Beloved, Respected Hill Veteran, George A. Dalley, To Retire from Hill.

Congressman Charles Rangel's Chief of Staff and Counsel George A. Dalley will retire from his post at the end of this month, after an illustrious 30-year career in public service, private law practice, international affairs, and presidential politics.

Mr. Dalley served in Congressman Rangel's office in the early '70s, again in the mid '80s, and rejoined his staff in 2001 as director of the Congressman's offices and his senior advisor. In the 1980s, Mr. Dalley played an integral role in promoting the Congressman's effort to deny tax preferences to companies doing business in apartheid South Africa − sanctions that hugely undermined that government by prompting major disinvestment by the largest U.S. companies. Over the course of his career, Mr. Dalley focused on economic development in Africa and the Caribbean, promoting private investment in the two regions and working closely with the Congressman in securing passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the enhancement of the Caribbean Basin Initiative.

"George is more than just a co-worker to me. We have maintained a personal and working relationship for the larger part of my political life that has proved abundantly edifying and rewarding," Rangel said. "The many who have met and been touched by George and his life's work can attest that he is equal parts strong mind and ample heart, a kind soul who cares deeply about the issues of the day and their impact on everyday people − in America and across the globe."

Mr. Dalley was born in Havana, Cuba, to Jamaican parents and graduated from Columbia University with degrees in business and law. As a former partner at Holland and Knight, he represented the interests of foreign governments before the U.S. government, Congress, and multilateral financial institutions. In addition to his service with Congressman Rangel, George has served in several senior-level posts in the U.S. government: as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations Affairs, responsible for U.S. policy on human rights and social issues in the United Nations; as an appointed member of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board in President Jimmy Carter's administration; and as Deputy Director of the Mondale for President campaign.

"George has served this country superbly well over the course of his career, and America is the better for it. His insight and guidance will be missed in my office and in offices throughout the Hill, but his dynamic spirit and sense of purpose we take with us as our motivation and driving force," Rangel said.

He and his late wife, Pearl Elizabeth Love, raised two sons, Jason and Benjamin, who have in turn given him two young and vivacious grandchildren, Lilah Pearl and Reid.

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Congressman Charles Rangel announced Wednesday that he had received word from United States Postal Service (USPS) that a tentative deal had been reached to extend the lease of the Riayan Tejeda Post Office at its current location. The potential agreement ends the threat of eminent closure of one of Manhattan’s busiest postal facilities.

The lease on the post office was set to expire June 26. The tentative agreement between the USPS and the Williams Real Estate Company ensures that the facility will remain open while a final agreement is negotiated and ratified by the U.S. Postmaster General. While details about the plan have not been released, Congressman Rangel was optimistic about the arrangement would end a controversy that has been raging for months in Washington Heights.

“The information from the Postal Service gives us confidence that this issue has been resolved and that this important facility named after one of this community’s finest heroes will remain open, ” said Congressman Rangel. “A lot of credit goes to the Postmaster General John Potter for seeing that both sides kept negotiating, as well as Sgt. Tejeda’s father, Julio Cesar Lora, for being constantly vigilant and ensuring that his son’s sacrifice is forever remembered.”

Rangel worked over the last several months with area’s leading community and elected leaders to maintain the facility at its current location at 180th Street between St. Nicholas and Audubon Avenues. Rangel said that this victory could not have been achieved without the help of people like District Leader Maria Luna, City Councilman like Miguel Martinez and Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat. Together with activists like Ydanis Rodriguez and community institutions like Community Board 12 and the Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC), the coalition helped organize grassroots support and raise public awareness and pressure.

“This issue has brought out the leadership of our community, not just in public protests and demonstrations, but also in efforts behind the scenes,” said Rangel. “These unsung unnamed heroes deserve as much credit for achieving this victory as any one.”

Just a month ago, Post Offices officials had feared that with leasing deadline drawing close, they would be forced to open temporary facilities and redistribute services to surrounding post offices. The agreements makes these alternatives unnecessary.

“Even with all the advancements in technology, people still depend on our mail system to keep them connected to the world” said Rangel. “We may be living in the 21st century, but we still need places like the Riayan Tejada Post Office.”

