Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has raised a staggering $5 million since becoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, more than any other House member including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

The 77-year-old legislator has transferred more than $1.1 million to Democrats, including $435,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), according to CQ MoneyLine, which tracks political fundraising.

Rangel, who won his 19th term with 94 percent of the vote in 2006, has collected the funds through his campaign account and his National Leadership Political Action Committee (PAC). Rangel, however, hasn’t given as much as Pelosi, Hoyer, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) or Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) have.

Still, Rangel has over $3 million cash on hand — more than his party’s leaders. Most of Rangel’s checks have been sent to freshman lawmakers, whom he is determined to see reelected so that Democrats will retain their majority.

That would keep Rangel in the chairman’s seat of his powerful committee, where in the next Congress — and possibly in cooperation with a Democratic president — he would look to significantly rewrite the nation’s laws on taxes, healthcare and trade.

“He’s done this because he believes in expanding our majority so we can enact policies that respond to the demands of the American people,” said DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.), who calls Rangel a fundraising “superstar.”

Rangel’s office declined to comment for this article.

Rangel has always been a good fundraiser, but the Ways and Means chairmanship has clearly been a boost. He has far exceeded his previous fundraising totals, and has surpassed the mark set by his predecessor as chairman, former Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), who was considered more business-friendly.