Education

I strongly believe that we must give every possible amount of support to our students, teachers and educators so that future generations of Americans will have the ability to succeed in a global economy and face the challenges of tomorrow.  

All my life I have sought to improve school performance not only in our Manhattan Congressional District, but also across America.  We must have clear and coherent reforms in our nation's educational system so that standards of learning can complement the skills needed by students to be successful.
I introduced the Rebuilding America's Schools Act which would increase aid for school construction and renovation across the country.  

My passion for improving our children's education is also why I continue to fight alongside my Democratic Colleagues to pass the Dream Act.   This bill would allow 360,000 high school graduates who are undocumented with a legal means to work and attend college in the United States, and provide incentives for another 715,000 children of illegal immigrants between the ages of 5 and 17 to finish high school and pursue higher education.

One of my proudest achievements is the founding of the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program in the State Department.   In cooperation with Howard University, the program has placed more than 40 Foreign Service officers from underrepresented groups in U.S. embassies worldwide.  Additionally, the Rangel Scholars Program provides 15-20 undergraduate students with international affairs coursework.   I established the program with the goal of increasing diversity in our nation's representation abroad.   In order to deal effectively with the rest of the world, our Foreign Service must not only represent America, it must look like America.

In addition, I proudly support the American College and Tax Relief Act, an amendment to continue the College Tuition Tax Deduction.  This bill will extend the critical college tuition tax deduction for a full four years and help make college education more affordable to America's families.  I will continue to work with President Barack Obama to provide every child in America access to high quality education and make college and higher learning more affordable.

Congressman Rangel's Accomplishments:

Public School Construction
Secured enactment of the Qualified Zone Academy Bond program which allows school districts across the country to rehabilitate schools with bond financing where the interest is paid by the federal treasury through tax credits to the bondholders. So far under the program, New York City has issued a $30 million bond offering to finance the wiring of schools for computers.

State Department Minority Recruitment
Secured $1 million in federal funding to establish a program, based at Howard University in Washington, to prepare minorities to compete for careers in the foreign service. The culmination of Congressman Rangel’s long-time effort to change the culture of the U.S. diplomatic corps, the program will provide tutoring, internships and other assistance for applicants from across the country.

Tuition Reimbursement for Employees
Congressman Rangel played a decisive role in the Ways & Means Committee to extend the right of employees who receive tuition reimbursement from employers to deduct up to $5,250 from their taxable income. Over 7 million workers, especially low-income employees, have benefited.

Congressman Rangel's Legislation:

Rebuilding America's Schools Act, H.R. 2394  (Sponsor)
Status:  6/24/2011 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to:

• Extend through 2015 the qualified school construction bond program and the national limitation amounts for bonds issued under the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) program.
• Allow the issuer of a QZAB to receive a direct payment in lieu of the tax credit for interest payments with respect to such bonds.
• Permit private entities to waive the 10% matching requirement for QZABs.
• Permit QZAB proceeds to be used for constructing a public school facility in which such an academy is established.

The American Dream Act, H.R. 1751 (Co-Sponsor)
Status: 5/14/2009 Voted Passed in House
This bill amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes.

Post-Military Training, H.R. 2046  (Sponsor)
Status: 6/24/2011 Referred to Sub Committee on Military Personnel
This bill amends title 10, United States Code, to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty receive comprehensive employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services.

Emergency Jobs to Restore the American Dream Act. H.R. 2914 (Co-Sponsor)
Status:  9/20/2011 Referred to Sub Committee on Housing
This bill requires the Secretary of Education to make grants to states for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools, including early learning facilities and charter schools, to make them safe, healthy, high-performing, and technologically up-to-date.

The American College Tax Relief Act, H.R. 3826 (Co-Sponsor)
Status: 1/25/2012 Referred to House Committee on Education and the Workforce
This bill will extend the reduced interest rate for Federal Direct Stafford Loans.  Also the tax deduction for tuition and fees will give a maximum deduction of $4,000 for individuals with income up to $65,000 ($130,000 jointly) and $2,000 for individuals with income over $65,000 and up to $80,000 ($160,000 jointly).

Videos:

View Press Releases On Education

Rangel Honors The 100th Anniversary Of The Girl Scouts Of The USA

Rangel: We Must Protect College Students From Higher Costs

Rangel Ready To Help President Obama Build A Lasting America

Rangel Statement On National Education Week