Grateful to my fellow allison,o pitch it for who is getting welldeserved unitleading investigative having just Left National public radio. In 2017. Will introduce the head table. If you do have a question please write them down and pass them up him and we will try as many as time permits and so forth. If you have a mobile device through there in the past few live,s, before we went please silence or cell phones. Introduce those questions rather not have them not sound like r2d2 from star wars. I would like to introduce the head table to my left. Smith, a member of the National Press club headliners volunteer for them a congressman has that affect hold your applause until the entire has been introduced. Approval or disapproval, we hope not the level not the latter. Not a symbol of any journalistic bias one way or the other. Next to mike, lisa matthews, his assignment manager as at the and member ofss the National Press board of governors. One of my predecessors who served as president of the National Press club. Farook, who loved to some be called danny around the club recorder at the tech and member of the press club board of governors. Jeff barker, washington reporter of the baltimore sun, robert, inional political reporter review and member of the club as well. The Maryland Democratic party th of congressman sam is the Washington Bureau chief at cnn. He is rushing over here. We will introduce him when the time comes. Reporter bob weiner and the National Press club member who organized todays luncheon. Thank you, bob. Washington corridor reporter at the new the new york post. Reporter atuse bloomberg news. We welcome our headliner, congressman elijah, democrat from the state of maryland, has oversight and government reform. His remarks come in the wake of President Trump off his comments about his district, he called baltimore a disgusting rat in rodent infested mess and the worst in america. Will alsogs investigate and the trump administration, the Prescription Drug industries price practices. 13th in thehis house, he is been an advocate for health care, the fight against a leader in the fight against drug abuse, and assistance to lower income americans. Bob weiner, members adliners, cochairs, and was executive director bill, and many other Staff Members of the press club, who i think for helping to put together the lunch. In august, we are a bit sleepy, but not too much today. With that, i am going to introduce congressman cummings, who will get some remarks. We will have some q a and fun this afternoon. [applause] representative cummings thank you very much. God has called me to this moment. I did not ask for it. Shareon of formers cooperatives, who plowed the cotton, picked strawberries, i am indeed humbled by the invitation. I want you to fully understand that this invitation and the state was setting long time ago, two months ago. Happened that destiny has brought us to this moment. I would like to thank the National Press club. , bob, and jeff. Think all of you for inviting me to join you today for this conversation. It is my hope there will be a conversation among citizens about the state of our government and the future of our of our country and our country democracy. I want to address the recent Mass Shootings that took allies of people this past weekend. First of all, let me express my to they and condolences families. And i want to thank our first responders. Those who go into dangerous situations to save lives. I thank god for you. For truly heartbroken families and communities suffering at the hands of gun violence. Again, wethat once are mourning the lives of those who are stolen from us before they reach their potential or destiny. Some violence seems to know no bounds, none. His school, movie theater, park, church. The only thing that has changed is the location. The only thing. Im a man of deep faith. Believe prayer works. But the American People are break begging us for more than thoughts and prayers. They want action. They want it now. They know it is a critical moment in our history. That is why i cosponsored a bipartisan background check which will require background checks and five on transfers between private parties. House andpass the called on Mitch Mcconnell to consider the measure. And then i want president to sign it. We want action. Hateful,lso stop the incendiary comments. We have got to do it. Those in the highest levels of stop invokingt fear using race it using racist language and reprehensible reprehensible behavior. It only creates more distance between us and hinders our ability to Work Together for the common good. As a country, we finally must say that enough is enough. With there done hateful rhetoric, that we are done with the Mass Shootings, that we are done with White Supremacy domestic terrorists andorizing our country terrorizing everything we stand for and everything our phenomenal military has fought for. Conversation,of a with mysation i had 10yearold niece this weekend. , are theyncle elijah going to put us in cages . Are they going to put us in cages . Ted is coming from a 10yearold. We are better than that. We must stand together with those who we do not look like, who we do not agree with, and recognize that we have more in common than we have that separates us. [applause] we all are sick of this. We all want decency and respect. Decency and respect. We want our communities to be protected. We want all to live in a country where our children are safe when they go to the mall or to walmart or to the local school. Demand stand united and change. Lot, it i think about a is one thing when you have a government where the people are , didd of the government you hear what i said . Afraid of the government and we need to switch that around where the government is afraid of the people. And i have hope because i know so many people at home and every city and country are watching communities of el paso and dayton in pain. We are grieving with them. We