The Congressional Black Caucus Welcomes Rep. Kweisi Mfume back to Congress

The Congressional Black Caucus released the following release welcoming Kweisi Mfume back to congress:

Recently, Kweisi Mfume was sworn in as the newest Member of the U.S. House of Representative for Maryland’s 7th congressional district, succeeding Elijah Cummings, who died last October. The return to Congress comes full circle, as Mfume reclaims the same seat that he held for 10 years before stepping down to become the President of the NAACP. During his tenure in Congress, Representative Mfume also served as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1993-1995.

Representative Mfume’s return to the Congressional Black Caucus comes at a critical time in our nation during this pandemic. The CBC looks forward to working with Rep. Mfume during this historic moment to identify, fight for, and win the best legislative change to help the Black community not just survive this pandemic but to prepare to thrive in the aftermath.

The Congressional Black Caucus welcomes Representative Kweisi Mfume back to the U.S. House of Representatives and his leadership in Maryland’s 7th district.

Kweisi Mfume wins Democratic nomination to replace the late Elijah Cummings

Kweisi Mfume took a major step toward reclaiming the Baltimore-area U.S. House seat he held for 10 years, capturing the Democratic nomination to succeed his longtime friend, the powerful Elijah Cummings.

The former NAACP leader, 71, topped a field of 24 Democrats Tuesday to advance to an April 28 special general election to fill the remainder of Cummings’ 7th Congressional District term.

Mfume represented the district, which includes parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County, until stepping down in 1996 to lead the NAACP.

“I want to thank all the many people of the 7th Congressional District. I accept your nomination,” Mfume told an audience of a few hundred cheering supporters at The Forum, a banquet hall in northwest Baltimore. A half-dozen American flags were positioned on the stage where he spoke.

Mfume enjoyed high name recognition, particularly among older voters who remembered him as a congressman and, earlier, a member of Baltimore City Council. That helped him in an 11-week campaign in which most other candidates struggled to get attention.

Mfume was able to raise money for the race — he had more than $200,000 on hand as of Jan. 15 — and he spent much less than his competitors.

He told voters his congressional priorities would include lowering the cost of prescription drugs, improving the Affordable Care Act health care system, and reinstating a federal assault weapons ban.

[SOURCE: Baltimore Sun

Baltimore courthouse to be named after late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings

The city of Baltimore will formally name a courthouse after the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings in the first half of 2020.

Democratic Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young unveiled renderings Friday of bronze plaques that will be affixed to the exterior of Courthouse East of the Baltimore Circuit Court. One includes an image and biography of the congressman, and the other reads “Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse.”

"Elijah was a son of Baltimore. He was proud of Baltimore," his widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, said during the unveiling ceremony. "His career as a legal professional started in this courthouse."

Young spokesman James Bentley said the plaques will be installed in the spring or early summer after the city receives approval from the U.S. Department of Interior because the courthouse is a federal building. It was originally a federal courthouse, and still contains a post office.

[SOURCE: Baltimore Sun]

Kweisi Mfume announces he is running for Elijah Cummings seat

Kweisi Mfume announced Monday he’s running to succeed the late Rep. Elijah Cummings in the Maryland congressional seat the former NAACP president also held for a nearly a decade in the 1980s and 1990s.

In a speech Monday at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History & Culture in Baltimore, Mfume, 71, said he will seek the Democratic nomination to return to his old seat and pledged to continue Cummings’ legacy.

“I honestly believe that I’ve got to find a way to make sure that all he and others fought for is not lost, tossed to the side or forgotten,” Mfume said.

Mfume, a graduate of Morgan State University and John Hopkins University, served on the Baltimore City Council before being elected to represent Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in 1986. The district encompasses parts of Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County. He was succeeded by Cummings.

In the speech announcing his candidacy, Mfume touted his experience.

“Trust me, if I were not trusted, prepared and ready to go go work on day one, I would not be here,” he said.

[SOURCE: WTOP]

Barack Obama gives eulogy at Elijah Cummings funeral

Watch Former President Obama's full eulogy for longtime Baltimore Congressman Elijah Cummings in which he praised Cummings as an honorable man, as he spoke at his funeral Friday.

