Maryland PIRG and U.S. PIRG Mourn the Passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings

Maryland PIRG

For immediate release: Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019

Media Contacts:  Joe Ready, U.S. PIRG Democracy Program Director, (c)  734-693-9859, [email protected]

Mark Morgenstein, Director of Media Relations, (w) 303-573-5556, (c) 678-427-1671, [email protected]

Maryland PIRG Mourns the Passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings

BALTIMORE — Our democracy works best when our elected representatives prioritize the voices of their constituents over special interests. Congressman Elijah Cummings exemplified this principle. 

Rep. Cummings dedicated much of his life to public service, spending 14 years in the Maryland House of Delegates and more than two decades representing Maryland’s 7th Congressional district. Over the past decade, he served as either ranking member or the chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, trying to ensure that our government works for the public interest. 

U.S. PIRG and Maryland PIRG released the following statements in response to the death of Rep. Cummings:

“Under Chairman Cummings’ leadership, the Committee on Oversight and Reform returned to its critical role of shining light on both government malfeasance and corporate wrongdoing,” said Ed Mierzwinski, senior director of US PIRG’s Federal Consumer Program.  

“Whether he was defending our democracy or standing up for consumers, Rep. Cummings’ constituents and Baltimore were always his priority. We offer our sincere condolences and sympathy to the friends and family of Rep. Cummings,” said Emily Scarr, director of Maryland PIRG. 

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Maryland PIRG is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests. For decades, we’ve stood up for consumers, countering the influence of big banks, insurers, chemical manufacturers and other powerful special interests. Maryland PIRG is part of U.S. PIRG.

U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security, or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. U.S. PIRG is part of The Public Interest Network, which runs organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world, a set of core values, and a strategic approach to getting things done.