Yvette Clarke: “I thank our colleague, Chairwoman Bass, and our coleaders for this evening's Special Order hour, for providing this…”

“I thank our colleague, Chairwoman Bass, and our coleaders for this evening's Special Order hour, for providing this moment for us to reflect. Let me start by saying, on behalf of myself, the Clarke family, and the people of the Ninth Congressional District of New York, I rise today to reflect upon the life and the legacy of the great chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Chairman Elijah Cummings, and express my heartfelt and deepest condolences to his wife, Maya Rockeymoore, his family, friends, constituents, and staff. Our great Nation is mourning and is in shock over the loss of a great man. As one of seven children born to parents who were sharecroppers and, just as important, or maybe more importantly, pastors of the Gospel, it is safe to say that Chairman Cummings embodied the epitome of our ancestors' wildest dreams and most fervent prayers. {time} 2030 Chairman Cummings represented Baltimore, Maryland, with devotion, pride, dignity, and integrity, and dedicated his career to ensuring that his beloved community was never marginalized. As chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Mr. Cummings used his voice to protect our democracy, to protect our civil liberties, and indeed, our humanity and our Constitution until his very last breath, and we will forever be indebted to his lifelong dedication to public service.…”