As chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Smith’s (R-Missouri) top priority is focused on delivering for working families, farmers and small businesses.
Rep. Jason Smith (R-Missouri) is the Gerald Solomon Big “I" Legislator of the Year for 2022.
Rep. Smith is a seventh generation Missourian and a fouth generation farm owner. After serving in the Missouri General Assembly from 2005 to 2013, he was elected to Congress in 2013 and went on to serve as Secretary of the House Republican Conference during President Trump's term in office. In 2021, he became Republican Leader of the House Budget Committee and was selected to chair the House Ways and Means Committee in January 2023.
As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Smith's top priority is focused on delivering for working families, farmers and small businesses. Last Congress, Rep. Smith introduced legislation that will make the 20% small business deduction—also known as section 199A—permanent. Currently, the deduction is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
The deduction is heavily relied upon by Big “I" members and their clients to expand their business and better serve their communities. If this legislation is not made permanent, it will result in a huge tax increase for businesses that rely on this deduction when it eventually sunsets.
“Jason is truly deserving of the Big 'I' Legislator of the Year award. He has been a leader on small business tax issues, and in particular has led the charge to make the 20% small business tax deduction permanent," said Charles Symington, Big “I" executive vice president.
The Big “I" presents the Legislator of the Year Award annually to a member of Congress who provides outstanding leadership on insurance issues. The name of the award honors the late Rep. Gerald Solomon (R-New York), a former U.S. House of Representatives Rules Committee chairman and Big “I" member who championed independent agent and broker legislative causes during his 20 years in Congress.
Will Jones is IA editor-in-chief.
