A Senator and a Representative from New York; born in Brooklyn, N.Y., November 23, 1950; attended the public schools; graduated from Madison High School, Brooklyn 1967; A.B., Harvard University 1971; J.D., Harvard Law School 1974; admitted to the New York bar in 1975; served in the New York State assembly 1975-1980; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-seventh and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1981-January 3, 1999); was not a candidate in 1998 for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, but was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1998; reelected in 2004 and again in 2010 for the term ending January 3, 2017; chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (2005-2008); chair, Democratic Policy Committee (One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses); chair, Joint Economic Committee (One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses), Committee on Rules and Administration (One Hundred Eleventh to One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses).