Showing posts with label Rep. Donald Payne Jr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rep. Donald Payne Jr. Show all posts

Saturday, July 30, 2022

Rep. Donald Payne statement on passage of assault weapons ban in the House of Representatives

NJ congressman Donald Payne Jr. released the following statement after the House passed a bill banning assault weapons:

Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. helped pass a bill today to prevent the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines for civilian use. The bill, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021 (H.R. 1808), would reduce the amount of such weapons on American streets and allow states to use grants to buy back semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines from Americans who own them already. America had a similar ban on assault weapons from 1994 to 2004. During that time, mass shooting deaths dropped 70 percent and there were 40 percent fewer crimes committed with assault weapons.

“There is no reason why civilians should have assault weapons or high-capacity magazines,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. “They are weapons of war and should not be on American streets. This bill will lower the incidents of gun violence and save lives. In addition, I am proud that this bill includes a provision to provide communities with federal grants to buy back assault weapons from American owners. I introduced a bill called the Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act, which would fund such grants and local gun buyback programs. I hope the Senate passes this bill soon because we must do more to prevent gun violence across America.”

Wednesday, June 08, 2022

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. wins NJ Democratic Primary

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. easily defeated political activist Imani Oakley on Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination for another term in the congressional seat he has held for 10 years.

Payne was leading Oakley by more than 8,000 votes — or more than 80% of the vote — in the 10th Congressional District when the AP called the race shortly before 9:30 p.m.

“This is a victory for the hardworking men and women of the 10th District who showed that they demand experienced, effective leadership that puts their needs first and always shows up for them, and that’s exactly what I have always strived to deliver as their Congressman,” Payne said in a statement.

“I would like to thank our incredible supporters for working so hard to make this victory possible, from the many labor unions and progressive organizations that endorsed, to the elected officials and community leaders that engaged with their residents,” he added. “More than anything I want to thank the everyday folks who continue to put their trust and faith in me to represent them in our nation’s capital.”

Payne will face Republican challenger David Pickney in November’s general election for the seat, according to a projection by the AP.

VOTE TOTALS (76% of vote counted)

Donald Payne Jr. 26,342 votes 83.6%

Imani Oakley 3,230 votes 10.3%

Akil Khalfani 1,926 votes 6.1%

Friday, September 18, 2020

Rep. Payne, Jr. Introduces Bill to Reimburse Schools for Coronavirus Masks

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. introduced the Masks for Students Act today. The bill would force the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to continue to reimburse local K-12 schools nationwide for the masks purchased to protect in-school students during the coronavirus global pandemic. FEMA officials said recently that the administration would stop reimbursing schools because it defined masks as an operating expense now and not critical emergency equipment during the coronavirus global pandemic. Rep. Payne, Jr. introduced the bill with Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).

“Schools are under tremendous pressure to continue in-class learning with less financial resources,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. “They need all the help we can give them. Since the country benefits when students are back in the classroom, I wanted to introduce a bill that would continue to give local schools and school districts federal support for the masks they use to keep teachers and students safe. We are still in a national medical emergency and schools should not be punished for keeping students and workers safe.”

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Rep. Payne, Jr. Pushes Party Leadership to “Stand Firm” on Postal Service Funding



Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. sent a letter today to urge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “stand firm” in their support of funding for the United States Postal Service.  The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on a bill tomorrow to provide $25 billion to the Postal Service to improve mail delivery and service before the 2020 election.  Rep. Payne, Jr. was a co-leader on the letter with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and it was co-signed by 101 House members of Congress.
“We need the Post Office to guarantee that everything from ballots to Census forms arrive on time,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “Usually, support for this critical American institution is not a political issue.  Unfortunately, President Trump has decided to try and limit service to improve his re-election chances in November.  Now, the Post Office needs every dime of this money to thrive.  I wanted to write this letter to encourage House and Senate leadership not to negotiate on the final funding figures when it comes to something as important to Americans as mail delivery.”
The letter comes before a crucial vote on the Delivering for America Act.  Along with the funding, the bill (H.R. 8015) would halt post office closures or consolidations, stop the reduction of hours at postal locations, ensure that employees receive overtime pay for overtime hours, and return postal service to the level Americans experienced on January 1, 2020, before the coronavirus public health crisis crippled the nation. 
“The United States Postal Service provides essential jobs and services to our communities and is critical to our democracy and our economy,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. “As the Trump administration and their handpicked Republican accomplices work to undermine and sabotage the USPS, it’s critical that we stand firm in our demand to provide the Postal Service with the resources and support it needs to remain the strong, secure, and reliable public service agency that it is.”
It is the latest action in Rep. Payne, Jr.’s battle to save the Post Office from President Trump’s attempts to defund it.  In the last two weeks, Rep. Payne, Jr. has written or co-signed five letters to House leadership, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, and others to provide funds for the Postal Service in the next coronavirus bill and improve service to all Americans during this global pandemic.  In addition, he toured three local Post Offices in Newark, Orange and Union to discuss postal issues with local managers and carriers.
The full text of the letter is below.

