Latest Media Releases from Charles B. Rangel

Guest Blog: Rangel Social Security Fair

2012-02-04T15:59:00Z

Ms. Joanne Johnson, a senior in our Congressional District, shared the following review after attending the Rangel Social Security Fair on Saturday, February 3, 2012:

You'll be delighted to know it was a packed house; people were even still coming in at 11am. It was such a hit that one younger "senior" asked Rangel if he could have s Social Security Info session 2x a year, to which the audience enthusiastically applauded.

I was very impressed with how organized and professional the event was. Rangel's staff was on top of everything, so pretty much all Sir Charles had to do was be the consummate politician that he is, field and answer questions masterfully, and ooze charm and charisma. He was up-to-date on letting the assembled know they could tweet him or get him on Face Book.

After the Q & A, Rangel asked any people from the Press to come forward and he held several press interviews. I really felt part of the political scene by being there, able to see democracy in action - it was kind of thrilling in a way.

Earlier, a woman, 75, had gotten up to speak, urging seniors to get with the new technology of tweeting and using Face Book to speak out on issues like Social Security; further saying, if they didn't know how these new communication tools worked, to ask their grandchildren to teach them. Rangel quipped that no, this woman was not a plant.

The Regional head of Social Security was as smooth as Rangel and had her staff there to handle the particular concerns of people who were having problems with their SS benefits. It's very impressive to see people who have taken the mike to speak about problems they've been having with the system, to then have one of Rangel's staff members immediately take them over to a SS specialist to resolve the problem then and there.

There was even an 88 year old woman who got up to tell Rangel that she has been participating in his teleseminars and likes them alot. Rangel told her that he would love to take her to lunch or dinner. I came down on the elevator with her as we were leaving and I asked her if she had set a date for the lunch/dinner? She said she had forgotten to but said one of Rangel's staff had given her a contact card, so she would call him later to set it up. That totally impressed me for staff follow-up.

This is a winning formula for the Congressman and he should take every opportunity to have these types of events targeting specific commumnity concerns. Job well done.

Reviviendo el Sue�o Americano

2012-02-02T16:56:39Z

Demócratas en la Cámara de Representantes están comprometidos a continuar el progreso hecho en los últimos meses, a pesar de esfuerzos republicanos para regresar a las pólizas que causaron la gran recesión. Desde febrero del 2010, gracias a la Ley de Recuperación y otras acciones del congreso 111º, se han creado 3.2 millones de empleos y la economía ha visto 22 meses de crecimiento consecutivo en empleos en el sector privado. La semana pasada, el Presidente Obama entregó su discurso sobre el Estado de la Nación, delineando un plan para fortalecer el latido del corazón de nuestro país – la clase media – mediante la inversión en manufactura, energía limpia, educación e infraestructura.

A través de nuestro país, todavía hay mucho trabajo que hacer. Hace ya más de un año que los republicanos tomaron control del congreso y el pueblo americano esta demandando que paren la obstrucción de legislación que creará empleos. Hay 13 millones de estadounidenses hoy día que están desempleados, incluyendo 2.8 millones de afroamericanos, 2.6 millones de latinos y 514,000 asiáticos americanos.

Yo estoy luchando para el pueblo americano y están trabajando para garantizar que la próxima generación tenga oportunidades para triunfar. Esto significa asegurándonos que existen oportunidades de encontrar empleo para cada persona que busca de uno.

Celebrando el Mes de la Historia Afroamericana

2012-02-02T16:53:19Z

Febrero es el mes de la historia afroamericana y el tema este año es, “Las mujeres afroamericanas en la historia y cultura.” La comunidad afroamericana está compuesta de 42 millones de personas, contribuyendo enormemente a la herencia de nuestro país. Las mujeres afroamericanas en particular son una fuente de fuerza – muchas son las empresarias que son las soñadoras, innovadoras y arquitectas que impulsan nuestra economía cada día. Del año 2002 al 2007, el número de empresas con propietarias afroamericanas aumento 60.5 por ciento a 1.9 millones, con 911,728 manejadas por empresarias afroamericanas. Hoy a través de los sectores diversos, las mujeres afroamericanas están contribuyendo a nuestro gran país y reviviendo el sueño americano.

