EP 111: Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

In Episode 111 of District of Conservation, Gabriella spoke to Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) of Arkansas' 4th Congressional District. They chatted about the history of forest management in the US, how to manage wildfires, the congressman's legislative priorities, his love of duck hunting, why free market environmentalism is the future, and more.  Here's Westerman's Bio: U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman is a Hot Springs native currently serving his third term as representative from the Fourth District of Arkansas, having first been elected in 2014. Westerman serves on the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he is Ranking Member of the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee. Westerman also serves on the Minority Whip Team under the leadership of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise. Prior to serving in Congress, Westerman was elected to two terms in the Arkansas General Assembly, where he was the state’s first Republican House Majority Leader since Reconstruction following the 2013 GOP takeover of the Arkansas House of Representatives. An engineer and forester by trade, Westerman worked for 22 years at Mid-South Engineering in Hot Springs. He was named Engineer of the Year by the Arkansas Society of Professional Engineers in 2013. A 1990 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Westerman was a four-year walk-on member of the Razorback football team. He was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2005 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012. Westerman is also a graduate of Yale University, earning a Master of Forestry degree in 2001. Westerman lives in Hot Springs with his wife, Sharon, and their four children. He enjoys hunting and fishing. Follow the Congressman on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Visit his Congressional website or check out his re-election website.