Chuck Schumer for U.S. Senate: News Articles

Staten Island Advance Endorses Schumer for Senate

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

It’s hard to remember the last time in which both of a state’s U.S. Senators were up for re-election in the same year. The staggered six-year terms in the Senate usually prevent that from happening. But Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to serve out the unexpired term of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and she will have to run for re-election again in 2012.

It’s also hard to remember when senators up for re-election enjoyed such dominating leads in their races. Indeed, most people don’t even know who their opponents are.

Both Sen. Charles Schumer and Sen. Gillibrand have commanding leads in recent polls, even though one is a seasoned veteran and the other is practically a rookie and making her first run for the Senate in her own right.

Sen. Schumer, who has been in Congress for 30 years and in the Senate for 12, is one of the most powerful people in Congress at this point. And even in a body filled with high-powered, talented people, his intelligence and breadth of knowledge is awe-inspiring.

But he’s no aloof intellectual with his head in the clouds. As knowledgeable as he is about the international banking system and global technology trends, he’s just as familiar with the local issues that concern New Yorkers in every one of the state’s 62 counties.

On Staten Island he has been instrumental in getting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to start the S89 route to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system in Bayonne, in securing desperately needed funding for Richmond University Medical Center and for cleaning up the toxin-laden former Sedutto’s Ice Cream property in Port Richmond, among other accomplishments.
He is the first U.S. senator from New York to pay that kind of attention to Staten Island-specific issues and that has earned him the endorsement of Borough President James Molinaro, a Conservative.

“We endorse a friend, not just a friend of mine, but a friend of Staten Island,” Mr. Molinaro said. “He’s been there whenever the need required him to be. He deserves another six years.”

He added, “The man takes my call when I have a problem on Staten Island. It would do an injustice to the 500,000 people here [not to endorse him].”

Mr. Schumer’s principal opponent, upstate businessman Jay Townsend, has the Republican and Conservative endorsements, and is a credible candidate. But has been unable to raise the kind of money to make it a credible race. No matter, from where we stand. Sen. Schumer deserves re-election.

Sen. Gillibrand has not been around long enough to have the same impact, but she has demonstrated she is a hard worker, a quick study and determined to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. She’s a sensible centrist who is flexible enough to take positions on the issues based solely on the merits, rather than ideological or political consistency.

Her main opponent, Joseph DioGuardi, a former Republican congressman, has made opposing everything a Democrat would support the sole focus of his campaign. We understand that may be enough for some, but it’s not for us.

Sen. Gillibrand has earned the right to finish out this term and then run for re-election in two years. We urge voters to give her that chance on Tuesday.

Syracuse Post-Standard endorses Charles Schumer for a third term in U.S. Senate

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Syracuse, NY -- Sen. Charles Schumer has been on the state’s political scene for so long — 36 years — it’s easy to dismiss him as a career politician with an eye always on the next election. New York’s senior senator, a Democrat, has been relentless about frequently visiting each of the state’s 62 counties — and even more relentless about promoting his activities while on the road and on Capitol Hill.

But Schumer cannot be dismissed. He is an accomplished legislator with a track record of working with Republicans, an energetic advocate for New Yorkers, and a middle-class kid who believes a government that does a lot for the rich and the poor can do more for those in between.

For those reasons, we believe voters should re-elect Schumer to a third six-year term in the U.S. Senate.

His opponent, the courtly Hudson Valley businessman Jay Townsend, has the Republican and Conservative endorsements and support from tea party adherents. He has fought an uphill battle to raise cash, and to raise his profile.

The two are diametrically opposed on most issues.

Townsend would “de-fund” and repeal Obamacare. Schumer voted for the health care overhaul and believes it will save money in the long run. Townsend said the economic stimulus was a failure. Schumer said it prevented another Great Depression. Townsend would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for all for another five years. Schumer is open to extending them for people who make up to $1 million, higher than the White House has proposed.

Both say they would work with the other party to end the rancor and get things done in Washington. However, Schumer has the record to back up his assertion, pointing to legislation to expand tax credits for college tuition and a payroll tax break for employers who hire someone off the unemployment line.

Schumer also has delivered for Central New York. He intervened when a landlord/tenant dispute threatened to drive AXA/Equitable out of downtown Syracuse. He pressured lender GE Capital to give the bankrupt Penn Traffic more time to find a buyer. He secured federal money to dredge the port of Oswego.

Since joining the Senate in 1999, Schumer has been a staunch defender of Wall Street and a beneficiary of political largesse from it. He helped negotiate the $700 billion bank bailout, a target of tea party ire. But in a tilt toward Main Street, earlier this year he voted for new regulatory curbs on Wall Street.

Schumer says his focus is on the middle class and on repairing the partisan divide. He has proven he can operate in a highly political atmosphere. New York, and the nation, need him in the U.S. Senate. We urge you to return him.

Albany Times Union Endorses Schumer

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

New Yorkers have the rare opportunity to cast two votes for the US Senate next week. They should re-elect Sen. Charles Schumer to another six-year term and elect Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to two more years of the term she was appointed to last year. Anything else would put the Democrats' majority at risk and make the prospects for an economic recovery all the more daunting.

It was just two years ago, as Mr. Schumer so forcefully notes, that the country was on the verge of an economic collapse. The devastating effects of deflation were a very real possibility. It took the sort of government intervention that he supported to avert such a crisis.

Voters should ask themselves how much worse things would be, for instance, if the $787 billion economic stimulus that Mr. Schumer supported hadn't been approved. They should try to imagine the consequences of another 3.5 million workers whose jobs were either created or saved by the stimulus being unemployed instead.

Voters should remember, too, the 4.5 million or so people who have gotten jobs with companies that took advantage of tax relief legislation that Mr. Schumer co-sponsored to hire people who had been out of work. And they might consider how many more people could be working if the legislation he's pushing to provide tax breaks to companies that bring overseas jobs back home were to become law.

Mr. Schumer's opponent, Jay Townsend, opposes both the stimulus and another notable achievement of the Obama administration and the Democraic Congress-- the health care law that provides insurance to some 30 million Americans who didn't have any.

His approach to managing the economy and expanding health care coverage would be, in essence, to continue the policies of the Bush administration. He'd continue tax cuts to the richest 2 percent of Americans -- individuals making more than $200,000 and families making more than $250,000. That's an idea that Mr. Schumer sensibly opposes.

Mr. Schumer is right that the President and Congress need to do more to help the middle class. Doing so, though, will be all but impossible if the Republicans who have resisted the President at every opportunity regain control of Congress.

Ms. Gillibrand also voted for the stimulus. She, too, has been a strong advocate of such modest yet practical measures as using tax credits and loans as an incentive for businesses to hire more workers. Her opponent, former U.S. Rep. Joseph DioGuardi ignores the progress that has been made. An economy that was losing some 700,000 jobs a month now is creating them, albeit not fast enough.

