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.

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; 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; 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 That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that— (1) the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp honoring Congressman Elijah E. Cummings; and (2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.

Summary: This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a commemorative stamp should be issued by the U.S. Postal Service honoring the life and legacy of Congressman Elijah E. Cummings.