Accomplishments in the 105th and 106th Sessions

Representative Elijah E. Cummings was elected to the United States House of Representatives in April, 1996 in a special election for the 7th Congressional District of Maryland. Congressman Cummings serves on the Government Reform Committee, is the Ranking Democrat on the Civil Service Subcommittee, and is a member of the Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources Subcommittee. He also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is a member of its Ground Transportation and Aviation Subcommittees. Congressman Cummings serves on the House Democratic Policy Committee and is the Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus. He serves as co‑chair of the House AIDS Caucus and is a member of the Democratic Caucus Education and Health Care Reform Task Forces. 

During the 105th Congress, as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Cummings played an instrumental role in securing over $2 billion for the state of Maryland and almost $33 million for the 7th Congressional District under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. This included funding for transportation infrastructure improvement in the Baltimore Empowerment Zone ($10.5 million) and reconstruction of the Baltimore Beltway ($6.75 million).

Concerned about the health and welfare of our nation, Congressman Cummings has introduced two key pieces of legislation during the 106th Congress:

 1) The Federal Employees Long-Term Care Insurance Act, which makes long-term care insurance available to federal employees, retirees, and their families at affordable group rates (Public Law 106-265);

 2) The Organ Donor Leave Act, which increases the amount of leave time available to a Federal employee in connection with serving as an organ or bone marrow donor (Public Law 106-56).