August 21, 2020

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer,
We write to you with extreme concern regarding the massive delays of mail delivery being reported across the country. If left unabated, this has the potential to negatively impact two cornerstones of our democracy: the decennial Census and the 2020 general election. As you continue to engage in COVID-19 negotiations with the administration, we urge you to stand firm in support of the United States Postal Service and support at least $25 billion in emergency funds to meet the increased demand brought on by this pandemic.  The Postal Service is set to lose over $54 billion over the next 10 years.  These funds would offset the cost-cutting measures that have led to uncertainty in mail delivery. The universal right to the ballot box has been affirmed through a long struggle in courthouses, legislatures, and in communities across the nation. We cannot allow any unravelling, reduction, or suppression of this fundamental right of democracy.
From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Postal Service has been the primary method for Americans to complete their Census forms, register to vote and cast their ballots in primary elections. This is why we are so concerned by attempts from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to weaken the USPS. Since Postmaster General DeJoy took office in June 2020, his changes have required mail to be left in distribution centers if it delays routes and eliminated overtime to complete all mail deliveries. This has directly hampered the ability of citizens to receive the level of service that they have come to expect and deserve from this constitutionally mandated service.
With the general election taking place in just a few months and primary elections underway, it is imperative that millions of Americans can safely rely on the critical infrastructure provided by seamless and timely mail delivery. What is particularly troubling is that there appears to be a deliberate slowdown of mail delivery that has an enormous potential to impact the general election and congressional reapportionment. Any attempt to subvert the right to vote or undercount the Census must be met with swift and decisive resistance.
We respectfully urge you to continue efforts to push for much needed emergency aid and fight back against efforts to undermine the United States Postal Service so the American people can have faith that they will be counted in the Census and their ballots honored in the election.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

Rep. Payne, Jr.’s Statement on the Passing of Congressman John Lewis

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. released the following statement regarding the passing of Congressman John Lewis. The Georgia Representative and civil rights icon died on July 17, 2020, after fighting cancer for several months. Congressman Lewis spent more than 30 years in Congress, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and fought for racial equality across the country during his storied and historic life.

“This is just a devastating loss for me and our entire country,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. “Congressman Lewis was such a great fighter for the right thing in our nation. For me, I have lost one of my fathers on the floor of the House. I was in awe of how he could convey such power and strength with a gentle demeanor. His passion and love for his country and people brought out a ferociousness in this mild-mannered man. He didn’t just speak for civil rights, he stood up against abuse and suffered to make this a better country for all Americans.

I learned so much from him. One of my greatest honors happened when we held a ‘sit-in’ on the floor of the House to try and get a vote on gun control legislation. It was his leadership that sparked that effort. There were so many situations like that I could mention. He always said it was important to ‘get into good trouble’ and those words have inspired me to this day. He was a hero, a mentor, a leader, and a great, great friend. As I said before, this is a tragic loss for our entire country.”

Congressman Lewis’ leadership was evident in hundreds of actions in and out of the House of Representatives. In 2016, Congressman Lewis led a ‘sit-in’ on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to protest the Republican leadership’s refusal to allow a vote on gun control after 49 people died and 53 were injured during a shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, FL.

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. Supports Bill to Protect Homeowners during Coronavirus Crisis

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. co-sponsored the COVID-19 Homeowner Assistance Fund Act today. The $75 billion bill (H.R. 6729) would provide financial assistance to homeowners who are struggling to pay their mortgage during the coronavirus global pandemic. It would help them pay their mortgage as well as property taxes, property insurance, utilities, and other housing-related costs to prevent foreclosures.

“The loss of housing is one of the most common concerns for constituents in my district,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. “I wanted to co-sponsor this bill because it gets people the money they need to stay in their homes during this public health and economic crisis. We are still struggling to reopen our country. We don’t need a housing crisis during this difficult time.”

