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Longtime Congressman Charles Rangel Dies at 94
Former US Representative Charles Rangel, a prominent figure in American politics and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, passed away on Monday at the age of 94. His family confirmed his passing in a statement, remembering him as a “champion for justice, equity, and opportunity.”
Rangel, a Democrat representing Harlem, served in the House of Representatives for 46 years, from 1971 to 2017. Known as the “Lion of Lenox Avenue,” he achieved numerous milestones throughout his career. In 1971, he helped found the Congressional Black Caucus, and in 2007, he became the first Black chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
His chairmanship was later marred by an ethics scandal, culminating in a censure by the House in 2010. Though he was found to have violated House rules, Rangel maintained his innocence and was subsequently re-elected to two more terms in Congress. He spoke of his experience being wounded in the Korean War, for which he received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star with Valor, and said he hadn’t had another bad day since.
Following his retirement from Congress, Rangel served as statesman-in-residence at The City College of New York, where he was lauded for his dedication to public service. The college described him as a “war hero, history-making congressman, and master lawmaker” and one of the “hardest working legislators in Congress.”
His legacy also continues through the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service, which trains future generations of public servants.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum upon news of Rangel’s death. The Congressional Black Caucus mourned the loss of their “trailblazing” founder, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Rangel as a “transformational force of nature.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer lauded Rangel’s tireless fight “for his constituents and the best of America,” and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi honored him as a “lifelong voice for the voiceless and champion of the oppressed.”