Newsroom

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY) announced today that just two days after he called on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on "honey launderers" that are undermining U.S. honey producers, the agency has revealed a major enforcement action against Chinese honey smugglers. Last night, the FDA announced it has seized 64 drums-or, $32,000 worth-of imported Chinese honey that was contaminated with a potent antibiotic. If allowed into the marketplace, the honey... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Rensselaer High School will receive 5 computers under the United States Senate Computers for Schools Program. The program helps public schools take advantage of the information technology age by channeling surplus computers into classrooms across the country. Rensselaer High School educates young adults from 9 th through 12 th grades and prepares their students for a college education and a productive working career.   "The Capital Region... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he and his staff have successfully cut through red tape and secured travel documents for Mamady Kourouma, a Jefferson High School student, to travel to the World Cup where he will be an official United States flag bearer.  Kourouma had faced numerous bureaucratic and timing hurdles and, before contacting Schumer office, it looked like he would not be able to receive his documents in time.   "It would have been devastating, both for... Read More

Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he has secured approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for infrastructure improvements in the Town of Hancock along Route 28 that come as a result of flooding which ripped through the Southern Tier in the summer of 2006. The project had been tied up in knots as the Town sought the go ahead from FEMA on the environmental impacts of the project so that it could lock in the necessary financing that will ultimately be... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on "honey launderers" that are undermining New York's honey producers.  Almost a decade ago, the United States started imposing duties on honey imported from China after it found that Chinese exporters were engaging in predatory trade practices.  But in the subsequent years, Chinese companies... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he has successfully worked with his colleagues to include language in a must pass Senate bill that will open up competition for the Army's small arms contracts to other U.S. manufacturers. The legislation would open up the Army's small arms contracts to domestic producers across the country like the Ilion, New York based Remington. More competition for the Army's small arms contracts would likely spur innovation as more producers would have an... Read More

United States Senator Charles E. Schumer requested that the United States Coast Guard and US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) begin early coordination plans with Long Island coastal communities to prepare for the potential of oil from the BP Gulf Oil spill ending up on local beaches. In his letter to Coast Guard Rear Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr. and Army Corps of Engineers  Lieutenant General Van Antwerp, Schumer called for a field briefing with local municipalities and federal agencies that would... Read More

Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Rochester's Hickey Freeman will be adding an additional 25 jobs over the next four weeks and aiming to employ as many as 550 people at the plant by the end of next year.  Currently there are approximately 480 employees working at the facility.  Schumer said that the plant was operating at capacity, and parent company Hartmarx Corporation will be aggressively marketing the American made Hickey Freeman brand in Europe and Asia.    Schumer led... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has agreed to give Onondaga County and the city of Syracuse more time to provide input into FEMA's recent decision to require approximately 2,400 property owners to purchase flood insurance at an average cost of $800 per year.  By law, FEMA is required to give adequate and substantial notice to local municipalities and residents if they intend to add additional properties to the county flood map... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is pushing legislation to foster research and development of incar technology to fight the scourge of drunk driving. This legislation will create a consortium to drastically curb drunk driving by funding a partnership between antidrunk driving advocates, large car companies and the federal government to design devices that prevent intoxicated people from getting behind the wheel. During a conference call, Schumer said that drunk driving... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Farmersville Volunteer Fire Department has received a federal grant totaling $28,297 as part of Round 16 of the FY09 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used improve departmental operations and safety. "This essential grant ensures that the Farmersville Volunteer Fire Department will continue to have the basic resources required to do their jobs,... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (DNY)-joined by a bipartisan group of nine other senators-urged the Obama administration Tuesday to pressure the Chinese government to stop suppressing the release of an independent report that is said to conclude that China manipulates its currency to gain an unfair competitive advantage.   An annual report issued last summer by the staff of the International Monetary Fund is believed to have found that China intentionally undervalues its currency... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer toured a frost damaged apple farm and met with farmers from Ulster and Dutchess counties. During an appearance at a Dutchess County apple orchard, Schumer said that a recent late frost has caused damage to a variety of crops, from apples to black dirt onions.  Schumer met with farmers to see the extent of the damage and discuss potential responses.   "Our farmers are the backbone of New York's rural economy and this late frost could potentially be a big... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he has secured a commitment from Army Secretary John McHugh that the Army would keep the Army Reserves "Virtual Installation" open and operating, and that the 490th Quartermaster Company is scheduled to activate in Rochester, New York on September 16 th, 2012.  Schumer has been working with the Army for the last three months, urging them to keep the 98 th Reserve Division, currently stationed in Rochester, from moving to a base in Georgia. ... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is fighting to secure vital funding for the Midtown Plaza Revitalization project. During an appearance at the Midtown Plaza, Schumer said that the funds would provide for critical upgrades to roads and other pieces of infrastructure to allow employees and residents to reach the development - improvements that must be made in order for the project to be complete.  The Midtown Revitalization project is expected to attract hundreds of... Read More

Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, responding to troubling reports from local Delphi workers, personally called General Motors (GM) CEO Ed Whitacre, urging him to keep the plant open and operating.  Schumer said that he had heard reports that unless workers agree to swallow yet another devastating pay cut, General Motors is threatening to shutter the facility when workers' contracts expire in September 2011. As a champion of GM's acquisition of Delphi and a supporter of the... Read More

Standing with Erie County Executive Joel Giambra, US Senator Charles Schumer today unveiled a plan that will go a long way toward fixing New York's budget deficit by providing $2.5 billion to the state and its localities in direct federal aid. With local governments facing the prospect of raising property or sales taxes or cutting essential services, Schumer estimates that his bill could send about $116 million to Erie County; $31.1 million to Niagara County, and $17.6 million to Chautauqua... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer reached the halfway point of his pledge to visit all 62 New York counties after only three months in office. Throughout his visits to 31 counties, Schumer has talked with thousands of individuals about the issues and concerns important to them and their communities. He has made revitalization of Upstate's economy, and returning wellpaying jobs to Upstate, his top priority in the Senate. "Upstate New York should be a thriving region," said Schumer.... Read More

US Senator Charles Schumer released findings today showing that the Capital Region is facing new highs in gasoline and heating oil prices with more increase to come as the oil strike in Venezuela deepens and war with Iraq becomes more likely. Schumer urged the Bush Administration to reconsider its decision to rule out using oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), a stockpile created in 1975 to deal with oil emergencies in the United States, in order to calm crude oil supply fears and... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse the counties of Oswego, Lewis, Cayuga, and Oneida to help them recover from an onslaught of snow as soon as possible. With the localities exceeding their overtime budgets to remove the snow from its roads, Schumer wrote to FEMA today saying the federal government should provide relief immediately. "When you have enough snow to create a town full of ice tunnels where no one can drive and... Read More