the ranking democrat is elijah cummings of maryland. he's in the room but very few members are. we will have live coverage once it gets under way. we started on c-span on "washington journal" talking about the president's statement that he now supports gay marriage. he here's some of what he had to say to robin roberts. >> over the course of several years when i talk to friends and family and neighbors, when i think about members of my own staff who are incredibly committed in monogamous relationships, same-sex relationship, who are raising kids together, when i think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained even now that don't ask/don't tell is gone because they're not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point i've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that i think same-sex couples should be able to get married. >>> and the conversation continues about the president's discussion yesterday with robin roberts and his comments on same-sex mar

. >> congressman elijah cummings talked about legislation he has proposed that will protect military personnel from foreclosure. >> we have got to protect our service members. we cannot have them going overseas and fighting for us and at the same time while they're on the battlefield are trying to figure out how will keep a roof over their heads of their wives and children. it is a significant piece of legislation. >> the bill goes to the senate. >> trees are sprouting up all around to companies located in baltimore city. >> we will talk about the partnership and their tree planting project. >> the outlook for the 2012 hurricane season is out. we will fill you in on what to expect next. >> the start of off-season practice for the ravens pushes the focus for the future and the future for one reagan cannot get here soon enough. crack some isolated thunderstorms. thunderstorms. still thinking of replacing the truck? i just don't know where to start. glad you made it. start by choosing from over 30,000 used cars and trucks. carmax. start here. [ male announcer ] everyone at southwest air

congressman elijah cummings from maryland.ou, martin. >>> when we come back, mitt romney and the billionaire energy adviser. a conflict of interest? stay with us. [ woman ] my boyfriend and i were going on vacation, so i used my citi thank you card to pick up some accessories. a new belt. some nylons. and what girl wouldn't need new shoes? we talked about getting a diamond. but with all the thank you points i've been earning... ♪ ...i flew us to the rock i really had in mind. ♪ [ male announcer ] the citi thank you card. earn points you can use for travel on any airline, with no blackout dates. mine hurt more! mine stopped hurting faster... [ female announcer ] neosporin® plus pain relief starts relieving pain faster and kills more types of infectious bacteria. neosporin® plus pain relief. for a two dollar coupon, visit neosporin.com. neosporin® plus pain relief. sfx: sounds of marching band and crowd cheering sfx: sounds of marching band and crowd cheering so, i'm walking down the street, sfx: sounds of marching band and crow

. >> congressman elijah cummings held a press conference to talk about a bill he has introduced that will help protect military members and their families from foreclosure. the press conference was at the fifth regiment armory. he said the decision will make it harder to foreclose on someone who is in the military. >> our folks will become disabled at the time of the discharge. it will have 12 months to prevent foreclosure. we have widows and after their husband has died, many are put out of their houses. this legislation says 12 months after the death, they cannot be put out of their houses. >> the law will go to the senate. >> still ahead. another person comes down with the rare flesh-eating bacteria. is it an outbreak or rare occurrence? >> to businesses in the city up in flames. investigators have not ruled out arson. put the titleve game behind them. straight ahead. >> an investigation is underway as to what sparked this fire. crews arrived on the scene after 2:00 p.m. this afternoon. there were people inside but we're told there were able to get out on harmed despite heavy smok

. >> a message echoed by congressman elijah cummings. >> as you go throughout life, you make as few mistakesossible, because there are some mistakes that can affect you for the rest of your life. >> he says that is why it is important to reach teens now, rather than later. tim tooten, wbal-tv 11 news. >> here is a look at some of our other top stories at this hour. during a surprise and top secret trip to afghanistan, holt -- president obama has signed an important agreement with afghan president hamid karzai, submitted the u.s. commitment to afghanistan -- cementing the u.s. commitment to afghanistan after the war ends in 2014. the president will address the nation tonight. opening arguments kicked off in the trial of julius henson, charged in connection with the 2010 robocalls scandal. his defense is leaning heavily on the political angle, saying democrats rule in maryland and he was out of line by working for republican. he argues the robocalls used reverse psychology to actually motivate people to vote. one voter testified today, saying the call was a motivating factor in his decision to

