[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 10, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3317-S3318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. SCHUMER:
S. 2009. A bill to award posthumously a congressional gold medal to
Charles B. Rangel, an American trailblazer and public servant, in
recognition of his remarkable life and career in which he elevated the
voices and interests of underserved communities, bolstered the
reputation of the United States on the global stage, and cofounded the
Congressional Black Caucus; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Charles B. Rangel
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. 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 benefits under the Servicemen's
Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly known as the ``G.I.
Bill''; 58 Stat. 284, chapter 268) 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 United States Attorney for the Southern
District of New York by 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 2
children, Steven and Alicia, daughter-in-law Adelina, son-in-
law Howard, and 3 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 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 work of
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives 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 Deputy Majority Whip under Speaker Tip
O'Neill.
(15) Rangel used his newfound power in Congress to secure
Federal support for programs that benefitted 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 United States, 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 (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), the
first Act to provide incentives for United States 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
of 2004 (19 U.S.C. 3701 note), 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 trade preferences for countries in the Caribbean
under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C.
2701 et seq.), as expanded by the United States-Caribbean
Basin Trade Partnership Act (19 U.S.C. 2701 note) and the
Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership
Encouragement Act of 2008 (19 U.S.C. 2701 note), and the
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade
Agreement.
(21) Rangel was a lifelong champion for veterans,
particularly service members 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 services of
the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 27th in the section 127 of title 36,
United States 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 Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148; 124 Stat. 119),
which has provided coverage to an estimated 20,000,000
uninsured or underinsured people of the United States. He
also ensured that United States 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.
[[Page S3318]]
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous
presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of
appropriate design to Charles B. Rangel, in recognition of
his contribution to the United States and his achievements of
paving the way for equality and for people of all
backgrounds, regardless of demographic or economic class.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
described in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a
gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions,
to be determined by the Secretary. The design shall bear an
image of, and inscription of the name of, Charles B. Rangel.
(c) Disposition of Medal.--Following the presentation
described in subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to
the children of Charles B. Rangel, Steven Rangel and Alicia
Rangel.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of
the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price
sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under
this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority to Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to
be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of
the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be
deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
______
By Ms. COLLINS (For herself, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr.
Warnock, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Welch):
S. 2012. A bill to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act,
and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, the
senior Senator from Illinois and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, Senator Durbin, to introduce the Runaway and Homeless Youth
and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025. This bill would update and
reauthorize Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have
provided lifesaving services and housing for America's homeless youth
for nearly half a century.
Homelessness is affecting youth in truly staggering numbers.
According to the National Network for Youth, an estimated 4.2 million
young people experience homelessness at some point each year. Some of
these youth may be away from home for a few nights, while others have
been living on the streets for years. No area of this country is immune
from the scourge of homelessness, as it affects rural and urban
communities alike.
Tragically, runaway and homeless youth are at high risk of
victimization, abuse, criminal activity, and even death. This
population is at greater risk of suicide, unintended pregnancy, and
substance abuse. Many are unable to continue with school and are more
likely to enter our juvenile criminal justice system. The reality is
that available data likely underestimate the scale and consequences of
this problem.
I have met with teachers, social workers, and others from Maine who
work directly with young people experiencing homelessness. We talked
about the pressure that student homelessness places on teachers, school
administrators and their already strapped resources, and, most
important, the homeless students themselves. I have also visited New
Beginnings in Lewiston, where I saw firsthand how Runaway and Homeless
Youth Act resources are providing essential safety nets for young
people in need. The staff at New Beginnings helps young people with
case management, provides referrals to State and local agencies,
assists with housing needs and access to shelter, and connects
individuals to local educational and employment programs.
Several years ago, as the chair of the Senate Transportation and
Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, I held a hearing that featured
testimony from Brittany Dixon, a former homeless youth from Auburn, ME,
who gave powerful testimony on her personal experience with
homelessness. After becoming homeless, Brittany was connected with New
Beginnings. In her testimony, she said, ``New Beginnings provided many
resources I could use to succeed, including assistance with college
applications and financial aid . . . New Beginnings has helped me to
develop critical life skills and to become self-sufficient.''
``Programs that support homeless youth are important to so many young
people like me,'' she added. ``It gives young people the chance to have
a safe place to stay while they get their footing and figure out what
they want to do in their lives.''
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs helped make Brittany's
success story possible. Sadly, however, there are still many homeless
youth who do not have the support they need. We must build on our past
efforts because homeless youth should have the same opportunities to
succeed as their peers.
The three existing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs--the Basic
Center Program, the Street Outreach Program, and the Transitional
Living Program--help community-based organizations reach young people
when they need support the most. These programs help runaway and
homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early
intervention can help them escape victimization and trafficking.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would
reauthorize and strengthen these programs that help homeless youth meet
their immediate needs, and it would help secure long-term residential
services for those who cannot be safely reunited with their families.
Our legislation would also create a new program--the Prevention
Services Program--designed to help prevent youth from running away and
becoming homeless in the first instance. Moreover, our bill supports
wrap-around services for victims of trafficking and sexual
exploitation.
Mr. President, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking
Prevention Act will support those young people who run away, are forced
out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families. A caring
and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, study, and develop is critical for
all young people. The programs reauthorized and modernized through this
legislation help extend those basic services to the most vulnerable
youth in our communities.
I thank Senator Durbin for his partnership on this bill and urge my
colleagues to support it.
____________________