Charles E. Schumer

Calls For Tighter SEC Oversight Of Firms; SEC Chairman Cox Acknowledges Investigators Have Uncovered Improper Practices At Ratings Firms

April 22, 2008 -- Report: Moody's Curried Favor With Clients To Inflate Firm's Market Share -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) today pressed the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission to crack down on conflict-of-interest violations at the major credit-ratings agencies, which he said conspired to inflate an unsustainable credit bubble. Under questioning by Schumer before the Senate Banking Committee, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox disclosed that the firms disregarded their own internal controls meant to prevent the relationship between the firm and its clients from getting too close.    » read more »

Tainted Heparin Linked To 81 Deaths; Blood Thinner Originating From China Contained Deadly Contaminant

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) announced Tuesday he will introduce legislation this week establishing a modern track-and-trace system for all prescription drugs sold in the United States, a move he said would cut down on the contamination of popular patient medicines like the embattled blood thinner, heparin.

Heparin syringe: Photo by flaviab (CC)    » read more »

Senator to Push New GI Bill that Greatly Expands Financial Education Assistance for Returning Veterans

April 2, 2008 -- Current GI Bill isn't Equipped to Handle Wave of Young Returning Soldiers Leaving them Unable to Meet Rising College Costs Averaging Over $17,000 at a Public Institution in NYS - Only 15% of all those Currently Deployed Hold a Bachelor's Degree; Number of Younger Vets Across Upstate NY is Set to Soar: Currently there are 84,000 Vets in the Capital Region, over 74,000 in CNY, over 14    » read more »

Schumer Applauds DHS' Decision to Follow Congressional Mandate that Postpones Passport Requirements for Western New Yorkers Until June 1, 2009

March 31, 2008 -- DHS Recently Announced that the Final Rules on Implementation of WHTI Will Postpone Until June 1, 2009 Any Requirement for Travelers Crossing NYS' Northern Border to Carry a Passport Schumer Pledges to Continue Pushing to Ensure DHS Doesn't Jump the Gun in Implementing an Unreasonable Plan without Adequate Security or Technology Senator Warns Forcing Western New York Residents to Carry Passp    » read more »

February 7, 2008 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer personally spoke with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson to gain assurances that the owner has every intention of keeping the football franchise in Buffalo for the long-term. Following a press conference in Toronto yesterday where the Bills announced they’ll be playing one regular season home game a year in the Canadian city, there were fears that it was the first step towards permanently moving the team there.    » read more »

Senate Bill Would Mandate HUD Replace All Low Income Housing Scheduled To Be Demolished

January 25, 2008 -- "Like so many Americans, we have followed with grave concern the devastation to Louisiana, Mississippi Alabama, and Texas in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.    » read more »

Lawmakers Urge The President To Make Funding For 9/11 Health Programs A Priority In His FY 2009 Budget

January 23, 2008 -- Washington, DC – Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Robert Menendez, along with Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Carolyn Maloney, and Vito Fossella today called on President Bush to provide adequate funding for the health programs for the victims of the 9/11 attacks when he releases his budget request on February 4th.    » read more »

Fed Funding For Wastewater System At An All-Time Low

December 20, 2007 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer completed a record ninth straight 62 county tour in Rensselaer County, where he blasted the federal government for turning its back on funding New York State’s crumbling infrastructure that is jeopardizing regional economic growth and public and environmental health. Counties spanning the entire state, including the Capital Region, are suffering from an aging sewer system that is unable to accommodate new economic development projects.    » read more »

Convinces HUD to Take First Steps to Ensure Affordability of Building

December 20, 2007 -- Following a months-long fight to ensure middle-class housing affordability continues on Staten Island, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that he has convinced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to apply Section 250 of the National Housing Act to Castleton Park, ensuring the continued affordability of the development. Castleton Park is a 454-unit complex in St. George and one of only two Mitchell-Lama developments on Staten Island.    » read more »

Projects Include Onondaga Communication System, Northeast Air Defense Sector in Rome and Auburn Regional Bioenergy Enterprise

December 20, 2007 -- Washington, DC—Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton announced final Congressional approval of the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for projects in Central New York such as the Onondaga County Interoperable Communication System, the Northeast Air Defense Sector (NEADS) in Rome, and the Auburn Regional Bioenergy Enterprise.    » read more »

Leahy-Schumer Led Amendment To Fix NICS System Unanimously Passes Senate

WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007) – The Senate Wednesday unanimously passed legislation designed to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the country’s foremost background check system for gun purchases.    » read more »

12/19/2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry (D-MA) today joined his colleagues Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Pete Domenici (R-NM), and Charles Schumer (D-NY), in introducing legislation to establish a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), which will address the serious housing needs of millions of households.    » read more »

Funding Comes as Thousands of Patients are Seeking Treatment for 9/11 Related Illnesses, with Numbers Rising

December 19, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Robert Menendez announced final Senate passage of an additional $108 million in federal funding to address the mounting health needs of those individuals who were exposed to environmental hazards released as a result of the September 11, 2001 attacks upon the World Trade Center.    » read more »

Funds Included as Part of the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill; Funding Included For Second Avenue Subway and North General Hospital

December 19, 2007 -- Washington, DC— Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced Senate approval of the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for projects in New York City, including the Second Avenue Subway and funding for renovations of North General Hospital’s emergency department.    » read more »

Nearly 1,500 troops to be stationed at Fort Drum by 2013

December 19, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton and Congressman John M. McHugh today received notification that the U.S. Army has selected Fort Drum to receive an additional 1,479 soldiers as part of the Army’s plan to grow and relocate forces. The announcement represents a significant boon to the North Country economy.    » read more »