Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
Standing at the American Maple Museum in Lewis County, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer launched a major push to increase funding for the Acer Access and Development Program in the conference report for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Additionally, Schumer also called on his colleagues in Congress to reauthorize the critical program for the long-term future in the final Farm Bill conference report. Schumer said that the Acer Access and Development Program provides opportunities for investment and research in the maple industry, helping producers across Upstate New York increase their production, market products, strengthen conservation and drive efficiency in maple sugaring. New York State ranks second in the nation for maple production, with 806,000 gallons of maple syrup produced in 2018, and Lewis County is one of the top producers. Schumer explained that both extending authorization of and increasing appropriations for the Acer Access and Development Program would allow producers across Lewis County to better compete in the global marketplace with countries like Canada, which would help to boost the North Country economy.