Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)Charles Bernard Rangel, born on June 11, 1930, in Harlem, New York City, was raised largely by his mother Blanche Mary Wharton Rangel and grandfather Charles Wharton alongside his older brother Ralph Jr. and younger sister Frances.(2)After dropping out of high school at age 16, Rangel enlisted in the United States Army and served as an artillery operations specialist in the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion in the 2nd Infantry Division from 1948 to 1952 during the Korean War.(3)During the Battle of Kunu-ri near the Yalu River on the border of China and North Korea, Rangel and his fellow soldiers were encircled by Chinese military forces and were subsequently ordered to withdraw by their command.(4)Upon receiving the withdrawal order, then-Private First Class Rangel was injured by shrapnel from a barrage of Chinese shells, which struck his back and triggered disarray amongst his comrades.(5)Despite his serious injuries, rank, and an encircled position behind enemy lines, in the middle of the night Rangel led his unit of an estimated 40 men through a mountain pass to safety.(6)For his bravery and sacrifice, Rangel was bestowed the Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart, as well as receiving overwhelming admiration, appreciation, and lasting respect from his comrades. When asked to reflect on the harrowing episode, Rangel often noted that he had not had a bad day since, a phrase that he adopted as the title of his autobiography.(7)Upon his honorable discharge from the Army with the rank of Staff Sergeant, Rangel returned to Harlem, finished high school, and used his G.I. bill to obtain a Bachelor of Science from New York University where he made the Dean’s list. He subsequently received a full scholarship to attend St. John’s University School of Law, from which he graduated in 1960.(8)After a tenure in private practice, Rangel was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York by U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. After leaving the role, Rangel served as Associate Counsel to the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, a law clerk to Judge James L. Watson on the United States Court of International Trade, and as General Counsel to the National Advisory Commission on Selective Service.(9)The positions he took early in his career ensured that Rangel would always remain in close proximity to his roots in Harlem, where he met his wife, Alma Carter, a social worker, in the mid-1950s at the Savoy Ballroom. Their loving marriage stretched more than 60 years and included two children, Steven and Alicia; daughter-in-law, Adelina, son-in-law, Howard; and three grandsons, Howard R. Haughton, Joshua R. Haughton, and Charles R. Haughton.(10)Rangel’s early political marks can be found on matters and missions of profound significance. He participated in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, was elected to replace his mentor, Percy Sutton, in the New York State Assembly, and was one of the pillars in New York’s generational political powerhouse, The Gang of Four, which included New York State Senator Basil Paterson, Manhattan Borough President and Civil Rights Leader Percy Sutton, and David Dinkins, the first black mayor of New York City.(11)Following his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970, Rangel quickly rose through the ranks of the Congressional Democrats and was ultimately reelected 23 times.(12)Shortly after his induction to the House in early 1971, Rangel, along with 12 other Black Members of Congress founded the Congressional Black Caucus. He was elected by his colleagues to lead the Caucus as Chairman in 1974.(13)Rangel energized the national discussion around drug trafficking, later becoming Chairman of the Select Committee on Narcotics, and was a prominent contributor to the House Judiciary Committee’s work on the Watergate scandal.(14)Due to his growing influence, Rangel was granted a position on the coveted Ways and Means Committee and was elevated to serve as Speaker Tip O’Neill’s Deputy Majority Whip.(15)Rangel used his newfound power in Congress to secure Federal support for programs that benefited his congressional district and other constituencies.(16)He authored and supported legislation and programs that uplifted vulnerable populations like Child Care and Development Block Grants, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Empowerment Zones, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.(17)He introduced measures to ensure that human rights and democratic principles were reflected in international business activity, including an amendment rescinding tax credits for companies doing business in apartheid South Africa.(18)To ensure that the diplomatic corps reflected the diversity of the nation, Rangel established the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program in partnership with Howard University, which now has more than 200 alumni serving in posts around the world.(19)Rangel was also the primary force behind the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the first bill to provide incentives for U.S. trade with sub-Saharan Africa, which he authored and advanced despite significant political headwinds. He subsequently worked with President George W. Bush to pass the AGOA Acceleration Act, which synergized and expanded on his earlier efforts that instituted the trade program.(20)Rangel similarly forged a sequence of trade agreements and programs pertaining to Latin America and the Caribbean, including the Haiti HOPE-HELP program, the Caribbean Basin Initiative, Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act.(21)Rangel was a lifelong champion for veterans, particularly servicemembers who historically faced discrimination both in uniform and upon returning home. As a decorated Korean War veteran himself, Rangel often leaned on his personal experience and legislative authority to spotlight the needs of underserved veterans and ensure they received the benefits, respect, and opportunities they earned through their service. Rangel spearheaded legislation to close systemic gaps in Federal veterans programs, establish the Office of Minority Veterans, expand access to VA services, and strengthen the G.I. Bill, veterans housing programs, and small business opportunities.(22)As one of the few Korean War veterans serving in Congress, Rangel sponsored and secured enactment of legislation establishing National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day on July 27, in the United States Flag Code to honor his fellow veterans. He also deepened United States-Korea relations through founding the Congressional Caucus on Korea, facilitating passage of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement, and passing resolutions that strengthen the bilateral strategic alliance, promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and support Korean American family reunification efforts.(23)As Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, he led his colleagues in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to pass measures that provided funding to recovery efforts and relief to families that were impacted, such as the extension of unemployment benefits and provided health benefits to 9/11 first responders and survivors.(24)In 2007, Rangel became Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. In that role, he was instrumental in the development and passage of the Affordable Care Act, which has provided coverage to an estimated 20 million uninsured or underinsured Americans. He also ensured that U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, were not left out of this landmark law.(25)Rangel’s exceptional life was heavily marked by his extraordinary accomplishments in the military, various government roles, and elected office, which led to economic and social advancements for his fellow servicemembers, constituents of his district, underserved communities across the country, and people around the globe.(26)During his congressional career, Rangel crafted and passed numerous measures of significance, including several that remain foundational to our military, diplomatic corps, healthcare system, international trade relationships, and tax code.