Donald M. Payne

We have been debating health care reform for over 1 year. Today I am urging my colleagues to step up to the plate with courage and vote for passage of this critical legislation. If we don't move forward, the American people will be faced…

Let me begin by commending Mr. Meeks from New York and Ms. Waters from California for this very important legislation, H.R. 4573, Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery in Haiti. I also would like to acknowledge Mr. Bachus for his very…

the war in Iraq, which was unnecessary, and big tax cuts put us in the position we are in today, unfortunately.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was created in the first month of President Obama's term after what was reported to be the worst recession since the Great Depression. Just 1 year ago, our Nation was headed towards an economic…

Let me express my appreciation to the gentlelady from Cleveland for calling this Special Order. She has been such a tremendous resource to the Congressional Black Caucus. And as we know, the Congressional Black Caucus has been very…

Let me, once again, express our deep appreciation for the outcry of Members of this legislative body on both sides of the aisle. We have heard of the great work done by many of the countries mentioned. We have heard about the heroism and…

Madam Speaker, I rise to extend my deepest condolences to the people of Haiti, Haitian Americans, and all of those who have been affected by the earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12. Words certainly cannot describe the…

Haiti has been a longtime concern to many of us, and we certainly wish to express our concern for this disaster, this catastrophe that has stricken Haiti. As you know, Haiti was hit by four devastating hurricanes and tropical storms…

I was deeply saddened to learn yesterday of the 7.0 Richter scale earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday. As I speak, President Obama is preparing to address the Nation about our response and support. My heart goes out to the Haitian…

Congressman Kildee is probably the most respected member of the United States Congress because of the great ethical and moral leadership he has.

If Somalia is lost to extremists, it will be a disaster for the Horn.

Your presence there has changed the image of the U.S., and I really appreciate that.

we should not allow the major engagements which are serious and consequential to allow our military capabilities to take a pass on some of these other issues of consequence morally and for regional stability which is in our interest.

I just cannot fathom how abuse like this could happen. It seems like rather than things improving... this seems to be going in an opposite direction.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for calling this very important hearing. And it is actually shocking to hear what happened in these 10 cases.

This is worse than police--silence of the blue. You know, this is silence of the educators.

I urge the U.S. government, the Congress, to encourage alternative energy practices that are going to be environmentally-friendly.

All efforts to educate parents about the importance of reading and talking with their children should be supported.

An extensive body of research now clearly demonstrates the importance of promoting early language and literacy skills in preparing children for later success in reading and in school.

I certainly believe that we should be looking for positive ways to use the authority of the health care community to help children with their language and literacy development.

the cumulative decline in the value of the financial assets as a result of the current economic crisis cost Americans almost $2.7 trillion in their retirement savings.

I don't believe that policymakers ever intended that the ability of a worker to retire would depend on whether the stock market was up or down in a particular year.

with the Bush economy losing 325 jobs so far this year, it is important for the House to extend a financial lifeline to millions of unemployed workers, many in my home State of New Jersey and across the Nation, who are having trouble…

let me join in with my colleagues in expressing support for the designation of September 2008 for Gospel Music Heritage Month. And let me commend the sponsor, Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee, for her initiative to make the gospel music national art…

Instruments would later be infused in the culture influencing some of the most memorable voices, and we heard them, in particular Mahalia Jackson and Roberta Martin, and many, many others. Later we heard Marvin Gaye and Elvis Presley and…