Latest news with #G.I.Bill
CNBC
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Charles Rangel, former longtime N.Y. congressman who represented Harlem, dies at 94
Charles Rangel, the Democratic former congressman from New York who championed his Harlem community on Capitol Hill for almost five decades, died Monday, his family said. He was 94. City College of New York spokesperson Michelle Stent confirmed Rangel's death in a statement, saying he died at a hospital in New York. Politicians and supporters remembered Rangel, known as Charlie, for his years in public service and deep roots in New York City. He was born in Harlem and was first elected to Congress in 1970, representing a congressional district that was first drawn up in the 1940s and allowed the neighborhood's majority Black voters to send one of their own to Washington. Rangel served for so long that he earned the nickname the "Lion of Lenox Avenue," referring to one of Harlem's primary corridors. "Charlie Rangel was a great man, a great friend, and someone who never stopped fighting for his constituents and the best of America," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday on X. "The list of his accomplishments could take pages, but he leaves the world a much better place than he found it." New York Mayor Eric Adams said on X that he was "sad to lose a dear friend and exemplary model of devotion and courage." The Rev. Al Sharpton called Rangel a "trailblazing legislator and an unshakable force in American politics." Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also honored Rangel as his "mentor and friend." "He had that Harlem fire in his heart and a joy in his soul that no battle could extinguish," Cuomo said in a statement, adding that "he never forgot where he came from." Rangel, a veteran of the Korean War, was a high school dropout but eventually went to college on the G.I. Bill, getting degrees from New York University and St. John's University Law School. In 1970, he defeated legendary Harlem politician Adam Clayton Powell to start his congressional career. During the next 40-plus years, he became a legend himself — a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, dean of the New York congressional delegation and, in 2007, the first Black chair of the influential Ways and Means Committee. "I have always been committed to fighting for the little guy," Rangel said in 2012. Two years earlier, he had stepped down from the Ways and Means Committee amid an ethics cloud. The House would later censure him in a 333-79 vote, citing nearly a dozen ethics violations that included breaching a gifts ban, improper use of influence and failure to disclose income. After the censure, Rangel rose before his colleagues in sorrow. "I know in my heart I am not going to be judged by this Congress," he said. "I'll be judged by my life in its entirety." Rangel remained in Congress and won the 2012 primary. His Harlem district overwhelmingly voted him in again as Barack Obama won a second presidential term. Despite the political stain later in his career, his time in Congress was exceedingly busy. According to the City College statement, Rangel sponsored 40 bills and resolutions that became law. His significant legislative accomplishments include championing the national Empowerment Zone program, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Affordable Care Act, which Obama signed into law in 2010. Rangel was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee when the Affordable Care Act was being heavily debated in Congress, and he was under pressure from the ethics investigations. In a 2009 interview with Time, he was defiant when he was asked about his legacy. "Well, as Rhett Butler once said in 'Gone With the Wind,' if I'm gone, quite frankly, I don't give a damn," he told the magazine. Rangel served in Congress until 2017, when he retired. He lamented to The New York Times in 2016, when his eventual successor, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, was poised to become the first Dominican American elected to Congress, that he feared that meant his Harlem district would no longer have a Black representative. "Can you tell the people in Boston that some day you won't have an Irish congressman?" Rangel said. Rangel was the last surviving member of the so-called Gang of Four — a group of Black political figures who wielded great power in city and state politics. The others were David Dinkins, New York's first Black mayor; Percy Sutton, who was Manhattan Borough president; and Basil Paterson, a deputy mayor and New York secretary of state. The Congressional Black Caucus said in a statement Monday that its 61 members were mourning the loss of Rangel. "His legacy is one of tireless advocacy, historic firsts, and dedication to justice and equality," the caucus said. "May he rest in power and everlasting peace." Rangel is preceded in death by his wife, Alma, a social worker whom he met in a Harlem ballroom in the 1950s; she died in 2024. The couple shared two children.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mortgage on fallen Lorena Marine's family home paid
