Donald Payne

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Votes Nos. 143 through 152. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 143, H.R. 3602; `'Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 144, Nunn Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 8038; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 145, H.R. 8038; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 146, H.R. 8036; ``Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 147, Spartz Amendment No. 1 to H.R. 8035; ``Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 148, Greene Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 8035; ``Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 149, Cammack Amendment No. 4 to H.R. 8035; ``Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 150, Motion to Recommit on H.R. 8035; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 151, H.R. 8035; and ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 152, H.R. 8034.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Vote No. 142. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on H. Res. 1160.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Vote No. 141. Had I been present, I would have voted Yea on adoption of H. Res. 1143.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Votes Nos. 135 through 140. Had I been present, I would have voted: Nay on Roll Call Vote No. 135, LaLota Amendment No. 3 to H.R. 4639; Yea on Roll Call Vote No. 136, H.R. 4639, Nay on Roll Call Vote No. 137, H.R. 6046; Nay on Roll Call Vote No. 138, H.R. 4691, Nay on Roll Call Vote No. 139, H.R. 5947; and Nay on Roll Call Vote No. 140, H.R. 6323.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Votes Nos. 124 through 134. Had I been present, I would have voted: ``Nay'' on Roll Call Vote No. 124, Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1149; ``No'' on Roll Call Vote No. 125, H. Res. 1149; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 126, H.R. 6245; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 127, H.R. 6015; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 128, H.R. 5917; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 129, H.R. 4681; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 130, H.R. 6603; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 131, H.R. 5826; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 132, H.R. 3033; ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 133, H. Res. 288; and ``Yea'' on Roll Call Vote No. 134, H. Res. 883.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for rollcall Nos. 112 and 113. Had I been present, I would have voted nay on rollcall Vote No. 112, Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1137, and nay on rollcall Vote No. 113, H. Res. 1137.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for rollcall Nos. 110 and 111. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 110, S. 382, and ``yea'' on rollcall vote No. 111, H.R. 2560.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall No. 107, Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1125; ``nay'' on rollcall No. 108, H. Res. 1125; and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 109, H.R. 3250.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to cast my vote for Roll Call Nos. 105 and 106. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall Vote No. 105, H.R. 6655 and ``yea'' on rollcall Vote No. 106, S. 2051.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise President Biden's work to improve housing in America. The President's leadership in this area has led to lower housing costs, expanded rental assistance, and increased affordable housing nationwide. Now, the President wants to implement the most consequential housing plan in 50 years in this country. It would provide a $10,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and people who sell their starter homes. It would build and renovate more than 2 million homes. The plan would crack down on corporate actions that rob renters, and it would provide rental assistance for hundreds of thousands of families, veterans, and youth leaving foster care. It is a bold plan that would benefit millions of Americans, and I am proud to support it on the House floor today.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eugene Cornacchia, the longest serving president of St. Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey. President Cornacchia is retiring this year after 17 years leading this prestigious university. During his tenure, President Cornacchia helped St. Peter's become a university and gain national recognition. He helped start the university's first doctoral programs and the new schools of business, nursing, and education. He oversaw the construction of the new student center, Panepinto Hall, and the creation of the STEM empowerment center. In addition, President Cornacchia secured more than $134 million in funding and $25 million in Federal grants for the school. I enjoyed being there along with my two sons, Donald and Jack, to watch St. Peter's magical run during the 2022 NCAA tournament. Since then, they both have graduated from the school. I will be rooting for the Peacocks during tonight's tournament, as well. Mr. Speaker, President Cornacchia is an exceptional leader and will be missed at St. Peter's University.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a solution to McDonald's ice cream machine problem. Angry customers have flooded social media with posts about broken machines. McDonald's even jokes about it, but it is not a joke. It is a problem McDonald's refuses to fix. The company limits franchise owners regarding who can repair their machines and denies them the right to find local repair workers to save them time and money. Now, President Biden wants to give the American small business owners more repair freedom. It is called the right to repair, and it would loosen copyright laws to permit small business owners to repair their own machines. If successful, the move would save customers and small business owners millions of dollars per year, and McDonald's customers could finally get their ice cream consistently again. It is another way President Biden is fighting for the American people and for the right to have ice cream.