[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 171 (Tuesday, October 29, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6237-S6238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING ELIJAH CUMMINGS

 Ms. HARRIS. Madam 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, MD left an indelible mark on our 
Nation. Congressman Cummings died on October 17, 2019 in Baltimore, MD. 
He was 68 years old.
  Representative Cummings was born on January 18, 1951, in Baltimore, 
MD. 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, DC, 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

[[Page S6238]]

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 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.

                          ____________________