Rangel served Congress for 46 years, from 1971 to 2017, and co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus.
Charles Rangel, a former 23-term congressman from New York, has died at 94 years outdated, his household mentioned on Might 26.
Rangel, a Democrat, was the final surviving co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus and the “Gang of 4,” a political coalition of Harlem lawmakers.
His household confirmed Rangel’s dying in an announcement on Might 26 to the Metropolis School of New York (CCNY), the place he served as statesman-in-residence after he retired from Congress.
The CCNY said that Rangel was the “hardest working legislator” in Congress, citing the 40 payments and resolutions he sponsored that grew to become legislation. The faculty additionally acknowledged Rangel for his navy service. He earned a Purple Coronary heart and a Bronze Star for his brave actions within the U.S. Military through the Korean Battle.
He was additionally the first sponsor of the Inexpensive Care Act—President Barack Obama’s well being care reform legislation, often known as Obamacare.
On the CCNY, Rangel launched the Charles B. Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative to assist infrastructure jobs within the New York Metropolis boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx.
Earlier than that, Rangel served for 46 years in Congress, from 1971 to 2017. He represented 5 totally different congressional districts and have become often known as the “Lion of Lenox Avenue.” Throughout his tenure, Rangel co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and have become the primary black chairman of the highly effective Methods and Means Committee. He was the second-longest-serving incumbent member of the Home of Representatives when he retired.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) mentioned the longtime congressman broke boundaries as the primary African American to chair the Methods and Means Committee. Jeffries additionally acknowledged him for being the creator of the Low-Earnings Housing Tax Credit score, which Jeffries mentioned helped facilitate the event of thousands and thousands of inexpensive housing models throughout the nation.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) mentioned Rangel “was an amazing man, an amazing pal, and somebody who by no means stopped preventing for his constituents and the very best of America.”
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo referred to as Rangel a mentor and a pal.