Press Releases
Schumer Announces Support For Decriminalizing Marijuana At Federal Level, Plans To Introduce New Legislation In U.S. Senate
Schumer Cites An Evolved Thinking - Both Personally And By The Nation - Among Reasons For Why He Now Supports The Decriminalization Of Marijuana New Legislation Seeks To Deschedule Marijuana At Federal Level, Takes Steps To Help Women and Minority-Owned Businesses Enter Into The Marijuana Industry, As Well As Invest In Research To Fully Understand Effects Of THC On Driving And Public Health, Particularly In Adolescents Schumer: The Time Has Come To Decriminalize Marijuana Senate Democratic L… Continue Reading
04.19.18
WITH RUMORS SWIRLING REGARDING THE FUTURE OF BAINBRIDGE’S COMMUNITY-BASED OUTPATIENT VETERANS CLINIC, SCHUMER DEMANDS THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION DETAIL ITS PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE FACILITY AND OF HEALTHCARE FOR SOUTHERN TIER VETERANS
Schumer: The Vets Who Depend On This Clinic For Healthcare - Many Living In Rural Areas With Limited Access To Transportation - Cannot Be Left Behind Without Access To Essential Medical Services. Senator Schumer Demands VA Immediately Detail Their Plans; Making Sure Access To Quality Healthcare Is Maintained For Those Who Depend On This Facility Schumer: The Brave Heroes Who Served To Protect Us Deserve Top-Notch Healthcare; The VA Must Maintain Its Commitment To Southern Tier Veterans U.… Continue Reading
04.19.18
SCHUMER LAUNCHES PUSH TO SECURE FED FUNDING FOR GRAPE GENETICS RESEARCH UNIT TO DEVELOP NEW, CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES TO REVOLUTIONIZE NEW YORK’S GRAPE & WINE INDUSTRIES AND SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN FINGER LAKES REGION
The Finger Lakes Region Has Thriving Grape And Wine Industries; The Grape Genetics Research Unit, in Geneva, NY, A Driving Force Of Innovation In The Field, Must Be Modernized Schumer Is Pushing For A Critical USDA Investment In Geneva Agriculture Experiment Station Lab That Will Allow Researchers To Continue Developing New Technologies That Could Increase Production And Create New, Good-Paying Jobs In The Finger Lakes Region Schumer: Let's Not Leave Grape Genetics Research Unit On The Vine … Continue Reading
04.19.18
SCHUMER SUCCESSFULLY LEAD EFFORT TO BLOCK SENATE BILL THAT COULD HAVE POLLUTED NEW YORK’S GREAT LAKES
Senator Vows to Fight Any Future Threat U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, the Senate minority leader, today announced that an attempt in the Senate that would have paved the way for invasive species to spread like wild fire in upstate New York's Great Lakes was successfully stopped. Schumer, who lead the effort to kill the legislation in the Senate, said the proposed Coast Guard bill included a provision called the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), which would have allowed ships to dump th… Continue Reading
04.18.18
SCHUMER LAUNCHES EFFORT TO SECURE $14.2 MILLION TO ENHANCE PERIMETER SECURITY AT ROME LAB IN 2019 APPROPRIATIONS BILL
The Air Force Research Laboratory In Rome, New York Is An Invaluable Program That Focuses On Gathering And Processing Cyber Intelligence, And Is Considered The Nation's Premier Research Organization For Command, Control, Communications, Cyber and Intelligence Technologies Schumer Today Announced That He Will Work Tirelessly To Ensure That The Lab's Anti-Terrorism Perimeter Security And Entry Control Point Is Fully Funded By The Upcoming Military Construction And Veterans Affairs Appropriations… Continue Reading
04.18.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: WITH A SURGE OF UPSTATE NEW YORKERS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE, PHONE WAIT TIMES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK ARE INCREASING; AVERAGE DISABILITY APPEALS CLAIM TAKE OVER 680 DAYS TO PROCESS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK; SENATOR SAYS NYS FIELD OFFICES URGENTLY NEEDS NEWLY AVAILABLE FED FUNDING TO CUT WAIT TIMES
Senator Says Upstate New Yorkers Are Starting to Experience Longer & Longer Wait times For Service At Local Field Office; In Past 6 Months NY Field Offices took over 500,000 Calls With Phone Answer Rate of Only 75% Schumer: Upstate New York SSA Field Offices Can't Keep Up With Request Due To Lack Of Resources And Rate Of New Retirees; New Dollars Secured In Recent Legislation Will Help Cut Down On Wait Times Schumer: Upstate New York Seniors Are Tired Of Listening To Hold Music On a con… Continue Reading
04.18.18
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, HIGGINS EMPHATICALLY BACK ROSWELL PARK’S APPLICATION FOR RENEWAL AS NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE-DESIGNATED COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER
Distinction Includes Millions of Dollars in Federal Resources for Cancer Research U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) are supporting Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center's application to renew the facility's esteemed standing as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated comprehensive cancer center, which also guarantees a federal commitment of millions of dollars. Roswell Park was in the first group of … Continue Reading
