Charles E. Schumer

12/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/16/2024 18:29

SCHUMER COMPLETES TOUR OF ALL OF NY’S 62 COUNTIES FOR 26TH YEAR IN A ROW; WITH THIS YEAR’S TOUR THE CULMINATION OF LEGISLATION HE CHAMPIONED DELIVERING BILLIONS FOR NY,[...]

Schumer Vowed To Visit Every Single NY County Each Year During His First Senate Election In 1998 & The Tradition Continues For An Historic 26th Year - With This Year As The Apex Of Decades-Long Vision He Has Had To Deliver On Investment Across NY State

Schumer Believes Visiting Every County Is Imperative To His Work In DC And Inspired Legislation He Passed As Majority Leader Including The CHIPS & Science Law Which Is Bringing Manufacturing Back To The State, The Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law Which Is Fixing Bridges, Broadband, & Roads Across The State, And Inflation Reduction Act That Is Lowering Costs Of Medicine & Energy For Families

Schumer: I'm Not Slowing Down - And Promise To Keep Traveling, Delivering, & Fighting For New York!

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer completed his 26th consecutive annual tour of all 62 New York State counties, with his final stop today in Greene County to announce he has successfully gotten the Army Corps to step up to help save the beloved Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. Schumer called this tour one of the most impactful, with this year as the culmination of decades of work and legislation he championed delivering billions of dollars in federal investment, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, rebuilding the state's aging infrastructure, bringing manufacturing back to the state, and laying the foundation for the next generation.

"Today, you can flip one of my favorite numbers - 62, for every county in New York - and get another very important number for me today: 26. I am proud today that for the 26th year in a row, I completed my annual tour of all 62 counties in New York State!" said Senator Schumer. "From Rochester to Rockland County, meeting with New Yorkers from every walk of life, and listening to them, is what inspires me every day in Washington. It is what inspired major legislation like my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law which has delivered billions in federal investment this year spurring over $110 billion in new private investment to bring manufacturing back to Upstate NY, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and make the Empire State a global leader in semiconductor production. This year was special because I got to see the culmination of years of work on legislation delivering more for my home state than many ever thought possible, laying the foundation for a brighter future and the next generation here in NY."

During his first Senate election in 1998, Schumer pledged to visit every single New York county every year. Schumer is the first New York public official to start a tour of every county in the state and has continued it throughout his tenure in the Senate.

"From landing America's first National Semiconductor Technology Center in the Capital Region to helping save the historic postal facility on Williams St. in Buffalo and bringing broadband to rural communities across Upstate NY, this year was about helping communities on issues of all types in every corner of the state. As Majority Leader in the Senate I have always made sure New York is front of my mind, and ensuring the laws we championed deliver in big ways for the Empire State has been my top goal," added Schumer.

Schumer concluded, "And I have no plans on slowing down. God gave me a lot of energy, and I look forward to continuing this tradition again next year and continuing to fight and deliver for New York. Because no matter what's happening in Washington, my favorite two titles will always be New York's senator and a New Yorker, and I'm keeping my foot on the pedal so we can keep driving federal resources home to communities across the state."

The legislation Schumer has championed delivered massive federal investment in every corner of New York State this past year, including:

Over $110 billion in new manufacturing investment made possible by billions in federal funding from his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law locked in for Upstate NY, creating thousands of new, good-paying jobs and making New York a global leader in the semiconductor industry.

Schumer wrote and shepherded into law the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act with Upstate NY in mind, and since then he has worked night and day to ensure it delivers for his home state. This year, billions in federal funding were announced for manufacturing and R&D projects in NY, locking in federal incentives to move forward major investments made by companies like Micron's proposed massive $100 billion megafab memory chip complex near Syracuse - the largest private investment in New York State's history - GlobalFoundries' multi-billion dollar expansion in the Capital Region, Wolfspeed's investment in the Mohawk Valley, Edwards Vacuum's supplier investment in Western NY, Corning's supplier investment in the North Country, and other critical investments such as America's first National Semiconductor Technology Center being headquartered at Albany NanoTech, the prestigious federal Tech Hubs designation and investment across the I-90 corridor in Upstate NY, Binghamton University winning the NSF Regional Innovation Engines competition, JMA Wireless's expansion in Syracuse, and much more.

