March 31, 2023

Dear Friends,

It continues to be an honor and a privilege to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Thanks to your support, I remain energized and inspired to fight for the economic and social growth of New Jersey's 10th Congressional District.  I am excited to share with you a few of the recent items I've been working on in Washington, DC.  

Federal Grants for NJ-10

	$100 million to Newark for health centers and health care services. $92 million for local universities. $59 million for Head Start programs across the district. $29 million for the New Jersey Department of Transportation to improve roads throughout the district. $13 million for homeless veterans in Montclair.
Rep. Payne, Jr. presents a check to the City of Jersey City.

Protecting Families from Gun Violence   

In March, I re-introduced my Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act of 2023 to attack the nation’s epidemic of gun violence. The bill, H.R. 1361, provides federal grants to local communities to buy back guns from local owners. 

Rep. Payne, Jr. attends Kids Over Guns press conference.

It takes guns off the streets, promotes local businesses, helps law enforcement solve crimes, and saves American lives.  Gun violence continues to be a significant problem across the country.  There have been more than 100 mass shootings and mass murders in the United States this year already, according to the Gun Violence Archive.  Nationwide, more than 8,600 Americans have died from gun violence this year. 

There is no gun violence without guns.  Gun buyback programs have worked at the state and local level to reduce gun violence.  Now, we need a national program to give every community the funds necessary to get guns off the streets.
    

Helping America Avoid Train Derailment Dangers

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I want to make rail transportation and travel as safe as possible.  I was extremely concerned to learn about the freight train derailment in Minnesota recently and the one in Ohio in February.  Many of these trains are transporting hazardous materials that could cause significant health and safety concerns for residents. 

Train Derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

I met with Amit Bose, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), to discuss how we can prevent future train derailments.          

The failure of the previous administration to establish strong safety regulations has led to train derailments and accidents nationwide, such as the ones in Minnesota and Ohio.  The FRA must issue new safety regulations immediately if they discover problems from accidents that could happen to other trains.  Usually, agencies wait until a final report, but that could be too late if other trains are at risk.  New regulations could prevent future accidents and save lives.  

Fighting Colorectal Cancer to Save American Lives 

I introduced a resolution in March, and every March, to designate the month as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  The resolution aims to raise awareness about the dangers of colorectal cancer and the importance of regular screenings across the country.  I wrote a letter to President Biden to request a presidential proclamation to establish March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which was issued.  In addition, I attended several events to promote cancer awareness, such as one for colorectal cancer called United In Blue on March 13, 2023 in Washington, DC.     

Rep. Payne, Jr. speaks at United in Blue event.

I have been a leader in advocacy efforts to improve colorectal cancer treatments nationwide throughout my time in Congress.  My bill, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, was signed into law in 2020 and allows Medicare beneficiaries to be covered when doctors remove cancerous growths, or polyps, during routine colorectal cancer screenings, called colonoscopies.  Also, I introduced The Donald Payne Sr. Colorectal Cancer Detection Act to require Medicare to cover FDA-approved blood-based screening tests and help Americans determine their risk for colorectal cancer.  In addition, I am the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Colorectal Cancer Caucus to bring more awareness of this disease to my colleagues in Congress.

On March 6, 2012, I lost my father, Donald M. Payne, Sr. to colorectal cancer.  I want to make sure more families do not lose their fathers and loved ones to this disease.   

Supporting Minority Business Opportunities

During my time in politics, I have always been an outspoken supporter of minority businesses and creating more opportunities for those businesses to prosper.  Recently, I hosted one of my Business Roundtables to bring together local minority business owners with the officials who can help them secure government contracts.  

For example, my highest priority has been to establish a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).  I am working with the FRA to determine whether minority and women-owned businesses are receiving their fair share of government contracts.  

Rep. Payne, Jr. discusses minority and women-owned business opportunities.

I have discussed the lack of minority and women-owned businesses participation in transportation contracts with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg several times.  He said his administration is committed to more diversity in federal transportation projects and that the creation of a DBE program in the FRA was a top priority in this administration.  After our discussions, I wrote a letter to Secretary Buttigieg to highlight the importance of a DBE program at the FRA.  The letter was co-signed by all 59 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. 

In addition, I held a Rail Subcommittee hearing on discrimination in federal passenger rail contracting when I was Chairman of the Rail Subcommittee.  As one of my minority business owners said at the hearing, programs like DBE's help take the profit out of racism in federal contracts.  That is why I am fighting diligently to bring more equality to federal contracting.

It remains my privilege to work for you.  Please contact me through my district offices and social media to let me know how I can serve you best.

Sincerely,

Donald M. Payne, Jr.
Member of Congress