[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1178-H1179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            MOURNING THE PASSING OF CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE

  (Mr. SMITH of New Jersey asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, it is with deep sorrow that I 
inform the House that our dear friend and colleague, Don Payne, has 
passed. He had colon cancer.
  In a few moments a privileged resolution will be offered on the floor 
that recognizes and honors this extraordinary man who dedicated his 
entire life to public service, a man who made a significant difference 
in the lives of many in his district, in our State, in the Nation, and 
in the world.
  Elected in 1988, after first serving as a Newark city councilman and 
Essex County freeholder, this high school teacher and coach-turned-
politician went on to be the first African American ever to serve in 
Congress from the State of New Jersey.
  Don fought tenaciously to combat the HIV AIDS pandemic and mitigate 
the loss of life and morbidity from TB and malaria on the subcontinent 
of Africa. He coauthored the Sudan Peace Act and worked tirelessly to 
end the genocide in both South Sudan and Darfur. As a matter of fact, 
he even risked his life in Somalia--was shot at--in the pursuit of 
peace.
  I know firsthand, Mr. Speaker, how much he truly cared and how hard 
he worked for peace and reconciliation in war-ravaged nations. I served 
as the ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee when he chaired it, 
and he served as the ranking member when I chaired it.
  Finally, let me just say that Don Payne also served as chairman of 
the Congressional Black Caucus, and until his untimely death today, 
chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He was 
predeceased by his wife, Hazel. Don is also the proud father of three, 
grandfather of four, and great grandfather of one.
  Donald Payne, Mr. Speaker, will be missed.
  I yield to my good friend and colleague, Mr. Pallone.
  Mr. PALLONE. I thank my friend.
  Mr. Speaker, I can't believe that Don Payne is not with us today. I'm 
looking over there where he would often

[[Page H1179]]

sit, and I would come down on the floor and ask him to do a 1 minute or 
a Special Order.

                              {time}  1410

  He was very proud of his African American roots, and it was one of 
the reasons that he would often go to Africa and champion so many 
causes for those in Africa.
  Don cared so deeply about his hometown of Newark and the other towns 
that he represented. He was always looking out for those in need--the 
disadvantaged and the poor. Those were the people that he cared about, 
and he spent so much time trying to deal with their problems and making 
their lives better.
  I think more than anything else I remember Don's smile. Don always 
felt that things could get better and that we could work together. I 
think a lot of people don't know that his district was very diverse. 
There were many African Americans, but there were many people of other 
nationalities. We would often talk about the Italian Americans that he 
had lived with, grew up with, and worked with in his district.
  Don always felt that we could have a better world, that Democrats and 
Republicans could work together and that people could work across 
ethnic and racial barriers. And he always made me feel, no matter how 
down I was on a particular day, that this place was important and that 
we can make a difference in people's lives. So I will sorely miss him.
  I would ask that this afternoon, at the end of the day, at 
approximately 4 o'clock, we have unlimited 1 minutes, and we're going 
to have a bipartisan hour Special Order where Members can come down and 
pay tribute.


                           Moment of Silence

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I do ask for a moment of 
silence to remember our dearly departed friend, Don Payne.
  The SPEAKER. Members and guests will rise and observe a moment of 
silence.

                          ____________________