Press Releases
AS VACANT HOUSING CRISIS CONTINUES TO PLAGUE BUFFALO AREA...SCHUMER, HIGGINS ANNOUNCE MAJOR PUSH TO BRING PILOT PROGRAM TO WNY TO REBUILD & REHAB VACANT HOMES; WOULD DELIVER ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FIGHT THE HOUSING BLIGHT
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins today announced their new legislation to help combat the vacant housing blight in the Buffalo area and across the country. The new legislation would create a pilot program, which Schumer and Higgins today vowed to fight to implement in Buffalo, that would send grants and flexible funding to 15 small cities and 15 large cities across the country to help address vacant properties. The legislation is a new and innovative approach to figh… Continue Reading
02.16.09
STANDING WITH GREENE COUNTY LEGISLATORS:SCHUMER ANNOUNCES: FED ECONOMIC STIMULUS PLAN WILL BRING $5.3 MILLION IN DIRECT BUDGET AID FOR GREENE COUNTY; SAYS FUNDING WILL EASE CRUSHING PROPERTY TAX BURDEN ON HOMEOWNERS
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 With New York State counties and localities facing historic budget deficits, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Greene County will receive $5.3 million in direct budget relief, according to the Government Accountability Office, of the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to help stave off property tax hikes and close budget gaps. Schumer successfully pushed in Congress to ensure that counties and locali… Continue Reading
02.04.09
SCHUMER HELPS TO BROKER DEAL TO SAVE MAKERS OF DRAKES COFFEE CAKE - PRESERVES 230 JOBS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he successfully helped broker a deal between International Bakeries Corporation (IBC) and General Electric (GE) that ensures the company can now emerge from bankruptcy, preserving the jobs of the 230 Upstate New Yorkers who work for Drakes Coffee Cakes. Schumer said that the company is a critical employer across New York State and, had a deal not been reached, the compan… Continue Reading
01.30.09
SENATORS SCHUMER AND GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1.7 MILLION FOR PLATTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1,700,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding for the Plattsburgh International Airport. The grant will be used to construct a parking lot. "This is great news for the North Country residents and businesses who depend on Plattsburgh International for their travel needs," said Senator Schumer. "Plattsburgh International is an integral part of the region's economy and these federal dolla… Continue Reading
01.29.09
IN WAKE OF PFIZER'S ACQUISITION OF WYETH, SCHUMER LOBBIES PFIZER CEO TO HONOR AKRIMAX TAKEOVER OF ROUSES POINT PLANT
On the heels of Pfizer Inc's announcement this week that it plans to buy Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which has a Clinton County plant in Rouses Point employing hundreds of local workers, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer personally lobbied the company to ensure the jobs at the plant are kept intact as the facility transitions to new ownership. A community mainstay in Rouses Point, the plant currently employs 650 local residents but Wyeth has sold the plant to Akrimax Pharmaceuticals. In a… Continue Reading
01.29.09
SCHUMER FIGHTS FOR HICKEY-FREEMAN IN CALLS TO WELLS FARGO CHAIRMAN AND PARENT COMPANY OF ROCHESTER PLANT - PLEDGES TO FIGHT TO PRESERVE HUNDREDS OF LOCAL JOBS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced his push to make sure that the HickeyFreeman Co. plant in Rochester remains open after its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday. Schumer said that while there are assurances from management that the plant will stay open and retain all employees during their financial reorganization, he wants to keep a vigilant eye on the process. Schumer immediately called Homi Patel, the CEO of Hartmarx - the parent company of Hickey… Continue Reading
01.27.09
IN PERSONAL CALL TO ACTING FEMA CHIEF, SCHUMER INTENSIFIES PRESSURE TO RE-EXAMINE FLAWED FLOOD MAPS COSTING GATES & OTHER LOCAL HOMEOWNERS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN UNNECESSARY FEES
After pushing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reexamine homes in the Gates neighborhood of Rochester unjustifiably included in the newly established flood maps zone, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today intensified his push in a personal called to the new acting FEMA administrator Nancy Ward. In the call, Schumer pushed Ward to immediately revise the flood maps at no expense to the individual residents affected. Schumer also called on Ward to work with local officials on flood map pr… Continue Reading
01.26.09
SCHUMER & BROOKS ANNOUNCE BREAKTHROUGH REN SQUARE AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION OF BUS TERMINAL AND MONROE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - AGREEMENT SATISFIES SCHUMER DEADLINE
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks today announced a joint agreement for Renaissance Square project planners to move forward with the final design and construction of the Monroe Community College and Bus Terminal components of the threepart project. Even though $175 million has been secured for the project, there is still a $55 million funding shortfall for the theatre component. Schumer and Brooks signed a Memorandum of Understanding today that says the pe… Continue Reading
01.14.09
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES OVER $600,000 FEDERAL FIRE GRANT COMING TO JOHNSTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Johnstown Fire Department will receive a $617,500 grant from the 2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This grant is designed to strengthen the response programs of fire departments throughout the country. This grant will be used towards the acquisition of a vehicle. "This federal money will help first responders in Johnstown get the resources they need to … Continue Reading
01.11.09
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES 100 MORE WINNERS OF HIS STATEWIDE LOTTERY FOR TICKETS TO PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA'S HISTORIC INAUGURATION - NEW TICKETS BECAME AVAILABLE AND SECOND DRAWING WAS HELD
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced today that 100 more New Yorkers have become winners of his statewide lottery for tickets to PresidentElect Barack Obama's historic inauguration. More than 150,000 New Yorkers entered the lottery. In December , Schumer's office selected 175 winners from across New York State, each of whom will receive two general admission tickets to the inauguration to be held on January 20 th, 2009. After receiving additional tickets from the Joint Congressi… Continue Reading
01.06.09
