Press Releases
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $650,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR HUDSON VALLEY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $452,700 for the Yonkers Fire Department and $203,965 in federal funding for Carmel Fire Department. The money was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The federal grant funds will be used by the Yonkers Fire Department to purchase new medical equipment and to conduct paramedic training. The funds will be used by Carmel Fire Department to replace all thir… Continue Reading
05.29.14
SCHUMER PUSHES ARMY CORPS TO ACCELERATE CRITICAL REVIEW OF MAMARONECK FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT; PERSISTENT FLOODING IN MAMARONECK HARMS ECONOMY, HURTS PROPERTY VALUES & PUTS LIVES AT RISK SENATOR URGES ARMY CORPS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY TO MOVE PROJECT FORWARD QUICKLY
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed the findings of a major Mamaroneck and Sheldrake River Watershed flood mitigation study, conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and pushed USACE to expedite its review of the study, since, according to Schumer, "The sooner Army Corps completes its review, the sooner it will be possible to turn the community's preferred floodprevention plan into reality." Schumer secured federal funding for this study in 2007, following Mamaronec… Continue Reading
05.28.14
WITH HEROIN USAGE ON STATEN ISLAND AT EPIDEMIC LEVELS, SCHUMER CALLS FOR EMERGENCY SURGE OF FED. ANTI-DRUG TRAFFICKING FUNDING TO UPROOT NEW HEROIN PIPELINE - FROM MEXICO TO NYC; NYC HAS BECOME HOTBED FOR HEROIN TRADE ON EAST COAST, WITH SEIZURES ALREADY HIGHER IN 2014 THAN ANY YEAR SINCE 1991---ON STATEN ISLAND, HEROIN SEIZURES JUMPED 300 PERCENT FROM 2011 TO 2013
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today, alongside Luke Nasta of Camelot of Staten Island, called for an emergency $100 million surge of federal antidrug trafficking funding in order to quickly combat the fact that New York City has become the hotbed for the East Coast heroin trade. Schumer noted that recent reports indicated a "heroin pipeline" has formed from Mexico to New York City, Staten Island and beyond to places like Boston, and Vermont where heroin use is skyrocketing. A recent New York T… Continue Reading
05.27.14
SCHUMER, BISHOP: SUCCESSFUL OVER-THE-WATER NORTH SHORE HELICOPTER ROUTE DUE TO EXPIRE IN EARLY AUGUST; CALL ON FAA TO RENEW RULE & MAKE IT PERMANENT, ALSO TO REVISE REGS TO CURB HELICOPTER NOISE OVER THE NORTH FORK
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop urged the Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta to not only renew the North Shore overthewater helicopter route that is set to expire at the beginning of August, but to make it permanent. They are also urging that the regulations be expanded to require that helicopters follow a total water route and go past Orient Point and Shelter Island when landing at South Fork… Continue Reading
05.22.14
SCHUMER: ONEIDA LAKE FISHING SEASON & 1,000+ UPSTATE TOURISM DESTINATIONS AT RISK UNLESS FEDS CONTINUE TO LET LOCAL ANGLERS DETER INVADING BIRD SCHUMER URGES FEDS TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW LOCAL EXPERTS TO DETER FISH-DEVOURING CORMORANT BIRDS, PROTECT ONEIDA LAKE AS A CRITICAL ECONOMIC RESOURCE
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to extend its current order that allows the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to work with local anglers to control the invasive and ecosystemdamaging double crested cormorant bird population on Oneida Lake. If left unchecked, doublecrested cormorants wreak havoc on the lake's ecosystem and tourist infrastructure by consuming many of the fish that sport fishermen typically target. Schumer exp… Continue Reading
05.21.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NORTH COUNTRY AIRPORTS TO RECEIVE NEARLY $1.4 MILLION IN DOT FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that three North Country airports will receive nearly $1.4 million in total funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for airport facility upgrades. Specifically, Lake Placid Airport will received $427,500 for taxiway repairs, Adirondack Regional Airport in Saranac Lake will receive $684,000 to rehab an aging terminal apron and make drainage improvements, and MaloneDufort Airport will receive $270,000 to repa… Continue Reading
05.21.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $47,044 IN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR GREEN ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $47,044 in federal funding for Green Island Fire Department. The money was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). The funds will be used to purchase new fire hose to replace its existing stock, which is over 15 years old and beginning to show signs of decay. The funds will also be used to convert the connectors on their hydrant system to … Continue Reading
