Quotes from 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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

Manufactured scandals prohibit public servants from doing the job they were elected or appointed to do.

This country was founded upon the principle that we are all endowed with certain inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness - those rights are what make America great, and they belong to each and every one of us.

Reapportionment is not friendly to a lot of communities and it hasn't been too friendly to mine.

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.

In various fields, such as science, technology, sports, business and the arts, immigrants enrich our culture every single day.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Not having insurance not only destroys your life, it destroys your fiscal life. It breaks up marriages. You cannot functions anywhere unless you have good health.

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.

No one looks forward to a recount.

We can't have Harlem become one borough for the rich.