Press Releases
SCHUMER LAUNCHES NEW EFFORT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GRANTS INSTEAD OF JUST LOANS FOR NYS SEWER REPAIR PROJECTS – FED SEWER FUNDS, CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AS LOANS, CAN MAKE UPGRADES DIFFICULT FOR COMMUNITIES TO AFFORD
Schumer Provision Will Make Major Fed Funds Available as Grants for First Time in Years & Help Kickstart Projects Around the State - Large Number of Water & Sewer Main Breaks This Winter Highlight Importance of Getting Projects Moving Forward With A Backlog of 279 Sewer Projects Awaiting Funding Throughout Upstate NY & Hudson Valley, Schumer Pushes NYS EFC To Use Maximum Amount of Fed Funds Recently Made Available as Grants; Would Free Up an Estimated $46M in Fed Funds this Year Th… Continue Reading
03.25.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, NADLER ANNOUNCE OVER $343 MILLION IN FEDERAL SANDY-RELIEF FUNDING FOR MTA’S SOUTH FERRY TERMINAL STATION
Mayor Bill de Blasio Highlighted the Importance of the Federal Funding & Repairing This Key Transit Hub Floodwaters From Superstorm Sandy Caused Extensive Damage to South Ferry Terminal Station; MTA Station Was Closed for Years After Storm First Hit Schumer, Gillibrand, Nadler Announce Emergency Relief Funding to Rehabilitate MTA's South Ferry Station & Protect Against Future Flooding; Work Includes Leak Remediation & Repairs to Station, Rail Tracks, Power Equipment & More … Continue Reading
03.24.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE, AFTER THEIR PUSH, FEMA HAS OBLIGATED FIRST PART OF FUNDING FOR THE OWEGO APALACHIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BUILD NEW ADMINISTRATION BUILDING DAMAGED BY TROPICAL STORM LEE
In December, FEMA Announced It Had Agreed To Provide Fed Funding to Rebuild the School District's Administration Building and Storage and Maintenance Facility Outside of the Floodplain - Now, More Than $5 Million in Funding Is On Its Way; Will Enable the School to Get First Part of Project Underway Schumer, Gillibrand Vow to Continue to Push Feds to Get the Remaining Portion of the $23 Million Award Out the Door For Second Phase of Project Schumer: Owego Apalachin School District Will Fi… Continue Reading
03.24.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $4 MILLION IN HEAD START FUNDS FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY ORGANIZATION
Washington County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. Will Use Funding to Continue to Provide Early Education for Low-Income Children U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,931,223 in federal funding for the Washington County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc., a community based organization in Hudson Falls. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding will continue to support the organization's efforts to improve education for low-income children at their earl… Continue Reading
03.24.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $3.3 MILLION IN HEAD START FUNDS FOR OTSEGO COUNTY ORGANIZATION
Opportunities for Otsego, Inc. in Oneonta Will Use Funding to Continue to Provide Early Education for Low-Income Children U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $3,317,564 in federal funding for Opportunities for Otsego, Inc., a community based organization in Otsego County. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding will continue to support the organization's efforts to improve education for low-income children at their earliest age, when major learning stride… Continue Reading
03.24.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION IN HEAD START FUNDS FOR CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY ORGANIZATION
