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Kirsten Gillibrand

State and federal officials publicly celebrated Congressional passage of the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Programs.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the lead sponsor who pushed for the bill's passage, was joined by U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in celebrating the 65-33 Senate Vote to renew the bill, sending it to President Barack Obama for a final signature.

The bill's passage will effectively make permanent, the renewal of the World Trade Center Health Program for 75 years as well as a five year, fully funded renewal of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, as part of the final omnibus spending bill.

Gillibrand, Schumer and Cuomo each released a statement on the subject Friday. The statements all follow in their entirety.

After months of tireless work by our 9/11 first responders, these brave men and women can finally feel secure that they will have healthcare for the rest of their lives. This victory belongs to them,” said Senator Gillibrand, the lead sponsor of the legislation in the Senate. “And while this should have been an easy moral question for Congress with an obvious answer, our first responders were more than ready to stand up and fight for what they deserve, and today they won. This is an extraordinary group of men and women, and I am honored to represent them.

 -- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

This is the Christmas the 9/11 responders deserved: some peace of mind for each and every hero. Their selfless actions in response to that tragic day deserve a lifetime’s worth of care and respect, so it is welcome news that Congress has finally agreed to fully fund the 9/11 Health Program, providing security to those brave men and women throughout their lives.  Thank you to Senator Gillibrand, my other colleagues, firefighters, cops, veterans, union workers and everyone else who fought on behalf of our 9/11 first responders, walking the halls of Congress to win support for these vital health services.

-- U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer.

The permanent reauthorization of the Zadroga Act is a long-overdue victory for the more than 56,000 9/11 responders and survivors in New York State today. When the Twin Towers fell, thousands of brave men and women rushed into danger and put the safety of others before their own. They rescued people from the rubble, sacrificed countless hours away from their families, and helped us heal and rebuild in the days that followed, while never straying from the kind of selfless courage that will be remembered for generations to come. And today, Congress has finally shown that these heroic acts were not forgotten. The passage of this bill is also proof that Washington can live up to its responsibility to the American people. It shows that Congress can come together to do what is right, and bridge the gridlock and partisan divide to tackle our most pressing challenges. I applaud the members of New York’s congressional delegation – especially Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representatives Nadler, Maloney and King – for leading the fight to reauthorize the Zadroga Act. I urge all members of Congress to join them in continuing to move our nation forward.

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The City of Lockport has been awarded a SAFER grant in the amount of $212,298, allowing the Lockport Fire Department to call Chris Lane back to service with the city's fire department.

The grant, funded through the Dept. of Homeland Security, will pay Lane's salary, benefits and pension costs for two full years. Lane was originally hired by the department in 2006.

Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey said, "This is great news for the City and the Department as it brings an employee back to work, ensures his retention, and maintains the staffing that the Council established last fall during budget time - all at no cost to the city. We could not ask for a better outcome."

McCaffrey thanked Fire Chief Pat Brady for applying for — and being awarded — the grant, as well as Congressman Chris Collins and Senator Chuck Schumer for their help in obtaining the federal funding.

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Andrew Cuomo

ALBANY — New York State has been awarded $8.1 million in federal funds to help prevent heroin use, prescription drug abuse, and opioid overdose among adolescents and young adults across the state, while also increasing awareness about the dangers of these drugs.

“This funding will help in our battle against heroin and prescription drug abuse, an epidemic that disproportionately affects teens and young adults, and has resulted in far too much needless tragedy," Governor Cuomo said Friday. “Drug abuse has devastating consequences for families across New York, and these grants are another way our administration is working to help communities fight this heads on, and ultimately save lives.”

The five-year, $8.1 million Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnership for Success funding was awarded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funds will be awarded in up to 10 local community coalitions located in high-need communities across New York State. These funds will be used to implement environmental prevention strategies targeting heroin and prescription drug abuse and overdose prevention in the 12- to 25-year-old age group.

This new grant funding will support community coalitions in meeting the following goals to:

• Reduce prescription drug misuse and abuse in the 12- to 25-year-old population,
• Reduce heroin use and heroin/prescription opioid overdose deaths among the 12- to 25-year-old population,
• Increase public awareness through statewide and community media campaigns directed at parents and community members about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and abuse and the strategies to prevent heroin/prescription opioid overdose deaths, and
• Increase the number of anti-overdose medication Narcan/naloxone trainings offered to parents, family members, and anyone living with a heroin/prescription opioid addict.

The New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) will administer the grant. The funding will run through Sept. 30, 2019. Applications for community coalitions to apply for this funding are available online (link).

Heroin addiction and prescription opioid abuse are persistent national problems that reach deep into communities across New York and heavily affect young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 15,000 people die every year of overdoses involving prescription painkillers nationwide. In 2014, there were more than 118,000 admissions into New York State-certified treatment programs for heroin and prescription opioid abuse – a 17.8 percent increase over 2009. The largest increase in opioid admissions during that time was patients ages 18 to 34.