Mr. DioGuardi's signature issue is the need to reduce both the federal budget deficit and the nation debt. Yet his credibility on those issues is undermined by his insistence on continuing tax cuts for the very rich. Ms. Gillibrand makes the more convincing case when she says the best way to pay down the national debt is to get people back to work.

Like Mr. Schumer, Ms. Gillibrand deserves the opportunity to go back to Washington to continue to push for an economic recovery.

Democrat and Chronicle: Our Recommendation: Charles Schumer for US Senate

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Our recommendation: Charles Schumer for U.S. Senate

After 12 years in the U.S. Senate, Democrat Charles Schumer has demonstrated that he can be a national leader while simultaneously paying close attention to the concerns of New Yorkers.

Schumer is the Democrat and Chronicle’s choice for re-election to serve a third term.

He is being challenged by Republican Jay Townsend, a political consultant from Cornwall-on-Hudson, who failed to make a persuasive case for unseating the incumbent.

In fact, Townsend offered little in original, substantive solutions to problems confronting the nation and New York. He too often posed simplistic, boilerplate remedies such as “finish the job in Iraq,” or “repeal Obamacare.” When pressed, he too often lacked detail.

Schumer, on the other hand, has moved up the ranks in the Senate, mainly because of his reputation for doing his homework and swift responses.

While it’s true that it sometimes seems that he takes scatter shots — there is no problem that Schumer doesn’t seem to have a solution for — the media savvy senator has proven to be quite effective for the most part.

Take his role in the ill-fated Renaissance Square project. To Schumer’s credit, he got involved amid foot-dragging by project sponsors and set needed deadlines for decision-making.

Similarly, Schumer, among other area leaders, worked hard to keep high-end men’s clothing manufacturer Hickey Freeman based in Rochester and more than 100 jobs.

Schumer has been equally responsive to issues facing the nation as a whole. For instance, he has been at the forefront of efforts to reform national immigration laws. Though, for political reasons, he’s had little success on that issue so far, Schumer is hopeful about getting a significant reform bill adopted soon.

On vital issues such as health care reform and energy policy, Schumer has also played a pivotal role.

And he understands well that jobs are the No. 1 issue for Americans, and that more must be done. Specifically, he’s working to help make the Rochester region the No. 1 research and production area for hydrogen fuel cells. It helped hugely that Schumer was instrumental in getting threatened funding for the General Motors’ Honeoye Falls research facility restored in the last federal budget. The wisdom of that decision is evident in that the facility recently secured a major contract with the U.S. Navy.

Schumer has served his country, state and the region well. He’s earned another six-year term.

Jounal News: Our Recommendation for US Senate: Schumer

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Our recommendation for U.S.
Senate

The financial collapse and the painfully slow crawl
back to recovery are the dominant themes in these
midterm elections, and rightly so. The debate over
how much and what kind of government
intervention is needed to get the economy moving
splits candidates running for office along sharply
partisan lines, just as in the Congress. Nowhere is
this more evident than in the race between
Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, a powerhouse on
the Senate Finance and Banking committees, and
Republican Jay Townsend, a marketing consultant
from Cornwall-on-Hudson.

We endorse Schumer's re-election for a third term.
Notwithstanding all the justified anger about the
economy this campaign season, the fact is, Wall
Street is our GM, our oil industry, our Silicon Valley;
Schumer appreciates this, and has worked with
Democrats and Republicans to ensure that New York
continues to be the financial capital of the world. In
the aftermath of the Great Recession, that means
preserving New York jobs, the revenue that keeps all
of New York going, and at once curbing Wall Street's
excesses.

Worked with Bush

Schumer, who also has the Independence and
Working Families lines, worked with President
George W. Bush's administration to get the Troubled
Assets Relief Program through Congress. This was
during the dark days of fall 2008, when supposedly
venerable financial institutions were going belly up o
ne after the other, and stock prices were in free fall
across broad indices. The flawed bailout for
financial institutions was unpopular then — and
remains an easy target — but it helped stave off the
total collapse of the financial markets.

Townsend, also on the Conservative line, has
consulted on many political campaigns but never
run for elected office until now. He says he would
have opposed TARP, essentially rolling the dice on
whether total economic collapse and depression
might have followed. As imperfect as TARP was, it
would have been reckless to wager the lifeblood of
New York and the region — Wall Street — by voting
against it. Voters with longer memories than the
GOP challenger's might recall that after an initial
failed vote on TARP, stock market prices tumbled

even more, spreading fiscal pain across the globe.
To be sure, TARP was a bitter but necessary pill for
the nation.

Spreading blame

Like so many candidates running against
Washington and Wall Street, Townsend has a myopic
view of what caused the financial collapse; almost
singularly, he attributes the difficulty to efforts to
expand housing opportunities through Freddie Mac
and Fannie Mae, the government-backed mortgage
concerns. That's part of it, of course, but it was s
lack regulation, widespread greed and mindless
housing speculation, on Main Street and beyond,
that was our undoing. Failure to grasp that reality
makes it nearly impossible to institute the broad
reforms necessary to avert future harm and preserve
New York as the financial hub of the world.

Indeed, a wider view would necessarily target
Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and
Schumer in particular, for criticism. Their lack of
oversight — even in the face of early warnings from
consumer and good-government groups — made
the housing collapse inevitable. During the course
of his tenure, Schumer has been a cheerleader for
deregulating the banking industry. In 2006, he
helped weaken legislation that would have tightened
standards for the securities rating agencies, whose
inflated ratings fed the frenzy for complex securities
that later failed.

In hindsight, Schumer seems to recognize the high
cost of deregulation and unfettered markets. This
spring, he endorsed the much-needed financial
reform package, despite the objections of banking-
industry executives who are his largest campaign
contributors; their preference was to maintain the
status quo, notwithstanding the harm done to the
livelihoods of working people across the nation.
Townsend, on the other hand, said he would have
voted against the financial reform legislation,
gambling once again with our future and the known.
That's no good for Wall Street or Main Street. Our
fates, a New York senator must understand, are
connected.

Schumer also backed the stimulus package and the
new health-care law — responding to the needs of
citizens and businesses, which have been clamoring
for reform. Some popular benefits of the reform law
have already taken effect, such as measures ending l
ifetime limits on coverage and extending coverage
for older children; eventually more than 30 million
Americans without insurance will get care.
Townsend's solution is to repeal the law and replace
it, sending the nation back to square one
indefinitely. After the grueling and divisive fight on
the all-important health-care issue, going back
would be unacceptable. We think Schumer will keep
us moving forward.

Again, BP Shaked Ties With the Right

Sun, 17 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- He's doing it again.
Conservative Borough President James P. Molinaro is crossing party lines, this time to back U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) for re-election.

"We endorse a friend, not just a friend of mine, but a friend of Staten Island," Molinaro said yesterday in announcing his endorsement at the Eltingville Transit Center. "He's been there whenever the need required him to be. He deserves another six years" in office.