Western New York's Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Will Use Funding to Continue to Provide Early Education Programs for Low-Income Children U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,319,314.00 in federal funding for the Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc., a community based agency in Western New York. Senators Schumer and Gillibrand said that the funding support a new Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership program and expand the organization's ability to provide ed… Continue Reading
03.24.15
SCHUMER URGES FEMA TO SWIFTLY REVIEW & APPROVE ADDITIONAL FED FUNDING FOR THE CITY OF TROY TO COVER COST OF MAJOR REPAIRS TO CAMPBELL AVENUE & ADJOINING SEWER, WHICH WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED DURING HURRICANE IRENE – FED REIMBURSEMENT WILL HELP PREVENT LOCAL TAXPAYERS FROM SHOULDERING COSTS
In 2011, Hurricane Irene's Wrath Collapsed Sewers, Damaged Two Manholes & Caused Road Instability, Slope Failure on Campbell Avenue; Storm Damage Forced The City Of Troy To Close The Road For Several Months FEMA Originally Approved Project Cost of $400,000 to Rebuild & Rehab, But it Was Not Enough Due To The Complexity of Repairs; The Total Cost of Repairs for the City Was Well Over $1 Million, A Necessary Expense to Keep Residents Safe & Adjoining Sewer Infrastructure Intac… Continue Reading
03.23.15
SCHUMER CALLS FOR TSA PRE-CHECK ENROLLMENT CENTER AT SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; CURRENTLY, LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO ENROLL MUST TRAVEL TO OSWEGO – NEW ENROLLMENT CENTER WOULD MEAN SHORTER, MORE CONVENIENT SECURITY LINES FOR SYRACUSE TRAVELERS
TSA Pre-Check Has Been Successfully Installed at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, But In Order To Register For The Program Residents Must Travel All The Way to Oswego - Program Enables Travelers Deemed Safe To Enter Terminal With Expedited Screening Schumer Urges TSA To Bring A Pre-Check Enrollment Center To Syracuse Hancock International Airport to Make Air Travel Easier For Syracuse Residents - Rochester & Albany Have Enrollment Centers, Syracuse Should Too Schumer: Syracuse Resid… Continue Reading
03.23.15
SCHUMER CALLS ON FAA TO END DELAYS & APPROVE CRITICAL PLAN TO EXTEND RUNWAY AT MACARTHUR AIRPORT TO ATTRACT MORE AIRLINES & IMPROVE SAFETY FOR FLYERS; WITH FAA PREDICTING MAJOR FLIGHT CONGESTION AT JFK & LGA IN NEXT DECADE -TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO GET MACARTHUR INFRASTRUCTURE UP TO SPEED
Schumer Urges the FAA to Finally Approve the MacArthur Airport Master Plan & Airport Layout Plan to Extend a Second Runway to Approx 7,000 Feet - MacArthur-Submitted Plan Has Languished on FAA's Desk for More Than a Year. Schumer Cites February FAA Report Outlining Concerns That JFK, LGA & Newark Will Be Over-Capacity in 5 to 15 Years Due to Demand for Air Travel - Major Airlines Will Turn to Other Nearby Airports To Alleviate Delays, & Two 7000+ Ft. Runways Will Make MacArthur a P… Continue Reading
03.23.15
SCHUMER PLACES PERSONAL PHONE CALL TO ALCOA CEO KLAUS KLEINFELD; CONFIDENT ALCOA IS COMMITTED TO MASSENA & LOCAL JOBS ARE WELL-POSITIONED – SCHUMER PLACED CALL IN LIGHT OF ALCOA REVIEWING COMPANY-WIDE COST-CUTTING OPTIONS
Schumer, Following Personal Call to Alcoa CEO, Say He is Optimistic There Are No Reductions In Workforce Levels Or Smelting Capacity At Massena Planned Despite Current Down Market For Aluminum & Alcoa's Global Reduction Of Smelting Capacity Schumer-Led Effort To Provide The Plant With A Steady Supply Of Clean And Affordable Power Has It Well Positioned For The Future Schumer: I Will Watch This Situation Like A Hawk & Continue to Do Whatever I Can To Help Alcoa Thrive In The North Coun… Continue Reading
03.22.15
SCHUMER CALLS ON FEDS TO INVESTIGATE SAFETY OF LUMBER LIQUIDATORS’ WOOD FLOORING & RECALL PRODUCT IF DANGEROUS – RECENT REPORTS SHOW CHINESE-IMPORTED WOOD FLOORING COULD CONTAIN DANGEROUS AMOUNTS OF CARCINOGENIC FORMALDEYHYDE, POLLUTING THE AIR INSIDE NYC APARTMENTS & HOMES LIKE THOSE REBUILT POST-SANDY
