Charles Rangel: “I rise in opposition because I'm supporting the spirit and the rule. Let me make some things abundantly clear that this…”

“I rise in opposition because I'm supporting the spirit and the rule. Let me make some things abundantly clear that this would not only not violate the spirit in which we are doing this, but 60 years ago Charles Rangel was a high school dropout on the streets of Lenox Avenue, and the only thing that brings him to this Congress is the G.I. Bill. And in my community, where only four out of 10 kids manage to finish high school, I've devoted my entire life in working with the public and private sector in trying to keep our kids in school, and giving them the opportunity to get an education. The days that we think that education is a local issue are over. As we move toward globalization, it is going to be far more important for every young person, every person in this country to be exposed, to get the education, and to compete. This is not a question of Federal funds being used to start anything. The City University came and asked would I start a drive to raise the money, which they already raised $25 million, in order to do this. And all the office things that you're talking about, when you talk about archives, it means after I leave here. And I do hope that there would be an office there, as we bring people in to encourage people to get an education, to go into public service. I cannot think of anything that I am more proud of. I wish we had more of this type of thing.”