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U.S. Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-California) on Tuesday, Oct. 29, honored the life and contributions of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland-07). Congressman Cummings passed away on Oct. 17, 2019, in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 68.
Harris recognized Cummings’ many years of public service and tremendous impact on the nation with a statement inserted into the Congressional Record. Rep. Cummings became the first African-American lawmaker to lie in state at the United States Capitol, an honor for Congress and the country to pay respect to distinguished Americans who have passed away.
Sen. Harris’ Congressional Statement reads as
follows:
Mr. President, our Nation mourns the loss of
one of the country’s greatest leaders, Representative Elijah Eugene Cummings,
whose life’s work as a fervent champion for civil rights and his beloved
community in Baltimore, Maryland left an indelible mark on our nation.
Congressman Cummings died on October 17, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was 68
years old.
Representative Cummings was born on January
18, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the third of seven children born to
sharecroppers, Robert Cummings and Ruth Elma Cummings, who moved north from
South Carolina in search of better opportunities for their family.
Representative Cummings graduated from Baltimore City College High School and
went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Howard University
in Washington, D.C., where he served as student government president and
graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Representative Cummings obtained a Juris Doctorate
from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1975. Throughout his career,
he received 13 honorary doctoral degrees from universities throughout the
country.
Representative Cummings’ career in public
service began in 1983 when we was elected to the Maryland House of
Delegates. Representative Cummings proudly served in this role for 14 years,
eventually becoming the state legislature’s first African American speaker pro
tempore. In 1996, he was elected to represent Maryland’s 7th District in the House of
Representatives as a member of the 104th Congress. Representative Cummings
focused on legislative priorities that promoted equality and economic
development, including: criminal justice reform, lowering prescription drug
prices, and combatting the opioid epidemic, among others. As a respected
Congressman, he became a ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure and the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
As the Chairman of the House Committee on
Oversight and Reform, Representative Cummings was a powerful voice who achieved
a reputation as a skilled consensus builder. He understood accountability and
protecting those who courageously spoke the truth to protect our nation. He
fought daily to ensure our democracy was not only intact, but striving to live
up to its promise. At the foundation of his fight was advocacy for justice
and equal opportunity for all.
Representative Cummings made it his personal
responsibility to champion civil rights issues, particularly voting rights. His
fierce advocacy was fueled, in part, by the words of his mother
who — on her death bed — implored him to ensure the right
to vote was preserved. He would heed her words by delivering his own stirring
calls to action. He understood the significance of the right to vote in our
democracy and worked tirelessly to oppose voter suppression, condemn
discriminatory anti-voting tactics, and launch critical investigations when
voters —particularly people of color — faced discriminatory
voting challenges. Representative Cummings’ visionary leadership and service
has and will continue to strengthen our democracy for generations to come.
Representative Elijah Cummings’ steadfast
dedication to the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and our entire
country will continue to inspire others for generations to come. An impassioned
speaker, he was truly a voice for the voiceless. As a mentor, he helped so many
young people live in their purpose and make the world a better place. He
fought for the soul of our nation and selflessly dedicated his life to
empowering and uplifting his constituents.
Representative Cummings is survived by his
wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, his children, and a host of family and
friends. It was a great honor to
attend his powerful funeral and memorial service with many of my colleagues and
friends.
Representative Cummings often said that,“children
are the living messages that we send to a future we will never see.” A light is
gone from our world, but Representative Cummings’ legacy will shine bright
through all the individuals he touched and all the movements he helped build.
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