Donald Payne, Jr.

Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. represented New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District from 2012 until his death on April 6, 2024 (112th-118th Congresses). Payne was first elected by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Representative Donald M. Payne. In Congress, Payne sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he served as chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, and on the Committee on Homeland Security, where he served as chair of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. He also served on the Small Business Committee. Payne introduced two bills signed into law by President Barack Obama, including the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act of 2015, which ensures that DHS personnel can reliably communicate during emergencies. Payne also introduced a bill to secure public areas of transportation facilities, such as airports. His bill was incorporated into the FAA Reauthorization Act and signed into law in October 2018. Before Congress, Payne was on the Municipal Council of Newark and served on the Essex County Board of Freeholders. Payne studied graphic arts at Kean University.