Stacey Plaskett: “I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for anchoring this time. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that we have gathered here this…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for anchoring this time. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that we have gathered here this evening to celebrate the life and legacy of our dear friend and colleague, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. When I came to Congress, I knew of his father, Donald Payne, Sr. I had gone to Georgetown's Foreign Service School and all of us Black students knew of the work of his father in elevating Africa, but I came to learn of his son, Donald Payne, Jr., and understood that he was just as passionate as his father; that he, in fact, elevated the legacy of his father by forging his own trail in the issues that were important to him. We have lost a great man in the House, but Newark, New Jersey, the State, his staff, and especially his family, have lost a dear loved one who can never be replaced. We must keep his legacy going: the impeccable fashion sense, kind heart, warmth, and a very wry sense of humor, very quiet, but it was there. It was very edgy at times. Donald Payne was, above all, a gentleman. He was a leader in healthcare, specifically with screening for colorectal cancer, Black men's health, and ensuring affordability. He had many initiatives for supporting disadvantaged communities. I was proud to cosponsor H.R. 3382, the Colorectal Cancer Payment Fairness Act and H.R. 1765, the SNAP Benefits Fairness Act alongside him. Mr. Payne was an advocate for minority and low-income communities and a voice of support for my home, the Virgin Islands.…”