05.21.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FEDS WILL CREATE FIRST-EVER STORM SURGE WARNING SYSTEM TO BETTER PREDICT HEIGHT OF RISING TIDES ALONG COAST; SENATOR CALLED FOR BETTER WARNINGS AFTER MORE THAN THIRTY NEW YORKERS TRAGICALLY LOST THEIR LIVES IN SUPERSTORM SANDY AS RESULT OF DROWNING
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after his push, the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) will create the firstever storm surge warning maps to better predict the height of rising tides and provide more time for evacuations from these sudden and dangerous waves of water. This move will be critical to individual residents and local emergency managers. In the past, NOAA has issued warning maps for tropical storms, hurricanes and tornadoes, but no such warning … Continue Reading
05.21.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MASSENA INTL AND POTSDAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORTS SET TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION IN DOT FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
Department of Transportation Funding Will Be Used to Rehabilitate and Extend Taxiway and Roadway at Massena InternationalRichards Field and Potsdam MunicipalDamon Field Airports U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that Massena InternationalRichards Field is set to receive $925,250 and Potsdam MunicipalDamon Field will receive $252,000 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding for airport facility upgrades. "I am pleased to add this federal investme… Continue Reading
05.19.14
SCHUMER: VA CLEARS FINAL HURDLE TO PURCHASE LAND AT ONE OF THREE SITES FOR LONG-AWAITED WESTERN NEW YORK VETERANS CEMETERY VA TO ISSUE ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL, WHICH MEANS LAST MAJOR HURDLE CLEARED VA CAN NOW PROCEED TO PURCHASE TOP-PREFERRED SITE
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has completed an Environmental Assessment clearing the three potential sites for the national veterans' cemetery in Western New York. The Environmental Assessment, which is expected to report "no significant findings," will be released on Sunday, and is the final step before the VA can close on its preferred site. The Environmental Assessment (EA) was conducted in conjunction with the State Historic… Continue Reading
05.16.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FAA AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL FACILITIES STAYING ON LONG ISLAND KEEPING NEARLY 1,000 WELL-PAYING AVIATION JOBS IN THE REGION
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after his push, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to keep the New York TRACON facility on Long Island, saving 950 wellpaying Long Island aviation jobs. The FAA was initially interested in combining the New York Air Traffic Control center in Ronkonkoma and the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility in Westbury into one Integrated Control Facility (ICF) site for the New York metropolitan region. There was serious possi… Continue Reading
05.15.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES IRAQI JEWISH ARCHIVE PERMITTED TO STAY IN THE U.S. UNTIL PERMANENT LOCATION IN AMERICA IS DETERMINEDDESPITE OPPOSITION, COLLECTION WAS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED TO BE RETURNED TO IRAQ THIS YEAR
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the State Department, along with the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the U.S., will extend the period in which the Iraqi Jewish Archives may remain in the United States. The United States had initially agreed to return the items in 2014. In 2003, American soldiers found the collection of Iraqi Judaica in a flooded Baghdad Intelligence Center. The collection, which includes partial Torah parchments and ancient prayer books, had been … Continue Reading
05.09.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $200,000 FOR FINGER LAKES FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $212,420 in federal funding for Finger Lakes Fire Departments. The money was allocated through the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). "These muchneeded federal funds will enable Finger Lakes fire departments to purchase critical firefighting equipment like oxygen tanks, highperformance masks and stateoftheart radios. First responders safeguard our res… Continue Reading
05.08.14
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $1.5 MILLION FOR BUILDING RENOVATIONS, IMPROVED HEALTH SERVICES IN NIAGARA COUNTY