A "60 Minutes" Report Revealed This Month That Lumber Liquidators Laminate Flooring Is Made In China & Likely Contains Unsafe Levels of Formaldehyde - Report Studied Wood Samples From New York, Which Did Not Meet Key Environmental Standards Schumer Highlights Serious Concerns That Lumber Liquidator Wood is Polluting Air Inside NYC Apartments - With Generally Poor Ventilation – And Homes Recently Rebuilt After Superstorm Sandy; Formaldehyde Is A Dangerous Carcinogen That Could Also… Continue Reading
03.20.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, LOWEY URGE FEMA TO EXPEDITE OVER $5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CRITICAL POWER GRID IMPROVEMENTS AT NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL; HOSPITAL LOST POWER FOR THREE DAYS DURING SUPERSTORM SANDY – UPGRADES WILL HELP HOSPITAL BETTER WITHSTAND FUTURE STORMS
Northern Westchester Hospital Serves 350,000 Residents, But is Vulnerable During Major Storms; Hospital's 45-Year Old Emergency Power System Failed During Superstorm Sandy, Cutting Off Power for 70 Hours & Leaving Doctors & Patients Scrambling - Failure During a Future Storm Could Leave Residents Without Emergency Care Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey Push FEMA For Funding That Would Enable Hospital to Rebuild Power System With Three Separate Switches - Current System Has One, Outdated Swi… Continue Reading
03.19.15
SCHUMER: MORE THAN 63,000 NEW YORKERS HAVE YET TO CLAIM OVER $62.8 MILLION IN REFUNDS FROM THEIR 2011 FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS; TIME RUNS OUT TO CLAIM THESE REFUNDS NEXT MONTH – SCHUMER ENCOURAGES NYS RESIDENTS TO CLAIM THESE UNCLAIMED FUNDS BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT
Taxpayers Who Did Not File 2011 Federal Tax Returns Are Eligible to Claim Tax Refunds If They File Their 2011 Returns By April 15 - New York Taxpayers Could Receive an Average Return of Nearly $700, But They Must Do This Before Grace Period is Up Schumer Urges New Yorkers Who Are Eligible to Put Money Back In Their Pocket By Taking Advantage of This Opportunity Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced over 63,000 New York State residents have more than $62 million in unclaimed tax… Continue Reading
03.18.15
SCHUMER: CONGRESS MUST ACT ASAP SO 275,000 NY CHILDREN DO NOT LOSE THEIR LOW-COST HEALTH INSURANCE THIS SUMMER – SCHUMER LAUNCHES EFFORT TO EXTEND FED FUNDING THAT HELPS MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AFFORD HEALTH CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN; PUSHES BILL THAT WOULD RE-UP CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM UNTIL 2019
Children's Health Insurance Program Is A Critical Lifeline for Low- To Moderate-income Children and Pregnant Women; Program Supports Comprehensive Care - CHIP Is Critical For Families Whose Income Is Too High to Qualify For Medicaid; A Family of 4 Can Make Up To $100K & Qualify for CHIP Schumer Pushes Bill To Extend Program for Four Years, Wants Extension By End of Month; If CHIP Is Not Renewed, More Than 116,000 Upstate NY Families Could Lose Out on $414 Million in Fed Funds; Families C… Continue Reading
03.18.15
SCHUMER & 70+ SENATE COLLEAGUES CALL ON STATE DEPT. TO ADDRESS ONGOING INTIMIDATION OF MEDIA AND CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS IN TURKEY UNDER PRESIDENT ERDOGAN’S ADMINISTRATION
Recently, Two Journalists Who Were Vocal Critics of President Erdogan's Administration & Were Arrested & Detained-Both Individuals Lead Major News Organizations; Prior To That Incident, Many Journalists Lost Their Jobs for Writing Material That Was Critical of President Erdogan and His Administration Noting Turkey's Long Tradition of Democracy and Tolerance of Civic Dissent, Schumer Urges State Department to Collaborate With Turkish Government To Address and Peacefully Resolve Issue … Continue Reading
03.18.15
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $21.5 MILLION IN HEAD START FUNDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS UPSTATE NEW YORK
