The final decision on sanctions for violations of the House rules will be made by the full House of Representatives. It would be inappropriate for me to comment regarding this matter.

Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement on November 18, 2010.

Today I stood before the Ethics Committee to apologize for the embarrassment I have brought upon this body that I love dearly, and to the Members of Congress, and to my family and constituents.

There has never been any corruption or personal gain in my actions as the Committee's chief counsel noted. Neither has there been any intent on my part to violate the House rules. My actions may have been sloppy, or even stupid, but never corrupt.

There is no excuse for my acts of omission and failures to abide by the rules of Congress. I have made many mistakes that I will forever regret, and I apologize for them.

This has been one of the most difficult days of my life. All of this has been brought upon me as a result of my own actions. In the end, I hope that you would judge me on my entire record as a soldier and a dedicated public servant -- not by my mistakes.

To my beloved Colleagues, my constituents and the American people, I am sorry.
 

Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement in the morning of November 18, 2010.

I was gratified when I heard the Ethics Committee’s own counsel agree with me and say he found no evidence of corruption or personal gain in my investigation. I am surprised, however, that the language the Adjudicatory Subcommittee used in rendering its decision does not coincide with what the Counsel stated orally. I had looked forward to a hearing because I knew in my heart that I did nothing corrupt nor sell my office or votes.

To make these points as clear as possible I viewed the hearing as an opportunity to tell my side of the story and that is why I needed an attorney to defend me.  I was and am disappointed that the Committee reached its decision without affording me the right to adequately defend myself with the aid of counsel.

I truly believe public officials have a higher responsibility than most Americans to obey the rules because we write them. There can be no excuse for my acts of omission. I've failed in carrying out my responsibilities.  I made numerous mistakes.

But corruption and personal enrichment are certainly not part of my mistakes and the Committee's chief counsel made that abundantly clear.  And that was the point I was always trying to make.

Not too long ago, I wrote a book titled, "I Haven't Had A Bad Day Since."  This was my attempt to remind myself that there will never be another day in my life like November 30, 1950.  I was an infantryman, 20 years old, fighting for my country in North Korea, surrounded by tens of thousands of Communist Chinese, wounded, left for dead, and making a plea to God to spare my life.

My prayers were heard and my life spared.  I left the military a decorated hero but I was still a high school dropout. Thanks to the G.I. bill I was given an opportunity to walk a road that took me back to school, and eventually to the chairmanship of what is considered the most distinguished committee in the Congress - the Ways and Means Committee.

After completing law school, I served under the distinguished Robert Morgenthau as an Assistant U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in the New York State Assembly, and in 1970 I was elected to the House of Representatives.

Since then I've had endless opportunities and accomplishments.  I walked with Rev. Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement, and sought justice for the poor and voiceless as a leading advocate for economic development, jobs, and housing. I passed historic legislation to end apartheid in South Africa, and to assist developing nations elsewhere in Africa and the Caribbean.  

And then the sky fell down. The nightmare began. Soon after I took the gavel at Ways and Means I have been smeared with allegations of corruption and personal gain. Two years ago I referred these media allegations to the Ethics Committee, confident that I would be protected from these attacks and false accusations.

The Committee has not met its burden of proof in presenting clear and convincing evidence that Charlie Rangel has deviated from his sense of duty to this Body and this great country. I will continue to do all that I can do to provide the very same rights and opportunities that motivated private Rangel to overcome poverty and succeed in life.

How can 40 witnesses, 30,000 pages of transcripts, over 550 exhibits measure against my forty years of service and commitment to this Body I love so much? I ask the Committee in reviewing the sanctions to take that into serious consideration, as well as the effects this ordeal has had on my wife, family and constituents.

Even in light of the fact that the Subcommittee’s findings were made without my representation and weighed against what was not found, I hope my four decades of service merit a sanction that is in keeping with and no greater than House precedents and also contains a drop of fairness and mercy. 
 

Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the statement following the decision made by the Adjudicatory Subcommittee, on November 16, 2010.

Lawmaker Cites Committee Chief Counsel's Declaration That
There Was No Evidence of Corruption or Personal Gain

How can anyone have confidence in the decision of the Ethics Subcommittee when I was deprived of due process rights, right to counsel and was not even in the room?   I can only hope that the full Committee will treat me more fairly, and take into account my entire 40 years of service to the Congress before making any decisions on sanctions. 

 I am disappointed by the unfortunate findings of the Ethics Subcommittee.  The Committee's actions are unprecedented in view of the fact that they arrived at without rebuttal or counter evidence on my behalf. 