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $1,523,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Palliative Home Care of Niagara Inc., a subsidiary of Niagara Hospice in Niagara County. This federal funding will be used to purchase and renovate the former Shipman Printing plant into a storefront that will be used to provide health care equipment and services for the chronically ill, elderly and disabled. "We must do everything w… Continue Reading
05.07.14
SCHUMER: BULLETPROOF VESTS HAVE SAVED 3,000+ POLICE OFFICERS LIVES, BUT SPECIFIC FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT HELPS LOCAL PDs PURCHASE THESE VESTS HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH SOARING DEMAND SCHUMER PUSHES BILL THAT WILL MAKE MORE FUNDING AVAILABLE, KEEP COPS COMMUNITIES SAFE
Bulletproof Vests Have Saved 3,000+ Police Officers' Lives Over Last 30 Years, But Federal Funding For Equipment is Fast-Declining While Demand Continues to Rise and Weapons Get More Powerful - Feds Used To Fund 1/2 of The Cost Of Vests, But Now Only Cover 1/3 Of The Cost With Police Week Coming Up Next Week, Schumer Pushes Senate Bill That Will Provide Consistent & Increased Funding For Life-Saving Bulletproof Vest Program - Would Also Allow Local PDs to Purchase Custom Vests For Female Of… Continue Reading
05.05.14
IN HISTORIC FIRST, SCHUMER-RECOMMENDED ELIZABETH WOLFORD OFFICIALLY SWORN IN AS WESTERN DISTRICT JUDGE WOLFORD IS FIRST-EVER WOMAN TO SERVE ON FEDERAL BENCH IN WESTERN DISTRICT
Today, Elizabeth Wolford, originally recommended for the federal bench by U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, was swornin as a federal judge for New York's Western District. Her swearingin is a historic first - she is now the first woman ever to serve on the federal bench in this district. Schumer has supported Ms. Wolford each step of the way. He originally recommended Ms. Wolford to the President for nomination, and supported her through her confirmation by the United States Senate in July 2013, … Continue Reading
05.05.14
SCHUMER: KEEPING DANGEROUS LAKE ERIE TOXIN FROM SPREADING INTO WNY DRINKING WATER IS ESSENTIAL DEMANDS EPA USDA ACT BEFORE THIS TOXIC BACTERIA CONTAMINATES WNY DRINKING WATER
Today, at the Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act quickly to curb the threat that toxic algae in Lake Erie is posing to Western New York drinking water. Schumer explained that conditions are ripe for a record algae bloom in Lake Erie and that the toxins that this algae produces, cyanotoxins, have the potential to contaminate local drinking water because local water treat… Continue Reading
05.02.14
SCHUMER: RICHMOND FIRE DEPARTMENT AT RISK OF LOSING $36K IN CRITICAL GRANT DUE TO EXPIRATION DATE SENATOR URGES FEDS TO EXTEND TIMETABLE SO RICHMOND CAN KEEP REMAINDER OF GRANT PURCHASE LIFE-SAVING RADIO EQUIPMENT
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged FEMA to extend the period of performance for the Richmond Fire Department's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) so they do not lose the over $36,000 remaining from the grant award. Schumer explained that Richmond has had to wait to purchase new radios until a new radio tower was constructed to make them functional. Schumer said that Richmond should not be unfairly punished for their practical decision, and instead be given more time to spend their … Continue Reading
05.01.14
SCHUMER ANNOUNCES, AFTER HIS PUSH, FEDS HAVE PROPOSED PLAN TO PUT WATERTOWNS SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR REGAINING RESIDENCY SLOTS THAT WERE UNFAIRLY TAKEN AWAY SENATOR URGES C.M.S. TO IMPLEMENT RULE THAT WILL PRIORITIZE SAMARITAN FOR CRITICAL MEDICARE FUNDING RESIDENCY SLOTS
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after his push, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new rule that would give critical medical residency slots back to Watertown's Samaritan Medical Center, slots lost over 3 years ago due to the hospital's residency program being misclassified. In 2011, Samaritan was misclassified as "not rural," which meant it subsequently lost medicare reimbursement for more than three of its residency slots. Since that tim… Continue Reading
05.01.14
SCHUMER: FOREIGN AIRLINES HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ISRAELI CITIZENS, EVEN WHEN FLYING TO COUNTRIES THEY CAN LEGALLY ENTER; CITING FED LAW THAT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON NATL ORIGIN, CALLS ON DOT TO FINE AIR CARRIERS THAT DONT PERMIT ISRAELIS ONBOARD
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) to fine any airline that refuses to fly a person from America to a country that they have legal right to enter. Federal law prohibits discrimination by air carriers on the basis of national origin, however, this policy is not always enforced. Schumer pointed to a recent case of an Israeli citizen who was not permitted to book a Kuwaiti Airlines flight from New York City to London because the airline do… Continue Reading
