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Representative Adriano Espaillat Delivers Floor Remarks in Memoriam of Charles B. Rangel
Watch Video Tribute by Rep. Espaillat
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) spoke on the United States House floor in tribute of former Congressman Charles B. Rangel, his predecessor to represent New York’s 13th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
The following are remarks delivered by Rep. Espaillat, as prepared for delivery:
"I rise today to honor the memory of the Lion of Lenox Avenue, Mr. Charles B. Rangel. He was a friend, a mentor, and a champion of Harlem. As most know, Congressman Rangel was a titan, and my predecessor, who forged countless programs, trade agreements, and new precedents during his 46 years in Congress.
"He was born in Harlem in the summer of 1930, right on the heels of the Great Depression, which cloaked the country in a blanket of poverty that spared no community.
"Congressman Rangel joined the U.S. Army’s 503rd Field Artillery Battalion within the 2nd Infantry Division where he earned a Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart after he successfully led his unit of men through a mountain pass after a harrowing attack.
"After his return to the country, Rangel received his bachelor’s degree from NYU and his law degree from St. John’s law school. He was appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York by U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
"In 1970, he ascended to the House where he and 12 other Black trailblazers formally established a small group that would become the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), a formidable and historic coalition. He ultimately climbed the ranks and became the Chairman of Ways and Means where he worked on legislation that would uplift mower and middleclass Americans. This included the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Empowerment Zones.
"His international impact was equally monumental. He forged trade agreements with African countries and Haiti and other Caribbean countries, helping to bring independence and economic prosperity across the globe.
"Informed by his time in the military, he became a lifelong champion for veterans, particularly those who faced discrimination upon their return from service. His personal experience in the Korean War underpinned his efforts to establish the VA’s Office of Minority health, strengthen the G.I. Bill, veteran housing programs, and economic opportunities.
"Rangel also was a primary contributor to the development and passage of the Affordable Care Act, which provided insurance to 20 million uninsured or underinsured people.
"As a Congressman, soldier, friend, and mentor, Charles B. Rangel was of the highest quality and his life was defined by what he could give back to his country."
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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
Media inquiries: Candace Person at [email protected] |
