On Tuesday night, Gillibrand told host Stephen Colbert on CBS’s “Late Show” that she would be entering the race, and that she believes she has “the compassion, the courage and the fearless determination” necessary.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former Obama administration housing secretary Julián Castro and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) have already announced their candidacies.
Gillibrand, 52, is most well known for her efforts in combating sexual assault in the military and on college campuses, to repeal the military’s policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and to make it easier for Capitol Hill staffers who have been sexually harassed or assaulted to report their experiences.
Here’s a look at some of the policies Gillibrand has backed, as well as those she hopes can power her to the White House.
Universal paid family leave
Gillibrand released a bill to create America’s first universal paid family leave program. It would pay workers while they take time off if they have to take care of a sick child, parent or spouse; give birth to a child; or get sick themselves.
Currently, the U.S. is the only country in the developed world that does not require businesses to give paid leave to new mothers, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found. Mothers are guaranteed zero paid time off, but those that are given such benefits from their employer are likely to be much higher up the income ladder, said Heather Boushey, executive director and chief economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth
Gillibrand has continually reintroduced the legislation in Congress, and it was co-sponsored by about a dozen other senators last year, including at least four who are running or considered to be running for president. The plan is likely to be a prominent feature of her presidential campaign.
She credits Gillibrand for helping push paid family leave into American political discourse, including during the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. “She’s definitely led the charge in the Senate."
Gillibrand’s proposal would raise money by levying a 0.4 percent payroll tax for 12 weeks of paid family leave at an income replacement rate of 66 percent. Conservatives have instead pitched plans that do rely on new taxes, and have called for maternity leave to be funded by redirecting existing spending like Social Security.
Combating sexual harassment and discrimination
Perhaps nothing Gillibrand did last Congress got as much attention as her decision to push for former senator Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) ouster from the Senate amid sexual misconduct allegations against him.
She met a backlash from Democratic Party donors over opposing Franken. “There were eight credible allegations [against Franken].”
Gillibrand has also advanced legislation related to the #MeToo movement and issues of sexual misconduct, including a bill that passed last year to address widespread criticisms of Congress’s process for handling sexual misconduct. The legislation makes lawmakers financially liable for settlements, gives accusers access to legal representation, and simplifies the process for accusers to file complaints. Previously, taxpayers footed the bill for any settlement or award reached after a complaint was lodged against a member of the House or Senate.
Years before #MeToo, Gillibrand also introduced a bill targeting sexual harassment and misconduct in the military, despite public blowback from leaders at the Pentagon. The legislation would send military sexual assault allegations to independent prosecutors outside of the “chain of command."
Although that proposal has not been signed into law, the U.S. military has adopted several measures to combat sexual misconduct — including mandatory focus groups and surveys of personnel — amid the pressure brought by Gillibrand’s public criticisms, said Ally Coll Steele, head of the Purple Campaign, which advocates to end sexual harassment in the workplace.
Gillibrand and Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) “have been the key leaders on this issue, especially since #MeToo started,” Steele said.
Gillibrand has also joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to unveil a bill to outlaw forced arbitration clauses that prevent sexual harassment survivors from going to court over their grievances. About 60 million Americans are currently forced to sign these arbitration clauses, often without their knowledge, according to the bill’s sponsors. The bill has been co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Murkowski but has not passed Congress.
“It’s the next big policy issue Congress should take up on the #MeToo agenda,” said Steele, of the Purple Campaign.
Reducing maternal mortality
Gillibrand’s legislation on maternal mortality rates would give hospitals across the country additional funding to implement “best practices” in childbirth. The legislation was aimed at reversing the stunning rise in maternal deaths during childbirth in America, the majority of which are preventable, particularly among black women.
Other issues
Gillibrand’s campaign said if elected she would also work to get money out of American politics, a stance widely shared by Democratic presidential primary contenders.
She has called for publicly financed federal elections on the model of New York City, where residents can contribute small amounts of money and the city government provides matching funding.
She also supports Medicare-for-all, a proposal to move every American to a single government-run insurer that charges no deductibles or premiums.