BUILDING A LASTING MEMORIAL

“There was no question that we were going to fight to keep this Post Office open — it was much too important to see it close,” Rangel continued. “Too many residents not only in Washington Heights but also across the river in the Bronx, depend on this facility to connect them to loved ones, buy money orders, and send packages nationally and internationally. Too many look up and are inspired by the name that this building bears to see it go away. “

Sgt. Tejeda, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, was killed during combat operations in Baghdad on April 11, 2003, at the age of 26. He joined the Marine Corps at the age of 18 after graduating from the Fashion Industries High School. He went on to serve eight years, earning a Silver Star for his valor in the line of fire. He had been deployed to Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, East Timor before his final tour in Iraq.

For Rangel, the battle to save the Post Office is a personal one. A Korean War veteran and Purple Heart Winner, Rangel first introduced legislation to rename the Washington Bridge Post Office in March of 2004. Legislation to rename the facility passed the House of Representatives in September of 2004, with the U.S. Senate following suit in October. The facility was formally rededicated in April of 2005.

“We chose to rename this building as a way of not just remembering Sgt. Tejeda’s contribution to this country, but also as a way of building a lasting memorial of his sacrifice in the very same community in which he lived,” said Rangel. “It’s my hope that now that we have secured this lease, we can go about making sure that it becomes a true memorial and a testament to the sacrifice so many Dominicans have made to this city and this country, in and out of the Armed Forces,” said Rangel.

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Rangel’s Bill On Its Way To the President's Desk After Unanimously Passing the Senate Wednesday Night.

Congressman Charles B. Rangel on Thursday announced that the United States Senate passed legislation designating a new State Department building in New York City after late Commerce Department Secretary and New York resident Ron Brown.

The bill, originally introduced by Congressman Rangel and championed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and California Senator Barbara Boxer, passed the Senate unanimously Wednesday night.

"This bill, which I have introduced in the past three Congresses, is long overdue," said Rangel. "Thanks to the leadership of Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer, and the support of my New York colleague, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, this dedicated public servant -- a beloved son of this city and our village of Harlem -- will finally be recognized as one of the greatest international salesman that our nation has had in its history."

The Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations (U.N.) Building, will be located at 799 United Nations Plaza across the street from the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly. The new 26-story building, to be completed this fall, will house the United States delegation to the U.N., which carries out the nation's participation in the world body.

"My relationship with Ron Brown was longstanding and personal," added Congressman Rangel.  "While in school, I was a desk clerk at the famous Theresa Hotel in Harlem where Ron's father worked as the manager.  Ron and his family lived there, so I got to know him at an early age and witness the beginnings of a remarkable career that he staked out for himself."

"As Secretary of Commerce under the Clinton administration, he became one of the greatest ambassadors that the American government ever had abroad," Congressman Rangel said.  "He did more than just extend trade and get people to buy our goods and services.  He extended love, attention, and sensitivity, especially in the developing countries where we had not spent the time that we should have.  He not only sold our wares, but was able to sell our reputation as a country that wanted to help other countries."

“I am proud to have supported Chairman Rangel’s legislation that will provide a long overdue and fitting tribute to the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “Ron Brown was a truly remarkable person and an outstanding public servant for our country. Naming this building in his honor will ensure that his important legacy of expanding economic opportunity, while enhancing America’s reputation around the world, will be passed on to all future members of the United States delegation to the United Nations."

Brown also served as deputy executive director at the National Urban League, helped revive and reunite the Democratic Party as the Democratic National Committee Chairman, and was instrumental in the election of President Bill Clinton in 1992.  Brown was the first African American to chair a national political party and serve as Secretary of Commerce, being appointed in 1993.  As Secretary, he effectively utilized and expanded the role of the Department and was known for his amiable political style and his deft skill in negotiations.  He effectively promoted U.S. trade, expanded foreign markets for American businesses, placed a focus on Africa, and spurred domestic job growth and economic development. 

Brown's life was abruptly cut short on April 3, 1996, when the plane carrying his delegation to the region of the former Yugoslavia crashed on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The Department of State had requested that Brown personally undertake an official Commerce Department trade mission to boost economic reconstruction in the war-torn area.

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Many local small businesses may soon be eligible for interest-free loans under a new program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Congressman Rangel announced today.  

The newly launched “America’s Recovery Capital” (ARC) program allows small firms to take out loans of $35,000 to pay down existing business debts.  Borrowers pay no interest on the ARC loans and repayment does not begin for one year.   The loan program was established through the ARRA, which the President signed into law in February.  

Congressman Rangel said the new loans are part of Democrats’ ongoing work to help rebuild the economy.  “There are many businesses throughout Upper Manhattan that would be viable in the long term if they could just make it through this rough patch,” the Congressman said.  “That’s why we created this initiative.  The ARC program gives entrepreneurs the breathing room they need, so they can pay their bills, retain employees and play their traditional role as job creators in our economic recovery.”