La comunidad afroamericana ha hecho enormes avances a través del tiempo, con el nivel de educación para afroamericanos más alto que nunca. Desde 1985, el número de afroamericanos obteniendo un titulo universitario ha aumentado 148 por ciento. Además, los puntajes de lectura y matemáticas entre los jóvenes afroamericanos están más altos que nunca.

La recesión económica ha afectado a personas de cada origen, y muchos en la comunidad afroamericana continúan enfrentando grandes obstáculos que hacen difícil entrar o permanecer en la clase media. Al 15.8 por ciento, afroamericanos tienen un porcentaje de desempleo más alto que cualquier otro grupo étnico. Además, el promedio de ingreso de los hogares afroamericanos es 20 veces más bajo que el de los anglosajones. Nuestras comunidades minoritarias están sufriendo y nuestros demócratas en la Cámara de Representantes están comprometidos a continuar los avances logrados en el congreso 111º, asegurándose que todos tengan una oportunidad justa para lograr el sueño americano.

Reigniting the American Dream

2012-02-02T16:50:00Z

House Democrats are committed to continuing the progress made over the past several months despite Republican efforts to return us to the policies that caused the Great Recession. Since February 2010, due to the Recovery Act and other actions of the 111th Congress, 3.2 million private sector jobs have been created and the economy has experienced 22 months of consecutive private-sector job growth. Last week, President Obama delivered the State of the Union address, where he laid out a plan to expand on our job creation efforts and strengthen the heartbeat of our country -- the middle class -- by investing in manufacturing, green energy, education, infrastructure and R&D.

Across our country, there is still much work to be done. It has been over a year since Republicans took control of Congress and the American people are demanding they stop their obstruction of job-creating legislation. There are 13 million Americans today who are unemployed, including 2.8 million African Americans, 2.6 million Latinos and 514,000 Asian Americans.

My Democratic Colleagues and I are fighting for the American people and working to guarantee that the next generation has opportunities to succeed. This means ensuring that there are opportunities for every American to find a job who wants one.

Honoring Black History Month

2012-02-02T16:41:57Z

February is Black History Month and this year’s theme is “African American Women in History and Culture.” The African American community is 42 million strong, contributing enormously to the makeup and heritage of our country. African American women are a particular source of strength – many are the entrepreneurs who are the dreamers, innovators and architects that drive our economy each day. From 2002 to 2007, the number of African American-owned businesses increased by 60.5 percent to 1.9 million, with 911,728 firms owned by African American women today. Across various sectors, African American women are contributing to our great country and reigniting the American Dream.

The African American community has made enormous strides across time, with African American educational attainment higher than ever before. Since 1985, the number of African Americans earning bachelor’s degrees has increased by 148 percent. In addition, reading and math scores among African American youth are at all-time highs.

The Great Recession has harmed Americans of all backgrounds, and many in the African American community continue to confront significant obstacles that make it difficult for them to remain in or join the middle class. At 15.8 percent, African Americans have a higher unemployment rate than any other ethnic group. In addition, the median wealth of African American households is 20 times less than that of non-Hispanic whites. Our minority communities are suffering and House Democrats are committed to continuing the progress made in the 111th Congress, ensuring that all Americans have a fair chance to achieve the American Dream.

Republicans vs. Reality: Who�s not paying their fair share?

