Today, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Donald Payne:
Today, U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Donald Payne:
“I am saddened by the passing of my friend and colleague Congressman Donald Payne. Throughout his adult life, he served the people of New Jersey as an educator, community leader and in Congress. As a long-serving member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Donald was a leader in supporting democracy in Africa and throughout the world, and I worked with him closely on issues impacting Haiti and the rest of the Caribbean. He was also committed to domestic issues and he was a leading advocate on the Education and Workforce Committee for reducing college costs for students.
“A trailblazer, Donald was the first black president of the National Council of YMCAs and the first black Congressman from New Jersey. As a colleague of his in the Congressional Black Caucus and on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I got to see first-hand his decency, empathy and leadership. My thoughts and prayers go out to Donald’s family.”
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Rep. Frederica S. Wilson is a first-term Congresswoman representing the 17th District of Florida, including Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward Counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school.
