Press Releases
Schumer Statement from NSA Hearing Today
Sen. Chuck Schumers Opening Statement from todays Judiciary Committee hearing on the domestic spying program: Thank you Mr. Chairman. General Gonzales, I want to make a couple points that are important to keep in mind as we ask you questions. We all support a strong, robust, and vigorous national security program. Like everyone else in this room, I want the President to have all the legal tools he needs as we work together to keep our nation safe and free, including wiretapping. I appreciate… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Strong Bipartisan Group Urges Senate Leaders To Help Implement Goals Of Dubai Ports Deal Bill And Ensure That Follow-Up Investigation Answers Security Concerns
Today, Senators Chuck Schumer (DNY), Norm Coleman (RMN), Bob Menendez (DNJ), Olympia Snowe (RME), Hillary Clinton (DNY), Susan Collins (RME), Tom Coburn (ROK), Jack Reed (DRI), Rick Santorum (RPA), and Frank Lautenberg (DNJ) sent a letter to Senate Leaders Bill Frist and Harry Reid urging them to cooperate in efforts to make sure that the security investigation of the Dubai ports deal meets the highest standards for protecting our national security. While a 45day investigation has finally been r… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Reveals: Airlines Seek New Rules To Disguise True Cost Of Tickets Adding Fuel Charges, Airport Fees, Other Surcharges At Very End, Ticket Listed For $300 Could Ultimately Cost $500
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that major commercial airlines in the United States are lobbying to loosen advertising restrictions, which could lead to misleading prices for consumers. Currently airlines have to advertise the full fare for ticket prices, and are allowed advertise certain government mandated taxes and fees separately. Under the proposed regulation change supported by the legacy carriers, the airlines would be permitted to unbundle fares and define fees as they wis… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer: New Evidence Suggests Oil Companies Could Be Intentionally Driving Prices Up For Summer Driving Season
As gas prices jumped 28.5 cents a gallon in the last three weeks alone, today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called on the Federal Government to ensure that oil companies dont intentionally drive up prices before the summer months to increase their bottom line. Today Schumer sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission to urge them to closely monitor refining capacity and prices, which could rise even more as more Americans increase their travel this spring and summer. The Senator expressed co… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Announces $300 Million For East Side Access, Funding For Second Avenue Subway
Today Senator Schumer released the following statement on the Department of Transportation requesting funding for East Side Access and the Second Avenue Subway: This funding shows that the Administration and the Department of Transportation have renewed their commitment to seeing these critical New York projects through until they are built. Both East Side Access and the Second Avenue Subway will meet commuter needs that have existed for far too long here in New York. These funds will help Lon… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Introduces Bill To Grant Supreme Court Expedited Review Of NSA Secret Spying Program
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today introduced legislation to allow the Supreme Court to rule on the National Security Agencys secret spying program. Schumer, who has been critical of the Administration for not consulting with Congress before enacting the program, said his legislation would put the controversial spying program on the fast track to Supreme Court consideration so the nations highest tribunal can definitively decide on the constitutionality and legality of the program. This is … Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Sends White House List Of Unanswered Questions That Must Be Answered About The Dubai Ports Deal
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer sent the following letter President Bush with a list of unanswered questions that must be answered about the Dubai Ports World acquisition of six major U.S. ports on the East Coast, including New York and New Jersey. This $6.8 billion deal is scheduled to be closed on March 2 and was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) last month, although the President wasnt aware of it until after the approval. Except for cargo screening funct… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Dems Call on A.G. Gonzales to Recuse Himself from Abramoff Case
Today, 31 Democrats led by Sen. Chuck Schumer sent the following letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urging him to recuse himself from the Abramoff case. Below is the letter and signatories. Schumer stated, If there was ever a case that was both sensitive and rife with potential conflict it is this one. The Attorney General can avoid any appearance of impropriety by recusing himself. February 16, 2006 The Honorable Alberto Gonzales United States Department of Justice 950 Pennsy… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Presses Bush on Gov't Tracking of Journalists' Calls
Today, Sen. Chuck Schumer sent the following letter to President Bush regarding the latest revelations that the government may be tracking journalists phone calls. In light of the governments warrantless wiretapping program and database of all Americans phone calls, Schumer called on the President to answer a series of questions about the validity of this possible program. The letter is below: May 16, 2006 President George W. Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW … Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer, Clinton Announce Over $2 Million For Greater Binghamton Airport
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Clinton today announced $2,565,000 for the Greater Binghamton Airport from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is great news for the Greater Binghamton Airport, said Senator Schumer. This airport welcome travelers to New York each year, and these improvements are important for local businesses and strengthening the local economy. I will continue to fight for fede… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer, Clinton Announce Over $2 Million For Adirondack Regional Airport
