WASHINGTON _ U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings called Wednesday for an end to "hateful rhetoric" among the nation's leaders, saying, "We are all sick of this."
"We all want decency and respect," the Baltimore Democrat said at the National Press Club in Washington.
It was his first major speech since Republican President Donald Trump's lengthy string of tweets and comments sharply critical of Cummings, his hometown of Baltimore and his district, which Trump called "rat and rodent infested."
Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, didn't mention Trump by name in his call for civility, but referred to "those in the highest levels of government."
He said the national dialogue has become so foul that his 10-year-old niece asked him recently if they were going to be put in cages.
In a question-and-answer period, Cummings repeated his earlier call for Trump to visit Baltimore.
"I want President Trump to come to my district _ oh, God, I want him to come." Cummings said.
He said he had not been able to reach Trump to invite him.
"I can't get to him," he said. "I want him to come and look at my entire city." Cummings said that included an invitation visit the parts of his district in Baltimore and Howard counties "where the richest of the rich are."
Cummings also urged Congress to return early from its August recess and convene a session on gun violence.
"When you've got people dying, c'mon," the congressman said.
He said he is not persuaded by talk from Republicans about possible new gun safety measures.
"You have a lot of talk. But in the end, nothing happens. They will make these glorious statements," he said.
Cummings called on the U.S. Senate to vote on a House-passed bill mandating universal background checks for gun buyers. His plea followed the recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas.
"Gun violence seems to know no bounds. None," Cummings said. "The American people are begging us for more than thoughts and prayers."
The president not only commented about the city last week but also tweeted "Too Bad!" after he learned that the congressman's Baltimore home was broken into July 27. Cummings said he scared away the intruder by yelling at the man.
Trump defended his response, tweeting that it was "not meant as a wise-guy tweet."
The president also addressed the city's homicide rate last week at a rally.
"The homicide rate in Baltimore is significantly higher than El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala," Trump told supporters.
"Gimme a place that you think is pretty bad. Gimme a place," Trump continued. "The guy says, 'Afghanistan.' I believe it's higher than Afghanistan. In our country. Think of that."
Cummings spoke to reporters about Trump last weekend at a ribbon-cutting for a community park several blocks from his Druid Heights home.
"I'd love for him to sit down and talk to the doctors at Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland and see the beautiful neighborhoods of our city, and I'd be happy to have him," Cummings said.
Cummings has recently drawn the president's ire for his criticisms of how federal immigration authorities treat detainees, particularly children.
Also, Cummings' committee recently subpoenaed private communications records from White House officials, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner. The committee said it is investigating whether emails and texts about "official business" violated federal law by being sent to or from White House officials on personal accounts.
The committee is also in a court fight with the administration over subpoenas _ challenged by the president _ of Trump's personal and financial records.
The congressman has complained that the administration has repeatedly ignored requests for witnesses and documents that are part of the House's appropriate oversight of the executive branch.
At the National Press Club lunch, Cummings' wife, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, and daughter, Jennifer Cummings, sat at the head table with the congressman. Rockeymoore Cummings is the head of the Maryland Democratic Party.
Among those in the audience was former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a Democrat.
"I have his back," she said before the speech.
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