Press Releases
SCHUMER PUSHES FEDS TO EXPEDITE LONG-AWAITED PLAN TO CLEAN UP POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS RADIOACTIVE WASTE UNDERNEATH TONAWANDA LANDFILL – RESIDENTS HAVE WAITED FAR TOO LONG FOR ANSWERS & ACTION ON LEFTOVER URANIUM FROM FIRST ATOMIC BOMB THAT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE FOR DECADES
Feds Were Set To Propose Options to Clean Up The Site By The End of 2014, But Residents Are Still in The Dark - Schumer Pushes To Get Plan Out The Door Right Away; Plan Is Needed to Get Remediation Project Moving Forward & Ensure Local Residents Are Not At Risk, Including Nearby School Schumer Also Pushes For More Funding for Fed Program To Clean Up Radioactive Sites; Program Has Been Woefully Underfunded for Years - There Are 5 WNY Sites With Radioactive Contamination, More Than Any Oth… Continue Reading
01.05.15
SCHUMER LAUNCHES PUSH TO ESTABLISH CROP INSURANCE FOR ROCHESTER-AREA MALT BARLEY FARMERS WHO PLAY CRITICAL ROLE IN NYS CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY – CURRENT LACK OF PROTECTIONS INHIBITING GROWTH OF LOCAL BREWING & DISTILLING
Over Next Decade, Most NYS Craft Brewers Will Be Required By State Law To Source 90% of Ingredients From Local Farms, Malt Houses - State Currently Has Approx. 2,000 Acres of Malt Barley, Much of It Grown in WNY & the Finger Lakes; In Order to Match Demand, Malt Barley Production Must Increase 15x Schumer Also Calls on USDA, SBA to Partner with NYS Malt Barley Farmers & Malt Houses to Tap Existing Fed Financing For Equipment, Facilities Ne… Continue Reading
12.24.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FED FUNDS TO CREATE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN S. TIER, MOHAWK VALLEY, CNY, FINGER LAKES & LAKE CHAMPLAIN AREA
Plans Will Cover Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie, Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates, Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Tioga, Clinton, Essex, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington Counties U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $70,000 to six different regional planning and … Continue Reading
12.23.14
SCHUMER PUSHES FOR FED SAFETY AUDIT OF CRUMBLING BRIDGE THAT CARRIES CRUDE OIL TRAINS OVER RONDOUT CREEK IN KINGSTON – CONCRETE FOUNDATION HAS DETERIORATED & FED INSPECTORS MUST STEP IN TO ENSURE BRIDGES NOT AT RISK OF COLLAPSE
Bridge in Kingston Over Rondout Creek Recently Revealed to Have Significant Decay & Crumbling Foundations; If Bridges Are Not Sound, Results Could Be Disastrous, Since Many Hazardous Materials Are Transported Along The Route - Bridges Are Owned By CSX, Which Is Tasked With Ensuring Structural Integrity; Schumer Says That Fed Inspectors Must Audit, Cannot Just Rely on CSX Schumer: Feds Must Step In & Ensure Ulster County Train Bridges Are Up To Snuff Today, at the CSX train tracks … Continue Reading
12.23.14
SCHUMER PUSHES FOR FED SAFETY AUDIT OF TWO CRUMBLING BRIDGES THAT CARRY CRUDE OIL TRAINS ALONG HUDSON RIVER IN TOWN OF CORNWALL – CONCRETE FOUNDATION HAS DETERIORATED & FED INSPECTORS MUST STEP IN TO ENSURE BRIDGES NOT AT RISK OF COLLAPSE
Two Bridges Just South of Storm King Mountain Were Recently Revealed to Have Significant Decay & Crumbling Foundations; If Bridges Are Not Sound, Results Could Be Disastrous, Since Many Hazardous Materials Are Transported Along The Route - Bridges Are Owned By CSX, Which Is Tasked With Ensuring Structural Integrity; Schumer Says That Fed Inspectors Must Audit, Cannot Just Rely on CSX Schumer: Feds Must Step In & Ensure Orange County Train Bridges Are Up To Snuff Today, at the trai… Continue Reading
12.23.14
WITH HEAVILY-TRAVELED NASSAU EXPRESSWAY IN HIGHLY-DEGRADED CONDITION, DUE IN PART TO FLOODING, SCHUMER CALLS FOR ARMY CORPS TO USE SANDY DOLARS TO FUND A STORM-SURGE PROTECTION & REPAIR PLAN; WILL PROTECT ROAD & SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITIES THAT RELY ON VITALLY NEEDED EVACUATION ROUTE
