Press Releases
Schumer Reveals: Older Cities Like Syracuse Losing Out As Young Cities Gobble Up Money For New Federal Highway And Bridge Projects
Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, standing on the aging and decrepit Bartell Road Bridge, will reveal that the federal government has woefully under funded highway and bridge maintenance programs, leaving Syracuse's old infrastructure in a state of disrepair . Despite 27.1% of the nation's 590,750 bridges rated structurally deficient or functionally obsolete , it's estimated that in 2009 the Federal Highway Trust Fund will be under financed by $4 billion. Exacerbating the financi… Continue Reading
08.22.07
Schumer, Clinton Announce Over $4 Million For The Elmira/Corning Regional Airport
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4,363,085 in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funds to the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport. Federal funds will be used to perform an important runway rehabilitation project. "This is great news for Elmira," said Schumer. "The Elmira/Corning Regional Airport is an important general aviation facility in this region. It is critical that we… Continue Reading
08.22.07
Schumer Announces Two Capital Region Fire Departments Will Receive Over $54,000 In Federal Fire Grants
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that two departments in the Capital Region will receive federal grants totaling $54,848 from the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Ballston Lake Fire District in Saratoga County will receive a $44,588 grant and the Central Bridge Fire District in Schoharie County will receive a $10,260 grant. The two grants will be used to improve operations and safet… Continue Reading
08.22.07
Schumer Announces Over $12,000 For City Of Kingston Crime Control And Prevention
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that $12,520 has been awarded to the City of Kingston to be shared with the County of Ulster by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. Kingston and Ulster County will use the federal funds to purchase important crime prevention and protection equipment for the Emergency Services Unit of Ulster County. "When it comes to protecting our citizens, we nee… Continue Reading
08.22.07
Schumer Calls On Army Corps To Immediately Step-In And Help Residents Of Haiti Island Stranded After Recent Bridge Collapse
Following the collapse of a bridge on Haiti Island, that has threatened to isolate residents by cutting of their access to the island via automobile, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) to swiftly stepin and come to the residents' aid. Last Friday , a section of the Seneca River Bridge, which has been nonoperational for the past eighteen years, collapsed in a way that threatens a temporary bridge that sits directly below. In response, authorities … Continue Reading
08.22.07
In Response To Schumer Ratcheting-Up Pressure On The Usda To Assign Beech Nut's Canajoharie Plant A 2nd Inspector, Agency's Under-Secretary To Visit Plant On Monday For Firsthand Look
Following months of pressuring the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assign an additional food inspector to Beech Nut's Canajoharie plant so local operations won't be jeopardized, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that the Under Secretary of the USDA will be visiting the plant this Monday for a firsthand look. Schumer earlier this summer lambasted the agency for putting at risk the financial welfare of the Canajoharie plant by slashing the number of inspectors at th… Continue Reading
08.22.07
Fresh Off Securing $1 Million In Funding For New Transit Hub In Downtown Poughkeepsie, Schumer Joins Mayor Cozean For Economic Development Tour To See Successful Revitilization Efforts
After recently securing $1 million in federal funding for a new transportation hub in the City of Poughkeepsie, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today toured the downtown business district to see firsthand how the city plans to spend the money. Schumer secured the funding to build a combination Public Transit Hub and Parking Deck in the central business district to serve city, county and private bus riders and provide residential parking. Schumer was joined by Mayor Nancy Cozean to tour the … Continue Reading
08.21.07
Schumer Announces Over $492,000 For Erie County Crime Control And Prevention Programs
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that $492,547 has been awarded to several cities in Erie County by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The federal funds will be used by the City of Buffalo, Town of Cheektowaga, City of Lackawanna and Erie County to improve a variety of crime control and prevention programs. "When it comes to protecting our citizens, we need to be t… Continue Reading
08.09.07
Schumer Calls On Fema to Fast Track Bay Ridge - Sunset Park Damage Assessment After Historic Tornado - First Step t Secure Federal Aid
After yesterday's freak tornado that tore a path of destruction through the Bay Ridge and Sunset Park neighborhoods of Brooklyn, today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expedite the preliminary disaster assessment for the area. The preliminary disaster assessment is the first step toward securing federal aid for individuals and local businesses that suffered severe damage or lost revenue in the wake of the tornado. Schumer asked that FEMA have t… Continue Reading
08.05.07
Schumer Reveals: Older Cities Like New York Losing Out as Young Cities Gobble up Money For New Federal Highway and Bridge Projects
Standing at the base of the iconic and aging Brooklyn Bridge, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that federal short funding of vital highway and bridge maintenance programs has left New York's aging infrastructure in a state of disrepair . Schumer said that Federal Highway Trust Fund finances have deteriorated and will be insolvent by approximately $4 billion in 2009 and $10 billion by 2010 while at the same time 27.1% of the nation's 590,750 bridges are rated str… Continue Reading
