Who’s Chuck Schumer?
From bringing affordable air service like JetBlue to Upstate New York, to advocating for college tuition tax credits and safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, Chuck Schumer’s career has been defined by advocacy for the people of his home state.
He was first elected to the House in 1974, and then the Senate in 1980 at age 29. He currently serves as the Democratic Majority Leader in the 117th Congress.
He’s a New Yorker
Chuck Schumer was born and raised in Brooklyn, where his dad ran a small exterminating company and his mom was a housewife. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class and competed on the television quiz show It’s Academic before attending Harvard College and then Harvard Law School. He passed the New York State bar in 1975, but opted not to practice law and instead became involved in politics.
As a United States Senator, he has made strengthening the economy and helping working families get ahead his top priorities. He has fought to expand access to affordable health care, strengthen the criminal background check system for gun sales and make college more affordable. He’s also worked hard to combat violent crime, including introducing the 1993 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act and cowrote the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban.
Throughout his career, Schumer has advocated for all New Yorkers. He has a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which oversees our nation’s tax, trade, social security and healthcare legislation.
He’s a Democrat
Since New Yorkers elected him to the Senate in 1998, Chuck Schumer has fought for liberal priorities. He’s worked to expand access to affordable health care, higher education and economic opportunity. He’s also defended the rights of women and minorities.
He was born in Brooklyn and raised in a middle class Jewish family. He attended public schools, including P.S. 197 and James Madison High School, where he was a hard-working student who earned a perfect 1600 score on his SATs. He later graduated from Harvard College and law school.
Schumer has worked on issues such as consumer protection, banking reform and immigration reform. He was part of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” that passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act in 2013. In addition, he has helped to restore funding to communities devastated by natural disasters. He’s also pushed for stronger gun control legislation and promoted stricter state background checks. His efforts have led to countless victories for New York.
He’s a fighter
Chuck Schumer has been a tireless fighter for New York since he was first elected to the State Assembly in 1974. He went on to win a seat in the US House of Representatives and later the Senate, where he has fought to expand access to health care, strengthen background checks for gun purchases, and make college more affordable.
He has also fought for New Yorkers in times of need, from passing a $20 billion relief package after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 to helping them recover from flooding and storms across the state. He is well known for his annual tradition of visiting all 62 counties in New York, and he has participated in countless community Zooms and events.
He has also fought for his party, serving as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). He has led the DSCC to success in two consecutive cycles and expanded the number of seats won by Democrats.
He’s a family man
Chuck is a family man, and has dedicated his career to protecting the middle class. He is a proud New Yorker and has always stood up against the cruelest parts of the Trump administration. He has authored numerous important pieces of legislation, including the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which made blocking abortion clinics illegal, and the Violence Against Women Act, which combats domestic abuse. He also authored the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and sponsored legislation that required credit card companies to disclose more information to consumers.
He was first elected to the Assembly in 1974 and later was voted into the U.S. House of Representatives in 1981 to represent the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn and Queens. He won all of his subsequent Senate reelections, defeating opponents such as Alfonse D’Amato. He has remained committed to improving the state’s economy and worked hard to deliver affordable air service to Upstate New York, such as by working with low-cost airline JetBlue to bring new flights to Albany.