Repair Work Was Most Recently Delayed Due to Complicated Engineering Concerns Over Nearby Soil Erosion & Tidal Wetlands - Schumer Is Urging U.S. Army Corps, Flood Mitigation & Soil Erosion Experts, To Step In With a Repair Plan for Nassau Expressway; Senator Has Identified Three Army Corps Funds for Repair Work, Including $50 Million Available in the Sandy Bill After Katrina, Army Corps Teamed up With State & Local Transportation Officials to Design Storm-Surge Protection For Lou… Continue Reading
12.22.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, HIGGINS, COLLINS, REED ANNOUNCE FEMA HAS ISSUED DISASTER DECLARATION FOR 9 WNY COUNTIES IMPACTED BY HISTORIC SNOWSTORM
Now, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Lewis, Orleans, St. Lawrence, and Wyoming Counties Will Be Immediately Eligible for FEMA Funds to Help Cover Clean-Up & Recovery Costs Schumer, Gillibrand, Higgins, Collins, Reed: Federal FEMA Support for WNY Counties Damaged By Historic Snowfall is Critical Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Representatives Brian Higgins, Chris Collins, and Tom Reed announced that the Federal Emergency Management… Continue Reading
12.22.14
SCHUMER LAUNCHES PUSH FOR FED FUNDS TO HELP ATTRACT MORE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO LIVE & WORK IN SARATOGA SPRINGS BY STRENGTHENING LOCAL ARTS SCENE – FED FUNDS WOULD HELP DEVELOP FIRST-EVER “ARTS MASTER PLAN,” A MAJOR STEP IN BUILDING A VIBRANT CREATIVE ECONOMY
Schumer Pushes For Fed Funding To Help Make Saratoga Springs' Vision To Grow Arts Community, Attract More Young Professionals A Reality - In Small Cities & Towns Across The Country, Arts Play Major Role in Growing the Economy; Saratoga Springs Already Has Building Blocks in Place & New Master Plan Would Take it To Next Level Schumer: Arts Can Be Major Economic Development Tool For Saratoga Springs Today, at FingerPaint Marketing in Saratoga Springs, U.S. Senator Charles… Continue Reading
12.22.14
SCHUMER: NEW INFORMATION COULD PREVENT 150 PROPERTIES FROM BEING ADDED TO SYRACUSE FLOOD ZONE MAP SET TO COME OUT SOON – URGES FEMA TO FIRST INCORPORATE NEW DATA TO PREVENT HOMEOWNERS FROM UNNECESSARY & ONEROUS FLOOD INSURANCE COSTS
Schumer Pushes FEMA To Use New, More Accurate Data When Rolling Out Revised Flood Map - If FEMA Does Not Incorporate This Data In Its Revised Map, It Could Be Very Difficult to Correct Later; Would Be Devastating For Affected Homeowners, Who Could Be Forced To Pay Up to $1,200 More Per Year in Flood Insurance Premiums Schumer to FEMA: We Should Use the Most Accurate Data & Not Put Homes In A Flood Zone That Do Not Need to Be There Today, at Creek Walk Bridge in Syracuse, U.S. Senator Ch… Continue Reading
12.22.14
SCHUMER COMPLETES TOUR OF ALL 62 NEW YORK COUNTIES FOR 16TH YEAR IN A ROW; ANNUAL TOUR OF STATE FINISHES WITH VISIT TO SARATOGA SPRINGS – YEAR CONCLUDES WITH A TOTAL OF 248 VISITS TO UPSTATE NY & LONG ISLAND; PLEDGES TO VISIT ALL 62 COUNTIES AGAIN IN 2015
Many Achievements Include Securing JetBlue Air Service to Albany Int'l, Keeping the Buffalo Bills in Western NY, Fighting For Major Helicopter Contracts for Lockheed Martin in Owego, Continuing to Preserve Thousands of Jobs at Lockheed Martin Salina and Many More Schumer Calls Tour Essential To His Work In U.S. Capitol - Pledges To Complete Another 62-County Tour In 2015 Today, with his visit to Fingerpaint Marketing in Saratoga Springs, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer completed his 16thconsec… Continue Reading
12.20.14
SCHUMER LAUNCHES PUSH TO MAKE TAX BENEFIT THAT PRESERVES UPPER HUDSON VALLEY’S PRISTINE FARM LANDS PERMANENT – WILL HELP MAINTAIN CHARACTER OF COLUMBIA COUNTY & KEEP FAMILY FARMS ALIVE BY PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVE FOR LANDOWNERS TO CONSERVE LAND INSTEAD OF DEVELOPING IT
