Press Releases
SCHUMER TOURS FLOOD DAMAGE IN AMSTERDAM WILL PUSH TO SECURE FEDERAL AID TO HELP HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESSES TO RECOVER, AND TO REBUILD CANAL LOCKS DEVASTATED BY SECOND ROUND OF FLOODING
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer visited Amsterdam to get a firsthand look at the flood damage from the most recent tropical storm to hit Montgomery County, which comes on the heels of Hurricane Irene's destruction in the region. Schumer toured homes and businesses that have been severely damaged by the storms, such as Russo's Restaurant, and also made stops at the historic Guy Park Manor which has partially collapsed into the river, and Erie Canal Lock 11. During a tour of the dama… Continue Reading
09.08.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES DEAL TO START REMAPPING OF CONTROVERSIAL NEW NASSAU FLOOD ZONES PASSES IMPORTANT HURDLE; COULD SAVE LONG ISLAND HOMEOWNERS FROM HAVING TO PAY THOUSANDS IN UNNECESSARY FLOOD INSURANCE
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he successfully fought to include an important provision in the Flood Insurance Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2011, which passed a key procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate. Schumer's provision would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to remake their existing flawed flood maps that failed to use Nassauspecific data during major map changes put in place in late 2009. Flood zones affected by the Jamaica Bay flood… Continue Reading
09.06.11
SCHUMER, FEMA OFFICIALS TOUR FLOOD DAMAGE, INSPECT RECOVERY EFFORTS IN PUTNAM COUNTY SCHUMER WILL PUSH TO SECURE AS MUCH FEDERAL AID AS POSSIBLE IN WAKE OF IRENE
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and FEMA Federal Regional Administrator Lynn Canton toured Putnam County to get a firsthand look at the damage and devastation caused by tropical storm Irene. Schumer visited Philipstown in order to receive an update on FEMA's efforts to help the Hudson Valley rebuild and recover from the storm, and to receive a briefing from local leaders on their current needs from the federal government. Following the storm, Schumer is pushing for a boost in funding f… Continue Reading
09.06.11
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE SARATOGA COUNTY AIRPORT IS SET TO RECEIVE NEARLY $200,000 IN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR RUNWAY, TAXIWAY IMPROVEMENTS
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Saratoga County Airport is set to receive $199,494 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds for airport facility upgrades. Specifically, the grant will allow the airport to design an apron, where aircraft are parked, boarded and fueled, with improved structural integrity. Also, the funding will allow for the design of a new runway visual guidance system that will make the airport more accessible to pilots by… Continue Reading
09.06.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SULLIVAN COUNTY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FROM FEMA
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded Sullivan County public assistance to help rebuild and repair infrastructure damaged by Irene. After this type of assistance was not made available in the President's initial emergency declaration, Senator Schumer immediately called for Sullivan County to be added to the list of eligible counties, in a personal phone call with Administrator Fugate. The county is now eligible for assi… Continue Reading
09.01.11
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND PUSH TO BOOST FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING TO HELP NEW YORK REBUILD AFTER IRENE
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand wrote to Office of Management and Budget Director Jack Lew, urging the Obama administration to seek sufficient funding for the Disaster Relief Fund to cover the cost of damage to New York communities in the wake of Irene. Governor Cuomo has estimated that the damage costs in New York alone would exceed $1 billion, but the federal disaster relief fund currently only has $792 million available. The funds in this account are meant… Continue Reading
08.25.11
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $160,000 COMING TO PORT OF OSWEGO TO BEEF UP PORT SECURITY, SURVEILLANCE, AND IMPROVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Today, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Port of Oswego Authority is set to receive $160,400 through the Port Security Grant Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This funding will be used to build and install a 17 camera Integrated Surveillance System at the Port of Oswego Authority. This surveillance system will be accessible to all levels of law enforcement involving the Oswego Harbor, and will help the U.S. port prepare fo… Continue Reading
08.17.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $1.5 MILLION IN USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT LOAN COMING TO CARLTON; INVESTMENT WILL HELP EXPAND DRINKING WATER SERVICE TO CARLTON RESIDENTS
Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Town of Carlton is set to receive a $1,534,000 Water and Waste Disposal Loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Specifically, the Town of Carlton will use this loan to expand drinking water service to 87 new customers in three locations in the Town of Carlton. Carlton has a townwide water district serving 1,300 residences. "Our rural communities are the heart and soul of New York," said Sch… Continue Reading
08.16.11
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, ISRAEL ANNOUNCE $2.4 MILLION FOR BAY SHORE FERRY IMPROVEMENTS
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand and Representative Steve Israel today announced $2,440,000 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements to the Maple Avenue Dock in Bay Shore in the Town of Islip as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Ferry Boat Discretionary Program. With the funding, the Town of Islip will improve the dock by replacing the existing timber bulkhead with new steel sheeting and timber piles. The new steel sheeting will be anchore… Continue Reading
08.10.11
SCHUMER: HUNDREDS OF FINGER LAKES JOBS AT RISK AS CONFLICTING RULES ALLOW FOREIGN COMPANIES TO UNDERCUT IEC ELECTRONICS ON NATIONAL SECURITY PROJECTS PUSHES FEDS TO ENSURE THAT KEY TECHNOLOGY IS MADE IN THE FINGER LAKES REGION, NOT OVERSEAS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is pushing Acting Secretary of Commerce Blank and Secretary of State Clinton to resolve the current ambiguity in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to protect hundreds of local jobs at IEC Electronics. Schumer seeks to ensure that nationally sensitive security components are only manufactured by trusted ITARcompliant manufacturers like IEC, in order to protect both national security and provide greater security to the … Continue Reading