feel your pain. We really do. We feel it. Own,u prepare to bury your ao were simply trying to live life in peace doing what americans normally do. With the pain must become passionate with the passion, we must do our purpose and shift our pain into action. Demand our government take serious action demand people who are obtaining guns to put an end to the senseless violence. Let me turn to our discussion for the day. I will touch upon the great work my committee is doing and trying to do. To eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of this administration and f is to address Critical Issues like Prescription Drug prices. Address blatant attempts to attack my community and in so doing, to divide us as a country. And to distract us. I want to emphasize that there distract us. All that unites us and combats the dangers our country faces. Born along with my father and six brothers and sisters in baltimore. Educated and still live in baltimore. Know how neighbors to proud i am that they have insted me to represent them the congress of the United States of america. Thank you, baltimore. Thank you. My neighbors by large are the most determined, hardworking and deserving people that i know. Anyone, especially our national leaders, should he proud to have as their countrymen and women. They are no different than the people of texas or ohio or greatre else in our nation. We have honest and candid conversations. To protestesitate what is lacking and what is wrong in the city. These criticisms are necessary for they are the birthing round of change. At the same time, unbalanced criticism can be self reinforcing causing us to doubt our ability to improve. We are improving every day. When i hear a criticism from anyone about the city, what bothers me the most is we have people stepping on hopes of our children. When i have my niece asking if they will put us in cages, there is just something wrong with that. Our children must know we are doing everything we can right now to ensure they will have a better future. Toill do my part until i die make sure that happens. Time is precious. Anythingt waste it on that is attempting to distract me from my purpose. When i became the chairman, i wanted to conduct rigorous and responsible oversight and stress the issues that matter most to American People. That is what im doing and trying to do. We are addressing issues like Prescription Drug pricing, Voting Rights, criminal justice reform, opioid abuse, and each one of these is near dear to my heart. A longaddressed him for time. My First Committee hearing was on the rising cost of Prescription Drug prices. The first witness before my committee as chairman. It was 333 a month. She died. Do you timmy . Do you hear me . Old. Ars she will never reach her destiny. She is gone. 3033 a month. We heard directly from patients. That is why lost an investigation into the truck club drug prices. The American People simply want to know why Drug Companies are increasing the prices so drastically. They make drugs and much more affordable. Oversight is the first step to find the building. If we are being blocked and not ,etting the information we need to hold administration accountable, then we have a problem. Thats exactly what happened what is happening. Documents in response to our request to these Drug Companies. Is analyzing the staff we are expecting more. He told them not to. That is unheard of. The footnote. Dont let the congress off lightly. Everyone keeps talking about the president ial race, which is very important. They talk about congressional seats and that is important. But do not let the senate go. Do not. Zero in on the senate. We ask like we dont have the power to change the senate but we do. We have to act now, right now. My mother on her dying dead at 91 years old undergirds to me i shall never forget that are part of my dna. , she on her deathbed didnt say like, i love you. She did not say, im proud of you. The last words she spoke before she died was do not let anyone take our votes away. Those were her last words. Reports of voter suppression, let me say this. Tired of people and you and the press should appreciate this, they want to be blinded lined it by what we see. You, we are so much better than that. I hope we can learn from events of the past. Improving the criminal justice system. Was passed by the house, a fair chance act, which would fromnt federal government requesting history information from apple ands until they stage, very important for helping folks get jobs. Im just an act with my colleague, senator Elizabeth Warren. Because it is time for the nation to take a comprehensive approach to providing resources we need. More than 200 groups have endorsed the bill. Than 100 members of congress have cosponsored the legislation. I say lets get it done. Can clap whenever youre ready to. I will be traveling to West Virginia to talk with advocates and medical professionals about the challenges that they face every day when addressing this of endemic. These are some of the ways my committee is working hard to improve the lives of all, and i emphasize all, all americans. At the same time, we have launched investigations to that waste, fraud, and abuse, our job under the constitution of the United States of america. For example, we have been investigating the child separation policy and the decision to add a Citizenship Question to the senses. Whatant to really evaluate happened here. The problem is the administration refused to give us documents we requested and is to the delay and stonewall approach. Vacated thisation approach the day after theft control of the house when he warlike posture against democrats. Warlike. This is frustrating and it takes up a lot of time and effort. We need to ensure we dont let administrations attempts to delay and obstruct us go although go unchallenged. Us American People voted into the majority with the expectation we will uncover, and ultimately face these