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  • 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 financial... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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 tough on crime... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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 structurally... Read More
  • 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.   "This... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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 new tanker... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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 a... Read More
  • 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," Schumer... Read More
  • 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," Schumer said.  "Unfortunately,... Read More
  • 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 improve... Read More
  • 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... Read More
  • 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 City of Rochester's Lead Hazard Prevention Program.   The bill also includes language that extends the discretionary funds already allocated for the Renaissance Square Project. The bill will now proceed to the Senate Floor as... Read More
  • 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 to build a new YMCA in Schenectady; $200,000 for the Civic Center of Moreau, Inc. to build a new Community Center; and $200,000 to improve WiFi service in the City of Albany.   The bill will now proceed to the Senate Floor as the next... Read More
  • U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that the full Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY08 Appropriations Bill which includes $600,000 for the Rochester Area Colleges Center for Excellence in Math and Science; $250,000 for the Rochester General Hospital; and, $250,000 for the Catholic Family Center.  The Appropriations Committee also approved the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies which... Read More