2012-01-27T18:09:25Z

House Republicans would rather point the finger at middle- and lower-income Americans than ask the very wealthy to contribute a little bit more. Yet the facts couldn’t be more clear about who has benefited from the tax code in recent years:

1,470 millionaires paid no income taxes in 2009. That’s a 53 percent jump from 2007. (Internal Revenue Service)

A quarter of all millionaires (94,500 taxpayers) paid a lower tax rate than 10.4 million taxpayers who earn less than $100,000 a year. (Congressional Research Service, October 2011)

The effective federal income tax rate of the wealthiest 400 taxpayers dropped from 29 percent in 1993 to 18 percent in 2008. The average adjusted gross income of those 400 households was $271 million. (Internal Revenue Service)

Guest Blog: Medicaid Changes Causing Concern Among Seniors

2012-01-20T20:34:03Z

The following article was contributed by Golanda Gavan, Community Liason from Reliable Community Care in New York City.

Medicaid changes recently enacted in the New York State budget by Governor Cuomo will take effect in April of 2012. This will create a dramatic overhaul of how Seniors are serviced for Long Term Care and Home Care in New York State.

While all applaud the Governor’s efforts to respond to years of mismanaged funds, fraud, and the ballooning cost of Medicaid spending in New York State, many Seniors are confused about how Managed Long Term Care will affect them personally. Some have signed up, unknowingly, for Long Term Managed Care programs without doing the research necessary to find the best program for their needs.

“We’ve found that Seniors have a lot of concerns and questions about these new Medicaid regulations,” stated Nina Polinsky, President of Reliable Community Care, Inc., a Manhattan-based Licensed Home Care Service Agency. “That’s why we’ve been undertaking continuous community outreach at Senior Centers and other venues to inform and educate individuals of the upcoming changes relating to Managed Long Term Care and Home Care, and of what their options and rights are.”

Beginning in April 2012, all New York City Medicaid recipients who require more than 120 days of community-based long term care services will be required to enroll in a Managed Long Term Care program. This includes recipients currently served in personal care, Long Term Home Health Care, Certified Home Health Agencies, as well as people new to long term care. Recipients will be given 30 days to select a program. If no choice is made by the individual a program will be assigned by the State.

Reliable Community Care is staying abreast of the mandatory changes to better educate and serve Seniors and others impacted by the new regulations. In operation for 20 years, a proudly woman owned business, Reliable Community Care intends to serve as a source of information and support to care providers, Seniors and family members seeking to learn about their options. We will be conducting several forums to update professionals about these changes. For more information, please call 212-587-1400 ext. 103, or visit us at www.reliablecommunitycare.net.

El Pueblo Americano No Puede Esperar Mas � Tenemos Trabajo Que Hacer

2012-01-19T19:30:09Z

Ha sido un año desde que los republicanos tomaron control del Congreso, sin embargo, el pueblo sigue esperando que el Congreso trabaje con el Presidente Obama para poner millones de personas a trabajar. Hay 13 millones de estadounidenses que están desempleados, incluyendo 2.8 millones de afroamericanos, 2.6 millones de latinos y 514,000 de asiáticos-americanos. Nuestros miembros democráticos están trabajando para asegurar que los recortes de los impuestos para la clase media y los beneficios de desempleo sean extendidos por un año completo.

Al empezar la segunda sesión del Congreso 112, nuestros miembros seguirán luchando contra las pólizas republicanas que protegen a los ricos a costo de la clase media. Líderes demócratas están comprometidos a avanzar las prioridades del pueblo estadounidense – desde la creación de empleos y oportunidades educativas hasta la garantización de cuidado de salud accesible – para que cada estadounidense tenga la oportunidad de alcanzar el sueño americano.

Celebrando Tradiciones �tnicas y Fechas Importantes

2012-01-19T19:27:49Z

Este mes, celebre días festivos y aniversarios importantes con sus constituyentes, incluyendo el Año Nuevo Lunar el 23 de enero y la Ley del Pago Justo de Lilly Ledbetter firmada el 29 de enero. El Año Nuevo Lunar es celebrado por estadounidenses de descendencia china, vietnamita, mongol, coreana y japonesa – en la comunidad china, el año 2012 es celebrado como el Año del Dragón que simboliza poder y riqueza. Y el aniversario de la Ley de Pago Justo de Lilly Ledbetter da otra oportunidad para conectar con mujeres en su distrito, recordándoles de los logros del Congreso 111 para las mujeres americanas.

