Congressman Elijah Cummings
Maryland Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, a sharecropper’s son who rose to become a civil rights champion. He was Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, one of the most influential Democrats in Congress, and a key figure in supporting the maritime industry and United States Coast Guard. Congressman Cummings was a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, serving on both of the Subcommittees on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. A staunch advocate for diversifying our nation's maritime community he pushed through comprehensive programs in the Coast Guard he explains, “The United States Coast Guard protects the waterways and borders of our nation each and every day in ways that many Americans will never see,” said Cummings. “It is critically important that the Coast Guard not only represent the people it protects but that it affords an equal opportunity for all Americans to have the honor of serving their nation in that effort. He was a vocal advocate for the Jones Act and mariner safety.
We highly recommend you take a moment and view Congressman Cummings Keynote Speech at the Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) on maritime workforce needs for the 21st century. There is much to do to inspire, educate and create opportunities for young people, and in his words: if they can see it they can dream it” lives on as doctrine at the NY Harbor School and our career and technical education programs.
Please click the links below to be inspired:
Congressman Elijah Cummings, Maryland 7th District (Time- 10:10-42.00)
Plenary Session– A Conversation "Maritime Workforce Needs for the 21st Century"
http://www.maritimetv.com/Events/2015-World-Maritime-Day/VideoId/1856/UseHtml5/True