American Kidney Fund Mourns the Passing of Congressman Donald Payne

ROCKVILLE, Md. (April 24, 2024) — The American Kidney Fund (AKF) mourns the loss of Congressman Donald Payne (D-N.J.), a tireless advocate for people with chronic diseases, including kidney disease.

"We are shocked and saddened by the loss of our friend and fellow advocate, Congressman Payne," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. "Rep. Payne was devoted to improving the lives of people with kidney disease, and as someone who lived with the condition himself, he had tremendous empathy and compassion for what people in the kidney community experience on a daily basis. He refused to let his kidney diagnosis define him and instead spent his days advocating for much-needed change. We have lost a true kidney warrior today, and our thoughts are with Rep. Payne's family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time. Rep. Payne's leadership will be greatly missed and never forgotten."

Rep. Payne, who lived with diabetic kidney disease and underwent regular dialysis treatments, was a steadfast ally to the American Kidney Fund. Last year, he was a guest speaker during the virtual Congressional Briefing focusing on diabetes and high blood pressure prevention and management as upstream solutions to kidney disease, held as part of AKF's 2023 Kidney Action Week. He also participated as a speaker during the Congressional briefing for AKF's Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in 2019.  In the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, Rep. Payne and 27 other members of the House of Representatives wrote to House leadership requesting that emergency financial assistance for dialysis patients be included in a COVID-19 legislative aid package.