Charles Ellis Schumer, a Democrat, has been the senior US senator from New York since 1999. He has led the Senate Democratic Caucus and served as Senate Minority Leader. Schumer, a Harvard graduate, has a long political career, including nine terms in the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 1998. He became Senate Majority Leader in 2021, making history as the first Jewish Senate majority leader.
Chuck Schumer was elected to the New York State Assembly at the age of 23, one of the youngest members since Theodore Roosevelt.
Chuck Schumer was first elected to the House of Representatives at the age of 29.
Chuck Schumer, an American politician, was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate in 1998, representing New York the following year. He later served as the Senate's minority leader (2017–21) and then became the majority leader in 2021.
In 1967, Chuck Schumer attended Harvard University, becoming the first in his family to attend college. He initially studied chemistry but later became involved in the College Democrats, setting the stage for his future career in public service.
After becoming active in the College Democrats, Chuck Schumer worked on Eugene McCarthy's 1968 Presidential campaign. This experience further fueled his passion for public service and political involvement.
In 1974, Chuck Schumer was elected to the New York State Assembly as a representative of the forty-fifth Assembly District, marking the beginning of his career in public service.
Chuck Schumer and Iris Weinshall got married on September 21, 1980, at Windows on the World in the north tower of the World Trade Center.
Chuck Schumer made his first appearance on C-SPAN in 1981 as a Democratic Representative for New York's 10th district.
In 1984, Chuck Schumer had the highest average number of views per program on C-SPAN with an average of 7,388 views.
In 1987, then-Representative Schumer wrote an op-ed in The New York Times opposing the repeal of the Glass–Steagall Act of 1933, titled 'Don't Let Banks Become Casinos'.
Chuck Schumer served as a U.S. Representative for New York's 9th District as a Democrat from January 5, 1993, to January 3, 1999.
On March 11, 1993, Chuck Schumer introduced The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) during his time in the House Judiciary Committee.
In 1994, the senator sponsored the Violence Against Women Act to address domestic violence and sexual assault, along with the Brady Bill which mandated background checks for handgun purchases.
In 1995, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Chuck Schumer was one of four members of Congress who oversaw the House investigation of the Waco siege hearings.
Senator Schumer voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 but later changed his stance to support same-sex marriage, calling for a reversal of DOMA.
In December 1998, Schumer, as a member of the House of Representatives, voted 'no' on all counts in committee and on the floor of the House regarding the impeachment charges of President Bill Clinton.
Chuck Schumer began serving as a U.S. Senator representing New York as a Democrat.
By August 2000, the Crime Bill's COPS program, supported by Chuck Schumer, had added 11,461 new officers to the streets of New York.
Chuck delivered $20 billion to rebuild after the 9-11 terror attacks, providing crucial aid to New York City and the nation after the devastating event.
In 2004, Chuck Schumer was re-elected by the New Yorkers and secured two influential positions in the Senate. He became a member of the Senate Finance Committee, overseeing crucial legislation on tax, trade, social security, and healthcare. Additionally, he assumed the Chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).
Following the elections of 2006, Chuck Schumer successfully led the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) for two consecutive cycles. Under his leadership, the DSCC significantly increased the number of seats in his conference.
Senator Schumer was the first lawmaker to call for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign due to the firing of eight United States Attorneys. He criticized Gonzales for not understanding that he is no longer just the president's lawyer.
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Schumer suggested that cooperative economic sanctions from multiple countries could lead to the downfall of Iran's theocratic government.
The Wall Street Journal suggested that an investment company's interest in IndyMac might have prompted Schumer's letter. This raised questions about Schumer's ties to the founders of OneWest Bank.
Conservative commentators like Rush Limbaugh blamed Schumer for IndyMac's bankruptcy, portraying it as a political move to influence the 2008 election. Schumer faced sharp criticism for his actions during the financial crisis.
Senator Schumer announced his support for same-sex marriage, stating that it was time for the change. He had previously supported civil unions but now backed a full reversal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
The Washington Post reported that the OTS regional director in charge had been removed for allowing IndyMac to falsify its financial reporting. This raised concerns about regulatory oversight in the banking sector.
In June 2010, Chuck Schumer made controversial comments at an Orthodox Union event in Washington D.C. regarding Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. He criticized the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza Strip for voting for Hamas and supported Israel's economic measures against them.
