Press Releases
SCHUMER: BUFFALOS LONG-AWAITED NATIONAL VETERANS GOLDEN AGE GAMES ABRUPTLY POSTPONED BY VA; CALLS ON VA TO REVERSE COURSE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH EVENT AS PLANNED
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reverse its decision that would indefinitely postpone a sixday athletic event in Buffalo, "The 2013 Veterans Golden Age Games." The Buffalo community has been planning the event since 2007, which was projected to garner over $2 million and over 2,500 people were expected to attend the event, including 1,000 veterans. The VA has yet to state a specific reason for postponing the event although similar eve… Continue Reading
03.15.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE SENATE COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF BILL TO CREATE HARRIET TUBMAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARKS CALL FOR VOTE ON SENATE FLOOR
U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Senate committee passage of legislation to establish the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn as a National Historical Park, which will also encompass the Tubman Home for the Aged, the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church and Rectory. The bill also establishes the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland. Schumer and Gillibrand are sponsors of the Senate legislation, in conjunction with Senator Ben Cardin… Continue Reading
03.08.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, BISHOP ANNOUNCE OVER $4 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CLEANUP AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY IN SUFFOLK COUNTY
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Congressman Tim Bishop today announced $4,023,035 million of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance funding for Suffolk County, which will reimburse the cost of debris removal in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. "Superstorm Sandy destroyed neighborhoods throughout Suffolk County, creating a massive cleanup effort for Suffolk County's sanitation department and placing a burden on local taxpayers… Continue Reading
03.05.13
SCHUMER URGES FEDS TO UNLOCK FUNDING FOR NECESSARY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT RUNWAY UPGRADES WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE BUSINESSES TO MAKE AIRPORT A HUB, SPUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to unlock critical funding necessary for the Orange County Airport to move forward with improvements to increase airport safety and spur economic activity. Specifically, Schumer urged the FAA to approve the airport's application for $2.5 million in funding through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for a critical runway realignment project, which will bring the airport into compliance with FAA's Runw… Continue Reading
02.27.13
SCHUMER: AFTER TRAGIC DEATH OF A CHILD, PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO PAY REMAINDER OF STUDENT LOAN DEBT LAUNCHES PLAN TO REQUIRE PRIVATE LOAN COMPANIES TO FORGIVE DEBT IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH OF STUDENT BORROWERS, JUST LIKE FEDERAL LOANS DO
Today, during a press conference call, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed new legislation called 'Andrew's Law', in honor of his constituent Andrew Prior, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver shortly after graduating from college. Andrew Prior had one federal loan and three outstanding private student loans at the time of his death, which were cosigned by Andrew's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Prior. The federal loan and two of the pr… Continue Reading
02.25.13
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN PURSUIT TO KEEP ON RIVER GAUGES IN SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN SENATORS COLLABORATION WITH NOAA GIVES FEDS CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO KEEP GAUGES ON UNTIL JUNE 1st
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced major progress in his pursuit to keep dozens of stream and river gauges in the Susquehanna River Basin online. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has announced that instead of March, when the gauges were slated to be shut off, the federal agency will now keep them online until June 1 st. USGS plans to keep these gauges online, based on confidence in Schumer's efforts to work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to pro… Continue Reading
02.22.13
SCHUMER: NEW YORKERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX DEDUCTIONS FROM SANDY STORM DAMAGE, BUT MANY DONT KNOW IT; CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL IRS ASSISTANCE CENTERS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND RIGHT NOW MANY IMPACTED NEIGHBORHOODS ARE NOT RECEIVING ASSISTANCE
