FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FMC ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF NEW PRESIDENT L.F. PAYNE, PRESIDENT-ELECT BARBARA COMSTOCK
Washington, DC — Today, the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), a nonpartisan alliance of more than 800 Former U.S. Senators and Representatives, announced the election of its new Executive Committee, led by FMC’s new President L.F. Payne (D-VA, 1988-1997) and new President-Elect Barbara Comstock (R-VA, 2015-2019).
“I would like to thank all my colleagues at FMC for giving me the honor to serve as the organization’s President over the next two years. Everyone can agree that these are challenging times in our country’s history, in which our organization’s mission of strengthening Congress through promoting collaborative policymaking and deepening the American public’s understanding of the institution, are now more important than ever,” said Payne. “I sincerely thank Charles Boustany for his excellent leadership and our partnership over the past two years and look forward to working with Barbara Comstock to continue to expand FMC’s programming and take the organization to new heights.”
“First as a staffer and later as a Member, I’ve had a front row seat to Congress as an institution and will draw upon that experience and knowledge to help guide FMC through the next two years. Our politics are currently plagued by division and extreme partisanship, and I hope to use my position at FMC to help get off this toxic and dangerous trajectory we are on as a country,” said Comstock. “Thank you to all my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to serve in this role and show how effective Congress can be when we work together across the aisle.”
As 38th President and President-Elect of FMC, Payne and Comstock will serve two-year terms in their new positions (2022-2024). After the two years are complete, Comstock will then be elevated to President of FMC and a Democratic Former Member will become President-Elect. FMC alternates these positions between the two parties as a nod to the organization’s bipartisan focus. Payne previously served as President-Elect from 2020-2022.
In addition to his role at FMC, Payne has previously served as President of McGuireWoods Consulting from 1998-2020 and sits on several Boards, including the Board of Visitors at the University of Virginia (UVA). Comstock currently serves as Senior Advisor at Baker Donelson and is an ABC News Contributor.
FMC’s Executive Committee, which oversees the Board of Directors and makes decisions about the organization’s overall strategic posture, also includes returning Vice President, Donna Edwards (D-MD, 2008-2017), first time Vice President, Dennis Ross (R-FL, 2011-2019), and Immediate Past President Charles Boustany (R-LA, 2005-2017).
The organization’s Board of Directors also saw the addition of Former Senator Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL, 1993-1999) and Former Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA, 2003-2015) and Tom Graves (R-GA, 2010-2020).
In addition to serving as the official alumni group for Former Members of Congress, FMC helps support and strengthen Congress through programs like Congress to Campus, which brings bipartisan pairs of Former Members to colleges and universities around the country, to educate the public about the institution; the Congressional Study Groups, which connect current Members of Congress to their counterparts in allied democracies, as well as with key transnational business leaders and Ambassadors; and supporting the work of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.
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