Donald M. Payne
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| Donald M. Payne | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Rodino |
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| Born | July 16, 1934 Newark, New Jersey |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Widowed |
| Religion | Baptist |
Donald Milford Payne (b. July 16, 1934, Newark, New Jersey) is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey who represents the state's 10th Congressional district[1] in the United States House of Representatives, which encompasses most of the city of Newark, parts of Jersey City and Elizabeth, and some suburban communities in Essex and Union counties. He is the first African American to represent New Jersey in Congress.[2]
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[edit] Early life
Payne was born in Newark, New Jersey and was a 1952 graduate of Barringer High School. He did his undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University. After graduating he pursued post-graduate studies in Springfield College in Massachusetts. Before being elected to Congress in 1988, Payne served in the Newark Municipal Council, was on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, was an executive at Prudential Financial, was Vice President of Urban Data Systems Inc., and was a teacher in the Newark Public Schools.[3] In 1970, Payne became the first black president of the National Council of YMCAs.[4] From 1973 to 1981 he was Chairman of the World Y.M.C.A. Refugee and Rehabilitation Committee. [5]
[edit] Career
Payne ran against Congressman Peter Rodino in the 1980 and 1986 Democratic primaries but lost both times. Rodino retired in 1988, and Payne easily won his seat in the House of Representatives to become New Jersey's first African American member of Congress.
Since his election to Congress, he has won all nine successive elections without much trouble. In 2002, Payne ran against no Republican opponent gaining 84.5% of the vote, winning the highest margin of the vote than in any other New Jersey Congressional race. In the 2004 Congressional race the Republicans again had no candidate on the ballot and Payne easily won, with 97% of the vote, against Green Party candidate ([4]) Toy-Ling Washington and Socialist Workers Party candidate Sara J. Lobman.
Payne's voting record is considered to be the most consistently liberal of all New Jersey Congressmen. He is pro-choice and against the death penalty. He is a member, and former chair, of the Congressional Black Caucus and was chosen in 2002 by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to serve on the Democratic Steering Committee. The Democratic Steering Committee chooses which House Committees each individual Democratic Congressmen will serve on and also plays a crucial part in shaping the Democratic legislative agenda. In international issues Payne has been active in issues relating to Africa, particularly that of the current conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Payne is a member of the United States House Committee on Education and Labor, where he serves on the United States House Education Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and the United States House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education. As a leading advocate of education, he has been instrumental in the passage of key legislation, including the Goals 2000 initiative to improve elementary and secondary schools; the School-to-Work Opportunities Act; the National Service Act, establishment of the National Literacy Institute; and funding for Head Start, Pell Grants, Summer Jobs and Student Loans.
Payne is also a member of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he serves as Chairman of the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and as a member of the Subcommittee on the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere and the United States House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight. Congressman Payne has been at the forefront of efforts to restore democracy and human rights in nations throughout the globe. He was one of five members of Congress chosen to accompany President Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton on their historic six-nation tour of Africa. He also headed a Presidential mission to war-torn Rwanda [6] to help find solutions to that country's political and humanitarian crises. In addition, he was recognized as having the most supportive record in Congress on issues involving the Northern Ireland peace process.
On June 22, 2001 Payne was arrested after protesting against the Sudanese government at its Embassy in Washington, D.C.. [7] He is a supporter and has endorsed the Genocide Intervention Network.
In 2003, President George W. Bush appointed Payne as one of two members of Congress to serve as a Congressional delegate to the United Nations and reappointed him in 2005 to an unprecedented second term. In this role, he has met with the U.N. Secretary General, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and regularly attended sessions of the U.N. General Assembly and other high level meetings.
He was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004.[8]
Payne received an "A" on the liberal Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues[9]
Payne has served on the board of directors of the National Endowment for Democracy, TransAfrica, Discovery Channel Global Education Fund, the Congressional Award Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark, the Newark Day Center, the Fighting Back Initiative and the Newark YMCA. He has received numerous awards and honors from national, international and community-based organizations, including the Visionaries Award bestowed by the Africa Society and the prestigious Democracy Service Medal, which was previously awarded to Lech Walesa, the former Polish President and founder of the Solidarity movement, by the National Endowment for Democracy.
He currently supports Senator Barack Obama in his bid for the presidential nomination after originally supporting Hillary Clinton.
[edit] Congressional committee assignments
[edit] Family
Donald Payne's brother, William D. Payne, served in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 29th legislative district of New Jersey, his nephew, Craig A. Stanley, served in the General Assembly representing the 28th legislative district, and his son, Donald M. Payne, Jr., serves as a councilman in the Newark City Council and as Essex County Freeholder-At-Large as well.
[edit] References
- ^ [1]. Map
- ^ May, Clifford D. "After 40 Years Making the Law, Rodino Now Teaches It", The New York Times, January 27, 1989. Accessed December 12, 2007. "Peter Rodino is one of my heroes, said Representative Donald Payne, who this month succeeded Mr. Rodino and became the first black Congressman from New Jersey."
- ^ Congressional biography of Donald Milford Payne, Jr., United States Congress. Accessed June 8, 2007.
- ^ Milestones In the History of African Americans and the YMCA. Accessed December 13, 2007
- ^ Sullivan, Joseph F. “2 Vie to Be First Jersey Black in Congress", “The New York Times”, November 10, 1988. Accessed December 13, 2007. "He was elected president of the National Council of Y.M.C.A.'s in 1970. From 1973 to 1981 he was chairman of the World Y.M.C.A. Refugee and Rehabilitation Committee."
- ^ [2] U.S. Gets a Warning on Burundi Situation. Accessed December 13, 2007. “
- ^ [3] Congressman Donald Payne Arrested Protesting Tragedy in Sudan.
- ^ Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, January 6, 2005. Accessed June 26, 2007.
- ^ Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record, Drum Major Institute. Accessed June 26, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Congressman Donald M. Payne official U.S. House website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Staff salary data at LegiStorm.com
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Milestones In the History of African Americans and the YMCA
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Peter W. Rodino |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th congressional district 1989–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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