Press Releases
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
07.26.11
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
07.20.11
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
07.08.11
SCHUMER: RECENT FISHING INCIDENT ON NORTHERN BORDER THREATENS TO CANCEL FUTURE TOURNAMENTS, AND THE VALUABLE TOURIST DOLLARS THEY BRING CALLS ON CANADIAN AND US BORDER AUTHORITIES TO CRAFT A PRE-CLEARANCE SECURITY PROTOCOL THAT PRESERVES COMPETITIVE FISHING
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is calling on both the Canadian Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to create a plan to prescreen fishing tournament participants that would allow them to fish freely on both sides of the border. In the wake of a recent incident in which a Baldwinsville, NY man's boat was seized for drifting into Canadian waters, the New York Bass Chapter Federation has already had to make Canadian waters off limits to anglers,… Continue Reading
06.30.11
SCHUMER BACKS NEW PLAN TO STREAMLINE AND EXPEDITE TRUCK SCREENING AT THE PEACE BRIDGE PRESCREENING OF TRUCKS ON THE CANADIAN SIDE OF THE BORDER WOULD ALLOW FOR NEW, MORE EFFICIENT PEACE BRIDGE PLAZA
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his support for a proposal to prescreen incoming trucks on the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge plaza, which could pave the way for a new, comprehensive approach to this critical border crossing including a smaller, less disruptive plaza. Under the proposal that Schumer supports, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would conduct primary screening of U.S. bound trucks on the Canadian side of the border. Moving the screening of incoming trucks o… Continue Reading
06.29.11
SCHUMER SECURES REVIEW OF LOCAL FISHERMANS BOAT SEIZURE; CANADIAN BORDER SERVICE AGENCY PRESIDENT ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO CASE
Today, Senator Charles E. Schumer announced the President of the Canada Border Services Agency has agreed to review a recent incident in which Thousand Island Park resident Roy Anderson was fishing in the Gananoque Narrows when his boat was boarded and seized by the Agency. According to reports, Mr. Anderson had entered Canadian waters, and found out contrary to his understanding of Canadian law, that he was in violation of the duties and obligations of New York fishermen in Canadian waters, … Continue Reading
06.29.11
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE CHEMUNG COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM SET TO RECEIVE $500,000 IN DOT FUNDING; CHEMUNG WILL PURCHASE ELECTRONIC FAREBOXES FOR 32 VEHICLE FLEET
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that Chemung County Transit System is set to receive $500,000 in Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration funding. With these funds, Chemung County plans to purchase new revenue collection equipment for their transit system, which consists of 32 vehicles. This equipment will include fareboxes for the system's buses, as well as the hardware and software needed to operate such fareboxes. Schumer and Gi… Continue Reading
06.27.11
SCHUMER: CAPITAL REGION HOSPITALS & OTHERS THROUGHOUT NY SUFFERING FROM SHORTAGES OF LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS PUSHES NEW LEGISLATION TO ENSURE PATIENTS GET THE MEDICINE THEY NEED
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his support for new legislation that would create an early warning system within the Food and Drug Administration to help ward off shortages of lifesaving drugs. The Preserving Access to LifeSaving Medications Act would require drug makers to immediately notify the FDA when a raw material shortage, manufacturing problem, or production decision is likely to cause a drug shortage. The early notification would allow the FDA to work with other manu… Continue Reading
06.27.11
SCHUMER: DUMPING SEWAGE & CHEMICALS OFF ROCHESTERS SHORE COULD PUT SWIMMERS AND BEACHGOERS AT RISK CALLS ON FEDS TO CREATE NO-DISCHARGE ZONE TO KEEP LAKE ONTARIO CLEAN
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced a new 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" 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. Establishing the zone would require the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant … Continue Reading
06.20.11
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $175,000 FOR WILLIAMSON-SODUS AIRPORT
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a total of $176,557 in Department of Transportation (DOT) funding for WilliamsonSodus Airport to acquire new snow removal equipment. "This is great news for the passengers and pilots that fly in and out of WilliamsonSodus Airport and for the pilots that rely on it as a local reliever airport," said Schumer. "With this funding, the airport can make renovations that will ensure passenger safety and the smooth operation of the… Continue Reading
