Kirsten’s New York Minute!

Here’s what she’s been up to this week:

Kirsten is committed to bringing reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to every community in New York.

This week, she announced that the state will receive over half a billion dollars in federal funding to expand broadband infrastructure. That’s on top of the $800+ million she’s already fought to secure to help rural communities, Native American tribes, low-income households, and more get connected.

Learn more.

2. Strengthening Medicaid for mental illnesses

Over one-third of the 14 million adults in the U.S. living with a serious mental illness like schizophrenia, bipolar illness, or major depressive disorder don’t receive any form of mental health treatment.

Kirsten introduced the Strengthening Medicaid for Serious Mental Illness Act to help change that. The bill would expand Medicaid services to provide those living with severe mental illness with intensive case management, crisis intervention, and peer support services.

Read more.

Over half of New Yorkers live in communities with few or no child care providers. That makes it hard for parents to get back to work and for local economies to thrive.

Kirsten visited the Ogdensburg Bridge & Port Authority to highlight $2.1 million in federal funding she secured for the development of a new child care facility in the area. It’ll provide 300 families with affordable and reliable care and help make Ogdensburg a more family-friendly place.

Read more.

Fires from faulty lithium-ion batteries have caused 110 fires and killed 13 people in New York City this year alone.

Kirsten secured $25 million in federal funding to build 173 e-bike chargingand storage stations outside 53 NYCHA developments across the city. These stations will allow e-bike users to charge their batteries outdoors and help minimize the risk of deadly fires.

Read more.

Kirsten took part in the New York City Pride March to celebrate the vibrancy and resiliency of New York’s LGBTQ+ community.

Kirsten is dedicated to bringing federal dollars home to New York. 

Just this week, she delivered: 

1. $7 million for Cattaraugus County to complete the planning and design of the Southern Tier Trail and boost tourism across the Southern Tier and Western New York. Read more.
2. $3.8 million for Long Island to help develop the Long Island Greenway, a 175-mile bike and pedestrian extension of the Empire State Trail. Learn more.
3. $1.2 million for 13 fire departments across the state to provide equipment and training to firefighters. More.

Kirsten visited New Paltz – a community hit hard by the fentanyl crisis – to meet with lawmakers and advocates about her FEND Off Fentanyl Act, legislation that would crack down on drug traffickers and get illegal opioids out of our neighborhoods.

Read more.

8. Helping asylum seekers find work 

Kirsten introduced the Assisting Seekers in Pursuit of Integration and Rapid Employment (ASPIRE) Act to give asylum seekers a pathway to safe and legal employment. The bill would help alleviate labor shortages and make sure asylum seekers can provide for themselves and avoid exploitative working conditions.

Learn more.