Schumer Pushes To Make Important Deduction Permanent in Next Congress; Schumer Bill Could Allow Some Farmers To Potentially Zero Out Taxes Over 16 Years - Conservation Projects Around NYS Have Almost Doubled With This Tax Benefit In Place; Schumer Says Benefit Should Be Permanent & Not Subject to Whim of Congress Schumer: Fed Government Should Provide Increased Incentive For Conservation Projects in Columbia County & Around NYS Today, at the Columbia Land Conservancy in… Continue Reading
12.20.14
SCHUMER LAUNCHES EFFORT TO SECURE CRITICAL FED FUNDING TO GET INNOVATIVE, LONG-TERM FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT IN SIDNEY OFF THE GROUND – PLAN WOULD REDUCE DAMAGE FROM FUTURE FLOODING & AVOID VILLAGE HAVING TO FIGHT SAME BATTLE AGAINST FLOOD WATERS YEAR AFTER YEAR
Village of Sidney's History of Devastating Flooding, Most Recently in 2011, Left 420 Buildings Damaged - Lower River Street Neighborhood's Proximity to Susquehanna River & Weir Creek Make Potential Flooding A Constant Threat Schumer to FEMA: Flood Mitigation Efforts In Sidney Should Be High Priority Today, at the Sidney Village Hall, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer visited with Village Leaders to push for federal funding for the "Sidney GreenPlain" that will help mi… Continue Reading
12.19.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $300,000 IN FUNDING TO PROVIDE COLLEGE COURSES FOR STUDENTS IN RURAL NORTHERN CATSKILLS SCHOOL DISTRICTS
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $312,138 in federal funding for the Otsego Northern Catskills Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). The federal funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program and will be used to support distance learning initiatives in rural areas throughout the Northern Catskills. With this funding, students from 17 rural school districts in remote areas of the … Continue Reading
12.18.14
SCHUMER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMATIVE POUGHKEEPSIE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT; CONNECTING WALKWAY OVER THE HUDSON TO SERIES OF RIVERFRONT TRAILS, PARKS, METRO-NORTH & MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE A GAME-CHANGER – SCHUMER LAYS OUT FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO GET PROJECT MOVING FORWARD
Schumer Says Developing the Waterfront Has The Potential To Transform Poughkeepsie & Turn Its Hudson River Waterfront Into A Destination For Locals & Tourists Alike; Connection To Metro-North Station Could Make It Real Tourist Hub, Attract & Retain Young Adults to New Walkable Community All While Increasing Affordable Housing Options - Other Cities Like Poughkeepsie Have Seen Huge Benefit From Revitalizing Waterfront & Poughkeepsie Can Join That Group Schumer: Now Is The Time… Continue Reading
12.18.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, AFTER HIS PUSH, FEDS WILL THOROUGHLY REVIEW ALLEGATIONS OF EXORBITANT FED-IMPOSED PRICE MARKUPS ON LOCAL PRODUCTS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY VISUALLY IMPAIRED ROCHESTER & UTICA RESIDENTS – HIGH PRICES ARE LEADING TO FED AGENCIES PURCHASING OTHER BRANDS & PUTTING CRITICAL JOBS AT RISK
Rochester ABVI & Utica's CABVI Have Lost Over $1.7 Million Combined In Sales As Result of Fed Gov. Changes; Feds Have Priced These Products at as High as an 80% Mark-up, Compared to 10-15% for Other Similar Products - Schumer Recently Called For Investigation Into Markups, Said Playing Field Needs To Be Level; These Jobs Are Critical Lifeline For Many Of Upstate NY's Most Vulnerable People & We Must Protect Them Schumer: Fed Investigation into Astronomical Price Hikes is Important First… Continue Reading
12.18.14
