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Schumer rallies behind omnius spending plan because of $1.4 billion for sewer repairs

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO News file photo
Crews work to repair a water main break in Syracuse last winter. (file photo)

United States Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is supporting the nearly $1 trillion omnibus spending bill now under consideration in Congress. One reason is the inclusion of money that will help municipalities fix broken sewer systems.

Schumer says negotiators were able to lock $1.4 billion in the final budget bill for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that offers municipalities grants or loans to fix sewers.  

"We receive such a sizable piece of the pie due to the shear number of projects we have and the age of our sewers," Schumer said. "It means any cut to the program hurts New York more than just about any place, and on the flip side, any victory is more beneficial.”

New York gets 11 percent of these funds, which is more than any other state. Schumer says this money does more than repair broken down sewer systems.

“The Department of Commerce estimates that each job created in the local sewer and wastewater industry creates 3.5 jobs in the national economy," Schumer said. "And every dollar spent creates 2.5 dollars in economic output.”

Schumer says there are 310 projects competing for this cash across the state. Sixty of them are in central New York.

Ellen produces news reports and features related to events that occur in the greater Syracuse area and throughout Onondaga County. Her reports are heard regularly in regional updates in Morning Edition and All Things Considered.