Press Releases
MENENDEZ, SCHUMER, LAUTENBERG AND GILLIBRAND CALL ON BP TO SUSPEND DRILLING ACTIVITY IN LIBYA UNTIL INVESTIGATION OCCURS IN LOCKERBIE CASE
WASHINGTON - At a news conference today, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (DNJ), Charles Schumer (DNY), Frank Lautenberg (DNJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (DNY) called on BP to suspend its oil drilling plans in Libya until its role in the freeing of the Pan Am Flight 103 bomber is fully known. Before BP makes money off of drilling there, the senators want to know to what extent BP helped to facilitate the release of Abdelbaset alMegrahi from a Scottish prison in order to finalize and expedite a $900… Continue Reading
07.13.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $280,000 IN FUNDING COMING TO POUGHKEEPSIE TO PREPARE YOUTH FOR WORKFORCE
Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Nubian Directions II, Inc. in Poughkeepsie will receive $283,500 in YouthBuild Grant funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and FY 2009 funding. The funding will be used to provide education and training to disadvantaged young people. This training will include the education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic selfsufficiency in occupations in high demand and postsecondary education an… Continue Reading
07.12.10
SCHUMER CALLS FOR NOAA TO IMMEDIATELY SELL UNAUTHORIZED BOATS, CARS AND OTHER ASSETS AND USE PROCEEDS TO HELP FUND NORTHEASTERN FISHERMEN WHO WERE EXCESSIVELY FINED AND WHOSE FISHING SEASONS WERE SHORTENED
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today to immediately begin selling off unauthorized purchases it made with Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF) money and return the proceeds to the fund and fishermen who committed no wrong or were excessively fined. A bombshell report issued by the Commerce Department's inspector general's office revealed that over the course of the last four years, forfeiture funds, obtained through fines levied agai… Continue Reading
07.12.10
SCHUMER REVEALS: CURRENT LAWS ON SEX OFFENDERS LEAVE GLARING GAPS ALLOWING PEDOPHILES TO COACH SPORTS, OPERATE CARNIVAL RIDES AND PROVIDE DANCE AND MUSIC LESSONS ACROSS NEW YORK
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed that current laws restricting sex offenders' access to children does not restrict pedophiles from working with children in jobs which are not funded by the government. These glaring gaps in federal law allow pedophiles to work as coaches, carnival ride operators, dance and music teachers, and many other occupations that by their nature allow sex offenders to have direct contact with children. Schumer is introducing legislation, which would strength… Continue Reading
07.09.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEARLY $6 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FOR CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE COMING TO JEFFERSON COUNTY
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Town of Pamelia will receive $1.7 million, the Town of Henderson will receive $2 million, the Village of Philadelphia will receive $256,010 and the Village of Cape Vincent will receive $2 million in federal grant funding from the New York Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for clean water infrastructure projects. The grant funding is coming to cities, towns and villages all across New York because of a provision secured by Schumer i… Continue Reading
07.09.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $2 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FOR CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE COMING TO VILLAGE OF BELMONT
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Village of Belmont will receive $2 million in federal grant funding from the New York Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) for clean water infrastructure projects. The grant funding is coming to cities, towns and villages all across New York because of a provision secured by Schumer in the Congressional Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill. "These funds will go to work right away improving infrastructure, creat… Continue Reading
07.06.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: NASSAU AND SUFFOLK TO RECEIVE SOUGHT AFTER FEMA FUNDING FOR VITAL VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER TUITION PROGRAM; WILL ENCOURAGE YOUNGER PEOPLE TO BECOME VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AT A TIME WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARE IN SHORTER SUPPLY
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Nassau and Suffolk County have been chosen to receive federal funding to create an incentive for college students to sign up as volunteer firefighters across Long Island and is urging FEMA to recommend full funding of $4 million for the program. Both Nassau and Suffolk Counties have qualified and been chosen for FEMA's SAFER grant award for volunteer firefighter recruitment, Schumer said. Schumer urged Administrator Fugate to fund each Coun… Continue Reading
07.06.10
SCHUMER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO NAME LYNBROOK POST OFFICE IN HONOR OF NAVY CORPSMAN JEFFREY L. WIENER, A LYNBROOK NATIVE WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN IRAQ
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he is introducing legislation to rename the Lynbrook Post Office, located at 100 Broadway in Lynbrook, New York, the Navy Corpsman Jeffrey L. Wiener Post Office. The post office renaming is in honor of Jeffrey L. Wiener, a deceased Lynbrook resident who gave his life in service to his country. Wiener had served his community as a volunteer firefighter starting at the age of 14. In 2003, Wiener enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Iraq, where he w… Continue Reading
06.29.10
SCHUMER URGES USDA SECRETARY TO REVERSE RULE-CHANGE PREVENTING NY COMMUNITIES FROM ACCESSING FEDERAL RURAL GRANT PROGRAM
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he has written a personal letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Tom Vilsack, urging him to address a new rule that makes at least 15 communities across New York ineligible for a vital rural development grant program, the Water and Waste Disposal Grant Program, that works to reduce costs for New Yorkers and local governments in rural communities. Schumer's office has been contacted by several communitie… Continue Reading
06.29.10
WITH DESTRUCTIVE ASH BORER JUST FOUND AGAIN IN SOUTHERN TIER:SCHUMER: EMERALD ASH BORER ONCE AGAIN ON VERGE OF SPREADING ACROSS NYS; SENATOR CALLS ON FEDS TO HELP NY COMMUNITIES FIGHT PROBLEM BY APPROVING FUNDING APPLICATIONS IMMEDIATELY SO NY IS NOT OUTGUNNED
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he has written personal letters to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lisa Jackson, and the Secretary of the United State Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging them to help New York fight the emerald ash borer (EAB) by approving several applications that would provide critical resources to New York communities to prevent the invasive species' advance. Without drastic and immediate intervention, indus… Continue Reading
