Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer blasted a new federal regulation set to go into effect that will financially punish Rockland, Putnam, Orange, and Westchester counties' 39,914 recreational boaters by forcing them to obtain the same permits as massive oil tankers and freight ships or face fines of up to $32,000 per day. A 2006 decision by the U.S. District Court for Northern California ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be accountable for regulating the discharge … Continue Reading

Schumer: New Enhanced Driver Licenses Nixes Onerous Need For New Yorkers To Purchase Costly Passports To Cross Northern Border - Senator Brokered Deal Between NYS And DHS To Quickly Approve New Secure Licenses

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer hailed the announcement that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has agreed to permit New York State to issue an Enhanced Driver License (EDL), and argued that the new development makes it unnecessary for New York State residents to purchase costly passports to travel between Canada and the United States, as would otherwise be required under the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) rules. Schumer spent over two years pressuring DHS to appro… Continue Reading

Schumer Demands Feds Address Crucial Community Concerns Before Making Final Oneida Land-Trust Decision; Unresolved Issues With Taxes, Regulations Could Deal Fiscal Blow To Madison And Oneida Counties

With the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) set to make their final decision regarding the Oneida Indian Nation's application to have land taken into a federal taxexempt trust in Madison and Oneida Counties, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the federal agency to defer taking land into trust and instead allow time for the Tribe and local community to negotiate an agreement regarding the proposed trust land.  Schumer also told DOI that if it will not defer making its decision, DO… Continue Reading

One Week After Delivering $2.7 Million From MTA To Stewart Airport For NYC Rail-Link Study, Schumer Secures Additional $2 Million From Dot To Bankroll Vital Next Step -- The Environmental Impact Statement

Only one week after announcing $2.7 million dollars to fund an Alternatives Analysis, a crucial first step in creating a oneseat ride from Orange County to NYC, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced an additional $2 million to fund the project's Environmental Impact Study. After intense pressure from the Senator to have more federal funding steered towards Stewart Airport, the Department of Transportation will send $2 million to the airport for the oneseat ride raillink's Environmental… Continue Reading

Schumer Seeks To Ban Potentially Toxic Chemical In Plastic Baby Bottles, Water Bottles

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY) announced on Friday that he will introduce legislation banning a potentially hazardous chemical, known as BisphenolA, in all children's products  and "food contact" consumer products, like water bottles. Additionally, the legislation will mandate a public health campaign to educate expecting mothers on the risks of using "food contact" consumer products before a ban goes into effect. This week, a U.S. government study revealed that BisphenolA could pose maj… Continue Reading

Schumer, Slaughter: After 20-Year Wait, Niagara Falls Train Station Relocation Will Finally Move Forward; Feds To Grant Approval, Freeing Up Federal Dollars And Allowing Project To Commence As Early As This Fall

With the City of Niagara Falls having waited over 20 years for a new train station to adequately connect tourists and travelers with the Falls, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter (DNY) today announced that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has agreed to expedite final approval for the project, freeing up millions in federal funding and allowing the City to break ground on the new station this year. Senator Schumer secured $2.5 million in the 2004 Dep… Continue Reading

Schumer, Mcnulty Meet With Secretary Of The Army To Press Him On Future Of Watervliet Arsenal - Secretary Receptive To Expanding Arsenal Into Hub For Hi-Tech Growth Across The Cap Region

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Mike McNulty met with Secretary of the Army Pete Geren regarding the future of the Watervliet Arsenal and successfully secured an agreement for the Secretary to visit the Arsenal and see firsthand plans to transform it into a hitech hub for the Capital Region. During the meeting this morning, Schumer and McNulty pressed Secretary Geren for the Army to approve a plan to transform the Arsenal into a hightech campus run by a local Capital Regio… Continue Reading

Schumer to Port Authority and NY: With Stewart Airport Now Under Port Authority's Jurisdiction, Hudson Valley Residents Should Have a Commissioner on PA Board

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on  New York State and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PA) to reserve a seat on commission's board for a resident of the Hudson Valley. In November 2007, PA assumed a 99year lease of Stewart Airport, which in recent years has seen its ridership explode fueled by a major increase in lowcost, reliable air service. While a provision in the PA compact requires four of six New York State seats to be filled by residents of New York City, no … Continue Reading

Schumer: Thousands Of Returning Upstate Ny Soldiers Will Be Hard-Pressed To Afford College Education - Senator To Push New Gi Bill That Greatly Expands Financial Education Assistance For Returning Veterans

With thousands of Upstate New York residents fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan set to return home, today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer warned that the current GI Bill, intended to help returning veterans afford and attend college, is woefully outdated and has not kept up with the skyrocketing costs of education. The GI Bill benefits offered to today's service members haven't undergone an expansive overhaul since they were originally developed in World War II. Since then, there have been only mi… Continue Reading

Schumer Demands Federal Dollars To Support Essential Transit Service In Cattaraugus County

With the City of Olean shouldering the financial burden of providing essential transit service for its residents, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to provide the Olean Area Transportation System (OATS) with vital federal dollars to support important bus service in Cattaraugus County . The City is currently drawing $5,500 a month from a contingency fund usually reserved for emergency expenses to support the system's continued operation, which pr… Continue Reading

Schumer Announces Over $102 Million In Ryan White Aids Funding For New York City

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced $102,430,205 in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Part A of the Ryan White CARE Act for New York City . With the total number of those living with HIV/AIDS at a record high in New York, the city will be able to use the muchneeded funds for outpatient health care, home health and hospice care, nutrition services, case management, and transportation services for persons with AIDS. "As increasing numbers of peo… Continue Reading

Schumer Pushes for Expedited Passage of Senate's Housing Recovery Package; Calls for Bipartisan Support Similar to Economic Stimulus

Washington , D.C. - U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on Congress to support the housing  recovery package announced today by Senate Democrats, urging a bipartisan effort to bolster the faltering housing markets in the same way Congress swiftly tackled the economic stimulus package earlier this month. The housing stimulus package is designed to prop up the floundering housing market that has caused the current downturn in the economy and is expected to save one million families from … Continue Reading

After Hard-Fought Battle To Beef-Up NYS Train Safety, Schumer Secures From CSX Long-Overdue Funding And Upgrades For Rail Tracks In Every Region Of State

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that after years of fighting for CSX to invest in the train company's crumbling tracks across New York State, CSX has committed to spending over $45 million in upgrades for train tracks across the state. With CSX's pattern of egregious rail accidents continuing into 2008, Schumer held a facetoface meeting with company CEO Michael Ward and secured actual dollar commitments and new technology initiatives from the company that will prevent future acc… Continue Reading

Grassley, Schumer Warn Payday Lenders: Stay Away From Americans' Rebate Checks

WASHINGTON , DC - With Congress passing an economic stimulus package last week that the President is expected to sign on Wednesday, U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Charles E. Schumer today warned the nation's leading tax preparers and payday loan companies to steer clear of socalled "instant rebates" that could bilk Americans out of huge portions of their rebate checks. The senators said today that families who sho… Continue Reading