Congressman Elijah Cummings - Keynote Address

Howard University's 2012 Symposium on U.S. Health Care Initiative on Democracy, Markets, Communications and Technology featured the Keynote Address from Howard University Alum, Congressman Elijah Cummings.

"When I heard about this conference I became very excited because this is something that is very important," opened Congressman Cummings.

Cummings addressed the symposium participants about the Affordable Care Act that is currently being debated in Congress. The crowd heard unfortunate stories about families and average citizens who faced challenges because of the lack of affordable Health Care.

"Ladies and gentleman this is unacceptable for a nation that is as wealthy and generous as ours," said Congressman Cummings in his call to action in support of the Affordable Care Act.

Congressman Cummings also spoke upon the many challenges and oppositions that the Affordable Care Act is facing from adversaries in Congress. "If there is any time for us, in every single discipline that we have, to fight for our lives, it is now."

In closing of the keynote address, Congressman Cummings spoke about how his interaction with his mother this past Easter Sunday reminded him about why he is passionate about current Health Care issues of today. Health Care is about "longevity so that generation after generation can benefit from each other."


Additional excerpts from the speech:

"Prior to the Affordable Care Act over 47 million were uninsured."

"We have to keep in mind that Health Care is very, very significant."

"Health care goes beyond having a healthy body and healthy mind."

"In your country [America] the people are afraid of the government."

"We still have work to do. Today there are still too many people that go without Health Care."

"Today the only Health Care plan for too many Americans is hope."

"We have duty to encourage our children to take apart of the STEM programs."

"We gotta deal with these things, this is about greed."

"Too often in our communities we have come to expect too little in our lives."