WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Ranking Member of its Railroad, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, died Wednesday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced. He was 65. NorthJersey.com reports he had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack from diabetes complications on April 6.
Payne, a native of Newark, was in his sixth term representing the state’s 10th Congressional District, having first been elected in 2012, succeeding his father.
Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) said in a statement that Graves “was a valued Member of Congress and of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and our bipartisan work at T&I always benefited from his leadership and willingness to work across the aisle to get things done for America’s infrastructure. In particular, he most recently led T&I Democrats in our ongoing work to reauthorize the federal pipeline safety programs — a bill we passed out of committee overwhelmingly, thanks in no small part to his efforts. He was also a champion this Congress for a bipartisan effort to improve passenger rail access for persons with disabilities. Congressman Payne was a strong advocate for infrastructure for his own constituents and for the country, and he will be missed.”
Troy Nehls (R-Texas), chairman of the subcommittee, said, “It was a pleasure to work with Ranking Member Payne in a bipartisan fashion on the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Jill and I’s prayers are with the Payne family as they go through this incredibly difficult time.”
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker said “the short line railroad community is saddened by the loss of Rep. Don Payne Jr. … we knew him we knew him as a leader and champion of efforts to strengthen the rail network, keep all stakeholders in mind, and bring solutions to the table that would benefit all communities served by rail.”
Payne had been chair of the Railroad, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials subcommittee in the Democratic-controlled Congress prior to the 2022 election, and has been credited with helping secure $900 million in federal funding for the Northeast Corridor’s Gateway Tunnel project.
“We are saddened to hear about the passing of Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr., a true champion of Amtrak and passenger rail in New Jersey and around the country,” Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said in a statement. “ His leadership, including in his position as Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Rail Subcommittee, was essential to helping Amtrak secure the investments needed to improve our infrastructure, stations, trains and service. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”
