Elijah Cummings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elijah E. Cummings
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| Chair of the House Oversight Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – October 17, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Trey Gowdy |
| Succeeded by | Carolyn Maloney |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 7th district |
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| In office April 16, 1996 – October 17, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Kweisi Mfume |
| Succeeded by | Kweisi Mfume |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 39th district |
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| In office January 12, 1983 – January 10, 1996 |
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| Preceded by | Lena King Lee |
| Succeeded by | Sterling Page |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elijah Eugene Cummings
January 18, 1951 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | October 17, 2019 (aged 68) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Joyce Matthews
(div. 1982) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Howard University (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Elijah Eugene Cummings (born January 18, 1951 – died October 17, 2019) was an American politician. He was also a strong supporter of civil rights. He served in the United States House of Representatives for Maryland's 7th district from 1996 until he passed away in 2019. This district included a large part of Baltimore and most of Howard County.
Cummings was a member of the Democratic Party. Before joining the U.S. House, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1983 to 1996. He was also the chairman of the House Oversight Committee from January 2019 until his death.
Contents
About Elijah Cummings
His Early Life and Education
Elijah Cummings was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 18, 1951. His parents, Ruth and Robert Cummings, were sharecroppers. This means they farmed land owned by someone else and paid rent with a share of their crops. Elijah was the third of seven children. When he was 11, he and his friends worked to open a swimming pool in South Baltimore that was only for white people.
Cummings graduated with honors from Baltimore City College high school in 1969. He then went to Howard University in Washington, D.C.. There, he was very active in student government. He was president of his sophomore class and later the overall student government president. He joined the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which is a group that honors smart students. In 1973, he earned a degree in Political Science.
After college, Cummings went to law school at the University of Maryland School of Law. He earned his law degree in 1976 and became a lawyer in Maryland that same year. He worked as a lawyer for 19 years.
Serving in Maryland
Before becoming a U.S. Representative, Cummings served for 14 years in the Maryland House of Delegates. This is like the state's version of the House of Representatives. A woman named Lena King Lee helped him start his political career. In the Maryland General Assembly, he led the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. He was also the first African American to be named Speaker Pro Tempore. This was the second-highest position in the House of Delegates.
Cummings was also part of many important groups and boards. These included the SEED Schools of Maryland Board of Directors. He also served on the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy. He was an honorary member of the Baltimore Zoo Board of Trustees. He even wrote a column for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper.
Elijah Cummings in the U.S. House of Representatives
His Committee Work
In the U.S. House, Cummings was part of several important committees. These groups work on specific topics and help create laws.
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
- Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (He was the Chair of this committee)
- Subcommittee on Domestic Policy
- Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and District of Columbia
- Select Committee on Benghazi (He was the top Democrat on this committee)
As the chairman of the Oversight Committee, Cummings led important hearings. He questioned Michael Cohen, who was President Trump's former lawyer. He also played a big role in the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump. After he passed away, Carolyn Maloney took over as the committee's chair.
Groups He Joined
Cummings was also a member of several special groups in Congress. These groups focus on specific issues.
- Task Force on Health Care Reform
- Co-founder and Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Drug Policy
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- Afterschool Caucuses
He was also part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He led the Congressional Black Caucus during the 108th United States Congress.
Cummings was praised for his work during the congressional hearings on steroids in 2008. These hearings looked into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sports. He questioned baseball players like Mark McGwire. When McGwire avoided answering questions directly, Cummings asked if he was using his right to stay silent. This moment became very famous.
Laws He Supported
Cummings helped create and support several important laws.
- He introduced the Presidential and Federal Records Act Amendments of 2014. This law was signed by President Barack Obama. It updated how the government keeps official records, especially electronic documents.
- He supported the Smart Savings Act. This bill aimed to help federal workers invest their retirement savings more wisely.
- He introduced the All Circuit Review Extension Act. This bill made it easier for federal employees who report wrongdoing (called whistleblowers) to appeal decisions. He said it was important because it let whistleblowers appeal where they live.
At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Cummings spoke about civil rights. He said that the Democratic Party believes that Black Lives Matter. He also said that communities and police work best when they work together.
His Time in Office
Representative Cummings was known for being very passionate about his beliefs. He often showed his emotions in public. Many people said he was also very friendly. He often made friends with members of the Republican Party. He was respected by politicians from both major parties.
Political Campaigns
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In 1996, the Congressman for Maryland's 7th district, Kweisi Mfume, left his job. He became the president of the NAACP. Elijah Cummings won a tough election against many other Democrats. He then won the special election against Republican Kenneth Kondner with over 80 percent of the votes. He won the seat again in November of that year.
After that, he was reelected 11 more times. He always won with a large majority of the votes. In 2006, he ran for office without anyone running against him.
Personal Life
Cummings lived in Baltimore and was an active member of the New Psalmist Baptist Church. He had three children. He married Maya Rockeymoore Cummings in 2009. She later became the chairwoman of the Maryland Democratic Party.
In 2011, his nephew, Christopher Cummings, was sadly murdered. In 2021, four people were charged with the crime.
Elijah Cummings had some health challenges. In 2017, he had surgery on his heart. He also had an infection and a knee infection. In 1994, he was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called thymic carcinoma. He lived with this cancer for 25 years.
His Passing
Elijah Cummings passed away on October 17, 2019, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was 68 years old. His spokeswoman said he died from "complications concerning longstanding health challenges."
Before his funeral, Cummings' body was placed in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol Building. This is a special honor. He was the first African American lawmaker to have his body lie in state at the Capitol. Many people came to see his casket and offer their respects.
His official funeral was held on October 25, 2019, at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore. Many important political figures attended. These included former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Political Beliefs
Healthcare
Representative Cummings believed in single-payer healthcare. This is a system where the government pays for everyone's healthcare. While he supported The Affordable Care Act, he thought it should have included a "public option." This would have given people a government-run health insurance choice.
Honors and Awards
Elijah Cummings received many awards and honors for his work.
Honorary Degrees
He received 13 honorary doctoral degrees from universities across the United States. An honorary degree is a special award given to someone for their achievements, even if they didn't study at that school.
| Location | Date | School | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
 District of Columbia |
2003 | Howard University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
 Maryland |
2006 | Morgan State University | Doctor of Laws (LL.D) |
| Maryland |
2007 | Goucher College | Doctorate |
| Maryland |
2014 | Maryland Institute College of Art | Doctorate |
| Maryland |
2015 | Johns Hopkins University | Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL) |
| Maryland |
December 20, 2017 | University of Maryland, College Park | Doctor of Public Service |
Images for kids
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Cummings speaking at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
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Barack Obama speaking at the funeral of Elijah Cummings.
See also
- List of African-American United States representatives
- List of United States Congress members who died in office
