading the charge to help seniors and others combat the rising cost of living.

This week, she introduced two bills that would boost monthly benefits for seniors. The first, the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, would provide a $200 per month increase to Social Security checks until July 2026. This would help account for the increasing cost of essentials—from groceries to medical care—and provide short-term relief to seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities who live on fixed incomes. The second, the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act—which Senator Gillibrand leads—would provide a longer-term fix, protecting and expanding Social Security benefits for older adults by changing the formula used to calculate yearly cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to better account for the unique expenses older adults face.

“Americans deserve to retire with dignity, not spend their golden years just trying to get by,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our seniors have spent a lifetime of hard work paying into Social Security, but the payouts simply aren’t keeping up with rising costs, and this year’s annual cost-of-living adjustment is not enough to keep seniors afloat. These two bills would help make sure that older Americans don’t have to choose between paying for medication and buying groceries, providing both short-term relief and long-term solutions. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I’m determined to pass these critical bills to make sure our seniors can age comfortably.”

Last week, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that benefits will only increase by 2.8%—equivalent to just $56 extra per month on average. Three out of four Americans aged 50 and older say this is not enough to keep up with rising prices.

The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act—which was introduced today—will help individuals who receive Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement benefits, veteran disability compensation, Civil Service Retirement System benefits, and veteran pensions keep up with rising costs by adding $200 to their monthly checks for six months. This legislation is led by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The text of the Social Security and Emergency Inflation Relief Act can be found here.

The Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act—which was introduced on Monday—provides a longer-term fix by directing the Social Security Administration to adjust benefits based on the Consumer Price Index for Americans aged 62 or older (CPI-E), rather than the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W). The CPI-E more accurately accounts for the actual costs incurred by older Americans, such as medical expenses—making it a more reflective index to use when calculating benefits. In addition to Senator Gillibrand, this bicameral legislation is co-led by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13). The text of the Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act can be found here.

As ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Gillibrand is a staunch supporter of seniors and Social Security. In the face of Trump administration cuts and overhauls at SSA, she has rallied alongside seniors and unions to demand a reversal of staffing and service cuts, advocated against the closure of SSA offices across the country and in White Plains, NY, and, along with other Senate Democrats, sent nearly 200 questions about the impact of Social Security cuts to SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano following his confirmation. Following Senator Gillibrand’s advocacy, SSA reversed its decision to restrict certain phone services that serve as lifelines to beneficiaries seeking to access and maintain benefits. Earlier this year, she also introduced the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act, vital legislation that would reverse the disastrous Trump administration cuts to SSA. In recent weeks, she has requested updates from Commissioner Bisignano regarding his appointed leadership team’s vision and management plans, and she recommended that they jointly visit an SSA field office in NY so she can evaluate the impact the Trump-era changes have had on SSA response times, communication, and outreach to the public.

Senator Gillibrand is also part of Senate Democrats’ Social Security War Room, a coordinated effort to fight back against the Trump administration’s attacks on Social Security and to ensure the American people can continue to rely on these essential programs that they have earned. The War Room coordinates messaging across the Senate Democratic Caucus and external stakeholders; encourages grassroots engagement by providing opportunities for Americans to share what Social Security means to them; and educates Senate staff, the American public, and stakeholders about the Republican agenda and their continued cuts to Americans’ Social Security services and benefits.

Banner Image: Senator Gillibrand at Food pantry. Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand