Press Releases
SCHUMER: CURRENT TAX RULES COST UPSTATE NY HOMEOWNERS UNNECESSARY $415 MILLION PER YEAR; INTRODUCES PLAN TO MAKE SKY-HIGH PROPERTY TAX BILLS DEDUCTIBLE FOR EVERYONE
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that current tax rules are costing the approximately 800,000 Upstate New York homeowners who do not itemize their taxes up to $415 million per year or more. Under current rules, homeowners who do not itemize their taxes are only allowed to deduct $500 in property taxes ($1,000 if filing jointly) from their annual federal tax burden, and even that provision expires at the end of this year, leaving nonitemizers in the lurch. Schumer announced legisla… Continue Reading
06.16.09
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $150 MILLION COMING TO NEW YORK CITY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO TERROR ATTACKS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency has allocated a total of $145,137,750 to New York City for the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), $4,199,757 for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), and $3,617,000 for the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Program (RCPGP). The UASI Grants are part of the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) designed to enhance the ability of state, territory, local… Continue Reading
06.16.09
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $2 MILLION TO SYRACUSE AREA TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO TERROR ATTACKS
TodayU.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will allocate a total of $2,243,518 to the Syracuse area under the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) and the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) awards. The UASI Grants are part of the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) designed to enhance the ability of state, territory, local and tribal governments to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and reco… Continue Reading
06.15.09
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $500,000 COMING TO STRIVE, NYC NON-PROFIT LOCATED IN HARLEM, TO PROMOTE JOB TRAINING AND COMBAT UNEMPLOYMENT
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that STRIVE, a nonprofit organization located in East Harlem, New York, has been awarded $478,492 to combat unemployment among at risk groups. The funding will provide comprehensive job training and career development services to the hardest to employ individuals in New York City. This includes the chronically unemployed, formerly incarcerated, atrisk young adults, recovering addicts, homeless, public assistance recipients,… Continue Reading
06.15.09
SCHUMER: NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM STARTS TODAY OFFERING LOW-INTEREST GOV'T BACKED LOANS TO SI'S 18,000 SMALL BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO SECURE CREDIT DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has begun guaranteeing America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loans to assist Staten Island small businesses and small businesses across the country that are struggling in the current economic climate. ARC loans are deferredpayment loans up to $35,000 available to established, viable, forprofit small businesses that need shortterm help to make their principal and interest payments on existing qualifying d… Continue Reading
06.15.09
SCHUMER TO MTA: BRING FREE WIRELESS INTERNET TO THE LIRR - TECHNOLOGY IS READILY AVAILABLE TO WIRE ENTIRE LIRR NETWORK BUT THE MTA HAS FAILED TO MOVE ON THE PLANS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today made a direct appeal to the MTA asking the agency to kick start plans to bring free wireless internet to the entire Long Island Rail Road system, including all trains, platforms, and stations. Plans to bring wireless internet to the LIRR have been in the works for months but the MTA has still not acted even as other major mass transit systems across the United States have onboard major wireless internet networks up and running. Schumer said the technology to… Continue Reading
06.12.09
SCHUMER TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ALLOWING MUCH-NEEDED FLEXIBILITY IN FEDERAL FISHING RULES; BILL CRUCIAL TO SAVING LONG ISLAND'S COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING INDUSTRY
Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he will introduce legislation in the Senate, authored by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (DNJ) in the House, that will bring muchneeded sciencebased modernization and flexibility to the outdated federal rules now stifling Long Island's once thriving commercial and recreational fishing industry. The MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as it is presently written, requires any fishery designated by the Department of Comm… Continue Reading
06.09.09
SCHUMER PUSHES USDA TO CREATE NEW, INFORMATIVE FARMERS MARKET WEBSITE TO PROMOTE BENEFITS OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD AND HELP MARKETS THRIVE
Normal 0 false false false ENUS XNONE XNONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today wrote to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging them to enhance their efforts to promote farmers markets and the benefits of locally grown food by creating a new, informative and easy to navigate w… Continue Reading
06.08.09
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND PRESS SPANISH GOVERNMENT TO HALT EXHUMATION OF BODIES CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AT ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY IN TOLEDO, SPAIN
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand urged the U.S. State Department to act swiftly to prevent the destruction of a historic Jewish cemetery in Spain. The situation is championed by community and international human rights leader Rabbi David Niederman, President of the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. According to Rabbi Niederman, exhumation of bodies is currently underway at an ancient Jewish cemetery in Toledo, Spain, in order to construct a gymn… Continue Reading
06.04.09
SCHUMER, TONKO CALL ON SEC OF AG TO REVIEW WEST VIRGINIA DECISION ON WIC CONTRACT; BEECH-NUT SUBMITTED WINNING BID BEFORE BID PROCESS WAS ABRUPTLY CANCELLED
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Paul Tonko today called on Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack to review a decision made by the government of West Virginia to cancel all bids for a competitive contract for the State of West Virginia's Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Three bids had been submitted to West Virginia for the contract, and BeechNut Nutrition Corporation's bid was revealed to be the most competitive. After the… Continue Reading
06.04.09
SCHUMER CALLS ON CSX TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY EASMENT FOR WALKWAY PROJECT; BREAKDOWN IN NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN DUTCHESS COUNTY AND RAIL COMPANY THREATEN MARQUEE EVENT FOR QUADRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
As New York State's Quadricentennial celebrations unfold, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today personally called CSX CEO Michael Ward urging him to designate a temporary easement of 1200 feet of land on the eastern side of the Walkway over the Hudson Bridge until a final land transaction is completed. The land is required to establish trails to the bridge for pedestrian access for the marquee event of the celebration that will commemorate the 400 th anniversary of Henry Hudson's journey.… Continue Reading
05.28.09
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $35,000 TO SUPPORT MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE SOUTHERN TIER
Washington , D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $35,160 in federal dollars to help give students and teachers at Binghamton University's handson training and research experience in National Institutes of Health (NIH) laboratories. These federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Senators Schumer and Gillibrand helped pass earlier this year. … Continue Reading
05.27.09
SCHUMER REVEALS CENTRAL NEW YORK DAMS IN DANGEROUS STATE OF DISREPAIR-ANNOUNCES DAM REHABILITATION AND REPAIR ACT OF 2009 TO AID AILING AND DEBILITATED DAMS
Standing at Little York Lake Dam in Homer, NY, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealedthat dams in Cortland County and across New York State are in a dangerous state of disrepair. Schumer today announced the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2009. Schumer said that many dams are more than 100 years old and some have been without attentive ownership and upkeep for decades. Today, the Senator unveiled new legislation that would provide millions of dollars to communities across the stat… Continue Reading
05.21.09
SCHUMER, BISHOP URGE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO ESTABLISH 30 DAY DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO ARMY CORPS' NEW FIMP REPORT - FURTHER DELAY OF 50-YEAR OLD SHORELINE PROTECTION PLAN THREATENS LONG ISLAND'S FRAGILE SOUTH SHORE
Normal 0 false false false ENUS XNONE XNONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Today, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop urged Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to establish a 30day interagency deadline to produce a response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' soontobereleased Fire I… Continue Reading
05.21.09
SCHUMER JOINS IN PUSH FOR RESOLUTION CALLING FOR PUBLIC PLAN OPTION IN HEALTH CARE REFORM
WASHINGTON , D.C. - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced Thursday he would join 27 other senators in introducing a resolution calling for the inclusion of federallybacked health insurance option in health care reform.The resolution, led by Senator Sherrod Brown (DOH), says that any reform of our nation's health care system should give consumers a choice of an affordable, federallybacked option to introduce competition in the health insurance market and contain health care costs. A copy of … Continue Reading
05.21.09
SCHUMER TO URGE WELLS FARGO TONIGHT TO ACCEPT NEW BID TO KEEP HICKEY FREEMAN-HARTMARX OPEN AND VIABLE; 600 - PLUS JOBS IN ROCHESTER ON THE LINE
United States Senator Charles E Schumer, in a personal call to Wells Fargo & Company Chairman Richard Kovacevich, will tonight urge the company to accept a new, competitive bid for Hartmarx, parent company of Rochester business icon, Hickey Freeman. Schumer will urge the bank to accept the bid, as it will allow the company to come out of bankruptcy intact and operational, preserving some 600plus jobs in Rochester and scores more in Buffalo. Schumer noted that this offer to Wells Fargo - Ha… Continue Reading
05.20.09
SCHUMER REVEALS ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS DOWN 27 PERCENT FROM YEAR AGO, SUGGESTING MAJOR PROGRESS IN SEALING OFF BORDER
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY), the Chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, revealed at a Senate hearing Wednesday that illegal border crossings have been cut by more than 27 percent from a year ago, a potential sign of progress in the federal government's push to secure the nation's borders. The figure, provided by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office, represents a reduction in the number of apprehensions of illegal migrants … Continue Reading
05.19.09
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $110,000 IN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FUNDS FOR CHURUBUSCO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, FUNDING WILL SUPPORT FIRST RESPONDER EFFORTS, CREATE JOBS
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture will provide $110,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to the Churubusco Volunteer Fire Department through the USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities program. Funding will be used for emergency services and systems, and fire and rescue equipment including fire vehicles. The funding is part of $60 million in community facilities and emergency resp… Continue Reading
05.19.09
SCHUMER: SENATE APPROVES MAJOR CREDIT CARD REFORM BILL INCLUDING NEW RULES TO CURB HIDDEN TRICKS AND FEES ON GIFT CARDS
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Senate has approved an agreement that will dramatically improve protections for New York shoppers who buy gift cards but then find that those cards come with sky high fees and balances that can draw down to zero if the cards aren't used quickly. Schumer said that this package of reforms was approved with bipartisan support and passed the full Senate as part of the major credit card reform legislation. President Obama has sai… Continue Reading
05.18.09
SCHUMER TO REVEAL: CAPITAL REGION AMBULANCES ON VERGE OF LOSING CRITICAL FEDERAL FUNDS - WOULD HURT ABILITY TO INVEST IN LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT TO BETTER SERVE ELDERLY POPULATION
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that ambulance providers across the Capital Region are on the verge of cuts in critical Medicare payments, hampering their ability to invest in lifesaving medical equipment and procedures. The cut, which is the result of an expiring provision, is the latest in a series of Medicare payment transitions. Medicare ambulance payments have undergone major changes in the past 10 years, but a 2007 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showed that a… Continue Reading