04.17.18
AFTER MAJOR SCHUMER PUSH, RIT HAS RECEIVED $4.3 MILLION IN FED FUNDING TO CONTINUE CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH TO MODERNIZE MILITARY EQUIPMENT FOR U.S. TROOPS; INVESTMENT IS A CONTINUATION OF THE GROUNDBREAKING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RIT AND DEPT. OF DEFENSE
In July 2014, Schumer Announced RIT Would Receive Up To $2.1 Million For Work Rehabbing & Upgrading Navy Equipment - Grant Kept 10-Year Public-Private Partnership Between RIT & DOD Now, RIT Will Receive More Than $4.3 Million To Continue Research And Equipment Modernizing Program - Schumer Has Worked To Foster The Partnership Between RIT And Navy Schumer: Contract Ensures RIT Can Continue Supporting Defense Department, & Add Jobs To Finger Lakes Area U.S.… Continue Reading
04.16.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: WITH A SURGE OF NEW YORKERS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE, PHONE WAIT TIMES AT CAPITAL REGION SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES HAVE REACHED CRITICAL MASS; AVERAGE DISABILITY APPEALS CLAIMS TAKING OVER 612 DAYS TO PROCESS; SENATOR SAYS ALBANY FIELD OFFICE HAS ONE OF THE POOREST RECORDS IN STATE & URGENTLY NEEDS NEWLY AVAILABLE FED FUNDING TO HELP CUT WAIT TIMES
Senator Says Capital Region Residents On Average Are Stuck Waiting 40 Minutes For Service at Albany Field Office And Individuals Appealing Disability Claims Are Forced To Wait 570 Days To Get A Hearing Schumer: Capital Region SSA Field Offices Can't Keep Up With Request Due To Lack of Resources And Rate of New Retirees; New Dollars Secured in Recent Legislation Will Help Cut Down On Wait Times Schumer: Capital Region Seniors Are Tired Of listening to Hold Music Standing at the Glenville Sen… Continue Reading
04.16.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: NAFTA NEGOTIATIONS GIVE CAYUGA COUNTY DAIRY FARMERS & MILK PRODUCERS RARE SHOT TO UNDO CANADA’S UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES BUT FEDS MUST ACT NOW TO FIX POLICIES THAT HAVE PLAGUED CNY IN RECENT YEARS; SENATOR RELAUNCHES MAJOR PUSH TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD & BOOST CNY AG & JOBS
In Recent Years Cayuga County Has Been A Victim Of Unfair Trade Policies That Have Prevented Locals From Selling Dairy Products Mere Miles North--But Now U.S., Canadian and Mexican Trade Officials Are Nearing A Deal THAT Seeks to Revamp The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) But Canada's Efforts To Limit Market Access For U.S. Dairy Products Might Not Be Addressed & Schumer Says This Is Unacceptable; Canada's Trade-Distorting Pricing & Egregious "Dairy Wall" Of Tariffs Has Cos… Continue Reading
04.15.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: TSA IN COST-CUTTING MANIA, PLANNING TO AXE DOG-SNIFFING BOMB DETECTION TEAMS AT PENN STATION; AIRPORTS & MAJOR EVENTS; PLAN LIKE THIS PUTS HUGE HOLE IN SAFETY & PROTECTION MEASURES; SENATOR SOUNDS ALARM, DEMANDS ‘VIPR’ TEAMS STAY IN NYC, ESPECIALLY IN AGE OF INCREASED TERRORISM
This Week, TSA Chief Pekoske Said The Agency Should Eliminate Use of VIPR Canine Teams At Train Stations, Airports & Major Events & That Locals Should Foot The Bill If They Really Want To Keep The Canine Teams That Save Lives & Screen For Explosives Schumer Says Putting Burden Of National Security On Already-Strapped Localities Like NYPD Is Unacceptable; In Push Against Very Bad Idea, Senator Says Feds Must Commit More Canine Teams-Not Less-To NYC Area Schumer: Without Critical Ca… Continue Reading
04.12.18
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $1.5 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ALFRED STATE’S BIOREFINERY DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION CENTER (BDCC)
New Federal Investment Will Be Used To Support BDCC's Research And Development And To Create A 'Forest Economy' U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $1.5 million in federal funding to Alfred State College (ASC) in Alfred, New York. The funding was allocated through the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the Biorefinery Development and Commercialization Center (BDCC). The senators said the center will be a major "launching… Continue Reading
04.12.18
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $295,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND
Funds Will Help Complete an Online Digitization Project for the Largest Collection of Materials By and About Helen Keller Online Collection Will Be Fully Accessible for Visitors Who are Blind, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a $295,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). AFB will use the funds to complete a project to fully … Continue Reading
04.11.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: UPSTATE NEW YORK VA HOSPITALS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR $4 BILLION IN NEW FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO LOCAL FACILITIES; BUT WITH FUNDS NOT YET ALLOCATED, SENATOR MAKES MAJOR PUSH TO DELIVER THEM TO NEW YORK
