[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H1190-H1206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fincher). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 5, 2011, the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the 
minority leader.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, today, as you heard, the House, the 
Congress as a whole, the 10th District of New Jersey, our Nation, the 
countries of Africa and the Caribbean, of Ireland, where he was an 
honorary citizen and, indeed, the world, has suffered a great loss. 
Donald Payne was a friend and advocate for the world and all of its 
people, but particularly for the sons of Africa here and worldwide.
  Tonight I am honored to chair this Special Order in his honor, and to 
recognize my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who will be coming 
to pay tribute to Donald Payne.
  I'd like to begin by asking unanimous consent that all Members might

[[Page H1191]]

have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the topic of the Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1550

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I'd like to begin by yielding 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, Donald Payne played a very special role in 
my service as a Member of Congress. I didn't know him nearly as long as 
many other Members, and I guess I probably didn't know him as well; but 
there is no doubt that as a Member coming into Congress trying to 
figure out how to be the best Member I could be, Donald Payne was one 
of the people who I admired and looked to, and no more so than when he 
was fighting for the human rights of all people.
  Donald Payne gave me a new and unique perspective on suffering in 
Darfur, explaining the complexities as it related to making sure that 
Darfurians not only got relief, but also eventually one day would get 
justice.
  But he didn't stop there. I have a large percentage of my 
constituents who hail from Somalia, and Donald Payne gave me historic 
perspective on Somalia on a regular basis, which I didn't have, and 
also, again, helped me understand how difficult it was and how 
important it also was that we stand for stability for the people of 
Somalia. In fact, his level of commitment to the people of Somalia was 
so great, he got into an airplane and flew there and, on his way out, 
was actually shot at when al-Shabab tried to take his life for showing 
concern for the people.
  Yet he traveled many places and really went all around the world; but 
he also went into my district, as he went to many districts, and I'll 
never forget the day when we organized a community forum on east 
Africa. We had Somalis in the room, people from the Ogaden region of 
Ethiopia, people from Eritrea, all over, immigrants who made America 
their home either by choice or because they were refugees. For 3 
straight hours, Donald Payne answered their questions, gave them 
comfort and assurance and information.
  He is a towering figure in my world, and I don't think we'll ever 
forget Donald Payne. I just say, may he rest in peace, and God bless 
him and his family.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I'd like to yield 2 minutes to Mr. Wolf of 
Virginia.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
legacy of Congressman Donald Payne.
  As as public servant, Congressman Payne has consistently stood with 
the forgotten people and causes. He has championed their plight and 
advocated on their behalf, perhaps none more so than the long-suffering 
people of the southern Sudan.
  For years, Congressman Payne advocated for self-determination for the 
people of South Sudan, who had endured great hardship at the hands of 
the government in Khartoum. He was also the leading voice in urging 
States in the U.S. to divest from companies doing business in Sudan in 
light of the government's horrific human rights abuses.
  Congressman Payne was the sponsor of the congressional resolution 
calling attention to the horrors unfolding in Darfur, a resolution 
which was rightly labeled as ``tragedy,'' ``genocide.'' The list goes 
on and on.
  I had the honor of being with Congressman Payne in Nairobi, Kenya, in 
2005 for the historic signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
which marked the end of a brutal civil war between the north and the 
south which spanned 21 years and claimed the lives of more than 2 
million people. Congressman Payne labored for years to see that day 
arrive. No one did more than Don Payne to bring about the new country, 
which is now the country of southern Sudan.
  He, fittingly, returned to South Sudan in July of 2011 to join the 
people of that land in celebrating their long-awaited independence, a 
fulfillment of the promise. Upon being chosen to be part of the 
official U.S. delegation, Congressman Payne issued the following 
statement. He said:

       As a ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs 
     Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, I 
     have been committed to helping Sudan achieve peace and 
     justice.

  Indeed, he was committed. Congressman Payne worked hard. He traveled 
to the region countless times. He experienced the people suffering, and 
then he acted. Congressman Payne heard the people suffering and never 
chose to look the other way.
  My thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Payne's family as they 
grieve, and Congress will profoundly miss his voice, as will thousands 
of others around the world.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I would next like to yield 2 minutes to the 
Congresswoman from Texas, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Thank you to my colleague from 
the Virgin Islands.
  I rise to speak today about the loss of Congressman Donald Payne. 
Congressman Payne lost his battle with cancer early this morning, and 
we in Congress lost an esteemed colleague.
  My relationship and acquaintance with Congressman Payne came before I 
came to Congress and meeting him when he served on the national YMCA 
board and became the chair of the national YMCA board; and I know him 
as a devoted public servant who used his position in Congress to 
advocate for those less fortunate, first, as a teacher, and later, 
serving on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He was 
an advocate for children and worked to make college more affordable.
  As the highest ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee 
on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, he worked to promote human 
rights around the world and helped secure billions of dollars in 
foreign aid for treating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
  It is difficult to lose a member of the Congressional Black Caucus 
family. We're small but very connected. And Congressman Payne served 
the 10th District of New Jersey with dedication and served as the chair 
of the Congressional Black Caucus as well.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his family today in this difficult 
time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I would like to yield 2 minutes to the 
Congresswoman from the District of Columbia, Congresswoman Eleanor 
Holmes Norton.

  Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentlelady for yielding and for leading this 
Special Order for our good friend and colleague, Donald Payne, whose 
passing leaves me shocked and deeply saddened after his 12 terms of 
outstanding service in the House of Representatives.
  Don was a friend. He was more than a colleague. He was the kind of 
friend you could always strike up a conversation with about matters 
technical or just matters at hand because Don was easy of manner but 
strong of conviction.
  Don was a real path breaker and history maker. He came to Congress as 
the first African American to serve in Congress from the State of New 
Jersey. He followed the great Peter Rodino, who had served Newark for 
decades. Newark had become a majority African American city, but Don 
grew up in a neighborhood that was as Italian as it was black and felt 
comfortable with people of all ethnic groups.
  When Congressman Rodino, who was then chair of the House Judiciary 
Committee, retired--this was, of course, before I came to Congress, but 
it was much commented upon--Don, who had run against him several times 
and was the logical person to win that seat, plunged into his work for 
a city that needed a man of his depth of understanding and conviction 
of their problems, their education, their health care, their housing 
needs.
  For Newark, when the Congressman came here 12 terms ago, personified, 
symbolized the great urban communities of our country and the upheavals 
that they were undergoing. He plunged into that work, and yet he was 
able, at the same time, to become perhaps the House's most expert 
Member on Africa and the Caribbean.

                              {time}  1600

  Don was a leader on Africa, who did not work from the newspapers or 
the journals, but traveled the continent and came back with firsthand 
information. For the Congressional Black Caucus, Don was the go-to man. 
Nobody from the caucus moved on a matter affecting Africa without going 
to Don

[[Page H1192]]

first. Go to the expert first, find out if you're on the right foot, 
and then perhaps move forward.
  Don was rigorous in his evaluation of the leadership of the various 
countries of Africa. He never withheld when an African leader needed 
the strong criticism of the United States and his own strong criticism. 
Thus, his leadership was trusted all across the Congress when he 
stepped forward with his views. He worked with every President because 
Republican and Democratic Presidents alike have been involved in the 
issues affecting Africa; and they, like us, turned to Don on those 
issues.
  Where will we find such a Member today? Is there such a Member who 
has devoted so much of his life not only to urban America, but 
especially to Africa, who knew everything, knew everyone, and knew 
anything we needed to know?
  Don will be greatly missed by this Chamber. He will always be 
remembered. I know I speak for us all when I say that his family has 
our deepest sympathy and our everlasting love.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman.
  I would like to now yield 2 minutes to one of Donald's colleagues 
from New Jersey, Congressman Holt.
  Mr. HOLT. I thank the gentlelady.
  Mr. Speaker, all of us are saddened by the country's loss of Don 
Payne, and it is going to be hard to get used to the absence of Don.
  Don has been a good friend to me, someone I've looked up to here in 
Congress.
  No one in Congress has been a stronger advocate for equality of 
opportunity in education. No one in Congress has been a greater 
advocate for children services and youth development. No one has been 
more knowledgeable about Africa. No one has voted more consistently for 
peaceful and nonmilitary resolutions to problems. No one has been more 
consistent in the fight to respect workers' safety and workers' 
conditions.
  Throughout all of this, Don Payne was very attentive to the interests 
of the entire State of New Jersey and especially to the interests of 
his constituents.
  He was instrumental in bringing international attention and 
condemnation to the genocide in Darfur, as we've heard already.

  As a former educator, he brought an invaluable perspective to our 
work together on the Education Committee. He was responsible for 
getting many millions of dollars to the PEPFAR program for dealing with 
HIV, resistant TB, malaria around the world, and especially in Africa. 
I might add he did that with President Bush.
  He was a strong advocate for an adequate minimum wage. He was a key 
player in writing the College Cost Reduction and Access Act to cut 
interest rates for college loans, to increase Pell Grants, and to 
provide loan forgiveness to public service employees with student debt. 
It was a great pleasure and really a marvel to watch him on the 
Education and Labor Committee.
  Don was, I think you would say, an unabashed liberal, recognizing 
that there are some things that we can do better together than 
separately. He was not a you're-on-your-own kind of guy. That was true 
in person too. He was very inclusive. He had good humor and dignity in 
everything he did. Don Payne was a good friend, a good Member of this 
House, and a great public servant.
  My thoughts and prayers are with his family and his many friends, and 
I know his constituents will be hard pressed to find somebody to 
represent them as well as Don Payne.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Holt.
  Now, I would like to yield 2 minutes to another colleague from New 
Jersey, Congressman Frelinghuysen.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Don Payne and I have been friends for over 35 years. We served 
together in county government as freeholders in New Jersey from our 
respective counties, Morris and Essex Counties, before he preceded me 
to Congress.
  During his service in this House, he worked long and hard on issues 
that literally cried out for attention.
  At home we all admired his steadfast commitment to ensuring that our 
Nation's children had the best quality education possible.
  Abroad he focused on global public health issues like childhood 
survival and human rights on the continent of Africa and elsewhere. Don 
Payne took up the cause for suffering people around the world and gave 
voice to their plight even at great personal risk.
  Mr. Speaker, Don Payne loved Congress, he loved public service, he 
loved New Jersey, and he loved his hometown of Newark.
  I was proud to work with him to revitalize the Passaic River in 
Newark, that waterfront that for many years had remained inaccessible 
to the public.
  Don will be sorely missed, especially for his dedicated service to 
his constituents over many decades. I'll never forget his valuable 
service and his enduring friendship. We've lost a great principled man 
who lived a life from which we could all learn something.
  May the tributes and prayers of so many of his colleagues here this 
afternoon today be a source of strength to his family.
  Thank you.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you for joining us and for offering those 
words on behalf of Congressman Payne.
  I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the Congresswoman from 
California, another dear friend of Congressman Payne, Lynn Woolsey.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a man I loved, a 
man I respected, a friend for life, and a mentor.
  When I came to Congress, I couldn't have picked a better mentor: a 
public school teacher from New Jersey, someone kind and smart, 
dedicated, actually burning in his belly about issues of value and 
conscience.
  I served on Congressman Payne's Africa Subcommittee. He served on my 
Workforce Protection Subcommittee. On both panels, I benefited from his 
wisdom, advice, and his expertise. On the Africa Subcommittee, I was 
always amazed at how much and who he knew.
  This is a man who knew what public service was all about. He was, as 
he described himself, a mild-mannered man; but he was also tenacious, 
dedicated, and stubborn.
  No one has worked harder to bring peace, democracy, and human rights 
to Africa. He almost gave his life for the cause a few years ago when 
his plane was shot by rebels as he prepared to come home after a 
Somalia mission that actually the State Department had warned him 
against.
  As change continues and as change continues to come--particularly to 
Africa in the coming years--we'll all remember the role that Donald 
Payne played in laying the groundwork in helping make that change 
happen.
  A true statesman and a humanitarian, Donald's death this morning 
already leaves an indescribable void. Donald Payne had a huge heart and 
a keen mind. And believe me, I will miss them both.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Woolsey.
  I would now like to yield 2 minutes to another colleague from New 
Jersey, Congressman Lance.
  Mr. LANCE. Thank you very much, and thank you for yielding.
  The Payne family occupies a fabled position in the history of Newark, 
New Jersey's largest and greatest city. The whole family has been 
involved in public service; and, of course, Congressman Payne's public 
service here is of almost a quarter-century duration.

                              {time}  1610

  Congressman Payne succeeded Congressman Rodino, the distinguished 
chairman of the House Judiciary Committee at the time of Watergate, 
well-known in American history. Congressman Rodino succeeded 
Congressman Hartley, who was the Congressman from that part of New 
Jersey for a generation, he, the author, with Senator Taft, of the 
Taft-Hartley Act.
  Over the course of the 20th century, in the district that has been 
represented by Congressman Payne for a quarter century, the provenance 
of that district is Fred Hartley, a Republican, of the Taft-Hartley 
Act; Peter Rodino, the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee during Watergate; and now for 24 years, Donald Payne. The 
character of that district is the character of this Nation and 
certainly the character of the great city of Newark over the course of 
the 20th and into the 21st century.

