Newsroom

US Senator Charles E. Schumer reached the halfway point of his pledge to visit all 62 New York counties after only three months in office. Throughout his visits to 31 counties, Schumer has talked with thousands of individuals about the issues and concerns important to them and their communities. He has made revitalization of Upstate's economy, and returning wellpaying jobs to Upstate, his top priority in the Senate. "Upstate New York should be a thriving region," said Schumer.... Read More

US Senator Charles Schumer released findings today showing that the Capital Region is facing new highs in gasoline and heating oil prices with more increase to come as the oil strike in Venezuela deepens and war with Iraq becomes more likely. Schumer urged the Bush Administration to reconsider its decision to rule out using oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), a stockpile created in 1975 to deal with oil emergencies in the United States, in order to calm crude oil supply fears and... Read More

With falling Medicare reimbursements threatening ambulance service throughout Syracuse and New York State, US Senator Charles E. Schumer today unveiled a plan that would boost payments to ambulance providers. Standing alongside some of the Syracuse Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics who responded to the World Trade Center attacks, Schumer stressed the urgent need to increase support for first responder emergency medical personnel. Currently, Medicare pays about $2.1 billion each... Read More

Senator Charles E. Schumer, author of the 1994 Crime Bill, today announced that the Village of Perry has been awarded a $75,000 federal grant under the bill's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The money will be used to hire one new community police officer as part of the bill's aim to add new cops to the beat. "As the author of the COPS program, I am proud to announce this grant," said Schumer. "In order to combat crime effectively, police departments... Read More

Schumer's new plan to protect New York City includes federal background checks for truck drivers, mandated tracking technology in trucks, and a database to monitor hazardous materials traveling along our highways US Senator Chuck Schumer today warned that unsecured trucks going in and out of New York City pose a major terrorist threat and left unaddressed leave New York vulnerable to significant attack. To counter the threats posed by trucks transporting hazardous chemicals and fuels to... Read More

Standing outside the Veridien Corporation in Cheektowaga, Senator Charles Schumer and NYS Assembly Majority Leader Paul Tokasz today asked the US Justice Department to fund a study into the feasability of developing a quickrelease seat belt device for police vehicles. Veridian is working to develop an automatic seat belt release that would allow officers to reach their weapons or exit the vehicle more quickly in an emergency. They were joined by Buffalo Police Commissioner Rocco Diina and... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today called upon business leaders to join him in forming an Upstate organization modeled on "Association for a Better New York" (ABNY), focused on the economic revival of the region. Schumer made his call during an address to ABNY this morning in New York City. "Twenty years ago, ABNY pulled New York City back from the brink of economic catastrophe," said Schumer. "But now we need an ABNY for Upstate, as well. Upstate has such tremendous... Read More

Senator Charles E. Schumer, author of the 1994 Crime Bill, today announced that the Village of Montgomery has been awarded a $37,500 federal grant under the bill's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program. The money will be used to hire one new parttime community police officer as part of the bill's aim to add new cops to the beat. "As the author of the COPS program, I am proud to announce this grant," said Schumer. "In order to combat crime effectively, police... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (DNY), Russ Feingold (DWI), Ron Wyden (DOR), Evan Bayh (DIN) and Al Franken (DMN) announced new legislation Thursday to blunt the harmful impacts from the Supreme Court's decision allowing corporations and other special interests to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. The lawmakers said their goal is for the Senate to pass the new measure by July 4 so the law can take effect in time for the 2010 midterm elections.   The legislation is... Read More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today reiterated his request that the United States Department of Commerce issue its decision regarding apple juice concentrate imports from China. October 5 is the earliest date that the Department of Commerce has said that they could make t heir decision on the dumping petition filed by US Apple on June 7. "I am deeply concerned about the continuing negative impact of cheap apple juice concentrate imports from China on our apple growers and... Read More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Mount Vernon Fire Department will receive a grant totaling $191,392 as part of Round 13 of the FY09 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used to improve operations and safety at the fire department. "This essential grant ensures that the Mount Vernon Fire Department will continue to have the basic resources required to do their jobs, improve safety and... Read More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Morton's Corners Volunteer Fire Companyin Springville has received a federal grant totaling $62,600  as part of Round 13 of the FY09 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used to improve operations and safety at the fire company with new rescue and self contained breathing equipment. "This essential grant ensures that the Morton's Corners Volunteer Fire... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) has received an $8,171,944 grant from the United States Department of Transportation. These funds will allow Centro to purchase 42 new compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses. Centro's yearly ridership is approximately twelve million. The new buses will be rotated throughout the system and will be used on a majority of Centro's routes. All buses are expected to be... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer and Rep. Nita M. Lowey today revealed new data showing that New York State communities stand to lose millions of dollars in education, housing and police aid as a result of Republican's proposed appropriations cuts. In a plan that is gathering steam, the GOP recently proposed cutting discretionary spending across the board in order to meet self imposed spending caps. Schumer and Lowey's analysis of cuts to New York State is based on Congressional Budget... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today hosted a discussion of rail shipping problems with Surface Transportation Board Chair Linda Morgan, representatives of Norfolk Southern and CSX, local businesses and manufacturers who rely on rail service, US Representatives Jack Quinn and Tom Reynolds and Erie County Executive Dennis Gorski. Area businesses have been experiencing major delays in service since June, when Conrail was broken up by Norfolk Southern and CSX Corporation. The rail delays have proved... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that Linda Morgan will come to visit Buffalo on October 18. In an additional development, Schumer met today with John Snow, the CEO and President of CSX Corporation, who promised the Senator that he will establish a hotline to address consumer complaints and work with Norfolk Southern on the CP Draw bridge issue and other operational issues affecting Western New York shippers and businesses. "Two weeks ago, I asked Linda Morgan, the Chair of the... Read More

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that sent a personal letter to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Richard Kessel, urging him to craft a longer term energy agreement with the Western New York based company, Steuben Foods. Currently, NYPA has offered them a 7  year contract, which could hinder their plans for a major expansion. Schumer said that Steuben Foods meets all the criteria put forth by NYPA for a longer term contract, and... Read More

The New York City and Long Island congressional delegation today joined Deputy Secretary of Transportation Mort Downey to award the first installment of federal funds for the East Side Access Project. The $43 million check, which will fund the final design and initial construction phases of the project, was presented to E. Virgil Conway, New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Daniel Patrick Moynihan stood with Representatives Greg... Read More

US Senator Charles E. Schumer (DNY) today joined Sen. Jeff Sessions (RAL) to introduce the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 1999. The SessionsSchumer Bill, which is also cosponsored by Senators Thurmond (RSC), Biden (DDE), Feinstein (DCA), Helms (RNC) and Cleland (DGA), seeks to reform federal civil asset forfeiture laws while preserving forfeiture as a valuable law enforcement tool. "I'm proud to stand here today with my colleagues to discuss our new civil forfeiture reform bill... Read More

Calling the New York City encephalitis outbreak a dry run for a biological terrorist assault on a major urban area, US Senator Charles Schumer today called on the General Accounting Office to conduct an audit of the federal response to the West Nilelike encephalitis virus outbreak in order to better prepare for a biological terrorist attack against the United States. Schumer also called on the White House to appoint a national director to coordinate and evaluate domestic response plans, as well... Read More