Chuck Schumer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Schumer
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Official portrait, 2017
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| Senate Minority Leader | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Whip | Dick Durbin |
| Preceded by | Mitch McConnell |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 20, 2021 |
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| Whip | Dick Durbin |
| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Succeeded by | Mitch McConnell |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Whip | Dick Durbin |
| Preceded by | Mitch McConnell |
| Succeeded by | John Thune |
| Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 |
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| Vice Chairs | Mark Warner Elizabeth Warren |
| Preceded by | Harry Reid |
| Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Byron Dorgan |
| Succeeded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Chair of the Senate Rules Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Dianne Feinstein |
| Succeeded by | Roy Blunt |
| Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | |
| Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Leader | Harry Reid |
| Preceded by | Jon Corzine |
| Succeeded by | Robert Menendez |
| United States Senator from New York |
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| Assumed office January 3, 1999 Serving with Kirsten Gillibrand
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| Preceded by | Al D'Amato |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Elizabeth Holtzman |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Weiner |
| Constituency |
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| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 45th district |
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| In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1980 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen Solarz |
| Succeeded by | Daniel L. Feldman |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Charles Ellis Schumer
November 23, 1950 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Iris Weinshall
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Amy Schumer (cousin) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
Charles Ellis Schumer (born November 23, 1950) is an American politician. He has been a U.S. Senator for New York since 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Schumer has been a top leader for the Democrats in the Senate. He led the Senate Democratic Caucus starting in 2017. He was the Senate Majority Leader from 2021 to 2025. This means he was in charge of the most powerful group of senators. He has also been the Senate Minority Leader twice, from 2017 to 2021 and again since 2025.
He became New York's longest-serving U.S. Senator in 2022. He is also the leader of New York's group of lawmakers in Congress.
Schumer grew up in Brooklyn and went to Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Before becoming a senator, he served in the New York State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives. In 1998, he won his election to the Senate.
As Majority Leader, Schumer helped pass important laws. These included the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also helped confirm many federal judges. This included Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman on the Supreme Court.
Contents
- Early Life and Education (1950–1974)
- Early Career in Politics (1975–1998)
- Serving in the U.S. Senate (1999–Present)
- Important Political Views
- Other Work
- Personal Life
- Images for kids
Early Life and Education (1950–1974)
Chuck Schumer was born on November 23, 1950, in Midwood, Brooklyn. His parents were Selma and Abraham Schumer. His family is Jewish. His ancestors came from a town in what is now Ukraine.
He went to public schools in Brooklyn. He graduated from James Madison High School in 1967. He then went to Harvard College. He first studied chemistry, but later changed to social studies. This was after he volunteered for a political campaign in 1968.
Schumer graduated from Harvard in 1971 with high honors. He then went to Harvard Law School and earned his law degree in 1974. He passed the New York state bar exam in 1975. However, he chose to work in politics instead of practicing law.
Early Career in Politics (1975–1998)
In 1974, Schumer was elected to the New York State Assembly. He served there for three terms, from 1975 to 1981.
In 1980, he ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives and won. He was reelected eight times. His district in Brooklyn and Queens changed its number twice during his time there.
As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Schumer helped oversee the House investigation of the Waco siege in 1995.
Serving in the U.S. Senate (1999–Present)
In 1998, Schumer ran for the United States Senate. He won the Democratic primary election. Then, he won the general election against the Republican, Al D'Amato.
He was reelected in 2004, 2010, 2016, and 2022. He won by large margins in most of these elections.
Schumer led the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2005 to 2009. This group helps Democrats get elected to the Senate. During his time, Democrats gained 14 seats in the Senate.
He was the third-highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate for a time. He also served as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus. In 2016, he was chosen by his fellow Democrats to be their leader in the Senate.
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Senate Democratic Leader
In November 2016, the Senate Democratic Caucus elected Schumer as their minority leader. He was the first person from New York and the first Jewish person to hold this role.
On January 20, 2021, Democrats gained control of the Senate. This made Schumer the majority leader. He replaced Republican Mitch McConnell.
As Majority Leader, Schumer helped pass many important laws. These included the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He also helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the CHIPS and Science Act. Other key laws were the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Respect for Marriage Act.
Under his leadership, the Senate confirmed many federal judges. This included Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
Political Style
Schumer is known for often appearing in the media. Some people jokingly say he loves being on television. However, others say this helps him connect with people in New York.
In Washington, Schumer has worked to find common ground on tough issues. These include health care, immigration, and financial rules.
He was in charge of organizing the second inauguration of Barack Obama. He gave the opening speech and was the master of ceremonies. A photo of him smiling behind Malia Obama became very popular online.