06.17.11
SCHUMER: EXPAND CHEMUNG COUNTY AIRPORT CORPORATE PARK TO ATTRACT NEW COMPANIES AND NEW JOBS BACKS COUNTYS APPLICATION FOR NEW FUNDING FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer backed Chemung County's application to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for funding through the FY2011 Public Works, Economic Adjustment, and GCCMIF Programs, to expand the Airport Corporate Park in Big Flats. This 220 acre site is immediately adjacent to Interchange 50 on Interstate 86 and would be ideal for industrial and business development to attract new companies and new jobs to the region. However, the site lacks… Continue Reading
06.15.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES SKIDMORE COLLEGE SET TO RECEIVE NEARLY $1 MILLION IN A FEDERAL FIRE GRANT FOR STUDY OF FIREFIGHTERS CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Skidmore College has received a federal grant totaling $999,996 as part of Round 5 of the FY10 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding is specifically through a Fire Prevention and Safety grant, which Skidmore College plans to use to scientifically study the impact firefighting has on the cardiovascular system. This includes the firefighter's initial call, the act of… Continue Reading
06.14.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $1.4 MILLION FOR EQUIPMENT UPGRADES AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITYS LONG ISLAND STATE VETERANS HOME
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded a grant of $1,415,056.50 to the State of New York, which will be allocated to the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. The funds will go toward vital upgrades to the facility's infrastructure, including boilers, hot water, and HVAC systems. Schumer said that this funding would go a long way towards making sure that the Long Island State Veterans Home has the facil… Continue Reading
06.13.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES CHAUTAQUA COUNTY AIRPORT IN DUNKIRK SET TO RECEIVE OVER $620,000 IN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Chautauqua County Airport in Dunkirk is set to receive $627,192 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds for airport facility upgrades. Specifically, the grant will allow Chautauqua County Airport to acquire a friction measuring device that will enhance airport safety by providing pilots with important information allowing planes to land safely during adverse weather conditions. This funding will also allow for the design of a plan to… Continue Reading
06.06.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $200,000 IN EPA FUNDING COMING TO ROME FOR CLEAN UP AT NOLAN MANUFACTURING BUILDING; WILL BOOST LOCAL ECONOMY AND PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide $200,000 to Rome to conduct site assessment and planning for eventual cleanup at Nolan Manufacturing Building as part of a communitywide Brownfield Program site cleanup. The twostory Nolan Manufacturing Building is contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos, and leadbased paint - all of which will be remediated. The city of Rome is considering a number of possible uses … Continue Reading
06.02.11
SCHUMER TO FBI: ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIP WITH UTICA COLLEGE CYBERSECURITY TRAINING CENTER TO TRAIN AGENTS IN EXPERTISE NEEDED TO FIGHT CYBERCRIME, ONLINE TERRORISM
In light of a recent report that FBI agents often lack the expertise and training needed to fight rapidly spreading and rapidly evolving cybercrime, United States Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on FBI Director Robert Mueller to utilize Utica College's cutting edge Cybersecurity Center to train FBI agents to appropriately investigate cybercrime and online terrorism. Utica College is home to both the Economic Crime Institute (ECI) and the Center for Identity Management and Informati… Continue Reading
06.01.11
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER 100K FOR UNITED VETERANS BEACON HOUSE OF LONG ISLAND; FUNDS WILL SUPPORT PROGRAM THAT HELPS HOMELESS VETS FIND JOBS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced an $110,000 U.S. Department of Labor grant for the United Veterans Beacon House based in Bay Shore, Long Island. The center, which provides transitional housing and job training to homeless veterans in Suffolk and Nassau County, will use the money to fund outreach efforts to homeless veterans at other shelters in Long Island, as well as efforts to connect these veterans to potential employers. Schumer said that this grant was essential in order to … Continue Reading
