Press Releases
Schumer Announces Key Senate Panel Backs $250,000 For Mohawk Valley Water Authority In Utica
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $250,000 under the FY06 Interior Appropriations Act for Mohawk Valley Water Authority in Utica to develop and enhance methods to detect water bacteria, a critical component of emergency preparedness. The bill must now be approved by the full Senate before being sent to a House and Senate Conference Committee and eventually being signed into law. Schumer aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriatio… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Fuel Efficient Tire Amendment Passes Senate Would Save NYers $225 Million, Conserve Fuel, And Reduce U.S. Dependency On Foreign Oil
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumers amendment passed the Senate last night, requiring the federal government to establish efficiency standards for the replacement tires that drivers buy when the old tires wear out. Most current replacement tires are between 20 and 60 percent less efficient than the original tires automakers equip cars with to help meet federal fuel economy standards. Schumer introduced the amendment last Tuesday to the Energy Bill, which just passed the Senate 8512. This is great… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer: Over $5.2 Million For Cargo Security Program For The Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced $5,200,700 for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The funding will be used for a DHS pilot program, Operation Safe Commerce, which is working to secure cargo at major ports around the country. I am very pleased to announce this funding for Operation Safe Commerce, Schumer said. The cargo entering our nations ports is among our greatest vulnerabilities, especially here in New York, and this program will allow our bustling ports to more e… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Announces Almost $6 Million For Americorps Programs In New York City And Brooklyn
Today US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced $5,966,407 in funding for Americorps programs in New York City and Brooklyn. The grant is being awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps is one of the world's greatest service programs and this funding will go a long way, not just for the members who will serve, but for the younger people and families who will benefit from the hard work and dedication of the program and its volunteers, Schumer said. The quality … Continue Reading
08.02.06
New Schumer Survey Reveals Scores Of Previously Undisclosed MTBE Leaks Located Throughout Long Island Pose Grave Danger To Public Water Supply
Standing at the site of a potentially cancercausing MTBE spill like the ones that threaten dozens of drinking water wells on Long Island, today, US Senator Charles E. Schumer released a new list of MTBE hotspots that are adjacent to or on top of public drinking water supply wells. The previously undisclosed list of MTBE spills that have taken place near Long Island has been made available to the state but not to the public. And, if specific special interest provisions are included in the Energy … Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Presses New VA Secretary Nominee To Support Canandaigua VA Hospital
US Senator Charles E. Schumer pressed the new nominee for Veterans Administration Secretary, Jim Nicholson, to support the community advisory board currently deciding the fate of the Canandaigua VA Hospital. Schumer, who convinced Secretary Anthony Principi to involve local community leaders in the decision process, said that the panel was carefully constructed to include the views of local veterans and community members, and disrupting the panel would be counterproductive. Nicholson agreed to c… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer: Energy Bill Is Historic Mistake And Step Backwards For The Environment, Taxpayers, And National Security
Today U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer announced his opposition to the Energy Bill passed by the U.S. Senate, saying the bill was a step backwards for the environment, taxpayers, and national security. The bill passed by a vote of 7426 today after passing the House last night. Schumer said Americas refusal to seriously address our dependence on foreign oil was a mistake of historic proportions. Our refusal to understand and see ahead of the curve and say we're going to avoid this energy problem … Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Questions Whether Relevant Roberts Documents Will Be Available To Judiciary Committee Before Sept. 6 Hearing Start Date
Today U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer, ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Courts, sent a letter to President George W. Bush to ask for cooperation in ensuring a smooth process leading to the upcoming confirmation hearing for Judge John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court, which is only a month away [September 6, 2005]. The Judiciary Committee sent a request letter nine days ago to the White House detailing specific Roberts files, but there has been no response, timetable, or documents … Continue Reading
08.02.06
Standing At Jefferson Memorial, Senate Democrats Urge GOP Senators To Protect Checks And Balances, Not Bow To White House Pressure
Standing outside the Thomas Jefferson Memorial today, Senators Reid, Schumer, Clinton, Kennedy, Boxer and other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus presented a united front to fight an attempt to undo 200 years of American history and urge Republican Senators to preserve checks and balances by voting against the nuclear option. Sen. Frist has already rejected a compromise that would have allowed the President to claim victory on more judicial nominees giving him an almost 100% passage rate f… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Calls For Immediate Release Of Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Resource Study
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer late Wednesday urged the Director of Park Service to expeditiously release the Niagara Falls Heritage Area Resource study. Schumer secured $300,000 for the study, which has explored the feasibility of creating a National Heritage Partnership in Niagara Falls. This "special resource" study is the first step toward gaining a National Heritage Area designation for the area, a status that would enable the National Park Service to assist local efforts to prot… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Reveals: Egregious Loophole Makes Millions Of New Yorkers Soc. Sec. Numbers Accessible At Touch Of Computer Button; Potential For Identity Theft Is Enormous
