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Building Bridges Beyond Capitol Hill: L.F. Payne on the Ongoing Work of Former Members of Congress

The April edition of our Wilder School Lunch and Learn series, held on April 17, featured L.F. Payne, former U.S. Representative for Virginia and president of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC).
The April edition of our Wilder School Lunch and Learn series, held on April 17, featured L.F. Payne, former U.S. Representative for Virginia and president of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC).

By Tiffany Murray-Robertson 

The latest edition of our Wilder School Lunch and Learn series, held on April 17, featured L.F. Payne, former U.S. Representative for Virginia, offering insights into the ongoing contributions of former members of Congress and the current state of Congress itself. Payne serves as president of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), which aims to foster bipartisan cooperation and improve the functionality of Congress. The session was moderated by Todd Haymore, Rector of the VCU Board of Visitors and Managing Director of Global Economic Development, Commerce, and Government Relations at Hunton Andrews Kurth, who has a long-standing history with Payne. Their relationship dates back over 35 years to Haymore's time working as a staffer for Payne.

Here are some key takeaways from their enlightening discussion.

A Bipartisan Approach to Cooperation:

Payne explained how the FMC aims to promote cooperation and civility in Congress. "The only way that we feel we can be effective is to work in a bipartisan way," he shared. The FMC's balanced board reflects this approach, and its initiatives seek to unite Congress.

Some of these initiatives include:

  • Congress to Campus Program: Bipartisan teams visit colleges and universities, engaging students and faculty and demonstrating how Congress can work collaboratively. Payne emphasized, "The number one comment we seem to get is I never knew a Democrat and a Republican could sit side by side."
  • Statesmanship Award: This annual award recognizes members of Congress from both parties for their efforts to work across the aisle.
  • Congressional Study Groups: These groups focus on building relationships with key allies like Japan, Korea, the EU, and Germany, while also supporting Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation.

The State of Congress Today:

Payne spoke candidly about the challenges facing Congress, including increasing partisanship and dysfunction, and recalled how these divisions began to intensify during his tenure. "It just made it so difficult to try to find a way to get very much done when people come to the table and say, no matter what we talk about, I'm not going to compromise," he noted. Payne stressed the need for opportunities to build relationships and trust among members to restore functionality.

Serving Constituents:

Payne also emphasized the dual role of congresspeople, balancing legislative work in Washington with serving their districts. "For me, that was the reason I ran and the most important thing," he said, citing successes like establishing Head Start programs, medical clinics, and attracting industry to various counties, underscoring the importance of direct involvement.

A Call to Action for the Next Generation:

Payne concluded with a call to action for young people, urging them to engage in public service and contribute positively to the country. "I continue to be involved in this to really encourage students and young people to really be involved," he emphasized.

Full Presentation:

View the complete presentation on Wilder School YouTube channel.