Cuomo has made this issue a priority and implemented aggressive measures to help New Yorkers address heroin addiction and prescription opioid abuse, launching the #CombatHeroin campaign in September to inform and educate New Yorkers about the risks of heroin and prescription opioid use, the warning signs of addiction, and the resources available to help. Additionally, the Governor launched the expanded first responder training program that in part requires every SUNY and CUNY police officer to be trained to respond to an opioid overdose by using naloxone. More than 41,000 New Yorkers are now trained – including nearly 4,000 law enforcement officers – and more than 1,200 lives have been saved.

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer said, “Heroin and prescription drugs are ravaging communities throughout New York and this federal funding will make a real difference in helping us address the epidemic,” said Senator Schumer. “We must do everything in our power to prevent young people from falling victim to these horrible drugs, and I will continue to do everything I can to fight for funding that we need to address both the supply of these drugs and enhance treatment options that limit demand.”

Congressman Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, said, “The prescription drug epidemic which often leads to heroin use is increasing at alarming rates and threatening the future and lives of our teens and young adults. This federal funding will help to raise awareness and promote prevention efforts as we work to save families from the heartache of addiction.”

Congressman Tom Reed, R-Corning, said, “I welcome the Governor’s action on this important health issue. I have worked with Southern Tier law enforcement and health professionals to bring attention to the damaging effects of drug abuse on our families and communities. This critical funding will save lives and help prevent the corrosive effects that drugs have in our State and Nation.”

New Yorkers seeking help for drug addiction can access prevention, treatment and recovery information on the #CombatHeroin website or by calling the State's HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369. A list of addiction treatment providers in New York State is available online, as well (link).

New Yorkers who want to help prevent heroin and prescription drug addiction and its serious consequences are encouraged to share #CombatHeroin campaign posters and PSAs in their local communities and to become trained in anti-opioid overdose response. Combat Heroin campaign materials, including fact sheets and informational flyers, are available in English, Spanish and Russian on the #CombatHeroin website. Information about anti-opioid overdose training is available here (link).

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Mayor Anne McCaffrey

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Lockport Housing Authority has received a $67,433 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, it was announced today.

The offices of U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced the grant today, along with five others in Western New York. In all, $582,771 in federal funding is being directed to Western New York. The funding was allocated through two HUD programs. $189,204 was allocated though the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program and $393,567 was allocated through the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program. The funding will be used to carryout services and provide housing vouchers for citizens in need.

The Lockport grant was provided through the FSS program.

“I know of the impact that this grant has had on the participants in the program," Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey said via press release of the funding provided through the FSS program. "One-hundred-eight people are benefitting from the self-sufficiency grant and in the past 18 months, 43 people have obtained employment. We appreciate the partnership with HUD to help families living in Lockport Housing Authority units to achieve self-sufficiency.”
“One homeless veteran is one too many, and we must do everything to help provide our heroes with a comfortable place to live,” said Senator Schumer. “This federal funding will help homeless veterans and their families find affordable housing in Buffalo’s and Western New York’s housing market, as well as help them find meaningful employment. Our veterans willingly risked life and limb for our country, and this investment will provide them with the services they need to build a life here in Upstate New York.”

“Every veteran in Western New York deserves to have a safe quality place to live,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help our veterans and homeless families get the resources and assistance they need so they can have a safe place to call home and are able to gain additional skills so they can find good-paying jobs. This kind of investment will help keep more New Yorkers and their families off the streets.”

Other recipients of the funding include the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, receiving $34,212; the City of North Tonawanda, Belmont Housing Resources, receiving $48,178; the Erie County Public Housing Agency Consortium, Town of Amherst Belmont Housing, receiving $145,870; the Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo, receiving $97,874; and the Town of Amherst, receiving $189,204.

HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program provides housing vouchers and a range of support services for homeless veterans and their families. HUD’s Family Self Sufficiency program assists local social services agencies, community colleges, businesses and other local organizations in providing education and job training in order to help those participating in HUD’s housing voucher program and living in public housing gain marketable jobs skills. This program will help those utilizing housing assistance programs gain the education and skills needed to find and retain good jobs and become self-sufficient.

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US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, DC — As the comment period comes to a close for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposed rulemaking on its Open Internet order, New York senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on the Commission to reclassify broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service.

In a letter  sent to the FCC, the lawmakers said the FCC should use its authority to “prevent broadband providers from creating Internet fast lanes for those who can pay, leaving others stuck in traffic.” The FCC is currently considering a proposal that could allow broadband providers to charge websites, applications, and services more for faster delivery times to consumers.

“Broadband is a more advanced technology than phone service, but in the 21st century it performs the same essential function,” write the lawmakers in the letter. “Consumers and businesses cannot live without this vital connection to each other and to the world around them. Accordingly, it would be appropriate for the FCC to reclassify broadband to reflect the vital role the Internet plays in carrying our most important information and our greatest ideas.”

