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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.