[[Page H1193]]

  The Payne family not only includes the distinguished Congressman, but 
his brother, Bill Payne, with whom I had the honor of serving in the 
New Jersey Legislature. His brother, Bill, and I worked together in the 
creation of the Amistad Commission in New Jersey. Of course, that 
commission dealing with the work of the great Amistad trial based upon 
the mutiny in 1839 of a slave ship, so brilliantly defended by John 
Quincy Adams, whose portrait hangs 10 feet from the entrance of the 
House of Representatives. And in working with Congressman Payne's 
brother, Bill Payne, in the New Jersey Legislature, I got to know the 
Payne family and certainly, through his brother, Bill, I got to know 
the Congressman, and what a great honor for me to have served here in 
Congress with Don Payne.
  Mr. Speaker, finally, several days before Martin Luther King was 
assassinated in Memphis, he was in Newark, and he was in Newark at the 
request of leaders there, including Donald Payne and William Payne. 
Among the most prized possessions of the Payne family are photographs 
of Martin Luther King taken days before his assassination as the Paynes 
were attempting to bring about justice in the city of Newark. Certainly 
no Member of the House of Representatives was more committed to 
justice, not only here in this country, and within this country, in the 
city of Newark and the State of New Jersey, but justice across the 
world, so that children in poverty could have a decent quality of 
health care and, as has been cited, the Congressman almost lost his 
life in that regard.
  The country is poorer for the loss of Donald Payne, but this country 
is greater for his public service, his public service on the governing 
body of the city of Newark, his public service as a county 
commissioner--we use the term freeholder in Essex County, New Jersey--
his public service to the entire State, and I respectfully suggest, to 
the United States of America. We mourn his loss, but we celebrate his 
life.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Lance.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from California, Congresswoman Maxine 
Waters, who I believe succeeded Donald Payne as the chairperson of the 
Congressional Black Caucus.
  Ms. WATERS. I appreciate your organizing the time for us to come to 
the floor and speak about our friend, Donald Payne. We are all so sad, 
and we are going to miss him, but we also know that the service that he 
gave to this country, even long before he came to the Congress of the 
United States, and the service that he has given to this country since 
being a Member of Congress, is unmatched by any Member of Congress.
  Donald Payne was a true servant who not only served his State of New 
Jersey, but Donald Payne was someone who took care of his district. 
When I take a look at all of the capacities that he served in in the 
State of New Jersey, I am just in awe, counting Democratic chairman, 
executive of the Prudential Insurance Company, vice president of Urban 
Data Systems, educating the New York and Passaic public school 
districts, a former national president of the YMCA, chairman of the 
World Refugee and Rehabilitation Committee--it goes on and on and on. 
And he brought with him to Congress the same attitude, the same 
commitment to service.
  Since his service in Congress, of course, he left us as chair of the 
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He served as the chair of the 
Congressional Black Caucus immediately prior to my being elected to the 
chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I learned a lot from his 
service about how to chair the Congressional Black Caucus.
  Don Payne was known for several things but certainly known and 
respected for his commitment to education, closing the achievement gap, 
making sure that we expand opportunities for the least of these with 
Pell Grants, making sure that he reduced the interest rates on some of 
the loans, the Stafford loans, for example. He was known because he 
understood that as a public policy maker he could influence education 
in this country, and he certainly did that.
  I also would like to point to his record of achievement serving as 
the chair of the Africa Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
where he was the expert, unmatched. As a matter of fact, Donald Payne 
traveled to Africa, East Africa, West Africa, throughout his career, 
and he knew all of these countries on the continent, and he knew the 
leaders, past and present.
  As a matter of fact, Don didn't wait for a codel of a lot of people 
to be organized to go to a troubled spot. Don would get on the airplane 
by himself, a one-person codel, and travel, set up his own meetings 
with the leaders of those countries, talk with them about what was 
taking place in those countries and get such an understanding of what 
needed to be done. He coupled all of this with the history of the 
countries of Africa.
  Don was an educator, he was a teacher, he was a historian. So he knew 
a lot about the backgrounds of these countries because he had studied 
that. When he coupled that information with what was going on at the 
present time that he was visiting and working on issues in those 
countries, he made it all come together, and he helped us all to 
understand. He was our go-to person on Africa for sure.
  When we wanted to know what was going on--and some people who were 
not that involved in foreign affairs and in Africa, they just followed 
his vote. When they looked upon that panel, they looked at how Don 
Payne was voting, and then they followed his leadership.
  We are going to miss that leadership. We are going to miss this 
dedication. We are going to miss this mild-mannered man who loved his 
job, who loved his district. I'm always going to remember that he 
invited me to his district on several occasions. I went up with Don, I 
campaigned with him. I went about the community. He introduced me to 
the ministers, and he was well respected and loved in his district.
  Of course, we all know why, because he was dedicated to the district, 
and he did so much for the district. The district is going to miss Don 
Payne. It will be hard to match the work that he did and his success 
and his achievements. We're going to remember each time we're involved 
in some of the same issues that Don was involved in. We're going to ask 
ourselves, what would Don have done, and we're going to follow the 
thinking of Don Payne on those issues.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Waters.
  I yield 2 minutes to the Congressman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. I thank the gentlelady.
  Mr. Speaker, it is said that a politician will always rise to the 
occasion, and the Honorable Don Payne did rise to the occasion on many 
occasions.
  But it is also said that a statesman makes the occasion. Don Payne 
was more than a politician, he was a statesman. He made the occasion in 
Darfur, where he went to make sure those who were suffering, among the 
very least, among the very last and the lost, that they would have an 
opportunity to have a better quality of life, and he was to this day 
still working to help the people of Darfur. He made the occasion when 
it came to AIDS, $50 million, $50 million to help those who are beset 
with this disease.
  He made the occasion when it came to working with his colleagues, 
pulling us together, helping us unite to do things collectively that we 
could never do apart. He developed a symbiotic relationship among his 
many relationships. When I think of Donald Payne, I will always 
remember that he was a person of honor. He honored his word. To his 
friends his word meant something, but more importantly, he honored his 
word to foes, people who disagreed with him. Once they had his word, 
they had a word they could count on.
  I will remember that he was a person who respected this institution. 
This institution meant something to the Honorable Don Payne.

                              {time}  1620

  What this institution stood for and how we could utilize this 
institution to make a difference in the lives of others was important 
to him. He was a person of valor. He would stand with you. He was 
determined. He was a fighter. He came under fire, I'm told, in Africa 
as he was trying to help others.
  And finally, I will say this: I truly do believe that God is good all 
the time.

[[Page H1194]]

Even under circumstances such as these, I believe God is good because 
we didn't have to have him for 77 years. We didn't have to have him in 
this House for 12 terms. I didn't have to have him as a friend for 8 
years. I believe that God is good all the time, and I am so proud that 
God allowed him to come this way and I had the benefit of calling him 
my friend.
  Don, we love you, and I know that wherever you are, there is a 
statesman there who is making the occasion.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank Congressman Green, and now I would like to 
yield to another colleague from New Jersey and friend of Donald Payne, 
Congressman Chris Smith.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I thank you very much and appreciate the 
gentlelady for yielding. Let me join my distinguished colleagues in 
expressing our deepest condolences to Don Payne's family. He was truly 
a remarkable man. I had the privilege of sitting next to him for about 
15 years as I was the chairman or he was the chairman of the Human 
Rights Committee, the Africa Committee as well. I was his ranking, he 
was my chairman, and we always worked in a very cooperative way. We 
always had mutual respect, and he had such a deep compassion for the 
people who have suffered so much on the subcontinent of Africa.
  Don Payne was quiet, but always determined. Extremely thoughtful, a 
humanitarian in the extreme, and he fought for so many important 
issues. You know, it was not a slam dunk or in any way a given that 
PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, would become 
law. Don was there working in a bipartisan way to ensure that 
sufficient funding, sufficient authorities were given to the U.S. 
Agency for International Development to mount a massive effort to 
combat the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. He did the same thing with malaria and 
the Malaria Caucus, and he did the same thing with tuberculosis, which 
sadly is an opportunistic disease that afflicts so many people who have 
HIV/AIDS.
  On the Sudan Peace Act, again when we were looking and working so 
hard to try to stop the slaughter in South Sudan, there was Don Payne 
working every day of the week to ensure that somehow peace would break 
out and the genocide would end there, as well as in Darfur.
  Again, I know that he cared deeply because I was there having those 
conversations with him day in and day out. You know, very often in my 
Subcommittee on Human Rights when I chaired that and he was the ranking 
member, we would go on receiving testimony, debating for hours. There 
would be two Members left standing in the room, Don Payne and me, 
because he cared so deeply about human rights globally, as well as in 
Africa. He will be deeply missed. Again, a great man, a great friend, 
and his passing is mourned by everyone in this Chamber and everybody in 
the State of New Jersey.
  God bless him, God bless his family; and thank you, Don Payne, for 
the great work you did in the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank Congressman Smith, and now I'd like to 
yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Congressman Clarke).
  Mr. CLARKE of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from the Virgin Islands for yielding to me.
  I am one of the newest members of the Congressional Black Caucus. 
Being a freshman here in this body, you become immediately aware of the 
traditions of the House. For example, male Members of the House are 
referred to as the gentleman from the State that they represent. Donald 
Payne was a gentleman not because he was elected to Congress but 
because he was a good, decent human being. He welcomed me with open 
arms as a new guy from Detroit that very few in the House even knew 
about.

  Less than 2 weeks ago, Donald Payne returned a call that I had placed 
to him. We had a short, but gracious, conversation. And I knew after I 
hung up the phone that I would see him soon right here in the Halls of 
Congress, but that never came to pass. The lesson is clear to all of 
us: our time, our life here on Earth is very fleeting. Let's do 
everything we can to cherish each moment, not necessarily to pursue a 
wild ambition or do a lot of things, but just to be like Donald Payne, 
respecting others, caring for others. That's what he stood for.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I now would like to yield to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentlelady for yielding me this time. 
Just a few hours ago, we lost a dear friend, an esteemed and honored 
and respected colleague, Congressman Don Payne of New Jersey.
  Don was a proud member of the New Jersey delegation. He was a 
faithful servant to his constituents. For more than two decades, he 
served them in this body. He was also a committed member of our Foreign 
Affairs Committee. He was chairman and the ranking Democrat on the 
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights; and in that 
capacity he showed us his unwavering commitment to fighting diseases 
worldwide, but especially in Africa. He shone the light on human rights 
abuses throughout the world. Don's tireless efforts provided a voice 
for the afflicted and for the oppressed.
  We are saddened as an institution, as a body, and as friends by the 
loss of such a courageous and loyal and conscientious public servant. 
Don will be greatly missed by our Foreign Affairs Committee because he 
was such a tireless advocate for the causes for which he felt such 
passion.
  He will be missed here on the House floor because he was ever present 
whenever there was an important issue to be debated. He will be missed 
in his home State of New Jersey where he was so revered and respected 
by his constituents whom he so faithfully served. He will be missed 
especially by the thousands and, indeed, countless people whom we will 
never know who he inspired and he impacted throughout his tenure and 
long career in public service.
  So without a doubt, Congressman Don Payne's contributions will be 
remembered for many years to come, and our thoughts and prayers are 
with all of the Members of the Payne family and all of the people whom 
he touched in a very special way.
  I thank the gentlelady for the time; and in our Foreign Affairs 
Committee tomorrow, we will hold a special remembrance for Congressman 
Don Payne.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen. And now I 
would like to yield to the gentleman from American Samoa, Congressman 
Faleomavaega.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I do want to thank the gentlelady from the Virgin 
Islands for managing the time for our colleagues in this Special Order 
that has been taken to honor our good friend who has just passed away, 
Congressman Don Payne.
  Congressman Don Payne was my classmate. We sat next to each other for 
the past 23 years as members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We 
were talking about the situation where it looked very interesting as 
proud Americans, and yet we knew something was missing here in terms of 
the activities of how our foreign policies have come about, in doing 
things about our relationship with other countries, so Don Payne was 
committed to looking after the needs of what are our foreign policies 
towards Africa. My commitment was to find out what are our foreign 
policies towards the Asia and the Pacific region.
  I want to share this little interesting thought with my colleagues. 
When Don Payne and I first became members of the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee, hardly any of the members wanted to be on the Asia and the 
Pacific or Africa subcommittees. The mentality here in Washington was 
entirely towards Europe and the Middle East. Being members of these two 
subcommittees was almost like the pits. They were not even on the radar 
screen, weren't even given any real sense of priority or interest.
  I want to say to my colleagues that it has been truly an honor to be 
sitting next to my brother, Don Payne, and to commit to the idea that 
as a champion and advocate for the needs of the poor, the great 
champion of human rights throughout the world, not just towards Africa, 
but all other regions of the world, Don Payne and I worked on the 
plight, the needs of the people of West Papua, New Guinea.

