Smith Assigned to Ways and Means Subcommittees on Trade and Health

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) issued the following statement after being appointed to the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade and the Subcommittee on Health:

“It is an honor to serve on the Committee on Ways and Means and I am excited to be assigned to the Subcommittee on Trade and the Subcommittee on Health. These subcommittees offer a unique opportunity to represent the interests of the Third District during the 113th Congress as the U.S. negotiates new trade agreements around the world, and many of the most burdensome provisions of the 2010 health care law begin to take effect. I also look forward to addressing comprehensive tax reform with the full committee to simplify the tax code for all Americans and encourage economic growth.”

The Committee on Ways and Means is the oldest committee of the United States Congress, and is the chief tax-writing committee in the House of Representatives. Smith has served on the committee since January 2011.

The jurisdiction of the Subcommittee on Trade includes commodity agreements and reciprocal trade agreements; customs and customs administration (including tariff and import fee structure); budget authorizations for the customs revenue functions of the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Trade Representative; and special trade-related problems involving market access, export policy and promotion, and bilateral trade relations including trade with developing nations.

The Subcommittee on Health has jurisdiction over taxes and payments (from any source) relating to Medicare and all other health care and health delivery systems except Medicaid.