El Pueblo Americano Trabaja Cuando Todos Tienen Empleos

2011-12-06T16:59:03Z

El pueblo Americano ha puesto su confianza en nuestros líderes para crear empleos y reducir el déficit. En más de 330 días, los republicanos han fallado en presentar un plan de empleos. En vez, el enfoque de ellos sigue en la protección de los más ricos mediante la preservación de los recortes fiscales puestos en marcha bajo la administración Bush. Hoy día existen más de 13 millones de personas desempleadas en nuestro país, incluyendo 2 millones de estadounidenses que no tendrán beneficios de desempleo el próximo febrero a menos que el Congreso actué pronto. Nuestras comunidades minoritarias han recibido un golpe duro durante esta recesión, con tasas de desempleo de 15.5 por ciento entre la comunidad afro-americana, 11.4 por ciento entre los latinos y 6.5 por ciento entre la comunidad asiática. A pesar de todo esto, la mayoría actual continúa empujando una agenda que todavía no incluye un plan de empleos para el pueblo Americano.

Nuestro país ya no puede esperar más. Nosotros, los demócratas, tenemos un plan para crear empleos ahora. Y es tiempo que los republicanos paren de bloquear ese plan.

Marchando Hacia la Igualdad

2011-12-06T16:55:08Z

El mes de diciembre marca el aniversario de dos victorias importantes para el avanzo de los derechos civiles en nuestro país: El 20 de diciembre conmemoramos el fin del boicot de los autobuses en Montgomery, Alabama, dirigido por Rosa Parks hace 46 años; y el 22 de diciembre celebramos el primer aniversario de la póliza, “No Preguntar, No Decir,” firmada en ley por el Presidente Barack Obama. Bajo esta legislación histórica, las fuerzas armadas ya no pueden impedir que las personas abiertamente gay o lesbianas se pongan el uniforme militar y que sirvan en el ejército.

Los demócratas en la Cámara de Representantes están trabajando duro para asegurar que personas de comunidades diversas tengan las oportunidades que necesitan para tener éxito en este país. En los Congresos 110 y 111, la Cámara de Representantes aprobó varias medidas legislativas para mejorar las vidas de millones de estadounidenses – desde proporcionando mejor cuidado de salud y protección para los consumidores hasta asegurando ayuda financiera a través de las Becas Pell para estudiantes universitarios. Ahora, nuestros miembros continúan luchando para las prioridades del pueblo Americano que beneficiarán a cada comunidad.

Guest Blog: World AIDS Day 2011

2011-12-02T15:58:18Z

On December 1, 2011, Congressman Charles Rangel released a statement in recognition of World AIDS Day, which marks the beginning of AIDS Awareness Month. The following article was contributed by Sharen Duke, Executive Director and CEO of AIDS Service Center n New York City.

On the day AIDS Service Center opened our doors we had one grant, three staff, no direct services and borrowed office space. 20 years later, our community includes four service centers, hospital and mental health partnerships, 3,000 clients and 80 Peer Educators who go out every day to find people at risk and help them rebuild their lives.

World AIDS Day is a time to honor the memory of the many individuals no longer with us, a time to reflect on past accomplishments, and also a time to look ahead with determination, tenacity and caring. This is a time to join together, as partners, to prevent, treat, and end AIDS.

Three decades into the AIDS epidemic, we have witnessed tremendous advances in HIV treatment and prevention. People are living longer with the virus; HIV is becoming a chronic illness.

But three decades into the AIDS epidemic, we are also experiencing budget deficits at every level of government, a redefinition of AIDS care as solely medical care -- and a dangerous retrenchment away from innovative community programs that identify new infections and connect people to medical care, and sustain them in health.

Government is seeking to transform our health care delivery system both nationally, through health care reform, and at the state level, through Medicaid redesign. But without community-based interventions, the 20% of Medicaid recipients in New York State who represent 80% of medical costs will never overcome severe health-care disparities.

