Washington, D.C. — Today marks the passing of House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Center for American Progress President and CEO Neera Tanden issued the following statement:
Today, with the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings, the nation has lost a leader, and the city of Baltimore has lost a formidable champion and advocate.
Rep. Cummings was the epitome of a public servant. He made history in Maryland as the first African American to serve as speaker pro tempore of the House of Delegates, and in Congress, he served the people of the 7th District of Maryland with passion and pride. As chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, he led the charge to defend democracy and uphold the rule of law. And he was a tireless advocate for civil rights his entire life.
The Center for American Progress mourns the loss of Rep. Cummings. Our collective thoughts and prayers are with his family, including his wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, and their three children; his friends and staff; and the city of Baltimore—a city that Rep. Cummings loved, fought for, and defended until his final days.