Maya Rockeymoore-Cummings' full speech at her husband Rep. Elijah Cummings' funeral

There were plenty of powerhouse speakers at Elijah Cummings funeral. There were great speeches by Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and a moving remembrance by a former Cumming's aide, Joe Alexander but the person to best honor the late congressman was his wife, Maya Rockeymoore-Cummings.

Watch her moving tribute below.

Former President Barack Obama to speak at Elijah Cumming's funeral

Former U.S. president Barack Obama is among those asked to speak on Friday at the late Congressman Elijah Cummings’ funeral.

Obama’s spokeswoman Katie Hill said in a statement late Wednesday that the former U.S. president was requested to speak by Cummings’ widow Maya Rockeymoore-Cummings.

“He will deliver remarks about the remarkable life and legacy of one of this country’s finest public servants,” Hill said in the statement.

Representative Cummings’ office released a list late Wednesday of the 10 pallbearers and 15 speakers slated for the funeral Friday at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Cummings’ hometown of Baltimore.

Others asked to speak include former president Bill Clinton, former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Baltimore mayor looks to rename courthouse after Elijah Cummings

Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young (D) said Friday that he wants to rename a downtown courthouse building after the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).

Young will reportedly file legislation “as quickly as possible” with the Baltimore City Council to rename the Courthouse East building after the congressman, who represented Maryland’s 7th congressional district that includes roughly half of the city, The Baltimore Sun reported.

If it passes, the city-run building would become the Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse.

“It is most fitting that this building, in which Congressman Cummings fought for justice for his fellow citizens early in his career as an attorney, be named in his honor," Young told the Sun in a statement. "It will stand in perpetuity as a monument to Cummings’ service to the common man, the rule of law in our society, and his commitment to economic justice for all.”

Young said the decision came about after a meeting with local officials and other community members that focused on how to honor the longtime lawmaker, who he praised as one of Baltimore’s “greatest voices and staunchest advocates.”

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Elijah Cummings to lie in state at US Capitol

Funeral arrangements have been set for 12-term Maryland U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, who died early Thursday morning.

On Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that Cummings will lie in state in National Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol on Oct. 24.

A formal memorial ceremony for members of Congress, the Cummings family and invited guests will be held Thursday morning, followed by a public viewing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. More details will be announced later.

“In the House, Elijah was our North Star. He was a leader of towering character and integrity, whose stirring voice and steadfast values pushed the Congress and country to rise always to a higher purpose. His principled leadership as chair of the committee on Oversight and Reform was the perfect testament to his commitment to restoring honesty and honor to government, and leaves a powerful legacy for years to come," Pelosi said.

Cummings will be laid to rest next week. Funeral services will take place Oct. 25 at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore. A viewing will begin at 8 a.m. following with the service at 10 a.m.

[SOURCE: WBAL]

Sen.Cory Booker statement on the passing of Elijah Cummings

NJ Senator Cory Booker released the following statement via Twitter on the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Today our country lost a true leader. Congressman Elijah Cummings was a friend, a passionate fighter for justice, and a powerful voice of moral conscience in our government who served his country for decades with dignity and integrity. I’m blessed to have known him. #RIPElijah

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 17, 2019

Rep. Maxine Waters Statement on the Death of Rep. Elijah Cummings

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement on the death of Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee:

“There are no words that are sufficient in describing the immense sorrow I feel following the passing of my dear colleague and friend, Chairman Elijah Cummings.

“I have known Chairman Cummings for more than two decades. He considered me a mentor since his time as a freshman member, and I considered him a brother and cherished friend. While there are so many fond memories that I have of Chairman Cummings, what I loved and admired most about him was his dignified and courageous leadership, and his fierce and unflinching advocacy for justice, civil rights, and equality. He loved his family, his community, and this nation deeply, and fought with ‘every breath in his body’ to protect them — no matter the cost.

“Chairman Cummings was the son of sharecroppers, and rose from humble beginnings to unprecedented heights in his 68 years of life. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Howard University, and earned a juris doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. He was the first African American to serve as the Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served for 14 years. In the U.S. Congress, he has provided strong leadership of the Oversight and Reform Committee, and has absolutely sacrificed in order to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

“Elijah Cummings fought the good fight, and his legacy represents an unwavering love for his community and a tireless commitment to public service. He was and always will be remembered as a beacon of truth and light in the face of unprecedented lies and corruption.