SCHUMER TO DOD: REASSESS LOCAL TROOP GROWTH DATA SO THAT FORT DRUM SOLDIERS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to reevaluate the population data for Fort Drum so that more local soldiers can qualify for affordable housing. Currently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has denied Fort Drum's request to be added to a basic housing allowance exclusion list because the agency is using inaccurate data provided by the DOD. If the DOD updated their data to reflect Fort Drum's actual population data, it would be more li… Continue Reading
01.05.09
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES YATES AND ONTARIO COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR USDA FEDERAL DISASTER AID
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Yates and Ontario Counties as Secretarial disaster areas due to multiple disasters that occurred in 2008. All counties will now be eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance to help cover losses in the area. "Farmers in Yates and Ontario who have had a particularly difficult year due to severe weather conditions will benefit greatly from this funding," … Continue Reading
01.05.09
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES ALLEGANY COUNTY ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL DISASTER AID
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Allegany County as a Secretarial disaster area due to multiple disasters that occurred in 2008. All counties will now be eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loan assistance to help cover losses in the area. "Farmers in Allegany County who have had a particularly difficult year due to severe weather conditions will benefit greatly from this funding," said Schumer… Continue Reading
12.31.08
SCHUMER TO REVEAL: NAVY STONEWALLING ON SOUTH FARMINGDALE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FUNDS COULD SEND LOCAL RESIDENTS' WATER BILLS THROUGH THE ROOF
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Joined by officials from the South Farmingdale Water District (SFWD), U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that, despite a long standing agreement, the United States Navy is refusing to cover the full cost of building a new water treatment facility needed to clean up potential contamination of water sources caused by the Navy's weapons depot in Bethpage. Schumer and local water district officials today said t… Continue Reading
12.17.08
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF HIS STATEWIDE LOTTERY FOR TICKETS TO PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA'S HISTORIC INAUGURATION
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced the North Country area winners of his statewide lottery for tickets to PresidentElect Barack Obama's historic inauguration. Nearly 150,000 New Yorkers entered the lottery. Schumer's office selected 175 winners from across New York State, each of whom will receive two general admission tickets to the inauguration to be held on January 20 th, 2009. Schumer announced his lottery a week after the November 4 th election and said that, because of the … Continue Reading
12.15.08
SCHUMER ADDRESSES ROCKLAND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION - DISCUSSES TOP FIVE WAYS THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS WILL HELP ROCKLAND FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, ECONOMY
In the wake of the current economic crisis, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today addressed members of the Rockland Business Association in a special meeting to discuss his push to aid small and large businesses, current national issues, and the implications of the recent election. At the meeting, Schumer discussed how the current economic crisis is affecting Rockland County and outlined the top five ways the second economic stimulus plan could help a weakening New York economy by providing aid … Continue Reading
12.15.08
IN PERSONAL MEETING, SCHUMER SECURES COMMITMENT FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAYS COMMISSIONER THAT AGENCY WILL WEIGH IN FAVORABLY ON FINAL TRUCKING REGULATIONS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he has urged Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Administrator Thomas J. Madison to weigh in favorably with the final New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) truck routing regulations. After Senator Schumer and Governor Paterson announced the new regulations in May, this past October FHWA took issue with NYSDOT's first draft of the truck regulations, citing the state agency did not properly demonstrate engineering and safety ne… Continue Reading
12.11.08
SCHUMER: UPSTATE NEW YORKERS AT RISK OF FALLING OFF THE DIGITAL CLIFF WHEN DTV DEADLINE HITS IN FEBRUARY - ANALOG CONVERTER BOX MAY NOT BE ENOUGH FOR SOME RURAL TV VIEWERS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today warned Upstate New Yorkers they could be at risk of falling off the digital cliff even if they purchase a digital converter box for their analogonly set when digital television transition goes into effect in February. Analogonly televisions will go dark on February 17, 2009 when all overtheair broadcast signals will be transmitted by a digital signal only, which analog televisions are not equipped to receive. Many residents already planning to purchas… Continue Reading
12.08.08
SCHUMER, MCNULTY WIN ARMY'S COMMITMENT TO TURN OVER WATERVLIET ARSENAL PROPERTY TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORP. - SITE CAN NOW EXPAND INTO HUB FOR HIGH-TECH GROWTH ACROSS THE CAPITAL REGION
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 In a huge victory for the Capital Region, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Michael McNulty today announced they had successfully won approval of an agreement from the United States Army to transform more than 60 acres of the Watervliet Arsenal into a hightech campus run by the Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership. Schumer and McNulty lobbied hard over the past year to secure the approval, first meetin… Continue Reading
12.03.08
SCHUMER TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: ADD FLIGHTS FROM STEWART AIRPORT, DIRECT FLIGHT FROM NEWBURGH TO BALTIMORE - WOULD BOOST ECONOMY, FILL DEMAND
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 As the airline begins to expand its service in New York and explores service from LaGuardia, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged Southwest Airlines to add flights to Stewart International Airport (SWF), including a direct flight to BaltimoreWashington International Airport (BWI). In a personal call to Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, Schumer said Stewart Airport's highquality infrastructure is ready to support an… Continue Reading