Billions from his Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law to revitalize NY's roads, bridges, broadband and more.

Schumer led the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law to passage in the Senate in 2021, which has delivered billions for NY, including $6+ billion this year for the Gateway Hudson tunnel project that is the largest mass transit federal grant in history, $180+ million to reconnect communities in Syracuse divided by the I-81 highway, a whopping $215+ million to help replace the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge between Albany and Rensselaer, hundreds of millions to close the digital divide in rural and urban communities, and much more.

Lower costs for drug prices, home energy costs, and investments in clean energy thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

Schumer led the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to passage in the Senate in 2022, which has already made vaccines free for seniors, capped insulin at $35 for those on Medicare, negotiated lower prices for critical medication, and lowered out of pocket drug costs to roughly $3,100 for 2024, with an even lower cap to $2,000 coming in 2025, making healthcare more affordable for more than 3.8 million New York seniors. In addition to helping save families over $300 million by weatherizing their homes and replacing old appliances with more efficient models, the nearly $250 million investment in rooftop solar for low-income and disadvantaged communities will deliver at least $40 in energy bill savings annually to more than 800,000 eligible households, with the added benefit of increased electric grid reliability. These funds complement the tax credits, made possible by the IRA, that saved 189,680 New York families over $374 million last year for clean energy upgrades to their homes while also lowering their monthly utility bills.

These efforts have also allowed Schumer to successfully deliver on many top priorities across the state over the past year. These efforts can be found broken down region by region below:

CAPITAL REGION

  • Secured America's first National Semiconductor Technology Center, along with a $825 million federal investment, for Albany NanoTech: After years of relentless advocacy, Senator Schumer announced the Capital Region was selected as America's flagship location for the National Semiconductor Technology Center, which he created in his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law with Albany NanoTech in mind. Albany NanoTech will now be the epicenter for America's next leap in federal research for Extreme Ultraviolet technology, which is central to the global semiconductor industry.
  • Locked in $1.5 billion CHIPS Award for GlobalFoundries to expand operations and build a second, state-of-the-art fab in Malta, NY: After his successful efforts to convince GlobalFoundries to expand, Senator Schumer announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce has finalized its $1.5 billion direct CHIPS funding award, spurring the multi-billion dollar expansion of GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region that will include building a second state-of-the-art fab, helping to create thousands of new, good-paying manufacturing and union construction jobs. The U.S. Department of Commerce will disburse funds in the coming years as GlobalFoundries meets project milestones agreed to in the final award.
  • Delivered $215 million to replace the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge between Albany and Rensselaer: After personally calling U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to secure federal funding for this project, Senator Schumer announced that he secured historic funding to replace the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge, some of which dates back to the Civil War era. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program, which Schumer fought to boost funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law he led to passage in the Senate and is the largest award in the history of the program.

WESTERN NY

  • Secured $40 million in federal funding for the "NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub": After helping the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Tech Hub land the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation Schumer created in his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law, Senator Schumer announced the Tech Hub was awarded major federal funding from a highly competitive federal grant. The funding will help Upstate NY build out its workforce training initiatives, strengthen existing manufacturing and innovation, and help attract new supply chains to support the build-out of the billions in private and federal semiconductor investment the senator has helped bring to Upstate NY.
  • Delivered $100+ million for Buffalo to create a brand-new bus rapid transit line: After years of advocacy, Senator Schumer helped secure major federal funding for Buffalo to overhaul Bailey Avenue - one of Buffalo's busiest streets, and increase affordable transportation for Buffalo's East Side. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, which Schumer helped create in the Inflation Reduction Act that he led to passage in the Senate.
  • Saved Buffalo's William Street Post Office: After a decision by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) put Buffalo's historic William St. Postal Facility on the list for consolidation, Schumer joined with the community and union postal workers to fight this decision, which Schumer also helped save in 2012. After personal calls to Postmaster Louis Dejoy, Senator Schumer announced the USPS reversed plans to transfer mail processing operations from Buffalo's William Street Postal facility to Rochester. This decision will protect quality mail delivery and postal workers across Western NY.