Chuck Schumer held the position of Democratic Policy Committee Chair in the U.S. Senate from January 5, 2011, to January 2, 2017.
The NY Tech Meetup and other cybertech organizations held a demonstration with 2,000 protesters in front of the offices of Senators Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, who supported the controversial PROTECT IP Act. Demonstrators were concerned about the bill's impact on internet freedom.
After Russia granted asylum to Edward Snowden, Schumer criticized Putin's actions, likening them to that of a 'schoolyard bully'. He also mentioned the strained relationship between the United States and Russia.
In 2014, Senator Schumer played a role in obtaining $700,000 in FEMA compensation for Gowanda, New York, following a devastating flood in 2009 that caused significant damage and casualties.
In 2015, Schumer and Portman proposed a bill to tax multinational corporations holding money overseas at a lower rate, aiming to bring back revenue to the U.S.
In November 2016, Schumer mentioned in an interview that he and Trump were not friends but had civil conversations a couple of times after Trump's election to the presidency.
Schumer, along with other senators, urged the formation of a Senate select committee to focus on Russian meddling and potential cyber threats from countries like China and Iran.
Chuck Schumer served as the Minority Leader in the U.S. Senate from January 3, 2017, to January 20, 2021.
In April 2018, Senator Schumer announced his sponsorship of a bill to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level and provide funding for women and minority-owned businesses and research into the public health effects of cannabis.
In June 2018, Senator Schumer formally introduced the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, which aimed to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level.
In December 2019, the House of Representatives impeached Donald Trump over allegations related to Ukraine and Joe Biden. The proceedings then moved to the Senate.
In February 2020, Donald Trump was acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial, following a party-line vote. Schumer had sought additional witnesses and documents.
In late March 2020, a $2 trillion relief package, the largest stimulus bill in U.S. history, was passed. Schumer was involved in negotiations leading to its passage.
During the certification of the 2021 Electoral College vote count, Schumer was present when Trump supporters attacked the Capitol. He later blamed Trump for the violence and supported invoking the Twenty-fifth Amendment and impeachment.
On January 20th, 2021, Chuck Schumer became the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate after the historic election of Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock. He is the first New Yorker and first Jewish person to hold this position. Schumer has been focused on providing relief to the American people, passing the American Rescue Plan to support working families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2021, Senators Schumer, Wyden, and Booker released a federal legalization bill called the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act for public comment.
In July 2022, Senator Schumer formally introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, a comprehensive federal legalization bill.
Senator Schumer made a motion to reconsider the vote on cloture for the motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 4 in the Senate.
On May 1, 2023, Senator Charles E. Schumer introduced a bill to temporarily suspend the debt limit through December 31, 2024.
On May 2, 2023, the Senate read the debt limit suspension bill for the second time and placed it on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders.
The Senate agreed to a resolution authorizing testimony and representation in the case of United States v. Horn.
A resolution was introduced in the 118th Congress to support the designation of September 13, 2023, as National Sepsis Day.
A resolution introduced by Senator Charles E. Schumer to determine the majority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress until new members are selected.
A resolution was introduced in the Senate by Senator Charles E. Schumer to determine the majority party's membership on certain committees for the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress.
The Senate agreed to a resolution authorizing testimony and representation in the legal case United States v. Sullivan.
The Senate introduced a resolution standing in solidarity with Israel against terrorism.
The Senate passed a resolution authorizing testimony and representation in the case of United States v. Nformangum.
The Senate agreed to a resolution authorizing testimony and representation in the legal case United States v. Todd.
The Senate passed a resolution authorizing testimony and representation in the legal case People of the State of Michigan v. Berden, et al.
Resolution S.Res.579 of the 118th Congress authorizing testimony and representation in the legal case United States v. Kenyon.
In a Senate speech on March 14, 2024, Chuck Schumer criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, calling for elections to replace him and highlighting civilian deaths in Gaza affecting international support for Israel.
The Senate passed Resolution 76 authorizing testimony, documents, and representation in the case of United States v. Miller.
Chuck Schumer talked about the potential progress on a TikTok bill in the US Senate on April 5, 2024.
On April 10, 2024, Chuck Schumer publicly disagreed with former President Trump's stance on abortion.