My Accomplishments

Elected in 1970 after unseating the legendary Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Congressman Charles Rangel, a son of Harlem, has compiled a stellar record of accomplishments on behalf of his constituents in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, the nation, and the international community.

As a member of the Judiciary Committee during the tumult of the Watergate period, he participated in the investigation that led to the downfall of then-President Richard Nixon. Later, as chairman of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, he emerged as Congress's leading fighter against the scourge of drug addiction.

Once as chairman and now as the most senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, he continues to address the most vital needs of his Congressional district through ingenious application of the tax code. Congressman Rangel has risen to the pinnacle of influence in Congress as a member of the House leadership and Dean of the New York State Congressional delegation.

Click on the following links to read his legislative accomplishments regarding the major issues of the day.

• Economic Development
• Housing
• Healthcare
• Education
• Veterans Affairs
• Drugs Abuse and Crime Prevention
• Election Reform
• Foreign Affairs
• Puerto Rico
• Immigration
• Dominican Republic

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Fight to Raise the Minimum Wage

Congressman Rangel is a strong advocate for President Obama’s campaign to ensure a livable wage for every worker in America. Not only is he an influential co-sponsor of the legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, he is a leading spokesman for the President’s economic program.

On the local level, the Congressman took the issue to the streets and was arrested on Martin Luther King Day, 2014, during a march and sit-in with members of 32BJ SEIU demanding action towards raising wages for workers at JFK, La Guardia and Newark airports.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Congressman Rangel’s collaboration with President Obama began in 2009 when they joined forces to stop the bleeding from the worst economic recession in recent memory. As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Rangel worked with the President to enact a package of initiatives that would eventually stop the economic collapse and begin the slow recovery and job growth we are witnessing today.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was a package that included new spending and tax incentives. As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Rangel worked with the President to enact a package that would turn the economy around and create jobs.

The tax provisions that he sponsored and that were enacted into law covered many areas to include education, transportation, help for the working poor, as well as the protection of homeownership. In addition, the following is a list of some of the items that were contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a gift to the nation and to Congressman Rangel’s constituents that keeps on giving.

Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC increased beginning in 2009. This helped the working poor.

Education benefits. The American Opportunity Tax Credit and enhanced benefits for 529 college savings plans help families and students find ways to pay higher education expenses.

Additional child tax credit. More families qualified for the ACTC starting in 2009.

Home energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives. This allowed families to make needed repairs and replace appliances, windows, etc. with more energy efficient products.

Increased Transportation Subsidy. Employer-provided benefits for transit and parking rose beginning in 2009. Congressman Rangel is working to make this provision permanent.

Homebuyer Credit. First time Homebuyers who purchased by April 30, 2010, and settled by Sept. 30, 2010, may be eligible for a credit of up to $8,000. Documentation requirements apply. See the first-time homebuyer page for more detail.

COBRA. Workers who lost their jobs between Sept. 1, 2008, and May 31, 2010, would qualify for reduced COBRA health insurance premiums for up to 15 months.

Making Work Pay Tax Credit. As a result of this credit, many Americans take-home pay increased in 2009 and 2010.

$250 for Social Security Recipients, Veterans and Railroad Retirees. The Economic Recovery Payment was paid by the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Railroad Retirement Board in 2009 or, in some cases, 2010.

Money Back for New Vehicles. Taxpayers who bought new cars and certain other new vehicles in 2009 could deduct the state and local sales taxes which they paid as well as other taxes and fees that they paid in states with no sales tax.

Up to $2,400 in Unemployment Benefits Tax Free in 2009.

Health Coverage Tax Credit. This credit increased from 65 percent to 80 percent of qualified health insurance premiums, and more people are eligible.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This expanded credit added returning veterans and "disconnected youth" to the list of new hires that businesses may claim. ATRA extended the credit for hiring certain workers through 2013.

Net Operating Loss Carryback. Small businesses could offset losses by getting refunds on taxes paid up to five years in the past.

Expanded section 179 deduction and other business-related provisions.

Municipal Bond Programs. New ways to finance school construction, energy and other public projects.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 also included grants and programs to add jobs. A total of $2.56 Billion was spent over several years. The 13th Congressional District received almost $318 million. The funds in our district were spent as follows:

• Transportation $78.8 mil
• Housing $73.3 mil
• Energy/Env $37.9 mil
• Health $22 mil
• Education $14.5 mil
• Infrastructure$8.3 mil
• Public Safety $1.4 mil
• Other programs $1.7 mil

These awards varied from $45,000 to the Harlem Success Academy Charter to Hospitals and housing projects.

Unemployment Compensation

In 2008, Congressman Rangel sponsored legislation with Congressman McDermott that created the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008. The Republicans worked with them to create the package and it was signed by President Bush. Since that time, Congressman Rangel has worked to continue to extend the Federal portion of Unemployment Compensation to hard working Americans who are are unable to find jobs. The Congressman authored the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010, which allowed some 2.5 million jobless Americans to continue receiving benefits amid the worst economic downturn since The Great Depression, and was signed by President Barack Obama on July 22, 2010. The federal government has extended the 2008 program 11 times since its inception. The latest extension ended on December 28. Unfortunately, the Republicans continue to oppose extending the program, which has left 1.3 million people without UI.

Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007

On October 30, 2007, Chairman Rangel introduced H.R. 3996. The President signed the bill into law on December 26, 2007. This Act amended the Internal Revenue Code and extended, through 2007, the increased alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts for joint filers ($66,250) and single filers ($44,350). It also offset nonrefundable personal tax credits against regular and AMT liability. Without this law, taxpayers would have had a tax increase because of the AMT.

Pension Provision for State of New York.

Mr. Rangel introduced legislation that became law to protect certain NY Pensions. The law related to the application of certain provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to specified transactions by certain public employee retirement systems created by the State of New York or any of its political subdivisions. It became law in March, 1976. Mr. Rangel has been protecting the people of New York since he was elected.

The Empowerment Zone

Congressman Rangel authored and spearheaded enactment of the most ambitious economic development program since the Great Society. Nationally, the historic Empowerment Zone program is providing $3.5 billion for urban and rural development. The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone is driving the economic renaissance in that area with more than $300 million in federal, state and city-funded loans and grants for business development, jobs, educational and health programs, and social services in Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood.

Highway Trust Fund Restoration

On July 17, 2008, Chairman Rangel introduced H.R. 6532 and the President signed the bill into law on September 15, 2008.

This bill allowed the transfer of $8.017 billion from the Treasury to the Highway Trust Fund. The funding was necessary to ensure the solvency of the Trust Fund. The amount transferred to the Trust Fund is the same as the amount transferred, pursuant to Section 9004 of the Surface Transportation Revenue Act of 1998, from the Trust Fund to the General Fund.

