Press Releases
SCHUMER REACHES HALF-WAY POINT OF PLEDGE TO VISIT ALL 62 NEW YORK COUNTIES
US Senator Charles E. Schumer reached the halfway point of his pledge to visit all 62 New York counties after only three months in office. Throughout his visits to 31 counties, Schumer has talked with thousands of individuals about the issues and concerns important to them and their communities. He has made revitalization of Upstate's economy, and returning wellpaying jobs to Upstate, his top priority in the Senate. "Upstate New York should be a thriving region," said Schume… Continue Reading
05.03.10
SCHUMER: CAP REGION RESIDENTS COULD SEE HEATING BILLS INCREASE OVER $265 AND GAS PRICES RISE $0.50 PER GALLON OVER LAST WINTER
US Senator Charles Schumer released findings today showing that the Capital Region is facing new highs in gasoline and heating oil prices with more increase to come as the oil strike in Venezuela deepens and war with Iraq becomes more likely. Schumer urged the Bush Administration to reconsider its decision to rule out using oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), a stockpile created in 1975 to deal with oil emergencies in the United States, in order to calm crude oil supply fears and arr… Continue Reading
04.29.10
SENATE DEMOCRATS UNVEIL LEGISLATION TO LIMIT FALLOUT FROM SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ALLOWS UNLIMITED SPECIAL-INTEREST SPENDING ON ELECTIONSANNOUNCE PLAN FOR SENATE PASSAGE BY JULY 4
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (DNY), Russ Feingold (DWI), Ron Wyden (DOR), Evan Bayh (DIN) and Al Franken (DMN) announced new legislation Thursday to blunt the harmful impacts from the Supreme Court's decision allowing corporations and other special interests to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. The lawmakers said their goal is for the Senate to pass the new measure by July 4 so the law can take effect in time for the 2010 midterm elections. T… Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER URGES NYPA TO CRAFT LONG TERM ENERGY CONTRACT WITH STEUBEN FOODS; LONGER CONTRACT WOULD ASSIST COMPANY WITH CRITICAL EXPANSION AND JOB CREATION
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that sent a personal letter to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Richard Kessel, urging him to craft a longer term energy agreement with the Western New York based company, Steuben Foods. Currently, NYPA has offered them a 7 year contract, which could hinder their plans for a major expansion. Schumer said that Steuben Foods meets all the criteria put forth by NYPA for a longer term contract, and NYP… Continue Reading
04.28.10
Schumer Announces Date for Visit from Surface Transportation Board Chair;CSX Chairman Agrees to Establish Hotline in Meeting with Schumer
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that Linda Morgan will come to visit Buffalo on October 18. In an additional development, Schumer met today with John Snow, the CEO and President of CSX Corporation, who promised the Senator that he will establish a hotline to address consumer complaints and work with Norfolk Southern on the CP Draw bridge issue and other operational issues affecting Western New York shippers and businesses. "Two weeks ago, I asked Linda Morgan, the Chair of th… Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER HOSTS DISCUSSION OF RAIL PROBLEMS WITH SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD CHAIR LINDA MORGAN AND BUSINESS LEADERS
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today hosted a discussion of rail shipping problems with Surface Transportation Board Chair Linda Morgan, representatives of Norfolk Southern and CSX, local businesses and manufacturers who rely on rail service, US Representatives Jack Quinn and Tom Reynolds and Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski. Area businesses have been experiencing major delays in service since June, when Conrail was broken up by Norfolk Southern and CSX Corporation. The rail delays have proved… Continue Reading
04.28.10
NY DELEGATION, DEPUTY TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DOWNEY PRESENT FIRST INSTALLMENT FOR EAST SIDE ACCESS PROJECT
The New York City and Long Island congressional delegation today joined Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mort Downey to award the first installment of federal funds for the East Side Access Project. The $43 million check, which will fund the final design and initial construction phases of the project, was presented to E. Virgil Conway, New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Daniel Patrick Moynihan stood with Representatives… Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER TO JOIN SESSIONS TO INTRODUCE CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE REFORM ACT
US Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY) today joined Sen. Jeff Sessions (RAL) to introduce the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 1999. The SessionsSchumer Bill, which is also cosponsored by Senators Thurmond (RSC), Biden (DDE), Feinstein (DCA), Helms (RNC) and Cleland (DGA), seeks to reform federal civil asset forfeiture laws while preserving forfeiture as a valuable law enforcement tool. "I'm proud to stand here today with my colleagues to discuss our new civil forfeiture reform … Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER BRINGS STATEWIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TO ROCHESTER
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today brought his statewide Economic Development Initiative (EDI) to Rochester with a Business Roundtable. The purpose of Schumer's EDI is to help attract new businesses, financial resources, and jobs to the Finger Lakes region and other parts of the state. In a meeting cohosted by the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce, Schumer met with local business, political and education leaders to develop a plan to spur growth in Rochester. "The economy in … Continue Reading
04.28.10
Schumer says Federal Response to NYC Encephalitis Outbreak Shows Troubling Holes in Emergency Preparedness and Coordination for Biological Terrorist Attack
Calling the New York City encephalitis outbreak a dry run for a biological terrorist assault on a major urban area, US Senator Charles Schumer today called on the General Accounting Office to conduct an audit of the federal response to the West Nilelike encephalitis virus outbreak in order to better prepare for a biological terrorist attack against the United States. Schumer also called on the White House to appoint a national director to coordinate and evaluate domestic response plans, as well … Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER, LOWEY REVEAL THAT NEW GOP BUDGET PLAN GUTS EDUCATION, HOUSING AND POLICE AID FROM NEW YORK STATE COMMUNITIES
