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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of U.S.
4Congressman Elijah Eugene Cummings, who passed away on October
517, 2019; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Rep. Cummings was born in Baltimore to Robert and
7Ruth Cummings on January 18, 1951; he graduated from Howard
8University in Washington and received his law degree from the
9University of Maryland; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rep. Cummings served in the Maryland House of
11Delegates from 1983 to 1996; he was elected to the U.S. House
12of Representatives for Maryland's 7th Congressional District
13in 1996; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Rep. Cummings was chairman of the House Oversight
15and Reform Committee; from that platform, he sought the truth
16and upheld the Constitution; he was a powerful orator and even
17when criticizing others maintained a dignified respect for the
18institution and the people he served; he was slow to talk about
19his achievements and quick to offer counsel and support to
20constituents and colleagues of every political persuasion; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Rep. Cummings was chair of the Black Congressional

 

 

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1Caucus from 2003 to 2004; he was an early backer of Barack
2Obama for president in 2008 and was the Maryland chair of the
3campaign; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Rep. Cummings's background explains his
5effectiveness as a leader; he was a child of sharecroppers,
6student government president at Howard University, Phi Beta
7Kappa, and the first Black speaker pro tem of the Maryland
8House of Representatives; his life stands as an example of
9public service at its finest; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rep. Cummings is survived by his wife, Maya
11Rockeymoore, and his three children; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
14we mourn the passing of U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings and
15extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all
16who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Rep. Cummings as an expression of
19our deepest sympathy.