NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, a Democrat known for his work on human rights and a longtime supporter of credit unions, died Tuesday at age 77.
Payne was a co-sponsor of the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act (CURIA) in the 100th congress and a consistent member business lending reform co-sponsor.
To honor his consistent support of credit unions, the New Jersey Credit Union League named Payne its 2008 “Legislator of the Year.”
“Representative Payne has been a true credit union ally here in New Jersey,” said NJCUL President/CEO Paul Gentile. “We are saddened to lose this great New Jersey lawmaker.”
Payne had held his congressional seat since 1988 and was elected to a 12th term in 2010. He represented the 10th District, which includes the city of Newark and parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.
Payne, the first black congressional member from New Jersey, died at St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, N.J.