Lorena, Tx (FOX 44) – In observance of Memorial Day, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation has fully paid the mortgage on the Lorena home of fallen USMC Gunnery Sergeant John Fry's family. The announcement of the gift noted that Gunnery Sergeant Fry's dedication to service began as a high school senior when he witnessed his older brother's Marine Corps boot camp graduation. Inspired, he enlisted in 1995 and became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was killed on March 8, 2006, while attempting to disarm a bomb in Iraq's Anbar province. He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Malia, and their three children: Kathryn, Gideon, and C.L. Following his passing, Malia spearheaded the creation of the Fry Scholarship, which expanded the G.I. Bill to provide education benefits for the children of all fallen service members. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation's Gold Star Family Home Program honors the legacy of those who died while serving their country by providing surviving spouses and young children with mortgage-free homes or paying off their mortgages. 'Education and his children being able to go to college was so important to John,' said Malia, who added, 'My children, who are all in college or have graduated, are his legacy and honor him every day.' 'This Memorial Day, we remember the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country,' said Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller. 'By lifting the burden of a mortgage from Gunnery Sergeant John Fry's family, we send a strong message—his sacrifice will never be forgotten.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
19-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: National cemeteries are hallowed ground. They face a threat to their survival
The National Cemetery Administration manages 156 cemeteries with more than 4 million graves. It has more than 1,000 employees assisted by tens of thousands of hours of volunteer service each year. Burials are conducted by these volunteers in full dress uniforms. I have two relatives from the World War II generation buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and last year, a close friend of 70 years was laid to rest at the National Cemetery in Dixon. Like many Vietnam veterans, my friend had battled cancer from exposure to Agent Orange. After his service, he used the G.I. Bill to earn a doctorate in astrophysics and taught at a university for three decades. I encourage everyone to visit one of these sacred places and walk among the white marble headstones. Each tells a story — name, rank, service, sometimes a religious symbol or a few words of farewell. They reflect a deeply human chapter of our nation's history. My friend's headstone reads ' sic itur astra,' Latin for 'reach for the stars.' The National Cemetery Administration and the Veterans Affairs Department face deep funding cuts. We owe it to all our veterans to ensure they receive the respect, care and dignity they have earned. Eric Peterson, Santa Rosa Don't raise dam Regarding 'California's largest reservoir could see controversial dam enlargement under Trump' (California, May 12): It's incumbent to recognize that the area near Shasta Dam was brutally stolen from the indigenous Winnemem Wintu beginning in the 1850s. This area's elected white representatives are not satisfied with the ethnic/cultural genocide that's already taken place; rather, their goal is total eradication of a crucial piece of California history, all to profit the nut agribusiness hundreds of miles away. Supporting this trade-off is a clear demonstration of our skewed capitalistic sense of priorities that ignore science as well as morality. As always, we need to envision how we would respond if the situation was reversed. Take the slow lane Regarding 'A Zoox and an e-bike collided in S.F. Here's what it says about robotaxi safety' (Tech, May 13): These accidents were mostly caused by humans and raise an issue that was developing before driverless taxis hit the streets. Motorized bicycles, scooters and even skateboards can now exceed the speed limit on many city streets. Their newfound speed has not changed old habits. Most bicyclists seldom if ever consider red lights, stop signs or pedestrians as anything more than challenges to navigate without slowing down. They ride on pedestrian walkways, bike lanes and automobile traffic lanes. These riders' cousins on scooters and skateboards have followed suit, scoffing at traffic laws and courtesy. Now, however, they can go as fast as the cars and trucks. The state should consider forcing skateboarders and riders of scooters and e-bikes to pass the same types of driving tests as the rest of us. If a skateboarder hits a frail pedestrian, it can be just as deadly as a truck. I drive in traffic amid countless driverless taxis in the city. I worry about them far less than the humans. Patrick W. Andersen, San Francisco Acting inspirational I acted in some plays in high school and was amazed by the level of fluency I found onstage. To this day, whenever I have to give presentations in front of large audiences, I pretend that I am acting in a movie and I am totally fluent. The website of the Stuttering Foundation has a biographical story on actor Bruce Willis that describes how he stuttered for the first 20 years of his life until he enrolled in the drama program in college. Acting and speech therapy led him to fluency and a brilliant career.
