Senate subcommittees OK branch campus funds

A branch campus for Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, in the Watertown area gained U.S. Senate subcommittee support for $200,000 on Wednesday, according to a news release from Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.

Sen. Schumer's appropriation request was approved by the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee and will now go to the full Appropriations Committee.

"Northern New York faces a true shortage of medical professionals and a high rate of chronic diseases," Sen. Schumer said. "An Upstate Medical University branch will be a power tool in combating these problems, and an important catalyst for private investment in the local health care sector."

The new branch campus will give more students access to a high quality medical education, increase available number of medical professionals and attract health care-related businesses to the north country.

The school has said it would need more than $1 million to start.