Focus on Local Issues
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Schumer is proud of visiting all of New York's 62 counties every year. He is the only New York senator to do this. He focuses on local issues that matter to everyday New Yorkers. These include tourism, local taxes, and creating jobs.
For example, when Adidas planned to move jersey production overseas, Schumer spoke out. He said it would risk 100 jobs in New York. He also helped keep Canon Inc. in Long Island by helping with road funding.
In November 2017, Schumer announced funding for Head Start programs in Erie County, New York. He said this would help young students succeed. In January 2018, he asked for a new veterans cemetery in Pembroke, New York. He wanted to ensure veterans had a proper burial site near their homes.
FBI and Justice
In November 2001, Schumer asked for laws to help the Federal Bureau of Investigation share information. He wanted them to share terrorism information with local police.
In October 2016, Schumer said he had lost trust in FBI director James Comey. This was after Comey reopened an investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails. In May 2017, after President Donald Trump fired Comey, Schumer called for an independent investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
In January 2018, Schumer criticized Republicans for trying to discredit the FBI investigation. He said their efforts were "delusional."
Supreme Court
Schumer has been involved in many Supreme Court nominee hearings. In 2005, he praised John Roberts but questioned his compassion. He also objected to the Bush administration not sharing documents about Roberts.
In 2009, he said the confirmation process for Sonia Sotomayor would test Republicans. He called Sotomayor a "mainstream justice."
In March 2016, after President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, Schumer asked for hearings. In March 2017, he voted against confirming Neil Gorsuch. He called on Democrats to block the vote. Republicans then used a special rule called the "nuclear option" to confirm Gorsuch.
In July 2018, after Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh, Schumer said Kavanaugh should answer questions about important legal cases. He also asked for documents from Kavanaugh's time in the White House to be shared.
Important Political Views
Agriculture
In March 2019, Schumer signed a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The letter warned about low prices for dairy farmers. It asked the department to encourage farmers to use a special insurance program.
Consumer Issues
Schumer has worked on issues important to consumers. He helped pass a law that requires credit card companies to clearly show fees and interest rates. This is known as the "Schumer box".
He has also pushed to stop banks from charging two fees for one ATM transaction. He worked to ban harmful chemicals like bisphenol A (BPA) and cadmium from children's products.
Schumer supported tax credits for college tuition. He helped pass a $4,000 tuition tax credit to help stimulate the economy.
Death Penalty
In 2013, Schumer said the death penalty would be right for the person who bombed the Boston Marathon. He said the law he helped write in 1994 allowed for it in such cases.
Disaster Relief
In 2014, Schumer helped Gowanda, New York, get $700,000 in aid from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This was after a bad flood in 2009 that caused damage and deaths.
Donald Trump
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In November 2016, after Trump was elected, Schumer said they were not close friends. In December 2016, Schumer asked Trump's cabinet nominees to release their tax returns.
In February 2017, Schumer said Trump's speeches would be less memorable than past presidents'. He said there was a big difference between what Trump said and what his administration did.
In June 2018, Schumer spoke against harassing political opponents. He said people should organize and vote instead.
On January 6, 2021, Schumer was at the Capitol when Trump supporters attacked it. He blamed Trump for the attack. He called for Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump from office. He also said he would support impeachment.
Equal Pay
In April 2014, the Senate discussed a bill about equal pay for men and women. Schumer supported the bill. He said equal pay was important for women, who make up a large part of voters.
Financial Industry Rules
Schumer has been involved in rules for the financial industry. In 1987, he wrote against repealing a law that kept banks separate from investment firms. However, in 1999, he supported repealing it to help U.S. financial firms compete.
He has also proposed taxing money that large companies hold outside the country.
Foreign Policy
In April 2017, after a missile strike in Syria, Schumer said a limited action to punish Syria was right. But he warned against getting too involved in Syria.
In July 2017, Schumer voted for a law that put sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea.
In October 2020, Schumer asked the Trump administration to stop military aid to Azerbaijan. Critics worried the aid could be used in a conflict with Armenia.
China
In 2006, Schumer criticized the trade imbalance between the U.S. and China. He said it was caused by China's currency policies.
In 2017, Schumer asked Trump to block China from buying more American companies. He wanted to pressure China to help with North Korea's nuclear program.
Iran Nuclear Deal
On August 6, 2015, Schumer said he was against the nuclear deal with Iran. He believed it was not strong enough.
Iraq
Schumer supported the Iraq War Resolution. However, he criticized President George W. Bush's strategy in the Iraq War.