Rep. Payne, Jr. has been working diligently to fight for his constituents and all Americans during the coronavirus global pandemic. He introduced a bill to get hazard pay for the nation’s federal frontline workers, such as TSA agents, daycare workers, and veteran health care workers. He co-wrote a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve a ventilator design that could help supply local hospitals in New Jersey and the rest of the country that the FDA approved a week later. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response & Recovery of the House Committee on Homeland Security, he has been in constant contact with FEMA officials to support them in their efforts to aid and protect the American people.

In addition, he has voted to approve five coronavirus-related aid bills in the House to help the nation survive this public health crisis. The most recent legislation, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800) was a $3 trillion emergency stimulus package that would provide roughly $1 trillion to state and local governments to help them pay coronavirus-related costs, another $1,200 payment to low and middle-income Americans with a maximum of $6,000 per family, $200 billion in hazard pay to essential workers, and an additional $75 billion to improve the country’s coronavirus testing and contact tracing.

The first law, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6074), provided $8.3 billion to fund medical efforts. The second one, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), allowed Americans to get free coronavirus testing and workers to get mandatory paid sick leave. The third one, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748) authorized more than $2 trillion to Americans in coronavirus aid, including direct payments to low and middle-income workers, increased unemployment benefits, $349 billion to small businesses through grants and interest-free loans, $150 billion to state and local governments to help them handle coronavirus-related expenses, and $200 billion to support America’s hospitals and health care workers.

The fourth bill, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 266), allocated $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program to allow small businesses to pay their employees, $75 billion to health care facilities for protective equipment and care, and $25 billion to enhance the country’s coronavirus testing capability.

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

Rep. Payne, Jr. Skips State of the Union address

Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr. (NJ 10th District) released the following statement regarding his decision not to attend President Trump’s State of the Union address tonight.

“I refuse to support a President who has spent his entire term promoting his interests ahead of the public good,” said Congressman Payne, Jr. “Traditionally, the State of the Union address has been a time for the President of the United States to be accountable to the people for the job he is doing. But the Republican Senate has proven that President Trump is not accountable to the people and that his actions to solicit election interference from Ukraine do not constitute a serious violation of public trust. This is not what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they wrote the Constitution and created American democracy. So I will not attend the State of the Union to protest the president’s actions as well as support my House colleagues who voted to impeach the president and hold him accountable. I go to a State of the Union address to hear the President. I do not go to hear a self-appointed King.”

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Rep. Payne, Jr. Rated New Jersey’s Most Popular House Member

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. was rated New Jersey’s most popular member of the U.S. House of Representatives in a recent study by the website, 24/7 Wall Street. The study reviewed approval ratings and election results for Senators and Representatives from all 50 states to determine the most popular, and least popular, elected officials.

Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. was delighted to hear of the study’s results.

“I really want to thank the great people of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District for this honor,” said Congressman Payne, Jr. “They are the ones who elect me and inspire me to fight to better their lives every day. I am proud of the work we have been doing together to benefit the district. I am grateful to be their representative in Congress and hope to continue those efforts in the future.”

The website, 24/7 Wall Street, is an international news and features service that focuses primarily on national and international economic issues. The site contains reports on specific business concerns, such as the energy and health sectors, as well as insightful analysis and commentary for global investors. Stories from the website are syndicated around the world. The study was one of the site’s special reports and released January 18, 2020.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Rep. Payne Jr’s statement on shootings in Jersey City

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. issued the following statement regarding the gun violence on December 11, 2019, in Jersey City, NJ.

“My condolences and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Jersey City yesterday. But I want to thank and commend the brave men and women of the Jersey City Police Department and all the law enforcement agencies who came together to protect the city from further violence.

This is a very personal tragedy for me. Not only are these my constituents, but our Jersey City office is located on the same block where this violence occurred. It is difficult to express my anger and upset when I hear about another senseless tragedy. In the House, we have passed bills to keep guns out of the hands of hateful people, such as the two murderers who targeted the owners and customers of the Jewish delicatessen in Jersey City. House-passed bills have been sent to the Senate, but Republicans have refused to even consider them.

There have been almost 400 mass shootings and 31 mass murders this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It’s disgraceful that the inaction of President Trump and his Senate allies continues to allow attacks on American citizens.

That won’t stop me from working to keep Americans safe from gun violence. I will continue to encourage my House colleagues to support my Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act (H.R. 1279) to help me get guns off the streets. We have to stop this senseless violence and put an end to these preventable deaths.”