Schumer, a two-term senator, is being challenged by Republican/Conservative candidate Jay Townsend.

Molinaro has caught flak from those on the right for his endorsements this year of Rep. Michael McMahon and gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo, both Demo- A?
crats.

Molinaro said it was fitting that the endorsement took place at the Transit Center, a hub where a number of buses, including the S89, stop.

The borough president praised Schumer for helping secure the S89, which takes Islanders over the Bayonne Bridge so they can use the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system in New Jersey.

"We were only able to get it because of Schumer," said Molinaro, who called the bus, "our biggest accomplishment in transportation on Staten Island."

Molinaro said close to 1,200 commuters a day make use of the bus.

He also lauded Schumer for securing money for Richmond University Medical Center and for helping in the effort to clean up the old Sedutto's Ice Cream property in Port Richmond, which was contaminated by lead.

Molinaro said that Schumer also stepped in when the state Department of Environmental Conservation stymied efforts by city officials to control brush fires on the South Shore by cutting back phragmites.

"I have called upon Senator Schumer a number of times, and he has never once said no, that he couldn't get involved in an issue."

Schumer called Molinaro's endorsement "very meaningful."

"I have always fought for the middle class. Staten Island is middle class," said Schumer. "They don't ask for much, just a nice place to live, good schools, good amenities. I always go to bat for Jim Molinaro."

Schumer said, if re-elected, he'd continue working with the borough president on transportation issues, such as expanding the Staten Island Expressway and establishing a North Shore light-rail system, along with securing more hospital funding.

Molinaro said the two have a long relationship, with Schumer impressing Molinaro by asking to attend the beep's first swearing-in ceremony in 2002.

"We became very friendly," Molinaro said.

It didn't hurt that Molinaro also cultivated a relationship with Schumer's wife, former city Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall.

Molinaro acknowledged that he disagreed with Schumer on health-care reform. Schumer was one of the new law's biggest boosters, but Molinaro is among those who thinks that the Island will be harmed by the reforms.

"The endorsement doesn't change my opinion about the things that I disagree with him on," said Molinaro. "But you don't divorce your wife because you don't agree on everything."

And Island voters understand cross-endorsements better than most, he said.

"They have a reputation of picking and choosing their candidates and splitting tickets," Molinaro said.

"They're sophisticated voters, better informed voters."

As he did with the McMahon and Cuomo endorsements, Molinaro said that he was unconcerned with any political blowback.

"Every action has a reaction," he said. "I'm doing what is in the best interest of 500,000 people on Staten Island."

Schumer: Small Business Jobs Act worthwhile

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Small businesses in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties saved more than $200,000 in the last year-and-a-half due to suspension of loan guarantee fees from the Small Business Administration, according to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer.

Legislation to extend the program that eliminated those fees and offered enhanced loan guarantees to small business passed in the Senate Thursday and is expected to pass the House in the next few days, Schumer said.

The Small Business Jobs Act would extend measures originally contained in the economic stimulus package of early 2009, including eliminating fees that small businesses are required to pay when they receive an SBA loan and increased loan guarantees, from 75 percent to 90 percent, Schumer said.

Schumer released figures showing that small businesses in Genesee County saved $97,419 the last 18 months because of the fee suspension for 35 loan guarantees worth $3,247,300.

The figures for Orleans County are $75,360 savings in fees for 12 loan guarantees worth $2,512,000. For Wyoming County, the listings show a $43,482 savings in fees for 33 loan guarantees worth $1,449,400.

Schumer seeks review of jump in flood insurance costs

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

A whopping increase in flood insurance payments for some 20,000 Long Island property owners would be put on hold until a re-evaluation of storm risk to homes and businesses is conducted by the federal government under a "moratorium" plan announced Monday by Sen. Charles Schumer.

At Valley Stream Village Hall, Schumer, a Democrat, said the new flood hazard zone maps recently put into place by the Federal Emergency Management Agency were "inaccurate, outdated and flawed," and needlessly cost some property owners as much as $2,000 in flood insurance payments annually. He said no evidence exists of a historical risk to many properties, particularly those in Valley Stream, and he promised to push the agency to re-examine its methods before year's end.

"FEMA must go back to the drawing board, put an immediate moratorium in place and conduct a comprehensive" new study that examines the sea-level height of each property added to the agency's new drawing of the flood maps on Long Island, he said. "All the evidence points to a significant misfire by FEMA in its mapping, modeling and implementation."

Timothy Crowley, FEMA's regional mitigation director overseeing flood maps, said he hadn't yet received Schumer's request but defended his agency's methods in examining flood risk to the newly added Long Island properties, most of them in Nassau County's southern communities. Property owners in the flood zones with federally backed mortgages must carry flood insurance.

"As for the maps, it uses state-of-the art techniques and is the most accurate depiction of risk within our budget," Crowley said. He said the agency's budget doesn't allow for property-by-property evaluation, but noted that several homeowners recently had challenged their inclusion in the flood zone successfully.
FEMA officials in Washington, without commenting specifically on Schumer's proposal, said they're willing to listen.

"The process of updating these maps, some which have not been updated in decades, is an ongoing, collaborative process, and FEMA will continue to work closely with states and local communities and take relevant data into account while updating its flood maps based on the best available information," said spokesman Brad Carroll.

Schumer in Syracuse promotes $600 million bill to secure Mexican border

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer stood outside the Onondaga Court House this morning to discuss a $600 million emergency package to address illegal immigration along the Mexican border.

The bill, which was unanimously approved on Tuesday by the House of Representatives, would be spent on investigators to stop border patrol corruption, communication equipment and 1,000 border patrol agents, said Schumer, who is the chairman of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee.

“Everyone knows, our immigration system is broken and it’s in need of fixing,” Schumer said. “There are so many people trying to cross our southern border, coming across the border illegally, that law enforcement can’t possible keep up. When you talk to the leaders of the southern border, they will tell you, they don’t have the manpower or the equipment to get the job done and that is unacceptable.”

The bill will be paid for by a hike in fees to companies that recruit foreign workers using H1B and L visas, Schumer said. These fees would increase to $2,000 per visa application.

“The good news is, this doesn’t cost the taxpayer one nickel” Schumer said. “It’s coming from companies, mainly foreign companies, who basically, in my judgment, abuse the intention of the H1B program.”

These companies include Wipro, Infosys, Tata and Mahindra Satyam. All four companies are headquartered in India.

The bill is expected to receive a final Senate vote later this week. Schumer is confident that it will pass. “Since we’ve already e-mailed all the senators — ‘hotlined’ the bill, as it’s called — we don’t expect anybody to block it,” he said.
Here is a breakdown of how the $600 million will be spent:

• $176 million for 1,000 new border patrol agents to form a strike force.

• $50 million for border interdiction.

• $39 million to keep current levels of customs and border protection officers.

• $37.7 million for the U.S. Marshals Service to provide prisoner production and security support for defendants.

• $37.5 million for the continued expansion of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm’s Project Gunrunner, which targets firearms trafficking across the southwest border.

• $33.7 to the Drug Enforcement Administration for investigations, intelligence, surveillance and other operational needs.

• $32 million to deploy unmanned aerial vehicle surveillance (drones) on border.

• $30 million for border interdiction.

• $29 million for 250 new customs and borders protection officers at ports of entry.

• $27 million for detention and incarceration space to address the increase in the prisoner population.

• $24 million to the FBI in the border region.

• $21 million for interagency enforcement.

• $14 million for communication equipment for new officers.

• $13.1 million for prosecutorial support.

• $10 million for Federal Judiciary resources.

• $10 million for investigations to stop corruption in border patrol and customs and border protection.

• $8 million for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

• $6 million to deploy forward operating bases along the border.

• $2.1 million to process and adjudicate removal proceedings involving criminal aliens.

HIRE Now helps employers, unemployed

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

ALBANY — U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is pushing for the extension of a bill passed earlier this year that gives tax cuts and other incentives to employers who hire workers who have been unemployed for at least 60 days.

The HIRE Now tax cut bill, penned by Schumer and Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, went into effect in March. It’s set to expire in December but Schumer and other officials are supporting extending the bill for an additional six months.

At Albany Medical Center Monday, Schumer joined Assistant Treasury Secretary Alan Krueger, Congressman Paul Tonko, AMC President and CEO James Barba and a number of local officials to highlight the positive impact the HIRE Now tax cuts have already had.

Since it went into effect, employers have received tax cuts for more than 300,000 employees they’ve hired in New York. That includes 155 people hired at AMC.

Nationally, employers have received tax cuts for over 5.6 million employees which translates into a nationwide savings of $10.4 billion, according to Krueger.

As the bill currently stands, any private-sector employer who hires a worker who has been unemployed for at least 60 days doesn’t have to pay the employer’s share — 6.2 percent — of the Social Security payroll tax on that employee for the remainder of 2010.

It applies to any worker hired after the date of introduction, Feb. 3, 2010.

As further incentive, for any qualifying worker hired under the initiative who is kept on payroll for a continuous 52 weeks, the employer is eligible for an additional $1,000 tax credit.

There are a few other requirements for an employer seeking the tax cuts.

Workers who are family members of the employer aren’t eligible, and the payroll tax deduction only applies to private-sector jobs. It cannot be applied to new jobs created by tax dollars in the first place.

According to Barba, AMC had instituted a hiring freeze in early 2009 due to the economic recession. The enactment of the HIRE Now tax cut allowed AMC to hire 155 new workers.

“The HIRE Act allowed us to lift the hiring freeze, create employment opportunities and ensure we have all the staff necessary to meet the medical needs of the three million residents of our 25-county service area.”

Under the current law, a business that hires a worker making a $40,000 annual salary in August will save a total of $1,003. If the extension is passed, that same business will save $2,273 on that same worker.

Because the tax benefits currently only last through the end of the year, businesses had an incentive to hire immediately, according to Schumer. Extending it for six months will give businesses an increased incentive to hire (and continue hiring.)

With the extension, any business that hires a new worker under the program would not have to pay their share of Social Security taxes through June 2011.

Part of what makes this current recession different than previous eras of national economic trouble is that job cuts are affecting people in a wide variety of socioeconomic classes, and people are finding themselves unable to find another job for much longer, according to Schumer.

Currently, the average worker is unemployed for 10 months, said New York’s senior senator, who called the plight of unemployed workers “heartbreaking.”

Though the rate of new job creation isn’t as high as officials would like, the private-sector has seen some growth, according to Krueger, who joined Schumer and the others in congratulating AMC on their use of the HIRE Now tax cuts.

“We’re going to come out of this stronger and better than ever,” said Tonko about the recession. “I’m totally optimistic.”

Schumer: End aEUR~schemesaEUR(TM) holding vetsaEUR(TM) benefits

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

ALBANY – U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is seeking to end a practice in which insurance companies hold the death benefits of soldiers killed in action to collect interest while doling out small amounts to survivors.
In the widespread, legal practice first reported by Bloomberg Markets magazine, insurance companies provide a small amount of interest to grieving families and provide a checkbook to withdraw funds. Meanwhile, the companies that hold the benefits collect greater interest.

The New York Democrat says he is crafting a measure that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs and the federal personnel office for all federal workers to contract with companies that offer a lump sum payment for a death benefit as the default.

There was no immediate comment from Veterans Affairs.

Schumer opposes plan to cut $37M for hydrogen fuel cell development

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

HENRIETTA — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer today said he would fight a $37 million cut in funding for hydrogen fuel cell development that is proposed in President Barack Obama’s budget.

Schumer toured the Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies at Rochester Institute of Technology, and drove a hydrogen-powered car developed at General Motors’ Honeoye Falls plant around the campus.

The development of alternative fuels is essential to breaking the country’s addiction to oil from the Middle East and for reducing pollution, Schumer said.

“You don’t eliminate your seed corn,” Schumer said of the proposed cut.

RIT and GM work closely on developing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and RIT has a hydrogen fueling station on campus. The vehicles have no carbon emissions.

“Rochester can be for fuel cells what Silicon Valley is for technology or New York City is for finance,” Schumer said.

The challenges of bringing the technology to the mass market are making the vehicles affordable and installing fueling stations.

RIT President Bill Destler said access to hydrogen as a barrier to widespread use of the cars is overblown, and that GM could create a network of them with relative ease if they installed them at their dealerships.

The cars are expected to be in production on a wide scale in 2015, said Daniel O’Connell, director of Global Field Service, Support and Infrastructure at GM’s Honeoye Falls fuel cell plant.

Bill seeks to ban sex offenders from working with kids

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Convicted sex offenders can legally work as tutors, coaches and in other positions where they are close to children, according to Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Sunday he said he would propose legislation to change that.

Schumer's legislation would make it illegal for registered sex offenders to work or volunteer in positions that put them in "direct and substantial" contact with children.

It would also require business owners to confirm that employees or volunteers in these types of positions are not registered sex offenders. Businesses not in compliance would be fined, Schumer said, with escalating penalties for repeat offenders.

Schumer credited Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan's Law and The Crime Victims Center in Stony Brook, with the idea for the proposed law.

Ahearn said many parents mistakenly believe that such laws currently exist.

"There's this assumption that the law is protecting them, but the reality is that it's not," she said.

Ahearn said businesses in New York can check whether an employee is a registered sex offender by contacting the Division of Criminal Justice Services online or at 800-262-3257.

Her organization operates the federally funded Sex Offender Registration Tips, or SORT program, which investigates complaints about alleged violations by sex offenders. About half of the cases her office investigates are referred to authorities, Ahearn said.