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide additional Sandy services for taxpayers in areas that were seriously impacted by the storm In response to questions about tax treatment of Sandy payments or losses, the IRS has created special assistance hours and a Saturday Open House to taxpayers . The locations for these services are currently in neighborhoods that were not necessarily impacted by the storm. Schumer today called on the IRS to provid… Continue Reading
02.19.13
SCHUMER URGES FEDS TO EXPEDITE APPROVAL FOR ULSTER COUNTY TO CONVERT UNUSED RAIL TRACKS INTO SCENIC CATSKILL MOUTAIN RAIL TRAIL PLAN WOULD SPUR REGIONAL RECREATION TOURISM
Today at Kingston Point Rotary Park, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to swiftly approve Ulster County's request to "railbank" the abandoned Ulster and Delaware Rail Tracks between Ashokan Reservoir and the Walkway over the Hudson, to allow Ulster County to create the scenic Catskill Mountain Rail Trail (CMRT). This federal approval is the lynchpin for the project to move forward and create a beautiful recreational rail trail that would eventually p… Continue Reading
02.07.13
SCHUMER CALLS ON IRS TO SWIFTLY REVIEW LAUNCH NEW YORKS APPLICATION FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS EXPEDITED STATUS APPROVAL ENSURES LAUNCH CAN USE PROMISED GRANT FUNDING, INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY IN BUFFALO
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to swiftly review a request by Launch New York to receive notforprofit status so that promised grant funding that hinges on this status, such as federal Economic Development Administration funding, is not delayed or lost altogether. Launch New York is a new Venture Development Organization led by the University at Buffalo. Typically, achieving notforprofit status can take about 18 months, but Schumer is urging the… Continue Reading
02.06.13
SCHUMER REVEALS: RECENT POLICE DATA SHOWS AN ASTOUNDING 43,000 INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 2011 SENATOR CALLS FOR PASSAGE OF TOUGH LEGISLATION ON FLOOR THIS WEEK TO COMBAT ALARMING TREND IN NY
Today,U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on his colleagues to pass the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would give law enforcement the necessary tools to fight back against rampant domestic violence throughout Upstate New York. Schumer's call comes amidst new figures from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services that show about 43,782 domestic abuse incidents in which law enforcement was called to the scene in 2011 in Upstate New York. VAWA, which is expected to come… Continue Reading
02.05.13
SCHUMER: DOZENS OF LIFE-SAVING RIVER GAUGES IN SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN SET TO BE SHUT OFF IN MARCH SENATOR HIGHLIGHTS NEW WEATHER FORECASTING FUNDING IN DISASTER SUPP, CALLS ON FEDS TO PROVIDE $215,000 TO KEEP GAUGES ONLINE IN SOUTHERN TIER
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to set aside a portion of its disaster relief funding recently signed into law, in order to keep dozens of stream and river gauges in the Susquehanna River Basin online. Specifically, in the Sandy supplemental bill, NOAA received a pot of $25 million to "improve weather forecasting and hurricane intensity forecasting". The U.S. Geological Survey recently listed 18 stream gauges and 16 … Continue Reading
02.04.13
SCHUMER CALLS ON IRS TO SWIFTLY REVIEW SYRACUSE SYMPHORIAS APPLICATION FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT STATUS SYMPHONYS RETURN WOULD BOLSTER REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to swiftly review a request by Symphoria - comprised of musicians from the nowdefunct Syracuse Symphony Orchestra - to receive notforprofit status so the group of professional musicians could perform again, and continue to attract scores of classical music enthusiasts to Central New York. Shortly after the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra filed for bankruptcy in 2011, Schumer traveled to Syracuse and publically pledged… Continue Reading
02.04.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND: BROOKHAVENS ION COLLIDER RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE BY NON-BINDING REPORT, DUE TO LACK OF RESEARCH FUNDING; CALL ON FEDS TO INCREASE FUNDING TO KEEP ONLY REMAINING ATOM SMASHER IN COUNTRY OPEN
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Energy to increase funding to its Nuclear Physics program by an additional $50 million for next fiscal year, citing a recent recommendation from the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee. The U.S. Department of Energy and National Science Foundation advisory committee was recently charged with issuing a report evaluating scientific priorities under a flatfunding or de… Continue Reading
01.29.13