abuses. The Oversight Committee as a primary investigator body of the congress. Our job is to ensure the same requirements, same requirements of transparency and accountability that have applied to every other administration applied to this one. The question we must ask toselves is what do we hope leave for the next generation . It is a major question. I say, if you want your more, you do have to vote like you have never before. If you want your elected officials to work for you, and not for their own self interests, he to vote. If you want more from the highest levels of government, if you want more, only if you want more, you need to vote. You need to get up and vote. It is time for america to wake close attention to what the administration is trying to do. Listen to this carefully. Experts,arnings from within the commerce department, that adding a Citizenship Question would be costly and would harm the accuracy, this administration would use the Voting Rights act of all things, as a pretext trying to add the Citizenship Question to the 2020 senses. New documents suggest the administration wanted to add the Citizenship Question in order to gerrymander legislative districts to help republicans. Right for any or of us. That means, we would not get what we had paid into. I want to remind the taxpayers of america, you pay taxes, you best. E the very the very best from our government. Transparency about these facts ultimately led to the president dropping the Citizenship Question at the last question. Imagine what wouldve happened if congress and the media turned a blind eye to their efforts. Ira everyone to take a long look at the actions and policies of the administration to determine how they will vote in the next election. I want to leave you with a thought. A fight fored in the soul of our democracy. Before our present administration won. To the democratic caucus. I said this is not about trump and this is not about hillary. It is much bigger than that. The soul oft for our democracy and we have to understand that. We, you and the media must confront and overcome continuing constitution we created to protect institutions, both foreign and thomistic. Those of us who raise up to citizenship in the time of dr. Martin luther king, are not at ease. We are not afraid. Above all, we will not be defeated. We havent toured and overcome such threats before before and we understand the duty to restore the good, bad, and ugly. Us that often reminded our nations darkest hours half often been just before the dawn. Come on, now. Go ahead. You can clap. [applause] rep. Cummings and let me remind you. He also said something i think about every day. Our silenceften, becomes our betrayal. Betrayal of future generations, people like my niece. Betrayal of those who have worked hard all her lives to be , giving they can be everything they have got. The promise stands true. If we vote together, we can destroy the light of democracy. He said dont use your cell phones. But i want you to google. I say this to every preacher, every evangelical. Speechwriter. Everybody. I want you to read this article. Places of it sets in by president george w. Bushs former speechwriter from the august 2 edition of the Washington Post. Detailed the races history of our country and those victimized by, making the point that racist comments real the scars of so many past wounds. Pointo made a critical that the president s racist comments expand and divide our nation the divide in our nation. Those who allow the comments to go on said are enabling them. I want to thank my wife. And my daughter, jennifer, for being with me today. And make sure you read the article. Preachers need to preach from it. About the business of uniting our great country, we are a truly great country. We have to keep it. I thank you. [applause] by the way, i really appreciate it. Up in thehe press all gallery. The questions have been flowing. They indeed have. With your permission, we will have a little fireside chat. This is in case you need it, sir. Many napkins. A couple of housekeeping reminders for those of you who may have turned death tuned in late. Watching the remarks of chairman Elijah Cummings, of the United States congress. And to our audience both here and other ballroom, we do invite members of the public to the public. It is not necessarily coming from those of us in the audience who are members of the press have to maintain neutrality. You have a lot to say, mr. Chairman. On the president s it to el paso and dayton, just for the sake of along,to move things should Congress Cancel recess . People are dying. Do you hear what i said . People are afraid. People are afraid to even go to the movies. Afraid to go shopping or go about their daily lives. I represented diverse district. I have the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor. I have all people coming up to me with tears running down their faces. To turn i do not want on the news anymore. Please help us save our country. They are serious about it. Responsibility to do what is necessary to save lives. You talked about your bill that passed the house. Have you spoken to anyone in the senate, majority leader mcconnell in particular, to move this background check legislation . Ive not talked to mr. Mcconnell and i am asking to help the American People to move forward. He is doing everything in his power to block it. I asked him, humbly, to move away from the door. Before he got on a said a lot very much , appening i think we really need to be when listening to talk about what theyre going to do. Let me be clear. Have a lot of talk but in the end, nothing happens. Hook, ier after sandy joined with the congressman of republican, to get some meaningful legislation back. After sandy hook. Nothing happened. The question is either you do it or you dont. Isaac would play a little game here i think we play a little game here. When i was a kid, you shuffle things and put them under stuff. I