ROCHESTER-FINGER LAKES

  • Celebrated the groundbreaking of a new, state-of-the-art National Grape Improvement Center: After securing $68.9 million in federal funding to bolster Upstate NY's wine industry, Senator Schumer celebrated the groundbreaking of the new National Grape Improvement Center in Geneva, a partnership between Cornell and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The facility will help establish the Finger Lakes as the center of innovation and R&D for wine and viticulture for all of America.
  • Landed $23.7 million for safer, more walkable & bikeable streets across Rochester: After standing at a notoriously dangerous roadway for cyclists and calling for federal investment, Senator Schumer returned to announce significant federal funding to help create a new safer network of streets for bicyclists and pedestrians in Rochester. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All Program, which Schumer helped create in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law that he led to passage in the Senate.
  • Secured an $18 million preliminary CHIPS agreement for Edwards Vacuum to create a first-of-its-kind in the United States dry pump manufacturing facility to supply the semiconductor industry: Following his relentless advocacy, Senator Schumer announced that Edwards Vacuum secured a preliminary federal funding agreement for its new $300+ million dry pump manufacturing facility. The project is expected to bring 600+ new jobs, and this investment will bring the production of semiconductor-grade dry vacuum pumps to the U.S., strengthening the domestic semiconductor supply chain.
  • Championed Judge Vacca's historic judicial nomination in Western NY: After recommending Judge Meredith Vacca to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Senator Schumer celebrated her swearing in. Judge Vacca, a Korean-American, is the first woman of color to serve as a judge on the Western District of New York bench, and with her swearing in the Western District of New York Court is one of the few 50% women benches in the country.

CENTRAL NY

  • Locked in a $6.1 billion CHIPS award to support Micron's historic and massive investment in Central NY: After convincing Micron to select Clay, NY for its planned massive megafab memory chip manufacturing complex, Senator Schumer announced that Micron has finalized its $6.1 billion direct CHIPS funding award to support its $100+ billion project in Central NY. The project is expected to bring up to 50,000 good-paying jobs and be the largest private investment in New York's history. The U.S. Department of Commerce will disburse funds in the coming years as Micron meets project milestones agreed to in the final award.
  • Delivered $180+ million for Syracuse's I-81 viaduct project to reconnect communities, realize the community grid, and make streets safer: Following years of advocacy, including bringing U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to Syracuse for a tour of the I-81 project, Senator Schumer announced major federal funding to bring the project to life, reconnect the downtown communities that have long been divided by I-81, and improve the quality of life for communities across Syracuse. The highly competitive funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, which Schumer created in the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Secured $50 million to build hundreds of units of new affordable housing for Syracuse's East Adams Revitalization: After two years ago announcing a major push to secure federal support for Syracuse's 15th Ward neighborhood, Senator Schumer announced one of the largest single federal housing investments in Syracuse's history. The funding will help support the redevelopment of over 600 aging public housing units, into new, affordable, mixed-income housing units, revitalize urban green spaces, support educational and entrepreneurship, and more. This is the first award in NYS from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative.

