Political Quotes

“On March 6, 2012, Congressman Donald Payne of New Jersey passed away due to complications from colon cancer. Today, along with my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, I pay tribute to the memory of Congressman Payne. While today marks the end of his work on earth, the results of his labor will live on for many years to come. In 1988, Donald Payne became New Jersey's first African American to be elected to the U.S. Congress. As a public school teacher, the first African American President of the National YMCA and most recently as a Member of Congress for over two decades, Donald was a tireless advocate for children, working families and senior citizens. He was a leader and a role model, who dedicated his life to, among other things, closing the achievement gap, providing equitable funding for public schools and making healthcare more affordable. In the 112th Congress, he was a senior member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He was a key player in the passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which cuts interest rates on Stafford loans in half, increases Pell Grants and provides loan forgiveness to public service employees with student loan debt. Donald was also a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, most recently serving as the highest ranked Democrat on the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.…”