Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On August 13th, 2020, standing outside Owego Elementary School in Tioga County alongside Corey Green, Superintendent of the Owego Apalachin Central School District, and Jason Van Fossen, Maine-Endwell Superintendent of Schools, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer revealed that without specific federal funds, schools throughout the Southern Tier might not be able to reopen safely come fall, even though public health data and NY state guidelines permit it. Schumer said costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), physical barriers and other supplies at schools, like those used for cleaning, could badly drain local resources, making it much harder for New York districts to open safely and ensure the collective protection of kids, teachers and staff, especially given potential 20% cuts to state and local education budgets. Therefore, the senator announced a new legislative push to include much-needed assistance in a “Corona-4” legislative package. His plan would work to substantially cover the aforementioned costs with federal dollars, allowing schools to safely reopen. Schumer’s plan, crafted alongside U.S. Senator Patty Murray, was just introduced as the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA), and includes other efforts as well, each critical to supporting childcare and education amid the pandemic.