On February 9th, the ABMA launched its latest edition of “Inside the Capitol”; a virtual event series. Our guest was Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR). 

Congressman Bruce Westerman represents Arkansas’s 4th District and is serving his 4th term in Congress. Mr. Westerman sits on two key committees—the House Natural Resources Committee where he is the Ranking Member and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. In addition to sitting on these important panels, he is the founder and co-chair of the House Working Forests Caucus—a bipartisan group of nearly 60 House Members that seeks to promote federal policy supporting private forests in this country and wood products markets that sustain them. Rep. Westerman is the only forester in the House of Representatives.

Rep. Westerman is the author of key legislation known as the Trillion Trees Act that highlights the critical roles that forests and wood building materials play in greenhouse gas mitigation. He is a strong supporter of policies that help Main Street businesses and legislation that benefits the lumber and building materials sector.

Rep. Westerman discussed his background in the forest product and construction industries and highlighted his support for market-based conservation policies. He took a number of questions on issues ranging from ongoing trucking and rail supply chain issues, a new Softwood Lumber Agreement, inflation, and how the upcoming election cycle will help shape Congressional action in 2022.

ABMA looks forward to continuing to work with the Congressman and his staff to advance our priorities and support the LBM industry across the United States.