WASHINGTON – Rep. Charles Rangel, the chairman of the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, is soliciting donations from corporations with business before his panel for an academic center that will bear his name, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Rangel, a New York Democrat, has written letters on congressional stationery and has sought meetings to ask for corporate and foundation donations for the facility planned for the City College of New York, the report said.

Ethics experts and government watchdogs say it is troubling that one of the most powerful lawmakers in the United States would seek money from businesses that have interests before the committee he leads, the article said.

The House Ways and Means panel has responsibility over legislation relating to tax policy, trade, Social Security and Medicare.

Rangel told the Post he would seek money for the project even if it did not bear his name because he believes in its mission of promoting racial diversity in public administration leadership.

He also said congressional business never comes up with potential donors, the Post reported.

“In the 38 years that I've been down here, I don't think there has ever been any challenge, real or unreal, to my integrity as it relates to fund-raising,” Rangel told the newspaper. “If it was an ethical problem, I wouldn't do it.”

A spokesman for Rangel was not immediately available for comment.

The Post cited college officials as saying Rangel's fund-raising efforts have helped raise about $12 million of the $30 million needed for the new center.