To qualify for the ARC loans, small firms must demonstrate they are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the economic downturn, but are otherwise deemed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to be viable.  The loans will be made by commercial lenders and can be used for payments of principal and interest for existing, qualifying small business debts like credit card obligations, mortgages, lines of credit, and balances due to suppliers, vendors, and utilities.

Congressman Rangel said that in addition to the ARC loan program, the ARRA contained other measures aimed at helping small firms access credit.  For instance, the new law increases the percentage of a loan that the SBA can guarantee, makes SBA-backed loans more affordable and provides tools to unfreeze the small business credit markets, helping small companies access capital at affordable rates.

“Small businesses are our nation’s most reliable job creators, generating seven out of ten new jobs,” Congressman Rangel said.  “If our nation is going to lift itself out of this recession, we need entrepreneurs to start growing again.  The ARC loan program is one element in a whole series of initiatives in the Recovery Act aimed at giving small firms the tools they need to lead our nation back to prosperity.”  

To apply for ARC loans, businesses should visit their local SBA-approved small business lenders.  The loans will be available through Sept. 30, 2010, or until appropriated funding runs out.  Additional information about the ARC loan program is available at here.

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Rangel-Inspired Program Will Authorize More Than $200 Million for New York.

Congressman Charles Rangel announced today that $25 billion in bond authority will be immediately available for State and local governments under the Recovery Zone Bonds program, including more than $200 million that will benefit hard-hit communities in New York.

Recovery Zone Bonds, created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are targeted to areas particularly affected by significant job loss and will help State and local governments obtain capital for much needed economic development projects.

“I am pleased that the Ways and Means Committee in working with President Obama on the stimulus package was able to include the bond authority targeting communities hit hard by unemployment and economic distress,” said Congressman Rangel, who chairs the Committee.

The Congressman said he is looking forward to working with Mayor Bloomberg to make certain of a partnership between the local and federal governments. “The local government will play a pivotal role in administering the program in New York City,” Congressman Rangel said.

“My vision is that the Recovery Bond Program will have a synergistic effect by energizing all the other programs already in place in other federal agencies,” Congressman Rangel said.

"Recovery Zone Bonds are an essential step towards revitalizing the economic health of our communities," Congressman Rangel said. "These bonds will help finance improvements in infrastructure, job training and education that will continue our economic recovery and help families in hard-hit communities gain the tools necessary to get back on their feet and build a brighter future. Secretary Geithner and the Treasury Department should be commended for their quick implementation of this economic recovery program."

The Ways and Means Committee developed the Recovery Zone Bond program under the leadership of Chairman Rangel and coordinated with Congressional leadership and President Obama to ensure its inclusion the ARRA.

According to details released by the Treasury Department today, the program includes $25 billion for two new types of Recovery Zone Bonds: $10 billion for Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds and $15 billion for Recovery Zone Facility Bonds. Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds are another type of taxable Build America Bond that allow State and local governments to obtain lower borrowing costs through a new direct federal payment subsidy, for 45 percent of the interest, to finance a broad range of qualified economic development projects, such as job training and educational programs. Recovery Zone Facility Bonds are tax-exempt private activity bonds that can be utilized by private businesses in designated areas for a range of projects.

*The Treasury Department has also detailed the bond volume cap allocations at the local level for counties and large cities. The total State allocations and the complete list of direct county and large city allocations can be viewed by clicking here.

Click here for more information on Ways and Means work on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

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The following is a press release from the Ways & Means Committee, which Congressman Rangel chairs.

Effort will reduce costs, protect current coverage and preserve choice to ensure affordable, quality care for all.

Democratic Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means, led by Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), met with President Obama today to discuss the upcoming legislative agenda and their continuing efforts to reform America’s health care system to reduce costs, protect current coverage and preserve choice for patients to ensure affordable, quality care for all. 

During their meeting at the White House, the legislators updated the President on health reform efforts in the House of Representatives and pledged to continue working with him to achieve reforms that will promote economic recovery and put America back on a path toward long-term fiscal health.

“We could not ask for a better leader than President Obama to put America back on track for economic recovery and work to fix our broken health care system,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY).  “President Obama issued a call to action and Congress is responding, working with him to engage stakeholders and interest groups across the nation to build upon what works in our current health system and fix what is broken to ensure affordable, quality care for all.  Today’s meeting underscored that we share the same principles and commitment to health reform and we look forward to President Obama’s continued leadership to make this critical effort a reality.” 

