Press Releases
SCHUMER: FINALLY OUR COUNTRY WILL PROPERLY HONOR SGT. HENRY JOHNSON WHO WILL RECEIVE MEDAL OF HONOR HE RIGHTFULLY DESERVES ON TUESDAY
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer laid a wreath at the Sgt. Henry Johnson Monument in Washington Park today to pay his respects to Sgt. Henry Johnson on the eve of his Medal of Honor Ceremony. Today was a very special visit for the Albany community and Senator Schumer, who has visited the monument in Washington Park many times during his 16-year effort to secure this long-awaited recognition and make right this century-old wrong. Schumer thanked local veteran groups in Albany that have been invalu… Continue Reading
06.01.15
SCHUMER: HUNDREDS OF RECENT COPPER THEFTS ON MASS TRANSIT HAVE CAUSED MAJOR DELAYS, PUT NYC PASSENGERS AT RISK & COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS; WITH COPPER THEFT ON RISE, SCHUMER CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON METAL THEFT TRAFFICKING NETWORK THROUGH LEGISLATION THAT STOPS LARGE, UNTRACEABLE CASH PAYMENTS TO COPPER THIEVES
Wednesday's Copper Heist-Delaying Tens of Thousands of Passengers-Was Just One Of Many This Year Across Transit Systems in NYC; Nearly 100 Since 2013; October Copper Heist Even Caused LIRR Delays In Mineola; Thieves Loot MTA, LIRR, Amtrak & NJT Lines Then Sell Scrap For Fast Cash at Metal Yards Schumer Plan Would Require Metal Sellers to Provide Proof of Ownership, Require Scrap Dealers To Pay By Check, Not Cash, Make it a Federal Offense to Steal Metal from Cr… Continue Reading
06.01.15
SCHUMER: IN WAKE OF MOST RECENT, DANGEROUS GREEN-LASER ATTACK ON FIVE PILOTS FLYING OUT OF AND TO NEW YORK, SENATOR RENEWS PUSH FOR FDA TO BAN THE SALE OF THE MOST HIGH-POWERED, LONG-RANGE GREEN LASER POINTERS; EVIL-DOERS & PRANKSTERS PURPOSELY USE GREEN LASERS TO HARASS PILOTS, BUT SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE BLINDNESS & DISORIENTATION WHILE FLYING PLANE FULL OF PASSENGERS IN THE AIR
Earlier This Year, in Light of New Data That Showed Incidents of Green-Lasers Attacks Were Skyrocketing, Schumer Urged the FDA To Use Its Authority to Ban Long-Range, High-Powered Green Laser Pointers ; Just Last Night, A Green Laser Was Targeted at Five Pilots Flying at 8,000 Ft. Over Farmingdale and Another was Targeted at a Flight Headed to JFK. Health & Aviation Experts Say Green Lasers Are More Than Double the Strength of Other Colors, Can Travel For Miles & Cause More Damage to Ey… Continue Reading
05.29.15
IN WAKE OF MEMORIAL DAY, SCHUMER BACKS SYRACUSE FATHER’S PUSH TO GET SON’S NAME ON VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL – LARRY REILLY JR. DIED IN VIETNAM WAR TRAINING EXERCISE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA IN 1969, BUT BECAUSE ACCIDENT WAS OUTSIDE COMBAT ZONE, HE & 73 OTHER VETERANS WHO PERISHED WERE LEFT OFF NATIONAL MEMORIAL WALL
Larry Reilly Jr. & 73 Other American Veterans Tragically Died When USS Frank E. Evans Collided With an Australian Aircraft Carrier in South China Sea in June 1969, But Because The Training Exercise Was Deemed "Not Directly Linked to War," These 74 Names Were Not Recognized on Vietnam Veterans Memorial Schumer Says These 74 Americans, Including Reilly, Bravely Served Their Country Inside & Outside The Combat Zone; Adding the Names of These Heroes to the Vietnam Memorial is the Proper Ack… Continue Reading
05.29.15
SCHUMER: IN THE WAKE OF FED INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED “RAMPANT, DEEP-ROOTED” CORRUPTION AT FIFA, SENATOR DEMANDS FIFA RELEASE FULL INTERNAL INVESTIGATION NEVER BEFORE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC – SENATOR CALLS ON FIFA PRESIDENT SEPP BLATTER TO MAKE FIRST ACTION OF NEW TERM THE RELEASE OF THE GARCIA REPORT
In 2012, FIFA Commissioned Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Michael Garcia to Conduct an Investigation into Allegations of Bribery & Corruption at FIFA, But FIFA Only Released a Summary Which Garcia Labeled "Incomplete" and Compelled Him to Resign Senator Says that Garcia's Comprehensive Internal Investigation is Even More Important Now in Light of Recent Charges; Will Provide More Transparency to Fans & Help Uncover Full Extent of Wrongdoing - Recently R… Continue Reading