US Senator Charles E. Schumer and Rep. Nita M. Lowey today revealed new data showing that New York State communities stand to lose millions of dollars in education, housing and police aid as a result of Republican's proposed appropriations cuts. In a plan that is gathering steam, the GOP recently proposed cutting discretionary spending across the board in order to meet self imposed spending caps. Schumer and Lowey's analysis of cuts to New York State is based on Congressional Budg… Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $8 MILLION GRANT FOR CENTRAL NY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) has received an $8,171,944 grant from the United States Department of Transportation. These funds will allow Centro to purchase 42 new compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses. Centro's yearly ridership is approximately twelve million. The new buses will be rotated throughout the system and will be used on a majority of Centro's routes. All buses are expected to be … Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER RENEWS CALL ON COMMERCE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST NEW YORK APPLE GROWERS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today reiterated his request that the United States Department of Commerce issue its decision regarding apple juice concentrate imports from China. October 5 is the earliest date that the Department of Commerce has said that they could make t heir decision on the dumping petition filed by US Apple on June 7. "I am deeply concerned about the continuing negative impact of cheap apple juice concentrate imports from China on our apple growers and process… Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES MOUNT VERNON FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL RECEIVE NEARLY $200,000 IN FEDERAL FIRE GRANT FOR OPERATIONS AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Mount Vernon Fire Department will receive a grant totaling $191,392 as part of Round 13 of the FY09 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used to improve operations and safety at the fire department. "This essential grant ensures that the Mount Vernon Fire Department will continue to have the basic resources required to do their jobs, improve … Continue Reading
04.28.10
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES MORTON'S CORNERS VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY IN SPRINGVILLE WILL RECEIVE OVER $62,000 IN FEDERAL FIRE GRANT FOR OPERATIONS AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Morton's Corners Volunteer Fire Companyin Springville has received a federal grant totaling $62,600 as part of Round 13 of the FY09 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used to improve operations and safety at the fire company with new rescue and self contained breathing equipment. "This essential grant ensures that the Morton's Corn… Continue Reading
04.27.10
SCHUMER, BENNET, FRANKEN, BEGICH ASK FACEBOOK TO FIX PRIVACY POLICY TO KEEP USERS' DATA PRIVATE FROM THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES FACEBOOK'S RECENT DECISION TO SHARE PERSONAL INFO RAISES MAJOR PRIVACY CONCERNS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WASHINGTON, DC- Today,U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (DNY), Michael Bennet (DCO), Al Franken (DMN) and Mark Begich (DAK) urged Facebook, the online socialnetworking giant, to fix its private policy to block users' personal information from being accessed by third parties without the users' consent. The senators announced they have sent a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg urging the company to revisit its decision, made last week, to provide select third party websites with personal… Continue Reading
04.22.10
Schumer, Weiner Announce Task Force to Improve Floyd Bennett Field
New York City - In recognition of the 40 th anniversary of Earth Day and the increasing demand for quality park lands in New York City, Senator Charles Schumer (D - NY) and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D - Brooklyn and Queens) announced the formation of the Floyd Bennett Field Blue Ribbon Panel, a task force that will establish a shared vision for the future of the park and make recommendations about how to improve the country's third mostvisited national recreation area. Floyd Bennett Field, locat… Continue Reading
04.20.10
SCHUMER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO ADD SUNY TO THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS CONSORTIUM; WILL FUNNEL ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PRESTIGE TO UALBANY'S NATIONAL CENTER FOR SECURITY AND PREPAREDNESS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer introduced legislation to make the State University of New York (SUNY) a member of the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium (NDPC), a partnership of several organizations meant to enhance the emergency preparedness of federal, state, local, and nongovernmental emergency responders and counterterrorism teams. The NDPC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness … Continue Reading
04.14.10
SCHUMER: TOO MANY STARTUP SMALL BIZ FALL INTO "VALLEY OF DEATH" AND FAIL BEFORE CONSUMERS EVER SEE THEIR PRODUCTS- SCHUMER INTRO'S LEGISLATION TO BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN LAB AND MARKETPLACE, POTENTIALLY CREATING THOUSANDS OF JOBS ACROSS NY
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is introducing new legislation to help small businesses across New York cross what has become known as the "valley of death" - the time between the research and development phase of a product and its commercialization. Schumer said that New York has hundreds of businesses that, given the chance, could produce successful products and grow into major industries, but because they don't have the means to commercialize a development, the… Continue Reading
04.14.10
SENATORS ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO COMBAT FEES ON CARRY-ON BAGGAGE ANNOUNCED BY MAJOR AIRLINE LAST WEEK
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.), Robert Menendez (DN.J.), Ben Cardin (DMD), Frank Lautenberg (DNJ), Blanche Lincoln (DAR), Amy Klobuchar (DMN) and Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.) announced new legislation Wednesday to confront airlines that are socking travelers with new fees for carryon luggage. The legislation comes after Spirit Airlines announced last week that it would begin charging customers a whopping $45 for carryon luggage. The policy could spur other airlines to foll… Continue Reading
