"Chairman Elijah Cummings was a hero. Just watch any video of him in any hearing and you will understand the power, dignity, and moral fortitude he brought to our country.
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Chairman Cummings was a transformational leader: the son of sharecroppers who became a United States Congressman. I feel a profound sense of gratitude to have breathed the same air and walked the same rooms as him. In a Congress whose culture is obsessed with seniority and tenure, Chairman Cummings was uniquely focused on the next generation. Despite having so much stature and power, he had absolutely zero ego. None. He constantly looked to uplift the communities and people whose stories were overlooked and underserved. He was tough and compassionate, and always reminded people that they were never too late to do good.
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Chairman Cummings’ insight mattered deeply to me. His moral compass was profound. He used to meditate before every hearing, centering himself spiritually before we made decisions about healthcare, mass incarceration, immigration, and more. Sometimes, after a particularly grueling hearing ended, I’d be walking back to the anteroom and I’d hear an “Ocasio!” coming from the Chair’s seat. He’d be there, pointer finger curled, calling me over. He’d let me know when he thought I did well, or ask me a pointed question, or say something to expand my thinking. People do not do that in Congress, but he actively groomed the next generation: whether it was how carefully he selected his witnesses, to the incredible committee staff he put together - easily one of the best teams on the Hill - or how he never, ever let a person go unseen.
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I will miss you, Chairman Cummings. My only hope is that we can continue this work as you wanted, and to do you proud. Rest in Power." - AOC