On the recordDecember 4, 2024
I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank my good friends from Maryland, Mr. Mfume and Mr. Raskin, for their diligent work on this bill to honor the life and legacy of Elijah Cummings. Chairman Cummings was known throughout this Chamber and the Nation as a man of strength and integrity and someone who compassionately yet fearlessly wielded his powers of oversight and transparency to make our Nation as strong as it could possibly be. He was also a mentor to me and many others, and someone I proudly called my friend. I had the privilege of serving on the Committee on Oversight and Reform under Chairman Cummings and saw up close how he fought for what is right and just, even if it wasn't popular. Elijah Cummings was also known for telling hard truths. It didn't matter who you were, what your politics were, or where you came from. He told difficult truths to American baseball heroes who had tarnished our beloved pastimes, and he confronted powerful people who priced prescription drugs beyond the reach of our citizens. One of Elijah Cummings' best qualities was that he listened, and more importantly, he actually heard you. He heard you whether you were a schoolteacher or a janitor, a colleague here in Congress or the President of the United States.…





