Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel, who represented New York's Harlem neighborhood for nearly a half century and helped cofound the Congressional Black Caucus, has died at the age of 94.

Rangel, a Democrat, was a fixture in Congress from 1971 through 2017, where he rose to become the chairman of a powerful House panel responsible for writing the nation's tax laws.

He was also a two-term New York state assemblyman, Korean War veteran and the final surviving member of Harlem's "gang of four." The coalition of political leaders also included former New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson, former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, and Percy Sutton, a lawyer and civil rights activist.

New York leaders paid tribute to Rangel in statements, including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who said, "I am so sad to lose a dear friend and exemplary model of devotion and courage."

"My prayers are with his family, Harlem, and all who knew him. Rest in power, my friend, and I hope you and Alma are together once again," Adams added, referring to Rangel's wife of 60 years, who died in 2024.

In a statement, Reverend Al Sharpton recalled how he first met Rangel as a teenage and that "for over fifty years, he remained a constant presence in my life and in the fight for our community."

"Rest in peace to Congressman Rangel," Sharpton wrote, "he earned his place in history, I thank him."

A historic political career

Rangel first won his seat by defeating then-congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

In his first term in Washington, Rangel became one of 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Then in 2007, he became the first Black chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He was a key player in helping advance former President Barack Obama's legislative agenda, including health care reforms.

Rangel faced an ethics scandal in 2010 that blighted his lengthy career. A House panel found him guilty on 11 charges related to failure to pay his taxes, violations of congressional gift rules, and more. He was forced to give up his committee chair gavel and was formally censured by the lower chamber.

The Harlem representative concluded his time in Congress in 2017, after 23 terms. Rangel was the 10th-longest-serving U.S. House member in history

Rangel told USA TODAY in 2016, as Obama was preparing to give his final State of the Union address, that there was still progress to be made in terms of closing the country's racial divide.

"The obstacles they have put in this president's way means that we've got to do better than just electing a Black person as president," he said. "We've got a big job to do to turn this country around."

(This story has been updated to change a video and to add new information.)

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlie Rangel, Harlem's fixture in Congress for decades, dies at 94

Reporting by Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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