PBS高端访谈:（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: And veteran Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland died early today after longstanding health problems. The Baltimore Democrat was a highly regarded figure in both political parties and had been playing a central role in the impeachment inquiry. Amna Nawaz looks at his life and career.

AMNA NAWAZ: Elijah Cummings spent a lifetime advocating for civil rights in his native Baltimore and beyond. After 13 years in the Maryland Statehouse, he came to Congress in 1996.

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D-MD): My mission is one that comes out of a vision that was created long, long ago. It is a mission and a vision to empower people, to make people realize that the power is within them, that they too can do the things that they want to do.

AMNA NAWAZ: Cummings pursued that vision as a vocal advocate for causes ranging from gun reform to immigration, and always racial justice. In 2015, he worked to restore calm when riots erupted in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man, in police custody. And at Gray's funeral, he gave an impassioned eulogy.

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS: I have often said that our children are the living messages we send to a future we will never see. But now our children are sending us to a future they will never see! There is something is wrong with that picture!

AMNA NAWAZ: This year, Cummings was equally fierce condemning the conditions in which migrant children were being detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS: We are the United States of America. We are the greatest country in the world. We are the ones that can go anywhere in the world and save people, make sure that they have diapers, make sure that they have toothbrushes, make sure that they're not laying around defecating. Come on. We're better than that.

AMNA NAWAZ: As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Cummings also launched investigations of President Trump. The president struck back, calling Cummings racist and branding Baltimore a rat-infested mess. Today, Mr. Trump tweeted condolences, saying "His work and voice on so many fronts will be very hard, if not impossible, to replace". In Congress, Cummings' colleagues paid tribute, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): In the Congress, Elijah was considered a North Star. He was a leader of towering character and integrity. He lived the American dream. And he wanted it for everyone else.

AMNA NAWAZ: That sentiment crossed the political aisle to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): He counted close friends and admirers from all across the political spectrum.

AMNA NAWAZ: Cummings' death deprives House Democrats of a leading voice in the impeachment inquiry. But he left behind a legacy of clear-eyed views on Congress' duty.

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS: When we're dancing with the angels, the question will be asked, in 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact? Did we stand on the sidelines and say nothing?

AMNA NAWAZ: For the PBS NewsHour, I'm Amna Nawaz.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Congressman Elijah Cummings was 68 years old.

朱迪·伍德拉夫：马里兰州的老国会议员伊莱贾·卡明斯今早去世了，长期以来，他身体就有许多问题。这位来自巴尔的摩的民主党议员在两党中都德高望重，曾在弹劾调查中扮演了重要角色。下面请听我台记者阿姆纳·纳瓦兹回顾他的一生和职业生涯。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：伊莱贾·卡明斯一辈子都在家乡巴尔的摩以及其他地方提倡人权的事情。在马里兰当了13年的州议会议员之后，他于1996年成为国会议员。

众议员伊莱贾·卡明斯：我的使命源自于一个愿景，这个愿景是很久很久之前就有的。这个使命和愿景就是为人民赋权，让人民意识到他们自己是有权力的，他们也能做自己想做的事。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：伊莱贾·卡明斯毕生都在为这个愿景奋斗，他为许多事业奔走呼号，从枪支改革到移民再到种族公正，不一而足。2015年，年纪轻轻的黑人弗雷迪·格雷在警局被监禁期间去世。随后，巴尔的摩爆发暴动，伊莱贾·卡明斯为恢复稳定而努力。在格雷的葬礼上，伊莱贾·卡明斯做了让人动容的悼词。

众议员伊莱贾·卡明斯：我经常说，孩子是鲜活的讯号，可以将他们发送到我们看不见的未来。但现在却是白发人送黑发人！这种情况是有问题的！

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：今年，卡明斯也在谴责移民儿童在美墨边境被拘禁的情况，力度丝毫不减曾经。

伊莱贾·卡明斯：这里是美国。美国是世界上最伟大的国家。美国人可以去世界各地救死扶伤，确保其他地方的人有尿布、有牙刷、不会随地大小便。大家加把劲儿啊，咱们本应该比现在更好的。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：作为众议员监管委员的主席，卡明斯还发起了对特朗普的调查。特朗普做了反击，特朗普说卡明斯是种族主义者，特朗普还给巴尔的摩标上了淫乱之地的标签。今天，特朗普发推文表示哀悼，特朗普说——卡明斯在许多方面做了努力、发出了自己的声音，他付出了很多，是别人无法取代的。在国会，卡明斯的同僚们也表示了哀悼，包括众议院议长南希·佩洛西。

众议员南希·佩洛西：国会将卡明斯视为北极星。他是一位伟岸的领袖，十分正直。他活出了美国梦，他也希望所有人都能活出美国梦。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：参议院多数党领袖明奇·麦康奈尔也有同样的情绪。

参议员明奇·麦康奈尔：卡明斯在各党都有好朋友，有许多人钦佩他。

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：卡明斯去世后，众议院民主党人就少了一位在弹劾调查中发声的领袖。但卡明斯留下了一笔财富——让大家对国会的职责有了清晰的认识。

伊莱贾·卡明斯：当我们与天使共舞时，要问一个问题——2019年，我们做了什么来确保民主不受损害呢？我们是否袖手旁观、只字不说呢？

阿姆纳·纳瓦兹：感谢收听阿姆纳·纳瓦兹发回的《新闻一小时》。

朱迪·伍德拉夫：伊莱贾·卡明斯想念68岁。