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Statement

‘America Lost a Powerful Leader – and a Genuine Hero – Yesterday;’ MomsRising Mourns Passing of Congressman Elijah Cummings

October 18, 2019
Workplace Justice, Paid Sick Days, Paid Family & Medical Leave, Health Care, Immigration

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO, Monifa Bandele, Senior Vice President, and Donna Norton, Executive Vice President of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings yesterday.

“The child of sharecroppers, Elijah Cummings rose to become one of the most effective and respected members of the United States Congress – a leader who commanded respect because of his passion, dignity, and unerring sense of right and wrong. He was an eloquent and tireless champion of all those who struggle against discrimination, poverty, violence, and a system that often perpetuates injustice.

“Rep. Cummings was a gifted orator who was passionate in defending those whose voices often go unheard or ignored – whether they be children from asylum-seeking families held in deplorable conditions in cages at our border or members of his Baltimore community being maligned by a President who knows and cares nothing about their struggles. Rep. Cummings stood up to bullies, no matter how powerful, and demanded justice for all.

“Fierce and fair, Cummings devoted his life to making opportunity equal, rooting out discrimination, and stopping violations of civil and human rights. At MomsRising, we were privileged to work with him to advance several vitally important bills, including the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Healthy Families Act, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and the FAMILY (Family And Medical Insurance Leave) Act. According to reports, his last act related to holding those who endangered asylum-seekers accountable.

“America lost a powerful leader and a genuine hero yesterday. We will miss him terribly. We dedicate ourselves to continuing Elijah Cummings’ fight for inclusion, civil rights, and justice for every person in every corner of our nation.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.