Steve Cohen: “Thank you, Mr. Roe. I appreciate the time. Everything has been said just about Congressman Payne, and by such wonderful…”

“Thank you, Mr. Roe. I appreciate the time. Everything has been said just about Congressman Payne, and by such wonderful gentlemen and gentleladies who pay tribute to the man. I had the opportunity to meet him early in my entry into the Congress, and he made me feel at home from day one. He was, indeed, a gentleman, quiet but with a marvelous record for peace and for justice for the downtrodden people who needed a helping hand. I had the opportunity through the auspices of CARE and the Gates Foundation to travel with Congressman Payne, his brother and others to Rwanda, to Goma and to Congo this past August; and I saw how he was beloved among people in Africa where he would travel on many occasions before. We shared the experience of going to the memorial to the victims of the genocide there, and Congressman Payne told me some stories about when he'd been there with President Clinton, and President Clinton had gone back and expressed his regrets of not having done more earlier to prevent the genocide, but was strong in supporting the nation of Rwanda and the people getting their country back together. Donald Payne had a progressive record. He was respected and loved by all. I was fortunate that my life intersected with his for he made me feel at home. And as so many other Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have done, he made it to where it wasn't necessary to be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus to be with the Congressional Black Caucus.…”