FMC Announces Election Of Former Members Demings, Ros-Lehtinen, Upton To Board Of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

FMC ANNOUNCES ELECTION OF FORMER MEMBERS DEMINGS, ROS-LEHTINEN, UPTON TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

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 Former Members Val Demings (D-FL, 2017-2023), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL, 1989-2019), and Fred Upton (R-MI, 1987-2023) to the organization’s Board of Directors, each for a three-year term ending in 2026.

“On behalf of FMC’s entire Board, Membership, and staff, I am thrilled to welcome Val, Ileana, and Fred to our Board of Directors. All three are strong leaders who changed this country for the better during their Congressional tenures,” said The Honorable L.F. Payne (D-VA, 1988-1997), FMC President. “I look forward to working closely with each of them to ensure FMC continues to be a leader in constructive, forward-thinking bipartisan dialogue, and a champion for both public service and Congress as an institution.”

“In Congress, I had the privilege to serve with Val, Ileana, and Fred. All three have dedicated their lives to public service and will bring so much knowledge and life experience to FMC’s Board of Directors; they are truly some of the finest public servants the Congress has seen in modern history. I am excited to have the opportunity to work alongside them again over the next three years,” said The Honorable Barbara Comstock (R-VA, 2015-2019), FMC President-Elect.

“I am excited to join FMC’s Board and look forward to working with Ileana, Fred, and my other colleagues to address some of our nation’s priorities,” said The Honorable Val Demings (D-FL, 2017-2023). “In addition, we will continue to engage the next generation of leaders through our Congress to Campus sessions and will hopefully inspire students to choose careers in public service. By working together, we can make a difference and I look forward to the important work ahead of us.”

“I am honored to join FMC’s Board of Directors and to work in this capacity with my former colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Given the attacks on freedom and representative democracy that we see around the world today, as well as the political polarization within our own country, FMC’s mission of bringing people together to promote civil dialogue, collaborative policymaking, and the values of this great country could not be more important,” said The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL, 1989-2019). “I look forward to working with L.F., Barbara, and the rest of the Board to continue to grow the reach of FMC’s current programs and share our collective policy expertise to help solve problems.”

“Joining with so many colleagues on both sides of the aisle was certainly my style to get things done for my 36 years in the House. Staying in touch with them now as a FMC Board Member should keep civility and working together a priority for all to maintain and follow,” said The Honorable Fred Upton (R-MI, 1987-2023).

Demings represented Florida’s 10th Congressional District from 2017-2023, which included Orlando and its suburbs in the Western portion of Orange County. In Congress, Demings served on the House Homeland Security Committee, where she chaired the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, as well as the Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability Committees. In her second term, she was tapped by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on the highly coveted House Intelligence Committee. Prior to her Congressional tenure, Demings served the City of Orlando as a Police Officer for 27 years, culminating in her role as Chief of the Orlando Police Department, the first woman to ever hold the role.

Ros-Lehtinen entered Congress in 1989, after winning a highly contested special election for Florida’s then-18th Congressional District (later the 27th). Upon winning, she became the first Hispanic woman to ever be elected to Congress. She held the Miami-based seat until she retired from Congress in 2019. During her tenure, she served on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Oversight & Government Reform, and Rules Committees, chairing the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 112th Congress. A prolific legislator, she has authored and passed legislation that set U.S. foreign policy towards Cuba, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Nicaragua, North Korea, and Syria, amongst other nations. Before she entered Congress, she served in the Florida House of Representatives for four years and subsequently, the Florida State Senate for almost three years. Ros-Lehtinen currently serves as a Senior Advisor at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where she works with clients on a range of policy areas, including national security, international trade, immigration, appropriations, and energy.

For 36 years, Upton represented the people of Southwest Michigan in Congress, including Kalamazoo, Portage, Allegan, Benton, and his native St. Joseph. First elected in 1987, Upton quickly worked his way onto the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, a panel he would sit on for 32 years and ultimately serve as Chairman of from 2011-2017. Through Energy and Commerce, he passed laws to ensure the safety of drug supply chains, improve healthcare, reform the Food and Drug Administration, enact an all-of-the-above energy policy, modernize regulations for pipelines, nuclear energy, and infrastructure, and protect consumers. He was also principally involved in the passage of the bipartisan CHIPS + Science Act last Congress, as well as leading the effort to save the American auto industry in 2008. In Congress, he was known for being liked by both Republicans and Democrats, always reaching across the aisle, and his signature brand of moderate Republican politics. In the last Congress alone, his vote was crucial in passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and many other meaningful pieces of legislation.

Demings, Ros-Lehtinen, Upton are taking the place of Former Members Jeff Miller (R-FL, 2001-2017), Jim Moran (D-VA, 1991-2015), and Randy Neugebauer (R-TX, 2003-2017) on FMC’s Board of Directors. Miller and Neugebauer will rotate off the Board entirely, and Moran will transition to the role of Counselor.

“I sincerely thank Jeff Miller and Randy Neugebauer for their service on FMC’s Board. It has been a privilege to work with both of them. I wish them the best with all their current and future endeavors,” Payne continued. “I am looking forward to continuing to work with my fellow Virginian, Jim Moran in his new role as Counselor. He has been a steadfast supporter of FMC and an excellent voice at the decision-making table.”

FMC is a non-advocacy, nonpartisan group founded in 1970 and chartered by Congress in 1983. It is a voluntary alliance of Former U.S. Senators and Representatives working to strengthen Congress in the conduct of its Constitutional responsibility through promoting a collaborative approach to policymaking and deepening the public’s understanding of our democratic system.

###