Donald M. Payne: “It is my constituents that are looking for these opportunities, and it is a leveling of the playing field.”

I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for giving me the opportunity to speak on my mentor, my hero, EBJ, who, you see, when I arrived in Congress 11 years ago after the death of my father, the late Donald Payne, Sr., EBJ put her arm around me…

I was unable to cast my vote for rollcall Nos. 110 and 111. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 110, S. 382, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 111, H.R. 2560. ____________________

I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Vote No. 141. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on adoption of H. Res. 1143.

I thank the gentleman from Illinois for that kind introduction and also the gentlewoman from Florida for hosting this Special Order hour. They come here every week bringing the message from the CBC, and they do an incredible job. Also, it…