While I am required to accept the findings of the Ethics Committee, I am compelled to state again the unfairness of its continuation without affording me the opportunity to obtain legal counsel as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

This unfair decision is the inevitable result of the Committee's insistence on moving forward despite the absence of any legal representation on my behalf.  The Committee elected to reject my appeal for additional time to secure new counsel and thus acted in violation of the basic constitutional right to counsel.

The Committee's findings are even more difficult to understand in view of yesterday's declaration by the Committee's chief counsel, Blake Chisam, that there was no evidence of corruption or personal gain in his findings.

From here forward, it is my hope that the full Ethics Committee will take into consideration the opinion of its chief counsel as well as the statement by Rep. Bobby Scott, a member of its investigatory subcommittee who said that any failings in my conduct were the result of "good faith mistakes" and were caused by "sloppy and careless recordkeeping, but were not criminal or corrupt."

Congressman Charles B. Rangel issued the following statement after the Adjudicatory Subcommittee's hearing in the morning of November 15, 2010.

I am very disappointed that the Ethics Subcommittee has chosen to proceed with the hearing knowing that I am without counsel.  They have decided to continue the hearing on an 80-page document that I received just seven days ago by the Subcommittee staff -which neither I nor others have ever seen before in an ethics inquiry.  When I asked what rule this motion was made under and how it was used. I was told nothing.  How was I supposed to deal with this when I received it just days before the hearing without an attorney by my side?
        
Thirteen days ago, the Subcommittee wrote that Members in my position had the right to counsel by setting up a legal defense fund, I could obtain a pro bono counsel or secure counsel at a reduced fee.  But setting up a legal defense fund is time-consuming. Moreover, it is unrealistic that I could raise the required funds and replace counsel for an adequate representation.  Even if I could create and get approval for this fund this past week, too little time would have been afforded to any counsel to familiarize himself with the record and do the work required in a competent manner. So even if I engaged one now, the counsel would not be in a position to give me meaningful advice.   

The process that the Committee has decided to take against me violates the most basic rights of due process that is guaranteed to every person under the Constitution.  The Committee has deprived me of the fundamental right to counsel and has chosen to proceed as if it is fair and impartial and operating according to rules, when in reality they are depriving me of my rights.  

I hope that my colleagues in Congress, friends, constituents and anyone paying attention will consider my statement and how the Committee has been unfair to me.  They can do what they will with me because they have the power and I have no real chance of fighting back.  

Now, I am going forward -- not backwards -- to do the job I was elected to do.  That is to serve my district and to serve my country, as I have tried to do for the past 50 years.  In the end, I hope that I would be judged by my entire record that determines that I have been a credit to the House and to my family, friend and supporters who have entrusted me with this honorable duty.

For further details please see the enclosed letters.

In celebration of Veterans Day, Congressman Rangel issued the following statement, to pay tribute to the veterans and soldiers in uniform:

On Veterans Day, Americans will take time out to pay tribute to our military heroes.  Some of us New Yorkers will march in the annual parade up Fifth Avenue. Others will visit cemeteries to pray over our deceased loved-ones.  With 25 million surviving veterans in the country-- including 14,000 in my Upper Manhattan Congressional District-- most of us will have someone to thank for their sacrifice.

Since the birth of this country, more than 40 million Americans have served in the military during wartime.  Nearly 1 million have died in battle.  And now in the Middle East, the roster of military heroes grows by the day.  Two million young men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and nearly 6,000 have already been killed.

Five of those casualties were my constituents:  From Washington Heights--Sgt. Jose E. Ulloa, Cpl. Juan M. Alcantara, Spec. Sergio A. Mercedes Saez. and Staff Sgt.  Riayan A. Tejeda; and from East Harlem--Spec. Jose L. Ruiz.

As many as 300,000 servicemen and women have returned home afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Many others are damaged by head injuries and lost limbs.  Depression and suicides are wreaking havoc on their victims, spouses and children.

I am proud to have worked with my Democratic allies in this Congress and President Obama to enact landmark legislation to help wounded veterans and their families, to guarantee reliable funding for VA medical centers, and to strengthen health care services for 5 million vets.  That is in addition to providing enhanced funding for veterans education, job training, and business opportunities.

Today I am launching on my website a Veterans Resource Guide to services available at the VA and other agencies.  Please take a look at it and let me know of any services or programs that should be added to the list.

Veterans represent the 1 percent of families in this country with sons and daughters in harm's way in the military.  They alone are putting their lives on the line to allow all of us to rest easy at home.  

Each war leaves its own unique scars on its veterans.  In today's conflicts, the wounds are often invisible.  The next time you see a veteran or a soldier in uniform, offer a word of thanks or a salute.  They've earned it.            

Listen to Congressman Rangel's special message on Veterans Day!

