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Get to Know Congressman Bruce Westerman
Bruce Westerman Get to know Congressman
Hometown: Hot Springs
Alma Mater: B.S., University of Arkansas M.F., Yale University
Elected to Office: November 4, 2014
Committee Assignments
House Committee on the Budget House Committee on Natural Resources House Subcommittee on Federal Lands House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology House Subcommittee on the Environment (Vice Chair) House Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Contact Congressman Westerman
Congressman Bruce Westerman 130 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
Web: www.Westerman.House.gov
8 The Arkansas Banker | April 2015 The Arkansas Banker | October 2015 Click here to learn more about Congressman Bruce Westerman.
Contacts: Vivian Moeglein, Chief of Staff vivian.moeglein@mail.house.gov
Michael Lambert, Legislative Assistant michael.lambert@mail.house.gov
Jonathan Shuffield, Legislative Director jonathan.shuffield@mail.house.gov
From an economic standpoint, what is the major focus of the session? And what can we expect to see result from this focus? This congressional session saw the first balanced budget passed by Congress in more than five years, with more than $5.3 trillion in budget cuts in less than ten years. The balanced budget will put the United States on a path to fiscal responsibility. It is healthy for our government, and it is health for our economy.
Give us a progress report regarding ongoing measures for regulatory relief for Arkansas’s hometown banks. Dodd-Frank has been disastrous for local community banks. The result has been mergers of small local banks with larger banks able to absorb the regulatory burdens passed down from Washington. A repeal of Dodd-Frank is necessary to keep community banks in Arkansas and elsewhere in business. I know Congressman French Hill and our colleagues on the House Committee on Financial Services are hard at work to reform this legislation that has done more harm than good for community banks across Arkansas.
List goals you have to alleviate the regulatory burden of hometown banks. The ultimate goal is a repeal of Dodd-Frank. Repealing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or at least ensuring there is actual oversight of the Bureau Is another way we could alleviate regulatory burden.
Will you be sponsoring legislation? I have co-sponsored H.R. 3118, the repeal of DoddFrank. This bill would ensure community banks would not be negatively impacted by legislation that was originally intended to regulate Wall Street instead of Main Street.
What is the best way for individual bankers to let you know their views on legislation that affects your constituents? Bankers should not only join professional organizations like the ABA, but they should be involved in their professional organizations and take opportunities to participate in trips to Washington or hosting meetings at home in Arkansas. These fly-ins and hometown meetings allow members of Congress the opportunity to hear directly from industry professionals who must execute the regulations coming from Washington. We often times do not know how bills are impacting constituents without direct contact. Involvement by industry professionals is key.
Congressman Bruce Westerman speaks about his work in the U.S. House of Representatives during an interview with 5 News anchor Jay Plyburn.
What are you most proud of regarding your leadership in the state of Arkansas? There are several highlights of my leadership in the Arkansas General Assembly and on the Fountain Lake School Board. But it all pales in comparison to being a father and husband to an amazing family.
What do you do on the weekends? I attend events, spend time with my family, attend church, teach Sunday school, and catch up on chores.
What are the last two books you read? Fearless by Eric Blehm. The book is a story about SEAL Team Six sailor Adam Brown of Hot Springs, who died fighting in Afghanistan. ...I have started several other books, but spend much of my time reading committee reports, briefing papers, and legislation.
...and the last two movies you saw? The last movie I saw was “McFarland.” I cannot remember any other films I have seen recently. As I stated above, time is limited these days.
Congressman Bruce Westerman tours Weyerhaeuser Wood Products in Emerson on Sept. 3. Westerman, the only professional forester in Congress, knows firsthand the impact of timber on the Fourth District economy.
Bankers should be involved in their professional organizations and take opportunities to participate in trips to Washington or hosting meetings at home in Arkansas. We often times do not know how bills are impacting constituents without direct contact. Involvement by industry professionals is key.
-Congressman Bruce Westerman
ABA Professional Development Webinars... Provide the option of training as many employees as you wish for one price, all from the convenient location of your home institution!
Building & Sustaining a Business Banking Performance Culture 10/29/2015 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
IRAs: Way Beyond the Basics 10/29/2015 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Loan Documentation: Top 10 Mistakes & Top 25 Questions 11/4/2015 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Landscape of Agriculture Today and Tomorrow: Part II 10/29/2015 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
The Business Continuity Plan (BCP) Checklist 10/29/2015 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Understanding & Using the New FFIEC Cybersecurity Tool 10/30/2015 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Robbery Procedures, Counterfeit and Fraudulent Items 11/4/2015 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Endorsements: A To Z 11/6/2015 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Mortgage Loan Originator Required Training Series: Part III 11/17/2015 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Dealing With Appraisals: Regulations and Requirements 12/3/2015 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
IRS Information Reporting: What You Need To Know 12/17/2015 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
