WASHINGTON, D.C. – On November 20, 2024, legislation introduced by Congressman Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) in the U.S. House of Representatives to designate a Baltimore United States Post Office (USPS) as the ‘‘United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building” was passed unanimously by the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The bill to rename the post office at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland in honor of Congressman Cummings now heads to the floor for consideration by the entire U.S. House. Companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Maryland Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen.
“I am elated that this bill has taken a momentous step forward in the legislative process, and will now be considered by the full United States House of Representatives. Elijah was a true statesman and a commanding force who epitomized how to lead in public service and how to be a voice for the otherwise voiceless,” said Congressman Mfume. “This post office renaming will duly recognize Elijah, his life, and his legacy – and I remain committed to seeing this fight through to the end to ensure his work is never taken for granted,” he concluded.
“I am proud to have introduced this bill in the Senate and am glad to see it has passed both the House and Senate Committees. I look forward to this important bill passing the full House and Senate so that we can honor the life and work of Elijah Cummings. His life of public service is an example for us all,” said Senator Cardin.
“Our friend Elijah Cummings dedicated his life to the pursuit of equal justice and equal opportunity for all – and nowhere did he work harder to achieve those goals than in his beloved Baltimore community. The Committee’s approval of our legislation marks a key milestone in our effort to recognize all that Elijah did for Baltimore, for Maryland, and for the country,” said Senator Van Hollen.
“On behalf of the Cummings family, we thank Congressman Mfume and Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for keeping alive the legacy of my father, their friend, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. We are deeply grateful for all of their work to rename a district post office in recognition of his commitment to public service, including his work on postal issues that came before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee,” said Jennifer Cummings, the late Congressman’s eldest daughter upon the legislation’s introduction.
Photo credit: Maryland State Archives
The introduction of this legislation was an effort in partnership with the Cummings family, who wrote to Congressman Mfume on August 20, 2024. Their letter expressed the Cummings family’s support to honor Congressman Cummings with the renaming of a post office after their father.
Read the bill text HERE.
