Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On August 18, 2011 Senator Schumer visited Taber Industries in North Tonawanda, Niagara County. Schumer announced a major effort to end a required tax that small businesses have to pay on interest to the New York State Unemployment Insurance Fund, after Congress failed to include an extension in the debt ceiling compromise negotiated two weeks ago. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, states were permitted to borrow money, interest free, from the Federal Unemployment Trust Fund (FUTF) through 2011, to help finance the state's increasing unemployment burden during the recession. New York State borrowed $3 billion to pay for their unemployment programs, but because Congress didn't extend the interest-free provision, New York State now owes the federal government $95 million in interest that is being passed on to businesses like Taber Industries.. Schumer announced that he is introducing legislation to retroactively extend the interest-free lending program from the FUTF, refunding fees already paid by local businesses and ending the tax. Schumer was joined by Dan Slawson, President of Taber Industries, and many local economic development and small business officials.