think what is happening is the republicans, listen to me carefully, they make all of these glorious statements, they will make a lot of statements love gun safety but i guarantee you, people want action. The people simply want action. They will makedo glorious statements and they will know they can make these statements without any figure thens in the president has got their back. I believe it is a situation where Mitch Mcconnell has got his back. What we have to do is demand results. I would say to every editorial you must askworld, for action. Has with what have we resulted in and what has come out of it . As i said to michael cohen, to not ask a question in these difficult times of why did something happen to you. Ask light happened for you. I believe this is a moment in our history that journalistss, will be the ones governmente doors of government and treat us to a new sense of normal. Told youeaker pelosi that she plans to call back congress . I have not talked to her about it but i would fully support her if she did that. I think she is a phenomenal woman. Really do. She is courageous. She is one of the few people i back can galvanize this congress to address the issues of the American People. Is that hers conscience is in sync with her conduct everyday. Her. Ieve in and trust i think if you are looking for a signal of where we should be going, look to speaker pelosi. Complex i dont want to spend too much time on gun violence but some things have been popping up. Is making visits to date men el paso. He said his rhetoric brought people together. How would you size of the flex let me bey president , tothe be a controller and chief. It is so important. Is what i want and what people expect from leadership. I remember when president obama was the president , we had a big meeting in the democratic caucus. Someone was complaining about him not speaking up on certain things. President obama said something i never will forget. He said i didnt speak about it because i realized every syllable that comes out of my mouth affects the world. He said im very careful about what i said. Hope that the president would consider that and would hope he would embrace these families. I was watching this the news this morning. There were protests and what have you. So again, that is all i want right now. And to sign the bills, of course. Problem, an gun anger problem, a race problem, or . You have all of it. We have people who need mental mistreatments. Are bentgot people who on doing harm you have people who are there on the edge and sometimes these comments push them all further. It is rarely that i go through a week without getting a death threat. Rarely. Im just trying to do my job. Doing what the people paid me to do and what i swore to do. Im doing what the constitution says i must do. Some people get confused. I was firsthen interviewed by the new york times. Chairmanore i became you are the president s worst nightmare. I said that hurts my feelings. I said im not about the business of being the president s worst nightmare. Know, im doing my job. I have these duties by said guess what, the president is probably a nice guy but i love my democracy. I love my country. And i love my countrymen. More. Words, let me tell you something. From sharecropping parents to the congress of the United States of america to a soldout press club event, that is coming a long way. But only in america and only because of democracy. I get that. [applause] as you indicated to you remarks during the time you agreed to come here and today, the president made your appearance a bit more newsworthy throughout his remarks. Targeting your district. Governor has recently said, larry hogan, that you cannot put all the blame on Baltimore City on the president. Helped advance the preceding impeachment proceedings of president nixon. He did say that you could do more to help. And everything we have in trying to do at the state level, he would love to have more help from this date level and congress. What more do you think can be done . A lot can be done. You know what, i want President Trump to come to my district. God, i want him to come so bad. I cant get to him. You are all doing a good job of it, put that in your editorials. Want him to come i want him to come, i want them to come and look at my entire city. I will ride with him for hours and then i wanted to go to Baltimore County where the richest of the rich are and then i want him to see the wonderful things that are happening. Know, when he beat up on people who have had difficulties and challenges in their lives, it doesnt help them. No one in this room would do that. Again, there are many things i would talk to him about when he comes. Results thatabout you are need to see when he comes. I want you all to be there. Baltimore is a beautiful city. I have got to tell you that we work hard every day. She knows. We work hard every day. But it is difficult. But at the same time, we have done some wonderful things. Things,ing of wonderful our good colleagues at the Washington Post did an interesting piece on efforts underway including yours but one thing that jumped out of the piece is you had they said tapped,hael, who was one of his deputies said, all of these wonderful things but theyre moving in Different Directions and not a lot is getting done. All of the oars to row in the same direction to get done not just in baltimore, but take it up a few thousand feet about urban challenges nationwide . Sure. You are right. We all have to draw together. One thing, i challenged all of our organizations, Michael Bloomberg has been phenomenal for baltimore. I could go down the list. I have encouraged them, all of the philanthropists and the people who help us, is to not act in silos but you bring together the resources so they are made readily available to people. Ive also said theres nothing like an opportunity you dont i wouldut third encourage know about. I would encourage our leaders to