[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 126 (Thursday, July 25, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING THE PAYNE FELLOWSHIP

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Donald M. Payne, 
Sr., International Development Graduate Fellowship Program.
  My father, the late Donald M. Payne, was committed to human rights at 
home, in Africa, and around the world. I am honored by the Payne 
Fellows' commitment to my father's legacy, and I have developed a deep 
appreciation for everything they have done to uplift humanity.
  I am proud that the fellowship named for my father helps talented 
young people enter the USAID Foreign Service program. Today, the Payne 
Fellows are leading the charge on some of the greatest global 
challenges of our time.
  Since its inception in 2013, the program has trained 50 talented 
young individuals who come from diverse backgrounds to enrich and 
enhance the USAID Foreign Service.
  This year, I hosted one of the Payne Fellows in my office. Her name 
is Meklit Gebru.
  Meklit's intellect, work ethic, humor, and, most of all, her positive 
attitude will truly be missed in my office. The day after her arrival, 
she was writing questions for me to use in Committee on Homeland 
Security subcommittee hearings.
  Again, I thank the USAID and the Payne Fellows for their commitment 
to providing humanitarian efforts while in support of America's foreign 
policy.

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