Minimum Wage

Chairman Rangel's leadership facilitated a bipartisan support for the first increase in minimum wage in over a decade. He is continuing to fight for a Minimum Wage increase to $10.10 per hour.

Earned Income Tax Credit

Rangel fought for the dramatic expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which increases the allowable income of workers to be filed, earning up to $30,000 per year. More than 19 million families claimed the credit in 1999, receiving an average of $1,700 per family. To date, EITC is the largest federal assistance program for working families. Congressman Rangel will continue to fight to expand EITC, especially to taxpayers with no children, who receive very little benefit.

Targeted Jobs Program

Congressman Rangel spearheaded the program, now called the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which nationally subsidized the employment of more than 500,000 young people, veterans and ex-offenders by providing tax incentives to employers.

Jobs Training

Congressman Rangel is a longtime supporter of the Workforce Investment Act’s (WIA’s) Title I programs. These critical programs ensure that his constituents get the job training and education they need to find jobs. With unemployment rates still high, we can’t afford to cut WIA initiatives. In 2010 alone, WIA reached over 8.6 million people across the country.

WIA programs serve a wide range of disadvantaged and underserved populations and provide them with an opportunity to receive job training, higher or technical education, and assistance in finding employment. One important program is Job Corps, which has residential centers that help youths develop skills to find employment or further their education. Other national programs include those geared toward preparing disadvantaged youth, Native Americans and migrant and seasonal farm workers for employment. Title I also funds pilot programs, such as the Green Jobs Innovation Fund, that test innovative means of delivering effective job and employment services.

The programs of WIA are essential to ensuring that our workforce continues to grow and that individuals have the skills to access the jobs that are available.

Income Opportunity

Congressman Rangel is an original cosponsor of the Working for Adequate Gains for Employment in Services (WAGES) Act. The bill makes significant progress toward closing the wage gap between tipped employees and all other workers.

The WAGES Act raises the minimum wage of tipped employees from the current level of $2.13 per hour to $3.75 per hour three months after enactment. It then raises the minimum wage of tipped employees to $5.00 per hour one year after enactment, and 70% of minimum wage, but no less than $5.50 per hour, two years after enactment.

Since 1991 wages of tipped employees have been held at $2.13 per hour. Congress took a draconian step in 1996 during the 104th Congress and authorized a freeze of tipped employees’ wages at this low rate. In taking this action, Congress revoked the system of percentage figure of tipped employees (formerly at 50% of minimum wage) and locked in a dollar amount. As a result of this wage freeze, the value of wages for tipped workers will be less than half of what it would have been had Congress left wages undisturbed, with tipped employees earning only 29.4% of minimum wage.

Restaurant workers, including waiters, waitresses, bussers, and other servers, are the largest group of tipped workers, and they have been hit especially hard by the flat-lining of their minimum wage. For instance, nearly 15% of all waiters and waitresses live below the federal poverty level, while only 5.7% of the workforce as a whole falls beneath this threshold. This is especially alarming since waiters and waitresses are among the highest paid tipped employees. Unfortunately, the poverty rate among other tipped employees is likely much higher.

Statistics from a 2009 analysis of tipped workers detail the populations most affected by the reduced hourly wage of tipped employees. According to this information from the National Employment Law Project:

• 62% are women;
• 39.3% are minorities;
• 33% are between 16 and 20 years old;
• 18.8% are between 21 and 24 years old;
• 33.9% are between 25 and 44 years old; and
• 14.5% are 45 years old and older.

Minority populations are particularly hard hit by these low wages. 22.3% of African-American tipped employees and 18% of Latino tipped employees live in families that are below the federal poverty level.

It is time to ensure that all employees are paid fair wages for their hard work.

Small Business

It is imperative that small businesses have access to the capital they need to sustain and build their operations, create jobs, and strengthen our economy.

In 2009 and again in 2010, we took a pragmatic yet temporary action to raise the guarantees on the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs and eliminate certain SBA fees charged to borrowers and lenders. Record levels of SBA lending resulted. About 1,300 lenders came back to the SBA who hadn’t participated since 2007. SBA had its highest-ever weekly loan volume when it supported nearly $2 billion in lending. All told, SBA was able to support $42 billion in loans to nearly 90,000 small businesses across the country.

Unfortunately, funding for these temporary measures was exhausted in January 2012 and the statutory authorization expired in March of that year. Following that, small business lending declined; and, once again, businesses began experiencing difficulty gaining access to capital.

That is why Congressman Rangel cosponsored the Increasing Small Business Lending Act, which would eliminate for one-year the fees for 7(a) and 504 SBA loans and increase the SBA loan guarantee to 90%.

Extending these important provisions will bolster access to capital and give small businesses the support and confidence needed to grow and put additional Americans to work.

Homelessness

Congressman Rangel supports robust funding of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants programs and the full implementation of the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act.

Even as our nation emerges from years of persistent economic turmoil, homelessness continues to be an unrelenting and unacceptable social problem. According to the most recent Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, released December 2012, there are an estimated 633,782 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in America. Among those numbers are 239,403 people in families (including children) and 99,894 chronically homeless individuals. With homeless systems already strained, and more people needing assistance now more than ever, robust funding for homeless assistance programs must be a priority so that we can ensure all individuals and families who are facing homelessness will soon have a place to call home.

The passage of the HEARTH Act heralded big changes for homeless assistance systems by restructuring the systems to better incorporate proven, efficient solutions, while putting a better emphasis on data and doing what we know works. The overarching goal of the homeless assistance systems is to move families and individuals into permanent housing in the fastest and most cost-effective ways possible. Despite economic hardship, increases in family homelessness have been minimal, and homelessness among veterans and chronically homelessness individuals has decreased significantly, proving that these programs can get the job done.

As we move forward in addressing our nation’s economic woes, it is important that we continue to stand our ground in the fight against homelessness.

125th Street Corridor Revitalization. Secured provisions in the tax law which helped finance revitalization of the 125th Street corridor.

Monument to Doctor Ralph J. Bunche. Mr. Rangel led the efforts to pass a resolution authorizing appropriation of funds for acquisition of a monument to Doctor Ralph J. Bunche and installation of such monument in Ralph J. Bunche Park in New York City.

Gold Medal for Roy WIlkins. Mr. Rangel authored a bill to authorize the President of the United States to present, on behalf of Congress, a specially struck medal to the widow of Roy Wilkins who was a prominent civil rights activist in the United States from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Apollo Theater Rescue. Intervened with New York State authorities and the private sector to rescue the landmark theater from closing.

