Charles Rangel, the former Democratic congressman from New York who championed his Harlem community on Capitol Hill for almost five decades, died Monday at 94.
The family confirmed his death in a statement provided by City College of New York spokesperson Michelle Stent. He died at a hospital in New York, Stent said.
Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War, defeated legendary Harlem politician Adam Clayton Powell in 1970 to start his Congressional career. During the next 40-plus years, he became a legend — a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, dean of the New York Congressional delegation, and in 2007, the first Black chair of the influential Ways and Means Committee.
He stepped down from that committee amid an ethics cloud, and the House later censured him. However, he was reelected and served in Congress until 2017.
According to the statement provided to the City College of New York, Rangel sponsored 40 bills and resolutions that became law throughout his tenure. His significant legislative accomplishments include championing the national Empowerment Zone program, the Affordable Care Act, and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
#Charles #Rangel #longtime #N.Y #congressman #represented #Harlem #dies
