Forward, march. Forward, march. [footsteps] [background noises] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable emanuel cleaver, United States representative from the Fifth District of missouri. Rep. Cleaver let us pray. For the great god almighty who dwells in the shelter of the most high, we approach you as frail and flawed creatures and requests of thy enabling grace. Our hearts are made heavy by the transition of our colleague, our family member, our loved one, the mahogany marylander. Elijah cummings. As he has moved into the realm of the unseen. Holy spirit, we are blessed to be in this spectacular and historic edifice, and we gather in memoriam of the Passionate Public Service of your one of your faithful sons whose earthly assignment has been completed. We have now passed an appropriate review of a man who even as the king of terrors drew nigh, he continued his work to preserve our democracy. Lord, as the breaches and ranks of congress appear more often than we care to contemplate, may those of us who remain in your wondrous world recognize your voice summoning us to put on our marching boots and move our nation toward the light of justice, selfawareness, goodness, and civility. May our march in the tradition of elijah and the other warriors of justice who now sleep with the elders give us the insatiable desire to think only the best, to see only the best, to say only the best, to do only the best, to legislate only the best, and to model our own best. We acknowledge that we must do it now, o lord, while it is day. Because no member of congress, regardless of public adulation, religious affiliation, or public praise over their legislation can work with the night coming. Almighty and everlasting god, as elijahs beginning his hallelujah dance with the angels, may we look at his life and his work as dance lessons for our future entry into the silent halls of death. Even now, o god, i can hear the victorious voice of yours, thundering down from the hallowed halls of heaven reminding us through the words of the songwriter, please save the last dance for me. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable nancy pelosi, speaker of the United States house of representatives. Speaker pelosi please be seated. Good morning. Elijah cummings, son of sharecroppers, master of the house, it is my official and personal and sad honor to welcome chairman Elijah Cummings and all who loved him to this celebration of his life. Thank you, maya, for giving us this honor to say goodbye to elijah in this statuary hall of the house of representatives. Jah was truly a master of the house. He respected its history and in it he helped shape americas future. I have called him our north star, our guide to a Better Future for our children. Elijah has said that our children are our living messages messengers to a future we will never see. Wanted children, he future worthy of their aspirations and true to the values of america. It was in defense of the children at the border that elijah said we can do better. It was he was also a mentor of the house when we were deciding committee assignments, he said give me as many freshmen as you can. I love their potential and i want to help them realize it. As a mentor he was always generous with credit, giving members the opportunity to take the lead. He was not only he knew it was not only important to them but the fresh eyes, their fresh eyes were important to any decisions we made about americas future. As chairmanship of the oversight and reform committee, he lived up to the responsibility to exercise congressional power of oversight of congress. Thank you, elijah, on behalf of the future of our children, on behalf of the future of america to be true to our beliefs. We say this to you as we gather here today in the Old House Chamber where lincoln served, beneath the same clock lincoln heard ticking. Under the gaze of cleo, the muse of history. Cleo reminds the men and women in the congress and these hallowed halls we are part of history that our words and actions will be recorded and face the judgment of history and that we are all part of a long and honorable heritage of our democracy. Chairman cummings understood that. God truly blessed america with the life and legacy of Elijah Cummings. Thats why im very grateful to leader mcconnell, leader schumer, leader mccarthy for agreeing to have elijah lie in repose on the same catapult that Abraham Lincoln lay in repose on at his death. May elijah rest in peace. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable mitch mcconnell, majority leader of the United States senate. Senator mcconnell there are some people who come to washington because they are ambitious to leave their hometowns. And then there are people who want to come to washington precisely because they will never leave their hometowns behind. Elijah cummings did not just represent baltimore, he embodied it. He celebrated its victories. Sought to advocate for its needs. And worked to heal its wounds. He knew there was only one reason why a son of sharecroppers, a child who had literally had to bear the injuries of bigotry and segregation could graduate from law school and eventually chair a powerful committee in congress. Only one reason, because principal leaders had fought to give kids like him a chance. Chairman cummings made it his lifes work to continue that effort. He climbed the ranks here in the capitol. Not because he outgrew his hometown, but because he was so committed to it. Chairman cummings made it his lifes work to continue that i think all of us remember the time that the stillness most clearly was back in 2015, his city roiled by unrest. By day the congressman was here in the capitol working and leading in these hallways of power, but every night he rode the train back home and walked the neighborhoods, bullhorn in hand, encouraging unity and peace. Heres what he said. Lets go home. Lets all go home. Now our distinguished colleague truly has gone home, home to his fathers home. And we pray our god will now reward the service that Elijah Cummings gave in this life with the peace of god which surpasses all understanding in the next. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable ben cardin, United States senator from maryland. Senator cardin maya asked that i share with you a reading from second timothy, chapter 4, verses 7 and 8. I fought a good fight. I finished my course. I have kept the faith. Hence forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable charles e. Schumer, democratic leader of the United States senate. Senator schumer in his first speech in congress, elijah famously quoted maryland congressman mitchell extolling the virtues and deficiencies of the one minute. The 60 second limit of speaking on the house floor. This morning i feel the deficiencies of having only one minute to honor our friend, Elijah Cummings, because he exuded such a rare quality. He was strong, very strong, when necessary. But also kind and caring and honorable. Universally respected and admired in a divided time. His voice could shake mountains, stir the most cynical hearts, inspiring us all to be better. His authority came not from the office he held, nor from the timber of his voice, nor its sometimes thundering boom, it came from the moral force of his life. A sharecroppers son, born and raised in baltimore, Elijah Cummings never forgot where he came from and never lost sight of where he wanted his country to go. Thats why no matter your politics if you knew elijah you went to him for guidance. I often did. I will miss those conversations dearly. I pray for his family, the city of baltimore, and i pray for our nation when people like Elijah Cummings are no longer with us. Those gathered here today have lost a dear friend and our country has lost a giant. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable mark meadows, United States representative from the 11th district of north carolina. Rep. Meadows we are called to give honor where honor is due, so it is fitting that we are here today to honor a friend. Hes called a number of things, father, husband, friend, chairman. For me, i was privileged enough to be able to call him a dear friend. Some have classified it as an unexpected friendship, but for those of us that know elijah, its not unexpected or surprising. Not only is he a quality man, we were able to share a number of personal stories and intimate secrets that elijah never shared with anyone because he was a man of his word. He said he never would. And yet through the tears of the past few days, im reminded of one particular conversation. Because of who elijah is. He had a smile that would consume his whole face. You know that. But he also had eyes that would pierce through anybody that was standing in his way. And he reminded him not too long ago of a quip that he made, i said that darrell issa was going to make him famous. [laughter] and i reminded him that he is not defined by other people. Hes defined by the character of his heart, the honesty of his dialogue, and the man that we will miss. Scripture talks about let not your heart be troubled, you believe in god, believe also in me. In my Fathers House are many mansions. If it were not so, i would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you so elijah has left his tent to go to a mansion, a better place. Perhaps this place and this country would be better served with a few more unexpected friendships. I know i have been blessed by one. God bless you. Ladies and gentlemen, the Morgan State University choir. Someonei can help alongass if i can share somebody with a word or song if i can show somebody he is traveling along then my living shall not be in vain my duty as a christian heart if i can bring back beauty to a world apart if i could spread loves message as the master taught then my living shall not be in vain then my living shall not be in vain then my living shall not be in vain if i can help somebody as i apply along shall not be in vain then my living shall not be in vain then my living shall not be in vain if i can help somebody as i pass along then my living shall not be in vain then my living shall not be in vain ladies and gentlemen, the honorable karen bass, United States representative from the 37th district of california and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Bass 55 members strong the Congressional Black Caucus is a close knit family. Thursday, october 17, the c. B. C. Lost a member of our family. Elijah cummings was respected, revered, and viewed as a quiet giant within the caucus. We watched him lead the oversight and reform committee. We watched his heartfelt passion as he fought for the rights of children separated from their families, as he fought for everyone to have health care and medications that are affordable, and as he fought for everyone to have the right and access to vote. Monday night members of the Congressional Black Caucus paid tribute to mr. Cummings on the house floor. Let me now share their words with you. Elijah came to congress knowing full well that he was coming to a body where people stood on o on the shoulders of giants. He never set out to be a giant, but he became one. He took on the mantle of an evangelist. He didnt work to prepare people for the hereafter. He worked to prepare people for the here and now. When congressman cummings spoke, he spoke with moral authority. Frequently reminding us we are better than that. In the midst of these challenging times, chairman cummings remained optimistic that better days were ahead. He observed americas not a perfect country and sometimes shes stumbled and fell down. Yet the chairman also made clear that based upon her goodness america always got up. In other words, he inspired us to keep the faith anchored in the sincere belief that this, too, shall pass. Let us take comfort and strength in knowing that chairman cummings legacy will be forever enshrined in the halls of congress through the next generation of leaders that his work impacted and inspired. The chairman will be remembered as a man who pulled no punches, was authentic to the core, champion for our democracy. Our nation will surely miss his love, compassion, strength, brilliance, and tireless dedication. Elijah, your Congressional Black Caucus family will do its best to honor you by continuing to stand and defend our democracy with the very same passion, vigor, and determination you exemplified for us. