IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 42 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Citizens’ 

Stamp Advisory Committee, as an entity of the United States Postal 

Service, should issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Congressman 

Elijah E. Cummings. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 17, 2023 

Mr. MFUME (for himself, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. NORTON, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. 

KILDEE, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. DOGGETT, Ms. 

WILLIAMS of Georgia, Ms. SEWELL, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. PAYNE, 

Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. GARCI ́A of Illinois, Mr. PASCRELL, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. TRONE, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. IVEY, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. 

DESAULNIER, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Ms. 

TITUS, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. EVANS, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. CLEAVER, 

Mr. KHANNA, Mr. TONKO, Mr. COSTA, Ms. MENG, Ms. CLARKE of New 

York, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. HOYER, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. CARSON, 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. HORSFORD, Mr. GARAMENDI, Ms. 

PRESSLEY, Ms. BROWN, Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. 

KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, and Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Accountability 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, as an entity 

of the United States Postal Service, should issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Congressman Elijah E. 

Cummings. 


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•HRES 42 IH 

Whereas Congressman Cummings was born in Baltimore, 

Maryland, on January 18, 1951, to Ruth and Robert 

Cummings, former sharecroppers from Clarendon County, South Carolina, who moved their family to Baltimore 

as part of the ‘‘Great Migration’’; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings began his education as a 

student in a lower-income, segregated Baltimore public 

elementary school; 

Whereas the work ethic of Congressman Cummings led him 

to be an honors graduate of Baltimore City College high 

school, a Phi Beta Kappa honors graduate of Howard 

University, and a juris doctor graduate of the University 

of Maryland School of Law; 

Whereas, throughout his adult life, Congressman Cummings 

worked tirelessly to inspire America’s young people to 

strive for excellence through the example of his own early 

life; 

Whereas, early in his distinguished legal career, Congressman 

Cummings was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, where his dedication to the public, personal credibility, and respectful relationships with other delegates 

from both major political parties over nearly 14 years led 

to his rise to the position of Speaker pro tempore, the 

first African American in Maryland history to attain that 

position; 

Whereas, in April of 1996, Elijah Cummings won a special 

election to succeed Congressman Kweisi Mfume as the 

Member of Congress for Maryland’s 7th Congressional 

District, where he brought his unyielding passion, diligence, and integrity to our national government until his 

untimely passing on October 17, 2019, at the age of 68; 


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•HRES 42 IH 

Whereas, for more than 23 years, the long and productive 

service of Congressman Cummings in the House of Representatives encompassed the terms of four Presidents 

from both political parties; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings’ sense of fairness, respect 

for others, and tireless efforts to empower the American 

people gained the respect and affection of his colleagues 

on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Forces 

and Oversight and Reform Committees, as well as the 

Congress as a whole; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings was a champion for the 

people who expanded benefits for Federal employees including healthcare coverage, leave time, and protection 

from discriminatory practices; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings worked closely with his colleagues to pass the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006, which included the provisions of the Dawson Family Act to provide funding to 

protect witnesses; 

Whereas, while serving as Chair of the Subcommittee on 

Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Congressman 

Cummings also led the passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings was elected amongst his 

peers to serve as Chairman of the Oversight and Reform 

Committee in 2019; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings served as Chairman for 10 

months, during which he presided over landmark hearings, mentored freshman members, and made a tremendous impact; 


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•HRES 42 IH 

Whereas, as Chairman, he led numerous investigations regarding the pharmaceutical industry and the committee 

ultimately released a report including the recommendation that the House pass the Elijah E. Cummings Lower 

Drug Costs Now Act, which was successfully passed by 

the House of Representatives in December 2019; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings’ tenure as Chairman exemplified both his passionate dedication to the well-being of 

the American people and his respect for the humanity 

and political viewpoints of his colleagues in both political 

parties; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings led efforts to address the 

financial stability of the Postal Service, including introducing legislation intended to support universal service; 

Whereas Congressman Cummings’ congressional leadership, 

strong advocacy, and his efforts toward bipartisan consensus were both exemplary and legendary; and 

Whereas Chairman Elijah Cummings’ admonition of conscience that we must be ‘‘better than this’’ is a legacy 

worthy of both our national reflection and our commemoration: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) the United States Postal Service should 

4 issue a postage stamp honoring Congressman Elijah 

5 E. Cummings; and 


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•HRES 42 IH 

1 (2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 

2 should recommend to the Postmaster General that 

3 such a stamp be issued. 

Æ 


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