Schumer Gains New Post As Third Highest Ranking Democrat In U.S. Senate

Schumer Gains New Post As Third Highest Ranking Democrat In U.S. Senate

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer was chosen today by his colleagues to serve as Vice-Chair of the Democratic Conference, making him the third-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate. In his new role, Schumer will oversee overall strategy and policy to keep and build support for Democratic values. On the heels of an extraordinary victory as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Schumer has now cemented his role as one of the Senate's top strategists.

"As a member of the new Democratic leadership, I will have a voice in our policy decisions, our legislative priorities, and the direction of our party. We must make sure the middle class has a strong voice in Washington and there are some very concrete things we can get done for them right away, like restoring the $4,000 college tuition tax credit, and allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices."

Schumer was also named Chair of the Joint House-Senate Economic Committee (JEC). The JEC is composed of ten Members from each the Senate and the House, and the Chairmanship rotates every Congress between the House and Senate - during the 110th Congress, it is the Senate's turn and Schumer will Chair the Committee. Traditionally, the JEC holds hearings, performs research, reports on the state of the economy, and gives policy advice to Congress, covering a wide range of economic issues "These new roles will give me an even greater ability to work on solving problems for people in New York and throughout the country, and will allow me to help focus the direction of the Democratic Party."

Schumer also announced today he will accept another two-year term as chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). Schumer's DSCC responsibilities include candidate recruitment, fundraising, and message strategy.

Despite Schumer's growing national responsibilities, this December he will complete his eighth 62-county tour of New York State. Though Schumer pledged to visit every county in the State during his first year as Senator, he has done so every year he has been in the Senate - a feat that makes him the only Senator in New York's history to visit every county for every year in office. In the face of an increasingly prominent role on the national stage, Schumer has continued maintaining his accessibility and vigorous work on behalf of New Yorkers throughout the state.

"The most important part of my job as a U.S. Senator is getting things done for New York," Schumer said. "Now, as a member of the leadership, we can deliver even more resources for every area of the state. Whether we're trying to get federal dollars for East Side Access, a new Buffalo Courthouse, or low-cost airlines to service upstate New York, increased influence in Washington can only translate to more federal resources for New York."

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/record.cfm?id=265887&&year=2006&