Press Releases
SCHUMER: ELIZABETH WOLFORD CONFIRMED BY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE BY UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN VOTE; WILL BE FIRST-EVER WOMAN TO SERVE ON FEDERAL BENCH IN WESTERN DISTRICT
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Elizabeth Wolford was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously by voice vote to serve as a judge in the Western District federal court. Her nomination to the federal bench now moves to the full Senate. Ms. Wolford is a historymaking pick, as she would be the first woman to serve on the federal bench in this district, and she would take the seat left vacant when District Court Judge Charles Siragusa took senior status in Decembe… Continue Reading
07.31.13
AFTER SCHUMERS PUSH, ARMY CORPS U.S. COAST GUARD TO BEGIN REPAIRS AT SANDY-DESTROYED LIGHT TOWER AND JETTY AT JONES INLET THIS SUMMER TIMELINE HAS NOW BEEN GREATLY ACCELERATED; FEDS INSTALLING BRAND NEW LIGHT FOR FUTURE PROVIDING TEMPORARY LIGHT FOR BOATERS IN THE MEANTIME
United States Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after his push, the U.S. Coast Guard will replace the main navigational light tower at the end of the rocky jetty at Jones Inlet that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy in a highly expedited fashion. Originally, the Army Corps and Coast Guard hadn't been slated to start the work until next year, but after Schumer's request, they will begin the work this summer. Jones Inlet connects the Atlantic Ocean to numerous communities along the… Continue Reading
07.31.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $390K FOR CORNING-PAINTED POST AIRPORT FROM FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION FUNDING FOR NEW PARKING APRON
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded a $394,200 federal grant to the Town of Erwin Industrial Development Agency for improvements at Corning Painted Post Airport. Specifically, this investment from the FAA via the Airport Improvement Program will allow Corning Painted Post Airport to construct an apron that is needed to provide aircraft parking at the airport. This phase of the project will provide for t… Continue Reading
07.30.13
SCHUMER REVEALS: STORES ARE TRACKING SHOPPERS MOVEMENTS THROUGH THEIR CELL PHONES WITH RAPIDLY INCREASING FREQUENCY, AND TESTING EVER MORE INVASIVE TECHNOLOGIES; CALLS FOR FTC TO REQUIRE MANDATORY OPT-OUT OPPORTUNITY BEFORE RETAILERS ARE ALLOWED TO TRACK SHOPPERS MOVEMENTS
New York, NY - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that major national retailers are increasingly using sophisticated monitoring software to track every movement shoppers make while in their stores, and then often times save that data in perpetuity. The technology allows shoppers to be tracked, moment by moment, through signals put out through their smart phones, allowing a retailer to learn in what part of the store they spent time in, what products they've considered buying, and ho… Continue Reading
07.29.13
SCHUMER: MOHAWK VALLEY CC APPLICATION FOR DEPT. OF EDUCATION FUNDING HAS BEEN UNFAIRLY REJECTED DUE TO DATABASE ERROR URGES FEDS TO ACCEPT MVCC APPLICATION FOR ON-CAMPUS CHILD CARE FOR ADULT LEARNERS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged that the federal Department of Education (DOE) accept the application from Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) for a federal grant which has been rejected in error. MVCC is applying for a Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) grant, which would help fund oncampus child care for adult community college learners. However, MVCC was rejected because the DOE database did not record that MVCC is an approved institution under its System for … Continue Reading
07.26.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, HANNA ANNOUNCE NEW YORKS CHOBANI YOGURT CHOSEN FOR GREEK YOGURT PILOT PROGRAM IN SCHOOL LUNCHES
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representative Richard Hanna today announced New Yorkbased Chobani yogurt will be the yogurt of choice in a USDA pilot program to serve Greek yogurt in school lunches. New York State was chosen for the pilot program earlier this month because of its burgeoning Greek yogurt manufacturing sector and the high level of interest in the program among New York State school districts. The federal officials announced today that the USDA has sel… Continue Reading
07.25.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, BISHOP, ISRAEL ANNOUNCE OVER $150,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY FIRE RESCUE EMERGENCY SERVICES