U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Clinton today announced $2,400,000 for the Adirondack Regional Airport from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is great news for the Adirondack Regional Airport, said Senator Schumer. This airport welcome travelers to New York each year, and these improvements are important for local businesses and strengthening the local economy. I will continue to fight for fe… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Announces Senate Passes Sex Offender Legislation With New Federal Tracking System That Would End State-To-State Disparity In Registration And Notification Procedures
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that the Senate late last night unanimously passed the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (S. 1086), comprehensive national legislation specifically designed to protect children from sexual predators. Once enacted into law, the bill will create a national database and require convicted sex offenders to register their whereabouts regularly in person. Failure to comply would be a felony. Existing sexoffender sites are managed from state t… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Introduces Bipartisan Extension Of Historic Voting Rights Act
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, an original cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, today announced the introduction of a bill that will extend key provisions of the historic Voting Right Act for the next 25 years. The legislation, named after 3 civil rights icons, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (VRARA), will extend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which has been previously renewed four times. The Voting Rights … Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Urges Feds To Relocate Social Seurity Administration Office To Downtown Ogdensburg
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Government to relocate the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office to downtown Ogdensburg when their current lease expires in midApril. Schumer pointed to two reasons that the move downtown will be beneficial to the community: first, due to the central location and proximity of many senior citizens, Social Security services will be much more accessible to the New Yorkers it serves; second the SSA, as a major main street tenant, will con… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer To Delay Approval Of U.S. Trade Rep Nomination Over Concerns On Trade Reciprocity In China
Today, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer was joined by Sen. Lindsey Graham in writing a letter to President Bushs nominee to be the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Susan Schwab. Schumer objected to the unanimous consent request to approve her nomination without a vote or debate. In particular, the senators are concerned with the Administrations willingness to press for reciprocity for financial firms that want to invest in China. Senator Schumer has said that he is reluctant to allow the nomine… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Blasts Cuts To CDBG Program In Administration Budget Fights To Restore Funding
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today launched an effort to restore funding for the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) Program for communities in New York State, which is slashed in the Administrations budget proposal for fiscal year 2007. The CDBG Program is one of the most important and effective programs for revitalizing distressed communities and funds housing rehabilitation, support services, public improvements, and economic development projects in communities across the nation. The… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Presses Feds For Straight Answers On Proposed Rail Garbage Project
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today questioned the Surface Transportation Board (STB) on its plans with regard to Chartwell Internationals purchase of the Middletown & New Jersey Railway, a 15mile stretch of track in Middletown, NY and its possible use. There have been varied reports with respect to Chartwells plans for its acquisition, and their Chief Financial Officer has said that the development of a solid waste transfer station would be exempt from state and local laws because the rai… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer, Feingold Call On Specter To Urge Ashcroft, Comey, Others To Testify At Hearings On Secret Domestic Spying Program
Today U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Russ Feingold sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter urging him to call on more current and former high level Bush Administration officials including former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Deputy Attorneys General Jim Comey and Larry Thompson, and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card. They also said that no witnesses from the Administration should invoke executive privilege. The letter to Specter follows: January 25, 2006 … Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Reveals: Feds Have Reneged On Their Commitment To Provide Adequate Tamiflu Stockpiles
Today U.S. Senator Charles Schumer revealed that the federal government has reneged on its commitment to provide enough Tamiflu stockpiles to safeguard Americans from a potential bird flu pandemic. Schumer sent a letter to Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging him to dramatically increase stockpiles for Tamiflu, the only antiviral currently available to treat Bird Flu. Schumer has been a leader in getting Roche Pharmaceuticals, the manufactu… Continue Reading
07.25.06
Schumer Visits Putnam Hospital Center, Pushes New Proposal For Health Care For Small Businesses
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today joined President and CEO Michael Webber to tour the Putnam Hospital Center. Schumer met with Webber and other health care executives to discuss plans for the hospital's growth and expansion, including construction of a new facility to begin later this year. We are in the middle of a health care crisis in the country, and getting relief for small businesses would be a huge step in the right direction, Schumer said. Small businesses are the backbone of P… Continue Reading
