Five NY ONE members met in New York City on Friday to speak with Robin Chappelle, Director of Community Affairs for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. As Hillary Clinton’s New York State political director during her 2008 presidential run, Ms. Chappelle was familiar with ONE. But for Sen. Gillibrand – New York’s newest senator – the meeting still felt like an important introduction.

Seated around an office conference table, the members expressed thanks to Senator Gillibrand for two recent actions: her support and co-sponsorship of the Senator Paul Simon ‘Water for the World’ Act of 2009 and the Senate Foreign Aid Reform bill this year.

Looking ahead, the members asked that Senator Gillibrand join support for the Lugar-Casey Global Food Security Act of 2009, which provides funding for innovative and sustainable agricultural solutions and emergency food assistance to regions in need around the world. The NY group also requested that the senator support climate change mitigation and adaptation measures by dedicating 5% of any revenue generated from the legislation for the developing world as pending climate change legislation is debated in the Senate.

In this short meeting, NY ONE members reached out to a new Senate member and remain hopeful for this relationship and that Senator Gillibrand will use her seat and influence on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to work on behalf of those poorest around the world.

-Christopher Geer, NY Field Organizer