In our current environment of limited resources and unlimited needs, we need government, medical, pharmaceutical, research, and community partners to cooperate on achieving President Obama’s goal to end AIDS.

We need to transform the current health system, and confront its failure to address the disproportionate impact of AIDS on low income minority communities. While the situation’s a crisis now, it presents an opportunity to intercede with a full range of services that support long-term survival and quality of life. Our work can only be accomplished when we work together to build partnerships that extend resources and meet the needs of our communities.

Working together means valuing and respecting each other’s strengths. It means building more partnerships and extending our resources. Community AIDS organizations have both the street credibility and the experience to engage these “frequent flyers,” who use the ER like a doctor’s office. Community-based AIDS service organizations also make ideal partners to help government and medical providers prevent new infections and connect those diagnosed with quality care.

AIDS Service Center NYC is a proud community partner to President Obama in his determination and declaration that we can, should and will end AIDS in America and the world.

As a community agency in the epicenter of the epidemic, AIDS Service Center provides tailored services in a safe environment, giving people second chances to take charge of their health and reclaim their lives. We cultivate medical partnerships, bringing peer education, food pantry bags and community supports into doctor’s offices. We create "community" for people whose lives are otherwise chaotic and disconnected.

And through our community centers and medical partnerships we help hundreds of individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS feel safe, respected and supported to make healthy changes and positive choices.

Together with our community and medical partners, we can ensure that health care reform guarantees access to quality care in all our communities.

Together, we can support the leadership of our peer educators - role models of self-confidence, recovery and healing - to prevent new infections and help those newly diagnosed.

Together, we can improve the lives of the least fortunate. We can help people recover from addiction, see a doctor, comply with medications, wear a condom, find a home, get a GED, go back to work.

Together, we can help people reconnect with family, society, themselves.

Ways and Means Democrats� eCall to extend Unemployment Insurance

2011-12-01T16:38:04Z

Unemployment benefits are a vital lifeline for American workers who are jobless through no fault of their own. These programs help Americans continue to put food on their table and pay their bills while they look for work.

Federal unemployment programs, which now provide benefits to millions of Americans, will begin to expire at the end of this year. By February 2012, over two million Americans will be cut off from federal unemployment compensation. More than six million will lose support by the end of the 2012 - unless Congress acts to extend these vital benefits.

Economists agree that providing extended unemployment benefits is one of the most effective job creation strategies available during a period of high joblessness. Every dollar of unemployment compensation spent creates $1.61 in additional economic activity. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that allowing these Federal unemployment benefits to expire would hurt consumer demand and thereby cost the U.S. economy 528,000 jobs.

Ways and Means Democrats introduced the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2011 to extend the federal emergency unemployment insurance program past this year end cut off. Congress must act before the holidays so that unemployed workers and their families have the security that the rug is not about to be pulled out from under them and our economy has the confidence that workers will be supported while they look for jobs.

The Committee is interested in hearing your thoughts on extending these benefits and on proposals to create new jobs

Fact Sheet on Expiring Unemployment Benefits

2011-11-22T16:40:25Z

What’s at stake?

Federal unemployment programs will begin to expire at the end of this year. As a result, over 2.1 million Americans are estimated to lose their unemployment benefits by mid-February, and a total of over 6 million will lose benefits next year unless Congress acts.

How will the expiration occur?

There are nearly 3 million people receiving Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) and over 500,000 individuals receiving Extended Benefits (EB).

The EUC program expires at the end of the year, meaning no new entrants are permitted in the program after December 31st and existing claimants may only finish their current tier of benefits. EUC has four tiers of benefits: 20 weeks (in every State); 14 weeks (in every State); 13 weeks (in States with at least 6% unemployment); and 6 weeks (in States with at least 8.5% unemployment). (1)

While the EB program is permanent, it too will discontinue in nearly every State near the end of the year because temporary provisions allowing States to access the program are expiring then. The EB program has two tiers: 13 weeks (in States with at least 6.5% unemployment); and 7 weeks (in States with at least 8% unemployment). The expiration of EB benefits is immediate, meaning claimants may not complete their current tier of benefits. (2,3)

What’s the potential impact on the economy?