In July 2006, Schumer and other senators wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq. They criticized him for not condemning Hezbollah's actions.
Schumer was the first senator to support U.S. help for Kurdish independence after a vote in 2017. He asked Iraq to talk with the Kurds to find a peaceful solution.
Israel
Schumer has been a strong supporter of Israel. In June 2010, he spoke about Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. He said it was justified to keep weapons out and to show Palestinians that cooperation leads to economic progress.
In March 2018, he told a pro-Israel group that Israeli settlements in the West Bank were not related to the conflict.
In May 2017, Schumer co-sponsored a bill that would make it a crime for Americans to encourage boycotts against Israel. He also supported the U.S. opening its embassy in Jerusalem.
North Korea
In February 2017, Schumer said North Korea was an "irresponsible nation." He said China should do more to control North Korea.
In August 2017, after Trump threatened North Korea, Schumer said the U.S. should be "firm and deliberate" but not use "reckless rhetoric."
In May 2018, Schumer asked for Kim Jong-un to be removed from a special coin for a summit. He called Kim a "brutal dictator." After the summit, Schumer said the meeting gave North Korea "international legitimacy."
Russia
In August 2013, after Russia gave asylum to Edward Snowden, Schumer said Vladimir Putin was acting like a "schoolyard bully." He said the relationship between the U.S. and Russia was very bad.
In December 2016, Schumer asked for a Senate committee to investigate Russian interference in U.S. affairs. He also introduced a bill to limit executive action on Russian sanctions.
In July 2018, Schumer led a resolution warning Trump not to let Russia question U.S. diplomats. The resolution passed with a 98–0 vote.
Gun Laws
In 1994, Schumer helped write the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. This law banned certain semi-automatic weapons. He also helped pass the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which requires background checks for gun purchases.
He has supported hunters by sponsoring laws for outdoor recreation grants. He also supports tax deductions for hunters who donate meat to feeding programs.
In February 2018, after a school shooting, Schumer signed a letter to Trump. It asked for background checks on all gun purchases. In January 2019, he introduced a bill to expand background checks for all firearm sales.
Health Care
Schumer supported President Obama's health care laws. He voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2009 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
In 2009, Schumer suggested that government health insurance programs should follow the same rules as private insurance. He wanted fair competition.
In May 2017, Schumer criticized a Republican health care bill. He said it would leave people with pre-existing conditions vulnerable. He called for Democrats and Republicans to work together on a better plan.
Homeland Security
As a senator, Schumer has worked to get homeland security funds for New York. He helped get over $20 billion for New York's recovery after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He also helped secure $200 million to protect New York City's public transportation.
He supported fully funding the FIRE Grant program. This program helps fire departments buy important equipment.
Immigration
Schumer was part of the Gang of Eight. This was a group of senators who wrote a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013. The bill passed the Senate but did not pass in the House of Representatives.
In January 2018, Schumer said any agreement on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) must be in a spending bill. He offered Trump money for a border wall in exchange for protecting DACA recipients. Trump declined the offer.
Same-Sex Marriage
In 1996, Schumer voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This law defined marriage as between a man and a woman. However, in March 2009, Schumer announced his support for same-sex marriage. He said it was "time" and also supported reversing DOMA.
Student Loan Forgiveness
Schumer supports canceling $50,000 or more in federal student loan debt for borrowers. He believes this can be done by executive action.
Technology and the Internet
Schumer supported the PROTECT IP Act. This bill would restrict access to websites that illegally share copyrighted material.
In March 2012, Schumer called for an investigation into employers asking for job applicants' Facebook passwords.
Schumer has been seen as an ally of Facebook. In July 2018, he urged another senator to make sure Facebook addressed issues like misinformation and privacy. One of Schumer's daughters works at Facebook.
Other Work
In January 2007, Schumer published a book called Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time. The book shares ideas for Democrats to connect with middle-class voters.
On November 21, 2023, Schumer made his Broadway debut. He played the Producer in Gutenberg! The Musical! for one night.
Personal Life
Schumer married Iris Weinshall on September 21, 1980. Their wedding was at the World Trade Center. Iris Weinshall was New York City's transportation commissioner from 2000 to 2007. They live in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
The Schumers have two daughters, Jessica and Alison. Both went to Harvard College, like their father. Jessica worked for the Council of Economic Advisers. Alison is a marketing manager at Facebook. In 2018, Jessica had a son, making Schumer a grandfather.
Even though he grew up a fan of the New York Giants, Schumer publicly supports the Buffalo Bills. He even said it was a "great day to be a Buffalo Bills fan" after the Bills won a championship game in 2024.
Images for kids
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Chuck Schumer's signature
