Congressman Cummings Receives Kennedy Award
WASHINGTON – Black Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, was honored last night with the Thomas Kennedy Award, given by the Speaker of the Assembly to, “a former member of the House of Delegates for his or her personal courage and dedication to the principles of liberty and freedom.”
“I believe that those who take the oath of public office rarely show courage in our work; we are simply doing our job,” said Cummings in his prepared remarks. “Our men and women who are fighting right now in Afghanistan and Iraq are deserving of this award. They show incredible courage each and every day. Those who serve our nation in the Peace Corps, with USAID, and those who fight the same battles for basic human decency and progress here in Maryland, whether they are firefighters or police, or schoolteachers, they all deserve this award as well.
“Their courage in public service is unmatched. However, because I am the one receiving this award, I can promise them that I will redouble my fight to reach the goals I have always sought during my service. I will work my hardest, to do my best for them. I do this because I believe that we were not placed in this life to live only for ourselves, we are here to respect each other, help each other, and lift each other up in life.”
Cummings joined past recipients of the award that include former Senator Paul Sarbanes and Senator Benjamin Cardin along with former Governor Harry Hughes and former Secretary of State Tyras Athey.
The award was presented by Speaker Mike Busch at the Buffet Dinner of The Speaker's Society.
