Send check ASAP: Chuck

Chuck Schumer to feds: Show us the money.

The New York senator announced Monday that he has successfully helped sway the federal government to restore millions of dollars in funding the city and state's fight against the opiate epidemic — but says that doesn't mean much until the multimilliondollar check actually comes in the mail.

“While today's news is good for New York, Long Island and the rest of this state, now we need the feds to prepare the check and show New York the money because we are entitled to millions, and the opioid scourge is not waiting,” Schumer said Sunday.

There had been concern that New York State and City would have to compete for $350 million set aside by a federal budget bill announced in July. The funds were to be handled by state officials nationwide, potentially limiting resources received by big cities. The senator had harsh words for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when that plan was announced, calling it “dangerous and irresponsible.”

According to Schumer, the federal budget now allows $475 million to be set aside to address the U.S. opioid crisis, and the city and state alike are due a direct portion of that money. He urged the feds to make sure there's no funding gap going into the new year.

“There was simply no good reason for the feds to play yoyo with critical federal funds that New York needs to beat back and address the opioid epidemic, and that is why we were able to restore this money with bipartisan support,” Schumer said. The city saw 1,374 unintentional drug overdose deaths in 2016, compared with 937 in 2015, the city Health Department says.