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Tim Bishop and Congressman Steve Israel today announced $159,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services. The funding is being awarded under the FY 2012 Fire Prevention and Safety Program, an initiative included in the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services will be using the funding to purchase an all haz… Continue Reading
07.24.13
SCHUMER: CURRENT FEDERAL LAWS PREVENT CAMPS, CHILDREN'S ORGS AND NOT-FOR-PROFITS FROM GAINING ACCESS TO FBI CRIMINAL OFFENDER BACKGROUND CHECKS ON NEW EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer unveiled new legislation to close a gaping hole in the federal law that prevents summer camps, children's groups and other notforprofit organizations that work with children from gaining access to federal criminal background checks on new employees and volunteers. Under current law, most children's organizations only have access to the New York State database, and lack access to FBI databases, which are widely considered the most accurate and complete crimi… Continue Reading
07.24.13
SCHUMER, BISHOP: RECENT FEDERAL COURT RULING CONFIRMS FAA AUTHORITY TO REGULATE OVER-THE-WATER ROUTES THAT CURBS LOW-FLYING HELICOPTER NOISE ON LONG ISLAND - CALL FOR FAA TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE FORWARD WITH SOUTH SHORE EXPANDED NORTH FORK ROUTES
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop today urged the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to move forward with all efforts that would curb helicopter noise along the South Shore of Long Island, over northern Nassau County and past the North Fork, now that a federal court has upheld the FAA's authority to require helicopters follow a prescribed route over the water. For years, Schumer and Bishop have worked with officials at the FAA, New York metropolitan area helicopter operato… Continue Reading
07.22.13
SCHUMER: EXTREME HEAT CAUSING BREAKDOWNS AND MASSIVE DELAYS IN REGIONS SUBWAYS AND COMMUTER RAIL WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY; CALLS FOR FEDS TO DETERMINE SCOPE OF PROBLEM AND IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Department of Transportation's (DOT) - in cooperation with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to investigate the spate of heatrelated incidents on the region's transit systems, including Amtrak, MetroNorth Railroad, the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and New York City's subways. This past week, throughout New York's heat wave, there were a number of major issues along rail lines in the N… Continue Reading
07.22.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $500,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LONG ISLAND FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER; INVESTMENT WILL SUPPORT PRIMARY CARE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $525,000 in Affordable Care Act funding for the Long Island Federally Qualified Health Center (LIFQHC). The funding will help support LIFQHC's primary care residency program and train residents during the 20132014 academic year. "Ensuring that we have capable physicians at Long Island's medical centers is essential to providing quality health care in the region," said Schumer. "This federal funding will help train resid… Continue Reading
07.17.13
SCHUMER, GRAHAM, BIPARTISAN GROUP PUSH NEW MEDIA SHIELD LAW LEGISLATION WOULD CODIFY AUGMENT NEW DOJ MEDIA GUIDELINES AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS, ENSURING THEY CANT BE UNDONE
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer, Lindsey Graham and a bipartisan group of Senators announced their support for an updated medial shield bill that would codify into law and expand upon the recentlyannounced Department of Justice media guidelines. In addition to supporting the original legislation that offers legal protections to journalists engaged in newsgathering activities, the senators said that they would seek to prevent future administrations from rolling back the D… Continue Reading
07.16.13
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES BIKE ON BOARD DEMO TO TAKE PLACE ON AMTRAKS ETHAN ALLEN LINE LATER THIS MONTH AFTER SENATORS PUSH, AMTRAK TESTING POLICY THAT WILL HELP BRING MORE VISITORS, BIKES, TOURISM DOLLARS TO CAPITAL REGION AND NORTH COUNTRY
Today, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced that, after his request to expand bicycle service on its regional rail lines, Amtrak will test a 'Bring Your Bike on Board' demo program on Amtrak's Ethan Allen Line in midtolate July. Last month, Schumer joined State Senators Betty Little and Brad Hoylman and pushed Amtrak to make modifications for carryon bike service or include speciallyfitted café cars on their Adirondack and Ethan Allen line in order to better connect downstate riders with… Continue Reading
07.08.13
SCHUMER, WHO PETITIONED USDA TO CREATE GREEK YOGURT PILOT PROGRAM, ANNOUNCES NEW YORK STATE SELECTED AS PARTICIPANT IN PILOT PROGRAM STARTING SEPT. 2013