The full text of the letter follows:

July 15, 2014

The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St. SW
Washington, DC 20554


Dear Chairman Wheeler:

An open Internet has become the world's most successful platform for innovation, job-creation and entrepreneurialism.  An open Internet enables freedom of expression and the sharing of ideas around the world.  An open Internet is driving economic growth throughout the United States.

Yet, the vitality and nondiscriminatory nature of this platform is at stake today.  We must take steps to prevent broadband providers from creating Internet fast lanes for those who can pay, leaving others stuck in traffic.  We need to prohibit paid prioritization, which would leave start-ups and small businesses to suffer in a new Internet slow lane, harming our economy and job growth.   Our goal must be to protect the openness of the Internet for future generations.

At issue today is how the FCC should use its authority to keep the Internet open for business.  We remain concerned that the Commission’s recent notice of proposed rulemaking suggests approaches that could undermine the openness of the Internet.  Because the item tentatively concludes that Internet service providers would be allowed to offer faster delivery times for websites, applications or services that pay for it, the Commission’s proposal could fundamentally alter the Internet as we know it.

Instead, the Commission should take this opportunity to put truly effective open Internet rules on the books, and do so using whatever authority best stops these discriminatory practices.  We believe that authority already resides in Title II.  By reclassifying the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service, with appropriate forbearance, the FCC could prevent online discrimination.

Broadband is a more advanced technology than phone service, but in the 21st century it performs the same essential function.  Consumers and businesses cannot live without this vital connection to each other and to the world around them.  Accordingly, it would be appropriate for the FCC to reclassify broadband to reflect the vital role the Internet plays in carrying our most important information and our greatest ideas.  

Thank you for your consideration and your work on this issue.

The letter was signed by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Corey Booker (D-N.J.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

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Embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki announced on Friday that he would resign his post to prevent from being a distraction to the overhauls that need to happen within the department.

President Barack Obama said it was "with considerable regret" that he accepted Shinseki's resignation, but at least two local politicians don't seem to agree.

Public statements by Congressman Chris Collins and state Sen. George Maziarz would indicate that the Republicans both felt it was needed.

The resignation of VA Secretary Shinseki was long overdue. While the country honors his decorated service during the Vietnam War, it has been clear to me for well over a year that Secretary Shinseki is not up to the management challenges that plague the VA. It is now my hope that President Obama and his administration will lead a total review of top management of the VA and install leaders capable of meeting the needs of our veterans – they deserve nothing less. — Congressman Chris Collins, R-Clarence, via press release.

Our veterans deserve better... We need new leadership at the VA and we need a renewed commitment to better serving those who served us in the military. — State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, via Facebook post.

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Congressman Chris Collins, R-Clarence, panned President Barack Obama's Tuesday night State of the Union Address while New York's Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, praised it.

"For weeks now, President Obama has been talking about using a pen and a phone to get things done. But the American people don’t need a pen and a phone, they need jobs and a paycheck," Collins said in a post-State of the Union press release. "We need to focus on strengthening our economy.  There are 91.8 million Americans out of work and at the end of the day jobs are created by economic growth, not mandates from Washington."

Collins said the president failed to address certain key issues he had been hoping for, such as tax reform, energy independence, and significant changes to the Affordable Care Act.

"We could immediately bolster our nation’s economy by changing ObamaCare’s definition of a full-time work week from 30 hours back to the traditional 40," Collins said. "And we could repeal the medical device tax, which is hurting American manufactures. But we didn’t hear any of these solutions from the President. Instead, we heard more 'big government knows best' solutions that are paid for by borrowing more money from China."

"Sadly," Collins concluded, "nothing in President Obama’s address indicates he has gotten the message that government works better when we work together. We need a President who will work with Congress, not around Congress."

Gillibrand and Schumer had very different takes from Collins.

Gillibrand specifically stated that she was impressed by the president's focus on the economy - and one of her primary concerns: women.

"This evening President Obama presented a compelling plan of how to achieve real opportunity for all hard working Americans," she said. " There is no doubt, the state of our union will grow stronger when every middle class American has a fair shot to earn their way ahead in our economy, and the next generation is equipped with the skills they need to reach their full economic potential."

“A growing economy and secure middle class also relies on making sure that hard work is rewarded with wages that can actually support a family," New York's junior senator said. "I am pleased the president is taking real action to raise the minimum wage for federal contractor workers to the level I am fighting for. But Congress must do its part this year, and raise the minimum wage for the 28 million Americans who have earned it."

“I hope that with President Obama, and with Democrats and Republicans working together in Congress, we can bring America’s outdated workplace polices into the 21st century, and give middle class workers the security they deserve. Because only when every woman and family gets the opportunity they deserve to achieve their potential, can America achieve hers.”

Sen. Schumer agreed with Gillibrand via his Twitter account, saying "Helping the middle class will supersede every other issue in November; the president’s speech shows that he gets it."

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