IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1460 

Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 

Mr. BOEHNER submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the table 

RESOLUTION 

Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 

Whereas the gentleman from New York, Charles B. Rangel, 

serves as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, a position of considerable power and influence 

within the House of Representatives; 

Whereas the Committee on Ways and Means has jurisdiction 

over the United States Tax Code; 

Whereas The New York Times reported on September 5, 

2008, that, ‘‘Representative Charles B. Rangel has 

earned more than $75,000 in rental income from a villa 

he has owned in the Dominican Republic since 1988, but 

never reported it on his Federal or State tax returns, according to a lawyer for the congressman and documents 

from the resort’’; 

Whereas in an article in the September 5, 2008, edition of 

The New York Times, his attorney confirmed that Repmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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•HRES 1460 LTH 

resentative Rangel’s annual congressional Financial Disclosure statements failed to disclose the rental income 

from his resort villa; 

Whereas The New York Times reported on September 6, 

2008, that, ‘‘Representative Charles B. Rangel paid no 

interest for more than a decade on a mortgage extended 

to him to buy a villa at a beachfront resort in the Dominican Republic, according to Mr. Rangel’s lawyer and 

records from the resort. The loan, which was extended to 

Mr. Rangel in 1988, was originally to be paid back over 

seven years at a rate of 10.5 percent. But within two 

years, interest on the loan was waived for Mr. Rangel.’’; 

Whereas clause 5(a)(2)(A) of Rule 25 of the Rules of the 

House defines a gift as, ‘‘* * * a gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or 

other item having monetary value’’ and prohibits the acceptance of such gifts except in limited circumstances; 

Whereas Representative Rangel’s acceptance of thousands of 

dollars in interest forgiveness is a violation of the House 

gift ban; 

Whereas Representative Rangel’s failure to disclose the aforementioned gifts and income on his Personal Financial 

Disclosure Statements violates House rules and Federal 

law; 

Whereas Roll Call newspaper reported on September 15, 

2008, that, ‘‘The inconsistent reports are among myriad 

errors, discrepancies and unexplained entries on Rangel’s 

personal disclosure forms over the past eight years that 

make it almost impossible to get a clear picture of the 

Ways and Means chairman’s financial dealings.’’; 

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Whereas Representative Rangel’s failure to report the aforementioned gifts and income on Federal, State and local 

tax returns is a violation of the tax laws of those jurisdictions; 

Whereas disclosure of these improper acts follows an announcement on July 31, 2008, by the House Committee 

on Standards of Official Conduct that it is reviewing unrelated allegations that Representative Rangel has violated House gift rules, financial disclosure regulations 

and rules barring the use of official resources to solicit 

funds for private ventures; 

Whereas an editorial in The New York Times on September 

15, 2008, stated, ‘‘Mounting embarrassment for taxpayers and Congress makes it imperative that Representative Charles Rangel step aside as chairman of the Ways 

and Means Committee while his ethical problems are investigated.’’; 

Whereas clause 1 of rule XXXIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives provides, ‘‘A Member, Delegate, Resident Commission, officer, or employee of the House shall 

conduct himself at all times in a manner that shall reflect 

creditably on the House’’; and 

Whereas on May 24, 2006, Speaker Nancy Pelosi cited ‘‘high 

ethical standards’’ in a letter to Representative William 

Jefferson asking that he resign his seat on the Committee on Ways and Means in light of ongoing investigations into alleged financial impropriety by Representative 

Jefferson: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) pursuant to its authority under clause 

3 3(a)(2) of House Rule XI, the Committee on Standmstockstill on PROD1PC66 with BILLS

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1 ards of Official Conduct, within 10 days of adoption 

2 of this resolution, shall establish an Investigative 

3 Subcommittee in the matter of Representative 

4 Charles B. Rangel or report to the House the rea5 sons for its failure to do so; and 

6 (2) upon adoption of this resolution and pend7 ing completion of the aforementioned investigation, 

8 Representative Rangel is hereby removed as chair9 man of the Committee on Ways and Means. 

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