Washington, DC – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement on the passing of Louis Stokes: 

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Louis Stokes. He was a pioneer as the first African American member of Congress from Ohio and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. During three decades of service in the House of Representatives, his service on the Appropriations, Intelligence and ethics committees contributed to his status as one of the chamber’s most respected and influential members. He was a leading voice in the fight to extend quality, affordable health care to all Americans as a right, and not a privilege.

“Just weeks ago, I was in Cleveland and had the opportunity to witness a revitalized city as the legacy of former Representative Stokes, and his brother and former Mayor of Cleveland, Carl Stokes. Louis Stokes will be remembered not just for his own rise from humble roots, but for those he lifted up behind him to follow in his footsteps.”