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable james e. Clyburn, majority whip of the United States house of representatives. Mr. Clyburn distinguished family, my colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. In the sixth chapter and eighth verse of the Old Testament book, the prophet micah admonishes us that the lord requires us to do justly, act mercifully, and walk humbly. Elijah e cummings personified this directive in his service and in the core of his living. Elijah had a passion for justice. Justice for those who are underserved. Justice for those who are undercut. And justice for those who are underestimated. He himself had been grossly underestimated at a very early point in his development and as a result, had been placed in special education. But was rescued by a teacher who saw that the only thing special about Elijah Cummings was his inquisitiveness. He and i often talked about the passion we shared about being called to rescue as many others as god gave us courage and strength to do. Elijah understood micahs admonition that sometimes justice, even when dispensed equally, might not always be the proper course of action. And in such instances we are called upon to be merciful. Elijah was merciful. And he sowed it with grace and kindness. Elijah often had soaring precepts but led by shining example. He knew how to balance firmness and fairness. He did not speak very often in our caucus meetings, but when he did, it was to bring people together. Elijah and i often talked about the humbleness of our shared roots in South Carolina soil. And our experiences growing up as p. K. , preacher kids. Neither one of us sought to father our fathers into the ministry, but both of us felt strongly in my fathers admonition to me, which i shared with elijah often, that the world was would much rather see a sermon than hear one. Elijahs service was a soaring, instructive sermon and today i have no doubt that hes dancing with the angels and wishing us godspeed as we pursue the making of a more perfect union, establishing justice, and employing mercy, and walking humbly. Never doing or saying anything to deserve his admonishment that we are better than that. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable steny h. Hoyer, majority leader of the United States house of representatives. Mr. Hoyer maya, family, and those of us who loved him. Much has been said in recent days about our friend, Elijah Cummings. The man, the kind and gentle soul who nevertheless demonstrated a tenacity for justice. And a Boundless Energy to fight for the causes which he believed. To some degree our remarks are redundant because his characteristics were known to so many of us. Today as we gather to bid him a final farewell in this capitol, we remember Elijah Cummings the congressman. Whenever i welcome members to the house i share with them a piece of advice from edmund burke delivered in a campaign address when he ran for the house of commons in 1774. Burke said of the ideal representative, and i quote, it is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions to theirs, and above all ever and in all cases to prefer their interest to his own. Burke went on but his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscious he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure. Nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from providence for the abuses of which he, we, are deeply answerable. That was the core of Elijah Cummings. He believed his job to be here in the house a trust from providence. He made it his mission not only to honor that trust in his own work serving his constituents and the american people, but also to ensure that everyone who serves in Public Office is held to account for the abuse of that trust. The public trust for him was a sacred thing. Like the biblical prophet, elijah, he saw wrongdoing and spent his life working to banish it from our land. In much the same way he saw poverty in baltimore and elsewhere and worked to alleviate it. He saw injustice and worked to make our country more just. He saw inequality and worked to break down barriers and reduce disparities. At a moment of anger and pain in baltimore, he walked with the people and brought them comfort and consolation. A calming influence in a sea of rage. Elijah cummings viewed service in this house for what it is, an instrument by which ordinary citizens make our republic better by giving it their love, their labor, and their very best. And as said before, elijah would repeatedly remind us when we came short of our goals and ideals, we are better than this. That was his answer when confronted with the differences between americas promise and its reality. And it was his guiding principle as a legislator and as the chairman. As we pay our final respects in a place he served so well, we remember a servant of the people, an example of the best of us. Martin luther king jr. Clearly is welcoming elijah as a warrior and drum major for justice. A man who lived his faith and pursued its admonitions. A man whose name meant the lord is my god and who kept faith with god by keeping faith with his fellow men and women. A man who spent his life and career helping us be a better house. A better more beloved community, john lewis, a better country. May god keep and protect our friend and colleague, Elijah Cummings. Here on earth we will miss him. The house will miss him. Maya, you and your family and his friends will miss him. And america will miss him. But we will rejoice in having had elijah walk among us, our friend, our colleague, and as has been said, jim, our example. His living surely was not in vain. Welldone, good and faithful servant. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable emanuel cleaver, United States representative from the Fifth District of missouri. Mr. Cleaver o lord, the chair of the committee, Elijah Cummings, is now meeting you, the chair of the board of all of the universe. We issue thanks for sending elijah our way. We are better for having had him near us lo these many years, we bless those who have come and will come from near and far to pay tribute to this magnificent man. And now to the one who is able to keep you from falling and make you stand without blemish in the presence of gods glory was rejoicing to their only, god our savior, the glory, majesty , power and authority. God, please now receive the bootlegging preacher based in baltimore, Elijah Cummings. Amen. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2019] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] conversation] ladies and gentlemen, the Howard University chorale. On friday, services were held. We will show you speeches by hillary clinton, president clinton, and president barack obama. [applause]