[[Page H1195]]

  I always have remembered Don Payne's admonition to me every time we 
discussed issues about fairness and equality. He said,

       Eni, let me just remind you of what Martin Luther King, 
     Jr., once said: ``In the end, we will not remember the words 
     of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.''

  I think it's so true in terms of what he instituted in my own heart 
and mind: you can't just sit back and just let things go by. We've got 
to be out there being proactive and expressing ideas that will solve 
the many issues and the problems that we are faced with, not only in 
our own country, but throughout the world.
  I want to express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the family 
of my brother, Congressman Don Payne. And I'm reminded of the saying, 
``blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of 
God.'' This truly was a peacemaker, whom I've had the honor and 
privilege of witnessing his life as an example not only to our 
colleagues, but certainly to the Members of the American people. Both 
in deed and by his conduct, Don Payne was truly a statesman, and his 
voice will be surely missed in the years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so happy to see that so many of our colleagues are 
here to pay special tribute to this great man, a gentle man, and yet by 
such great tremendous example showing us what we should be doing: going 
about and helping other people. I want to wish him well. We have a 
saying in my culture, ``Ia manuia lau faiga malaga''--``May you have a 
good voyage.''
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. I thank the gentleman from American Samoa.
  I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Illinois, 
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Thank you for this opportunity to speak about a 
really good friend of mine, Don Payne. When I heard that his situation 
was grave, I gave a call to his brother, Bill, whom I had gotten to 
know on trips that he and Don took, and had the privilege then of 
speaking with Don. He was in hospice. This was just a couple of days 
ago. And I was able to tell him how much I loved him and able to tell 
him that I hoped that he found peace and comfort in the knowledge that 
he helped so many people in this world.
  Don Payne was a real citizen of the world, a quiet and dignified 
gentleman, but he had a fierce commitment to justice and human rights 
everywhere. He was really the de facto ambassador to Africa. No one in 
this Congress knew or cared more for the people of Africa. He also 
personally knew the leaders, and they knew and respected him. His 
knowledge and his relationships will leave a big hole here. He was the 
go-to person. If you wanted to know anything about what was going on, 
the political situation, or who was who on the continent, Don Payne was 
the one to go to.
  As I said, I was able to travel with Don and Bill to many places 
around the world and always listened carefully, as everyone did, when 
Don spoke with the kind of knowledge that he had about all things 
dealing with foreign relations, about all things dealing with human 
rights. So my heart goes out to my good friend, Bill Payne, to the 
children and grandchildren and one great grandchild of Donald Payne, my 
beloved friend, whom I'll miss so much.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Schakowsky.
  I would now like to yield 2 minutes to another colleague of Don Payne 
from New Jersey, Congressman Bill Pascrell.
  Mr. PASCRELL. Ladies and gentlemen, the House has lost a real 
advocate, a person who respected this institution and who understood 
what it was.
  So I know I speak for all of us when I say our condolences to the 
family and our condolences to his constituents. He served most 
distinctly.
  Rather than tell you some things I was going to prepare myself about 
my relationship with Donald, I got a letter this afternoon, and I think 
it's appropriate if I read this letter on the floor of the House 
because it tells us that Donald Payne was not just interested in 
Africa. His interests as a humanitarian went beyond that.
  Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has spoken of the deep sadness at the 
death of United States Congressman Donald Payne. On behalf of Sinn 
Fein, and all of those in Ireland who met Congressman Payne on his many 
visits here, the Sinn Fein leader extended his deepest sympathy to 
Congressman Payne's children and his family circle and many friends. 
And this is what Gerry's own words are:

       Donald Payne was a champion for the disadvantaged and the 
     downtrodden in the United States and around the world. He 
     devoted his life to promoting civil rights, equality and 
     democracy.

  My friends, just think who is saying this. A man of valor, a very 
courageous person, Gerry Adams. This is how close we are in the tribe 
of humanity and how many times we fail to recognize it.

       I met Donald many times both in Washington and in Ireland. 
     He was always very interested in Ireland and had visited the 
     north before the cessations in the mid-1990s. Donald was very 
     supportive of the Irish peace process from the beginning and 
     was a regular participant in briefings which I and other Sinn 
     Fein visitors gave to political leaders on Capitol Hill.

  Many of us were there, many of us in this room.

       He was also a frequent member of congressional delegations 
     that visited Ireland. Donald will also be fondly remembered 
     by citizens on Garvaghy Road, in north Belfast, and the Short 
     Strand, which he visited at a time when efforts were being 
     made to force controversial Orange marches through those 
     districts.
       His experience as a civil rights campaigner resonated with 
     his audience in west Belfast when he spoke there during the 
     west Belfast Feile on the issue of equality and anti-
     discrimination legislation.
       During a debate in Washington on the McBride principles he 
     remarked that: ``I and other members of the Congressional 
     Black Caucus can easily identify with the Catholic 
     minorities. I recognize many similarities in how they are 
     treated with how people here were treated.''
       Donald was a thoughtful, generous and well-informed 
     politician who was personally dedicated to improving 
     conditions for others and who worked diligently on behalf of 
     his constituents and of his party.
       He will be remembered with gratitude and real affection for 
     his support at difficult and dangerous times in Ireland--in 
     difficult and dangerous times all over the world. He will be 
     sadly missed by his constituents, by people the world over. I 
     want to extend regrets and deepest sympathy to his family and 
     his friends.
       Go ndeanfaidh dia trocaire ar a n'anam dilis--may he rest 
     in peace, and may all of his friends gather in this 
     institution that he loved so well.

                              {time}  1640

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Pascrell. And thank you for 
bringing the sympathies of Sinn Fein to the floor.
  I would now like to yield 2 minutes to a person who served with Don 
for quite awhile on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Dan Burton 
of Indiana.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  You know, we judge, as Congressmen, our colleagues based upon their 
ability and how hard they work. But the thing I liked about Don Payne, 
as a colleague with whom I worked for 24 years on the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, was he was a nice guy. He was really a nice guy. Even when 
we had our differences--and there were many when we served on the 
Africa Subcommittee together--we would debate, and then we would walk 
together down the hall and talk as friends and still discuss our 
differences, but we did it in such a friendly way, and I really liked 
the guy.
  One of the things I think is so important is we really don't get to 
know each other too much in this place. We have 435 of us. And people 
come who are wealthy and some who are very poor, some who came from bad 
beginnings and tough beginnings and some come from the top; and we 
don't get to know each other very well. But I knew Don Payne because he 
worked so hard for the people he represented in Newark, and he really 
fought for them.
  He wanted a garage in Newark because of the business downtown. I 
remember I fought him on that garage and we were able to stop it. And I 
think one of the things I'll regret the day I leave this place is that 
I stopped that garage because I think Don Payne, as the kind of guy he 
was, really felt like it was needed for Newark. And Don, if you're 
listening, if I had a chance, I'd vote differently on that thing.
  But anyhow, he was a nice guy. He was a credit to the Congress of the 
United States and to everybody who knew him. I'd like to say to his 
family that I extend my deepest sympathies, as the other speakers have 
said, but I'd also like to say that to his staff. I

[[Page H1196]]

know his staff is going through a difficult time right now as well as 
his family, so I want to extend my deepest sympathy to them as well.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Chairman Burton.
  At this time, I would like to yield 2 minutes to another colleague 
from New Jersey, Congressman Rob Andrews.
  Mr. ANDREWS. I thank my friend for yielding.
  Sometimes the quietest voices are the ones that have the greatest 
impact. Donald Payne always spoke quietly, humbly; but as we reflect on 
his life, the impact is monumental.
  Tonight, there are villages in Africa where people have self-
determination, human dignity, education, and health care because of the 
impact of his voice and his life. There are people working in the city 
of Newark, the counties of Essex and Union and Hudson because of 
businesses he helped to bring and schools he helped to build and 
progress he helped to make.
  As we heard my friend Bill Pascrell talk about, there are people in 
Ireland from very different heritages and backgrounds that Donald 
brought here who are celebrating his life because of the reach of his 
voice and of his life.
  I think, most importantly, the impact of his voice is the hollowness 
and sorrow that we all feel here in this institution because the 
quietness of his voice brought us together at times of discord and 
stress. Donald believed passionately in his progressive ideology, but 
he believed with equal passion in tolerance for those who disputed it. 
Donald fought fiercely for the causes in which he and I believed and he 
and others believed, but he never fought the rights of others to 
express differing views. He cared very personally about his causes, but 
he never took personally those who disagreed with him. This is a lesson 
that we should learn and abide by in this institution in years to come 
because it makes us better people and it makes our institution 
stronger.
  Later this week, it is a remarkable thing that this humble young man, 
a school teacher, a leader in the YMCA who at the beginning of his 
career lost many more elections than he won--lost two elections for the 
county executive position, lost multiple attempts to become elected to 
this House of Representatives, and then triumphed--someone from those 
humble beginnings that world leaders will come to a place of worship in 
the city of Newark to commemorate his life.
  But I think what's more indicative of Donald's contribution is that 
as those world leaders come through Newark Airport into the city that 
Donald loved, there will be janitors and school teachers and truck 
drivers and day care providers and laborers and electricians and 
Americans of all walks of life, people of all walks of life who will 
know and acknowledge the great impact of this quiet voice.
  His voice has sadly been stilled; but let us celebrate the fact that 
his impact will live in our world, in our country, in our institution, 
and in our hearts forever. May God bless his family and comfort them at 
this time of affliction.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congressman Andrews.
  At this time, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Troy, the gentleman from Georgia, Congressman John Lewis.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. I want to thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  I rise today to honor the memory of our beloved colleague, the 
distinguished gentleman from the State of New Jersey, Donald Payne.

  Today we have lost a wonderful and good friend, and the people of the 
10th District of New Jersey have lost a fearless leader and advocate.
  Any American can be elected to public office, but not everyone can 
serve with dignity and great respect. Donald Payne, my friend, my 
brother, enjoyed the admiration of his colleagues because he led by 
example, and through quiet, determined diplomacy he accomplished a 
great deal.
  A deep sensitivity to the human condition was at the center of all he 
did. His work was an extension of the belief that each of us has a 
responsibility to serve one another, and that we must use the power and 
resources of a great Nation to relieve the burdens of the poor, the 
oppressed, the hungry, and the sick. That is why this former public 
school teacher wanted to unlock the power of education to free those 
who are struggling in the urban centers in America. And that is why he 
was a tireless advocate for the people of Africa because a heartfelt 
compassion guided all that he did.
  In a time when the needs of the poor are hardly spoken, when the 
cries of the locked out and left behind are rarely heard, the Chamber 
will deeply miss a gentle statesman with a heart that was big enough to 
serve all humankind.
  The thoughts and prayers of the people of the Fifth District of 
Georgia and many Members of this Congress are with his family, staff, 
and friends now as they move through a difficult time. Just know that 
Donald Payne was loved, and he will be deeply missed, not only by the 
people of the 10th District of New Jersey, but by people around this 
Nation and all around the world.

