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House Africa Subcommittee Ranking Member Donald M. Payne of the 10th Congressional District of New Jersey was recognized for his years of work on behalf of the people of Africa by the Isaac Hayes Foundation at a downtown Washington ceremony on July 24, 2004. The Isaac Hayes Foundation Humanitarian Service Award, presented by founder, actor and Oscar-winning musician Isaac Hayes, honored Payne’s efforts to end hunger, poverty, and suffering, and to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS in Africa throughout his four decades of public service. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee was also recognized for his contributions to Africa as a lawmaker and a medical doctor.
“It certainly is a distinct honor for me to receive this award, especially from a foundation whose commitment to enriching and empowering the lives of children in the United States and the people of Africa is so strong,” Payne said. “Isaac Hayes has done so much over the years to promote literacy and education here in the U.S., especially empowering young people to grow in their educational and musical development, but few know of his involvement on the continent of Africa."
Payne has been a champion of African issues on Capitol Hill throughout his tenure as a U.S. Representative for the 10th district of New Jersey and even before coming to Congress as chairman of the YMCA’s World Refugee Committee and as a Newark City Councilman in the 1980’s when he raised $100,000 for UNICEF’s relief efforts. He is well known for his work towards peace in Sudan. Payne noted that in working to help bring an end to Africa’s most protracted conflict, he has joined efforts with the Senate Majority Leader. “Senator Frist and I have traveled together to Sudan and I admire his commitment to this issue over the years," Payne said.
Payne recently traveled to Sudan’s border with Chad, where the Sudanese government’s latest war against its own people has caused 200,000 people to flee from the country’s western region of Darfur and has displaced 2 million people internally. He met with refugees and assured them of his firm commitment to ending genocide and resolving the crisis in Sudan. |
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