Frederick Douglas Circle. Secured $9 million in federal funding for the restoration of Frederick Douglas Circle and the 110th Street Gateway.

Renaissance Ballroom and Small's Paradise Development. Intervened to free up these foreclosed properties for purchase and development by the Abyssinian Baptist Church's Renaissance Redevelopment Corporation. Also secured funds for the development project.

Audubon Research Park Development

Secured $10 million in federal funds for development of the Audubon Research Park for Biomedical Research in Washington Heights.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Secured $2.5 million in federal funding for computerizing archives of Harlem's world-reowned research center.  

Museum for African Art. Secured $250,000 in federal funding for development of the Museum for African Art.

Harlem Pier. Secured $1 million in federal funding for research into the development of the Hudson River pier area on Harlem’s west side.

Protection for Freedom National Bank Depositors. Secured legislation that required the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to reimburse nonprofit depositors after the failure of Freedom National Bank.

Reconstruction of Hamilton Grange. The former home of Alexander Hamilton is one of Harlem’s historic landmarks.

Ronald H. Brown Federal Building. Led the successful effort to name the Federal building located at 799 United Nations Plaza in New York, New York, as the "Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building."

Pension Protection

Authored provisions in the tax law allowing police and firefighters to retire early without penalty to their pension levels.

Authored the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 which was enacted into law and provides protection for pension plans.

Consumer Protection

Congressman Rangel has cosponsored the Language Bait and Switch Prevention Act

The bill would:

• Require creditors who advertise in foreign languages to provide application materials, contracts, etc in same foreign language upon request by the consumer.
• If said creditor fails to comply, the consumer has the right to void the agreement within 30 days.

His hope is to protect consumers from situations where certain products are advertised in a given foreign language, but then the required paperwork to complete the transaction is provided in English only.

Holding Down Utility Rates

Secured authorization for Con Edison to use tax exempt bonds for improvements to their infrastructure, saving New York City utility customers over $26 million per year.

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 provides fellowships, tutoring, internships and other assistance for applicants from across the country.

Alianza Dominicana

A community development organization that partners with youth, families and public and private institutions to revitalize economically distressed neighborhoods. Their mission is to assist children, youth and families break the cycle of poverty. Mr. Rangel provided $788,000 of federal funding for development of the Triangle Building.

Bodega Association

A program to enable bodega owners and employees to develop various skills sets by providing training courses (i.e. food preparation, accounting classes) and/or an opportunity to receive a higher education at creditable institutions. The project will also provide financial literacy, proficiency programs, and educational workshops to bodega owners in NYC. Mr. Rangel secured $200,000 of federal funds for these programs.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Mr. Rangel established the Hamilton Grange National Memorial in the State of New York. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) acquire land, interests therein, and improvements thereon within the boundaries of the memorial by donation; (2) reimburse the owner of such property a specified amount for administrative costs for the transfer; and (3) acquire associated personal property.

James L. Watson U.S. Court of International Trade Building Led the successful effort to name the building located at 1 Federal Plaza in New York City as the "James L. Watson United States Court of International Trade Building”

Gold Medal to Tuskegee Airmen. Mr. Rangel led the efforts to award a congressional gold medal on behalf of the Tuskegee Airmen, collectively, in recognition of their unique military record, which inspired revolutionary reform in the Armed Forces.

Tito Puente Post Office Building. Mr. Rangel led the efforts to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 167 East 124th Street in New York, New York, as the "Tito Puente Post Office Building".

Percy Sutton Post Office Building. To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 365 West 125th Street in New York, New York, as the "Percy Sutton Post Office Building".

HOUSING

Low Income Housing Tax Credit

Spearheaded program that generates investments in low- and moderate-income housing construction and rehabilitation. This permanent program is responsible for most affordable housing construction nationwide in the last decade, including more than 23,000 apartment units in Upper Manhattan. Typically, the New York City Housing and Development and Preservation allocates $10-$12 million in credits per year to 40 or more projects with a total of 1,200 low income units. In 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, I was able to increase the amount for New York State to $252,659,616 for capital investment in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects.

Affordable Housing

Congressman Rangel has long supported affordable housing measures. In each Congress during the appropriations process, he pushes to fully fund programs that will ease the burden on tenants.

His letter for FY 2014 urged support for critical housing and community development programs such as:

• Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG): $3.3 billion in formula funding;
• Section 8 Tenant-Based Rental Assistance: $19.9 billion for the Tenant-Based Section 8 rental assistance program, an amount that would ensure renewal of all existing vouchers for more than 2.2 million families. The requested amount also would support an additional 10,000 new vouchers targeted to homeless veterans;
• Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance: $11.5 billion for the Project-Based Rental Assistance Program to ensure full funding for all contract renewals for a 12-month term, which helps house more than 1.2 million families; and
• Public Housing: $4.6 billion and $2 billion respectively, for the Public Housing Operating and Capital Funds, an amount consistent with the Obama Administration’s request to house 1.1 million families.

Fair Housing

Congressman Rangel has pushed to fully fund the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) for Fiscal Year 2014.

Access to fair housing free from invidious discrimination is a tenet we all support. However, despite passage of the Fair Housing Act more than 40 years ago, numerous fair housing violations still occur each year, many of which are against our veterans. With the ongoing foreclosure crisis fueled by fair housing violations, invidious discrimination in the housing market is expected to continue to rise. According to a recent Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report, a record number of Americans are reporting incidents of housing discrimination based on disability, which often involves our veterans, and race as the leading reasons for filing a complaint.

The Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) provides unique and vital services to the public as well as the housing industry to address unfairness and discrimination. FHIP is a competitive grant program and is a dedicated source of funding for fair housing education and enforcement activities at the local level. Private non-profit fair housing organizations are the only private organizations in the country that educate the community and the housing industry, as well as enforce the laws intended to protect all of us against housing discrimination.

HOME Program

Congressman Rangel has supported restoring funding to the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME)

HOME funding is a vital resource for communities working to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals in need of supportive housing, including veterans, persons with disabilities, seniors and persons experiencing homelessness. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD,) the program allows states and localities to respond to individuals' most pressing housing needs. HOME provides gap financing that is critical to the creation and provision of affordable housing for the families who need it the most.

At a time when the Center for Housing Policy reports that nearly one in four working households spends more than half its income on housing costs, restoring HOME funding is necessary to address the growing need for affordable housing.

Amicus Brief - 2013

Congressman Rangel has signed on to an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case, Mount Holly v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action. This case is a major civil rights case that will decide the extent to which the Fair Housing Act will continue to outlaw discriminatory housing practices.

