Senate Report Card: Charles "Chuck" Schumer D-NY

Charles "Chuck" Schumer is the Democratic senior Senator from the state of New York. He has served as the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee successfully helping to retake the Senate for a Democratic majority in 2006. As the Vice Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Schumer sits as the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate.

As a member of the Senate since 1999, Schumer has risen as a Senatorial media star, often coming to airwaves to argue his case and fight for his causes. He is definitely a recognizable member of the Senate.

Chuck Schumer is currently chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and sits on the Finance; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Rules and Administration Committees as well as the powerful Judiciary Committee.

Previously a member of the House of Representatives, Schumer famously authored the Assault Weapons Ban in 1994, but which expired in 2004. He also took up the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, both pieces of legislation putting him in direct conflict with the powerful National Rifle Association.

Senator Schumer sided with Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut in support for regulation of video games, and has been attacked for siding against freedom of speech and privacy as such.

Serving as the senior Senator from New York during the September 11th attacks, Schumer has since written the money laundering provisions of the new antiterrorism bill. He has written legislations making terrorist hoaxes a federal crime. Working with junior New York Senator Hillary Clinton, he wrote legislation permitting the FBI to share information with local law enforcement cutting down investigation time and leading to stronger law enforcement cooperation.

Senator Schumer was a critic of the Intelligence Authorization Act and argued that it would have a "chilling effect on free speech."

As Chairman of the Courts Subcommittee, he uses three criteria for confirmations: proven legal excellence, moderation and diversity. He's overseen confirmations for two Bush additions to the Supreme Court: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

Schumer was a supporter for the Iraq War Resolution, and although has since become highly critical of the Bush administrations oversight and implementation of the War, remains a supporter. He, along with bipartisan Senate colleagues, successfully stopped a deal that would turn over control of six U.S. ports to the control of the United Arab Emirates, arguing the strong ties to Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda.

Most recently, Senator Schumer has taken on the fight against Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Schumer was the first member of Congress to call for the Attorney General's resignation amid the controversy of firings of eight U.S. Attorneys by the Bush administration for allegedly political gains. After hearings with Attorney General Gonzalez, Senator Schumer took to the airwaves to publicly criticize and denounce Gonzalez for saying "I can't recall" over 100 times. Senator Schumer argues that the Attorney General is the Attorney for all Americans, and that Gonzalez is no longer an advisor to merely the President.

Senator Charles "Chuck" Schumer will serve his tenure as senior Senator from the state of New York until elections in 2011.