Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Dean of the New Jersey delegation, opened the second session of the 119th Congress on January 3, 2026, by presiding over the U.S. House of Representatives.
Smith highlighted several legislative achievements from the previous year. “From securing the official naming of the Bud Lomell VA Clinic to mandating a Government Accountability Office investigation into the true origins of Lyme disease, the first session of the 119th Congress saw the fruition of many years-long legislative efforts,” Smith said. He also noted that his $2 billion Autism CARES Act began its five-year implementation in 2025.
He added, “In 2025, Congress secured the biggest tax cuts for working families through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and we reauthorized and fully funded the Nation’s defense activities through the FY 26 NDAA.”
Chris Smith has represented New Jersey’s 4th district in Congress since replacing Frank Thompson in 1981. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and currently lives in Manchester Township. Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Science from The College of New Jersey in 1975.
