Congressman Wittman addresses econ. class
Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) was on campus last week sharing his experience and expertise on the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Wittman met with students in Economics 300, Economic Aspects of Biotechnology.
Wittman lectured at the invitation of his one-time professor Louis Rossiter. Wittman holds of PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, where Rossiter also teaches. The professor, who teaches in the Thomas Jefferson Program in Public Policy at the college, invited Wittman to address the provisions of his Chesapeake Bay Recovery and Accountability Act.
The bill, HR 1053, would provide for the restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and would require the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a management plan for the same area with the intent of increasing the accountability and effectiveness of cleaning up the Bay.
Wittman is no stranger to the Bay. Prior to his service in Congress, he served as Field Director for the Virginia Health Department's Division of Shellfish Sanitation.
The first district Congressman discussed the future of the Bay and its seafood resources with the class, addressing the size and multi-state jurisdiction of the Bay Watershed, contaminants of concern to the health of the water and wild life and the amount of the Virginia economy comprised of Bay related industry.
The bill is currently in committee, congressional staff indicated the Congressman hopes to have the bill out of committee and scheduled for floor consideration later this year.
Wittman has served Virginia’s first district, which runs from Poquoson to northern Fauquier County, since December of 2007 when he was elected to complete the term of the late Jo Ann Davis. He was re-elected to the post last fall. The Congressman who sits on the Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees is no stranger to public service. He has also served on the Montross Town Council – four years as mayor, the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors and in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2005 until his election to Congress in 2007. Wittman resides in Montross with his wife Kathryn. They have two grown children and one grandchild.
