[BwayDems] Letter from Congressman Rangel

[Paula Diamond Roman]

Congressman Charles B. Rangel 
PO Box 5577 • Manhattanville Station , New York , NY 10027 
www.CharlieRangel.org 
  
Dear Broadway Democrat: 
  
Once again, I am asking for your vote in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, September14th. I am proud to have been rated one of the hardest working congressman, and the #1 legislator among the 435 Members in the House of Representatives for passing the most number of bills in 2009 - 2010. I look forward to continuing to work with President Obama and Speaker Pelosi against Republican intransigence that offers no policy prescriptions other than to say no. 
  
You have my commitment that I will continue to work for policies that benefit our community like creating jobs, preserving affordable housing, providing access to health care, protecting Social Security and Medicare, reforming our immigration system to provide a path to citizenship for so many in our district and preventing the layoff of teachers, police, firemen, as well as the preserving of our social safety net. As a combat veteran who knows firsthand the horrors of war, I will remain the strongest voice in the Congress against the destructive wars that for a decade have not only left so many of our brave military personnel dead and wounded, but sapped our ability to secure economic and social justice at home. 
  
Beyond our achievements in Washington for our country as a whole, I have fought alongside with you to preserve our community on the Upper West Side, Manhattan Valley , and Morningside Heights . In the past few years alone, this includes: 
  
• Working to preserve the affordability of Trinity House 
• Providing vital funds for the MTA from the stimulus to rebuild the 1-2-3 train station at 96th and Broadway 
• Preserving Section 8 buildings on 107th Street and 109th Street 
• Providing funds for the Ryan Center for community access to health care 
• Enacting the federalization of NYCHA developments like Wise Towers , steering a stream of federal dollars to the development 
• Working with the residents to improve conditions at Frederick Douglass and Grant Houses 
• $300 million in stimulus funding for creating and preserving job initiatives 
  
I urge you to go to my website -- CharlieRangel.org -- for a far longer list of accomplishments I am proud to have been able to deliver for my district, something made possible by my experience, the respect I share with my colleagues and the knowledge that my constituents stand with me in these fights. 
  
Nationally, my committee was the first to report out the President’s historic health care reform legislation and actually shaped the bill that eventually became law. It is already beginning to provide health insurance for millions of previously uninsured Americans, making health care aright for all rather than a privilege. 
  
We further joined hands with President Obama to boost employment across the nation and in New York City . That initiative provided $25 billion in Recovery Zone Bonds for New York City alone and won bi-partisan praise, including from Mayor Bloomberg, for rescuing thousands of jobs that otherwise would have been lost. This summer, we enacted a crucial $30 billion jobs program that prevented massive layoffs of teachers, firefighters and police officers. More than 500 teachers’ jobs in Upper Manhattan alone were saved. 
  
Far more than a jobs bill, this infusion of funds kept thousands of small businesses alive and enabled them to keep their own employees on the payroll. This, in turn, put more money into circulation to keep the economy going. The ultimate beneficiaries were workers and their families. 
  
This has been a difficult time as well for me, as you no doubt are aware of. When allegations were made about my activities in the press, I asked the House Ethics Committee to look into the matters. But it is important to me that you know that the Committee found what I know to be true-- none of those activities, even where they allegedly involved violations of the rules, involved personal benefit to me or my family, and I did not violate the public trust you have honored me with. I look forward to the opportunity to put the full facts before my colleagues, and more importantly, you my constituents. 
  
In our district, winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to election and that is why I am seeking your support to return to Washington . None of the people challenging me can come close to matching my experience, knowledge or dedication to the people of the 15th District. You have my commitment to return renewed to join President Obama and Speaker Pelosi to fight for what is right -- for our district, our city and the country we love. 
  
Sincerely, 
Charles B. Rangel


      
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