                              {time}  1650

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. We are coming close to the end of our hour. I think 
our colleague will probably yield us some time, but I would like to 
close out this particular hour, and I ask unanimous consent to extend 
the hour to allow the Members who are on the floor to speak.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot entertain a request to 
extend a special-order speech.
  Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 5, 2011, the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) is recognized for 60 minutes as the 
designee of the majority leader.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield to your next speaker.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. The next speaker would be Congressman Emanuel 
Cleaver, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, this is not one of the highlights of 
stepping into the well of the House. This is a moment that does not 
yield great joy, at least not for what just happened in terms of the 
death of my friend and my colleague, Donald Payne. There is, however, 
some joy, and the joy is related to the fact that I had the opportunity 
to know Donald Payne, and I believe that my life was enriched because 
of it.
  During his final days here in Washington, I had a number of 
conversations with him at Georgetown Hospital where I tried to, and was 
successful at least on a couple of occasions, in getting him to laugh, 
even as he experienced excruciating pain in his hospital bed.
  Donald Payne can be observed by all Members of the House, and from 
that observation, we can extract something that can make this place 
better. Donald Payne was about as good and decent a human being as has 
ever walked the Halls of this stately House.
  At a time when many elected officials believe that acidic language, 
acrimony, and red meat discussions are the order of the day, Donald 
Payne was firm, soft-spoken, and respectful. No matter what happened, 
you could count on Donald Payne being calm through it, except on one 
occasion, which I will not talk about on the floor. We'll talk about it 
later, but not here.
  But Donald Payne was a man who was as peaceful in private as he was 
in committee or even on the floor. He had a passion for the diaspora. 
And I joked with him that everywhere I've ever gone in the diaspora, 
people asked about him.
  Just 1 week before he died, 1 week, I met with a representative from 
Brazil who was inviting members of the Congressional Black Caucus to 
come to Brazil to meet with their caucus and they would send members 
here. Before the meeting ended, as I knew would happen, he asked about 
Donald Payne. And I don't believe there is an elected official or a 
king or prince or a potentate in the diaspora who does not know the 
name of Donald Payne.
  And what I hope will happen is one of the Members will pick up the 
mantle and delve into the issues and matters of foreign relations as 
has Donald Payne. Somebody needs to step up to the plate and do that.
  My final comment is this: I hate cancer. I hate cancer. I can't think 
of a human being that I hate, but I hate cancer. And in my hatred of 
cancer, I have come to the realization that all of us are temporary, 
that we are not permanent creatures. No matter how

[[Page H1197]]

strong and healthy we feel we are, we are all temporary. And if we 
understand our temporariness, it might inspire us to be just a little 
better, a little kinder, a little nicer, a little more receptive to 
others, because we are temporary, at least in this place.
  Now, I conclude by saying that life must end, but death is not a cul-
de-sac. It leads somewhere. And if Donald Payne is not there, that door 
must be locked and the rest of us can give up. He was about as good and 
decent and loving a human being who's walked these Halls, and I'm glad 
that God gave me the chance to know him.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I now would like to yield time to the minority 
leader from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Thank you, Mr. Roe, for yielding. I thank you and I thank 
our colleague, Congresswoman Christensen, for taking this Special Order 
today so that we can sing the praises of a great man, our colleague, 
dear friend, precious person, Donald Payne.
  I waited. I said I wanted to go after Mr. Cleaver because I didn't 
know how I was going to even have the strength to come to the floor 
because this is a personal as well as official loss to many of us here. 
And he is always a source of strength to us, putting in perspective the 
fragility of life and the value that we must place on the contribution 
of all of our colleagues, especially when we are blessed with the life, 
service, and leadership of someone like Donald Payne. There are very 
few people that you can say ``someone like Donald Payne,'' because he 
was exceptional and unique.
  When the distinguished Mr. Cleaver and Reverend Cleaver says that we 
have to fill in where and take his mantle, that would be almost 
impossible to do because, over a lifetime, in public service, and a 
long time in the Congress of the United States, Donald Payne gained 
standing on issues that takes years to do. But he did teach us along 
the way. He gave us guidance on what paths to follow, what clues to 
recognize, and doing the right thing, whether it was in the continent 
of Asia, Africa, or Latin America, wherever it was, and in our own 
country.
  I had the privilege of traveling with Donald Payne when we were going 
to Darfur. He didn't want to go to the Sudan. He'd been there many 
times, Darfur, but he was at that moment boycotting the regime in 
Khartoum because of how they treated their people there. And while we 
were in Khartoum and in Darfur, he was in Ethiopia and Somalia and the 
rest, always working, always working to have policy advice to all of us 
and caring about what the impact of that policy was on people.
  What was interesting to us, though, it was on that same trip to 
Africa, which many of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
were on, including our distinguished assistant leader, Mr. Clyburn, 
when we went to Liberia it was a boiling hot day. And we all went to 
the AME college there, the AME university, and they were honoring 
Donald Payne for his everything, for what he knew about Africa, for his 
values and how he was concerned about, again, policy as it related to 
people, the encyclopedic knowledge that he had, the great wisdom that 
sprang from that knowledge, the plans that he always had to make things 
better, and the way people just flocked to him because they would 
learn, they would be inspired, and they would love Donald Payne.
  It was boiling hot. And we go there and they decide that we're all 
going to dress alike that day, so it even got hotter as we donned our 
robes. And here we were, seeing--not only telling them the esteem with 
which he was held in Congress, that was the least of it, because what 
we were hearing was what people from around Africa, the esteem in which 
they held him, named a library for him at that university in Liberia.
  He was a schoolteacher, and he never forgot how important it was for 
us to put our students first. He called them the bright lights of our 
Nation's future, for investing in their potential, for inspiring them 
to succeed, igniting the sparks that they had within them to do their 
very best.
  He was very proud of Newark and serving there. I remember when he 
first came here, his work on behalf of his constituents, his neighbors, 
the middle class, working people, people who were striving to reach up 
into the middle class, he was always working for them.

                              {time}  1700

  He was New Jersey's, as has been mentioned, first African American 
Member of Congress. He remained a committed champion of equality and 
opportunity for all. His accomplishments, both on his committee, where 
he served with Congressman George Miller, who holds him in the highest 
esteem, and now the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves with 
Congressman Howard Berman. Well, to hear the two of them talk today as 
if they have lost a brother, and we all have.
  We all have an appreciation of his hard work ethic. The knowledge 
that he brought to his subject, the concern he had for the American 
people, and the love he had for our country.
  Just think, last week we had a visit to our office from Bill Gates 
coming to our office to talk about the issue of global health, and he 
asked if Donald Payne could be in the meeting. We had hoped that would 
be possible but then had to say that he was not feeling well that day. 
That was a week ago.
  But up until the end, he was in demand, recognized for his, again, 
standing on issues that related to the alleviation of poverty, the 
eradication of disease, again, alleviation of hunger throughout the 
world. What more could be about the gospel of Matthew than ministering 
to the needs of God's creation, which the Bible tells us is an act of 
worship. To ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us. 
Donald Payne was all about worshipping God by ministering to the needs.
  He was an expert on economic, political, and security situations 
throughout Africa, and I had the honor of nominating him, recognizing 
his extraordinary work around the world. I was proud to recommend that 
President George W. Bush name Congressman Payne, our representative of 
the House Democrats, at the United Nations. Usually it was just for one 
term. In the case of Donald Payne, we went well beyond that in 
recognition of the extraordinary contribution that he makes.
  So again, whether it was in his own district, whether it was Newark, 
New Jersey, or across the world, he was a powerful and passionate 
voice. I hope it's a comfort to his children--to Donald, Jr., to Wanda, 
and Nicole--and all who loved Donald Payne, his dear brother, Bill, who 
traveled with him frequently and loved him so much, I hope it's a 
comfort to them that so many people who knew him well, loved him so 
much, mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I again thank Mr. Roe and Congresswoman 
Christensen for the opportunity to say just a few things about our dear 
friend who will be sadly missed and long remembered. His legacy lives 
on in the Congress of the United States.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I would now like to yield time to the 
distinguished gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Steny Hoyer.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  This is a sad day for America. It's a sad day for the Congress. It's 
a sad day for our African American brothers and sisters who have lost a 
real leader and an extraordinary friend.
  I first met Donald Payne when I was in my mid-twenties. He was active 
in the Young Democrats in New Jersey, and I was active in the Young 
Democrats in Maryland, and that's how we first met. Don was about 6 
years older than I am. When you're in your middle twenties, somebody in 
their thirties is really old. But we all saw him as a very serious 
individual, serious about his activities, serious about his objectives, 
serious about the people.
  He had an extraordinarily productive career. As the leader has 
mentioned and as I know other speakers before me have mentioned, he was 
a teacher. He was a teacher in the tradition of Frederick Douglass. 
Frederick Douglass, a fellow Marylander, said that it is easier to 
build strong children than it is to repair broken men. Donald Payne was 
focused on that concept as a teacher.
  Then throughout his life, he was focused on making sure that America 
kept the faith with people around the world; that its values, that its 
hopes, its visions for ourselves were also our hopes and visions for 
others.

[[Page H1198]]

  Donald Payne, before he came to the Congress, I think had traveled to 
more countries than perhaps any other Member of Congress. He cared 
about people, and particularly people who lived in Africa. I think 
there was no Member who knew Africa better than Donald Payne, no Member 
who risked more for the welfare of those who lived on that continent.
  My first trip as majority leader, I went to Sudan and to Darfur. I 
made that my first trip because, at that point in time, it was one of 
the most troubled--and still remains--lands in our globe. Donald Payne, 
unfortunately, could not go on that trip. He had another thing to do.
  But we had a briefing before we went, and Donald Payne was there. It 
was clear from those who briefed us that Donald Payne was obviously the 
person they looked to for knowledge and insight into how we could get 
from where we were then to the plebiscite, to what is now the 
independent South Sudan, and hopefully it will remain so, 
notwithstanding the violence of Sudan itself.

  Donald Payne was an extraordinarily conscientious Member of this 
body, but more than that, he was a man who cared about his fellow man 
and fellow woman. Donald Payne was a serious Member of this body.
  That does not mean he was always serious. He had a sense of humor. He 
was a wonderful, engaging person, but he was serious about what he did, 
and it reflected how deeply he cared about those whom he served and 
about his country.
  We could all speak for Special Order after Special Order after 
Special Order and still not reach the magnitude of praise and thanks 
that he deserves. Suffice it to say that this body was a better place 
for his service. As Reverend Cleaver so eloquently intoned, we were 
better people for having been his friend and his colleague and his 
coworker.
  I am pleased to join all of you who, like me, knew Donald Payne as a 
Member of Congress, yes, but as a human being, as an individual, as 
someone who cared about us, and we cared about him.
  I join Leader Pelosi and all of you and our friends on the other side 
of the aisle, because Don worked across the aisle. Don was not an 
observer of partisan differences, although he understood they existed. 
His objective was to work with all for the betterment of all.
  So, I'm pleased to have this opportunity to join all of you in 
thanking God that He gave us Don Payne, that He gave him sufficient 
years to make an extraordinary mark here in this country and around the 
world.

                              {time}  1710

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield time to 
the dean of the Michigan delegation, Mr. Conyers.
  Mr. CONYERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. I also thank 
Donna Christensen for her leadership in bringing us all together this 
evening.
  This is a wonderful way, when this Record is read of this Special 
Order for Donald Payne, for everyone to know the depth of the love and 
respect that we all had for this great and gentle human being.
  He was a committed public servant and a true champion for social and 
economic justice at home and around the world. He had a global 
perspective that helped teach us that all of the 6.4 billion people on 
Earth are connected and related. So when I was asked to campaign for 
his first run for Congress that I knew about, which was in 1988, I was 
pleased to do so. I traveled to Newark and joined with him in that 
victory. I remember being struck by his deep desire to help people, and 
I had no idea that he would grow and develop into this leader whom we 
mourn and praise here today.
  Through his work as a member of the House Education and the Workforce 
Committee and of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he led the fight to 
address inequities in every realm of existence. He was a great 
proponent for peace. I must say that I am convinced that he had the 
spirit and the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that he lived 
and demonstrated every single day of his life. He is the one Member of 
whom I can say I never saw angry, I never saw upset. When I was able to 
take him away from his African commitments, I took him to Haiti, where 
he immediately understood the depth of the suffering and the tragedy 
that required us to go back again and again and again.
  So, Donald Payne, what has been said of you today is only a small 
token of the contributions that you have made during your life. You 
will be missed by your colleagues. You will be mourned by your family. 
You will be treasured by many people in many places on this globe.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I will now take the opportunity to yield 2 
minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I want to thank my distinguished friend for 
your kindness and generosity in yielding the time and to the Speaker. I 
want to thank Dr. Christensen for starting us on this journey, and I 
want to thank the Speaker for being educated by these powerful words of 
my colleagues.
  I do want to say that, if you had to give a tribute biblically to 
Donald Payne, you would certainly quote from Timothy in saying, ``I 
fought the good fight.'' I am grateful to also say that Donald Payne 
had a lot of fun in life. Some of us can trace our friendship to years 
past, to decades past; but I know that, as the world loves Donald 
Payne, he loved Newark and New Jersey.
  I had the good pleasure of joining him and his friends during the 
last Congressional Black Caucus. We had a variety of receptions to meet 
our constituents, and there was nothing but love in that room. I had, I 
would call it, the humble privilege to visit him at Georgetown 
Hospital, where his brother and sister were in the room as well as the 
chief of staff, and to have him smile as some of our colleagues have 
said. In the course of being in the room, I heard that the former 
President of South Africa, President Mbeki, was trying to reach him.
  There would be a long list of Presidents and former Presidents and 
others of great renown trying to reach him; but you cannot in any way 
doubt the fact that in his acceptance and acknowledgment by all of 
those iconic figures, President Mandela as well, that he as a 
progressive stood along with the family members he loved, whether it 
was his son, who was a council member, and his other children or Bill 
Payne, and epitomized the struggles of a generation of African 
Americans in Newark and New Jersey in the 1950s and the 1960s, and he 
was on the front lines of fighting for equal rights out of the North 
Ward.
  Oh, leave it only to Donald Payne to talk about New Jersey politics, 
and he loved it. He had an iconic presence, but he also had a 
leadership, boss-man presence--and I say that lovingly--because if you 
needed something in that area, as my good friends, Brothers Pallone and 
Pascrell out of that area, knew, no matter who you were in his district 
who needed something, you could get ahold of Don Payne. He loved the 
richness of his district and its diversity, but you can be sure that he 
was fighting for the poor and dispossessed.
  Maybe that's what brought him to his affinity and kinship for Africa. 
One of my predecessors, Mickey Leland, whom Don Payne knew, we always 
said died on the side of an Ethiopian mountain while trying to feed 
those who could not feed themselves.
  But Don Payne was everywhere, from Ethiopia, to Sudan, to South 
Africa, to Angola, to the Congo, to Ghana, to Liberia. He was in all of 
those, if you will, conflicts where he wanted to bring about peace. He 
counseled Presidents--Republicans and Democrats. I remember Bill 
Clinton's historic trip, and you can be assured that Donald Payne was 
at the nexus of drawing him to making that historic trip. I believe, in 
1998, he counseled George Bush and others, and he counseled President 
Obama.
  I don't know if many of you know that Donald Payne was a longshoreman 
who worked on many different places; but when reminded of his work as a 
longshoreman, he said, I loved the port. I heard a Member talk about 
that, I believe, but he loved the working person.
  Let me just conclude, as I salute him for being the progressive who 
did not forget the poor as well as being one who could speak eloquently 
with the leaders of international positions around the world, albeit 
that he was coach and teacher and council member and ethic freeholder, 
that I remember

[[Page H1199]]

traveling to Africa on occasions, plural. In this instance, what I 
would say, beyond having known that in Somalia he was almost, in 
essence, taken down, is that many of you will remember the first 
Kabila, the father of the present President of the Congo, and you will 
know that that area has always been in conflict and that Donald Payne 
never shunned going into conflict.