. >> reporter: maryland congressman elijah cummings couldn't believe how many soldiers were losing their homes. so he created the military family home protection act. >> we thought that that was theya better way, that america is better than that. >> reporter: the new legislation will prevent soldiers from being closed on-- foreclosed on while they're deployed and for up to a year after. previously, they only had nine months. the bill just passed in the house, by an overwhelming margin. >> it's going to give a chance for the service member to sort of work the process. and hopefully that process will be to save the house and get those finances in order. >> reporter: the new legislation would also expand protection to surviving spouses of military members killed overseas, and to veterans who have been declared 100% disabled. >> reporter: the bill cracks down on illegal foreclosures and protects soldiers from discrimination by banks. >> it just seems like the right thing to do, in terms of ensuring that they're protected, while they protect us. >> reporter: monique griego, wjz eyewitness new

. >> reporter: maryland congressman elijah cummings couldn't believe how many soldiers were losing theiromes. so he created the military family home protection act. >> we thought there was a better way, that america is better than that. >> reporter: the new legislation will prevent soldiers from being foreclosed on, while they're deployed and for up to a year after. previously, they only had nine months. a bill just passed in the house by an overwhelming margin. >> it's going to give the chance for the service member to sort of work through the process. and hopefully that process will be to save the houses and get their sort of finances in order. >> reporter: the new legislation would also expand protection to surviving spouses of military members killed overseas and to veterans who have been declared 100% disabled. >> reporter: the bill also cracks down on illegal foreclosures and protects soldiers from discrimination by banks. >> just seems like the right thing to do, in terms of ensuring they're protected, while they protect us. >> reporter: monique griego, wjz eyewitness news. >> a s

ranking member elijah cummings and two other democrats sent a letter to darrell issa requesting a clarificationhange the subject by touring the badger state. today, walker toured an agricultural equipment company in lacrosse, wisconsin. he was joined by a failed presidential candidate who left his state billions of dollars in debt. yes, there he is. romney campaign co-chair tim w pawlen pawlenty, former governor of new mexico. the romney campaign knows how big the walker-barrett election is. my question tonight, does the obama campaign now how big it is? i'll have much more on this topic tomorrow night. >>> tonight, in our survey, i asked does mitt romney care more about people or profits? 4% said people. 96% said profits. >>> rush limbaugh may be too big to fail, but after his violent offensive remarks about sandra fluke, his ratings have slipped a bit. well, more than a bit. in fact, big time. see how bad it is, next. (female announcer) most life insurance companies look at you and just see a policy. at aviva, we do things differently. we're bringing humanity back to life insurance. that's wh

elijah cummings is the ranking member of the oversight and government reform committee and congratulationses order. the house passed your bill. it moves onto the senate now, is that correct. >> yes, i'm elated about it. because our veterans and ordinarilies need protection and this is going to provide them from protection from being foreclosed upon while they are at war and when they get back. and the other thing that the legislation done is that when a soldier regretfully dies, his widow will be protected from being foreclosed upon. this is very, very significant. >> and what are the penalties here? what is being done in what's written into this legislation to actually make sure that these predatory practices stop? >> first, we have a provision that says they cannot discriminate against them. but if they do, for each time that takes place, we raise the penalties from 55,000 to $110,000 for each incident. and then for each subsequent incident, it has gone from $110,000 to $220,000. it's very serious. we take it very serious and hopefully the banks will. there have been quite a bit of abuse o

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signed, sincerely, elijah cummings, member of congress. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from cro seek recognition? >> ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to honor and remember the martins of greeley, colorado. leona faithly served the county for 22 years as the executive director of the food bank. while the owner lost her battle against cancer, her legacy and influence will continue the fight against hunger for generations to come. under her leadership, the food bank grew its annual distribution from 40,000 to eight million pounds of food. she expanded their operating facilities to 35,000 square feet where they served more than 10,000 residents each month. the tremendous leadership, dedication, and passion she held for the citizens is unrivaled and the county has truly reaped the benefit of her work. i had the opportunity to tour the food bank, part of it is named after her