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Westerman Announces Staff Changes

January 8, 2021

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) announced that his communications director, Rebekah Hoshiko, and his senior legislative assistant, Will Layden, will be leaving his personal office to join the House Committee on Natural Resources. Westerman's legislative director, Jefferson Deming, will also be leaving the personal office and moving out West. Claire Nance is taking the communications director role and Janet Rossi is taking the legislative director role. Westerman issued the following statement:

"Since the first day I was sworn in to Congress, I've had a motto hanging on my office wall: abide in love, compete to win, succeed through service. I'm blessed to have incredible staff who carry out this mission each and every day. Jefferson has been my longest-serving staff member, coming to my office from the campaign trail and working his way up to eventually lead my legislative team. Will has handled all my natural resources issues – an important role for someone working for the Natural State! – and was instrumental in writing the Trillion Trees Act. Rebekah stepped in to manage my local and national media, online presence, internal office communications and all other public relations. They've served my office and the Fourth District of Arkansas exceptionally well and I know they will apply this same work ethic to their new positions. I'm also thrilled to welcome Janet and Claire to my team! They both have impressive resumes and experience in government work, and I know they'll be wonderful resources as we continue to abide in love, compete to win and succeed through service."

Background

Deming was born and raised in El Dorado, Ark., and worked as a field director for the Republican Party during Westerman's first congressional campaign. He started in Westerman's office as a legislative assistant, and later became the legislative director and deputy chief of staff, handling foreign affairs and the legislative portfolio for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Rossi is coming to Westerman's office after serving as the legislative director for Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas). She was also previously the deputy chief of staff and legislative director for Rep. Rob Woodall (R-Ga.).

Hoshiko came to Westerman's office in January 2019, having formerly worked as the deputy press secretary for the House Committee on Natural Resources. She will be returning to the committee to serve as the communications director. Nance will be moving to Westerman's personal office from the White House, where she was a government communications advisor.

Layden was also previously with the House Committee on Natural Resources, and came to Westerman's office in 2018 to take on his natural resources and agriculture legislative issues. Layden drafted much of the Trillion Trees Act, which President Donald Trump later mentioned in the 2020 State of the Union address. He will be returning to the committee to be the deputy staff director of outreach.