Rep. Jason Smith New Ways and Means Chairman

Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., was chosen to be the House Ways and Means Committee chairman by the House Steering Committee, edging out Rep. Vern Buchanan, the Florida Republican who was considered the establishment choice.

Buchanan had more seniority than Smith -- and the third candidate for the role, Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., also had more seniority on the committee than Jason Smith. Adrian Smith currently is the top Republican on the trade subcommittee.

Jason Smith touts an "America First" perspective. In a speech last month, he noted that his mother worked at a factory that ultimately closed when production moved to Mexico.

He also said the Republican party has changed, and therefore its policies on tax and trade should be different from past Republican party approaches. He said that the shortages revealed during the pandemic should be solved through trade and tax policies, and said voters want to hear that "we're a strong nation -- we can take care of ourselves. And if we cannot produce those products, whether it's energy, health care or within our food supply," then the U.S. should import from allies (see 2212070063).

Smith echoed those remarks in a press release emailed after the announcement. As chairman, Smith said he will "champion an agenda" that includes "re-shoring and strengthening supply chains to create food, medical, and energy independence," and "advancing the interests of American workers and punishing unfair trade practices that benefit China at the expense of the American workforce and job creators."

"We will examine using both trade policy and our tax code to re-shore and strengthen our supply chains, where products and services vital to our national security are made here at home using American labor, as well as craft policies that help America achieve food and medical security rather than dependence on nations like China," Smith said. "We must also look at ways to encourage domestic energy production and achieve energy independence through the tax code instead of using it as a tool to punish energy producers as President Biden has suggested."