U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer addresses the cast and crew of LPCA’s “The Nutcracker,” as well as LPCA staff and board members, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Schumer was instrumental in creating the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program in late 2020, which helped keep the LPCA afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. (Enterprise photo — Sydney Emerson)

ALBANY — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer concluded his annual tour of all 62 counties in New York state on Monday, marking the Democrat’s 25th year of completing the tradition.

The New York senator wrapped up his tour in Hudson, a city located in the upper Hudson Valley. This year marks the third year he has completed the tour as the Democratic leader of the Senate.

“So many of the ideas that I have gotten and turned into major pieces of legislation come from visiting the counties. You cannot do your job as senator unless you’re actually there,” Schumer told The Associated Press. “Doing the tour helps me craft better legislation and then helps me bring back money to New York.”

This year’s tour was especially important because of investments made towards a variety of communities across the state, including money towards expanding research into chip technology in Albany, the state’s capital, he said.

Schumer said he plans to continue the tradition next year.