In 2009, Ahearn said, her organization investigated the case of convicted sex offender and former schoolteacher Bradley Dieffenbacher, of Levittown. Dieffenbacher, on probation for an earlier sex offense conviction, worked as a private tutor for a 15-year-old boy in Suffolk County. SORT program staff determined the job violated terms of his probation and they contacted authorities, she said. Dieffenbacher was sent back to prison.

Ahearn said roughly 80 percent of registered sex offenders aren't serving parole or probation, which means they are not barred from holding such positions, which they would be if Schumer's legislation passes.

"There's absolutely nothing law enforcement can do," she said. Her program notifies parents and employers in such situations, she said

Schumer: Hiring jobless could bring firms tax breaks

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

ROME — Legislation recently passed in the U.S. Senate could provide tax break to local businesses who hire unemployed persons, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said here Monday.

That could help persons such as Chuck Obernesser, 56, of New Hartford, who attended Schumer's event at Assured Information Security Inc.

He said he has been unemployed since he lost his job more than seven months ago as fixed operations manager of Saturn of the Mohawk Valley, which closed.

Obernesser said he hopes the legislation is able to create permanent jobs to assist the unemployed.

“Right now, we need all the help we can get to get people back to work,” he said.

The legislation, introduced by Schumer and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, would offer tax breaks to companies that increase their work force by hiring workers who have been unemployed for 60 days or more. The businesses wouldn't have to pay the employer's share of Social Security taxes for the worker for 2010.

Schumer said this would directly help create jobs because it would give businesses considering starting to hire again an incentive to make the move.

“This will push them over the edge,” he said.

Almost 849,000 people in the state - including 8,200 people in Oneida County - would be eligible to be hired through the program, Schumer said.

The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the initiative would cost $13 billion, according to a news release from Schumer.

Schumer met Monday with some local unemployed people, officials and business leaders at Assured Information Security Inc. at Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome.
Assured Information Security President Charles Green said the company has about 90 employees and is looking to hire 10 to 15 new workers.

Company Director of Strategic Initiatives Igor Plonisch said he hopes the business is able to take advantage of the legislation.

“But the key with this is it's there, and it's an opportunity for businesses - especially small businesses,” he said.

The legislation passed in the Senate last week with a vote of 70-28, Schumer said. Because of the bipartisan support, Schumer said he believes it would pass the House of Representatives this week and be signed into law by President Barack Obama within a week.

The program provides greater benefits to businesses for hiring people sooner, Schumer said. Also, for every new employee kept on the payroll for 52 continuous weeks, the business would receive an additional $1,000 credit on its 2011 tax return, he said.

Schumer said the legislation is beneficial because it is bipartisan, immediate, simple and goes directly to creating jobs.

“Every nickel that is spent is because someone new was hired,” he said

Schumer Jobs Proposal Should get Quick Senate Approval

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Schumer jobs proposal should get quick Senate approval

Cutting taxes for hiring unemployed should help.

The Senate's new focus on job creation could result in action, rather than just talk, in a matter of days.

That's good, because lawmakers need to prove to voters that they're serious. Even better is that both Democrats and Republicans are voicing support.

Last week, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Orrin Hatch, Republican from Utah, released a plan that gives tax cuts to employers who hire people who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. Employers would not have to pay their share of the Social Security payroll tax on eligible workers hired in 2010.

The bill is a better tactic than the tax credits that President Obama has proposed because employers get immediate relief. Under the Schumer plan, employers who keep these new hires on the payroll for 52 consecutive weeks would get an additional $1,000 credit on their 2011 tax return.

It's expected that the Schumer-Hatch proposal will be part of a larger bill the Senate plans to unveil this week.

That bill would also extend unemployment benefits for people whose benefits have run out, and it would renew the subsidy for health insurance premiums under the COBRA program.

The House barely passed its own jobs bill at the end of 2009. That bill also extended unemployment benefits and the COBRA subsidy, but also had a controversial provision — taking $75 billion in money earmarked for the Wall Street bank bailout and using it for infrastructure and aid to states.

The Senate bill is the one lawmakers should concentrate on getting to Obama's desk quickly, while recognizing that employers won't add jobs until they feel confident the economy is recovering. That's why Congress must examine other tactics, such as getting lenders to loosen up credit, to improve the business climate.

Schumer Completes State Tour

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

With his visit to the Schenectady County Proctors Theatre recently, U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York, completed his 62-county tour of New York for the eleventh consecutive year.

Among Schumer's work this year was a provision included in the stimulus package that sent billions of dollars directly to New York's county governments to stave off layoffs and property tax increases; enacting into law his legislation to provide middle class families with a $2,500 college tuition tax credit; securing millions of dollars for New York families devastated by storms; saving thousands of jobs by convincing General Motors to repurchase two Delphi Automotive parts plants; securing almost $300 million in direct aid for the nation's dairy farmers who are struggling through one of the worst crisis in recent memory and keeping open the Hickey Freeman franchise in Rochester and saving hundreds of jobs in the process.

Schumer's 2009 tour of New York included 13 trips to Albany; 16 to Erie; 17 to Monroe; 14 to Onondaga; and 22 to Westchester and Rockland counties. He also made a total of 11 trips to the North Country, 12 trips to the Southern Tier, 25 trips to the Capital Region, 25 trips to Western New York, 47 trips to the Hudson Valley, 26 trips to Central New York and 25 trips to the Rochester-Finger Lakes.

"As a state and nation, we all worked hard this year to make our way through tough times. This year certainly had as many challenges as it did milestones, but without a doubt my highest accomplishment is visiting all 62 counties in New York for the eleventh year straight," Schumer said. "What I am able to achieve in Washington is directly related to my county visits. Meeting the people and seeing firsthand what they're going through is a vital part of how I go about working to solve problems in their communities. Next year will be a great year and I can't wait to kick off the 12th annual tour in 2010."

In March, Schumer secured almost $10 billion dollars in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for county governments and school districts. Schumer authored the provision enacted into law as part of the stimulus bill that sent billions of dollars directly to county governments, thereby avoiding crushing property tax hikes and layoffs of cops and firefighters. The Recovery Act also sent billions of dollars to local school districts to avoid teacher layoffs and bridge massive budget gaps.

In August, Schumer succeeded in his efforts to help bring Yahoo! to Niagara County. After speaking with Yahoo! officials, the company announced they would be locating a $150 million data center to Lockport. Schumer helped break an impasse between Yahoo! and Verizon over the cost of local access to broadband that was among the final hurdles in sealing the deal. Schumer touted the region's well-educated, talented, and affordable work force, as well as its clean, cheap power, to entice the Yahoo! to the region. Construction will begin this coming spring and once completed, the facility will employ nearly 125 people.