08.04.11
SCHUMER URGES CSX, AMTRAK, NEW YORK DOT AND THE FEDERAL RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION TO QUICKLY FINALIZE NECESSARY AGREEMENTS TO GET NEW YORK RAIL PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer sent a personal letter to the leaders of CSX, Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Railway Administration, urging them to work together and reach the necessary agreements to move forward with rail projects across the state. From Fiscal Year 2009 and 2010 and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), Senator Schumer has helped New York secure $250 million in rail funding, but only $6.5 has been obligated for spe… Continue Reading
08.01.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES MAJOR STEP IN FEDS CREATION OF NO-DISCHARGE ZONE TO KEEP LAKE ONTARIO CLEAN: DUMPING SEWAGE & CHEMICALS OFF ROCHESTERS SHORE PUTS SWIMMERS AND BEACHGOERS AT RISK
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced a major step in his push to clean up Lake Ontario's waters near Rochester's shore. Currently the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking to create a "nodischarge zone" (NDZ) that would prohibit boats from dumping sewage and other potentially harmful chemicals into the waters offshore, a practice which can add pathogens and other toxins to the water. In response to Schumer's urging, the Environmental Protection Agency has st… Continue Reading
08.01.11
SCHUMER CALLS ON FAA TO FINALIZE OVERDUE REGULATIONS DRAFTED IN THE WAKE OF FLIGHT 3407 CRASH
Today, on the one year anniversary of the passage of landmark legislation to improve air safety after the Continental Air Flight 3407 crash, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the FAA to finalize strong pilot fatigue regulations that are required by law as quickly as possible. The Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Extension Act of 2010 requires the FAA to issue a final rule on pilot fatigue no later than today but the rule has not been published. In a personal letter to Administrator… Continue Reading
07.27.11
SCHUMER DISCUSSES LATEST ON DEBT CEILING NEGOTIATONS WITHOUT AGREEMENT, MILLIONS OF NEW YORK SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS & VETERANS COULD FAIL TO RECEIVE THEIR CHECKS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer addressed the potential consequences for Upstate New York if the debt ceiling is not raised in time. If there is no agreement and the revenue coming into the federal government fails to cover all of the government's obligations, the Administration will have to decide which programs to fund, and which will not be funded. In order to prevent the Administration from having to choose between funding for our troops in the field, paying off our debt, or paying… Continue Reading
07.26.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE TAX BREAK TO COVER FUEL CELLS FOR OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES; LEGISLATION WOULD PROVIDE SHOT IN THE ARM FOR CAPITAL REGIONS PLUG POWER, A NATIONAL LEADER IN FUEL CELLS FOR FORKLIFTS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced legislation to improve the tax credit for fuel cellpowered industrial vehicles, which will greatly benefit companies, like Plug Power Inc., that build fuel cells designed for forklifts and other heavy machinery. An existing tax credit provides significant incentives to buyers of fuel cells for cars and trucks and a separate credit for power generation, but neither credit specifically targets fuel cells designed for heavy machinery and offhighwa… Continue Reading
07.26.11
SCHUMER PUSHES COMMERCE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE FIRST-EVER SEED FUNDING FOR ACCELERATE LONG ISLAND BIOTECH CLUSTER
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the Department of Commerce (DOC) to provide firstever seed funding for Accelerate Long Island, a biotechnologyfocused regional innovation cluster (RIC) on Long Island, by approving a grant application the cluster submitted for the federal Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The funds, if granted, would go to the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University and be used to commercialize new, cuttingedge bioscience technolog… Continue Reading
07.20.11
SCHUMER SEEKS INVESTMENT FOR ALBANY INTL AIRPORT TO ATTRACT NEW DISCOUNT CARRIER & EXPAND AIR SERVICE TO MEET CAPITAL REGION NEEDS
Today, in a personal letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Department of Transportation to approve a $1.5 million grant to the Albany International Airport, to help attract a new lowcost carrier and expand existing service. Airline consolidation, high gas prices, and the slow economy have all led to air service and passenger volume decrease, resulting in higher airline ticket costs at the airport. In order to boost service, provide mor… Continue Reading
07.19.11
SCHUMER SECURES UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM CONSUMER ADVOCATES AND BUSINESS LEADERS FOR SCHUMER BOX FOR CHECKING ACCOUNT APPLICATIONS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today, at a Senate Banking Committee hearing, secured an agreement from leaders of the major business and consumer groups to support his drive for concise, easytoread checking fee disclosure statements on all checking account applications, similar to the 'Schumer Box' disclose statement now found on credit card applications. During the hearing today, Schumer secured unanimous agreement from the Center for Responsible Lending, the Tru… Continue Reading
07.18.11
SCHUMER CALLS ON JETBLUE TO MAKE LONG ISLANDS MACARTHUR AIRPORT NEW DESTINATION AS PART OF AIRLINES PLANNED NORTHEAST EXPANSION
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on JetBlue to pick Long Island's MacArthur Airport as a new destination as part of its planned Northeast expansion in 2013. In a personal letter to JetBlue's CEO Dave Barger, Schumer emphasized that MacArthur would make an ideal new location for JetBlue as a "trafficfree and hasslefree" alternative for Long Island passengers. He also highlighted that JetBlue could immediately take advantage of the rapidly expand… Continue Reading
07.11.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FULL COURT PRESS TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ROCHESTERS MIDTOWN RISING WITHOUT GRANT, PROJECT COULD BE DELAYED AND PRIVATE INVESTMENTS COULD DRY UP
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is instituting a fullcourt press to secure federal funding to aid in the redevelopment of Rochester's Midtown Plaza. In a personal letter to the head of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Schumer argued that the over $2 million federal grant that the project is seeking will help leverage additional private funds to help finance the new world headquarters for Paetec Communication, as well as the redevelopment of the 17story M… Continue Reading