05.29.15
SCHUMER: WYOMING COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS ARE DELAYED BECAUSE FIRST RESPONDERS CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO RADIO FREQUENCIES WITHOUT CANADIAN APPROVAL – URGES FEDS TO GO TO BAT FOR WYOMING COUNTY & BREAK THROUGH RED TAPE THAT HAS HELD UP APPROVAL PROCESS
Due to Wyoming County's Close Proximity to Canada, Fire & Emergency Services Must Gain Approval for Emergency Frequency, But Canadian Government Has Put Up Bureaucratic Hurdles to Hinder Process for Years Schumer Says Not Having High Frequency Radio Service Could Continue to Endanger Emergency Response and Lives If Wyoming County First Responders - Urges U.S. State Department & FCC To Work With Canadian Officials To Reach An Agreement ASAP Schumer: Cut Through The White Noise and Get … Continue Reading
05.28.15
SCHUMER URGES U.S. ARMY TO RECONSIDER PHASING OUT CRITICAL SOLDIER WELLNESS PROGRAM AT RIVER HOSPITAL IN ALEXANDRIA BAY, WHICH TREATS MANY TROOPS FROM FORT DRUM FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS – SCHUMER SAYS NEW PROGRAM MAY NOT OFFER THE FULL LINE OF MENTAL HEALTH & THERAPEUTIC SERVICES
River Hospital in Northern NY's Alexandria Bay Offers Full Line of Mental Health & Wellness Treatments for Fort Drum Soldiers Seeking Treatment For Extremely Sensitive Issues Like Post-Traumatic Stress and Sexual Abuse Schumer Says Eliminating River Hospital's "Soldiers’ Wellness Program" Could Have Negative Impacts on Soldiers & Community, Which Rely on This Service to Fill Huge Treatment Gap in The Local Area - Schumer Urges Army to Reconsider Phasing Out This Critical Program;… Continue Reading
05.28.15
SCHUMER: ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK, OPIOID ABUSE IS UP & CRIMINALS ARE STEALING Rx DRUGS, BUT DEA RECENTLY ENDED HUGELY SUCCESSFUL DRUG TAKE-BACK PROGRAM – SCHUMER URGES DEA TO REVERSE DECISION & REINSTITUTE NATIONAL TAKE-BACK DAYS, WHICH SAFELY COLLECTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF Rx DRUGS & HELPED SAVE LIVES
Drug Take-Back Program Get Addictive Rx Drugs Out of Medicine Cabinets And Homes - 70% of Those Addicted to Rx Drugs Get Them From Home, Family, or Friends, Yet Federal Regulators Suspended Program, Even Though Painkiller Abuse Too Often Leads to Abuse of Even More Dangerous Drugs Like Heroin Schumer: Opioid Abuse Has Wreaked Havoc Across Upstate NY, Resulting in 700+ Overdoses in 2015 Thus Far, And Year is Only Halfway Through - In Capital Region, There Have Been 79 Overdoses; In Cen… Continue Reading
05.28.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $57,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PLATTSBURGH FIRE DEPARTMENT
Federal Funding For Plattsburgh Will Be Used To Purchase New Equipment U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $57,943 in federal funding for the Plattsburgh Fire Department to purchase new equipment. The money was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The Plattsburgh Fire Department will use this federal investment to purchase a complete Air Compressor / Cascade breathing air system th… Continue Reading
05.27.15
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, FOLLOWING HIS PUSH, FEMA HAS AGREED TO FUND $3.1 MILLION NEEDED TO REPLACE VILLAGE OF WELLSBURG FIRE DEPT. & SAVE LOCAL TAXPAYERS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS – SENATOR, WHO HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR WELLSBURG, PREVIOUISLY URGED FEDS TO EXPEDITE & APPROVE ADDITIONAL FED FUNDS TO MAKE VILLAGE FIRE DEPT. CONSTRUCTION A REALITY
Schumer Says FEMA Initially Approved $2.3 Million for Repairs to the Wellsburg Fire Dept. in 2014, But Funds Came Up Short & Project Would Now Cost Over $3 Million - Schumer Says FEMA Has Heeded His Call And Agreed to Fund Additional Repairs For Wellsburg After Schumer's Initial Push, FEMA Agreed to Fund Replacement of Wellsburg Fire Dept., But More Was Needed According to Local Leaders - Schumer Went to Bat For Wellsburg To Secure Additional Fed Funds; Years After Tropical Strom Lee Flood… Continue Reading