                              {time}  1720

  Two places we went: Angola, when it was still in conflict. Donald 
Payne said, Well, I know we can meet the President in his castle and 
office and the place where he is, but I'm going up in the bush, and if 
you all are with me, we're getting on this little one-propeller plane--
not two propellers--it only had one--and we're going to go up there and 
meet with the opponent of the President.
  We sat with Donald Payne, encouraging this opponent to put down his 
guns and come and meet with this President, who through Donald Payne 
had promised peace. I know that man wished that he had answered the 
call that Donald Payne made. He never left the bush, and he died in 
that place. I got to see him up close and personal, where no risk of 
life was too much for him to bring about peace.
  As I conclude, let me simply say to the peacemaker, to the intended 
noble peacemaker, to the man who didn't shun or didn't shy away from a 
conflict that might have taken his life, to the lover of Newark, to the 
lover of his family and his children, to the lover of his staff, to the 
lover of this institution: Don, may you rest in peace. Warrior, leader, 
hero, God knows that you never stopped working, and you deserve that 
angel's place in Heaven.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in tribute of the life and service of my 
dear friend and colleague, Congressman Payne. Noted for his quiet 
gravitas, progressive issues advocacy and pioneering life story, 
Congressman Payne along with his older brother Bill Payne defined the 
struggles of a generation of Newark Blacks who in the 1950s and '60s 
fought for equal rights out of the North Ward.
  By the dawn of the 1970s, the Paynes relocated to the South of 
Newark, where they built a political base on Bergen Street that served 
as the launch pad for Mr. Payne's historic campaigns for Congress in 
the 1980s.
  Donald Payne was a champion of the poor and dispossessed not only in 
Newark but in Africa, notably the Sudan, where he took one of this 
country's most forceful stands against the genocide he witnessed there. 
Congressman Payne was once arrested in Washington, D.C., for protesting 
against the Sudanese government.
  As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa for the Congressional 
Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Payne became a leading advocate 
for international human rights. ``I would be remiss if I did not thank 
those who are personally responsible for making sure that I know about 
Africa,'' said then-President Bill Clinton.
  After a 2009 trip to Africa, the congressman prepared to depart from 
Mogadishu when his plane sustained small arms gun fire from the ground, 
according to CNN. The congressman had earlier that same day discussed 
the crisis of piracy off the failed state's coast.
  Donald Payne grew up in a section of the North Ward known as 
Doodletown and worked on the docks in his young manhood. ``I love this 
place,'' he told longshoremen at a 2008 campaign stop at Port Newark. 
``I worked down here from 1952 to 1956, on Doremus Avenue, where they 
used to have about one ship a week, believe me. But we're so glad to 
see this port come to where it is today.''
  At the beginning of their careers, he and his older brother worked in 
tandem as they sought greater African-American representation within 
the Newark Democratic Party, with Bill Payne very early gaining a 
reputation as the aggressive activist and Donald Payne showing skills 
as a diplomat. Never an obvious self-promoter, Donald Payne as a public 
person embodied old school qualities of humility and toughness. He 
seldom sought out a microphone but commanded attention naturally by 
being a presence in the room.
  In the aftermath of the Newark riots, the Payne brothers became the 
strongest South Ward political brand in the city, using the Bergen 
Street business district as their most visible base of operations. The 
congressman scorned conventional polling, preferring instead to gauge 
his own popularity by the number of beeps on the horn he heard as he 
walked along his beloved Bergen Street.
  He was a former leader of the Congressional Black Caucus. Donald 
Payne served as a Newark City councilman and as an Essex Freeholder. 
Congressman Payne was someone who knew presidents and kings but was 
more comfortable with the man in the street, that's just who he was.
  America has lost a noble statesman, New Jersey has lost a brilliant 
and caring Representative and I have lost a remarkable friend and 
distinguished colleague. A skilled and compassionate politician, Donald 
Payne represented his constituents well. An ardent supporter of 
educational opportunity, he worked to ensure college was within reach 
for everyone.
  Donald worked tirelessly for small business and had a focused passion 
for Africa. Because of his knowledge and dedication to the issues of 
human rights and peace--he saved lives all over Africa. He enjoyed the 
respect of his colleagues; his calm demeanor will be missed. Donald 
dedicated his life to helping the less fortunate and expanding and 
protecting human rights everywhere in a strong and determined way. He 
will be sorely missed by all who knew him. My thoughts and prayers go 
out to family, friends and constituents at this sorrowful time. The 
world has suffered a great loss.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman from 
Texas.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, first let me say that I join my colleagues 
in recognizing not only the life and work of Don Payne, but I also 
wanted to add my personal words of support for what Don meant to me 
personally as a cochairman of the Caribbean Caucus a number of years 
ago.
  Speaker Hastert asked both Don and myself to become engaged in issues 
that would be considered in our hemisphere as a result of the war on 
terror. The Speaker recognized that the Caribbean was a gateway not 
only for terrorism, but also a number of other issues. Don and I 
accepted that role, had a number of trips down to the Caribbean, but 
also met with Caribbean leaders here in Washington, D.C.
  Don was always upbeat, Don was always looking for answers and 
responses to the needs of our friends in the Caribbean, and really 
found a way to cut some good friendships with people to where they 
became better friends of the United States Congress and the United 
States because of his personal involvement in issues and matters.
  I enjoyed working with Don. He accepted not only his role and mine, 
us working together--I as a younger Member, he as a senior Member. He 
welcomed my advances or ideas and thoughts.
  It was difficult for me also as I was walking into the Capitol a few 
minutes ago to see the beautiful flag that flies outside the United 
States Capitol at half mast in honor of our colleague Don Payne.
  So I do want to thank this body for allowing me a chance to express 
not only my thoughts about Don, but also to recognize him as an 
outstanding Member of this body.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. May I inquire, Mr. Speaker, how much time we 
have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 26 minutes remaining.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. We have 11 speakers, so I would ask if you 
would limit your remarks. I want to have an opportunity for everyone 
who wants to speak to speak.
  Now I would yield time to my colleague and one of Don's very dear 
colleagues from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).
  Mr. PALLONE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I have a lot of Don Payne stories. I wanted to tell one which I think 
says a lot about the man.
  I listened to what Sheila Jackson Lee said before about how he was 
always humorous and telling jokes, but also about New Jersey politics 
and how he was so well respected and had the ability to basically tell 
other Members or indicate to other Members what they should do.
  I also listened to Hansen Clarke when he mentioned Don being a 
gentleman. Don was a gentleman, and people respected him as such in the 
city of Newark and throughout his district.
  There was an occasion after the redistricting when I gained an area--
I won't mention the name necessarily--in my new district that was 
mostly African American, and Don Payne was very well-known there, and I 
wasn't known at all.
  I actually lived at the Jersey shore. Some of you may know that the 
people that are down at the Jersey shore, the people from north Jersey 
and Newark often refer to us with names like ``clam digger'' and other 
things to indicate

[[Page H1200]]

that we're not as sophisticated as the people from Essex County.
  I was at a meeting with African American ministers in this new area 
of my district. And of course the purpose of Don being there was to 
tell them it was okay; in other words, it was okay that this guy from 
the shore, the clam digger, so to speak, was now going to represent you 
because he was okay.
  As you know, Don couldn't take an occasion like that without making 
it into a joke and still getting the point across, but in a very 
humorous way. So he said to the African American ministers as we 
assembled:

       Well, you know, this guy Frank Pallone is now coming up 
     here and he is going to represent you. But he is down at the 
     shore, and most of the time he spends his time talking about 
     crabs and fish and the things at the shore. You know, I don't 
     know if he can relate to this urban area now that he is going 
     to represent where you all know me, but I'm going to tell you 
     a story. You'll often see Congressman Pallone in pictures at 
     the shore picking up the crabs, and he picks up the crabs and 
     he talks about how the crab had been injured, and it was 
     important to help the crab, and the crab needed some help and 
     needed to be fixed, needed some health care so it can become 
     a whole crab again and lead a good life.

  Of course everybody was laughing at this point, figuring out what 
this is all about. But it was his way of getting across in a humorous 
way that it was okay to have Frank Pallone represent you, that he was 
going to relate to you. He could relate to a crab, so he could 
obviously relate to you.
  I don't know if I'm saying this properly, but this is how Don was. He 
was just able to use humor to get a point across, a very serious point 
in a very effective way.
  I will miss him so much because he made me laugh so many times when 
situations were serious, and there didn't seem to be much humor, but he 
always did it in a way that made me understand how important it was to 
be here as a Member of Congress. He really understood how important our 
jobs were and how they could make a difference in people's lives.
  Thank you.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Now I would like to yield to a gentleman also 
from New Jersey, one of Mr. Payne's very close colleagues, Mr. Rothman.
  Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman for the time.
  Madam Speaker, today Newark, the State of New Jersey, and the United 
States of America lost a hero, and the world lost, especially those 
that needed help, those who were being persecuted, they lost a 
champion.

                              {time}  1730

  Don Payne's family, they've lost their patriarch, the strong, gentle, 
warm, beautiful, handsome hero who held them together all these many 
years.
  And like so many others, but in a very special way, I lost, we lost a 
dear, dear friend. I loved Donald Payne. I know he loved me. We spent 
many times together as dear friends, buddies, laughing and joking, but 
also many great times speaking about the very, very serious issues 
confronting our State, his district, my district, the country, and the 
world.
  Donald Payne led an extraordinary life. A young, African American man 
from very humble beginnings did not have it easy growing up in America 
and didn't have it easy acquiring political power that enabled him to 
help everyone, whether it was in Newark or Essex County or New Jersey, 
the United States or in the world.
  History will record that this young man from Newark, Donald Payne, 
literally saved tens of thousands of lives--he did--all over the world. 
In America, in Africa, and in Northern Ireland. And he was known 
throughout the world as a champion of the downtrodden, those in need, 
and a champion of human rights.
  He was a longshoreman; he was a teacher; he was a waiter. He was an 
elected official from New Jersey who made us all so proud, but he was a 
citizen of the world. He was a leader in this world.
  And he leaves behind a legacy, not only as a beloved husband, father, 
grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, family man, but also as a 
dear, loving friend. Beneath that strong, serious statesman's demeanor 
was a warm, charming, funny, irreverent, smart, and great friend. I 
will miss him very, very much.
  God bless you, Don Payne, my friend. God bless you, Congressman 
Donald Payne, you iconic figure for America and the world. We will miss 
you dearly, but we will never forget you.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I now yield to the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).
  Mr. RUSH. I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 2, these words are 
recorded:

       To everything there is a season, and a time to every 
     purpose, and to everything under the sun, a time to be 
     mourned and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to 
     pluck up that which is planted.

  Madam Speaker, today a giant oak tree has fallen. There's a gaping 
hole in the forest. Don Payne has moved from an earthly life into an 
eternal heavenly life. A time, a purpose, a season.
  Don Payne did not take his time, his season, nor his purpose for 
granted. Every moment, every season, the purpose for which he was 
created meant something to him and he gave his life. He spent his life 
working on his time, his season, and his purpose.
  Last Thursday, Don, through his chief of staff, asked me to come to 
the hospital; and we talked for awhile and he whispered some words to 
me, some directions for me, some orders from his hospital bed. But what 
stands out to me on that occasion last Thursday was his last words 
spoken to me. We were in the middle of votes, and he said: Make those 
votes. Don't miss those votes.
  Here, a man who knew he was spending his last hours on this Earth, he 
knew that his life was coming to an end. He had told me some weeks 
before that he had pancreatic cancer and he didn't know what was going 
to happen, but his last words to me were not ``Woe is me,'' but he was 
thinking about public service. He was thinking about this House. He was 
thinking about me and the vote that I was to cast. He was thinking 
about a time and a purpose and a season.
  In the book of Micah, life really becomes quite simple. God asked the 
Prophet Micah:

       What do I require of thee, O man, but to love mercy and do 
     justice and walk humbly before your God.