Los Angeles Times
18-05-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Education is a right, has America done enough to make it one?
When nearly 40% of high school graduates from the wealthiest nation in the world don't pursue college, the question arises: What are we doing to ensure that education is a right for all, not a privilege for a few? Financial barriers are the largest obstacle to accessing higher education in America. A study from 2023 found that 55% of adults without a college degree cited program cost as the top reason for not enrolling. To understand why so many young people are left behind, we must look at the history of higher education in the United States. American colleges originated as a privilege reserved for wealthy white men. In the early 17th century, institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton were founded to train future clergy and civil leaders and were not meant to serve the general public. But change began in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. The G.I. Bill, passed in 1944, represented a turning point in education by granting lower socioeconomic groups with funds for education and loans. For the first time, individuals from working-class backgrounds, rural areas, inner cities, and first-generation immigrant families could pursue doors to education that were previously closed. The reality of financial aid being an important asset to many high school seniors is echoed by Esha Wooten, a graduate of Penn Foster College. 'Without the financial aid provided as a result of filling out a FAFSA year after year, I wouldn't be a senior in college right now,' she said. More financial aid and scholarships for education have become available today through federal programs such as the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Pell Grants. Yet, despite these changes, the vision of education as a universal right remains only partially fulfilled in America. Recent data emphasizes the persistent crisis of pursuing higher education. College enrollments declined by 5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, with four-year colleges seeing drops of over 6%. Moreover, in 2023, 89% of students from top quintile families — the highest-earning 20% of households — attended college, while just 64% of students from middle quintile families and 51% from lower quintile families did the same. This trend is supported by the fact that students in the top socioeconomic quintile are three times more likely to enroll in a four-year institution than those from the lowest quintile, despite similar academic preparation. These data reveal the ugly truth: socioeconomic differences play a major role in deciding who gets to pursue higher education. While America has shifted to provide more opportunities for higher education, equity in educational pursuit has still not been met. To make education a right for all, we must focus on better affordability. This means reforming financial aid systems, such as increasing funding for need-based financial aid programs and even simplifying processes like FAFSA applications to make them more accessible. If we are serious about advancing the promise of higher education, we must take immediate action to make it fair. America can no longer afford to deny the next generation the education they deserve: education is a right, and more needs to be done to make it one. Related
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vietnam veteran proves it's never too late for education as he prepares to receive his Master's from ASU
The Brief Wayne Johnson, a 77-year-old Vietnam veteran, will be receiving his Master's degree in international affairs and leadership from ASU. After starting his studies as a hobby, he encourages everyone to, "find something to do besides vegetate." He says it's never too late to pursue an education. TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University graduations are continuing through the week, and one graduate is proving it's never too late to get a degree. On May 16, 77-year-old Vietnam veteran Wayne Johnson will be walking across the stage at ASU, earning his Master's in international affairs and leadership. This comes many years after earning his bachelor's degree. "I used the G.I. Bill, got my degree in international business, that was in '73," said Johnson. What we know Fast-forward to 2020, and Wayne and his wife Bonnie were watching TV during COVID. An ambassador came on and was talking about the degree, and from that moment, he was inspired. He registered for the online program and is now graduating. What they're saying "When I started this, it was a lark, a doors open, I'll go through," he said. Although unsure where this degree will lead him, Wayne is hoping to be proof that you're never too old and it's never too late. "The more you involve yourself, the better off you are," Johnson said. "Go out and find something. It doesn't have to be college. Find something to do besides vegetate." Wayne wasn't able to walk at his first graduation because he was moving, so this is one he said he couldn't miss. "Had to be here. I've waited for this my whole life. How many more chances am I going to get?" he said. He and his wife Bonnie will be heading back home to Houston after graduation.
