[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 55 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3822-H3824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      WELCOMING THE HONORABLE ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS TO THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor and privilege, on behalf 
of all of my colleagues in the Maryland delegation, to first welcome 
two of America's most outstanding leaders who have represented the 
Seventh Congressional District which the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. 
Cummings] now represents.
  They are our friends, they were our colleagues, they are great 
Americans: The Honorable Parren Mitchell, our former colleague; and 
another example of the extraordinary quality that the constituents of 
the Seventh District sends to the Congress of the United States, the 
president and chief operating officer of the NAACP, our former 
colleague and great American, Kweisi Mfume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the opportunity to introduce to the House their 
newest colleague. He is the son of Rev. Ruth Cummings and Rev. Robert 
Cummings. Mr. Speaker, before I make my brief remarks and yield to the 
minority leader, I would like to acknowledge Senators Sarbanes and 
Mikulski, who have joined us from the other body.
  Mr. Speaker, although under the rules I cannot recognize them as 
being in the gallery, and I shall not do so, it has been brought to my 
attention that the distinguished Speaker of the Maryland House of 
Delegates, Casper Taylor, will be able to hear my words. Mr. Speaker; 
with all due apologies to our distinguished friend, Mr. Johnson.
  Come walk with me. Come walk with me. I say these words with 
reverence to our newest Member of the House. These are his words, his 
words which have been spoken often in the chambers of Annapolis, and 
which I know will be spoken often here to us. Words like these are not 
heard often enough these days. It is more often ``Come fight with me.''
  But these words represent the heart of what Elijah Cummings is all 
about: A consummate legislator, a dedicated public servant, a consensus 
builder, a fighter for what is right; a man, as you will all find, of 
drive and determination, a man who has ascended to leadership through 
integrity, hard work, and a belief in the good in mankind.
  Born in Baltimore City, a graduate of City College in Baltimore, a 
graduate

[[Page H3823]]

of Howard University, where he was president of the sophomore class, 
junior class, and student government. He graduated, as Members will not 
be surprised upon knowing him, Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from the 
University of Maryland Law School.

  Elijah Cummings comes to the House with a vast background in working 
closely in his community, particularly as a mentor and Big Brother to 
the young people of his city and his community. He is a father figure 
to many, and always has hoped in time to find the one golden glimmer 
which will help turn a youth's life around. As an advocate for youth, 
he is unshaken.
  I recall over a year ago when then-Delegate Cummings was accosted 
outside his Baltimore home and ordered to lie face down on the street 
while being robbed. Even through this terrorizing experience, he was 
and remains undeterred, and has never given up his faith in youth.
  His service the past 14 years with the Maryland General Assembly, 
where he was the first African-American in the history of our State to 
be elected Speaker pro tempore, the No. 2 position in the House of 
Delegates, has brought him recognition by his colleagues, as well as 
being one of its most effective members.
  Elijah Cummings brings the same talent, drive, and personal 
conviction as his predecessors who I have previously introduced. I 
encourage you, Elijah, to use your spirit of good will in reaching out 
to all of us to come walk with you.
  Join me in welcoming our newest colleague, an extraordinary human 
being, the gentleman from Maryland, Elijah E. Cummings.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Gephardt], 
the distinguished minority leader.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. On behalf of all of 
our colleagues, Democrat and Republican as well, I rise to recognize 
and welcome our new colleague, the gentleman from Maryland, Elijah 
Cummings. As the gentleman from Maryland, Steny Hoyer, has said, this 
new Member has very big shoes to fill, and those shoes are represented 
by the two former Representatives in this district who are here today, 
and we are honored by their presence.
  As Steny has said, this young man was born and raised in the same 
city he now serves, the city of Baltimore. He knows the neighborhoods, 
the schools, the stores and the churches, because he lived among them 
all of his life. He has never lost his passion for building a better 
Baltimore, for giving something back to the city and community that has 
given so much to him.
  As Steny said, he took his Phi Beta Kappa degree from Howard 
University and his law degree from the University of Maryland, and went 
right back to Baltimore, building a highly distinguished career as a 
lawyer, and then serving four terms in the Maryland General Assembly.
  In the Maryland House he was a leader on criminal justice issues, on 
constitutional law, and on economic issues. After one term he was 
elected chairman of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, the youngest 
person ever to hold that post. Last year he was elected Speaker Pro Tem 
to the House of Delegates, the second ranking position in the House. 
His colleagues thought he did such an outstanding job they voted him 
one of Maryland's most effective legislators in a poll.
  Beyond all these titles and accomplishments, Mr. Speaker, I believe 
Elijah will make a difference in this Congress for less tangible 
reasons than Steny cited: His abiding sense of decency and humanity, 
his ability to see the subtleties in our public problems, and his 
determination to pass on to the next generation the opportunities that 
he earned in his own life.
  On behalf of all of us, Republican and Democrat alike, I am delighted 
to welcome the gentleman from Maryland to the 104th Congress. I think 
he is going to be a powerful force for progress in his State and in our 
country, and I know that we will count on his leadership, as Maryland 
has counted on his leadership, for many years to come. Welcome to the 
House of Representatives.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to our colleague, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Cardin], the former Speaker of the House of Delegates.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my friend, the gentleman from 
Maryland, for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1982 I had an experience similar to the gentleman 
from Maryland's of presiding over the session when Elijah Cummings 
became a member of the legislature, of the Maryland House of Delegates. 
I had the opportunity to serve with our new colleague in the House of 
Delegates, and I can tell each one of the Members that they are in for 
a treat: a person who is dedicated to public service and dedicated to 
helping people.
  Mr. Speaker, as we have already heard, the torch of leadership in the 
Seventh Congressional District has not passed very often in the last 
quarter of a century. Elijah is now the fourth person to hold that 
seat, with Parren Mitchell, who became a leader of this Nation on urban 
issues, on banking issues, and particularly small business.
  Kweisi Mfume was elected a decade ago to this body, the same time I 
was. We became and are very close friends. Kweisi became a national 
leader, chairman of the Black Caucus, and has spoken out so well on so 
many issues. I was very proud when Kweisi was selected as the head of 
the NAACP. It was a great decision for that organization and for this 
Nation, but I lost a colleague and a friend in this legislative body.
  Today I am very excited that Elijah Cummings is taking that position. 
He will follow in that tradition.

