Gillibrand Announces New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento Will Be Her Guest To State Of The Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that she will bring President of the New York State AFL-CIO Mario Cilento as her guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

Cilento has been a member of the Newspaper Guild-CWA since 1990 and was elected president of the New York State AFL-CIO in 2011. Under his leadership, the labor movement has secured a number of historic victories.

He has helped pass a $15 minimum wage and an increase in unemployment benefits, as well as legislation to make quarantined workers eligible for paid family leave; reauthorize the World Trade Center Health Program; and expedite death benefits to families of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mario has been a relentless champion of the New York State AFL-CIO’s 2.5 million members for over 10 years,” Gillibrand said. “During his time as president, he has secured some of the labor movement’s biggest victories: higher wages, better benefits, and stronger protections for the sacred right to organize. His tireless work has made workplaces across our state safer and more equitable. I look forward to working closely with Mario in the coming months to advance comprehensive labor legislation that benefits all New Yorkers and will make sure our economy works for everyone.”

“I am honored to represent New York’s 2.5 million hard working union members, retirees and families at the State of the Union Address as Senator Gillibrand’s guest,” Cilento said. “She is a true champion for the middle class and a fierce supporter of our efforts to ensure 9/11 responders, survivors, and their families have access to the help they need. Senator Gillibrand continues to be instrumental in ensuring those exposed to the toxins at Ground Zero get the health care and compensation they deserve. I thank her for all she has done for working people and look forward to continuing to partner with her to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.”

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