Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On September 15,2015, standing at CNY Farm Supply in Cortland, NY, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today said the current federal tax code is preventing farmers from investing in new farm equipment. The modern equipment available for farmers today, while expensive, is fitted with the latest safety features to help prevent injury and loss of life, as well as technology that increases efficiency and employs emission controls that help reduce air pollution and fertilizer runoff. Schumer said if small farmers had better incentives to purchase new farming equipment, those in Cortland County and around New York State would be more inclined to make these costly investments. Therefore, Schumer urged his colleagues in the Senate to support the bi-partisan tax plan that would help family farmers and ranchers finance new equipment, putting money back in their wallets, so they can invest in their business and strengthen the local economy. This bill, the Agriculture Equipment and Machinery Depreciation Act, would restore and make permanent the 5-year depreciation recovery period for the cost of farming machines and equipment. This bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Union.