                              {time}  1045

  He was an outstanding member of the House of Delegates, holding the 
vice chairmanships of two of our standing committees. Mr. Speaker, we 
only have six standing committees in the Maryland House of Delegates 
and Elijah has shown expertise in two of those. He went on to become 
the Speaker Pro Tem, very actively involved in the leadership of our 
General Assembly.
  So, Mr. Speaker, it is particularly a pleasure for me to say hello 
and welcome my colleague for so many years in the House of Delegates, 
now in the Congress of the United States. I know Elijah Cummings will 
add to the great tradition of the Seventh Congressional District.
  Over the past quarter century, the torch of leadership has not been 
passed often in Maryland's Seventh Congressional District. When it has 
passed, the Nation has come to know that it should take notice, because 
Maryland's Seventh District has sent leaders of stature and vision.
  In 1970, the voters of Baltimore sent Parren Mitchell to the 
Congress. Over 16 years in the House, Congressman Mitchell became an 
acknowledged expert and leader on issues finance, banking, and 
especially small business.
  A decade ago, Congressman Mitchell announced his decision to step 
down. Rising up to take his seat was a young, articulate, but little 
known city council member named Kweisi Mfume; 1986 marked my own 
election to the House. Over the past decade, Congressman Mfume and I 
forged a strong working relationship and close friendship.
  In his years in the House, Congressman Mfume rose to become a 
national spokesman on behalf of African-Americans and all 
Americans concerned about justice, fairness, and the realization of the 
American dream.

  Congressman Mfume rose, as Congressman Mitchell had before him, to 
chair the Congressional Black Caucus. From that post, he used his 
exceptional skills as a tactistian, an orator, and as a strategist to 
fight effectively for the people of his district and the Nation.
  Nobody was prouder than I when, this winter, the NAACP announced that 
Congressman Mfume would become its new CEO and President.
  While I miss my good friend in this body, I am excited over the 
prospect of serving with the newly elected Congressman from the 
Seventh.
  Elijah Cummings is an honorable and able successor as the 
representative of the Seventh District. He brings all the dedication, 
intelligence, and vision that distinguished his two predecessors, and I 
have no doubt he will follow in their footsteps as a national leader.
  Elijah and I have served together before, in Maryland's House of 
Delegates. I was delighted to welcome him to Annapolis in 1982 when he 
arrived as a new member.
  In his 14 years in the State legislature, he has demonstrated a 
talent for legislative craftsmanship and responsiveness to the concerns 
of the people he represents that will serve him--and the Nation--well 
here in Congress. He also has a gift for building consensus and 
bringing people together that this body desperately needs.
  His colleagues in Annapolis have recognized his leadership, as he has 
risen to be

[[Page H3824]]