  Madam Speaker, I know that Don passed God's requirement. He lived his 
life with purpose. He was a son of Africa, but he was also a servant of 
Africa and a servant of the world.
  We're all going to miss Don. We all looked to Don being a beacon in 
terms of public service. I will miss him, and my condolences go out to 
his entire family and his entire staff.
  I might add that just this morning my staff and I went to his office, 
as others have. We sang a song together, ``Jesus, Keep Me Near the 
Cross.''
  Don not only had the cross in mind, but now he sits in his heavenly 
home in a better place.
  God bless you, Don. God bless you.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I now would like to yield to the distinguished 
gentlelady from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, it is with a very heavy heart that I rise tonight to 
honor and commemorate the life of a world leader, but more importantly, 
a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a father, a brother, an uncle, a 
boss, a dedicated family member to so many. I offer my condolences and 
prayers to Don's family, to his staff. They need our comfort during 
these very difficult days.

                              {time}  1740

  Don was more than a colleague to many of us, myself included. He was 
a very good friend. We lived near each other in Washington, D.C., here, 
and I had the privilege to drive him home quite often. These were 
special moments for me which I will always cherish; for it was during 
these rides that he counseled me. He cracked so many jokes to cheer me 
up because he always knew what we were going through, and we talked 
about family, friends and what was really real in our lives.
  Don loved children, and he relished his membership on the committee 
on Education and the Workforce. Of course, before coming to Congress, 
he was the national president of the YMCA and an elementary school 
teacher. But, yes, Don was also a global

[[Page H1201]]

leader. And I have traveled abroad with Don, and he was greeted as a 
head of state and a comrade. But Don didn't especially like traveling 
with large congressional delegations. He liked going by himself and 
with his brother to the middle of conflicts, sometimes in the bush and 
in the jungles, to meet with guerrilla leaders and freedom fighters. He 
helped negotiate truces; and all sides, everywhere in the world, loved 
and respected him.
  Now, for many years, Don was the lone voice in the wilderness calling 
for a declaration of genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Finally, we all got it. 
And as a result of Don's persistence working with both sides of the 
aisle to address the atrocities of genocide, his bill passed, this 
declaration of genocide, with bipartisan support.
  I was honored to serve on Congressman Payne's subcommittee for many, 
many years, the Subcommittee on Africa. He was a brilliant and a fair 
chairman, and he helped me shepherd and negotiate many bills and many 
of my legislative efforts.
  Yes, I was blessed to have visited Don on Thursday afternoon. He 
smiled, we talked, he whispered a few words, and he gave me a thumbs 
up.
  I met Don Payne through the mail in 1998 when my predecessor, who I 
know sends his condolences today, Congressman Ron Dellums, told him I 
was running for Congress. He sent me a wonderful note then--I didn't 
even know him--and a contribution. And when I was elected, he came up 
to me; he hugged me and he became my mentor on so many issues.
  In closing, let me just say that I know--and we talked a lot about 
this, and I've been to church with him--that Don Payne was a humble man 
of tremendous faith. In thinking of Don this evening, I'm reminded of a 
Scripture taken from 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verses 6 8. It says:

       As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the 
     time is here for me to leave this life. I have done my best 
     in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept 
     the faith. And now there is waiting for me the victory prize 
     of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous 
     Judge, will give me on that Day--and not only to me, but to 
     all those who wait with love for Him to appear.

  May Don's soul rest in peace.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I would now like to yield to the distinguished 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay).
  Mr. CLAY. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, the untimely passing of my good friend and colleague, 
Congressman Donald Payne, early this morning is a terrible loss for 
Donald's family and friends, the House of Representatives, the people 
of the Tenth Congressional District of New Jersey, and our Nation.
  Donald Payne was a tireless advocate for his constituents at the 
local and municipal level before winning election to the House more 
than two decades ago. As New Jersey's first and--until his death--only 
African American Member of Congress, he was the voice of working 
families from all backgrounds who called the Tenth District their home.
  I am privileged to have known and worked with Donald Payne. I will 
always be grateful to him for the warm way he welcomed me into this 
House and into the Congressional Black Caucus. I know that my father, 
who worked with Donald for more than 10 years, joins me in extending 
our family's sympathies to Donald's family, friends, colleagues, and 
constituents. As the people of Newark and across the State of New 
Jersey mourn the loss of their friend, Donald Payne, the people of St. 
Louis, all of Missouri, and all across our country mourn with them.
  His leadership, friendship, and passion for his work will be missed.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I now would like to yield to the distinguished 
gentleman from New Orleans, Louisiana (Mr. Richmond).
  Mr. RICHMOND. Thank you for yielding, and thank you, Madam Speaker, 
for the time.
  It was once said that a politician worries about the next election, 
but a statesman worries about the next generation. Don Payne was a 
statesman.
  To the Payne family, I offer my sincere condolences and prayers. 
Thank you for sharing your brother and your father with us. While I do 
not have as many personal memories as my colleagues of serving with 
Congressman Payne, I stand here as a beneficiary of his work over his 
77 years. I can honestly say but not for Donald Payne, I probably 
wouldn't be here.
  I, along with others of my generation and the generations after me, 
not only in America but all across the world, stand on the shoulders of 
Congressman Payne. So I have the honor and the pleasure of serving with 
him, but I also have the obligation on behalf of those generations to 
say thank you to Congressman Payne for making this world a better place 
for us.
  If we can remember anything with his passing, we can rest assured 
that Donald Payne did what he was purposed to accomplish in his 
lifetime. So I can say right now without a doubt that Donald Payne 
earned the right to say exactly what Paul said to Timothy, and that is, 
``I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have 
kept the faith.''
  So, Madam Speaker, this body, this country, and the entire world lost 
a true gentleman in Donald Payne, and we lost a quintessential 
statesman.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I would yield now to my 
colleague and friend from Memphis, a fellow Tennessean, Mr. Cohen.

  Mr. COHEN. Thank you, Mr. Roe. I appreciate the time.
  Everything has been said just about Congressman Payne, and by such 
wonderful gentlemen and gentleladies who pay tribute to the man. I had 
the opportunity to meet him early in my entry into the Congress, and he 
made me feel at home from day one. He was, indeed, a gentleman, quiet 
but with a marvelous record for peace and for justice for the 
downtrodden people who needed a helping hand.
  I had the opportunity through the auspices of CARE and the Gates 
Foundation to travel with Congressman Payne, his brother and others to 
Rwanda, to Goma and to Congo this past August; and I saw how he was 
beloved among people in Africa where he would travel on many occasions 
before. We shared the experience of going to the memorial to the 
victims of the genocide there, and Congressman Payne told me some 
stories about when he'd been there with President Clinton, and 
President Clinton had gone back and expressed his regrets of not having 
done more earlier to prevent the genocide, but was strong in supporting 
the nation of Rwanda and the people getting their country back 
together.
  Donald Payne had a progressive record. He was respected and loved by 
all. I was fortunate that my life intersected with his for he made me 
feel at home. And as so many other Members of the Congressional Black 
Caucus have done, he made it to where it wasn't necessary to be a 
member of the Congressional Black Caucus to be with the Congressional 
Black Caucus. I value my time with him.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

                              {time}  1750

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Buerkle). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 5, 2011, the Chair now recognizes the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Lee) for 30 minutes.
  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I'd like to yield now to the 
gentleman from South Carolina, our assistant leader, Congressman Jim 
Clyburn.
  Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the gentlelady for yielding me the time.
  Madam Speaker, I often quote the poet Robert Frost, who once 
admonished us that two roads diverged in the wood, and I picked the one 
less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. I would not 
quarrel with Mr. Frost, but I would believe that it's the people that 
you meet as you travel the roads of life that really makes the 
difference with all of us.
  Several years before I came to this body I met Donald Payne. I was a 
bit in awe of him because he struck out to attain a seat here, and in 
that race, right after I met him, things did not go as he had hoped--as 
many of us had hoped. But Don did not lose faith. He gathered himself, 
and he tried again. And of course, upon his success, all of us know 
what a successful Congressman he made.
  I traveled with Don often. We went to Africa together. Traveling with 
him on the continent of Africa, going in and

[[Page H1202]]

out of country after country, sitting with him as he called heads of 
state by their names, and to see the respect that all of them had for 
him was just a joy to behold.
  I learned a lot from Donald Payne. And I always, whenever I could, 
wanted to be around him. Just this past December, in my congressional 
district, Donald came to Charleston to help me participate in a 
congressional panel, talking about sustaining good, healthy 
communities. Don, that particular day, was sort of the star, as he 
usually was. I had no idea at that time that we would be in this place 
today.
  I think I can say without any threat of contradiction that if anybody 
has left his or her mark of service in this body, it was Donald Payne. 
His record will never, in my estimation, be equaled. To know two 
continents as well as he did is something few people in this body will 
ever get to attain.
  I want to join with my colleagues in wishing his family--his brother, 
Bill, who I got to know so well; his son, Donald, Jr.; and other family 
members--as much sympathy as I can muster. I hope that they will 
achieve real solace in the fact that their brother, their dad, their 
uncle gave so much and demanded so little in return.
  Ms. LEE of California. I would now like to yield to the gentleman 
from Illinois, Representative Danny Davis.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I thank the lady for yielding.
  We've heard a great deal about Representative Payne this evening. 
Some of the fondest memories that I have of Donald was talking. He was 
a philosopher and a poet. All of the things that people have said that 
he did, he has done those. The last conversation we had was sort of a 
philosophical conversation. I believe that Tennyson framed Donald Payne 
long before he was born, and he wrote this poem that said:

     Sunset and evening star
     And one clear call for me!
     And may there be no moaning of the bar,
     When I put out to sea,
     But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
     Too full for sound and foam,
     When that which drew from out the boundless deep
     Turns again home.
     Twilight and evening bell,
     And after that the dark!
     And may there be no sadness of farewell,
     When I embark;
     For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
     The flood may bear me far,
     I hope to see my Pilot face to face
     When I have crossed the bar.

  Donald crossed, but he left a great deal behind.
  Ms. LEE of California. I would now like to yield to the gentlewoman 
from New York, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.
  Ms. CLARKE of New York. I thank my colleague, Barbara Lee.
  Madam Speaker, today I'm here to pay tribute to a quintessential 
public servant, a person who tirelessly fought on behalf of his 
constituents of the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey, and for 
all Americans of all backgrounds across this Nation. Today I pay 
tribute and celebrate the life of our beloved colleague, Congressman 
Donald Payne.
  Donald made history as the first African American in New Jersey to be 
elected to Congress. He served as the former chairman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus and was recent chairman of the Congressional 
Black Caucus Foundation, where I really saw him go to work on behalf of 
the people across this Nation.
  Along with many others, I consider Representative Payne not just an 
accomplished colleague, but a role model and a dear friend. He was a 
relentless and iconic advocate for the continent of Africa, the African 
diaspora, as well as the Caribbean region. He spoke out boldly against 
genocide in Darfur and Rwanda, and fought alongside the Congressional 
Black Caucus to help Haiti recover from the devastating earthquake that 
struck the nation in 2010.
  Congressman Payne was a representative of Newark, but his leadership 
was global. We are grateful for his world view. We will never forget 
his passion, zeal, and commitment to improve the United States 
diplomatic relations around the world.
  I count myself fortunate to have established a real bond with 
Congressman Payne. He shared with me his quick wit, and we shared a lot 
of laughs together. We often joked about who was tougher, Newark or 
Brooklyn. And he was also very skilled on the dance floor. I had an 
opportunity to trip the world fantastic with Mr. Payne.
  And so, I extend my condolences to his son, Councilman Donald Payne, 
Jr.; to his very devoted brother; his daughters Nicole and Wanda; his 
grandchildren; great grandchildren; his close friends; his devoted 
staff; and the people of the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey.

