LYONS FALLS — U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer on Tuesday called for renewal of a tax break for companies who hire jobless veterans and pledged to help Otis Technology Inc. access more law enforcement contracts.

“When they come home, we ought to be there for them,” Mr. Schumer, D-N.Y., said of veterans during a brief press conference at the Laura Street gun-cleaning-kit manufacturer.

The senator said he will push for renewal of Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors tax credits, which were enacted in November 2011 after being unanimously approved by both the House and Senate but are due to expire at the end of the year.

The breaks help companies not only by offering some tax relief but also enticing them to hire veterans who have picked up specific skills and more general ones, like discipline, that CEOs look for, Mr. Schumer said. “They make great employees,” he said.

Mr. Schumer said the program has been successful in its first year and that there has been no indication of abuses by companies. The breaks are regularly audited, with safeguards in place to help ensure veterans are truly new hires, not just replacements for previously laid-off employees, he said.

Mr. Schumer also promised to help Otis officials get onto an approved vendor procurement list for New York City police officers, who are required to maintain their own guns.

“We have more police officers in New York City than you have people in Lewis County,” he said.

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