Congressman Charles B. Rangel is serving
his 19th term as the Representative from the 15th
Congressional District, comprising East and Central Harlem,
the Upper West Side, and Washington Heights/Inwood. He is is the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Chairman of the Board of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Dean of the New York State Congressional Delegation Congressman
Rangel is the principal author of the five billion dollar
Federal Empowerment Zone demonstration project to revitalize
urban neighborhoods throughout America. He is also the author
of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which is responsible
for financing ninety percent of the affordable housing built
in the U.S. in the last ten years. The Work Opportunity Tax
Credit, which Congressman Rangel also championed, has provided
thousands of jobs for underprivileged young people, veterans,
and ex-offenders.
As the former chairman of the Select Committee
on Narcotics Abuse and Control, Congressman Rangel continues
to lead the nation's fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
In his efforts to reduce the flow of drugs into the United
States and to solve the nation's continuing drug abuse crisis,
Congressman Rangel serves as chairman of the Congressional
Narcotics Abuse and Control Caucus.
Congressman Rangel is a founding member
and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; he
was also chairman of the New York State Council of Black
Elected Democrats and was a member of the House Judiciary
Committee during the hearings on the articles of impeachment
of President Richard Nixon.
Congressman
Rangel served in the U.S. Army from 1948-52, during which
time he fought in Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart
and Bronze Star. Congressman Rangel has authored several
pieces of legislation to benefit minority and women veterans,
including a successful bill that established the Office of
Minority Affairs Within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In 1987, at the height of the battle against
apartheid, Congressman Rangel led the effort to include in
the Internal revenue Code one of the most effective anti-apartheid
measures, denial of tax credits for taxes paid to South Africa.
This measure resulted in several Fortune 500 companies leaving
South Africa. In addition, Congressman Rangel played a vital
role in restoring the democratic government in Haiti.
Congressman Rangel is a graduate of New
York University and St. John's University School of Law.
He has spent his entire career in public service, first as
an Assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New
York, and later in the New York State Assembly. He was elected
to the 92nd Congress on November 3, 1970, and has been re-elected
to each succeeding congress.
Congressman Rangel lives in Harlem with
his wife Alma, who is a founding member of the Congressional
Black Caucus Spouses and participates in many civic and community
organizations. Congressman and Mrs. Rangel have two children.
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