The Fair Housing Act broadly prohibits discrimination in the sale or rental of housing and in housing-related brokerage and loan services. The question in Mount Holly is whether the law prohibits policies and practices that have a discriminatory effect – i.e., a “disparate impact” on a protected class – as well as instances of intentional bias (“disparate treatment”). For years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and private parties have used disparate impact to challenge discriminatory rental, sale, and lending policies. And every federal court of appeals to consider the issue has endorsed disparate impact as a valid means of enforcing the Fair Housing Act’s promise of equal housing opportunity. The Mount Holly case threatens the continued vitality of this key enforcement tool, which risks insulating policies and practices that have the same discriminatory consequences as intentional acts of discrimination from the reach of the law.

This amicus brief – by drawing heavily on both legislative history and conventional historical sources – will ensure that the Court understands why current and former Members believe that Congress intended to reach and prohibit all forms of discrimination in housing.

Congressman Rangel was one of the representatives who voted for the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. He wholeheartedly believes it is vital to protect these rights for the benefit of tenants all over Manhattan and the Bronx.

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008

On April 8, 2008, Chairman Rangel introduced H.R. 5720. The President signed the bill into law on July 30, 2008. The Act provided a number of benefits for multi-family low-income housing, including temporarily increasing the volume cap for the low-income housing tax credit, modifying the determination of the credit rate and the definition of eligible basis, modifying the treatment of basic housing allowances for purposes of income eligibility rules, providing refunding treatment for certain housing bonds, coordinating certain rules applicable to the low-income housing credit and certain qualified residential rental project exempt facility bonds, providing hold harmless treatment for reductions in area median gross income, excepting from annual recertification requirements projects that are entirely low-income use, and providing the simplification and reform of other low-income housing incentives. The Act also provided a refundable $7,500 credit for certain first-time homebuyers (to be ratably repaid), provided an additional standard deduction for State and local property taxes, modified certain private Activity bond rules for housing, repealed AMT limitations on certain housing bonds and housing credits, provided that bonds guaranteed by federal home loan banks are eligible for treatment as tax-exempt bonds, modified rules pertaining to FIRPTA non-foreign affidavits, modified provisions of the rehabilitation credit, relaxed mortgage revenue bond limitations for Presidentially declared disaster areas, included certain reforms related to real estate investment trusts (including provisions relating to foreign currency and other qualified activities, the taxable REIT subsidiary asset test, the holding period under safe harbor, the value of sales under safe harbor, and conformity for health care facilities), provided an election to accelerate AMT and R&D credits in lieu of bonus depreciation, and extended and expanded certain GO Zone incentives.

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-142 On September 25, 2007, Chairman Rangel introduced H.R. 3648 and the President signed the bill into law on December 20, 2007. This Act excludes discharged qualified residential debt from gross income. Unfortunately during the recession people lost value in their homes. If a mortgage company reduced the mortgage, it resulted in income for the taxpayer. This law prevented individuals from being punished with a tax bill when they had no real income. The provision expired at the end of 2012. Mr. Rangel has continued to work on extending the provision.

Cooperative Housing Tax Relief. Enacted legislation that holds down rents for thousands of low- and moderate-income residents of cooperative (Mitchell-Lama) apartments by providing tax exemptions for earnings by the cooperative. At Riverbend and Esplanade Gardens, the Congressman assisted renters and owners by reversing Internal Revenue Service claims.

Public Housing Work Requirement. Enacted legislation placing a moratorium on the mandatory work requirement for residents of public housing.

Taino Towers Rehabilitation. Secured $9 million in federal funding for a major rehabilitation of the 650-unit Taino Towers complex in East Harlem.

Relief for the Homeless. Secured the moratorium that prevented the federal government from cutting off AFDC funds for housing the homeless in welfare hotels.

El Barrio's Operation Fightback. El Barrio's Operation Fightback (EBOF) works against the deterioration of housing, the displacement of families, and the declining availability of affordable housing in East Harlem. Mr. Rangel provided $750,000 in federal funds to create 74 units of affordable housing for artists at the historic PS 109 public school building in East Harlem.

Harlem YMCA. Mr. Rangel secured $605,000 for the construction of facility for homeless at 180 W. 135th St.

HEALTH CARE

I am extremely proud to have worked with the President and the House and Senate Democrats to enact the Affordable Care Act. This law allows everyone the ability to afford health insurance and means that insurance companies can no longer deny coverage for preexisting conditions.

The New York State of Health has done a great job, and 696,880 New Yorkers have completed their applications and 412,221 have enrolled for coverage since the launch of the Marketplace on October 1, 2013. Sixty-six percent of New Yorkers who have enrolled to date were uninsured at the time of application. Thousands of people continue to visit their website daily. I have held numerous town meetings encouraging people to sign up.

Economic Benefits of the Affordable Care Act

Since the Affordable Care Act became law in March 2010, the private sector has added 8.1 million jobs. That is the strongest 45 month job growth since the late 1990s and contrasts with the 3.8 million private sector jobs lost in the decade before the Affordable Care Act passed. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the economy will continue to add jobs in the years ahead, while the Affordable Care Act extends coverage to 25 million people.

The ACA is helping the labor market, laying the foundation for future economic growth, improving the financial security and well-being of America’s families, and helping to ensure that every American who wants a job can find one.

The ACA puts more money in families’ pockets, boosts demand, and brings down unemployment. The law makes it easier for families to access health care services – with millions of Americans benefitting from premium tax credits worth thousands of dollars – and meet other pressing needs, increasing the demand for goods and services in our economy. That’s why CBO Director Doug Elmendorf testified that the ACA “spurs employment and would reduce unemployment over the next few years.”

The ACA helps slow the growth of health care costs, boosts hiring in the near term, and bolsters workers’ paychecks. The law is contributing to the historic slowdown in the growth in health care costs seen over the last few years through reforms to Medicare and new payment models incentivizing more efficient, higher quality care. Slower growth in health costs reduces the growth in insurance premiums paid by employers, which reduces the cost of hiring additional workers and, over time, boosts workers’ take-home pay.

The ACA reduces our long-term deficit and lays the foundation for future growth. The CBO estimates that from 2013 through 2022, the law will reduce the deficit by $109 billion and by more than $1 trillion over the next twenty years. Lower deficits will result in higher national saving, increasing capital accumulation and reducing foreign borrowing.

The ACA improves health and makes workers more productive. The law improves health for people who would otherwise not have had health insurance as well as for those who are already insured by expanding access to needed medical care and improving the quality and efficiency of care for all Americans. And, people who live longer, healthier lives miss fewer days of work, are less likely to become disabled, tend to spend more years in the workforce, and are more productive while on the job.