                              {time}  1800

  Know that he has left us a great legacy, building blocks, if you 
will, for future generations of leaders. We will continue to celebrate 
the contributions of this great statesman. The stars in the heavens 
will twinkle just a bit brighter as Congressman Donald Payne makes his 
transition to be with our Creator in heaven.
  Thank you, Congressman, for all your commitment and sacrifice for the 
betterment of our global community.
  Ms. LEE of California. I would now like to yield to the gentleman 
from North Carolina, Congressman Price.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, it was with great sadness 
that I learned of the passing of my good friend and colleague, Donald 
Payne. Few Members who've served in this institution have left a 
greater impression on their constituents, their colleagues, and their 
country's domestic and foreign policy than Don Payne.
  From the moment Don set foot in Congress, he was a powerful advocate 
for the needs and interests of his central New Jersey community and of 
working Americans across our country. Bringing to bear his impressive 
and diverse record as a public schoolteacher, President of the National 
Council of YMCAs, and an elected official in Newark, Don quickly became 
one of the most forceful and effective advocates for public education 
in the Congress, playing a key role as a member of the Education and 
Labor Committee on virtually every major educational reform enacted 
over the last two decades. As the first African American elected to 
Congress from New Jersey, Don was an equally forceful advocate for the 
continued struggle for civil rights, eventually becoming chair the 
Congressional Black Caucus.
  Now, these accomplishments in education and civil rights would 
qualify as a successful career for any Member, but Don didn't stop 
there. Driven by his early fascination with Africa and his 
adventuresome travels there, Don recognized that the struggle for civil 
rights and human dignity knew no borders, rising to become one of the 
most effective chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Africa and Global Health 
Subcommittee that we have ever had in this institution.
  Our Nation's expanded focus on AIDS, malaria, and other pandemic 
diseases over the past decade would simply not have occurred without 
Don's visionary leadership and moral courage. It was fitting that USAID 
announced the launch of a Donald Payne Fellowship Program last week, 
designed to help young people enter careers in international service.
  I was fortunate to benefit from Don's knowledge and advocacy 
personally as he became a founding member of the bipartisan House 
Democracy Partnership, which I cochair with my California colleague, 
Representative David Dreier.
  Don's counsel and guidance and encouragement were invaluable as the 
House Democracy Partnership initiated partnerships with legislatures in 
Africa and conducted outreach in countries affected by the Arab Spring. 
Our frequent travels together in the region forged a deep and lasting 
friendship. He probably knew more about the ins and outs of Africa 
politics than all the other Members of this institution combined. He 
had strong and well-informed views about what our country's policies 
should be, and he was ready to articulate those views persuasively, no 
matter who the President was or which party was in charge.
  He also insisted on investigating situations on the ground for 
himself, which led to quite a few one-man codels and some anxious 
moments for those who wanted to prepackage congressional visits or 
maintain airtight security. It was fascinating to talk to him about his 
diplomatic forays, which

[[Page H1203]]

offered a combination of high adventure and a remarkable, inspiring 
dedication to the freedom and dignity of the people of Africa.
  Congress has lost a true statesman, a dedicated humanitarian, and a 
loyal public servant. We mourn his passing, and we will miss Don 
Payne's counsel and friendship.
  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield now to 
the gentlelady from Florida, Congresswoman Brown.
  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Often I say, God is good, and the audience 
says, All the time. But God has been good for giving us the life of 
Donald Payne.
  You know, when you're born, you get a birth certificate, and when you 
die, you get a death certificate, and that dash in between is what you 
have done to make this place a better place, and Don Payne has done his 
work.
  When I think of what Paul said, You have fought a good fight, and he 
has. And you've finished the course, but there is still work for us to 
do.
  We talk about Don, Donald Payne, and all of his work in Africa, and I 
don't know anyone that knew the continent or the people more than 
Donald Payne.
  But I want to mention that my first trip as a Member of Congress was 
with Congressman Payne, and we went to Ireland and we went to other 
countries. He was an international leader.
  I want to thank his family, the constituents that sent him here. You 
know that you sent someone here that loved. He loved the Lord, but more 
than that, he was what we want our public servants to be: someone that 
actually believes in serving the public.
  So Donald's work speaks for itself, and we are so grateful that we've 
had the opportunity to serve with him.
  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and staff. And in fact, 
I participate in a weekly prayer call, and I have asked all of the 
parishioners and participants to pray for him and his family, and all 
of the constituents who cared about him in the State of New Jersey.
  Beyond a doubt, our Nation will mourn the loss of such a dedicated 
Member of Congress, who lived his life as a true symbol of an ideal 
public servant.
  I feel privileged to have been able to work with Congressman Payne on 
a number of issues throughout the years. For me personally, within the 
Congressional Black Caucus, and for the Congress, he was a leader on 
all issues relating to the continent of Africa. He knew all of the 
leaders, and knew extraordinarily well the various countries' histories 
and domestic politics, and worked tirelessly throughout his tenure to 
resolve numerous deep seated conflicts on the continent, while leading 
many congressional delegations to war torn areas. Indeed, Congressman 
Payne always spoke out on behalf of people who struggled in many of the 
most difficult nations around the world: from Rwanda to Sudan and 
Haiti, to the peace process in Northern Ireland.
  Congressman Payne will be deeply missed here in Washington. I will 
always remember his soft spoken manner, will power, drive, intelligence 
and energy. And as the first African-American to serve in the House of 
Representatives from the state of New Jersey, I am certain that he will 
serve as an inspiration for others to follow in his footsteps.
  Ms. LEE of California. I would now like to yield to the gentlelady 
from the Virgin Islands, Congresswoman Donna Christensen.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Lee. And thank you, 
everyone who's come out to pay tribute to Donald Payne this evening; 
and thank you, Father Conroy, for being here with us.
  I recently had the opportunity to introduce Donald at an annual gala 
of the Mountainside Marketing Group, where he was being honored with 
the 2011 Congressional Minority Business Award, and it was really an 
honor to do that.
  I talked then about his commitment to Africa and how I always told 
Donald I would never travel with him. You see, he was as comfortable, 
as you've heard, meeting rebels in the jungle as he was meeting 
Presidents and chiefs. State Department warnings meant nothing to him. 
You heard about his plane being shot at in Mogadishu, and he also did 
some jail time here at home for protests on behalf of the justice here 
and abroad.
  Because of the high respect in which he was held by everyone on all 
sides, he was able to bring peace to warring factions, to broker 
truces, and to ease the pathway to democracy for many. And his legacy 
as a peacemaker was not limited to Africa. He's considered an honorary 
son of Ireland for his contributions there.
  I talked that evening about his commitment to children. As a teacher, 
he used his senior position on Education and Labor to ensure that 
educational opportunities are available for all children, but 
especially poor and minority children. He worked hard to close the 
achievement gap, and was also a key player in legislation to reduce 
interest rates on college loans and to increase Pell Grants.
  I was able to tell those gathered how working families had no 
stronger supporter of labor and worker protections than Donald Payne.
  Last year the Health Braintrust and all of our partners honored 
Donald with the Congressional Leadership Award.
  I had the honor also of traveling to Newark every other year to the 
Donald Payne health summits and health fairs. He was just as determined 
that the people in his district have access to quality health care as 
he was committed to their education and economic opportunity. It was 
always an event that was looked forward to and attended by thousands 
who were then connected to the health care system, some for the very 
first time.
  But his commitment to health extended beyond his district to our 
entire country, to Africa and the Caribbean. He made sure that global 
health was added to the responsibility of the Subcommittee on Africa, 
which he chaired.
  He led the effort to increase PEPFAR funding more than threefold. 
When President Bush signaled his willingness to go from 15 to 30 
billion over 5 years, Donald took that as an opening to push for even 
more and, with Barbara Lee and others, parlayed that to $48 billion. He 
also led in ensuring that, for the first time, all the countries in the 
Caribbean would be included.
  So it's no surprise that condolences are pouring in from all over the 
world, and I want to submit one from Dr. Claire Nelson on behalf of the 
Institute of Caribbean Studies.
  There were only a few of us that knew that Donald was diagnosed with 
cancer and undergoing treatment. He was truly amazing. I thought he was 
even more feisty after his diagnosis than before. He would add his 
humorous commentary even more often at our meetings. He teased many of 
us mercilessly.
  He led the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation with boundless 
energy which, of course, all of us on the board and the staff had to 
try to keep up with.

                              {time}  1810

  His most recent boat ride, of which he takes pictures with everyone 
who comes, was lots of fun as always; and he thoroughly enjoyed every 
minute of it, as all of us did.
  His work in this body, of course, never faltered, and I think he 
would have been a more formidable adversary or advocate, as the case 
might have been.
  But above all, Donald was a dear friend.
  In the end, he succumbed to the cancer, but up until the very last, 
he lived his life to the fullest. The people of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, and he visited us several times, my family and staff join me 
in extending our heartfelt sympathy to his family: his children Donald, 
Jr., Wanda, and Nicole; his four grandchildren and his great 
grandchild; his brother, Bill, and sister Kathryn; Laverne, and all of 
his staff, past and present here and in the district; and the people of 
the 10th District of New Jersey.
  Donald was not only a respected member of the Congressional Black 
Caucus, which he chaired. He was loved by all of us. We will miss him 
terribly, but we will remember him with such great affection and 
consider ourselves blessed to have known him, to have served with him, 
and to have him call us his friend.
  So long, Donald. Rest in peace. Until we meet again.

                                                    March 6, 2012.
       Dear Friends: ``Every once in a while a GIANT walks the 
     earth.''
       Over the past several years, I was privileged, to have 
     worked with Congressman Payne who was tireless in his support 
     for the Caribbean, as well as Africa. I remember well the 
     first time I moderated a Task Force at the CBC Annual 
     Legislative Caucus, that he

[[Page H1204]]

     was Co-Chair of. He was so gracious, with my anxiety about 
     following the appropriate protocol. As Chair of the Bi-
     partisan Caribbean Caucus, he led the way for us to have our 
     voice heard and helped us to understand how we as Caribbean 
     Americans may better impact the Congress he loved and served 
     so well.
       On behalf of the Caribbean American community, ICS will 
     offer condolences to his family and friends as the 
     arrangements become known to us . . . by way of our Advisors 
     who were his personal friends.
       In the meantime, I offer my prayers of thanksgiving for his 
     life and legacy and my prayers of comfort to those he loved 
     best. May he rest in peace.

                                            Dr. Claire Nelson,

                                        President of the Institute
                                             of Caribbean Studies.

  Ms. LEE of California. I would like to yield now to the gentleman 
from Indiana, Congressman Andre Carson.
  Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, from my first days in Congress, 
I always considered Donald Payne to be a mentor and a friend. He took 
me and others under his wing and showed us what it truly means to be a 
Member of Congress, not just a politician. He showed me, like he showed 
so many of us in this Chamber, how much more we accomplish through 
humility and cooperation than through bravado and partisanship.
  He was brilliant, and he put thought into every word he said; and 
because of that, Madam Speaker, his words carried weight on both sides 
of the aisle and in both Chambers.
  Most recently, I was privileged to serve under his leadership on the 
board of the Congressional Black Caucus, and I was able to see up close 
how he brought together the diverse personalities and opinions of the 
caucus in order to achieve a greater purpose.
  Congressman Payne made our caucus strong and united; and while we 
attempt to fill the gap he leaves behind, I know we will never have 
another leader like Donald Payne.
  Madam Speaker, learning to serve in the House is truly an honor, but 
it also comes with many challenges. As a young Member, I am continuing 
to grow and find my place amongst my distinguished colleagues; but I 
feel just a little more confident, and I felt a little more confident 
because I had a role model in Donald Payne.
  As long as I am given the privilege to serve in this great House, I 
look forward to carrying that legacy, the one that he started--to fight 
for the underprivileged, to bring attention to the critical issues that 
don't make the front page, Madam Speaker.
  I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and staff, and 
they know like I do how great a Member and how great a man he was.
  I'm reminded of a passage of a conversation that Jesus had with his 
disciples in the Book of Matthew, and they were dealing with this 
notion of leadership; and Jesus said very succinctly and very clearly 
and very wisely, and prophetically to them, when he said: ``He who 
wishes to be chief among you shall first be your servant.'' Let us 
remember and honor Donald Payne, a true public servant.
  Ms. LEE of California. I would like to yield to the gentleman Oregon, 
Congressman Blumenauer.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Today we mourn the loss of a colleague and friend. 
Newark lost its champion. Africa lost its informal ambassador, as 
Donald Payne exercised tremendous leadership and influence as a senior 
member and chair of the African Subcommittee.
  But with the passing of Donald Payne, I think it's important to note 
one other loss, because for millions of people around the world who 
never knew Don Payne, they lost a hero. Don knew that almost a billion 
of the world's poorest people lacked access to clean drinking water, 
that almost three times that number lacked access to sanitation 
resulting in the death every 15 seconds of a child needlessly to 
waterborne disease.
  One of the great privileges of my career in the House was working 
with Don Payne on the Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act. Don Payne was 
a quiet Member of Congress, but he knew what was important. He was 
clear in expressing those needs, expressing what needed to be done; and 
his leadership, his work behind the scenes, as well as on the front 
lines, made it possible for the first time in our history for the 
United States to have a cohesive policy towards meeting the unmet needs 
of water and sanitation for these poor people, to set a very clear 
objective that within the next 4 years we would cut in half the number 
of people who lack access to this fundamental.
  Because of the leadership of Congressman Donald Payne, literally 
millions of lives have been touched, improved, indeed, saved.
  We thank you, Congressman Payne, for your leadership and influence 
that extended far beyond your district in New Jersey, and we thank his 
family and constituents for sharing him with us and sending him back 
repeatedly so that he could do his important work.
  Ms. LEE of California. I would now like to yield to the gentleman 
from Georgia, Congressman Scott.
  Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. Thank you very much, Ms. Lee.
  This is indeed a very sad and, at the same time, a very precious time 
because we're here to talk about a life.
  A life is so precious. Donald Payne was indeed a very special human 
being. I served with Donald Payne on the Foreign Affairs Committee; and 
through his work on the Foreign Affairs Committee, I got to know him.
  Let me just say to the people of New Jersey, to his family, you've 
lost a friend, you've lost a husband, a father, a public servant for 
the Newark area of New Jersey.
  But I want you to know that Donald Payne's life and his legacy go far 
beyond there.
  There was a friend of mine who said, I don't want to hang around the 
shores with the little boats. I want to go way out where the big ships 
go. Donald Payne went way out where the big ships go. Nowhere was his 
impact more meaningful than in the continent of Africa. It was Africa 
that just pulled his heart, pulled his whole being. Donald Payne became 
the champion and the foremost advocate for the people of Africa in the 
Congress of the United States.
  What courage.
  I remember the time I was over in Africa going to the Congo, going to 
the real heart of the matter, going into Kenya, and going into Somalia 
into Yemen. But there was Donald Payne with the courage at a very 
difficult time, at a challenging time when al-Shabab was in control of 
the situation in Somalia. You hear on the news that there is a 
Congressman who's in harm's way trying to get on an airplane to get out 
of Somalia at a very hot moment. But he was there in the toughest, 
meanest, most difficult part of Africa bringing some reason.