08.02.07
On The Heels Of FSA Office Closure Announcement, Schumer Calls On USDA Not To Add Insult To Injury For New York State Family-Run Farms With Proposal To Close Sixteen Rural Dev. And NRCS County Offices
Following recent reports that seven FSA offices are slated for closure across upstate New York, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to jettison its proposed plan to close sixteen additional Rural Development and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) county offices across the state. The mass closings would force the state's already struggling farmers to drive greater distances to take advantage of the offices' vital resources. "Th… Continue Reading
08.01.07
Schumer Announces Federal Funds Coming To First Responders In Herkimer County
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that a loan of $35,000 has been awarded to the Village of Ilion in Herkimer County by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program as a Community Facility Direct Loan. The Village will use funds to purchase equipment for Ilion's rescue vehicles. "This is great news for Herkimer County," Schumer said. "We can never truly repay our first responder s for their heroic efforts and dedication to … Continue Reading
08.01.07
Schumer Announces More Than $2 Million In Federal Funds Coming To Town Of Potsdam
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that a loan of $2,006,470 has been awarded to the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County by the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program as a Community Facility Direct Loan. The Town will use the funds to construct a new town hall. "This is great news for the Town of Potsdam," Schumer said. "The construction of a new town hall will enable local government to better serve the needs of the cit… Continue Reading
08.01.07
Schumer Announces Loan Of $4,000,000 To Aurora Ice Association For Indoor Ice Rink In East Aurora
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that a loan of $4 million has been awarded to Aurora Ice Association, Inc of East Aurora in Erie County. The funds are being awarded through the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program as a Community Facility Guaranteed Loan. Federal funds will be used to construct an indoor ice arena. Schumer wrote a letter to USDA secretary Mike Johanns in support of Aurora Ice Association's application for this loan. … Continue Reading
08.01.07
Schumer Announces Two St. Lawrence County Fire Departments Will Receive Over $150,000 In Federal Fire Grants
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that two fire departments in St. Lawrence County will receive federal grants totaling $155,045 from the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Gouverneur Volunteer Rescue Squad will receive a $19,195 grant to be used for operations and safety. The Nicholville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., will receive a $135,850 Vehicle Acquisition grant to purchase a ne… Continue Reading
07.31.07
Schumer Announces Federal Dollars Coming To Village Of Hudson Falls
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that a loan of $1,605,000 has been awarded to the Village of Hudson Falls in Washington County. The funds are being awarded through the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program as a Water and Waste Disposal Loan. Federal funds will be used to replace the water line serving the Village. "This is great news for the Village of Hudson Falls," Schum… Continue Reading
07.31.07
Schumer Announces Owls Head - Mt. View Fire Department Will Receive $19,000 As A Federal Fire Grant
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Owls Head - Mt. View Fire Department in Owls Head, in Franklin County, will receive a federal grant totaling $19,000 from the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The grant will be used to improve operations and safety and is part of the first round of DHS FY07 AFG program awards to several fire departments throughout the country. "This funding will go… Continue Reading
07.31.07
Schumer Declares Democrats Hoodwinked Into Confirming Chief Justice Roberts, Urges Higher Burden Of Proof For Any Future Bush Nominees
Today, in a keynote speech before the American Constitution Society (ACS), Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY) expressed disappointment over the most recent Supreme Court term and pledged to oppose any of President Bush's future nominees to the Supreme Court, barring extraordinary circumstances. "In his confirmation hearing, Chief Justice Roberts equated his role to that of an umpire in a baseball game-someone who doesn't make the rules, but instead applies them,… Continue Reading
07.31.07
Schumer Announces Two Western New York Fire Departments Will Receive Over $191,000 In Federal Fire Grants
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that two departments in Western New York will receive federal grants totaling $191,288 from the 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Knapp Creek Vol. Fire Department, Inc., in Cattaraugus County will receive a $27,727 grant and the Scranton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., in Erie County will receive a $163,561 grant. The two grants will be used to improv… Continue Reading
07.17.07
Schumer, Clinton Announce Key Senate Panel Approves $200,000 For Broadband Project In St. Lawrence County
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the full Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (TTHUD) FY08 Appropriations Bill, which includes $200,000 for the St. Lawrence County Regional Rural Broadband Expansion project. The bill will now proceed to the Senate Floor as the next step in the appropriations process. Schumer and Clinton worked closely with members of the Appropriatio… Continue Reading