The ACA reduces “job lock” and encourages job mobility and entrepreneurship. Because of the law’s ban on discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions and its other strong consumer protections, all Americans now have access to health insurance, whether or not they can get coverage through their workplaces. This newfound freedom allows more Americans the ability to change jobs or take risks and start their own businesses, spurring innovation and economic growth.

The ACA improves financial security in the face of illness. By expanding access to affordable health insurance coverage, the law is helping to ensure that getting sick no longer leads to financial ruin. Better financial protection makes an essential contribution to the well-being of families and the overall health of the economy.

New York State has revamped its Medicaid program. They requested a portion of the funds back from the Federal government. As the Dean of the New York delegation, we worked together to secure $8 billion that can be used to help some of the poorest hospitals in the NY city area.

Medicare Support of New York Hospitals

Led the successful initiative to direct an additional $400 million in Medicare payments for New York’s teaching hospitals, nursing homes and health care providers. Also secured Medicare payments to inner city hospitals, and increased payments for medical education for residents and interns assigned to hospitals serving the poor.

Calvary Hospital

I worked to include a provision in the 2013 budget bill that changed how Calvary is reimbursed by Medicare. The budget bill included a number of changes to long-term care hospitals. Because Calvary isn’t really a long-term care hospital, the legislation gave CMS the authority to move that subcategory to another payment category so Calvary won’t be adversely impacted by the broader changes to long-term care.

St. Lukes/Roosevelt and Presbyterian Hospitals Reconstruction Secured federal guarantees for the sale of bonds to finance $300 million reconstruction of St. Lukes/Roosevelt and $400 million renovation of Presbyterian Hospitals.

North General Hospital Construction

Intervened with the Internal Revenue Service to authorize construction of East Harlem’s new North General Hospital in East Harlem, and secured federal funding for development of its geriatric ward.

Mt. Sinai Hospital Expansion

Secured $10 million in funding for the Mt. Sinai Hospital Human Genome Project, allowing expansion of the hospital's clinical services to the community.

Harlem Hospital Affiliation

Was instrumental in upgrading services at Harlem Hospital by improving its affiliation arrangement with Columbia University Medical School.

Boriken Community Health Center

Saved the Boriken Community Health Center from closure by intervening with the Internal Revenue Service to resolve a tax claim against the East Harlem health facility.

Funding for Kidney Dialysis

Secured adequate levels of reimbursement for dialysis treatments for victims of kidney disease, which disproportionately afflicts African Americans.

Employer-Provided Health Benefits

Helped lead the effort to protect health care and life insurance benefits to employees by preserving tax incentives for employers.

AIDS Funding

Was instrumental in securing major increases in funding for AIDS research and treatment under the Ryan White legislation, and for treatment of AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean.

EDUCATION

Congressman Rangel has cosponsored the Strong Start for America's Children Act in 2014. Millions of young children from low-income families lack access to high-quality, affordable preschool programs. Decades of studies have found that quality preschool leads to a wide range of short- and long-term benefits, including better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower levels of crime and delinquency. The Strong Start for America's Children Act is a bold, 10-year innovative federal-state partnership to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children across the birth-to-age-five continuum.

FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act was the title of the bill, and in a previous version funded aviation programs. As finally enacted however, it was a law that funded education jobs and Medicaid. The law authorizes appropriations for the necessary expenses for an Education Jobs Fund and appropriates $10 billion for such purpose. It required the allocation of such funds to states by the Department of Education in accordance with provisions of title XIV (State Fiscal Stabilization Fund) of Division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Requires that allocated funds be used solely: (1) to make awards to local educational agencies for the support of elementary and secondary education; and (2) for compensation and benefits and other expenses to recall or rehire former employees, and to hire new employees, in order to provide early childhood, elementary, or secondary educational and related services. Imposes limits on the expenditure of funds for administrative purposes. Prohibits states from using allocated funds for establishing, restoring, or supplementing a rainy-day fund or for debt reduction.

Student Loan Interest Deduction Act of 2013

I have introduced H.R.1527 that would allow students to deduct their interest payments on Student loans. There is no greater investment than education and we should do all that we can to encourage everyone to continue their education. I have also worked to assure that the interest rates on Stafford loans remain low.

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program

A highly competitive program, it offers graduate school fellowships, internships, international affairs training, and expedited entry into the Foreign Service for high-achieving candidates from underrepresented ethnic groups. So far, more than 100 members of minority groups and women have completed the program and are serving as diplomats in the Foreign Service around the world.

The Charles B. Rangel Technology & Learning Center Offers computer-based literacy programs for young children, technical skills training for middle and high school students and adult courses — serves as a stepping-stone of opportunity, equality and civic participation.

With its mission is to serve as a focal point for job skill development, lifelong learning and community building for all ages, the Center offers 35 networked and state-of-the-art computer stations. Each year that allows more than 3,000 users come to the facility for free programs, including General Education Development (GED) High School Equivalency Test preparation and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. The Center also offers introductory computer courses such as basic internet, email and Microsoft Access and Excel information.

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.

Boricua College

A post-secondary educational institution located in New York City, United States. The college was designed to serve the educational needs of Puerto Ricans and other Hispanics. Mr. Rangel secured $775,000 of federal funds for Digital Divide Mini School and renovating classrooms.

College of Mt. St. Vincent

The College of Mount Saint Vincent is an academically excellent, authentically inclusive, Catholic and ecumenical liberal arts college. The College combines a strong core curriculum with a full array of majors in the liberal arts and, within the tradition of liberal education, selected professional fields of study. Mr. Rangel secured $200,000 federal funds for training in forensic science.

Race To The Top

New York State was awarded $700 million in federal funding as part of the U.S. Department of Education Race to the Top competition. The federal funding, $250 million to $300 million of which will go to New York City, will go to support and expand a host of reforms, including the creation of a new teacher evaluation system and the strengthening of curriculum and State assessments based on the national Common Core Standards. As Dean of the New York delegation, Rangel worked behind the scenes to promote New York's proposal.

El Museo del Barrio

An outreach initiative designed to serve students and teachers in Manhattan, Queens and the South Bronx. This program introduces students and teachers to El Museo's collection, exhibits and resources by offering schools and community based organizations free singe sessions to visit to the classroom, three part programs and multi session programs. Mr. Rangel provided about $200,000 for the programs.

Boys and Girls Harbor - Raicies Collection

Program offers music lessons, dance classes and acting classes. The Latin music program is located in El Barrio Harbor Conservatory. Mr. Rangel provided $100,000 in Federal funds for their programs.

Dominican Women's Development Center

The center was organization to empower women and families through education programs, with emphasis on Dominican/Latin communities. Mr. Rangel secured $285,000 for their programs.

