In commemoration of the late House Rep. Elijah Cummings, the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing room was named after him on Thursday. The dedication of the chamber makes him the first Black lawmaker to have a namesake in the Capitol complex, according to Roll Call

Cummings died while serving his 12th term in the House as a Maryland Democrat of the 7th congressional district, as Blavity previously reported. The chamber that was named in his honor was the very same room he once oversaw.

The celebration included House members taking a trip down memory lane, giving more insight into how Cummings impacted their lives.

"As our nation celebrates Black History Month, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress will join together to name 2154 Rayburn House Office Building, the 'Elijah E. Cummings Room,'" the notice of the dedication said according to The Hill.

Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York referred to him as a gem and a brilliant man who brought everyone together regardless of their political affiliation, Roll Call reported.

"He brought us together in this room, and he is doing it again, even now," Maloney said. "This room and the work we do here will remind future generations of Elijah's unwavering commitment to justice, as well as his dedication to stability and decorum."

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) might have clashed with Cummings on some occasions, but he told Roll Call that he considered Cummings a friend who possessed chairman-like traits long before Democrats were the House majority.


Meadows said that when he was a newcomer under Cummings' chairmanship as a member of the Oversight committee, "he scared me to death."

Considered to be the most influential Black figure in the House, Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said he and Cummings had a lot in common as a "P.K." or preacher’s kid.

“I grew up one. He grew up one. We talked about how tough it was sometimes to try and stay out of trouble. He succeeded much more than I did,” Clyburn said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a native of Baltimore, said Cummings was her “Baltimore bro.” She noted Cummings loved the city and recalled that he was a fan of the Orioles and Ravens. 

While he was the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Cummings led the impeachment inquiry for President Donald Trump, the Washington Post reported. However, due to his illness, thymic carcinoma, he was out of the office for several weeks. 

The Senate later acquitted Trump after Cummings passed away, leaving many unsolved resolutions in his last major assignment.