Millions of New Yorkers are at risk for identity theft, Senator Charles E. Schumer revealed today as he exposed a giant flaw in an information database that allows almost anybody's personal information to get into the wrong hands. Schumer sent a letter to the head of Westlaw, a data search company based in Minnesota, asking that an egregious loophole in their Internetbased PeopleFind be disabled for use by its clients. The program allows subscribers to log in, type in the name of the person … Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Secures Key Provision In Senate Energy Bill That Would Create New Markets For Plug Power In Latham
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he has secured a major provision in the Senate Energy Bill that would offer tax credits for telecom businesses purchasing stationary fuel cells, a move that could open up new markets for Plug Power. Schumer, a member of the Senate Finance Committee lobbied aggressively for the provision and said that telecom companies would be encouraged to purchase from Plug Power because of a 30percent business energy credit for the purchase of qualified fuel … Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer: Federal Dollars Coming To Village Of Laurens
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that a $220,000 grant and a $980,000 loan was awarded to the Village of Laurens to assist in replacing the water distribution system. The funds are being awarded through the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program as a Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant. "This is great news for the Village of Laurens," Schumer said. "The water system is critical to the livelihood of the community and the he… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer-Levin: Presidents Social Security Proposals In Trouble, Privatization Plus Deep Benefit Cuts Worse Than Privatization Alone
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Rep. Sander Levin (DMI) held a joint conference call to respond to President Bushs announcement last night that he wanted to not only privatize Social Security, but also include a plan that would deeply cut benefits to lower and middle class families. Schumer, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, and Levin, the senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security have both bee… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer, Clinton, Slaughter, Reynolds And Higgins Call On Department Of Labor To Look Harder For Bethlehem Steel Records
enators Chuck Schumer (DNY) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (DNY) were joined by Representatives Louise Slaughter (DNY), Tom Reynolds (RNY) and Brian Higgins (DNY) in writing to the Department of Labor (DOL) to request an immediate search for additional records about uranium rollings conducted at the Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna, NY during the 1950s. Under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act (EEOICPA), DOL has the responsibility to set eligibility dates for former Beth… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Modesty And Stability On The Bench: How John Roberts Can Convince Democrats To Vote For Him
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Courts, spoke to the National Press Club at a luncheon today to discuss the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court. In particular, Schumer addressed how Judge Roberts can convince Democrats to vote for his nomination in the coming weeks and months. Below is the text of the speech: MODESTY AND STABILITY ON THE BENCH: HOW JOHN ROBERTS CAN CONVINCE DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR HIM I want to… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Lobbies For 2007 USA Hockey National Championships In Amherst
As the Youth Council deliberates on a location for the 2007 USA National Hockey Championships, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today wrote to the Director of Youth Ice Hockey at USA Hockey Inc. to urge the organization to choose Amherst, New York as the host of the 2007 USA Hockey National Championships. Amherst is the ideal location for host of the championship, as Western New York has long been a hotbed of hockey enthusiasm. Amherst is the perfect place to host this event, Schumer said. They… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer: DOJ Exported Prison Contractors With Checkered Pasts To Rebuild Iraqi Prisons
In June of 2004, Senator Charles E. Schumer asked the Department of Justice to investigate and report on how the Department hired at least three individuals to oversee the reconstitution of Iraqs prison system, despite credible allegations of serious misconduct when those individuals previously served as prison officials in the United States. The Justice Department referred the matter to its Inspector General and today Schumer received the Inspector Generals report on this matter. During the I… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer Announces Key Senate Panel Backs Increased Funding For Brookhaven National Laboratory
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $18 million for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and $36.5 million for the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the FY06 Energy and Water Appropriations Committee Report. The bill must now be approved by the full Senate before being sent to a House and Senate Conference Committee and eventually being signed into law. Schumer had aggressively lobbied member… Continue Reading
08.02.06
Schumer: Over $1.86 Million Coming To North Country Fire Departments For Fire Operations And Safety
US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced over $1.86 million in federal funds for North County fire departments and organizations to pay for fire operations and fire safety. The funds are being awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This is a great day for fire departments in the North Country, said Schumer. Firefighters and emergency professionals put their lives on the line every day and it is imperative that we do… Continue Reading