NORTH COUNTRY

SOUTHERN TIER

  • Convinced Siemens Mobility to build a first-of-its-kind high-speed rail manufacturing facility: After his advocacy including personally writing the Siemens CEO, Senator Schumer announced that the company will build its new facility in Horseheads. The project is expected to create approximately 300 new good-paying jobs producing America's fastest high-speed trainsets, the American Pioneer 220, for Brightline West, that will connect Las Vegas to Southern California.
  • Landed NSF Engine award for the Binghamton University-led New Energy New York, bringing up to $160 million in federal investment for Southern Tier battery development: After delivering a historic $113+ million for Binghamton to establish its battery manufacturing & innovation hub, and then securing for the Southern Tier the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation late last year, Senator Schumer announced that the Binghamton-led project was one of only ten projects across the country selected for this NSF Regional Innovation Engines award which will bring $15 million in federal funding immediately, with up to $160 million total in federal funding over the life of the program. The funding will help supercharge growth and cutting-edge research in the Southern Tier's battery development and manufacturing.
  • Delivered nearly $9 million for Broome County to purchase 7 brand new, efficient electric buses: As part of his long history of delivering major federal funding to Broome County to boost its bus infrastructure, Senator Schumer announced major federal funding to help the county replace seven out-of-date diesel buses that are no longer reliable. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Low and No Emission Vehicle Grant Program, which Schumer fought to boost funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law he led to passage in the Senate.
  • Secured nearly $16 million for Steuben County and partners to develop new battery technology for energy-efficient trains: Following efforts to boost the Southern Tier as a hub for battery research and development, Senator Schumer announced federal funding for the Steuben County IDA - in partnership with Norfolk Southern Railway, Binghamton University's New Energy New York (NENY) consortium, and Alstom - to produce and test two hybrid, battery-powered trains at Alstom's Southern Tier facility. This will enhance safety and improve climate resilience. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program, which Schumer fought to boost funding for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law he led to passage in the Senate.

MOHAWK VALLEY

HUDSON VALLEY

  • Delivered $16+ million to help reconnect the central New Rochelle Lincoln Avenue neighborhood: After years of advocacy to deliver federal funding to New Rochelle for this project, including personally speaking to the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary multiple times, Senator Schumer announced major federal funding to help reconnect the community by converting the six-lane Memorial Highway into a walkable and bikeable complete street with open space, greenery, and a new elevated park. New Rochelle was one of the first recipients of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Neighborhood Access and Equity Program, which Schumer created in the Inflation Reduction Act.
  • Delivered $4+ million for Yonkers to construct a recreation and transportation path: Senator Schumer announced major federal funding to construct a 3.1 mile path through distressed southwest Yonkers and the intertwined rehabilitation of the South Broadway (Route 9) commercial arterial. The funding comes from the FY2024 annual budget bill.
  • Secured $24+ million to help Stewart International Airport repair runway: As part of his long history of delivering federal support to help improve Stewart International Airport, Senator Schumer delivered major federal funding to help Stewart repair cracks in the runway pavement, which is important for preventing deterioration and maintaining safety. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement Program, which Schumer fought to boost funding for in this year's FAA reauthorization bill.

LONG ISLAND

  • Secured $24 million to supercharge Riverhead downtown revitalization: Following his advocacy, Senator Schumer secured major federal funding that will allow Riverhead to transform its downtown by reclaiming the Peconic riverfront for public enjoyment; installing necessary flood mitigation measures; spurring mixed-use development; and making its downtown safer and more accessible for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike. The funding comes from the highly competitive U.S. Department of Transportation's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, which Schumer created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law he led to passage in the Senate.
  • Pushed forward $405 million for the Long Island Power Authority to harden Long Island's electric grid infrastructure: After tropical storm Isaias knocked out power for 650,000 Long Islanders and devastated Long Island's infrastructure, Senator Schumer lit up the phones and pushed forward major federal funding to ensure Long Island could build back stronger. These funds will help upgrade 11,000 utility poles and over 1,300 miles of power lines while allowing LIPA to hire 100 additional rapid response workers.
  • Unlocked $52 million for Fire Island coastline: After back-to-back devastating storms washing out the beaches of multiple Fire Island communities, Senator Schumer called for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to make emergency repairs. The USACE heeded Senator Schumer's call and greenlit a $52 million project to rejuvenate the coastline of Fire Island and will add 2 million cubic yards of sand to the beaches and dunes between the Fire Island communities of Seaview and Davis Park, shoring up Fire Island's coastal integrity for years to come.
  • Delivered over $154 million in federal funds to rescue two failing Long Island Teamster pension funds: After fighting to include the Butch Lewis Act securing pension solvency in the American Rescue Plan, Senator Schumer delivered major federal funding to save the Teamsters' 1034 and 813 pension funds allowing members to receive the full amounts they have earned over the years.

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