come together and work hard. Peoplew, when you have in your district who are drug addicted, it is tough. I would ask people, since you you to look, i want at nick mick mulvaneys. Ane a look and you will see interesting comparison. With withi agree heard to President Trump, said it is not a time to be politically correct. Youre right. Were trying to save our nation. We need funds with regard to drug additions. Listen to me. There are thousands of people in baltimore who are working hard every day. Some of them are not operating on a shoestring because they do not have one. The basketballng team and tutoring children. They are doing everything in their power to allow children to reach their destinies. To take them to the Outlet Center here you will see little children in a very depressed community sitting there learning code with regard to computers. Them to all of the things we need. Andeed somebody at the top, by the way, real areas. Do not forget them. Do not forget the rural areas. Do not forget them. They are very important. Made,time statements are we forget there are many suffering in appalachia and i will be going in a week or so. They have a serious drug problem in West Virginia. Serious. As concerned about them is my nextdoor neighbor. We have about four minutes left. Abouthe talked appalachian opioid, any prospects for further legislation on opioid abuse . Again, all your editorial boards, all of them, i want them act, whichthe care senator Elizabeth Warren and i cosponsored because it makes sense. It would give us 100 million. Drug problem is serious everywhere. It would allow local organizations working on this issue to have access to those funds. Surell work on making to bes are trained sensitive to drug addicted people. Bring a very important and lifesaving drugs we want to make sure we get those two people needed. That the supplier of the lockdown went up on the price bigtime. We are trying to get that in the hands of people who need it. On Prescription Drugs, offguard in returns of reducing Prescription Drug prices. You talkede the about before your committee and conservatives seem to be calling it socialism. How do you get the deal done if it is something the president says he wants done . Hide and go seek. Member but i said a few minutes ago . If the president wants to get it done, it will get done. Hello . Understand that. This hocuspocus stuff does not work when people are dying. It does not work. And i have got to say this. I know we have got a minute. Let me be clear. Dont get it twisted. Do not get it twisted. You must read the article i referred you to. I hope that in the next debate, it will depart of the discussion. It is so important that you go for higher ground. Must tell you that barack obama was a phenomenal president. A phenomenal president. [applause] rep. Cummings i have 15 seconds. Wast of people when i chairman, i cooperated. I signed 700 letters with the republicans investigating the obama administration. Andwo last questions, before that i will present you with the National Press club mug. Just whatngs allow, i needed. To drink your tea. Are your ravens going to be my steelers this year . And are we any closer to impart impeachment . Rep. Cummings week and a beat you, starting with the second. We cannot hurt you. Hurt you. Going to got so excited about that one. What was the other one question mark impeachment. [laughter] rep. Cummings over and over again i have said that the time when impeachment may come, i take the guidance of this phenomenal woman, nancy pelosi. Because im on the inside. Administrationy disobeys a court order, that i am for impeachment. Because then i am for impeachment. Qc by that time we are in trouble, we are in big trouble. What it says is that the laws dont matter. I want you to understand, the guys on my block, you know, the regular everyday guys, they asked me the question over and are is, there there to forms of justice . Im a do everything in my power to lift up our nation to make at the very, very best that it can be. And may god bless you all. [applause] thank you, chairman cummings. Thanks to the staff of the National Press club, members of the headline committee, we are adjourned. Rep. Cummings thank you. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2019] glass]lanking of [indecipherable conversation] House Oversight chair Elijah Cummings speaking at the press club today about President Trumps remarks about baltimore and the weekend Mass Shootings in dayton. We will show you Elijah Cummings speech again tonight at 9 00 eastern here on cspan. Joe, former Vice President biden is in iowa bang this afternoon campaigning for the president ial nomination and he will have his thoughts on President Trumps response to the weekend shootings. We will have live coverage of that at 2 30 eastern here on cspan. President trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited victims today from sundays mass shooting in dayton. The media was not allowed in the visit. He left the miami valley hospital, where a number of supporters and protesters waited for the motorcade. Do something] when the president left the air force base, heading for texas, when a gunman shot at least 22 people in El Paso Walmart on saturday. Thean has live coverage of 2020 president ial candidates at the iowa bang state fair, starting thursday at 1 45 p. M. Eastern with steve bullock, followed by joe biden, and friday were live with the former hud secretary, julian castro. Saturday we are live at 10 a. M. Eastern with governor jay inslee, senator kamala harris, senator amy klobuchar, senator formern gillibrand, governor john hickenlooper, senator Elizabeth Warren, and senator booker. Watch the candidates live at the iowa state fair starting thursday on cspan and watch anytime online at cspan. Org or listen live from you are on the go, using the free cspan radio app. Served as that when he commissioner of the fda 23rd commissioner of the fda, joining us