Elijah Cummings: “I claim the time in opposition. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Maryland is recognized for 5 minutes.”

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.

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.

That year, Bayou La Batre did elect its first Asian-American city council member.

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.