chairman of Maryland's Legislative Black Caucus, the youngest person 
ever to attain that position.
  As vice chairman of the House Constitutional and Administrative Law 
Committee and as vice chairman of the Economic Matters Committee, he 
has acquired a wealth of expertise and experience that he will now 
bring to bear on the considerable problems facing this Nation. Most 
recently, he became Speaker Pro Tem of the House of Delegates, the 
second highest position of leadership in that body.
  I am delighted to join my other colleagues in welcoming my neighbor 
to the House of Representatives. I am sure he will follow in the proud 
tradition of his district and enjoy a long and distinguished career 
here in the people's House.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield to a gentleman who 
served with Elijah in the House of Delegates and then was his colleague 
as a member of the Maryland State senate, will now be again his 
colleague here in the House of the people, the distinguished 
Representative from the Fourth Congressional District of Maryland, Mr. 
Albert Wynn.
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague for yielding.
  In 1983 I was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. As I looked 
around the orientation, I noticed another young man who really 
impressed me. That man stands before you today.
  So I can tell you from personal experience, having stood shoulder-to-
shoulder with Elijah Cummings, that he is a true worker for people. I 
do not have to tell you a lot. Let me simply say that I have watched 
this man and worked with this man. He has worked for economic 
development, but he has never forgotten the needs of the downtrodden or 
the less fortunate. He brings to this House tremendous compassion.
  All Members need to know about Elijah Cummings is that he is a man of 
tremendous sincerity, commitment, compassion, and faith in God. He will 
do a wonderful job for the people of the Seventh Congressional 
District. He will do a wonderful job for the people of this country. I 
am looking forward to working with him. Congratulations and welcome, 
Elijah.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, the last person before I introduce Mr. 
Cummings or yield to Mr. Cummings is the dean of the Republican 
delegation. We are one delegation, but the dean of our Republicans, the 
distinguished gentlewoman from Montgomery County who herself served 
with Mr. Cummings, Connie Morella.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman for 
giving me the opportunity to congratulate not only Congressman Cummings 
but all of us in the 104th Congress for having him added to our 
numbers. He will speak in a very strong voice, with compassion, with 
justice, with knowledge.
  Indeed, it has been mentioned that he has been handed quite a legacy. 
Our very good friends who have represented that district so well who 
are here today: Kweisi Mfume, whom I consider one of my dearest 
friends, who was elected with me and Ben Cardin to the historic 100th 
Congress; Barbara Mikulski, our Senator who also represented that 
district. Senator Sarbanes, did you represent that direct? You did in 
your heart, that is for sure.
  But we all reflect the kind of fine work that has been done there, 
and I did have the grand opportunity to serve for 4 years with 
Congressman Cummings in the House of Delegates. Very proud of your 
background, the temperament, the compassion, and I particularly like 
the fact that here is a man who is going to work for the American 
people, both sides of the aisle. He is not predisposed to any one 
specific myopic kind of philosophy. He wants to work for the American 
people, for the people of Maryland. I salute him and I congratulate 
him.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman. I might observe that 
our senior Senator has always served every district in our State.
  Ladies and gentlemen, I am deeply honored to introduce to you a very 
fine human being who we will be privileged to serve with and walk with, 
Elijah Cummings.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker and Members, to the 
Maryland congressional delegation, to two of my mentors, both of whom I 
love. Their spirit is a part of my spirit. Their hopes and dreams are 
part of my hopes and dreams.
  To Kweisi Mfume and Parren J. Mitchell, I just want you to know that 
I love you, and I thank you for all that you have done for the city of 
Baltimore, the State of Maryland, the Nation, and the world. I 
appreciate you.
  To my family and friends and to the members of the Maryland 
Legislature who are up there, only God could create this path, only 
God. Only God could create a path where the son of two sharecroppers 
from Manning, SC could rise to represent the people of the Seventh 
Congressional District in the Congress of the United States of America. 
Only God, and so I must first thank God for this opportunity.
  I also thank Him for giving me the strength, the humility, and the 
courage to walk the path that He has given me. So often we in public 
life forget that we are very fortunate to come upon this Earth and have 
an opportunity to serve. So often we forget, because we get so caught 
up in our battles and our struggles, that so many people wish they 
could have the problems we have.
  So I am just a happy, happy man. I am also very happy, they tell me 
it is unusual for Members of the other body--I have got to get this 
language right--to come over, but my two Senators, I want to thank you 
for being here and for all that you have done. It is not just that they 
are here today, but they have been walking with me for a long time, and 
I appreciate you.
  Mr. Speaker, I represent a diverse district, a very diverse district. 
We have people who have a lot of problems. We have people who have very 
nice homes. We have people who are struggling just trying to make it. 
It honors me tremendously to know that they would send me here to 
represent them.
  I have often said on the floor of the Maryland House of Delegates 
that our world would be a much better world and a much better place if 
we would only concentrate on the things we have in common instead of 
concentrating on our differences. It is easy to find differences, very 
easy. We need to take more time to find common ground.
  So my mission is one that comes out of a vision that was created 
long, long ago. It is a mission and a vision to empower people, to make 
people realize that the power is within them, that they, too, can do 
the things that they want to do. So I am about that mission. I am 
looking forward to joining with all of you as we travel this road I 
often call journey, which I define as life.

  There is a poem that Parren Mitchell said many, many years ago, that 
I say sometimes 20 times a day, and it is a very simple poem but it is 
one that I live by. It says: ``I only have a minute, 60 seconds in it, 
forced upon me, I did not choose it, but I know that I must use it, 
give account if I abuse it, suffer if I lose it, only a tiny little 
minute, but eternity is in it.''
  So I join you as we move forward to uplife not only the Nation but 
the world. May God bless you all and may God bless America.

                          ____________________