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that New York State will be a participant in the USDA Greek Yogurt Pilot Program that Schumer originally petitioned the USDA to create in June 2012. The USDA has released a solicitation today, July 8 th, to purchase Greek yogurt for delivery to participating schools in the upcoming School Year. According to the USDA, schools in four states, New York, Tennessee, Idaho, and Arizona will be participating in the program. Schumer noted that New York's… Continue Reading
06.28.13
WITH OIL SHIPMENTS SET TO REACH ONE BILLION GALLONS A YEAR, SCHUMER URGES COAST GUARD TO DEVELOP UPDATED, SPECIFIC RAPID-RESPONSE PLAN FOR POTENTIAL OIL SPILLS ALONG HUDSON RIVER
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the U.S. Coast Guard to update their oil spill contingency plan to include specifics for the Hudson River, and to do so ahead of their current timeline. Schumer's push comes in response to an Albany Times Union report about a nearenvironmental catastrophe that occurred last winter in which an oil tanker carrying over 12 million gallons of crude oil ran aground and ruptured its hull. While no oil was spilled after the ship ran aground, the Times … Continue Reading
06.27.13
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $11 MILLION IN FEMA FUNDING FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL IN NORTH HEMPSTEAD AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11,878,338 of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to reimburse the Town of North Hempstead for the costs it incurred in the wake of Superstorm Sandy removing dangerous debris from public spaces, including rightof ways, parks, grounds of public buildings, parking lots and public cemeteries. "Superstorm Sandy wreaked significant damage throughout the Town of North Hempstead, creating a massive cleanup effort,… Continue Reading
06.24.13
SCHUMER URGES DHS TO AWARD SECURITIES GRANT FOR FOUR NEW CAMERAS AT PORT OF OSWEGO WOULD MAKE OSWEGO MOST SECURE PORT IN GREAT LAKES SYSTEM
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged Dept. of Homeland Security to approve grant funding for the Port of Oswego to bolster port security through the purchase of four additional security cameras. Schumer joined the City of Oswego Police Dept., the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Border Patrol in pushing for funding from the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), which would make the Port of Oswego a security hub for federal law enforcement officials. The Port of Oswego is a bustling multimoda… Continue Reading
06.20.13
SCHUMER: HUNTERS WHO DONATE GAME FEED THE HUNGRY, FIGHT ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION DESERVE REWARD; SENATOR TO PUSH LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GIVE TAX DEDUCTION FOR HUNTERS WHO DONATE GAME
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his push to boost the economic benefits of hunting in Upstate New York and then donating game, like deer and turkey, to antihunger programs. Specifically, Schumer will introduce bipartisan legislation that will allow hunters to take a tax deduction for the cost of processing their venison, when the final product is donated. The legislation will also provide a tax benefit to processors who participate in venison donation programs by making all pro… Continue Reading
06.18.13
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $6 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AFTER SUPERSTORM SANDY
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will receive approximately $6,736,500 in federal aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funds are reimbursements for immediate repairs the NY DEC made after Superstorm Sandy struck to clean up oil spills. "The damage to homeowners' fuel systems caused by Superstorm Sandy turned far too many backyards into toxic waste sites, and without this very import… Continue Reading
06.18.13
WITH POTENTIAL CUT LOOMING, SCHUMER URGES ARMY TO PROTECT BRIGADES AT FT. DRUM ARMY SHOULD MAINTAIN OR INCREASE 10th MOUNTAIN DIVISION PRESENCE AT FT. DRUM WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO ABSORB REASSINGED TROOPS
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Army to protect the 10 th Mountain Division's three Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) headquartered at Ft. Drum, if brigade cuts are necessary. The Army, per the 2020 Force Structure Realignment, is expected to cut between 8 and 10 BCTs by the end of FY2017, as reported by the Watertown Daily Times, and will announce which installations will lose BCTs later this month. Three of the four BCTs of the 10 thMountain Division are stationed at Ft. Drum. … Continue Reading
