As one of the crowning achievements in a lifetime of exemplary public service, in 2021 Chuck Schumer became the first Senate Majority Leader for the State of New York and immediately helped broker the most consequential federal infrastructure investment our region or nation has seen since the New Deal. Senator Schumer worked with President Biden, House Speaker Pelosi, and legislators from both sides of the aisle to craft vital legislation to modernize America’s infrastructure and address the challenges of climate change. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has the potential to transform our built environment by providing more than $46 billion for transit, roads, bridges, airports, and water and broadband infrastructure in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut alone. His leadership on these issues should not come as a surprise, however, as it is part of his great legacy of caring for our city and region, as he did after the 9/11 terror attacks and Superstorm Sandy.
When New York needs him, Senator Schumer has always been there.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Chuck Schumer raised his own family in the borough and can often be spotted biking around the city’s greenways. After attending Harvard University and Harvard Law School, he was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1974 and subsequently elected to serve New York’s 9th Congressional District in Washington in 1980. Chuck served in the House of Representatives for eighteen years, sponsoring and championing the Violence Against Women Act, the Brady Bill and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act among other landmark legislation before being elected to the United States Senate in 1998.
Chuck has made improving New York’s economy his top priority and the entire region and nation has benefited from his work. He has created thousands of family-supporting new jobs, brought affordable air service upstate, expanded access to low-cost generic medications, and passed a comprehensive immigration reform package. Recently, Majority Leader Schumer has personally advocated alongside RPA for the Gateway Program, the nation’s most important infrastructure project, which would deliver over 80,000 jobs and modernize aging infrastructure that supports 20% of the United States’ economy.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Spring of 2020, Chuck has delivered the support that residents of the region need to keep their families safe and cared for. He saved our region’s public transit agencies when they faced financial ruin after ridership dropped suddenly and dramatically. Brokering a compromise between Congress and the White House he spearheaded the passage of the American Rescue Plan which helped to cut child poverty and support working families who had lost income. He continues to advocate for the delivery workers we have all relied on for the last two years and has been the standard-bearer for the return of Broadway, arts, and culture in New York City.
We invite you to join us and celebrate Majority Leader Schumer’s leadership and perseverance on Friday, May 6th.
The John Zuccotti Award
RPA’s highest award for leadership in the metropolitan region is named after John E. Zuccotti, a long-serving member of the RPA Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Presented each year at RPA’s annual Assembly, the award recognizes a leader who has made extraordinary contributions to the built environment in the tri-state metropolitan region. The 2017 inaugural John Zuccotti Award was presented to U.S. President Joe Biden. The 2018 Award was bestowed to Anthony Coscia, Chairman of Amtrak. The 2019 Award was given to Alicia Glen, Former Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, New York City and Founder, women.nyc. The 2020 Award was given to The Honorable Henry Cisneros, former US HUD Secretary and Chairman, Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Co-Founder of American Triple I Partners. The 2021 Award was given to Rick Cotton, Executive Director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Howard Milstein, John’s close friend and colleague, joins RPA annually in selecting the recipient and presenting the award.
Join us at the RPA Centennial Assembly on Friday, May 6 for the 2022 Zucotti Award presentation.
“Congratulations to my colleague and friend Senator Chuck Schumer on receiving RPA’s 2022 Zuccotti Award. For decades, I’ve seen first-hand how Senator Schumer fights tenaciously for all 62 counties in New York State. I’m proud to be working side-by-side with him on major projects like finishing the Gateway project and bringing the nation’s first semiconductor hub to Albany. As we work to kick-start New York’s recovery, I know I speak for all New Yorkers when I say we’re grateful to have Chuck Schumer in our corner.” Governor Kathy Hochul “It has been an honor to work alongside Senator Schumer to make New York a safer and fairer place for everyone. We are incredibly fortunate to have a fellow Brooklynite leading the United States Senate and representing our values with the rest of the country. Senator Schumer has dedicated his entire life to public service and has made an unparalleled impact on our city and the nation. