Rep. Bruce Westerman (Ark.) is slated to serve as the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee for the 117th Congress after being elected by the House Republican Steering Committee on Wednesday.
Westerman — a Yale forestry school graduate who describes himself as an “engineer and forester by trade” — edged out Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), the previous chair of the Western Caucus, for the ranking member position next year.
Lawmakers from Western states have typically held the top posts on the committee, though Westerman comes from a rural, natural resource-heavy district in Arkansas.
The top GOP spot is being vacated by Rep. Rob Bishop (Utah), who is retiring at the end of this term.
“I’m incredibly honored and humbled that the steering committee has recommended me to be the next lead Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee. Conservatives have a rich history of leading in conservation, and this committee will continue to be a battleground for energy and environmental issues,” Westerman said in a statement to The Hill.
“In the next few years, I believe we can lead the way on showing the world how market-based conservation allows our economy and environment to thrive simultaneously. I can’t wait to get started,” he added.
Westerman has been among the conservative voices calling for Republicans to lead on conservation issues, particularly as the party seeks to show it is taking action of some kind on climate change.
“I think we’ve got to retake the conservation narrative, something Republicans have been very strong on and can be stronger on in the future,” Westerman previously told
The Hill.
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"Conservatives have a rich history of leading in conservation"
I don't think so, unless he means "conservatives" like Richard Nixon, who brought us the CEQ, EPA, NEPA, CWA and the ESA. I fail to see "market based conservation" in any of those edicts.
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