SCHUMER: CRUMBLING ASHFORD AVENUE BRIDGE IS PUTTING DRIVERS AT RISK; FED FUNDING IS IN PLACE TO MAKE CRITICAL REPAIRS BUT PROJECT NEEDS FINAL SIGN-OFF TO GET UNDERWAY – SENATOR PUSHES FEDS TO WORK WITH STATE & COUNTY TO GET PROJECT APPROVED ASAP; REPAIRS WILL IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR 20,000 DRIVERS PER DAY
Plans and Funding Are In Place for $23.5M Rehabilitation Project That Will Strengthen Structure & Keep Drivers Safe; Schumer Urges Fed Highway Administration to Work With County & State To Get Final Sign-Off On Project - Schumer Urges Feds To Cut Through Bureaucratic Red Tape & Expedite Repairs Schumer: It Is Time To Get Ashford Avenue Bridge On The Road To Permanent Recovery Today, at Firefighters Park in Ardsley, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer pushed to get final approvals… Continue Reading
12.18.14
SCHUMER, GRAHAM URGE THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO VETO ANY UN RESOLUTION THAT DICTATES TERMS OF ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE PROCESS
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today urged that the State Department veto any United Nations Security Council resolution that imposes a peace agreement on Israel, outside of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. The Senators sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry. "There are multiple efforts in the United Nations Security Council to set parameters for final status negotiations, effectively imposing terms on our a… Continue Reading
12.18.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, AFTER HIS PUSH, FEDS WILL THOROUGHLY REVIEW ALLEGATIONS OF EXORBITANT FED-IMPOSED PRICE MARKUPS ON LOCAL PRODUCTS THAT ARE PRODUCED BY VISUALLY IMPAIRED BINGHAMTON-AREA RESIDENTS – HIGH PRICES ARE LEADING TO FED AGENCIES PURCHASING OTHER BRANDS & PUTTING CRITICAL BINGHAMTON JOBS AT RISK
AVRE in Binghamton Has Lost Over $1 Million In Sales As Result of Fed Gov. Changes; Feds Have Priced AVRE Products at 80% Mark-up, Compared to 10-15% for Other Similar Products - Schumer Called For Investigation Into Markups, Said Playing Field Needs To Be Level; These Jobs Are Critical Lifeline For Some Of Southern Tier's Most Vulnerable People & We Must Protect Them Schumer: Fed Investigation into Astronomical Price Hikes is Important First Step Toward Protecting Critical Jobs for Bing… Continue Reading
12.17.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES MAJOR NEW YORK TAX BENEFIT PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN JUST-PASSED EXTENDERS PACKAGE – MASS TRANSIT BENEFIT, TEACHER’S TAX BREAK & NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT ALL EXTENDED FOR ONE YEAR
Schumer Also Highlighted That The ABLE Act - Which Will Allow Creation of Tax Advantaged Savings Accounts for Children With Disabilities - Was PassedInto Law With This Package; Entire Bill of Almost 50 Tax Benefits Will Go to President's Desk This Week for Signature Schumer: These Critical Tax Breaks Will Help Stretch Every Dollar Earned By New Yorkers Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that a number of vital tax benefits for New Yorkers were passed by Congress last ni… Continue Reading
12.17.14
SCHUMER: NEW REGS ON DANGEROUS, CRUDE-OIL-CARRYING DOT-111 TANK CARS AT RISK OF BEING BOGGED DOWN BY PROLONGED ROLL-OUT – SCHUMER URGES FEDS TO EXPEDITE RULEMAKING & STICK TO TOUGHEST POSSIBLE REGS, INCLUDING CRITICAL TWO-YEAR PHASE-OUT OF TRANSPORTING MOST VOLATILE CRUDE IN CURRENT CARS
Schumer Warns Rules Often Get Stuck at This Final Stage, Urges Feds to Prioritize & Expedite DOT-111 Rules So They Not Get Held Up; Says We Cannot Afford To Wait - Says Proposed Rules Contain A Number of Options, Some That Will Enhance Safety & Security For Upstate NY Communities More Than Others; Senator Renews Call For Toughest Regs Possible To Help Avoid Major Disaster Schumer to Feds: Stick to Toughest Crude Oil Transport Regs Possible & Move Rulemaking Along Faster … Continue Reading