SCHUMER: CANADIAN GOVT MAKES GOOD ON COMMITMENT, CONSULATE IN NEW YORK COMPLETES ESTABLISHMENT OF FULL-TIME PRESENCE IN BUFFALO TWO NEW EMPLOYEES ARE NOW ON CLOCK TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO WNY BUSINESSES BORDER MANAGEMENT
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Canadian Consulate completed their process of adding two additional employees to focus on Upstate and Western New York late last week, and the employees are now working in the Buffalo region. In June 2012, following news of the Canadian government's plans to close the consulate completely, Schumer urged that the Canadian government reverse its penny wise and pound foolish decision to close the western New York consulate, and at least m… Continue Reading
01.28.13
SCHUMER URGES FEDS TO OPPOSE OKLAHOMA-BASED SENECA-CAYUGA TRIBES APPLICATION TO PLACE 229 ACRES OF UPSTATE NY LAND INTO TRUST, WITHOUT STATE OR COUNTY AGREEMENT
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Department of Interior's (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to reject the Oklahomabased SenecaCayuga Nation's landintotrust application in Cayuga and Seneca counties. Schumer said that the outofstate tribe's application to place 229 acres of land into trust comes after the BIA opposed a similar application five years ago, and without the consent from state or county stakeholders. Schumer noted that placement of this populated land into tr… Continue Reading
01.27.13
SCHUMER REVEALS THAT SANDY AID BILL WILL PROVIDE MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS FOR KEY, LONG DELAYED CRITICAL PROJECTS THAT WILL PROTECT THE COAST OF LI AND NYC FROM FUTURE STORMS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that the Sandy aid package, set to receive a vote on the Senate floor Monday night, will provide millions of dollars in funding for dozens of damaged and delayed projects on Long Island and New York City that will protect the coastline from future storms. In a letter to Jo Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Schumer discussed the implementation of these Army Corps of Engineer projects, which will include funding for a comprehensive stud… Continue Reading
01.17.13
SCHUMER VISITS THE COLLEGE OF ST. ROSE IN ALBANY TO ANNOUNCE LAST-MINUTE PASSAGE OF HIS COLLEGE TUITION TAX CREDIT THAT WILL SAVE MIDDLE-CLASS CAPITAL REGION RESIDENTS THOUSANDS IN TAX BREAKS TO DEFRAY TUITION COSTS
Today, standing at The College of St. Rose, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that his legislation, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), was included in the 11 thhour of the fiscal cliff deal, and will continue to provide up to $2,500 in college tuition tax credits to middleclass families for the next five years. Schumer fought to ensure his college tuition tax credit made it into the final package, which will continue help the vast majority of Capital Region families and stud… Continue Reading
01.17.13
JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES ISSUES INAUGURAL ADVISORY
In the remaining days before the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is issuing the following advisory to help people who plan to attend the swearingin ceremonies. The following is a special alert for people who will have tickets to the swearingin, but may have questions about getting to and from the event that morning. Because of the large crowds and the potential for inclement weather, those people with special needs a… Continue Reading
01.16.13
SCHUMER, GRIMM REQUEST PERSONAL MEETING WITH NPS DIRECTOR TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO REBUILD NICHOLS MARINA AND HIGHLIGHT ITS IMPORTANCE TO STATEN ISLANDERS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Michael Grimm (NY11) today requested a personal meeting with National Park Service Director (NPS) Jonathan Jarvis to discuss the fate of Nichols Marina at Great Kills Park on Staten Island. Earlier in December, Schumer and Grimm called on NPS to commit to maintaining the marina at Great Kills Park and allow it to rebuild after 350 of its boat slips were swept away due to Superstorm Sandy. Schumer and Grimm have advocated on behalf of the "Commit… Continue Reading
01.16.13
SCHUMER PUSHES TREASURY AND NATL PARKS SERVICE TO APPROVE CREDITS FOR REVITALIZATION OF GLENWOOD POWER PLANT MASSIVE, JOB-CREATING REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT COULD INJECT NEW LIFE INTO YONKERS ECONOMY
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer launched his twopronged plan to begin redevelopment of the longblighted Hudson Valley landmark known as the Glenwood Power Plant by the end of this year, potentially generating hundreds of new jobs and bringing new economic activity to this waterfront parcel for the first time in decades. Schumer fought successfully at year's end to extend the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC), and urged the Department of Treasury to strongly consider an allocation for the project.… Continue Reading
