Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee and a leader of the Democratic Party in the House, passed away this morning from "complications concerning longtime health challenges." He was 68 and had served in the House since 1996.
Cummings was one of seven children of parents who were once South Carolina sharecroppers. Born, raised and still living in inner city Baltimore, he attended Howard University (Phi Beta Kappa and student government president) and the University of Maryland Law School. He began his political career in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1983.
His wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, issued a statement summarizing his essence:
"Congressman Cummings was an honorable man who proudly served his district and the nation with dignity, integrity, compassion and humility. He worked until his last breath because he believed our democracy was the highest and best expression of our collective humanity and that our nation’s diversity was our promise, not our problem. It has been an honor to walk by his side on this incredible journey. I loved him deeply and will miss him dearly."Rest in peace.