IMMIGRATION

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

One of the earliest co-sponsors of the DREAM Act when it was first introduced in 2001, Rangel has been a leading advocate for immigration reform. He is one of the original co-sponsors of H.R. 15, Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, which was introduced in 2013. In October 2013, Rangel was arrested by the Park Police for participating in a rally on the National Mall and in front of the U.S. Capitol to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill that includes a pathway to citizenship for some 11 million people who are already making contributions to our country.

On December 5, 2013, Congressman Rangel spoke out in front of the Capitol, urging the President to halt deportations. He was flanked Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, and a host of other immigration advocates. Rangel is one of the longest serving advocates in the fight for immigration reform in Congress.

Prosecutorial Discretion

For nearly 200 years, our community has served the most vulnerable, including immigrant populations. The current dysfunction in our broken immigration system is leading to record mass deportations, the criminalization of families, and the wasting of government resources on detaining immigrants in an era of government austerity.

Congressman Rangel sent a joint letter in 2014, requesting that President Obama expand prosecutorial discretion to individuals likely to benefit from some form of immigration reform.

He continues to encourage and harness the increased pressure on the House GOP to move comprehensive immigration reform forward.

Worker Protections

Congressman Rangel has also sent a letter to Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi requesting that any immigration reform legislation include key worker protections or that the process provide the opportunity for these issues to be considered through amendments.

Abuses of guest worker programs – whether in agriculture or other fields like education, construction, landscaping – remain far too prevalent. Not only do unscrupulous employers unfairly exploit foreign workers – but the exploitation directly undercuts wages and job opportunities for U.S. workers.

We must reform our nation’s broken immigration system and ensure a reformed system includes robust protections for U.S. workers and foreign workers. Many of the principles listed below reflect a consensus between both business and labor in the Senate’s immigration reform legislation and take into consideration the future economic needs of business and workers.

Congressman Rangel has long pushed for the DREAM Act to become law. In 2010, he helped to guide it through the House of Representatives, only to see it fail in the U.S. Senate. In 2013, eight ‘DREAMers’ in Mexico turned themselves in at the U.S. border - asking to be legally admitted into the country in protest. These courageous, undocumented young people grew up in the U.S. and know this country as their only home.

Some of these DREAMers left the country because of draconian U.S. laws such as SB1070 in Arizona, while others were deported. Three of the DREAMers crossed the U.S. border into Mexico in order to address the painful family separation caused by our broken immigration system.

Rangel was proud to issue his support for them and urge our Immigration and Customs officials to allow their reentry into our country.

Rangel strongly believes our immigration laws must be reformed so that families can remain together, and that those who know this country as their home have the opportunity for the right to live and work here legally. While we are working hard to achieve comprehensive reform of our broken immigration system, these students need action now.

Family Unification

Congressman Rangel sent a joint letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of amendments that attempt to fix the drastic changes proposed to the family-based immigration system that would eliminate the ability of U.S. citizens to petition their siblings and adult married children over 31. He believes that the elimination of the sibling category and the limits on adult children goes too far, considering his constituents who have utilized family-based visas in order to keep their families together.

Asylum

Congressman Rangel has cosponsored legislation designed to prevent the unnecessary rejection of individuals with valid claims to asylum in the U.S. Under current law, asylum applicants must demonstrate “by clear and convincing evidence that the application for asylum has been filed within one year [after arrival in the United States].” As a result of this arbitrary filing deadline, people with legitimate claims for asylum – people who have a well founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion – are being denied the protection for which they are otherwise eligible.

For example, an Eritrean woman, who was tortured and sexually assaulted due to her Christian religion, was denied asylum in the United States based on the filing deadline even though an immigration judge found her testimony credible and compelling. In another case, a political refugee from Cote d’Ivoire had been living in the United States when government officials later began targeting anyone politically affiliated with the former president. Even though his children had been kidnapped by government forces and a U.S. immigration court concluded that he faced a clear probability of persecution, his asylum claim was still denied because of the filing deadline.

According to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), between 1998 – when the filing deadline went into effect as a bar to asylum – and 2010, more than 53,400 applicants had their requests for asylum denied, rejected or delayed because of the filing deadline. An independent, academic analysis of DHS data concluded that during this time period it is likely that more than 15,000 asylum applications – representing more than 21,000 refugees – would have been granted without the need for further litigation if not for the filing deadline.

The Restoring Protection to Victims of Persecution Act would amend Section 208(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the arbitrary filing deadline that prevents refugees from having their applications for asylum adjudicated on the merits.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Congressman Rangel has hosted a number of fruitful meetings with the Dominican government, following the Dominican constitutional court decision regarding citizenship. He pulled together interested Members of Congress, the Dominican Ambassador, as well as Dominican officials involved with the National Regularization Plan for Foreigners. He continues to work with all parties, including the Haitian Ambassador, in order to encourage fair and just solutions to these challenges.

Including Dominicans in the US Census Survey

Congressman Rangel sponsored H. R. 1504 (2009) to ensure that in conducting the 2010 decennial census and every decennial census thereafter, a checkbox or other similar option by which respondents may indicate Dominican descent.

Dominican-American Heritage Resolution

Rangel is the author of a House Resolution that commemorates the achievements and rich culture of nearly 1.5 million people of Dominican descent in the United States, with over 700,000 residing in New York alone. Rangel's resolution honors Dominican-Americans during Dominican Republic's most important religious celebration period. It would designate a month of celebration, starting from January 21st, the Day of the Procession of Altagracia, to February 27th, the Dominican Republic’s day of Independence, to be filled with local festivities that represent the Dominican heritage while recognizing their accomplishments.

VETERANS AFFAIRS

HUD - VASH Funding 2014

Congressman Rangel petitioned the Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee to provide $75 million in its Fiscal Year 2014 bill for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.

This program is successful because it combines rental assistance, in the form of vouchers from HUD, with case management and supportive services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This program helps homeless veterans become self-sufficient members of their community once again.

A recent report issued by HUD indicated that on any single night in 2011, 636,017 people were homeless in the United States. Perhaps even more concerning is that veterans are significantly overrepresented among the homeless population. According to the VA and HUD, there are between 76,329 to 144,842 homeless veterans in the U.S. today. Quite simply, we must do more for those who served our country in the military.

HUD-VASH is the only program that supports the permanent housing and rehabilitation of homeless veterans. HUD-VASH is a joint HUD and VA initiative that provides specially designated Section 8 housing choice vouchers, case management, and supportive services to homeless veterans. The goal of the program is to support veterans’ permanent housing in the community.

