Charles Rangel

Charles Rangel
Name	Charles Rangel
Caption	Rangel in 2007
State	New York
District	13th
Term start	January 3, 1993
Term end	January 3, 2017
Preceded	Ted Weiss
Succeeded	Adriano Espaillat
State2	New York
District2	16th
Term start2	January 3, 1983
Term end2	January 3, 1993
Preceded2	Chuck Schumer
Succeeded2	José E. Serrano
State3	New York
District3	19th
Term start3	January 3, 1973
Term end3	January 3, 1983
Preceded3	Bella Abzug
Succeeded3	Mario Biaggi
State4	New York
District4	18th
Term start4	January 3, 1971
Term end4	January 3, 1973
Preceded4	Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
Succeeded4	Ed Koch
Party	Democratic
Alma mater	New York University, St. John's University School of Law
Birth name	Charles Bernard Rangel
Birth date	11 June 1930
Birth place	Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse	Alma Carter, 1964
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Serviceyears	1948–1952
Rank	Staff sergeant
Battles	Korean War
Awards	Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Presidential Unit Citation

Charles Rangel is an American politician who served as a United States Representative for New York from 1971 to 2017. A prominent member of the Democratic Party, he represented a succession of districts centered on Harlem and became one of the most influential African American legislators in Congress. Rangel's long tenure was marked by his advocacy for social welfare programs, his leadership on tax policy, and a high-profile ethics censure.

Early life and education

Charles Bernard Rangel was born on June 11, 1930, in Harlem, New York City, to Ralph Rangel and Blanche Mary Wharton. He dropped out of DeWitt Clinton High School but later earned a high school equivalency diploma after serving in the United States Army. Following his military service, Rangel attended New York University on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 1957. He then earned a Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law in 1960, was admitted to the New York State Bar Association, and began practicing law.

Military service

Rangel was drafted into the United States Army in 1948 and served until 1952 with the 503rd Artillery Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean War. In late 1950, his unit was surrounded by Chinese forces during the Battle of Kunu-ri, a critical engagement in the Korean War. Rangel led a group of soldiers out of the encirclement, an action for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroism. He also received a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Political career

Rangel began his political career as legal counsel to the New York City Housing and Development Administration and later served in the New York State Assembly. In 1970, he successfully challenged longtime incumbent Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in the Democratic primary for New York's 18th congressional district. He won the general election and took his seat in the 92nd United States Congress. Rangel was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and became a steadfast ally of the House Democratic leadership, eventually rising to become the first African American chair of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means.

Committee assignments and legislative work

Throughout his career, Rangel served on the House Ways and Means Committee, which he chaired from 2007 to 2010. He also served on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate hearings. His signature legislative achievement was co-authoring the 2000 bill that created the United States–Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act, which expanded trade benefits. He was a key architect of the Empowerment Zone program to revitalize distressed urban areas and a vocal advocate for restoring the Selective Service System draft. Rangel also played a significant role in debates over the Affordable Care Act and the Bush tax cuts.

Ethics investigations and censure

In 2008, the House Ethics Committee began investigating Rangel for multiple allegations, including failure to report rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic, improper use of House stationery for fundraising, and retention of multiple rent-stabilized New York City apartments for campaign purposes. The committee found him guilty of 11 counts of ethics violations in 2010. The House subsequently approved a censure resolution, making Rangel only the 23rd member of that body to be formally censured. He apologized on the House floor but maintained the violations were unintentional.

Personal life and legacy

Rangel married Alma Carter in 1964, and they have two children. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and remained a resident of Harlem throughout his life. After leaving Congress, he joined the faculty of New York University and remained active in public speaking. His legacy is that of a political institution in New York City, a champion for urban and minority communities, and a formidable, though ultimately sanctioned, power broker in Washington, D.C.. The Harlem Post Office was renamed the Charles B. Rangel Post Office Building in his honor.

Category:1930 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) Category:New York University alumni Category:St. John's University School of Law alumni