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Text of Congressman Westerman's First Floor Speech

January 14, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON -- The following are the full prepared remarks of Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs), speaking in favor of the Aderholt Amendment and against overreach by the executive branch. The amendment to H.R. 240, the FY 2015 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, would prevent any funds from being used to enforce President Barack Obama's November 20, 2014, executive actions.

Remarks on the House Floor
Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-4)
January 14, 2015

"I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in support of this amendment.

"Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents are much like me: We are ready for a government that works like the one we studied in Civics class. One with co-equal branches of power.

"Winston Churchill once stated that the price of greatness is responsibility. As members of the legislative branch, voting yes for this amendment is a responsible step in the right direction.

"I yield back the balance of my time."

About Rep. Bruce Westerman

A lifelong resident of Garland County, Congressman Bruce Westerman was elected the 20th representative of Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District in 2014. In the 114th Congress, he will serve on the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Elected twice to serve in the Arkansas General Assembly, Westerman was Arkansas's first Republican House Majority Leader since Reconstruction, and an architect of the House Republican SIMPLE Plan which led to the 2013 Republican takeover of the Arkansas House of Representatives.

An engineer and forester for 22 years at Mid-South Engineering in Hot Springs, Westerman is a registered professional engineer and forester. He holds a Master of Forestry degree (2001) from Yale University. In 2013, he was named Engineer of the Year by the Arkansas Society of Professional of Engineers.

Westerman graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1990. While at Arkansas, Westerman was a four-year walk-on member of the Razorback Football Team. He received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2005 and the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.

Westerman is a former board member of the Fountain Lake School District and is a deacon at Walnut Valley Baptist Church. He lives in Hot Springs with his wife Sharon and their four children.

For more information on Rep. Bruce Westerman, please visit https://westerman.house.gov and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/RepWesterman and Facebook at https://facebook.com/RepWesterman.

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