Lamar Smith

Lamar Smith, born on November nineteenth, nineteen forty-seven, is a prominent American politician, journalist, and lawyer. He represented Texas's twenty-first congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for an impressive sixteen terms. His district encompassed affluent areas of San Antonio and Austin, along with parts of the picturesque Texas Hill Country. A member of the Republican Party, Smith has been influential in shaping legislation during his tenure.

Throughout his career, Smith sponsored significant bills such as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protecting Children From Internet Pornographers Act (PCIP). He also played a role in co-sponsoring the Leahy–Smith America Invents Act, which aimed to reform the patent system. However, his leadership as head of the House Science Committee drew criticism, particularly for his stance on climate change, which included denial and the promotion of conspiracy theories, alongside receiving funding from oil and gas companies.

In addition to his political endeavors, Smith was a contributor to Breitbart News, a platform known for its controversial claims regarding climate issues. In November twenty seventeen, he announced his decision to retire from Congress at the end of his term, opting not to seek re-election in twenty eighteen. Following his congressional career, he registered as a lobbyist for the surveillance firm HawkEye 360 in twenty twenty-one, representing Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, and in twenty twenty-two, he officially registered as a foreign agent.