Charles E. Schumer

Cancellation of Study Will Save Nearly 400 Jobs, Taxpayer Money; Move Comes After Persistent Lobbying From Schumer, Gillibrand, Hinchey and Hall

November 17, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand along with Congressmen Maurice Hinchey and John Hall announced that the official decision to cancel the West Point study that was proven to be flawed and ineffective was issued today, preventing the loss of hundreds of federal jobs at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and saving taxpayer money.

The study, referred to as an A-76 study, is currently used to compare the use of private versus public employees to ensure that the government does not waste taxpayers' money.    » read more »

Last Week Schumer Requested The FTC Step Up Enforcement Actions Against Websites Peddling Fake H1N1 Cures and Prevention Methods

November 16, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is embarking on a major crackdown on companies selling phony H1N1 remedies. As the problem of fake remedies grows worse, and concerns about the H1N1 flu increase, the FTC announced that they would take further enforcement action against ten companies that are peddling fake H1N1 remedies on-line.    » read more »

Responding To Schumer's Call, DOJ's Head Of Antitrust Investigations Will Come To New York To Explore Anticompetitive Practices In The Dairy Industry

November 16, 2009 -- Today U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that at his urging Christine A. Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Antitrust Division, will come to New York to meet with dairy farmers and consumers to explore potential anticompetitive behavior on the part of dairy processors.    » read more »

Chemical Has Been Shown To Lead To Developmental Problems And Cancers

November 16, 2009 -- On the heels of a new Consumer Reports’ study showing that the toxic chemical bisphenol-A is now in a wider range of products used and consumed by children and in higher concentrations than previously thought, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today unveiled his legislation that bans BPA in food and beverage containers marketed to kids aged three and under.    » read more »

Schumer: Gaping Holes In Federal Gun Background Checks Allowed Fort Hood Shooter To Purchase Gun Unnoticed By Feds

November 16, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the Department of Justice to require that a red flag be raised when someone who has been the subject of a terrorist inquiry attempts to purchase a gun after reports emerged today that the Fort Hood shooting suspect was able to purchase a gun and pass the background check even though the Joint Terrorism Task Force had reviewed certain communications of the suspect related to a terrorist investigation.    » read more »

Chemical Used in Countless Products Including Baby Bottles, Canned Formula and Canned Food

November 13, 2009 -- On the heels of a new Consumer Reports’ study showing that the toxic chemical bisphenol-A is now in a wider range of products used and consumed by children and in higher concentrations than previously thought, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today unveiled his legislation that bans BPA in food and beverage containers marketed to kids aged three and under.    » read more »

Current Veterans Health And Homeless Programs Starved Of Funding And Cannot Handle New Wave Of Returning Soldiers From Afghanistan And Iraq

November 11, 2009 -- U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Robert Menendez today said that current federal veteran’s health and homeless prevention programs are starved for funding and cannot handle the massive wave of traumatized veterans forced to live on the streets. Schumer and Menendez cited a new 2008 Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups (CHALENG) report that found that between one-fourth and one-fifth of homeless persons in America is a veteran.    » read more »

Unveils New Plan To Make Credit Reporting Companies Advertising 'Free' Credit Reports Actually Give You A Credit Report For Free - Bust Up Scam Once And For All

November 3, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he is urging the Federal Trade Commission to bust up the long-running scam of credit reporting companies duping millions of New Yorkers into buying credit monitoring services by offering a so-called “free credit report” and then tacking on a costly monthly subscriptions charge that can cost hundreds of dollars a year.    » read more »

Bill, Supported By White House and Media; Organizations, Addresses National Security Concerns and Creates a Legal Protection for Journalists Guarding Sources' Anonymity

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) today released a revised version of the Free Flow of Information Act which has received backing from the White House and the newspaper industry. The bill includes new provisions that further protect national security interests while providing legal protection for journalists guarding the anonymity of their sources.    » read more »

Federal Dollars Will Clean Up Great Lakes, Reduce Beach Closures, Boost Economic Development & Tourism

October 29, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the 2010 Interior Appropriations will include $475 million for President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up the Great Lakes and Rochester’s beaches and allow the area’s tourism and fishing industry to thrive.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) urged the Federal Reserve Friday to take a tougher approach on overdraft fees that banks impose on their customers, expressing fear that the regulator’s planned crackdown on the abusive practice won’t go far enough and adding that the Fed’s slowness to act on the issue shows the need for a new consumer watchdog agency.    » read more »

Levels of Benzene Found in Tonawanda's Air as High as 75 Times the Amount Allowed in NYS, Posing a Real and Present Threat to Residents' Health

October 14, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer demanded owner and CEO of the Tonawanda Coke Corporation meet with community groups and listen – in person – to their complaints about the pollution coming from the Tonawanda facility and to explore potential solutions.

In a letter to Schumer, Crane wrote that the type of allegations being made against the Tonawanda coke plant “cannot be sustained when viewed in the clear light of supportable facts, science and analysis,” and blamed the elevated benzene levels on automobile traffic.    » read more »

Under 1945 Law, Insurance Industry Among Only Handful Of Industries -- Like Major League Baseball and Railroads -- To Be Exempt From Federal Antitrust Laws

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC—Days after the health insurance industry openly declared it will use the emerging health care reform overhaul as an excuse to raise premiums on millions of Americans, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) urged Wednesday that the legislation should include a new provision to revoke the industry’s anti-trust exemption.    » read more »

Projects At Facility Will Create Jobs & Stimulate Local Economy; Department of Energy Grant Would Allow Ontario County to Develop Array of Renewable Energy Projects

October 13, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced he has written to the Department of Energy in support of an application submitted by Ontario County for funding under the Community Renewable Energy Deployment Grant Program. The funding will enable Ontario County to transform the Ontario County Landfill into a renewable energy production and educational facility.    » read more »

Overturning Bush Administration Precedent

In January 2008, Despite Widespread Support from NYS and Local Officials and Community Leaders, Then-Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne Denied Applications for All Pending Off-Reservation Casinos, Including Those in Catskills

October 13, 2009 -- Today U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, asking him to consider the pending applications for off reservation gambling in the Catskills on a case by case basis, and overturn the blanket ban established by his predecessor Dirk Kempthorne.    » read more »