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to question the Republican commitment to American families. Recently, actions in Alabama have led a nationwide discussion on the popular in vitro fertilization, or IVF, pregnancy treatments. More than 8 million American babies have been born through IVF, and it has helped create parents and families nationwide. The Republicans want to ban IVF across the country. First, Republicans want to force women to have children. Now, they want to stop women from having them. It is very confusing and very hypocritical. Democrats want women to choose when they have their children. We also want to protect that right with the Women's Health Protection Act. The American people should make reproductive health choices, not politicians.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Eagle Scout project of Michael Costeira. Michael Costeira is a Boy Scout from Union, New Jersey, and he wanted to upgrade the almost 300-year-old Caldwell Parsonage. The Caldwell Parsonage was the home of the Reverend James Caldwell, a strong patriot supporter during the American Revolution. The original Caldwell Parsonage was burned by loyalist mobs in 1780. Later that year, Caldwell's wife, Hannah, was killed by British soldiers during the Battle of Connecticut Farms. The current Caldwell Parsonage was built in 1782 and added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982. Michael Costeira wanted to preserve that history for his Eagle Scout project, so he researched various artifacts in the parsonage and he created more accurate exhibit labels for each of the items found. I congratulate Michael. He has made a valuable contribution to an historic location in this country's great fight in the Revolution.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Reverend Brian Rawls, Sr., for becoming the 13th pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church. Reverend Rawls continues a family legacy. His father, Bishop Hilton Rawls, Sr., has been the pastor of St. Paul Free Will Baptist Church in Newark for more than 40 years. Reverend Brian Rawls comes to St. Paul Baptist Church with exceptional credentials. He earned a master of divinity degree and a doctor of divinity degree from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He was the director of the Newark Youth One-Stop Career Center and a former chair of the Mayor's Commission on the Homeless for the city of Newark. Today, Reverend Rawls is the dean of the School of Christian Studies and assistant professor of church ministry and leadership for Pillar College in Newark. In addition, he has traveled the world to teach about the Kingdom of God. I congratulate my friend, the Right Reverend Brian Rawls. His church is getting an outstanding leader.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a man of faith from my district, Pastor Bryan Ali. Pastor Ali has been my friend for more than 50 years. He was the ``pastor in the hood,'' as we called him, at New Psalmist Worship Center in Newark, New Jersey. His story is one that should inspire us all. Pastor Ali received his spiritual calling during a time when he fought homelessness and chemical addiction. He improved his life through the power of the Lord. His own personal reformation led to a doctoral degree in holistic theology. He served as president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Newark and Vicinity. In addition, he was the spiritual counselor for the Newark Anti- Violence Coalition and served on the board of the Newark Community Health Centers. I was honored when he accepted the invitation to be the guest chaplain here in Congress. Pastor Ali was an outstanding clergyman, an incredible leader, and an inspirational figure in our community. He will be missed.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, let me first thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for allowing me the opportunity to speak today and also the gentleman from Illinois, her great partner, the Honorable Jonathan Jackson, who comes from a lineage of great service to this Nation. I am here tonight because of the topic. I was once a Black little boy, and so the topic is very important to me because, you see, in this Nation, Madam Speaker, it seems that there is a race going on. It appears that sometimes the young men in my community don't receive the same consideration, the same opportunities, the same benefit of the doubt that other young men are allowed to have. So, I am here to talk a bit about that. The young lady that has brought us here today, the honorable gentlewoman from Florida, Frederica Wilson, has been a consummate advocate for Black men and young boys. I thank my good friend, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, for tonight. She is a strong supporter of efforts to improve the health of Black males. She created and now serves as chairwoman of the House caucus on the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. She founded this caucus to uncover these social disparities that affect Black men's health in our country, and the caucus does exceptional work to address these issues that lower the life expectancy of Black men, such as gun violence, mental illness, and the lack of access to quality healthcare. In fact, Congresswoman Wilson has done more to improve Black men's health than most Black men. That is why I am honored to be here today to support her. The health of Black males is particularly important to me for two reasons. As a Black Congressman, I want to do everything I can to improve the health and well-being of Black men. I am the co-chair of three different congressional caucuses that deal with healthcare: the Congressional Men's Health Caucus, the Congressional Colorectal Cancer Caucus, and the Congressional Peripheral Artery Disease Caucus. I understand the disparities in healthcare that exist for Black men and all Black Americans. Studies show that Black Americans do not get the same healthcare, on average, as our counterparts in this country, and that causes too many members of our community to die from preventable diseases. Today, Black men born after 1960 have a life expectancy of 61. To quote Congresswoman Wilson: ``They do not even live long enough to collect their Social Security.'' The second and most important reason is that I am diabetic, and I have to monitor my health on a daily basis. Unfortunately, too many Black men do not monitor their health on a consistent basis, and that is one reason the life expectancy of Black men is so low. They fail to get regular checkups and health screenings. They wait to see a doctor until they have a reason, and that can allow a minor health issue to become a major one. I could go on about this issue because it means so much to me as a Black man, but I would love to give my colleagues here the opportunity to express their concern about this very important issue.