Providing $75 million for the program for FY 2014 brings us closer to achieving the goal of ending homelessness among veterans. An additional 10,000 vouchers would bring the total number of funded vouchers to approximately 47,975 vouchers since FY 2008.

Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008

On May 16, 2008, Chairman Rangel introduced H.R.6081 which passed the House on May 20, 2008. The Senate passed the bill, without amendment, by unanimous consent on May 22, 2008 and the President signed the bill into law on June 17, 2008.

This Act provided tax benefits for members of the military, including some for enlisted members on Active duty, national reserve members on Active duty, their family members or survivors, and veterans. Certain temporary provisions were made permanent. There are exceptions to the length-of-residence rules governing tax-free capital gains on a principal residence for members of the Peace Corps and for certain employees of the intelligence community. .It excluded certain types of payments, likely to go to low-income people, from reducing supplemental security income (SSI) benefits.It also extended through 2008 parity requirements for mental health benefits offered by group health plans.

Office of Minority Veterans Affairs

Authored legislation which established the Office of Minority Veterans Affairs in the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. The office addresses issues of particular concern to minority veterans.

Harlem Veterans Outreach Center

Secured the creation of a full-service Veterans Outreach Center in Harlem. It is the first center of its kind serving veterans in Upper Manhattan.

Vietnam-Era and Desert Storm Benefits

Congressman Rangel strongly supported increased educational and health benefits for Vietnam Era and Desert Storm veterans.

369th Regiment Charter

Secured federal charter for the 369th Regiment, the "Harlem Hellfighters."

Supporting Military Families and other Volunteers Serving America

Chairman Rangel let the efforts to enact provisions ensuring that military families and AmeriCorps volunteers are not penalized for their service when SSI benefits are determined.

Dishonorable Discharge H.R. 2839

Restore Honor to Service Members Act

Congressman Rangel worked with Congressman Mark Pocan to introduce the Restore Honor to Service Members Act - which requires appropriate military record correction boards or discharge review boards to review the discharge characterization of any former members of the Armed Forces requesting a review who were discharged because of their sexual orientation. It also permits such boards to change a characterization to honorable if such characterization is any characterization except honorable. H.R 2839 also directs the Secretary of each military department to ensure that oral historians of the department: (1) review discharges between World War II and September 2011 based on sexual orientation, and (2) receive oral testimony of individuals who personally experienced discrimination and discharge because of actual or perceived sexual orientation so that such testimony may serve as an official record of such discriminatory policies and their impact on American lives. The bill also requires the reissuance of specified military personnel records and discharge forms in a manner that shall not reflect the sexual orientation of the member.

Selective Service Bill HR 747

Mr. Rangel introduced H. R. 747 which would amend the Military Selective Service Act to require the registration of women with the Selective Service System in light of the Department of Defense elimination of the rule excluding women from direct ground combat assignments in the Armed Forces.

National Service (Draft) Act H.R. 748

Congressman Rangel introduced The Universal National Service Act which declares that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 25 to perform a 2-year period of national service, unless exempted, either through military service or through civilian service in a federal, state, or local government program or with a community-based agency or entity engaged in meeting human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs. It requires induction into national service by the President and allows persons to be inducted only: (1) under a declaration of war or national emergency, or (2) when members of the Armed Forces are engaged in a contingency operation. The bill requires each person, before induction, to be examined physically and mentally for classification for fitness to perform. This also sets forth provisions governing: (1) induction deferments, postponements, and exemptions, including exemption of a conscientious objector from combatant training and military service; and (2) discharge following national service and amends the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the military registration of females.

*This bill is designed to prevent lawmakers from needlessly involving our military into conflicts, since their own loved ones could be drafted as well.

Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2013:

Mr. Rangel introduced the VETS Act of 2013, which would allow a health care professional who is authorized to provide health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and who is a licensed professional to practice at any location in any state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth, territory, or possession, regardless of where the professional or patient is located, if the professional is using telemedicine to provide treatment. It would allow such treatment regardless of whether such professional or patient is located in a facility owned by the federal government.

Veterans Higher Education Opportunity Act

Mr. Rangel co-sponsored the Veterans Higher Education Opportunity Act, which honors the commitment and sacrifice of the men and women of our Armed forces by:

• Amends current law to reduce the required deployment from 12 to six months in order to be eligible for the Perkins Loan Forgiveness Program. The program was originally designed to incentivize public service for college graduates.
• Ensures that servicemembers who are wounded as a result of their service and are unable to meet the six-month requirement will qualify for the forgiveness.

DRUG ABUSE AND CRIME PREVENTION

Narcotic Abuse and Control

A leading advocate in Congress for aggressive federal action to fight drug trafficking and increased spending for drug treatment.

Criminal Justice Reform

A leading advocate for fairness in the criminal justice system, Congressman Rangel has fought for revocation of mandatory minimum criminal sentences, equal treatment of crack and powder cocaine offenders, and for expungement of criminal records for first-time non-violent drug offenders.

Prison Reform

With federal prison populations skyrocketing and nearly half of the nation’s federal inmates serving sentences for drug offenses, Congressman Rangel has cosponsored the Smarter Sentencing Act (H.R. 3382), to modernize our drug sentencing policies by giving federal judges more discretion in sentencing those convicted of non-violent offenses. Making these incremental and targeted changes could save taxpayers billions in the first years of enactment.

The United States has seen a 500 percent increase in the number of inmates in federal custody over the last 30 years, in large part due to the increasing number and length of certain federal mandatory sentences. Mandatory sentences, particularly drug sentences, can force a judge to impose a one-size-fits-all sentence without taking into account the details of an individual case. Many of these sentences have disproportionately affected minority populations and helped foster deep distrust of the criminal justice system.

This large increase in prison populations has also put a strain on our prison infrastructure and federal budgets. The Bureau of Prisons is nearly 40 percent over capacity and this severe overcrowding puts inmates and guards at risk. There is more than 50 percent overcrowding at high-security facilities. This focus on incarceration is also diverting increasingly limited funds from law enforcement and crime prevention to housing inmates. It currently costs nearly $30,000 to house just one federal inmate for a year. There are currently more than 219,000 inmates in federal custody, nearly half of them serving sentences for drug offenses.

Second Chance Act

Congressman Rangel has also cosponsored legislation to reauthorize and expand the Second Chance Act, a federal grant program for activities that support people returning to their communities after incarceration. First signed into law on April 9, 2008, the Second Chance Act was designed to help prisoners effectively reintegrate into the community. The Act established grants for government agencies and nonprofits to provide services that reduce recidivism by improving outcomes for people returning from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities.

The Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 (H.R. 3465) extends these prisoner reentry programs for an additional five years, including demonstration grants, mentoring, substance abuse and family-based programming. It also expands the number of grant programs available and promotes increased accountability and outcomes from grantees. To ensure grant programs are better prepared to measure and track recidivism consistently over time, applicants who partner with local evaluators to develop data-collection systems and outcome evaluations will be prioritized for funding. The bill also authorizes separate planning grants for programs that utilize evidence-based practices that are most likely to result in reduced recidivism and other improved outcomes.

Racial Profiling

Congressman Rangel has called for the passage of the End Racial Profiling Act. This legislation is designed to protect minority communities by prohibiting the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officials. The bill is supported by 136 national organizations including the NAACP, Rights Working Group, the ACLU, Blacks in Law Enforcement in America and the Sikh Coalition.

Congressman Rangel has recently cosponsored H.R. 20, which would give influence back to the average American instead of the privileged few that dominate our current system. The Government By the People Act empowers citizens by increasing the strength of low dollar donations through matching public funds, and encourages participation in the system through a refundable tax credit. H.R. 20 is a strong step forward in creating a campaign finance system that reflects the equality and accountability Americans are demanding from our democracy.

ELECTION REFORM

Citizens United

Congressman Rangel is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would reverse the flawed Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, which gave birth to super PACs. H.J. Res 25 gives specific authority to Congress and the states to regulate corporate expenditures on political activity by imposing content-neutral regulations and restrictions on the expenditure of funds for political activity by any corporate entity.

In the 2012 election – we endured the most expensive election season in our nation’s history and saw out-of-control spending by super PACs and wealthy individuals. During that election cycle, watchdog organizations reported more than 1,200 super PACs raised and spent more than $970 million dollars in the 2012 cycle. The Sunlight Foundation reported more than $123 million in anonymous spending. All told, the price tag for last year’s election was $7 billion according to the Federal Election Commission.

This spending only signals the beginning of the crisis. In the elections to come, spending will continue to expand at the federal, state, and local levels. “One person, one vote” will become a mantra of the past, as megaphones of moneyed interests continue to drown out the voices of ordinary Americans. We must act with speed and deliberation to stop this backdoor, anonymous corporate spending in our elections.

Our nation has long recognized the need to protect our political process from the corrosive effect of corporate money, and the asymmetrical influence of wealthy individuals. We cannot allow super PACs to dominate our politics, our public policy, or our elections — to do so would undermine American democracy.

PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico - The 936 Program

Congressman Rangel was the principal author and defender of the 936 program, the major incentive for corporate investments in Puerto Rico. Attracted by tax incentives, dozens of large U.S. corporations have located plants on the island, creating thousands of jobs.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Caribbean Basin Initiative

Instrumental in the passage of a major expansion of Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), which provides reduced duties for products made in the Caribbean. The Rangel initiative has been the primary catalyst for development of the free zones in the Dominican Republic.

Africa Growth and Opportunity Act

Congressman Rangel authored and enacted historic legislation that for the first time created a trade and investment framework between the U.S. and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In the first 18 months since passage, apparel exports from Africa to the U.S. increased 28 percent, signaling new job opportunities in Africa and investment opportunities for Americans.

South Africa

As a leader in the campaign to bring down the racist apartheid system in South Africa, he authored and spearheaded the revocation of certain tax benefits to U.S. companies doing business in South Africa. His initiative led to the withdrawal of major U.S. firms, speeding the collapse of the apartheid system.

Haiti

Following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Rangel sponsored legislation to help the people of Haiti to recover.

HR 5160 Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010 and H.R. 4462 to accelerate the income tax benefits for charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Both bills were signed by President Obama in early 2010. He has continued to work with the Haitian Government to provide assistance in their recovery.

Led the successful campaign to restore the democratically-elected government of President Aristide. I worked to provide tax incentives for donations to Haiti and enacted the 2009 Tax Breaks for Haiti Donations.

Rangel also facilitated dialogue between the governments of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, to address recent migration issues but also others of importance including agriculture, drug trafficking, the environment, and customs.

Cholera

Congressman Rangel sent a joint letter in 2013 to the Secretary General of the United Nations, urging the UN to take responsibility and action to stop the devastating cholera epidemic in Haiti.

There is considerable evidence that the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Haiti, is responsible for introducing cholera into Haiti.

The letter urged the Secretary General to use his office and his influence to ensure that the UN take responsibility for the introduction of cholera into Haiti, commit an appropriate level of resources to support the Haitian government’s initiative to respond to the epidemic, and take immediate and appropriate action to assist the Haitian government with the implementation of this initiative.

Cuba

Led the Congressional campaign to remove the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. I have introduced 3 bills to improve trade and travel with Cuba. H.R.871 : Export Freedom to Cuba Act of 2013, H.R.872 : Free Trade With Cuba Act and H.R.873 : Promoting American Agricultural and Medical Exports to Cuba Act of 2013.

Jamaica

Congressman Rangel worked with the Jamaican Government, the International Monetary Fund, and the U.S. Department of Treasury, to ensure that a compromise could be reached on the subject of Jamaican debt repayment. A plan was reached that would allow Jamaica to maintain financial stability.

China

Played the pivotal role in the enactment of legislation normalizing U.S. trade relations with China. The legislation ensures that U.S. businesses are able to compete with Europe and Japan in selling U.S. goods and services to China.

Passage of Peru FTA

Mr. Rangel's efforts on behalf of labor and environment paved the way for passage of this agreement and helped facilitate passage of the Panama and Korea agreements. I oppose the Free Trade Agreement that has been introduced by Chairman Camp because it does not protect our environmental standards, labor standards and should provide for more transparency in negotiations.

Korean Peninsula

Congressman Charles B. Rangel is a decorated Korean War veteran who earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the U.S. Army during the Battle of Kunu-ri, where he led a group of soldiers out of a deadly Chinese Army encirclement after being almost left for dead on November 30, 1950. The title of his autobiography, "And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since" refers to this day. In Congress, he has been a champion advocate for Korean War veterans and U.S.-Korea relations.

*Sponsored H.CON.RES.41 -Encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula (Passed unanimously in House and Senate - August 1, 2013)

*Sponsored H.Res. 618 - Expressing support for designation of 2012-2013 as the "Year of the Korean War Veteran" (Passed 2012)

*Sponsored H. Res 376 - Calling for Repatriation of POW/MIAs and Abductees in North Korea (Passed unanimously by Congress in December 2011)

*Sponsored H.J.Res.86 - Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and Reaffirming U.S.-Korea Alliance (Passed in 2010)

*Sponsored H.R. 2632 - Korean War Veterans Recognition Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-41)

*Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee -- during the ratification of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (aka KORUS FTA) in 2007, and led its passage