NEW YORK – Following is a weekly newsletter from U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand:
Welcome to Kirsten’s New York Minute!
Here’s what she’s been up to:
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| 1. Making public safety a priority & fighting hate crimes
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Amidst a troubling rise in hate crimes in New York, Kirsten joined Asian, Jewish, Muslim and LGBTQ community leaders in NYC to announce her push to collect more extensive and complete data on these incidents.
Why it matters: Accurate data will help law enforcement fight crime and keep our communities safe.
| 2. Helping families through the addiction crisis
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Millions of New Yorkers struggle with substance use disorder. Kirsten has a plan to help them and their families.
Her Family Support Services for Addiction Act would deliver $25 million to organizations that provide resources and support to families with a loved one fighting addiction – something that can help improve outcomes.
| 3. $55 million for Buffalo infrastructure
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Kirsten joined Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in Buffalo to talk about the $55 million in federal funding she helped secure through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reimagine the Kensington Expressway and reconnect historically marginalized communities to economic opportunity.
| 4. SNAP for Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rico families don’t have access to the same SNAP benefits that millions of mainland Americans rely on to keep food on the table.
Kirsten is introducing bipartisan legislation to change that. Her Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act would provide billions in additional nutritional assistance and help fight hunger on the island.
| 5. Benefits for vets
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Kirsten continued her tour of VA clinics and veterans organizations across the state with stops in Ithaca and the Hudson Valley. She’s making sure veterans who might have been exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances know how to access new benefits they may be owed under the recently passed PACT Act.
Are you a veteran? Learn more and submit your claim here or contact Kirsten’s office for help.
| 6. Getting New Yorkers their Social Security
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After learning that a 97-year-old WWII veteran wasn’t receiving his Social Security or New York State benefits, Kirsten’s office leapt into action to help.The office contacted the Social Security Administration on his behalf, and the vet will now receive all the money he is owed.
Individual casework is Kirsten’s top priority. If you need help with a federal agency, contact her here.
| 7. Did you know?
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Kirsten’s Chinese name is Lu Tian Na. She studied abroad in Beijing and Taiwan in college and speaks Mandarin. More.
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