Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senate – New York

Senator Charles E. Schumer is in his first term representing New York State . Before his election to the Senate, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for eighteen years. Since his election to the Senate, Senator Schumer has made improving New York 's economy and the recovery efforts from the September 11 th attacks his top priorities. Senator Schumer helped secure a commitment from President Bush to provide $20 billion in federal funding to help New York pay for recovery and relief efforts. Senator Schumer also helped create the federal Victims Compensation Fund, which helps the families of those lost on September 11 th .

Senator Schumer serves on the Judiciary Committee and was the former Chairmen of Judiciary Sub-committee on immigration. He is strong proponent of a rational visa policy for non-immigrants. At the urging of IAPAC, Senator Schumer agreed to chair a series of meetings between representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency to discuss non-immigrant visa policy issues, including the implementation of Section 306 of the Enhanced Border Security & Visa Enter Reform Act. Section 306 of the Act contemplates a ban on the issuance of all non-immigrant visas to residents or nationals of the seven countries that appear on the Department of State's list of state sponsors of international terrorism - including Iran . Senator Schumer summed up his concerns in an official press release by stating that "we do not want our non-immigrant visa policy to impose an undue hardship on American citizens, including Iranian Americans, many of whom have made and continue to make outstanding contributions to the economic and social life of our country." Click here to learn more about Senator Schumer's efforts.

Background Information

Party: Democrat
Term: 1st
First Elected: 1998
Committees: Banking; Housing & Urban Affairs; Energy & Natural Resources; Judiciary; Rules & Administration; Joint Library
Prev. Occupation: Public Official
Prev. Political Exp.: NY Assembly, 1975-80; US House of Representatives, 1981-98
Education: BA Harvard Univ. , 1971; JD Harvard University, 1974
Up for Re-election: 2004