WCDO Radio News

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is making another bipartisan push to change how the military handles allegations of sexual assault. This time, she has a new ally — the former chief prosecutor of the Air Force. Retired Col. Don Christensen joined Gillibrand at a news conference to request a floor vote on Gillibrand's Military Justice Improvement Act, which would remove commanders from the process of deciding whether to prosecute sexual assault cases and turn that responsibility over to military prosecutors. Gillibrand's bill received 55 votes earlier this year, five short of the 60 needed to overcome a threatened filibuster. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are working on a compromise version of the bill.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is looking to expand broadband access for people who live and do business in Delaware County. Gillibrand visited yesterday to discuss ways to expand and improve high-speed broadband access within the county. Representatives from the Telecom industry, government agencies and local business owners were on hand to learn how they would benefit from the change. Gillibrand said the next step is to work with state government and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and apply for grants and loans to acquire the necessary funding to put the infrastructure to work

New York will receive $343 million in heating and home energy assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand joined a bipartisan group of 46 Senators, in urging HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, to release Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding as quickly as possible, to ensure more families can access resources they need to heat their homes this winter. LIHEAP is the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, providing assistance during both the cold winter and hot summer months

U.S. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand called on the federal Department of Justice to allow the state to begin part of its medical marijuana program early to treat children with forms of epilepsy and other seizure disorders. State health officials, at the request of Governor Cuomo, asked the federal government for permission to begin receiving the drug from out-of-state manufacturers even before the formal state program begins.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer & Kirsten Gillibrand announced an award of more than $1.7 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funding for the village of Sidney Friday. The grant from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program will pay the balance for the purchase of 49 flood-prone properties damaged in 2011 flooding and turn them into open space. The structures are located in the flood area & were damaged following the latest severe flooding in 2011.

New York's public university system is the first to support a bipartisan federal effort that would strengthen colleges and universities' assistance, for sexual assault victims while establishing penalties for non-compliance. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said that the Campus Accountability and Safety Act l creates new standards for training, and calls for an anonymous annual survey of students, to provide an accounting of campus sexual assaults at colleges and universities.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer, and Kirsten Gillibrand will introduce the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, to restore the contraceptive coverage requirement guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act, and protect coverage of other health services from employers who want to impose their beliefs on their employees by denying benefits. The legislation would ensure no boss can use their personal belief, to limit what health care services an employee has access to.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand called on FEMA to grant another extension to Sandy victims who still need to file flood insurance claims. Under the National Flood Insurance Program, Sandy-impacted homeowners must file a “proof of loss” form, a statement on the amount the homeowner is claiming under a flood insurance policy. The 1st deadline was last October 29th, in order to be eligible for coverage for flood damage, but many were unable to meet the deadline. With the new April 28th deadline approaching, Schumer and Gillibrand are calling on FEMA to grant another extension.

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released a letter to the White House Task Force pushing for better protection against sexual assault on college campuses. Gillibrand, along with six other U.S. Senators, are proposing action that would bring more transparency to the issue. The group prepared 3 recommendations for the task force, who are scheduled to make their own recommendations this week. Studies show nearly 1 in 5 women in college are victims of attempted or actual sexual assault.

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced $1.7 million in federal funds, to acquire and demolish flood-damaged structures in the Village of Sidney, and turn the properties into green space. The damaged buildings are located in a flood-hazard zone in the River Street area; County officials prefer to demolish the structures. The federal funds cover 75 percent of the projected cost to acquire and demolish the flood-prone properties.  All of the structures were damaged from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in 2011.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on the USDA not to close 250 offices across the country, including up to 10 in New York State, saying they are needed to successfully implement the new farm bill, helping farmers navigate the system and sign up for existing and new programs. The Farm Bill was signed into law last month and includes many new programs, which require in-depth explanation. The bill also includes a new dairy program, which provides a safety net for dairy farmers when the price of milk drops. To find out more go to usda.gov.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand unveiled a plan to make child care more affordable and accessible for working parents. Under the plan the maximum credit would rise from $1,050 to $3,000 per child by raising the percentage of the tax credit to 50%, doubling the amount of eligible expenses to $12,000. The tax credit would be refundable to help those who are working the most, but don’t earn enough to use the tax credit.  Gillibrand is also a cosponsor of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, which was last reauthorized in 1996. Last year, the state received $98 million in those funds to help low-income families

US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand told federal officials the Empire State needs its bees to pollinate crops. Gillibrand wrote Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to ask him to expand the department’s efforts to revive bee populations in New York and the Northeast. Gillibrand said beekeepers in New York last year lost an average of 30 percent of their hives to Colony Collapse Disorder, in which honeybees suddenly disappear or die. The losses could affect apple and other crops in New York. The state has about 52,000 beehives

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced federal legislation to establish a program, to be run by the Social Security Administration that would give workers about 2/3rds of their salaries for up to 12 weeks in a family crisis. The proposal would supplement the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act that protects workers who take unpaid leave for family emergencies. Gillibrand said the program would be self-sufficient and not add to the federal budget. There are no Republican co-sponsors to the legislation, but Gillibrand said she would work in to get bi-partisan support.

New York’s senators reported that 33.7 million dollars for the national stream gauge network is included in appropriations before congress.  Senators Schumer & Gillibrand said the 6 million dollar increase in funding would help strengthen gauges in upstate counties that provide flood warnings during severe weather.  The senators said that the money would help the US Geological survey keep existing gauges online and allow the ISGS to add more gauges in the high-risk flood zones in the upstate regions.

U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Richard Hanna announced the success and expansion of the U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program to serve New York-based Chobani yogurt in school lunches.  New York State was chosen as 1 of 4 states to participate in the pilot program, the USDA has decided to continue and expand it to 4 additional states during the next school year. During the pilot program, 200,000 pounds of yogurt were provided to schools in those states. New York State leads the country in Greek yogurt production, which has twice the protein, less sodium and fewer carbohydrates.