Kirsten Gillibrand

If we are going to out-innovate, out-compete, out-educate other countries, it's going to be women who make a difference, it's women who are going to lead the way and you know, until women get that rightful place and decision making and leadership and growth, America won't realize all her potential.

Typically, [a victim of sexual assault] go home, take a shower, call their best friend, and evidence is lost. They say, \'I can handle it.\' And they let time pass. And then, either the guy starts harassing them again or they see him do it to somebody else. Having that power on the first day is so important.

Why the confidential advisor provision is so important, because most women - the first place they go is online: \'What do I do if I'm raped?\' There's no knowledge about \'How do I proceed?\' in a way that's going to protect them.

A typical rapist is a recidivist.

The story we hear over and over again is: Boy in science class, very nice to the girl, says, \'Please come to our party on Saturday night.\' She, of course, shows up. He hands her two, three, four, five drinks. She becomes so inebriated he says, \'You can sleep it off in my room. It'll be safe.\' Or, \'I'll walk you home.\' It's all premeditated with the intention of having sex with that woman without her consent when she's passed out. It's a huge issue.

Each campus should absolutely investigate the use of alcohol, the prevalence of alcohol, and its role in sexual assault. We know that predators will use alcohol as a weapon. We know they will use drugs as a weapon.

One of the things that Claire [ McCaskill] and I are trying to do is put systems on campus in place so that a survivor knows who to talk to - that there's somebody who's an expert on their campus that will know all their options from day one and really empower them to make their own decision about what they want to do.

Most of my friends that I know now [were sexually assaulted] stayed silent. And I see that still happening today. A lot of women will stay silent and not share what happened to them.

I have since talked to some of my girlfriends sexual assault and found out that they had their own experiences that they never shared at the time. It was never talked about it. And I think it's because of that normal response - you feel badly, you feel responsible, you feel guilty, you feel like you did something wrong, you feel ashamed.

I might want to do a hundred things in a given day, but I know I have to pick up my kids between 5 and 6. That is the most important thing. So I fit in everything else around that. I know what needs to be done, and then I know what I want to get done.

We must do everything we can to help our service members and veterans transition into civilian life once they return home, and that means preparing them for the tough job market.

If I had a daughter, I would tell her certain things. I would tell her that it's great to be smart, really smart - that being smart makes you strong. I would tell her that emotions are powerful, so don't be afraid to show them. I would tell her that some people may judge you on how you look or what you wear - that's just how it is - but you should keep your focus on what you say and do. I would tell her that she may see the world differently from boys, and that difference is essential and good.

I don't like the phrase having it all. It implies we're being greedy, like \'have a second piece of pie.\'

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.

Unfortunately, our [american] workplace rules are stuck in the seventies, when, out of a block of 10 houses, in more than half of them the husband went to work and the wife stayed home. Now on that same block almost eight of the wives work. That's one reason why I want equal pay for equal work, and why affordable day care, early childhood education, and universal pre-K are so important to me.

The biggest mistakes I've ever made are when I've been rushed. If I'm overwhelmed, I slow down. It's more effective.

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.

As a lawyer you never speak with emotion. It's about the precise facts.

I had an amazing advantage: a grandmother [Polly Noonan, an influential confidante of the mayor of Albany] who loved politics. She taught me not to listen to negative press or people. I grew up knowing politics was rough-and-tumble.

When a woman has the opportunity to speak truth to power, it's important that she does, even if it's just trying to get a crosswalk in her neighborhood. That's how social change happens!

Women asking for raises should not only know their value, but they should ask with the confidence that they're helping the company to be successful.

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.

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.

A strong mentor can help a young woman find and advance in the career of her dreams that otherwise may have seemed impossible.

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.

I find that when you open the door toward openness and transparency, a lot of people will follow you through.

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.

When we create hope and opportunity in the lives of others, we allow love, decency and promise to triumph over cowardice and hate.

I believe transparency in government is key to restoring our nations faith in its elected leaders.