Lynn Westmoreland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lynn Westmoreland
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia |
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| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Mac Collins |
| Succeeded by | Drew Ferguson |
| Constituency | 8th district (2005–2007) 3rd district (2007–2017) |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives |
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| In office 1993–2005 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Leon Acton Westmoreland
April 2, 1950 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Joan Westmoreland |
| Education | Georgia State University (dropped out) |
Leon Acton "Lynn" Westmoreland was born on April 2, 1950. He is an American politician. He served as a U.S. representative for Georgia. He represented Georgia's 8th district from 2005 to 2007. Then he represented Georgia's 3rd district from 2007 to 2017. He is a member of the Republican Party.
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Early Life and Career
Lynn Westmoreland was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in the Atlanta area. He went to Georgia State University but left to work. He joined his family's construction business. Later, he became an executive there.
He served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005. This is a part of Georgia's state government. He became the leader for the Republican Party in 2001. He held this role until 2003. He then decided to run for the U.S. Congress. He continued to serve in the Georgia House until he was elected to the U.S. House in 2005.
As a leader in the Georgia House, he worked on important issues. He was involved in discussions about how voting districts are drawn. This process is called gerrymandering.
Serving in the U.S. House
What He Did in Congress
When Lynn Westmoreland first joined the U.S. House, he was appointed to several committees. These committees help make decisions on different topics. He worked on committees for small businesses and government reform. He also served on the transportation committee.
In 2015, he became the first chairman of a new committee. This committee focused on cybersecurity and the National Security Agency.
As a U.S. congressman, Westmoreland supported some bills. One bill suggested displaying the Ten Commandments in government buildings. In 2006, he was interviewed by Stephen Colbert for a TV show. During the interview, he was asked to name the Ten Commandments. He could name three of them. He was known for having very conservative views in Congress.
Westmoreland also led a group of congressmen who had concerns about the Voting Rights Act. This law helps make sure elections are fair for everyone. He felt that some parts of the law might not be needed anymore for certain states. However, the law was renewed by a large group of lawmakers.
In 2008, Westmoreland ran for re-election. He won against his opponent. After his win, he thought about running for Governor of Georgia. But he later decided not to.
Bills He Sponsored
Lynn Westmoreland sponsored several bills during his time in Congress. A bill is a proposed law.
2007–2008
- He sponsored a bill to create special $1 coins. These coins would honor the National Infantry Museum. A small fee from each coin sale would go to the museum. This bill became a law in 2008.
2011–2012
- He sponsored a bill about energy use for refrigerators. This bill aimed to set standards for how much energy commercial refrigerators could use.
Committees He Joined
Westmoreland was a member of several important committees in the U.S. House:
- Committee on Financial Services: This committee deals with banks and money.
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: This committee works on national security and intelligence.
- House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi: This committee investigated a specific event.
- Republican Study Committee: A group of conservative Republican members.
- Tea Party Caucus: Another group of conservative members.
Political Campaigns
In 2004, Westmoreland won the Republican primary election. This meant he was chosen to represent his party. He then won the main election with a large number of votes. His district was very supportive of Republicans. He was re-elected five more times without much challenge.
Later Career
After leaving Congress, Westmoreland was appointed to a special committee. This committee is called the Office of Congressional Ethics. It helps oversee complaints about members of Congress.
Personal Life
Lynn Westmoreland lives in Grantville, Georgia. He is married to Joan Westmoreland. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
