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US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that the joint House and Senate Conference Committee approved $2.5 million in the 2005 Defense Department spending bill for to support the work of Rochesters National Center for Excellence in Infotonics. The bill must now be approved by the Congress before being sent to the President and eventually being signed into law. The federal funding would go toward supporting the work at the stateoftheart research and development... Read More

US Senator Charles Schumer today announced that Congress has approved an estimated $2.9 billion disaster package for farmers suffering from adverse weather conditions and flooding caused by the recent string of hurricanes that have pounded the Eastern United States. Last month, one the same day the Senate passed the initial version of the disaster package, Schumer had met with New York Farm Bureau President John Lincoln and several other farm bureau members to discuss the need for this disaster... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the federal government will help the North Country Mission of Hope in Plattsburgh transport over $1 million in medical supplies from the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base Hospital to Nicaragua. Schumer was notified today that the Department of Defense's Denton Funded Transportation Program has agreed to his request and will work with the North Country Mission of Hope so they can ship the equipment to Nicaragua shortly. "I would like to... Read More

US Senator Charles Schumer introduced legislation to provide adjustment of immigration status to nationals of Montseratt who are currently in the US under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In 1995 volcanic activity began on the island of Montserrat forcing 8,000 of the 12,000 inhabitants to flee to various regions of the world. In 1997, 292 refugees were granted TPS in the US, renewable each year, as a result of the continuously erupting volcanoes in Montserrat. The TPS program is being... Read More

Washington, DC Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that New York would receive an additional $25 million in funds to reimburse the city for security costs associated with the Republican National Convention. The legislation was included in the FY 2005 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill which was passed by the U.S. Congress late last night and now heads to the President for his signature. The money will be available as soon as the bill becomes... Read More

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that legislation to establish a new system to preserve the environmental quality of the Long Island Sound (LIS) passed the Senate. The bill must be passed in the House before its final approval by the President. Schumer and Clinton cosponsored the bill with Senator Christopher Dodd, when it was first introduced in the Senate in April, and again when it was reintroduced in July, by Senator Joe Lieberman. "Since the... Read More

US Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced that Congress approved $26 million in the 2005 Defense Department spending bill for Western New York defense projects. Projects to be funded under the bill include, $10.2 million for Carwell Products Inc. in Cheektowaga, for their Army and Marine Corrosion Prevention and Control Program, $2.5 million for UMTE Modernization Program Communications Reliability Upgrade by DRS, and $9.8 million for Amherst Systems Air National... Read More

US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that legislation to increase the size of New Yorks Renewal Communities was passed by a joint HouseSenate Conference Committee for the JOBS Bill. The move could dramatically increase the area included in the Rochester renewal community, providing important tax incentives and development initiatives worth an estimated $400 million to New Yorkers and New York businesses. The amendment, which was included as part of the JOBS... Read More

Attending the 3rd Anniversary Legislative and Economic Forum at the CoronaElmhurst Center for Economic Development, today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Representative Joseph Crowley announced $250,000 in federal funds for the Center. Schumer, the keynote speaker for todays forum, teamed up with Congressman Crowley to champion the importance of empowering Queens local business community. The federal funding secured by the Senator and the Congressman will support efforts by the Center... Read More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to keep the Canandaigua VA Medical Centers Acute Psychiatric Unit open, and requested a personal meeting with the Secretary to discuss the future of the campus. Earlier this month, the VA announced that services would remain on the Canandaigua VAMC campus and not move elsewhere in the area. The future of VA services in Canandaigua appears bright, but the details are still vague and the community... Read More

With hundreds of trucks leaving the Thruway and I81 each day unnecessarily and clogging local roads, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today unveiled his new plan to keep trucks out of Central New York neighborhoods and restore communities quality of life. Over 1.9 million trucks travel through Central New York every year carrying freight, but many drive on local roads as a shortcut and to avoid weigh stations, tolls and traffic. Throughout the past few years, there have been numerous accidents... Read More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced $61,328 has been awarded to the Ithaca Housing Authority in Tompkins County by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Housing Choice VoucherFamily Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program. "This is great news for Ithaca," said Schumer. "The program coordinators are an essential part of the programs that move future homeowners towards selfsufficiency and independence. By providing support for prospective first time... Read More

With two of the four hospitals in Onondaga County reporting severe flu vaccine shortages, US Senator Charles Schumer today charged the Federal government with being woefully unprepared to deal with the situation and called for the immediate importation of emergency supplies from Canada, Europe, and Japan. With just two drug makers producing the flu vaccine for use in the US and no back up system in place, Schumer faulted the federal government for leaving thousands of high risk residents of... Read More

In light of todays announcement that Senate leaders will pursue an extension of Section 508 of the Medicare Modernization Act, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, pledged today to work to include all New York Section 508 hospitals. This morning, the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Charles Grassley (RIA) announced in Pennsylvania his intentions to extend Section 508, which includes language that provided millions of dollars to Northern Dutchess... Read More

US Senator Charles Schumer today warned that Long Islands first responders remain uncoordinated and vulnerable in the event of a major catastrophe because they dont have access to a shared radio frequency. Schumer called on the Federal government to kick seven outofstate tv stations off the frequency designated for use by emergency personnel to share information and coordinate response efforts. Schumer urged the Federal Communications Commission to free up the 700 band frequency for Nassau and... Read More

Today the Western New York Congressional delegation released the following statement: Western New York continues to suffer from the effects of a massive snowstorm that caused thousands of homes to go without power for several days. In our visits and discussions with government officials we know the extent of the devastation and have been working to support the work being done to restore power, cleanup downed trees, and ensure that government at all levels is responding with all deliberate... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced over $61,000 in federal funds for the Sea Cliff Fire Department to pay for fire operations and fire safety. The funds are being awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This is a great day for the Sea Cliff Fire Department, said Schumer. In the brave new post9/11 world, our first responders must be well trained and well equipped to deal with any problem that comes their... Read More

Senator Charles E. Schumer released the following statement today: On Election night, I told the citizens of New York that for me, I love New York is not just a slogan or a song. It is my life. Last week, I was offered a onceinacareer opportunity that would allow me to serve even more fully the state and the country I love. On Wednesday, Senator Harry Reid, who will soon become Minority Leader, invited me to his office and offered me a seat on the Senate Finance Committee, a position in the... Read More

Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that the BurchfieldPenney Art Center at Buffalo State College will receive a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support their "Art on the Hyphen: Cuban American Art in Western New York State" project. The funds are allocated through the NEA's "Challenge America: Serving Every Community" fasttrack program designed to provide greater support for arts projects in undeserved communities through the United... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that Congress has agreed to mandate the establishment of a resource center that is intended to provide Western New Yorkers with the support that they need and deserve to effectively navigate the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. Today's development is the final legislative component necessary for the creation of such a center in Western New York. Last month, a significant step was taken in this effort when Congress... Read More