Elijah Cummings: “All of my dealings, I've found them to be very responsive.”

The American people demanded that their representatives in Washington fight for them and for what affects their lives on a day-to-day basis.

I am extremely proud that our committee is holding the first hearing on D.C. Statehood in the House of Representatives in more than 25 years.

I really do think that we are in a moral situation. People are striving to live, trying to breathe the air of our country, trying to be better, trying to be healthy.

If we had a House and if we had a Senate that would pass legislation and we had a President that would sign it, this problem which is the subject of this hearing today could be fixed.