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the strong state of the Union thanks to President Biden. I had the distinct honor of speaking with the President right before and right after his historic State of the Union Address last night. President Biden's leadership has created the strongest economy in the world with almost 15 million new jobs created in this country. He has saved Americans billions of dollars with lower costs for medications, healthcare insurance, and the removal of junk fees. His actions will cut climate pollution in half by 2030. His focus on infrastructure has created 40,000 projects in 4,500 American communities. He signed the first major bipartisan gun safety bill in 30 years to protect Americans from gun violence, and he has expanded benefits for military veterans. The list of successes goes on and on. The state of the Union is strong, and under President Biden's leadership, it continues to get stronger.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank Mr. Moore for being gracious and allowing me this time. We need to see more of that between both sides of the aisle, and I thank him very much, sir. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great man, my father, Congressman Donald Payne, Sr. Today is the 12th anniversary of his passing from colorectal cancer, and his life was filled with tremendous accomplishments. He was New Jersey's first Black Congressman and served as the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. He helped decide House Committee representation as a member of the Democratic Steering Committee, and also fought to restore democracy and human rights worldwide as a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. President George W. Bush made him the first two-time member of the congressional delegation to the United Nations, and he earned an ``A'' for his work to protect and strengthen the middle class. He was an outstanding Congressman, mentor, and role model, but he was ten times a better father. My heart is heavy today as I mourn my father. I do miss him so, and I thank the gentleman, once again, for yielding.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the great work of President Biden and the House Democrats. We are putting people over politics to grow the middle class. We have created better-paying jobs and continue to make communities safer. We have capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for seniors, and we are working to make that price set for all diabetics. We continue to grow the middle class with investments in infrastructure and investments in technologies to prevent climate change. We are working to make corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans pay their fair share in taxes. We passed the first gun safety law in a generation, and we will keep fighting to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people. In addition, we want women to make their own reproductive healthcare choices, and we will continue to put people over politics in all our policy choices.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for that kind introduction and also the gentlewoman from Florida for hosting this Special Order hour. They come here every week bringing the message from the CBC, and they do an incredible job. Also, it is very difficult to follow my classmate, the former chair lady of the CBC. It is a very hard act to follow. When I see her, I kind of cringe because I know I better get it together. The Honorable Joyce Beatty has been a true friend, sister, and colleague to me. And to you, Madam Speaker, as you sit in that seat, it is apropos that this month you have been given the honor to stand over the Speaker's rostrum and control the House of Representatives, so I salute you, as well, as a woman. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the influence and achievements of Black women in America during Women's History Month. First, I will discuss the origins of Women's History Month. Women's History Month started as Women's History Week in Santa Rosa, California, in 1978. The local Sonoma County Commission on the status of women planned a week of celebratory events to connect the International Women's Day on March 8. The events highlighted the many contributions of women to American history, culture, and society. It included school presentations in Sonoma County, a student essay contest to honor local women with the parade through downtown Santa Rosa. The year after that, Santa Rosa's historic week triggered similar events to celebrate women in communities nationwide. In addition, historians and women activist groups began to push for a National Women's History Week. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential proclamation to declare the first week in March as National Women's History Week. However, 1 week was not enough to celebrate the enormous contributions of women to American history, so Congress created Women's History Month in 1987. It is stated that the month would recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of America's history in a variety of fields. This month, we honor women from all races, cultures, and creeds during Women's History Month. However, we are here today as the CBC to honor Black women who have made a difference in America, and many of them need to be recognized more often: Women like Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to be a licensed pilot in this country; Alice Coachman, the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal for the United States of America; Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman to earn a medical degree in the United States; Phillis Wheatley, the first Black woman to publish a book in this great country; and Mary Jane Patterson, the first Black woman to graduate from an established college. We also have Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first Black nurse and eventual cofounder of the American Nurses Association. More than that, Mahoney was one of the first women to register to vote in Boston after her retirement in 1920. Maggie Lena Walker, the first Black woman to start a bank and serve as the president of a U.S. bank. Alice Dunnigan, the first Black woman to cover the White House as a reporter. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to become an astronaut and go into space. Jemison overcame her fear of heights to do that. Can you imagine? These extraordinary Black women are a few of the millions who have made a difference in our country. Today, Black women are setting new standards of excellence in the sciences, the arts, athletics, politics, mathematics, education, medicine, and the law, just to name a few. I am proud to be here to celebrate the contributions of Black women-- I am the product of a Black woman--and all women, to the betterment of America. They have helped to build this country, and we must do everything possible to protect the rights they have worked so hard for. As we discuss the whole notion around Black women and what they have contributed to this country, let's not forget all women and what they have done in this country. I am just honored to be here on the floor tonight to say thank you to the many Black women who have made a difference in my life. To name a few: Jean Blakely; Esther Wright; Kay Thompson Payne; Dr. Jacqueline Young; Wanda Payne, my late sister; Sarah Jones. I have been molded by Black women all my life, and I just feel an obligation to stand in the trenches and help them advance their careers. I am just really delighted to be here and express my gratitude to Black women and women as a whole.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the new Family Empowerment Center at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark. For more than 16 years, the church's sacred and cherished Willing Heart Community Care Center has been a pillar of service to the community. It has provided food and clothing to residents and families in difficult times. It has brought relief to community members who have suffered during Hurricanes Ike, Sandy, and Irene. It has guided the desperate toward hope and salvation. Now, the care center will become the Family Empowerment Center. It will provide more advanced, quality medical care for families, and it will help unemployed workers improve their chances of getting a good- paying job. I am a strong supporter of job training programs. I secured $1 million for a local program to increase minority employment in advanced technologies. I cannot wait to see what the Family Empowerment Center will do for our community.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the continued Republican leadership crisis. Here we go again--2 days away from a government shutdown due to a lack of funding. Republican leadership is so poor that it can only achieve stopgap funding measures. There is no long-term solution because MAGA Republicans have no long-term goals. They have no long-term goals because there is no long-term vision to better the country. They do not see how a lack of humanitarian care for innocent Palestinian families causes more instability and extremism in the Middle East. They do not understand how a lack of funding for Ukraine creates more political and economic instability across the globe. They deny that their rejection of an incredibly popular border security bill allows more fentanyl and illegal drugs to threaten American communities. They do not see because they do not care.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss President Biden's work to better America. It is tax time again, and under Republican leadership, America's richest 1 percent do not mind tax time because they save billions in unpaid taxes. Instead, Republicans like to force middle- and lower- class Americans to pay more. They rob the poor to pay the rich. President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act is forcing the richest, tax-cheating Americans and American corporations to pay their fair share. It has helped recover more than $500 million from 1,600 delinquent millionaires already. Forcing millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share will raise $500 billion during the next decade. These funds will cut the deficit and provide more resources for hardworking American families. I am proud to support President Biden's efforts to help Americans, and I am proud to be a Democrat because we put people over politics.

Mr. PAYNE

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Valentine's Day. The day began to honor St. Valentine. Some believe that he was a priest who married Romans in love to defy an emperor's ban. Others believe he helped Christians escape brutal Roman prisons. Either way, the spread of Christianity helped February 14 become St. Valentine's Day in the fifth century. Europeans associated the day with love because it coincided with the mating season for some birds in Europe. My favorite English poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, first wrote about St. Valentine's Day as a celebration of love in 1375. In 1415, the Duke of Orleans wrote the first valentine to his wife while in prison in the Tower of London. Today, at least 30 countries celebrate Valentine's Day, and an estimated 145 million Valentine's Day cards will be sent out. If you have been busy, I encourage all my colleagues to pick up some chocolates and flowers before you head home tonight.