Yvette Clarke: “I thank my colleague, Barbara Lee. Madam Speaker, today I'm here to pay tribute to a quintessential public servant, a…”

“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.…”