Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On October 18, 2021, standing with Capital Region seniors, Senator Schumer said recent predictions of winter heating price spikes are cause for concern that demands new federal action. Schumer said predictions that gas and heating bills in the Capital Region could rise up to 31%, the biggest increase in home heating bills in more than a decade, require a two-pronged federal push involving the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its home energy assistance office. Schumer called on HHS to release Upstate NY’s federal funds as the applications are logged and he said those applications across the Capital Region are now available for seniors and others to fill out. The federal account was funded with more than $3 billion last year, and is at no risk of failing to make payments, but the senator wants all payments to New Yorkers expedited given the recent pricing predictions. Schumer also announced that he will seek a $100 million increase in the federal program via the upcoming budget, in anticipation of higher energy costs associated with supply chain waves induced by the COVID-19 pandemic.