Schumer: Upstate Veterans Need & Deserve Upgrades At Their Local VA On the heels of the just-passed bi-partisan federal spending bill that U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer negotiated and President Trump signed into law, Schumer today announced an increased pot of federal dollars - roughly $4 billion - that will be allocated to U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Medical Centers across the country for much-needed and long-delayed repairs. In announcing these new federal d… Continue Reading
04.11.18
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $63.8 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CLEANUP, RESTORATION, AND RESEARCH EFFORTS FOR COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY PFOS AND PFOA CONTAMINATION
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Armed Services Committee, today announced that the recently passed omnibus bill authorizes $63.8 million for remediation and research efforts for communities contaminated by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Specifically, $43.8 million will be allocated to the Air Force Environmental Restoration fund, which allows the Department of Defense to identify, investigate… Continue Reading
04.10.18
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND DEMAND REVIEW OF PROCESS FOR NEW YORK’S UTILITIES AS THOUSANDS OF NEW YORKERS FACED EXTENDED POWER OUTAGES IN THE WAKE OF WIND STORMS
Schumer, Gillibrand: Fully Examine Your Response to Last Week's Wind Storm; Look Closely at the Procedures You Used to Communicate with Members of the Public and with Local Officials U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today wrote a letter to the President and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E, demanding a review of the process for restoring full power after outages in the wake of last week's wind storms. The letter also requests transparency about what co… Continue Reading
04.09.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: DOG DAYS OF SUMMER LOOM BUT THE NORTHPORT VA’S COOLING SYSTEM STILL NEEDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS TO AVERT ANOTHER CRISIS; SENATOR LAUNCHES ALL-OUT PUSH FOR JUST-SECURED FED FUNDS TO GO STRAIGHT TO LI’S ONLY VA -- FOR ‘EMERGENCY’ WORK & TO ENSURE LOCAL VETS RECEIVE TOP-NOTCH CARE
LI's Only VA Medical Center Has Delayed Or Canceled Vet Surgeries Because Badly Aged Heating & Cooling System Failed; And Risk For More HVAC Problems This Summer Remains But Now There Are $4 Billion New Fed Funds That Senator Just Secured That Can Help Avoid Crisis; Millions Of Dollars In Repairs Can Happen If Feds See the Light and Cut Check To Northport VA Schumer To Feds: Don't Make LI Vets Sweat Over Their Healthcare; Cut The Check To Make Needed HVAC Repairs On the heels of t… Continue Reading
04.04.18
SCHUMER REVEALS: JUST-PASSED SPENDING BILL PROVIDES OVER $270 MILLION IN FED FUNDS FOR BUREAU OF PRISONS, YET BROOKLYN’S METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER IS STILL WITHOUT A CHAPLAIN; SCHUMER RENEWS PUSH TO HIRE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AT BROOKLYN’S FEDERAL PRISON USING NEWLY-SECURED FUNDS
Given the Large Catholic Population of Inmates, Schumer Last Year Called on BOP to Hire Roman Catholic Chaplain at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center; Senator Says Hiring a Catholic Chaplain Would Help Provide A Safer Environment & Help Ensure Inmates Can Seek Support & Properly Worship If They Choose Just-Passed Federal Omnibus Spending Bill Provides $7.28 Billion for Federal BOP, An Increase of $271M; Schumer Says Newly Secured Funds Can Be Tapped To Hire Catholic Chaplain… Continue Reading
04.04.18
SCHUMER DEMANDS FERC - FED AGENCY WITH JURISDICTION - TO IMMEDIATELY LAUNCH INVESTIGATION INTO WIDESPREAD & LONG-LASTING POWER OUTAGES YEAR AFTER YEAR IN WESTCHESTER, PUTNAM COUNTIES; URGES FEDS TO UNCOVER FACTS, ASSIST COUNTIES IN IDENTIFYING PROBLEM & COME UP WITH PERMANENT SOLUTIONS
Schumer Pushes Feds To Work Hand-In-Hand With State & Local Governments To Prevent Massive Power Outages During Future Storms Schumer: Widespread & Long-Lasting Power Outages Cannot Continue Year After Year On the heels of Westchester, Putnam and the Hudson Valley being slammed by winter storms Riley and Quinn, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer today called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to immediately launch a top to bottom investigation int… Continue Reading
04.04.18
SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $89 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM IN JUST-PASSED BIPARTISAN OMNIBUS LEGISLATION
More Than 1,200 Young New Yorkers Have Participated In Youthbuild in the Past Three Years; Valuable Apprenticeship Program Helps At-Risk Youth Develop Skills and Knowledge to Get Jobs U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the just-passed bipartisan omnibus included $89,500,000 for the U.S. Department of Labor's YouthBuild program, a $5 million increase from Fiscal Year 2017. YouthBuild is a pre-apprenticeship program that helps… Continue Reading