Charles B. Rangel Quotes

United States, Politician
June 11, 1930

Charles Bernard Rangel is an American politician who was a U.S. Representative for districts in New York from 1971 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the second-longest serving incumbent member of the House of Representatives at the time of his retirement, serving continuously since 1971. As its most senior member, he was also the Dean of New York's congressional delegation. Rangel was the first African-American Chair of the influential House Ways and Means Committee. He is also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Since we replaced the compulsory military draft with an all-volunteer force in 1973, our nation has been making decisions about wars without worry over who fights them. I sincerely believe that reinstating the draft would compel the American public to have a stake in the wars we fight as a nation.
Charles B. Rangel
- Believe
- American
- Worry
The War Powers Act requires presidents to seek the consent of the American people, through their representatives, before sending our troops into war. It is the responsibility of Congress to deliberate and consult with the executive branch before involving ourselves in a military conflict.
Charles B. Rangel
- People
- American
- War

If you are spending too much, you cut back on spending and you raise your revenues. And that's it.
Charles B. Rangel
No one looks forward to a recount.
Charles B. Rangel
There were no weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein was not involved in the September 11th attack.
Charles B. Rangel
- September
At least 23,000 civilians have also died in the Iraqi killing field and the U.S. is stuck in a quagmire.
Charles B. Rangel
I didn't ever want to leave Manhattan. I have an abnormal fixation.
Charles B. Rangel
As every American who has ever received a paycheck is aware, the amount of money earned and the amount actually brought home are not the same.
Charles B. Rangel
- Money
- Home
- American

The President is destroying the fabric of America with a combined policy of war, tax cuts for the wealthy, and reductions in spending for domestic needs.
Charles B. Rangel
- America
- War
We owe it to the flood victims of New Orleans to give them truthful answers as to why this event took place and to assure our citizens that tragedies like this will never happen again.
Charles B. Rangel
- Why
As a veteran, I know firsthand the satisfaction there is in defending the democracy you so strongly believe in, but I can also attest to the trauma encountered from combat on the battlefield.
Charles B. Rangel
If we believe in our current penal process, then the penalties imposed by judges and juries should be the only sanctions for one's crime, not the invisible sanctions of the legislature.
Charles B. Rangel
- Believe
The people who couldn't get out of New Orleans to escape the storm were predominantly Black.
Charles B. Rangel
- People
- Black
- Storm
I am struck by how casually we as a nation react to the carnage in Iraq.
Charles B. Rangel

Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.
Charles B. Rangel
- Military