NEW YORK - Congressman Charles Rangel joined local elected and community leaders this week in celebrating new state protections for domestic workers in New York State.

New York Governor David Paterson signed the legislation Tuesday morning at Harlem's Dwyer Cultural Center.

"I want to thank Governor Paterson, Assemblymen Keith Wright, and the other members of the New York State Legislature for passing this important measure," said Congressman Rangel. "Today is a victory in the continuing struggle of the American worker. For too long, New York State’s domestic workers have had to work in the shadows, putting in the hard work and long hours that so many employees do in other industries without getting the protections that for so many are routine. I can’t think of a more fitting way to get an early start to celebrating Labor Day than the signing of this bill into law."

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights guarantees overtime pay, a minimum of one day off every seven days, three days of paid leave per year, and protections against sexual harassment and racial discrimination. The protections are in place for employees regardless of immigration status or whether they are official paid "on the books."

“For far too long domestic workers have labored tirelessly without the labor protections available to almost every other group of workers throughout New York State," said Assemblyman Keith LT Wright, who led the fight for the bill's passage in the New York State Assembly " I applaud the tenacity of all of the domestic workers who lobbied, advocated and rallied for this legislation for many, many years and helped our State pass the laws necessary to protect all people who reside within it. In 2009, Governor Paterson promised to sign this bill once it was passed by the State legislature and today we see that promise kept. It is a great day for New York State and my sincerest gratitude goes out to all who helped turn this legislative dream into a chaptered reality.”

The historic legislation becomes effective December 1st.

WASHINGTON - Congressman Rangel inserted the following statement in the Congressional Record to honor the Korean War veterans on National Korean War Veterans Day, July 27, 2010.

Mr. Rangel: Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, a day especially set aside to ensure America remembers the valiant sacrifices and the patriotic service of the Korean War veterans.

On Tuesday, the stars and stripes will be flown across our great nation in their honor, as a result of President Obama's enactment of the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act, which became Public Law (111-41) last year after it unanimously passed in both chambers of the U.S. Congress.

At the National Korean War Memorial on the morning of the Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27, 2010, hundreds of veterans, their friends and families, members of the U.S. Armed Services, and foreign dignitaries will pay tribute to all those who served in Korea, and lay wreaths for the fallen who never made it back home. Among those in attendance are members of the Korean War Veterans Association, who have gathered in Washington, D.C., for their 2010 Convention and Gathering to mark the occasion.

Sixty years ago, war broke out on the Korean Peninsula, when North Korea invaded the South on June 25, 1950. Before the ceasefire three years later, 1.8 million Americans had served in Korea and the region, more than 54,000 had been killed, more than 103,000 wounded and up to 8,176 listed as missing. Today, there's no peace treaty ending the war, and 28,500 American soldiers are still stationed in South Korea, guarding democracy's eastern flank.

Despite the great loss of life in such a short time, Korea ― a so-called United Nations conflict sandwiched between World War II and Vietnam War ― was simply forgotten. I hope the flags displayed on this day would remind Americans to remember and recognize the Korean War veterans of a war that has yet to end.

###

*Click here to see President Obama's Proclamation on National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, July 27, 2010.

Note: The Korean War Veterans Recognition Act was introduced by Congressman Rangel on May 21, 2009. It passed the House (421-0) on July 21, and the Senate (by unanimous consent) on July 22. President Obama signed it into law on July 27, 2009.

WASHINGTON - Congressman Charles Rangel on Thursday introduced H.R. 5741, a bill that would reinstate a compulsory military draft, or alternative national service, during times of war, for men and women, aged 18 to 42, who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

"What troubles me most about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is the total indifference to the suffering and loss of life among our brave young soldiers on the battlefield," Congressman Rangel said. "The reason is that so few families have a stake in the war which is being fought by other people's children.

"The test for Congress, particularly for those members who support the war, is to require all who enjoy the benefits of our democracy to contribute to the defense of the country. All of America's children should share the risk of being placed in harm's way.

"In other words, if you support the war, you should support a compulsory military draft," Congressman Rangel said.

The bill, which the Congressman first introduced in 2003 as the nation prepared for the invasion of Iraq, and offered again in 2004, 2006, and 2007, provides for:

• A national service obligation--either military or civilian--for every citizen and permanent resident, male and female, of the U.S., aged 18 to 42.

• Persons may inducted to perform military service only if a declaration of war is in effect, or if the President declares a national emergency necessitating the induction of persons to perform military service and immediately informs Congress of the reasons for the declaration.

• Defines "national service" as either military or civilian service as defined by the President that promotes national or homeland security.

• Give the President the authority to establish the numbers of persons to be selected for military service and the means of selection.

• Requires those not selected for military service to perform their national service obligation in a civilian capacity for a period of two years.

• Directs the President to prescribe the regulations necessary to carry out the act.

• Deferments for education are only permitted through completion of high school, to a maximum age of 20.

• Deferments may be made for physical or mental disability, or under claims of conscientious objector.

BRINGING THE TROOPS HOME

Rangel said that he was not challenging President Obama's handling of the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, conflicts with few options that the President had inherited from the previous Administration.

"I support the President's intentions to withdraw our troops, but I'd like to see it happen sooner. In my view, no additional tax dollars should be appropriated for any reason except to bring home our brave and exhausted young men and women. The loss of 5,500 lives and 38,000 wounded is enough."

A combined total of 160,000 Americans are currently deployed. More than 2 million men and women have served in the two conflicts, nearly half of them for more than one tour of duty. And because of a shortage of manpower, some of them have been deployed as many as six times.

"The 3.3 million military households, representing only one percent of American families, have become a virtual military class who are unfairly carrying the burden of war," Congressman Rangel said. "If there were a draft, there would be no shortage of troops to fill the ranks without repeatedly deploying the same exhausted troops over and over."

So far, the numbers of casualties may not be as high, or as shocking, as those suffered in previous wars. But the physical and mental damage to individual soldiers is not only heartbreaking but is taking place at rates never before seen in modern warfare.

The reason is that advances in medical technology have allowed more wounded soldiers to survive the loss of limbs, and serious head and brain injuries. "The result is a practical epidemic of cases of post traumatic stress disorder, suicides, and family disruptions," Congressman Rangel said.

Again in this war, troops recruited from large urban centers with high unemployment and from economically depressed small towns, are carrying the heaviest burden of service. Enlistment bonuses are as high as $40,000. Incentives for reenlistment range from $1,000 for the lowest-skilled privates to $27,000 for staff sergeants with special skills. Combined with the economic recession these incentives have produced record-breaking recruiting results this year.

"The question of whether we need a universal compulsory military draft will be important as long as this country is placing thousands of its young men and women in harm's way," Congressman Rangel said.

"We make decisions about war without worry over who fights them. Those who do the fighting have no choice; when the flag goes up, they salute and follow orders," Congressman Rangel said.

For more information on Congressman Rangel's position on the war and what he is doing in Washington and in the District, please visit his web site at http://www.rangel.house.gov.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Charles Rangel joined a chorus of other leaders in praising the Obama Administration for their work on creating economic hope and jobs. The White House announced Wednesday that the Recovery Act has created or saved over 3 million jobs nationwide, including more than 206,000 jobs in New York. The quarterly report from the Council on Economic Advisers (CEA) also shows that the economy is on track to create an additional 500,000 jobs by the end of the year.

“We already knew that the Recovery Act lowered taxes for 98% of Americans. Now comes the news that it is responsible for creating or saving more jobs than originally thought. What a shot in the arm for not just our economy but for consumer confidence," said Rep. Rangel. “Eight years of failed economic policies pushed our economy to the brink of disaster, and the Recovery Act is digging us out of Bush’s recession. We still have a long way to go to put more Americans back to work, but we’re clearly moving in the right direction.”

The CEA estimates that the Recovery Act has raised the GDP by 3 percent, and has spurred economic development and private investment across the country. Thanks to the public-private partnerships included in the Recovery Act, for every dollar spent on renewable energy and other projects, the private sector is spending $3. For example, a $4.5 billion public investment in smart grid technology has led to over $10 billion in total investments in these projects. A $6 billion investment for building construction has supported nearly $30 billion of economic activity.

My number one priority is not just putting hard-working New Yorkers back to work now, but also creating the kind of climate that will grow quality, good paying careers in new fields and technologies," said Congressman Rangel. "America can and should be a global leader in cutting-edge industries like clean energy and high-tech. The Recovery Act is sparking American innovation, creating jobs immediately and making our economy stronger for the future.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act cut taxes for 98% of working Americans, offered tax cuts and loans to millions of small businesses, extended unemployment and COBRA health benefits for those looking for work, and started to lay a new foundation for our economy with key investments in high speed rail, clean and efficient energy, high-speed broadband and wireless communications, and electronic medical records.

In addition to the Recovery Act, the House has also passed the Jobs for Main Street Act (December 2009), and the HIRE Act (March). These bills included critical investments in small businesses, state infrastructure projects such as school construction, and support for job training programs and keeping police and firefighters on the street and teachers in classrooms. President Obama also signed into law an historic health care reform bill that will create four million jobs over the next decade.

For more information on Congressman Rangel's position on the economy and what he is doing in Washington and in the District, please visit his web site at http://www.rangel.house.gov.