Quotes from Kirsten Gillibrand

It's time to focus on real solutions that will create jobs and build our economy for real strength and stability - not just for the fortunate few, but for every American.

It's a heavy feeling being in Washington. There are so many important issues at risk. You're in a fighting stance every day.

If one of my colleagues wants to block a bill, they should stand up in front of the American people and explain why.

I'll always stand up for America's seniors so they can age with dignity.

Like all Americans, I will never forget where I was the morning of the 9/11 attacks.

I really love my job, and I feel like I can make a huge difference for New Yorkers, fighting for them.

I'm grateful that President Trump is willing to talk about paid leave, but his policy, unfortunately, is woefully inadequate.

For American families, Universal pre-K is an essential piece of the puzzle that not only allows their kids to get a good start, but it also allows mothers to remain on the job earning a paycheck and helping our economy grow.

If we expect our children to thrive at our colleges and universities, and succeed in our economy once they graduate - first we must make quality, affordable early childhood education accessible to all.

My hope is that in the future, women stop referring to themselves as 'the only woman' in their physics lab or 'only one of two' in their computer science jobs.

Women's voices aren't heard often enough. Congress should reflect the population, but with only 20 percent women in the Senate and 18 percent in the House, it just doesn't.

We should be cultivating our female workers. The truth of the matter is that women just see problems and solutions differently, and that's valuable.

Hardworking men and women deserve not only job security, but also a paycheck when they need to take time off to care for a loved one.

There is no greater call to service than that of our brave men and women who serve our country in combat across the globe.

The government can take smart steps to give all kids the healthy start they need to reach their full potential.

Communities in every corner of America struggle to fill nursing vacancies to provide care for everyone who needs it.

When women earn more, families are stronger, and children have better access to quality health care and education.

I have always stood up to protect women's access to safe and legal abortion, birth control and health care at Planned Parenthood.

I'm proud to have stood with the LGBTQ community my entire career.

Just telling women: If you don't speak up, things aren't gonna change. If you don't become an advocate, it's not gonna change. If you don't vote, it's not gonna change. If you don't run, it's not gonna change.

For many of the brave men and women who have fought on the front lines, returning home means trying to navigate a complicated and bureaucratic Veterans Administration benefits system.

While we can never truly repay the debt we owe our heroes, the least we should do for our brave veterans is to ensure that the government takes a proactive approach to delivering the services and benefits they have earned, so they can access the care they need and so richly deserve.

One of the primary reasons I first ran for Congress was to be a voice for our troops, veterans and military families.

While we can't begin to repay the debt we owe our veterans for their brave service, we can certainly take steps to ease the physical, psychological and financial hardships they may be experiencing.