“There is perhaps no other Member of Congress who is so respected, admired, and loved by his colleagues on both sides of the aisle as the one and only Elijah Cummings. He was a true patriot and a giant among men. His absence leaves a gaping hole in our hearts and the halls of Congress. I love him, I will miss him, and my deepest condolences and prayers are with his loving wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, his family, his beloved hometown of Baltimore, and all those who loved him.”

Barack Obama statement on the passing of Elijah Cummings.

Former U.S. President, Barack Obama released the following statement via Twitter on the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings:

Rep. Elijah Cummings dead at 68

The office of Elijah Cummings has released a statement on the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings.

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the wife of Elijah Cummings has released the following statement on the death of her husband:

Al Sharpton smacks down Trump for calling him a con man

President Donald Trump, after a weekend of attacks on Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and his Baltimore-area district, began Monday by blasting the Rev. Al Sharpton as someone who "hates whites and cops." and calling him a con man.

Sharpton came back with a witty and biting response:

NEW: Rev. Al Sharpton responds to Pres. Trump's attack this morning: "If he really thought I was a con man, he'd be nominating me for his Cabinet." https://t.co/07y027HWeS pic.twitter.com/014y5jCELb

— ABC News (@ABC) July 29, 2019

Elijah Cummings fired back at Trump over his attack on Baltimore

Rep. Elijah Cummings response to Trump calling his district a rat and rodent infested mess:

Mr. President, I go home to my district daily. Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbors.

It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But, it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents.

- Elijah E. Cummings (@RepCummings) July 27, 2019

Elijah Cummings statement on Trump's racist tweet about 'The Squad'

Rep Elijah Cumming took to Twitter to give a statement on Trump's racist and xenophobic tweet in which he told Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass.; and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich to go back 'where they came from'.

Read his tweet below:

Mr. President, it is beneath the office of the presidency to tell Members of Congress to “go back” to their countries.

These xenophobic comments will only divide our nation.

America has always been at its best when we understand that diversity is our promise—not our problem. https://t.co/sbs15ciNt8

— Elijah E. Cummings (@RepCummings) July 14, 2019

Rep. Cummings Statement on Court Rejecting President’s Challenge to Congressional Subpoena

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statement in response to a federal district court rejecting President Trump’s challenge to congressional authority and ruling that Mazars USA LLP, the accounting firm that prepared financial statements for President Trump, must comply with the Committee’s subpoena for financial records:

“Today’s decision is a resounding victory for the rule of law and our Constitutional system of checks and balances. The court recognized the basic, but crucial fact that Congress has authority to conduct investigations as part of our core function under the Constitution. The court rejected President Trump’s repeated claim that congressional investigations serve no ‘legislative function’—a baseless argument made in response to multiple investigations by the House of Representatives. Congress must have access to the information we need to do our job effectively and efficiently, and we urge the President to stop engaging in this unprecedented cover-up and start complying with the law.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings Statement on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh

FBI agents raided the home of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh amid accusations of corruption stemming from the sale of her children's book. Baltimore resident Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) issued the following statement on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh:

“I urge Mayor Pugh to put the best interests of the City and its residents first and foremost. Baltimore needs and deserves leadership that is above reproach and which can lead the City forward in ways that engender the trust and confidence of all essential stakeholders. No one questions Mayor Pugh’s passion for Baltimore City and its citizens. At the same time, the circumstances now require that she also provide an example of accountability for those same people. We all want her health to be restored and to now focus on these very grave matters that have everything to do with her personal business endeavors and nothing to do with the priorities of the City of Baltimore.”

Chairman Cummings Issues Statement on Mueller Report

Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, issued the following statement on the release of the redacted version of Special Counsel Mueller’s report:

“The President and his Attorney General expect the American people to be blind to what we can now see. This report catalogues in excruciating detail a proliferation of lies by the President to the American people, as well as his incessant and repeated efforts to encourage others to lie. Contrary to Attorney General Barr’s attempts at misdirection, it is crystal clear from the report that the Justice Department’s policy against indicting a sitting President played a key role in Special Counsel Mueller’s analysis—in fact, it is the very first point in the obstruction section of his report. Unfortunately, we still have only part of the story, and Congress must subpoena the full report and all underlying documents.”

Elijah Cummings: It appears Trump committed a crime in office

After the Michael Cohen hearings with the House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) told reporters that based on Michael Cohen's testimony "it appears" President Donald Trump committed a crime while in office. Watch that video below: