Charles Bernard Rangel Quotes

The United States is historically a nation of immigrants.

Encouragement of higher education for our youth is critical to the success of our collective future.

I don't know whether the number of any particular Latino group has made or will make any particular difference in the issues that I am concerned with.

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.

I still remember March 31, 1981, when a deeply disturbed John Hinckley Jr. took aim at President Ronald Reagan and fired shots that hospitalized the Commander-in-Chief and two others, and left his Press Secretary James Brady paralyzed for life.

The world has placed chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in a separate category because their use constitutes a crime against all humanity.

Our nation has come so far since 1968 when Dr. King was assassinated, but I know we can do better to achieve The Dream, and that is why I keep marching on.

What are we Democrats fighting for? We are not fighting for salvation and going to heaven. But we are fighting for Medicaid, Medicare, health care, education, jobs, helping old folks.

The challenges African-Americans are facing today are rooted in the system of slavery.

The Iraq war took priority over domestic disaster prevention.

Liberty and security are often in direct confrontation and must be balanced in a way that protects us without destroying what is worth protecting.

As a high school dropout, I understand the value of education: A second chance at obtaining my high school diploma through the G.I. Bill led me to attend college and law school and allowed me the opportunity to serve in Congress.

After the threat of war is gone, we should not turn our backs on the men and women who eliminated that threat. We should embrace them and keep our promises we made to them.

I am proud to represent New York's 13th Congressional District, which has one of the largest and diverse populations in the country.

Full participation in government and society has been a basic right of the country symbolizing the full citizenship and equal protection of all.

My father was absolutely no good.

For a member to say, 'I'm a lame duck' violates political science 101.

Thousands of people may have been killed by hurricane Katrina and many more could die in its aftermath because of the President's refusal to heed the calls of governors for help in repairing the infrastructure in their states.

In the battle of Kunu-ri, more than 5,000 American soldiers were killed, wounded or taken as prisoners of war. Ninety percent of my unit was killed.

No one looks forward to a recount.

The promise of the American Dream requires that we are all provided an equal opportunity to participate in and contribute to our nation.

Meanwhile, our young men and women whose economic circumstances make military service a viable career choice are dying bravely in a war with no end in sight.

By requiring all 30 million Americans age 18 to 25 to perform two years of national service, in the military or civilian life, we will be asking for a shared sacrifice from all American citizens.

As a nation we should commit ourselves not only to the fight against terrorism, but to economic justice, defeat of the AIDS epidemic and vestiges of discriminatory policies of all kinds.

The victor will be the one who gets the most voters out.

I, for one, would think both about how far we have come as a country and how much further we need to go to erase racism and discrimination from our society.

When thousands of men and women work full time but need food stamps to put food on their tables, when they can't get health benefits, when they can't get paid sick days, then we must do whatever we can to stand up for them.

We must urge a national dialogue on better methods of curbing preventable gun violence, and address the need for mental health awareness and access to psychiatric services in this country.

I feel terrific.

The Affordable Care Act has been designed to provide health security by driving competition, lowering premiums, and protecting families.

I've been beat up pretty badly. Pretty badly. Yet at the end of the day, everyone says I'm doing a pretty good job.

I am running for re-election no matter who runs.

We don't windsurf in Harlem.

Since the enactment of the War Powers Act in 1973, which I supported then and support now, Congress has been reluctant to assert its authority when presidents decide to send American soldiers into harm's way.

From leading the world into the age of democracy to spearheading the technological revolution, America has always been at the forefront of greatness.

It is without doubt that freedoms of the press and speech need to be protected, but there are undisputed limits to these freedoms, limits that often come into play when national security is threatened.

I think that, as Americans, we should never forget that when we tamper with freedom of speech, it is a very sensitive issue that affects all of our constitutional rights and privileges.

As a Korean War Veteran, I know too well the troubling nature of war. This is why I will always support a diplomatic answer before military intervention.

We all want a simpler code, but tax reform is about much more. It is about ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. The tax code is also used to promote behavior that we as a nation support, such as home ownership or charitable contributions.

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.

As a Korean War veteran, I know firsthand and understand the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform.

I have a record that I'm so very, very proud of, and no campaign is going to take that away.

It's morally wrong, and economically self-defeating, that so much wealth flows upwards towards the richest of Americans, while millions work full time but still can't provide for their families.

To honor the legacy of veterans and the democratic principles they fought for, I am glad that I introduced the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act which was enacted in 2009.

I don't want to respond to rumors that have no basis at all... But I am willing to respond to questions that the public and the press should know.

Since coming to Congress in 1971, I have been fighting to help create an environment where the goals of the National Work and the Family Month can become a reality.

As the wealthiest nation on Earth, we have made a commitment to provide health care for those over 65. In order to pay for this, each of us should contribute the same, flat percentage of our earned income.

Those of us in the Congress must confront and overcome Republican intransigence to increasing the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance and protecting food stamps.

I really think that most people around the world know how well-intended Americans are.

The right to vote should be considered sacred in our democracy.