The Economic Policy Institute estimates that allowing these Federal unemployment benefits to expire would hurt consumer demand and thereby cost the U.S. economy 528,000 jobs.

The Congressional Budget Office has indicated that providing extended unemployment benefits is one of the most effective job creation strategies available during a period of high joblessness, stating “Households receiving unemployment benefits tend to spend the additional benefits quickly, making this option both timely and cost-effective in spurring economic activity and employment.”

Has the Federal government ever allowed extended benefits to expire when unemployment is this high?

No, the Federal government has never allowed emergency extended benefits to expire when the jobless rate has been anywhere close to its current level of 9.1 percent. In fact, Congress has never allowed an emergency unemployment program to end when the unemployment rate is higher than 7.2 percent.

Why do so many Americans depend on these benefits?

There are still roughly 7 million fewer jobs in the economy today than when the “Great Recession” started in December of 2007.

This jobs deficit has left over 4.3 unemployed workers for every available job.

Are the unemployed looking for work?

Yes, Americans receiving unemployment insurance are required to actively look for and accept work, and they have ample incentive to do so given that the average unemployment benefit ($300 a week) only reaches 70% of the poverty line for a family of four.

The Wall Street Journal reported in April that “roughly 1 million people in the U.S. were unable to find work after exhausting their unemployment benefits over the past year.” This clearly shows that unemployment benefits are not what is deterring people from returning to work.

What impact do unemployment benefits have on reducing hardship?

The U.S. Census Bureau found that unemployment benefits prevented 3.2 million individuals, including nearly 1 million children living with an unemployed parent, from falling into poverty in 2010.

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(1) In States that have reduced maximum regular unemployment benefits below 26 weeks (AR, MO, SC, and next year FL, IL and MI) EUC benefits will be lower than these amounts given that EUC is proportional to regular benefits.
(2) In States that have reduced maximum regular unemployment benefits below 26 weeks (AR, MO, SC, and next year FL, IL and MI) EB benefits will be lower than these amounts given that EB (like EUC) is proportional to regular benefits.
(3) States have different time frames for terminating EB, although most end in early January.

GOP's Tax Plan: Cut for Wealthy, Hike on Middle Class

2011-11-21T15:29:58Z

The following Joint Committee on Taxation analysis provides a detailed distributional breakdown of many of the largest tax expenditures:

Employer provided health benefits and deduction for self-employed health (2011 rates and incomes)

Below $100,000: 46%
$100,000-$200,000: 35%
$200,000 and above: 19%

Mortgage interest deduction

Below $100,000: 31%
$100,000-$200,000: 39%
$200,000 and above: 30%

State and local income, sales and personal property tax deductions

Below $100,000: 19%
$100,000-$200,000: 31%
$200,000 and above: 50%

Charitable contributions deduction

Below $100,000: 19%
$100,000-$200,000: 26%
$200,000 and above: 55%

Earned income credit

Below $100,000: 100%
$100,000-$200,000: 0%
$200,000 and above: 0%

Child tax credit

Below $100,000: 90%
$100,000-$200,000: 10%
$200,000 and above: 0%

Education Credits

Below $100,000: 81%
$100,000-$200,000: 19%
$200,000 and above: 0%

Long-term capital gains
(2011 rates and incomes)

Below $100,000: 5%
$100,000-$200,000: 7%
$200,000-$500,000: 9%
$500,000-$1 million: 8%
$1million-plus: 71%

Qualified Dividends
(2011 rates and incomes)

Below $100,000: 17%
$100,000-$200,000: 18%
$200,000-$500,000: 13%
$500,000-$1 million: 10%
$1million-plus: 41%