Overview

• Rangel passed away on May 26, 2025, at age 94, prompting renewed appreciation for his four-decade impact on Harlem and national politics.
• He represented Harlem in the U.S. House for 46 years, succeeding Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and cofounding the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971.
• As chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, he authored major tax reforms, championed healthcare measures and pressed economic sanctions against apartheid South Africa.
• He prioritized constituents over party loyalty by endorsing Republican John Lindsay in 1969 and publicly challenging President Bill Clinton’s 1993 retaliatory strikes.
• Despite a 2010 censure over ethics violations, Rangel retained his dignity on the House floor and continued mentoring emerging political leaders until his retirement.