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.” New York City Mayor Eric Adams “In the aftermath of some of our darkest moments, from the horrific attacks of September 11th, the crippling damage left in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, to an unprecedented global pandemic, Senator Charles Schumer has always been there, and, more importantly, he has delivered, for New York in our time of need. And whether it’s expanding our subway, modernizing our airports, or turning a vision for a new rail tunnel underneath the Hudson River into a reality, there is simply no bigger champion for New York’s infrastructure than Senator Schumer. I’m grateful for his leadership, dedication, and his relentless and tireless advocacy for our region truly embodies the spirit of the John Zuccotti award.” Scott Rechler, Chairman & CEO, RXR Realty; Chairman, RPA “This is not the only award named for John Zuccotti that Senator Schumer has received. Chuck shared John’s commitment to the infrastructure needed to undergird the long term health of our region. Like John, Chuck knows how government can be guided for the public good. From his advocacy for the Gateway Program, to his ‘Group of 35’ report, to his forward-looking proposals for the far West Side, Chuck Schumer has been unwavering in his support for our region.” Howard Milstein, Chairman, President & CEO, New York Private Bank & Trust “I am pleased and honored to have an opportunity to express my gratitude to the RPA and to Howard Milstein for establishing the John Zuccotti Award in memory of my husband. John would be immensely gratified to know that the award this year will go to Senator Chuck Schumer, a man he knew well and respected greatly. He would certainly agree with me that no one could deserve it more.” Susan Zuccotti “Senator Chuck Schumer has devoted more than four decades to public service in Washington. Senator Schumer has been a skilled, tenacious and effective voice for the region as well as a National leader committed to seeking progress on the extraordinary challenges that we face domestically and internationally. His commitment to public service mirrors that of John Zuccotti. The RPA’s selection of Senator Schumer for the 2022 Zuccotti award is pitch perfect and could not be more well deserved.” Rick Cotton, Executive Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; 2021 Zuccotti Award Recipient
Tom Wright, President & CEO, RPA |
U.S. Senator Charles Ellis “Chuck” Schumer has dedicated his career to being a tireless fighter for New York. He visits all 62 counties every year and has delivered countless large and small victories across the state, including delivering $20 billion to rebuild after the 9-11 terror attacks and passing a $63 billion relief package to help New York recover from Superstorm Sandy. From massive snowstorms in Western New York to numerous floods across Upstate, Sen. Schumer has been there to deliver aid and support to New Yorkers in their time of need.
From authoring a permanent tax credit to offset the rising costs of college tuition, protecting Social Security and Medicare to encouraging job-creating infrastructure projects, Senator Schumer has made it a hallmark of his career to protect the middle class and those working to reach it – including finding common sense solutions to national issues.
Chuck was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where his dad owned a small exterminating business and his mom was a housewife. He attended public school and graduated from James Madison High School before heading to Harvard University, and then Harvard Law School. Chuck has two daughters, Jessica and Alison, and he still resides in Brooklyn with his wife, Iris Weinshall.
After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1974, Chuck was elected to the New York State Assembly, where he soon made his mark with his trademark vigor and relentless advocacy. In 1980, at 29, Chuck was elected as a congressman from the 9th Congressional District.
Chuck represented the 9th CD in Brooklyn and Queens for eighteen years, where he established his reputation as a consumer advocate and a pioneer in the fight against crime during the days of sky-high crime and murder rates that plagued communities throughout America. He was the leading sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act, which combats domestic violence and sexual assault, and the Brady Bill, which instituted mandatory background checks for handgun purchases. He championed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which organized data on crimes of bigotry and allowed federal authorities to prosecute these crimes. He also sponsored legislation that required banks and credit card companies to provide greater disclosure to consumers.
In 1998, Chuck was elected to the U.S. Senate; he became New York’s senior senator when Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan retired in 2000. Chuck kicked off his first Senate term by announcing he would visit each of New York’s 62 counties every year, a tradition he continues today to keep in touch with voters from every corner of the state.
Throughout his time in the Senate, Chuck has made improving New York’s economy his top priority, bringing affordable air service, like JetBlue, to Upstate New York. He has worked to successfully retain New York jobs that were at risk of leaving and to attract many new firms to New York to create many thousands of family-supporting new jobs. Chuck was the author of legislation that eliminated barriers that delay low-cost generic medications from entering the marketplace and led the charge to make college tuition tax deductible. He also aggressively championed agricultural measures to preserve vital market support programs for New York’s dairy farmers and crop growers. In 2013, Chuck worked across the aisle to pass a comprehensive immigration reform package, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, which passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support.
After New Yorkers re-elected him in 2004, Chuck secured two powerful posts: a seat on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the nation’s tax, trade, social security and healthcare legislation, and the Chairmanship of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Chuck successfully led the DSCC for two consecutive cycles and greatly expanded the number of seats in his conference.
Following the elections of 2006, then-Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) appointed Chuck to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Conference, the number three position on the Democratic Leadership team. In 2016, Chuck was once again re-elected by the people of New York and at the same time, his colleagues elected him to serve as Leader of the Democratic Caucus, the first time a New York Senator had held the position. In 2020 he became the Senate Majority Leader.
