A greater tax deduction for students is not a handout. On the contrary, it helps those who are willing to meet the challenges of higher education to invest in our collective future.

There were no weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein was not involved in the September 11th attack.

Under Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq possessed and used chemical weapons against both their own Kurdish population and Iranian military forces.

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.

Dr. King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech was delivered at 'The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,' a call to justice beyond the traditional civil rights movement's focus.

I applaud President Obama for launching his 'My Brother's Keeper' initiative that is aimed to empower our youth to achieve success.

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.

I am a firm believer that upon release, ex-offenders should be afforded a second chance to become productive citizens by providing rehabilitation and education that will help them join the workforce.

Since January 2003, at the height of the debate on the possible unilateral strike against Iraq, I have advocated for a reinstatement of the military draft to ensure a more equitable representation of people making sacrifices in wars in which the United States is engaged.

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.

As a member of Congress, I believe Congress must provide oversight of actions by the Executive Branch as our system of checks and balances requires.

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

Without question, conditions in the Haiti are worse since Aristide's removal, and continue to deteriorate.

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.

The Iraq war took priority over domestic disaster prevention.

At least 23,000 civilians have also died in the Iraqi killing field and the U.S. is stuck in a quagmire.

I am struck by how casually we as a nation react to the carnage in Iraq.

Today many Caribbean workers can be found in the hospital, construction, service and hotel industries, but there is also a growing professional sector.

The United States is historically a nation of immigrants.

The people who couldn't get out of New Orleans to escape the storm were predominantly Black.

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

Now is the time for the U.S. and the nations of Western Europe who engaged in the slave trade throughout this hemisphere to come forward in a positive way to assist in undoing the harm that was caused by their past colonial policies in the hemisphere.

Regardless of the nature of their crime or any rehabilitation that may have occurred, these ex-felons cannot participate in the decision-making process of this great Nation.

Hurricane season routinely strikes the Caribbean harder than the U.S.

We love the ability of the people to influence the actions of decision-makers, of lawmakers and presidents to be removed from or elevated to office by the will of voters, and of the community to connect amongst diverse populations through the ballot box.

I'm in the kitchen and I'm not walking out.

If you are spending too much, you cut back on spending and you raise your revenues. And that's it.

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.

If you got problems like unemployment, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and there's a guy that's always been there for you and for your family, then you say 'He's a nice guy. I don't know where he came from or how long he's been here, but Charlie Rangel's the man.' That's what I'm relying on.

No one looks forward to a recount.

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

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

My father was absolutely no good.

If there's no relationship with a father who's absent, nobody talks about it.

Of course things get stagnant; people get too used to their environment, but that's why I'm in my district every week, at meetings with my constituents.

I'm just glad that my community has faith and confidence in me.

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

I feel terrific.

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

I didn't ever want to leave Manhattan. I have an abnormal fixation.

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

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.

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.

America's legacy has been crafted by generations of hard-working men and women who moved to the United States from all over the globe to pursue their dreams.

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

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

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.

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

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