Author Archives: Rep. Elijah Cummings

Last week, after House Republicans had held the country hostage for 16 days in support of their Tea Party faction’s ideological crusade against “Obamacare,” reason and patriotism prevailed on Capitol Hill. Presidential resolve, congressional Democratic leadership and bipartisan support from more moderate Republicans managed to avoid default on America’s full faith and credit and returned […]

If ever the American people needed a strong president willing to stand for what is reasonable and right, that time is now. In 2008 and 2012, our rallying cry was “Barack Obama, we have your back.” Today, at this moment of truth for our country, we can thank God that President Obama has the strong […]

As the more extreme House Republicans threaten Armageddon unless we agree to defund the Affordable Care Act (or, as we now typically call it, “ObamaCare”), the Affordable Care Act is already making a positive difference in people’s lives. We all know someone who now can obtain insurance, despite a pre-existing condition. As critical as this […]

Richard Cordray, Director of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, tells the sad story of a man who, needing emergency car repairs, borrowed $500 from a so-called “payday lender.” After nine months of relentless payments, he had paid out $900, and he still owed another $312. That is an outrageous rate of return on a […]

In April of this year, I was asked by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government to share my thoughts on the upcoming 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s seminal “I Have a Dream Speech” at the Lincoln Memorial, August 28, 1963. Just as Americans of all backgrounds will share our nation’s destiny, I observed, we must […]

On Aug. 6 of each year, patriotic Americans of good conscience celebrate that historic day in 1965 when President Lyndon Johnson’s signature made the Voting Rights Act the law of the land. Joined by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ms. Rosa Parks and other civil rights leaders of that time, President Johnson declared that the […]

As President Obama and America move forward with full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, this nation continues to be embroiled in the fundamental struggle for human dignity that Dr. King addressed at the Lincoln Memorial 50 years ago. Although the President did not stress this historic perspective during his seminal remarks on economic renewal […]

When we consider all that is at stake in the ongoing struggle between progressive and reactionary forces on the issue of food stamps, the faces of hungry American children should be the picture in the forefront of our minds and hearts. We all should be following the lead of national leaders like my Massachusetts colleague […]

Until its June 25 decision in the Shelby County v. Holder voting rights case, the Supreme Court had respected the express constitutional authority granted to the Congress by the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments. It had been clear that voting rights legislation would be upheld against facial attacks as long as the congressional legislation was rationally […]

Despite gridlock in the House of Representatives, there are threats to public health and safety that are so compelling that basic humanity demands bipartisan action. One of those challenges is protecting our supply of essential medicines. According to drug shortage tracking conducted by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, drug […]

While America’s economy continues to recover, we should not forget those of our neighbors who are struggling. Wall Street is reaching record levels and housing values are increasing. Yet, far too many Americans – many in our own community – continue to face the loss of their homes. Nationally, U.S. foreclosure activity fell to a […]