The National Consumers League mourns the untimely death of Congressman Elijah Cummings
October 17, 2019
Media contact: National Consumers League – Carol McKay, carolm@nclnet.org, (412) 945-3242 or Taun Sterling, tauns@nclnet.org, (202) 207-2832
Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL) is saddened by the untimely death of statesman and U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings. Rep. Cummings was admired by friend and foe alike, an honest broker and legislative giant who chaired the House Oversight and Reform Committee and who never forgot his humble roots as the son of sharecroppers.
Rep. Cummings was in his 13th term serving as a representative of the Baltimore, MD community. As a member of the Maryland House of Delegates (1983 to 1996), he became the youngest chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. Cummings campaigned tirelessly for stricter gun control laws and help for those addicted to drugs.
Congressman Cummings often said that “our children are the living messages that we send to a future we will never see.” In that vein, he was committed to ensuring that the next generation has access to quality healthcare and education, clean air and water, and a strong economy defined by fiscal responsibility.
He served as the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, seeking to identify appropriate reforms that prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and that ensure government programs meet the needs of the American people.
In recent months, Cummings had become a leader in President Trump’s impeachment inquiry: he didn’t hesitate to show anger, outrage, or disappointment in the actions and behavior of the administration officials. He strongly and vocally opposed the presidency of Donald Trump and was sued by President Trump in attempts to keep his business records secret. Most recently, Cummings was called upon to defend his constituents in Baltimore when President Trump made disparaging remarks about the city.
“The whole nation will miss this remarkable man, who stood up to bullies, defended the rights of the less fortunate and underserved, but maintained his dignity and was always a gentleman and peacemaker—no matter what an opponent had to say about him and his district,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg.
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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
