Elijah Cummings: “Mr. Speaker, when I look at what we are doing today, I think it is extremely important, and I certainly urge my…”

“Mr. Speaker, when I look at what we are doing today, I think it is extremely important, and I certainly urge my colleagues to support this very important legislation; but I was considering something that Abraham Lincoln said that I think is just so telling about the man that we honor through this legislation. It is a quote I had not heard before, but I think it is one that perhaps all of us should give some serious consideration to. He said, ``I desire to so conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left and that friend shall be down inside of me.'' He really said something. The fact is that Abraham Lincoln stood for so much. ... I again urge our colleagues to support the legislation, and I want to thank the gentlewoman for her cooperation and certainly the ranking member and the chair of our committee and subcommittee.”