06.23.10
SCHUMER UNVEILS LONG-AWAITED AND LONG-DESERVED PLAQUE COMMEMORATING ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS WHO HELPED CONSTRUCT THE U.S. CAPITOL
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer led a ceremony to install the longawaited plaque formally recognizing the contributions that enslaved AfricanAmericans made to the construction of the U.S. Capitol. The new plaque was mounted atop original stone used to build the Capitol and is located in the Senate wing of the building, which is open to the public. Schumer, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, was an original cosponsor of the resolution honoring enslaved AfricanAme… Continue Reading
06.22.10
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, TONKO URGE HUD SEC TO ACCEPT AMSTERDAM HOUSING AUTHORITY'S GRANT APP AFTER TECHNICAL GLITCH BY FEDS TOSSED OUT APPLICATION
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Paul Tonko announced that they have sent a personal letter to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Shaun Donavan, urging him to reexamine the Amsterdam Housing Authority's (AHA) grant application. AHA's grant application was denied based on a technicality after HUD mistakenly sent applicants the wrong due date and failed to properly notify applicants of the new date. The loss of … Continue Reading
06.15.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES ROCHESTER VETERANS OUTREACH CENTER TO RECEIVE $270,000 IN FUNDING FROM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO ASSIST DISABELED SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN COMING HOME FIND JOBS IN CLEAN ENERGY SECTOR
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. in Rochester has received a federal grant totaling $270,000 as part of the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor. The funding will be used for Veterans employment and training services in the clean energy sector. "This grant ensures that veterans in the Rochester Region will have the opportunity to receive the educational trai… Continue Reading
06.14.10
SCHUMER REVEALS: EVIDENCE MOUNTING THAT SUGGESTS POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN CHEMICAL FOUND IN MOST SUNSCREENS AND SKIN CANCER, FDA HAS BEEN STUDYING ISSUE FOR ALMOST A YEAR; SCHUMER CALLS ON FDA TO MAKE RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION IMMEDIATELY CLEAR.
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately address recent reports suggesting a possible link between skin cancer and a common chemical found in sunscreens. Studies from the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) have suggested a possible link between skin cancer and retinyl palmitate, a common ingredient found in sunscreen products. While the research has been completed since July 200… Continue Reading
06.14.10
SCHUMER: YOUTH SUMMER JOBS FUNDS WILL HELP LONG ISLAND TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS FIND WORK DURING CRUSHING ECONOMIC CLIMATE, STIMULATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND EASE STRESS FOR MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that $1 billion in summer youth jobs funding is set to pass the Senate this week as part of the Americans Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. This critical funding will begin to address the incredible rate of unemployment among youth in New York and across the country. The current youth unemployment rate of 21.5% is a threat to our nation's broader economic recovery as an entire generation of young women and men see their tal… Continue Reading
06.11.10
TWO DAYS AFTER SCHUMER EXPOSES CHINESE HONEY LAUNDERING, FDA ANNOUNCES SEIZURE OF 64 DRUMS OF ILLEGAL, CONTAMINATED CHINESE HONEYSCHUMER SAYS CASE IS ONLY TIP OF ICEBERG, CALLS FOR LARGER SWEEP OF HONEY SHIPMENTS
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY) announced today that just two days after he called on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on "honey launderers" that are undermining U.S. honey producers, the agency has revealed a major enforcement action against Chinese honey smugglers. Last night, the FDA announced it has seized 64 drums-or, $32,000 worth-of imported Chinese honey that was contaminated with a potent antibiotic. If allowed into the marketplace, the honey wo… Continue Reading
06.11.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES RENSSELAER HIGH SCHOOL WILL RECEIVE 5 COMPUTERS TO IMPROVE COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Rensselaer High School will receive 5 computers under the United States Senate Computers for Schools Program. The program helps public schools take advantage of the information technology age by channeling surplus computers into classrooms across the country. Rensselaer High School educates young adults from 9 th through 12 th grades and prepares their students for a college education and a productive working career. … Continue Reading
06.10.10
SCHUMER SECURES FEMA APPROVAL OF LONG STALLED TOWN OF HANCOCK HIGHWAY PROJECT; MOVE WILL IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE IN TOWN AND THROUGHOUT DELAWARE COUNTY
Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he has secured approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for infrastructure improvements in the Town of Hancock along Route 28 that come as a result of flooding which ripped through the Southern Tier in the summer of 2006. The project had been tied up in knots as the Town sought the go ahead from FEMA on the environmental impacts of the project so that it could lock in the necessary financing that will ultimately be reimburs… Continue Reading
06.10.10
SCHUMER CUTS THROUGH RED TAPE SO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CAN TRAVEL TO WORLD CUP IN SOUTH AFRICA TO BE OFFICIAL US FLAG BEARER
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he and his staff have successfully cut through red tape and secured travel documents for Mamady Kourouma, a Jefferson High School student, to travel to the World Cup where he will be an official United States flag bearer. Kourouma had faced numerous bureaucratic and timing hurdles and, before contacting Schumer office, it looked like he would not be able to receive his documents in time. "It would have bee… Continue Reading
06.09.10
SCHUMER: NY'S HONEY INDUSTRY UNDER ASSAULT BY CHINESE 'HONEY LAUNDERING' - SENATOR SAYS CHINESE UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES COULD DEVASTATE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR NY HONEY INDUSTRY, HURT FARMERS, AND PUT CONSUMERS AT RISK
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on "honey launderers" that are undermining New York's honey producers. Almost a decade ago, the United States started imposing duties on honey imported from China after it found that Chinese exporters were engaging in predatory trade practices. But in the subsequent years, Chinese companies be… Continue Reading
