Payne, Donald M. (Donald Milford), Jr., 1958-

<p>As a Newark native, the Honorable Donald M. Payne, Jr., has worked as a tireless advocate for New Jersey’s working families for over two decades, fighting to create jobs, increase health and economic security, and invest in education. Congressman Payne, Jr., was first elected to Congress in November 2012 in both a special election and general election following the untimely death of his father, respected former Congressman Donald M. Payne, Sr., who represented New Jersey’s 10th District for twenty-three years. Congressman Payne, Jr., thus served out the remainder of his father’s term in the 112th Congress, fighting to provide the people of New Jersey with much needed Hurricane Sandy Relief and negotiating to prevent the country from going over the fiscal cliff.</p>

<p>In the 113th Congress, job creation and security are at the forefront of Congressman Payne’s agenda. Congressman Payne, Jr., is a member of the Committee on Homeland Security where he serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications as well as the Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency. In representing New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, which is home to Newark Liberty International Airport, the New Jersey Transit Authority, and Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, Congressman Payne fights to increase transportation security, water security, chemical hazard prevention, and emergency preparedness to ensure that the people of New Jersey are protected against terrorist threats, that New Jersey has the tools to rebuild stronger than before Hurricane Sandy, and that businesses that conduct trade at our ports have the security and efficiency they need to effectively engage in commerce.</p>

<p>In addition, Payne serves on the Committee on Small Business where he works to expand access to capital for small business owners and increase jobs training so that our workers have the high skills to compete in an advancing global economy. Also, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), where his father once proudly served as chairman, Payne is a tireless advocate for providing our children with quality education, stabilizing our housing market, reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, and creating a just and fair immigration system. Moreover, as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus Justice Reform Task Force, Payne is working to protect our communities from gun violence and prevent guns from getting into the hands of criminals.</p>

<p>Donald Milford Payne Jr. (born December 17, 1958) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district since 2012. Payne, a member of the Democratic Party, served as president of the Newark, New Jersey city council from 2010 to 2012.</p>

<p>Following the death of his father, U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, on March 6, 2012, Payne ran in the primary to succeed him in Congress. His father had first been elected in 1988 and was re-elected eleven times without significant opposition. He won the Democratic primary election on June 5, 2012, which is tantamount to election in the heavily Democratic district, and won the general election on November 6, 2012.</p>

<p>Payne was born and raised with his two sisters Wanda and Nicole in Newark, New Jersey. His father Donald M. Payne, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1989 until his death in 2012. He was the first African-American to represent the state of New Jersey in Congress. His mother Hazel Payne (née Johnson), died in 1963 when Payne was 5 years old. As a teenager, Payne was the founder and first president of the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats. He went on to study graphic arts at Kean University. He was an adviser at the YMCA Youth in Government Program.</p>

<p>He worked for the New Jersey Highway Authority from 1991 until he joined the Essex County Educational Services Commission in 1996, where he worked as the Supervisor of Student Transportation.</p>

PAYNE, Donald, Jr., (son of Donald Milford Payne), a Representative from New Jersey; born in Newark, Essex County, N.J., December 17, 1958; graduated from Hillside High School, Hillside, N.J., 1976; attended Kean College, Union, N.J.; member of the New Jersey highway authority, 1990-1996; member of the Essex County educational services commission; freeholder-at-large, Essex County, N.J., board of freeholders, 2005-2012; at-large representative, Newark, N.J., city council, 2006-2012, president, 2010-2012; elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the One Hundred Twelfth and One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Donald Milford Payne, and reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (November 6, 2012-present).