Rangel, Charles Bernard

Rangel, Charles Bernard (răng'gul) [key], 1930–, U.S. congressman, b. New York City. Receiving his law degree from St. John's Univ. in 1960, Rangel served in the New York state assembly (1966–70) before defeating (1970) fellow Democrat Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. to win his first term as U.S. representative for New York City's Harlem. A member (1975–) of the House ways and means committee, he became its chairman in 2007. He also was chairman (1983–93) of the former select committee on narcotics. Rangel has worked to improve affirmative action and to combat international drug trafficking, adamantly opposing narcotics legalization.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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