Donald M. Payne: “I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Kelly, for anchoring this final Congressional Black…”

“I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Kelly, for anchoring this final Congressional Black Caucus Special Order hour. In fact, I would like to thank Congresswoman Kelly for coanchoring all the Special Order hours with me throughout 2015. It has been my real honor and pleasure to spend all these Mondays with you bringing forth issues that matter in our community. I would also like to thank the CBC chair, Congressman G.K. Butterfield, for his outstanding leadership this past year. I appreciate you choosing me to coanchor these congressional Special Order hours with Congresswoman Kelly. It is a great honor, and we are a body of 40-plus, so to have that honor to be chosen means a great deal to me. And I am certain that 2016's coanchors will proudly serve, as we have. As Congresswoman Kelly mentioned, we are here to reflect on all the work that the Congressional Black Caucus has done throughout the year, to look at the accomplishments. In February, we kicked off the CBC Special Order hour by reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the March on Selma, where we are today, and where we are headed for tomorrow. Through this hour, we were able to set the tone for the Congressional Black Caucus agenda with our leader, G.K. Butterfield, at the helm. We remembered all the strides that were made by African Americans to the place that we are today. We reflected on the work that is being done right now through the caucus in the House of Representatives.…”