Funding Will Allow Organizations in Clinton, Franklin, Genesee, Monroe, Onondaga, Orleans & Westchester Counties to Provide Early Education Programs for Low-Income Children U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a total of $21,568,272 in federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start Programs across Upstate New York. Schumer and Gillibrand said this funding would allow organizations in Clinton, Franklin, Genesee, Monroe, Onondaga, Orleans, and Westchest… Continue Reading
03.17.15
SCHUMER TO FEDS: APPROVE OVER $700K IN FUNDS MOUNT VERNON NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER NETWORK IN WESTCHESTER DESERVES; NETWORK HAS BEEN WAITING TWO YEARS TO RECEIVE FUNDS – SENATOR URGES FEDS TO EXPEDITE RELEASE OF DESPERATELY NEEDED FUNDING TO HELP KEEP SITES IN MT. VERNON, YONKERS & GREENBURGH OPERATING AT FULL CAPACITY
Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Network in Westchester Provides More Than 23,000 Patients Living in Poverty With Valuable Health Services, But is Currently Operating Without $700K in Medicaid Funds It Has Been Promised - Funding Has Been Awaiting Fed Approval For Over Two Years & Mt. Vernon Has Been Forced To Expend Its Own Reserves to Cover The Gap Schumer Urges Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services to Quickly Approve Mt. Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Network's Applica… Continue Reading
03.17.15
AFTER ADMINISTRATION PROPOSES CUT TO ONE OF ROCHESTER’S MOST IMPORTANT FED PROGRAMS, SCHUMER VOWS TO FIGHT FOR FULL FUNDING IN CONGRESS TO PRESERVE IT – FED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT & COMBATING POVERTY; CUTS COULD SLOW PROGRESS
Administration Proposed Cutting $200 Million from HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program In Upcoming Fiscal Year - Rochester Received More Than $9.5 Million in Funding in 2014 Alone & It Is A Major Driver In City-Wide Development; CDBG Funding Has Allowed the City to Create and Retain Thousands of Local Jobs for Low-Income Workers CDBG Has Helped Rochester Fund Transformative Development Initiatives Each Year, Like Revitalizing the Historic Carriage Factory; Create Good-Payi… Continue Reading
03.16.15
SCHUMER JOINS WITH PARENTS OF COLONIE NATIVE & SUNY COBLESKILL GRAD LAUREN TANSKI, WHO WAS TRAGICALLY KILLED TWO YEARS AGO, AND PUSHES PLAN THAT WOULD REQUIRE PRIVATE LOAN COMPANIES TO IMMEDIATELY FORGIVE DEBT AFTER DEATH OF STUDENT BORROWERS – PARENTS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO CONTINUE PAYING STUDENT LOANS AFTER TRAGIC DEATH OF A CHILD
In 2013, Colonie Native Lauren Tanski Was Tragically Killed By Her Roommate's Ex-Boyfriend, While Living in New Orleans - When Lauren Died, She Had $30K in Outstanding Fed Student Loan Debt & $60K in Private Student Loan Debt; Fed Loans Were Immediately Forgiven, but Private Loans Were Not; Schumer Worked With Family To Get Private Loans Forgiven, But Law To Protect Grieving Families is Needed Schumer Announces Major Effort This Congress To Pass Legislation That Would Require Private Stu… Continue Reading
03.16.15
SCHUMER, STANDING WITH MAYORS & OTHER OFFICIALS FROM TOWNS OF ONONDAGA, ELBRIDGE, LAFAYETTE, SKANEATELES, VAN BUREN & VILLAGES OF JORDAN, BALDWINSVILLE & MARCELLUS, BLASTS HUD FOR PULLING OUT RUG FROM COMMUNITIES THAT WERE RELYING ON FED FUNDS FOR CRITICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS – ONONDAGA COUNTY COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN WRONGFULLY DENIED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THEY WERE PROMISED
Fed Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Had Approved Hundreds of Thousands in Fed CDBG Funds To Infrastructure Projects In Towns & Villages Across Onondaga County, But Recently Rescinded Those Funds After New Census Data Lumped Communities Eligible To Receive Funds Together With Towns That Were Ineligible For Funding - HUD Then Backed Out Of Promise, Leaving Communities With Nowhere to Turn Schumer Says HUD Should Not Change The Rules Mid-Game; Pushes HUD to Provide Funding Onondaga… Continue Reading
