Political Quotes

“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.”