In September, Schumer secured millions in FEMA assistance for flood victims after floods devastated Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Erie counties. Schumer successfully secured funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Following Schumer's urging, President Barack Obama formally amended the Presidential Disaster Declaration for the area to include individual assistance for people affected by the flooding. Individual assistance funding by FEMA will help to pay for housing for those affected and also help them recover costs to replace items damaged by the floods. Schumer also succeeded in securing assistance for businesses and municipalities affected by the floods.

Schumer also secured an increase in MILC payments for dairy farmers. Schumer sponsored an amendment providing $290 million in direct aid, up to $40 million of which will go to New York, plus another $60 million in market supports. The U.S. Agriculture Department has announced its method for distributing the direct payments, which will benefit states with predominantly smaller dairy farmers. As the USDA considered methods to distribute the funding, Schumer fought, through letters and personal phone calls, to ensure the funds would go to the nation's smaller farms where it was needed most, and pushed to have the aid delivered by Christmas. Both of these requests were accepted and incorporated into the USDA's payment method.

Schumer Helps Make Federal Funds Available to Revive aEUR~Street of DreamsaEUR(TM)

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

GLENS FALLS — New Way Lunch owner Pete Gazetos served up the city’s most famous treat, a "Dirty John’s" hot dog, to U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer on Thursday.

This spring, Gazetos plans to renovate the exterior of his decades-old business on South Street, where Schumer is making $1 million in federal funds available for infrastructure improvements such as storm sewers, new sidewalks, Victorian lighting and trees.

By giving the so-called "Street of Dreams" a facelift, it’s hoped that other businesses will decide to invest and locate there as well.

"You re-do a street and it brings in private dollars," Schumer said. "It’s really a catalyst. Glens Falls is a city with grit. It’s had some decline, it’s really come back. It’s sort of a model for middle-sized cities. If it can happen in Glens Falls it can happen in lots of places in upstate New York."

South Street represents the final piece of a more than decade-long downtown revitalization, whose highlights include a new five-point traffic circle, numerous building renovations and Glens Falls Hospital’s major expansion. The Mill, a major project overlooking South Street, was done by Saratoga Springs-based Merlin Development Co. Built for luxury condominiums, the property has been sold to a new entity that’s marketing it as apartments.

Schumer and Mayor Jack Diamond outlined plans for South Street at a press conference inside the former Empire Theatre, built in 1899, where owners Michael and Susan Kaidas have spent $2.5 million converting the historic building to retail, office and residential space.

"In New York City you would pay $2 million for a place like this," Schumer said, admiring a handsome third-floor loft. Eight of 11 apartments are occupied and only one office space is yet to be filled. Commercial tenants include Glens Falls National Bank’s audit department and The McDevitt Group realtors.

Businesses are still sought for the site’s first-floor retail space. Kaidas, originally from Schenectady, also own a commercial building adjacent to Charles R. Wood Theater on Glen Street and the building where Red Fox Books is located at 28 Ridge St.

Diamond said South Street construction bids will go out in February with work expected to start by early April, completed sometime in November. Separately, a major upgrade is also planned for the corridor connecting downtown to Northway Exit 18, which links directly into South Street. So one of the city’s main gateways will soon have a whole new look.

Thursday’s visit was Schumer’s third to Glens Falls in the past year and his 18th visit to Warren County since taking office a dozen years ago. "It’s nice to see the senator show this kind of enthusiasm for a little town like ours," Gazetos said. "I’m glad he went to bat for us. It’s a step in the right direction."

Assembly member Teresa Sayward, R-Willsboro, said, "What has happened here is really what government should be doing, partnering with private developers."

However, South Street’s long-term rebirth won’t come without challenges. The Madden Hotel is home to nearly 30 lower-income residents. Diamond said restoring the old building for apartments or condominiums would cost at least $1.5 million. A better option might be razing it for new construction space.

Diamond said the city is already trying to identify new places for hotel occupants to live.

"You have to do things with humanity," Schumer said. "South Street is the last of the major streets that needs attention. This is really an investment that’s going to pay back many, many times over."

Schumer Wants LIHEAP Contingency Money Released

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is urging President Obama to release millions of dollars from a contingency fund set up to help deal with unexpected higher demand for energy assistance, an article on LoHud.com reported on Thursday. While addressing a group at the J. Edward Fox Senior Center in Mount Kisco, Schumer said that Obama should release $590 million from a fund that is part of the $5.1 billion appropriation for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.

Schumer told the group of about 50 senior citizens that, “Because so many people are applying (for heating assistance) and because it’s so cold and because the price of oil is so high, we need to tap that emergency funding now.” The senator added that he believes Obama is likely to sign off on releasing the money, because it is already part of the 2009-10 federal budget.

Schumer’s remarks follow those of New York’s junior senator, Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who recently urged New York state residents to apply for heating assistance, because the state’s LIHEAP funds are underused. She also encouraged residents to take advantage of the state’s $500 million dollars devoted to weatherization efforts, courtesy of the federal stimulus package.

Schumer said that in the last two months, 1,700 people in Westchester County have applied for LIHEAP assistance, as have 1,100 in Putnam County and another 1,100 people in Rockland County.

The senator’s spokesman, Max Young, said that about $2.5 million in LIHEAP assistance was given to Westchester residents from November 2008 to May 2009.

While New York’s funds go underused, other states are struggling to meet residents’ need for heating assistance, as the recession drives many homeowners to seek LIHEAP funds for the first time. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, which administers the state’s LIHEAP program, this year had to lower the income-eligibility requirement by $11,368, because its funding for 2009-10 was reduced by about $55 million. Pennsylvania’s LIHEAP program received a record amount of funding last year.

Vermont’s LIHEAP program could end up assisting more than 27,000 families, which would top last year’s record by at least 1,000. The Ohio LIHEAP office had to readjust its income guidelines to allow people more access to home heating assistance.

On Oct. 22, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that it would provide more than $2.6 billion in LIHEAP money to states to help people heat their homes during the last 3 months of 2009. Department spokesman Kenneth Wolfe told LoHud.com in an e-mail Wednesday that, “We have not made an announcement on the next round of funding, but will do so very soon.”

Schumer to National Grid: Keep jobs in Syracuse

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said today that he has urged National Grid’s top American executive to avoid outsourcing jobs and was assured the company will consider his input.

At a news conference in front of National Grid’s building on Erie Boulevard, Schumer said he spoke Wednesday with Tom King, president of National Grid in the U.S., about reports that the utility might outsource high-paying IT jobs, including 200 jobs in Syracuse.

King didn’t promise to avoid outsourcing, but said he would weigh the senator’s concerns, Schumer said. “The tone of his conversation gave me hope,” said Schumer, D-New York. “He said he would look at our demands and get back to me.”

The Post-Standard reported two weeks ago that National Grid had initiated a series of requests for proposals seeking outside vendors to take over many functions performed by the utility's information services department.

According to employees who were briefed on the matter, some 200 National Grid jobs in Syracuse could be at risk. About 1,000 other employees and contractors throughout the Northeast also could be affected, employees said. King told Schumer that no decisions have been made.

