Schumer Unveils 2005 Region-Specific Agendas

SCHUMER UNVEILS 2005 REGION-SPECIFIC AGENDAS

As Schumer begins second term, he highlights his agenda; Senator to tackle Social Security, medicare, and tax code reform from new post on the Senate Finance Committee

Schumer's local goals: Shared Border Management for Buffalo Peace Bridge, Fast Ferry Plan in Rochester, NY Chocolate, Low Cost Air Service into Capital Region, Expanding Service at Stewart Airport, Endicott Interconnect

Today, US Senator Charles E. Schumer today outlined his agenda for upstate New Yorkers coming year and highlighted a number of national and local issues that he will fight for in Congress. Schumer, who was sworn in for a second term in the US Senate on Tuesday, now holds a post on the powerful Senate Finance Committee and will play a key role in many of the upcoming legislative battles, including tax reform, Social Security restructuring, and expansion of Schumer's $4,000 college tuition tax deduction. Schumer will also weigh in on many local issues in every region of the state.

"I will wake up each morning for the next year determined to make the lives of New Yorkers better. With a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over some of the most pivital issues of our time, from Social Security to the tax code, I will spend much of my time ensuring that these programs are protected for all New Yorkers," Schumer said. "I will also be working very hard on many important local and regional projects across the State that will enhance our economy, protect our environment, and expand access for all New Yorkers to quality health care, education, and other important services."

Schumer said that locally, his focus will be on improving the economy and job market in every region of upstate New York. Schumer today released a detailed report listing specific issues in each region of the State that top his agenda for 2005 and highlighted the following:

• Capital Region agenda includes: protecting the Watervliet Arsenal and the Stratton Air Guard under the BRAC program; improving low cost air service to Albany; and fighting for more Amtrak funding.
• Central New York agenda includes: protecting Fort Drum, Hancock, and Rome Airforce Research Lab under the BRAC program; support for NY Chocolate and the ethanol plant in Fulton; and building the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Global Affairs Institute in Syracuse.
• Rochester/Finger Lakes area agenda includes: getting the Fast Ferry up and running again; supporting the Canandaigua VA Hospital and the community panel studying it; protecting the Seneca Army Depot; and supporting the Infotonic Center.
• The Hudson Valley agenda includes: improving low cost air service at Stewart Airport; securing refunds for Southeast Airlines customers; keeping services at the Montrose VA Hospital; and improving the local housing market.
• The North Country agenda includes: bringing Boscov to Glens Falls; improving the Champlain border; and improving Northern Border security.
• The Southern Tier agenda includes: improving Route 12, supporting research at Binghamton University, supporting for federal contracts at Lockheed Martin and Endicott Interconnect.
• Western New York agenda includes: moving the Shared Border Management for the Peace Bridge forward; designating the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area; developing the outer harbor waterfront; improving low cost air service at the Niagara Falls Airport and support for the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus.

Schumer's complete agenda for every region in upstate New York is attached.

In addition, Schumer highlighted the following issues major federal issues that will impact all upstate New Yorkers on his agenda for the coming year:

• Making college more affordable for New York families: Schumer will use his new post on the Finance Committee- which oversees tax policy- to increase the amount of college tuition that hard working upstate New York families can deduct from their taxes from $4,000 to $12,000.

• Giving New Yorkers access to low-cost prescription drugs from Canada: Schumer will fight to legalize the reimportation of lower priced prescription drugs from Canada to save New Yorkers thousands of dollars a year on their health care costs.

• Fully funding the No Child Left Behind and IDEA programs for upstate New York schools: Schumer said that he will fight to bring home the full amount of federal funding promised to schools in upstate New York under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). Congress has promised $22.75 billion in Title I of NCLB funding and $23.46 billion in IDEA funding nationwide and Schumer said that he will fight to see that New York schools get every penny promised under the bills.

• Fighting proposals to eliminate the state and local tax deduction: The Administration may propose a change in the tax code that would eliminate tax payers' ability to deduct their state and local taxes. It is estimated that this proposal could cost New Yorkers an estimated 3.2 million New Yorkers $37 billion per year. Schumer will use his position on the Senate Finance Committee, which must approve any such proposal, to fight to save these critical deductions for New Yorkers statewide.

· Preserving Social Security: Schumer said that he will also work with his colleagues in the Senate to strengthen and preserve Social Security. Schumer said that social security reform will be a focus of the Senate Finance Committee this year and that he will fight to ensure the social safety net for seniors remains strong for New York seniors for generations to come.

· Protecting Medicaid and Medicare: As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, he will fight both to protect and improve these important safety nets while many in Congress want to cut or block-grant them. In addition Medicaid costs are stressing New York State and County budgets like never before, and it hurts New York homeowners and their families who are facing ever-higher property tax bills. Schumer will fight to reduce the property tax burden that Medicaid costs have levied throughout the State.

· Increasing Grants to Local Fire and Police Departments: Schumer said that he will fight to increase the federal dollars that are sent to local fire and police departments throughout upstate New York. Schumer said that he will fight to send the full $950 million in Fiscal Year 2006 in funding promised by Congress to fire departments - an increase of more than $200 million over this year- and to significantly increase funding levels for the COPS grant program over the $606 million FY05 level.

· Protecting upstate New York's dairy farmers: Schumer said that protecting local dairy farmers from low milk prices will continue to be a priority. With the MILC program set to expire late this year, Schumer intends to make preserving a system to give New York's dairy farmers they support they need a major priority in the coming year. Last year, Schumer joined Senator Specter as the leading sponsors of the National Dairy Equity Act, which would act like a regional dairy pact and would serve as an alternative to the current MILC program that could boost the income of New York's dairy farmers by $53 million more than under MILC annually and save the federal government hundreds of millions of dollars . Schumer looks forward to continuing the fight for New York's dairy farmers in the new Congress.

"The kids are back at school, it's back to work in Washington, and for the New Year we have a new agenda for New York State," Schumer said. "From safeguarding Social Security against new threats to protecting military bases from closing to restructuring the tax code, I will make sure that New York is represented and heard on all critical issues. But I will still be working very hard on other important projects across the State that improve the day-to-day lives of New Yorkers."

Schumer was sworn in for a second six year term in the Senate on Tuesday. During his second term, Schumer will sit on the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Housing and Banking Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee.

[For the full report, go to http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/special_reports/2004/2005%20Agenda%20Rpt%2001.06.05.pdf]

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR40064.2005Agenda10605.html