05.27.15
SCHUMER CONVENES ORANGE COUNTY TOURISM SUMMIT TO ENSURE LOCAL BUSINESSES GET THE MOST OUT OF NEW SULLIVAN CASINO – SCHUMER BRINGS TOGETHER FED OFFICIALS, ORANGE COUNTY TOURISM, & ORANGE COUNTY CHAMBER TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE TOURISM STRATEGY
Tourism in Hudson Valley, Orange County Set To Rise As A Result of New Casino in Sullivan - Important to Take Full Advantage of What Could Be Major Boon For Local Restaurants, Hotels, Shops & Other Tourist Attractions Schumer Brings Together Fed Officials, Casino Developer, Orange County Tourism & Orange County Chamber, Economic Development Experts To Develop Tourism Strategy & Get Plan Off The Ground Schumer: Orange County Needs A Comprehensive Approach To Take Advantage of Treme… Continue Reading
05.27.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND URGE FERC TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR COMPRESSOR PROJECT IN PENDLETON; PROPOSAL SEEKS TO INSTALL A COMPRESSOR STATION NEAR RESIDENTIAL HOMES TO SUPPORT EXPANSION OF EMPIRE PIPELINE – SENATORS SAY RESIDENTS NEED MORE TIME TO RESPOND TO PROPOSAL
National Fuel Gas Seeks to Build 22,000 Horsepower Compressor Station Near Pendleton Neighborhood, However Residents Had Only Nine Days Left in FERC Public Comment Period After a May 20 Public Scoping Meeting on the Project - Now, They Only Have Less Than One Week to Voice Their Concerns Residents of Pendleton Say There Are Serious Concerns That Need to Be Addressed Before Construction of Compressor, Including Noise and Emission Pollution That Could Affect Pendleton Community; Many Residents W… Continue Reading
05.27.15
SCHUMER: ‘SWATTING’ ATTACKS ON DRAMATIC RISE ACROSS HUDSON VALLEY—RECENT ATTACK CAUSED A SCHOOL TO GO ON LOCKDOWN, AND ARE COSTING POLICE DEPTS. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, TERRIFYING INNOCENT VICTIMS & EVEN ENDANGERING LIVES; SCHUMER INTRODUCES NEW FEDERAL BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON ‘SWATTING’ & DETER ALARMING NEW CRIME TREND THREATENING RESIDENTS & LAW ENFORCEMENT
Deliberately False Alerts in Westchester, Rockland & Putnam Are Spurring Costly & Unnecessary Deployment Of Armed SWAT Teams, Bomb Squads & Other Police Units, Causing The Evacuation Of Buildings, Closure of Streets, Businesses & Putting Communities At Risk Schumer Introduces Legislation To Increase Penalties For Swatting Perpetrators From a Max of 5 Years In Prison To 8 Years, Make Criminals Pay Restitution to Police - Also Pushes to Closes Loophole to Make it Illegal for Perp… Continue Reading
05.26.15
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, FOLLOWING HIS PUSH, BLACK BUTTON DISTILLING IN ROCHESTER HAS RECEIVED FED APPROVALS NECESSARY TO EXPAND BUSINESS AND INCREASE PRODUCTION – SCHUMER PREVIOUSLY PUSHED FEDS TO EXPEDITE APPROVALS FOR LOCAL CRAFT DISTILLERY THAT HAD WAITED OVER 200 DAYS AS PERMIT APPLICATION LANGUISHED – SCHUMER VOWS TO CONTINUE PUSHING FOR MORE FED DISTILLERY INSPECTORS TO REDUCE THE KINDS OF BACKLOGS BLACK BUTTON HAD TO ENDURE
Schumer Says Delay in Necessary Federal Approvals Could Cause Losses to Producers - Like Black Button - Trying to Get Off The Ground or Expand, Which Had to Endure A Wait of 200 Days for Basic Approvals to Expand Business & Create Jobs; Following Schumer Push, Feds Approved Permits That Will Now Allow Rochester Distillery to Increase Production & Hire New Workers Schumer Also Says Increasing The Amount Of Federal Alcohol Inspectors Should Be A Main Priority; While Distilleries &am… Continue Reading
05.26.15
SCHUMER CUTS RIBBON WITH BOATERS AND NPS AT OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING OF STATEN ISLAND’S GREAT KILLS PARK NICHOLS MARINA; 2015 SUMMER SEASON IS THE FIRST TIME THE MARINA HAS BEEN FULLY REPAIRED AND OPERATIONAL SINCE SENATOR SECURED MAJOR VICTORY FOR LOCAL BOATERS AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY
In the Wake of Superstorm Sandy, No Commitment Or Funding Existed to Rebuild After 350 Boats Slips at Nichols Marina Were Swept Away; After Touring Marina & Meeting With Local Boaters in 2013, Schumer Secured Commitment From NPS Director Jarvis to Rebuild Marina & Secure a 3-Year Concession Contract Schumer, Along With NPS, Boaters & Marina Operator 'Marinas of the Future,' Will Kick Off First Summer Season of New & Improved Great Kills Park Nichols Marina; Ribbon Cutting &… Continue Reading