“I think we reached him at the right time, before any decisions are made,” Schumer said. “The conversation went well, but, rest assured, I am not going to stop with one phone call.”

Schumer’s remarks brought applause from several dozen National Grid employees and union leaders who gathered for the event. Alberto Bianchetti, speaking for National Grid, said King welcomed Schumer’s input.

“We have a common interest in the economic development and vitality of Upstate New York, and certainly take his concerns to heart,” Bianchetti said.

National Grid will evaluate the proposals from outside vendors before making decisions about outsourcing, Bianchetti said. “The process is going forward,” he said.

Plan in Congress Could Cay off Locally

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Erwin, N.Y. - A push to provide federal incentives for emissions-reducing equipment for diesel-powered vehicles may benefit Corning Inc.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday during a stop at Corning Inc.’s Erwin diesel plant that he and other senators are pushing for more funding for the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.

The federal program, launched in 2005, provides funding for non-profits such as school districts to purchase filters that reduce emissions from diesel-powered vehicles, such as school buses.

Corning Inc. is one of only a handful of companies that manufacture the filters.

“But (the program) has been drastically under-funded,” Schumer said.

“We have a huge opportunity here to spur economic development and help improve the air quality everywhere.”

Tom Hinman, Corning Inc.’s senior vice president of environmental technology, said Schumer’s efforts, if successful, would be a great boost to the company.

“It would increase demand,” Hinman said. “More business would ultimately create new jobs, but we’ll have to see how Congress acts on this. Clearly it will take some time, but ultimately we’re hopeful it happens.”

Along with boosting the companies that manufacture the products, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act has been successful from a public health perspective in reducing diesel emissions, which contribute to respiratory problems and global warming, Schumer said.

But despite the program’s success, funding has been limited. Approximately $1 billion was authorized for the program from 2005-2010, but only $470 million has been used, according to Schumer.

Another $1 billion worth of applications to the Environmental Protection Agency, which administers the program, are awaiting funding. Schumer said he will push for the funding to be included in an upcoming federal aid package aimed at stimulating jobs.

“When Congress next meets I will push to fund the clean diesel program,” Schumer said. “I will urge the EPA to target funding to products that can be added after a vehicle is already built.”

He was referring to products such as Corning Inc.’s diesel particulate filters, which were developed by Corning Inc. 20 years ago, Hinman said.

“Funding the DERA program is a smart investment in our nation’s energy future that will spur economic development and job growth,” Schumer said. “At a time when our country is looking for ways to quickly create jobs and clean the environment, DERA stands out as a prime example of a program that works.”

Schumer Introduces Five Point Plan

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (RELEASE) - With the details of the security breakdown that led to the Christmas terror attempt still emerging, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today unveiled a new comprehensive five-point plan to close some of the gaping holes in foreign airport security that may have allowed the terrorist to slip through the cracks.

Schumer’s plan calls on all the stakeholders involved in foreign airport security, including the U.S. government, foreign governments and airports, as well as airlines, to make immediate changes. Those changes include calling on airlines to threaten not to fly to foreign airports found to be lax with respect to security, demanding that foreign countries turn over all visa information, particularly information related to past travel to potentially hostile countries, and requiring the U.S. government to review and possibly revoke any outstanding travel visas if a visa-holder is placed on any of the terror watch lists.

“This incident shows that more than eight years after the 9/11 attacks, there are still gaping holes left in our aviation security system, particularly overseas. There has been a great deal of time and effort spent trying to close these holes but the Christmas Day terror attempt must be a wakeup call to show that more needs to be done. My plan puts forward some common sense solutions to close these gaps in a quick and cost effective way.”

President Obama called the Christmas terror attempt a “systemic failure” of aviation security. Schumer today agreed with that characterization, but said there are several fixes that can be achieved immediately to protect against a similar terrorist incident or attack. On Christmas Day, Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab was accused of trying to ignite explosives smuggled aboard the plane in his underwear.

Despite his name being included in a federal terrorist database, warnings from his father that he me have become radicalized, suspicious trips to Yemen, and having passed through security measures at Lagos and Amsterdam airports, AbdulMutallab was still able to board a plane bound for the U.S. with explosives strapped to his groin.

In the past, Schumer has raised serious concerns about the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and its efforts to ensure that foreign airports comply with security requirements for U.S. bound flights. According to U.S. law, any flight that takes off from a foreign country but is bound for the U.S. must follow U.S. security procedures for both passengers, bags, and other aspects of the flight. However, Schumer had pointed out that the TSA only employs a few dozen Transportation Security Administration Representatives (TSARs) to monitor, review and enforce security at all airports around the world that connect with U.S. airports.

Schumer today also raised questions about why AbdulMutallab’s travel visa to the United States was not revoked when he was added to the terrorist database called the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE). Despite being added to this database, the current process in place failed to require a mandatory and expedited determination by the national counterterrorism center and the department of state about whether or not his visa should be revoked. In addition, U.S. counterterrorism officials were not informed that Abdulmutallab had another active visa to travel to Yemen and had made at least one trip there.

Schumer today said these facts combined with other historical flaws in aviation security – lack of adequate screening technology, cumbersome, duplicative, and disorganized terrorist watch lists, and faulty intelligence sharing – created a security web that AbdulMutallab and potentially other terrorists have and can exploit.

Schumer also pointed out that most of the recent air terror incidents originated not from domestic U.S. flights, but from flights abroad bound for the U.S, including the shoe bomber on a flight from the United Kingdom to the U.S.

In response to this and potentially other threats, Schumer today outlined five steps the federal government can take immediately to significantly beef up foreign airport security. Schumer said these proposals do not solve all the problems, but they are common sense steps the government can implement quickly and at minimal cost.

Call on U.S. Airlines to Threaten to Stop Flying to Foreign Airports Known to Have Lax Security – Schumer said that while federal law requires foreign flights bound for the U.S. to follow U.S. security procedures, enforcement of this rule by the federal government has been lacking. Schumer said that U.S. airlines also have a responsibility to keep their passengers safe and the best way to do that is to ensure that the airlines they fly from follow security rules. Schumer today wrote to the heads of the major airlines asking them to immediately report any known security issues at foreign airports to U.S. security authorities and threaten those airports that they will cease service to and from those airports if security isn’t improved.

Penalties for Foreign Airports that Don’t Comply with U.S. Security Rules -- Schumer is also pushing for penalties to be implemented against countries that do not comply sufficiently with U.S. airport screening standards. Schumer says the penalties for non-compliance should be as follows: if the country is part of the visa waiver program, there should be very serious consideration as to whether the non-compliance is serious enough to merit revocation of the visa waiver program. If the country is not part of visa-waiver program, then enhanced screening will have to be done before anyone is given a visa to travel into US from that country.

