U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, who serves the 8th District that covers Southeast Missouri, was named Friday to one of the most influential committees in Congress.

Smith will become a member of the House of Representatives' Committee on Ways and Means in January. The committee deals primarily with tax and trade policies, but also health care and Social Security.

Former vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, was named committee leader last week.

The appointment of Smith is significant in at 34, he is the second-youngest member of Congress and is serving a first full term after winning re-election earlier this month to the seat he took in a 2013 special election to replace Jo Ann Emerson.

Smith also will be the first Missouri representative on Ways and Means since former Rep. Kenny Hulshof served on the committee from 1997 to 2008.

"It has jurisdiction on issues I have a big passion for -- all taxes, all revenue, all trade, entitlement programs, health care -- so it encompasses a lot and touches all of our lives, not just in the 8th District," Smith said in an interview Friday. "I felt like looking at that committee, and the current membership, that there needed to be someone with more of an understanding of rural values and rural America, so they can be advocated for on that committee."

Ways and Means is one of four "A" committees for House members -- they may serve on only one of those at a time. Because of Smith's appointment, after January he no longer will serve on two "B" committees, Judiciary and Natural Resources, of which he is a member.

Smith said his priorities on the new committee include tax code reform, promoting free and fair trade, Social Security solvency and addressing issues with the health-care system.

"I think that reforming the tax code is actually something we may be able to get done in this next Congress. Even the White House has said they would like to see it; it's just how do we get to that avenue," he said.

Smith's suggestion is the federal tax code, which is tens of thousands of pages, "needs to be changed to make it simpler and fairer." He also said he believes the current tax rates for corporations are too high and that they are the source of a chief complaint coming from businesses in the 8th District.

"I hear companies in our district and state say they are competing with the rest of the world," he said.

Potential to change provisions of the Affordable Care Act also exist in the Ways and Means Committee.

Staff writer Samantha Rinehart contributed to this report.

eragan@semissourian.com

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