05.26.15
ON MEMORIAL DAY: SCHUMER: AFTER SERVING THEIR COUNTRY, VETERANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY ADOPT & BRING HOME THEIR MILITARY WORKING DOGS AFTER RETIREMENT; SENATE DEFENSE BILL INCLUDES KEY PROVISION SCHUMER WILL PUSH TO ALLOW FORMER SERVICE DOGS TO ENJOY THE REST OF THEIR DAYS WITH HANDLERS ON U.S. SOIL
Military Working Dogs & Their Handlers Who Serve Several Tours Abroad As Partners Share Unique Bonds, But Red Tape During Adoption Process Often Leaves Beloved Dog & Veteran Separated For Good; Once Dogs Retire It Is Very Difficult for Many Military Members To Bring Their Dogs Home for Adoption Schumer: Every Dog Should Have Its Day and Passage of NDAA Will Be That Day for Many Retired Service Dogs Abroad Standing with Marine Captain Jason Haag, who served three tours of combat duty a… Continue Reading
05.26.15
SCHUMER: CHILDREN ACROSS NYC ARE VULNERABLE TO IDENTITY THIEVES; KIDS UNDER 18 ARE EASY TARGETS BECAUSE THEIR CREDIT REPORTS ARE OFTEN CLEAN & UNMONITORED; SENATOR TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY FREEZE CREDIT FOR KIDS – UNTIL PARENTS UNFREEZE IT —WILL PROTECT KIDS FROM SEVERAL TYPES OF ID THEFT
More Than 2 Million Children Across New York City & Millions Across New York State Could Be Victims Of Social Security Identity Theft-400K+ and Many Others Already Are & Learn Of ID-Theft When Checking Credit Report For First Time Only To Realize Credit Was Ruined By ID Thieves Schumer Plans To Introduce Bill That Would Automatically Freeze Credit For Kids Until Their Parents Decide To Un-Freeze It; Will Prevent Credit Companies From Allowing Someone to Open an Account For A Child Unle… Continue Reading
05.22.15
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES WEST POINT PROJECTS CLEAR KEY HURDLES IN CONGRESS – HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS BILL INCLUDE MAJOR FUNDING FOR NEW $70 MILLION WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT ON BASE & $55 MILLION TO REBUILD WEST POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Current West Point Waste Water Treatment Plant Was Built Nearly 60 Years Ago & Has Not Been Updated Since 1972; Suffers From Leaking Tanks That Are Beyond Repair And In Need Of An Upgrade - West Point Would Be Able To Replace Old, Deteriorating Water Plant West Point Elementary School Was Originally Constructed In 1963 & Fails to Meet Federal Education And Energy Regulations - Replacing School Would Ensure Students Receive Great Education In State-Of-The-Art Facility Schumer: West Poi… Continue Reading
05.22.15
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FT. DRUM TRAINING FACILITY CLEARS KEY HURDLES IN CONGRESS – HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS INCLUDE MAJOR FUNDING FOR $19 MILLION STATE-OF-THE-ART FT. DRUM MILITARY TRAINING ACADEMY
Current Non-Commissioned Officers Academy Is An Old, Deteriorating Building And Poses Numerous Safety Risks; New Facility Would Reduce Operating Costs, Streamline Training Schumer: Funding For New State-of-the-Art Facility Means New Jobs & Better Training for Fort Drum Soldiers U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that several New York priorities were incorporated into the House and Senate Military Construction appropriations bills, which include funding for a new $19 million … Continue Reading
05.22.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $24K IN FED FUNDING FOR BELGIUM COLD SPRINGS VOLUNTEER FIRE DISTRICT IN CENTRAL NEW YORK
Federal Funding For Fire District in Onondaga County Will Be Used To Purchase Gear Washer U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $23,810 in federal funding for the Belgium Cold Springs Fire District in Onondaga County. This funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The money will be used to purchase a washer for firefighters to clean their gear after fires. In many cases the fir… Continue Reading