                              {time}  1820

  So all over this world, we can all say that we thank God for sending 
Donald Payne our way.
  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, may we request an additional 10 
minutes?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot entertain that request.
  (Mr. MEEKS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I am here this evening to thank God for the 
life of Donald Payne--to thank God for a man who was focused, for a man 
who was a trailblazer, for a man who when he came to Congress knew what 
he wanted to do. People sometimes do not know what their purposes are 
in life. Sometimes folks get here, and they wander all of their lives 
to find that purpose. Donald Payne knew what his purpose was. He fought 
and was determined to get to this House of Representatives so that he 
could make a difference in so many lives.
  Once he came here, he never changed his focus, and he never changed 
his purpose. He knew that he wanted to deal on the international scale. 
He knew he wanted to take care of the people of Newark, and he knew he 
was focused on education. So when he had the opportunity to go on the 
powerful Appropriations Committee, he was so focused on what his 
mission was that he said ``no'' to Appropriations and stayed on Foreign 
Affairs and stayed on Education because that is what he wanted to do.
  He paved the way for someone like me so that, when I came to 
Congress, I looked to him. It wasn't popular to be on Foreign Affairs 
when Donald came.

[[Page H1205]]

Donald did what he knew his purpose was.
  So I want to just say, thank you, Donald Payne. Thank you for your 
work and for your mission and for paving the way for someone like me so 
that I now don't have to have a machete to cut away the grass. You've 
done it for us.
  Thank you, staff. Thank you, family.
  Thank You, God, for sending us Donald Payne. I can see You now just 
saying to him, Well done. Job well done, my good and faithful son.
  (Ms. McCOLLUM asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Someone was saying today that you remember your first 
and your last time.
  The first time I met Donald Payne was in my first term on the 
Education and the Workforce Committee. We were talking about the 
inequities in college funding for minorities, and they were talking 
about the Hispanic higher education institutions and about historical 
black colleges.
  I spoke up, and I said, What about the tribal colleges?
  Mr. Payne said, And we will never forget the tribal colleges again 
when we list off all of our colleges that serve our minority youth.
  And he never did, so I thank him for that.
  The last time--and it's fitting that Congresswoman Woolsey is on the 
floor with me--was at the State of the Union address. Usually, Donald 
sat on this side. Lynn and I had the privilege of keeping him warm that 
night. So, with that, here are my remarks.
  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people lost 
a statesman and a dedicated leader committed to human rights, quality 
education and social justice at home and around the world. It was my 
honor to serve with Donald Payne on the Africa Subcommittee, as well as 
on the Education and the Workforce Committee. I will always remember 
Donald as a friend and as a gentleman, a kind soul who spoke with 
authority and who legislated on behalf of those who were often too 
voiceless.
  My deepest condolences to Donald's family, to his staff, to his New 
Jersey constituents, and to people all over the world.
  (Mr. BISHOP of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, all the world is a stage, and 
all the men and women merely players. Each has his entrance and his 
exit. One man in this time may play many parts. So it is with Donald 
Payne.
  He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great 
grandfather, a teacher, a coach, a mentor, a leader. He led the CBC. He 
led the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and he was a friend. He 
was an extraordinary legislator. He represented the people of Newark, 
New Jersey, very well.
  But one thing that I learned about Donald from personal conversations 
was that he was truly a family man, that he loved his family. He spoke 
with love about the sacrifices that he made upon the untimely death of 
his wife, about how he had young children. He determined that he was 
going to take care of those children himself, not farm them out to 
other family members. So he sacrificed--he did the PTAs; he did the 
hair; he did all of the things so that his children would have a good 
life. It seems that Donald's early life was difficult, and he was 
determined that his children would not have the difficulties that he 
had.
  Donald was a great man. We have lost him. The family has lost a great 
man. We feel your pain; but the joy we share because we knew him will 
sustain us because we were blessed to know, love, be a part, and to 
share the life, as you did, with this great, great man. He was a 
friend. We will miss him as you will.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
  Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the loss of my 
dear friend and esteemed colleague, Don Payne. I was privileged to 
serve with Don for more than two decades. I always had enormous respect 
for his passion, dedication and encyclopedic knowledge of a range of 
foreign policy issues, particularly the 54 nations of Africa. He was 
one of the founding Members of the House Democracy Partnership, a 
commission that benefited tremendously from his expertise and 
commitment.
  In November Don and I had the opportunity to travel together 
throughout Eastern and Central Europe to commemorate the post-Soviet 
transition to democracy of several nations. He endured with good 
spirits a number of speeches honoring Ronald Reagan, never failing to 
remind me that John F. Kennedy was the world's leading champion of 
democracy long before Reagan's presidency. We continued on to Egypt, 
where Don and I served as international witnesses in the first round of 
parliamentary elections. His enthusiasm and energy never flagged as he 
spent two long days traveling from poll to poll in Egypt's first true 
election in 7,000 years.
  As Don always exemplified, our endeavor to protect human rights, 
promote the rule of law, create economic prosperity and eradicate 
violent extremism through the building of democratic institutions is a 
thoroughly bipartisan one. He will be greatly missed by all who were 
privileged to know him.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness to pay tribute 
to and honor the life of Representative Donald Payne, an esteemed 
colleague and devoted public servant.
  Committed to social and economic justice, Representative Donald Payne 
spent his life helping the most vulnerable in America and abroad.
  During my tenure in Congress, I had the pleasure of serving with 
Congressman Donald Payne on the Education and Workforce Committee. As a 
former public school teacher, Congressman Payne understood the needs of 
students, parents, teachers, and educators and the value of a good 
education.
  As a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, 
Representative Payne worked tirelessly to expand educational 
opportunity for disadvantaged children and youth, and to ensure that 
all children had access to a quality education.
  Congressman Donald Payne was a true champion for American workers and 
the middle class, always fighting to ensure that workers had safe 
working conditions and family-sustaining wages. In the area of Foreign 
Affairs, Congressman Payne was known around the globe for his 
outstanding leadership in promoting peace and democracy in Africa.
  Representative Donald Payne will be greatly missed in this chamber. 
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his staff, and the people 
of New Jersey.
  Mr. LoBIONDO. Madam Speaker, I extend my deepest sympathy to the 
family of Congressman Donald Payne, who served New Jersey with 
distinction and honor for more than two decades. His leadership was 
welcomed and respected at home and in the Congress. His passion for 
civil rights and stewardship of the Congressional Black Caucus will 
always be remembered. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Payne 
family and the residents of the 10th district who lost a champion of 
their interests.
  Ms. FUDGE. Madam Speaker, on March 6, 2012, Congressman Donald Payne 
of New Jersey passed away due to complications from colon cancer. 
Today, along with my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, I 
pay tribute to the memory of Congressman Payne. While today marks the 
end of his work on earth, the results of his labor will live on for 
many years to come.
  In 1988, Donald Payne became New Jersey's first African American to 
be elected to the U.S. Congress. As a public school teacher, the first 
African American President of the National YMCA and most recently as a 
Member of Congress for over two decades, Donald was a tireless advocate 
for children, working families and senior citizens. He was a leader and 
a role model, who dedicated his life to, among other things, closing 
the achievement gap, providing equitable funding for public schools and 
making healthcare more affordable. In the 112th Congress, he was a 
senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He 
was a key player in the passage of the College Cost Reduction and 
Access Act, which cuts interest rates on Stafford loans in half, 
increases Pell Grants and provides loan forgiveness to public service 
employees with student loan debt. Donald was also a senior member of 
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, most recently serving as the 
highest ranked Democrat on the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, 
and Human Rights.
  Donald will always be remembered as a champion for human rights and a 
strong advocate for humanitarian aid for developing countries, 
especially African countries. Beyond his work in Africa, he traveled 
throughout the world serving as a voice on issues impacting the social 
conditions of the global community. He was a former Chairman of the 
Congressional Black Caucus and, most recently, served as Chairman of 
the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. The absence of his 
passion, leadership and compassion will not go unnoticed. He will be 
greatly missed.
  I was blessed to count Donald as a colleague, and as a dear friend 
and mentor. I will always treasure his support and guidance during the 
past few years. My heartfelt prayers

[[Page H1206]]

are with his family, staff, and constituents. May the thoughts and 
prayers of many give solace to his family and friends during this 
trying time.
  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I cannot fully express my sadness over the 
death of my dearest friend and Congressional Black Caucus Colleague 
Congressman Donald Payne. Today his constituents in New Jersey's 10th 
Congressional District, our Colleague in Congress, people across 
America and around the globe mourn the loss of a great man, leader and 
humanitarian. Donald was a champion of the lesser among us who saw 
wrong and fought tirelessly to make it right.
  Donald sought to give every child a quality education and a fair 
chance at success no matter where they came from. For over 23 years in 
Congress, as former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and 
Member of the House Committee on Education, he advocated for low-income 
students across our nation. Moreover, as a Member of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, Donald worked passionately to restore democracy and 
human rights in Africa and throughout the world. Donald and I shared a 
vision in giving Americans from all walks of life the opportunity to 
serve and represent our nation abroad. His most recent accomplishment 
before he passed was the creation of USAID's Donald Payne Development 
Fellowship Program. Thanks to Donald's efforts young Americans will 
have the opportunity to continue Donald's legacy of promoting peace and 
compassion to the rest of world.
  I will deeply miss my brother Donald Payne whose kindness and 
commitment to humanity will forever be remembered. My deepest 
condolences go out to his family and loved ones.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I come to the House Floor today 
to pay tribute to our beloved colleague, dear friend and one of our 
nation's preeminent humanitarian icons--the late Congressman Donald 
Payne.
  I first met Congressman Payne nearly two decades ago and I will 
always remember him as a kind, welcoming and intellectually gifted 
individual.
  In serving in this distinguished body with Congressman Payne over the 
past few decades, I had the pleasure of seeing him excel in multiple 
rolls and often under challenging circumstances.
  As a former Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and more 
recently Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, I 
observed firsthand his relentless and passionate advocacy on improving 
the standards of living for disadvantaged and disenfranchised 
communities of color all around the world.
  And anyone who knew Donald Payne well, knows that one of his biggest 
priorities was doing all he could to improve the educational standing 
of our nation's students and young scholars. As a former teacher, he 
understood better than most in this body, the insurmountable tasks that 
our educators have in simultaneously instructing and mentoring our 
future leaders.
  He used his senior position on the U.S. House of Representatives 
Education and the Workforce Committee to aggressively advocate on 
behalf of America's children. He remained engaged in exploring ways 
that we could close our nation's educational achievement gap; provide 
equitable funding for public schools; and make college more affordable.
  As the Ranking Member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, he worked 
extensively to protect human rights and provide vital humanitarian 
assistance to developing countries throughout the African continent.
  Madam Speaker, today the world has lost an uplifting and inspiring 
public figure and a remarkable human being. Those of us who were 
fortunate and blessed to have known and worked with Donald Payne have 
lost a nurturing mentor and widely-admired colleague.
  Congressman Payne once said, ``There is a lot of dignity in being 
able to achieve things without having to create rapture.'' This quote 
speaks not only to the symbolism of Donald's civil nature but to the 
substance of his lifelong mission of accomplishing good deeds through 
consensus rather than conflict.
  Madam Speaker, I would ask that all my colleagues take time out of 
their schedules today to pay tribute to Donald Payne for all that he 
did and all the good things that his legacy will continue to inspire us 
to do.

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