Tenure Donald M. Payne

payne s voting record considered have been consistently progressive of new jersey congressmen @ time of death. pro-choice , against death penalty. member, , former chair, of congressional black caucus , chosen in 2002 house minority leader nancy pelosi serve on democratic steering committee. democratic steering committee chooses house committees each individual democratic congressmen serve on , plays crucial part in shaping democratic legislative agenda. in international issues, payne active on issues relating africa, particularly regarding conflict in darfur region of sudan , western sahara conflict.

as leading advocate of education, payne instrumental in passage of key legislation, including goals 2000 initiative improve elementary , secondary schools; school-to-work opportunities act; national service act, establishment of national literacy institute; , funding head start, pell grants, summer jobs , student loans.

payne member of u.s. house committee on foreign affairs, served chairman of united states house foreign affairs subcommittee on africa , global health , member of subcommittee on united states house foreign affairs subcommittee on western hemisphere , united states house foreign affairs subcommittee on international organizations, human rights, , oversight. congressman payne @ forefront of efforts restore democracy , human rights in nations throughout globe. 1 of 5 members of congress chosen accompany president bill clinton , hillary clinton on historic six-nation tour of africa. headed presidential mission war-torn rwanda find solutions country s political , humanitarian crises. in addition, recognized having supportive record in congress on issues involving northern ireland peace process.

on june 22, 2001 payne arrested after protesting against sudanese government @ embassy in washington, d.c.. supporter of , endorsed genocide intervention network.

in 2003, president george w. bush appointed payne 1 of 2 members of congress serve congressional delegate united nations , reappointed him in 2005 unprecedented second term. in role, met u.n. secretary general, u.s. ambassador u.n. , regularly attended sessions of u.n. general assembly , other high level meetings.

he 1 of 31 voted in house not count electoral votes ohio in 2004 presidential election.

payne received on liberal drum major institute s 2005 congressional scorecard on middle-class issues.

payne served on board of directors of national endowment democracy, transafrica, discovery channel global education fund, congressional award foundation, boys , girls clubs of newark, newark day center, fighting initiative , newark ymca. received numerous awards , honors national, international , community-based organizations, including visionaries award bestowed africa society , prestigious democracy service medal, awarded lech walesa, former polish president , founder of solidarity movement, national endowment democracy.

payne supported senator barack obama in bid democratic presidential nomination after supporting hillary clinton.

attack in somalia

on april 13, 2009, payne s plane departing mogadishu, somalia, when somali fighters fired mortars @ airport. payne unhurt, plane bound kenya. attack came 1 day after captain richard phillips rescued somali pirates after failed hijacking of mv maersk alabama. payne stated party on plane did not know airport attacked until after arrived in kenya