U.S. Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today announced $45,682,712 in federal funding allocated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help reduce diesel emissions, continue financing clean water projects, and promote workforce development. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant secured $515,712 in funding for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to replace older, dirtier trucks with cleaner and more efficient equipment. Additionally, the EPW Capitalization Grant for New York’s Drinking Water State Revolving Loan fund provided $44,967,000 for drinking water infrastructure projects. The City of Rochester will also receive $200,000 for its Workforce Development Grant.
“New Yorkers deserve to have peace of mind that the air they breathe and the water they drink is clean and safe,” said Senator Schumer. “Securing over $45 million in federal funding to reduce dirty diesel emissions and protect clean drinking water brings us one step closer to that goal, in addition to promoting workforce development. I’m proud to deliver this federal support for a cleaner environment for New York.”
“New Yorkers should be able to trust that their public health workers have the resources needed to improve our air quality and provide clean drinking water,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding will help build a better and cleaner future for New Yorkers and ensure vital resources remain available. I will always fight for clean air, clean water and workforce development projects in the Senate and at home.”
Throughout his career, Leader Schumer has fought for programs that ensure New Yorkers have access to clean water and a wide range of environmental programs. In the last set of appropriations bills, Schumer delivered over $4 billion for State and Tribal Assistance Grants, which support crucial programs like the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Drinking Water Revolving Fund, and Beach Act Grant Program. Furthermore since the discovery of PFAS contamination in New York, Schumer has fought for and secured millions of dollars to further our understanding of these chemicals, as well as fund the cleanup of PFAS contamination across New York.
As a member of the EPW Committee, Senator Gillibrand has supported these important environmental programs. She is a cosponsor of S. 747, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act of 2019, which would reauthorize DERA through FY 2024. She has also fought in the Senate to ensure robust funding is provided for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund through the annual appropriations process.