In the ensuing weeks since Don Payne’s untimely passing, I—along with all who knew and deeply respected him—keep expecting to hear his gentle voice admonishing us to care more and to do more for those trapped in poverty or suffering from devastating disease. (click here to watch the CSPAN video of Smith's remarks)
Donald Payne was an extraordinary man who dedicated his entire life to public service; a man who made a significant difference in the world, in his constituency in New Jersey. All—many people that he touched—know and remember his legacy as a great, great treasure.
Don Payne worked across party lines to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to mitigate the loss of life and morbidity from tuberculosis and malaria on the subcontinent of Africa.
He cosponsored the Sudan Peace Act and worked tirelessly to end the genocides in both South Sudan and Darfur.
I know firsthand how much he truly cared and how hard he worked for peace and reconciliation in war-ravaged nations. I served as Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee when he chaired it, and more recently until his passing, he served as mine. In our subcommittee, he never shied away from asking the tough questions, but always did so in a way that demonstrated his earnest desire to find durable solutions to vexing and seemingly insurmountable problems.
He was a joy to work with.
At his funeral, dozens of family members, friends and political leaders extolled Don Payne’s innate goodness and accomplishments. The outpouring was, in a word, overwhelming.
- President Clinton was there and talked about Donald Payne as a peacemaker, and
said, " Better to reconcile than to resent.”
- Governor Christie said that,
"As we celebrate his life today and as we say goodbye, we thank him for his
gentle grace.”
- His niece, Lauren said, “I can go to any part of the world
and he would be known there….I think it’s wonderful, just amazing.”
- And his
son, Don Jr., reminded everyone: “Just think of all the things he did for
us…without ever asking for anything back.”
Don Payne’s ability to care and to do for others while expecting nothing whatsoever in return is indeed rare and it’s a precious virtue. His example of life-long selfless generosity inspires us all to be doers of good deeds without any thought of recognition or reward.
The House has lost a distinguished friend and a distinguished colleague in the gentleman from New Jersey. On behalf of our delegation, I say to the family, we deeply miss him. On behalf of Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Howard Berman, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, we deeply miss him. And on behalf of the entire Congress—he is missed.
Related article on Politickernj:
http://www.politickernj.com/56404/house-honors-payne