Immediate Review of All Travel Visas for Anyone Added to Any Terrorist Database – Schumer today called on the State Department as well as the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) to immediately require that there be an expedited review and mandatory decision on whether revocation of a visa should occur for anyone and everyone who is added to any of the major terrorist databases. Schumer said that this review and decision must be made within 14 days of a name being added to the database. In addition, any person included in the terrorist database should be blocked from receiving a new travel visa pending a thorough review.

Worldwide Information Sharing of Adjudications of Visa Applications – Schumer today called on the State Department to require all countries in the world to share visa info with U.S. authorities. If any country does not want to share visa info with us, Schumer said no visas for their people coming to U.S. should be granted. The British had denied AbdulMuhammed a travel visa based on visa fraud but never informed U.S. authorities, because the denial was not based on a terrorism ground.

Foreign Travel Information Sharing – Schumer also said that any country with a travel agreement with the U.S. must share the foreign travel information of anyone seeking to travel to the U.S. This information is critical during any travel visa application process, particularly when authorities are reviewing a visa application of someone who may be included in a terrorist database. Schumer said that any country that declines this information should be denied visa-waiver status or should have its citizens prevented from receiving visas to travel into the US unless compelling circumstances can be shown. Had the US had access to this information, it would have known that Abdulmuttalub had recently traveled to Yemen, which could have raised red flags for NCTC officials to follow.

All of Schumer’s proposals could be implemented immediately, easily, and at minimal cost to airlines, airports, and governments.

New Policy Designed to Boost Military Voting

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

A new Department of Defense policy will make voter registration easier for U.S. service members stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activity Panama City, as well as military personnel at all other U.S. military installations worldwide.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, requested the DOD be required to provide voter registration materials and assistance at all U.S. military bases.

A statement on Schumer’s Web site said the new policy would turn U.S. bases into “one-stop shops” similar to state-run motor vehicle branches.

With the policy change, Schumer said the Pentagon would be required to offer voter registration forms at the time of each service member’s entry into active duty, transfer from one duty station to another, overseas deployment and on a standing basis.

The DOD would assist service members in submitting the registration forms to states.

Lt. John Skaggs, NSA PC’s voting assistance officer, said the policy change wouldn’t result in much of a change for NSA PC or its individual commands

Skaggs said the Navy base already has a check in process for incoming sailors that includes a visit with a voting officer.

He said NSA PC passes out voting information to the sailors, including a sheet from the Federal Voting Assistance Program with frequently asked voter registration questions.

“We ensure that they feel comfortable in what they’re doing,” Skaggs said, adding, “We usually aren’t the first command for most of these sailors,”

The Air Force Personnel Center Web site includes a page dedicated to helping airmen with their voting and absentee ballot questions.

According to the site, all military installations have assigned voting action officers to assist personnel and their families.

Within NSA PC, there are 18 individual commands on base, he said.

Skaggs said each command has its own voting assistance officer, and the Navy sends out a Navy-wide survey after national elections to estimate how many sailors voted.

He said all branches of the military were making a push to get their personnel registered to vote ahead of the 2010 elections.

Schumer Endorses "Cash for Caulkers"

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Holley, N.Y. – Senator Charles Schumer was in Holley Tuesday, targeting the “Cash for Caulkers” program.

Schumer says the Obama administration should focus the program on communities that have older, less efficient energy housing stock, to maximize the program.

Schumer thinks this move would benefit the Rochester area because of its older homes.

"I'm proposing that the money go directly to our localities, to Orleans County and the Town of Murray and the village of Holley, rather than going to Albany. If it goes to Albany we end up never seeing most of it," Schumer said.

Early reports show the average homeowner could save up to $500 a year on their utility bills, and could be eligible to receive up to $12,000 in rebates for weatherizing their homes.

Earlier this month, President Obama proposed the plan, saying that it would reimburse homeowners for energy-efficient appliances and insulation, part of a broader plan to stimulate the economy.

Schumer Co-Sponsors Bill to Lift Business Lending Cap for Credit Unions

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600

ALBANY, NY (12/22/2009)(readMedia)-- In a 100 percent show of support for credit unions, Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and lead introducing co-sponsors, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced legislation (S.2919) yesterday in the U.S. Senate that would lift the member business lending (MBL) cap for credit unions.

The proposed bill would raise credit union's current MBL cap to 25 percent of total assets. If passed, the increased cap would allow credit unions to make more small business loans, filling the still existent, small business lending void created by commercial banks and other financial entities on the heels of the subprime mortgage crisis. The legislative fix would come at a time when our country could well use an economic boost one that would not impact the size of government or its bottom line.

This spring, Senator Schumer took a leadership role on this issue, pledging action this session. Working with the Credit Union Association of New York, Senator Schumer kept the issue in the spotlight throughout 2009. The Association worked closely to secure the support of New York Senators, Schumer and Gillibrand, who both served as original co-sponsors of the proposed legislation.

"It's remarkable to have both of our New York senators, Schumer and Gillibrand, as original introducing co-sponsors of this key legislation that will help credit unions play a larger role in economic development and job creation," said William J. Mellin, president/CEO of the Credit Union Association of New York. "We applaud Senator Schumer's leadership and support of credit unions' work with small businesses throughout the session."

According to recent analysis by the Credit Union National Association, lifting the current MBL cap could create as many as 108,000 jobs and provide as much as $10 billion in credit to small businesses in the first year the bill is enacted.

Increased credit union business lending was part of a long list of possible job stimulus initiatives included in a joint U.S. Treasury-Small Business report that was submitted following President Obama's recent White House jobs summit. To date, the only opposition to lifting the MBL cap has come from the banking industry.

The proposed legislation is similar to House bill H.R. 3380, the Promoting Lending to America's Small Business Act, which amends the Federal Credit Union Act to advance the ability of credit unions to promote small business growth and development opportunities. The bill was originally introduced by Representative Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) in July of this year. It currently has 48 co-sponsors in the House.

Area Dairy Farmers to Receive $4 Million in Federal Aid, Senator Says

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Dairy farmers in the Rochester area will divvy up some $4 million in emergency direct payments to boost the struggling industry, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced Thursday.

Genesee County dairy farmers will receive nearly $1.6 million, and those in Livingston and Ontario counties each will get nearly $1.3 million. Wayne County dairymen will get $429,000, those in Monroe County will get $216,000 and those in Orleans County will get $150,400.

The funding will come from the federal agriculture appropriations bill, Schumer, D-N.Y., said. Payments will arrive in the coming weeks. Some $40 million is earmarked for dairy farmers statewide, he said.

Payments will be sent automatically to farmers, who need not apply. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will calculate payments based on qualifying dairies’ total pounds of production commercially marketed from February through July, Schumer said.

“Dairy farmers are the backbone of New York’s agricultural economy, and they are in the middle of the worst crisis in recent memory,” Schumer said in a statement. “This Congressional aid could not come a moment too soon.”