Kirsten Gillibrand rose to national prominence when it came to key social issues in the Senate. Her political career crescendoed when she launched her run for president last year, but eventually dropped out of the race to return to the Senate full-time. She’s an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and LGBTQ issues in the armed forces. Gillibrand is the most-likely Democratic senator to vote against her party, according to ProPublica, but has a less-than-average record for bipartisanship. Gillibrand was a key leader in the Senate on getting the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund permanently funded.
Editor's Note: The following statements and assertions are those of a political candidate and/or Congressional Office. Any statistics, data, or other information contained therein has not been independently verified or checked for accuracy as part of this project.
Statement From Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand:
“From securing permanent benefits for 9/11 first responders and Blue Water Navy veterans, to working to keep our water free of toxic chemicals, I am proud of my record in the 116th Congress. As a ranking member of the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, I was able to include nearly twenty priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act, including measures to support and secure justice for military members facing assault. I am proud that all of this legislation passed with bipartisan support, including the Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act which President Trump signed into law. I will continue to deliver results for New York families.”
What the rankings mean:
Number of bills sponsored:
This metric measures the number of unique bills put forward by a Representative or a Senator. A Resolution usually expresses an opinion or addresses procedure in the House or Senate and doesn’t go to the President. An Amendment is a change to the language of legislation. Everything has to be voted on.
Number of bills passed out of one chamber:
Getting a bill passed through a chamber is tough. In order to pass a bill out of a chamber, a member of Congress must build consensus among his or her colleagues.
Number of bills signed into law:
If a bill from an opposite party is signed into law by a President, the achievement is a significant victory for that Member of Congress if the bill is significant. Many non-controversial bills are signed into law as a matter of routine.
Percentage a member votes with his or her party:
Source: ProPublica. Procedural votes count toward this score and it isn’t entirely indicative of a member’s loyalty, or disloyalty, to the party.
Lugar Center Bipartisan Index Score:
The Bipartisan Index is a joint project of The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. Scores above 1.0 are outstanding. Scores above .5 are very good. Scores below -.5 are poor. Scores below -1.0 are very poor.