"We are also joined by a shared responsibility--to carry on his critical work, to carry forward his vision of a stronger Nation and a better world."
"He showed how compassion, courage, and willingness to find common ground can drive positive change."
"He was a determined enemy: of poverty; of violence and cruelty toward children; of obstacles to prosperity; of war; and of human rights abuses around the world."
"He helped make real the possibility of our Nation's first African American President--and first African American Attorney General."
"I am deeply grateful to Congressman Payne for breaking barriers that stood in the way for so many years."
"It was the work of a man using his position and his power to simply do the right thing."
"Congressman Payne was dedicated to protecting our health from pollution."
"A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops."
"Donald was always a teacher. He was the kind of teacher a lot of us wish we had."
"His compassion was not cabined by race or color or ethnicity."
"And then it was declared that deficits don't matter. This special committee was created because deficits and debt do matter."
"Instead of building on the policies that have served us so well, we embarked upon two wars, one of which was dubious at best."