Elijah Cummings: “I believe that history will be the judge, and I think it will shine a very favorable light on the Congressional Black…”

“I believe that history will be the judge, and I think it will shine a very favorable light on the Congressional Black Caucus for raising the questions that have been raised. These are basic, fundamental questions. It is interesting that the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) raised the issue of our troops. It just reminded me that one of the first soldiers to die in the war just so happened to live a few blocks from me, a young man who simply wanted to be the best that he could be; and he joined the Marines, and the reason why he joined the Marines was because he could not get scholarship money to go to college. But he joined the Marines and gave the best that he had, and he became one of the best helicopter specialists in the entire Marine Corps. So we must never forget the young people who are suffering in 120 degree-plus weather. We must never forget those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, for this country. We must never forget them, ever. We must never separate them from what is going on here today, for they are the people that we care so much about and we love so dearly. At the same time, I think we owe them a certain level of support, the highest level of support. We must do that. At the same time, we must be, this country, that is the President, must answer crucial basic questions about the taxes that are paid.”