Earlier today, Chairman Rangel joined Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) in a discussion on the current framework for reform with their colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus.  The Chairmen outlined the following framework, which fulfills President Obama’s commitment to health reform that:

• Reduces costs;
• Protects current coverage and preserves choice of doctors, hospitals and health plans; and
• Ensures affordable, quality health care for all.

 
A Brief Overview of the Framework:

• Maintains the ability for people to keep what they have and minimizes disruption;
• Invests in health care workforce to improve access to primary care;
• Invests in prevention and public health programs;
• Creates a new national health Exchange that permits States the option of developing a State or regional exchange in lieu of the national Exchange;
• Establishes shared responsibility among individuals, employers, and government;
• Offers sliding scale credits to ensure affordability for low and middle-income individuals and families;
• Jump starts health care delivery system reforms to reduce costs, maintain fiscal sustainability, and improve quality; and
• Expands authority to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

Please click here to view the outline the full outline provided by the Chairmen during today’s House Democratic Caucus meeting.

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Congressman Charles Rangel officially requested Tuesday that the Department of Justice look into recent shooting of New York City Police Officer Omar Edwards and similar cases in other cities across the United States:

"In view of the possible federal legal implications of the case, I am  requesting that your office conduct a thorough review of this incident, which would address the issues of police department practices, training of police officers, and whether and to what extent race was an issue in the tragedy," Rangel wrote in a letter sent to Tuesday to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. "Because incidents of this kind have occurred in a number of cities across the country, I also request that the Justice Department conduct a review of cases in major urban centers in which police officers were killed by their fellow officers, the circumstances of those incidents, and an evaluation of whether the race of the officers was a factor. "

The full text of the letter can be found below. Read a pdf version here.

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June 2, 2009

Hon. Eric G. Holder
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

Dear Attorney General Holder:

Last Thursday, May 28th, New York City Police Department Officer Omar Edwards was killed in the East Harlem area of my Upper Manhattan Congressional District by fellow plain-clothes officer Andrew Dutton as Edwards tried to apprehend a man who had broken into his car.

The incident, which is under investigation by New York City officials, has become the subject of great controversy, rekindling a debate over the adequacy of police training and issues of race as relates to confrontations between police officers.

In view of the possible federal legal implications of the case, I am requesting that your office conduct a thorough review of this incident, which would address the issues of police department practices, training of police officers, and whether and to what extent race was an issue in the tragedy.

Because incidents of this kind have occurred in a number of cities across the country, I also request that the Justice Department conduct a review of cases in major urban centers in which police officers were killed by their fellow officers, the circumstances of those incidents, and an evaluation of whether the race of the officers was a factor.

Due to the gravity and controversial nature of this matter, I respectfully urge you to undertake these reviews with all deliberate speed.

Thank you for your consideration,
CHARLES B. RANGEL

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Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement Friday upon the announcement from COSTCO that it would accept Food Stamps at its new location in East Harlem.

"I want to applaud COSTCO and its CEO Jim Sinegal for making the decision to accept Food Stamps at its new location in East Harlem.  The potential for a great working relationship is there and we all look forward to eventual opening of the E. 116th Street location, one that will be able to provide all community residents with quality products at affordable prices.

"This victory could not have happened without the hard work of al those that helped sound the alarm on this important issue.  So I want to thank all the community advocates and elected officials who have worked on this issue for the last two years, including New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, City Councilmember Eric Gioia. I especially want to thank those who worked hard this week to ensure that the voice of East Harlem was not lost, especially officials like Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York State Senators Jose Serrano and Bill Perkins and City Council members Inez Dickens and Melissa Mark-Viverito.

"These are tough economic times, times that sometimes force proud individuals to seek assistance from their government to help them get their life back on track. However, by working together, we will get through this crisis, get our community back to work and ensure that our economy provides long -term opportunities for all of its citizens."

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“The tragic shooting of Officer Omar Edwards highlights the need for additional training of our police officers, and I am pleased that Commissioner Kelly recognizes a racial factor is involved.

“I am calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to review the problems in the New York City Police Department when black officers are killed by whites, which too often is the case.

“It was entirely inappropriate to bring the President and his wife into this discussion during their visit to New York, and I hope my off-the-cuff comment did not cause embarrassment to anyone.”