Scott Garrett was first elected to represent New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District in November 2002. Currently in his seventh term in Congress, Scott has become a leading advocate for the family budget. His commonsense fiscal responsibility led to his selection by his colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Entities. As Chairman of the Subcommittee, Scott Garrett has jurisdiction over the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Scott Garrett is also a senior member of the Budget Committee where he carefully monitors the federal budget for waste, fraud and abuse that drains tax dollars from the family budget. He has been a champion of greater transparency in federal spending; of a sunset commission to root out ineffective, duplicative, or obsolete federal programs; and of putting the family budget first.
In addition to these key committee assignments, Scott Garrett is the Founder and Chairman of the Congressional Constitution Caucus – a broad coalition that seeks to educate Members of Congress and the public about the original intent of the Founding Fathers. Scott Garrett has also served as Chairman of the Republican Study Committee’s Budget and Spending Task Force where he has fought for fiscal restraint in Washington, and is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, which stands for principles of limited government and rule of law, and fights for liberty-, safety-, and prosperity-promoting policies.
Scott Garrett’s agenda of pro-growth economic policies, tax relief, and, job-creating support for America’s small businesses has earned him honors from the National Federation of Independent Business, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Against Government Waste, National Taxpayers Union, Americans for Prosperity, and more.
As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Scott Garrett uses his experience and background as an attorney and former Chairman of the New Jersey General Assembly Banking and Insurance Committee to ensure that America’s financial markets retain their top-notch reputation in our global economy. He led the first successful efforts to fix the Sarbanes-Oxley law, which is quickly degrading America’s competitive edge. And, he has reached across party lines to make the National Flood Insurance Program more equitable, saving the American taxpayers from costly potential bail-outs.
As a lifelong North Jersey resident, Scott Garrett is a strong supporter of our natural treasures, working with local community leaders to protect the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge, Greenwood Lake, and the Musconetcong River. Scott regularly works with other members of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus to ensure that the dwindling open space and natural habitats of the Garden State are preserved for future generations.
Prior to his election to Congress, Scott spent 12 years representing the 24th Legislative District as the senior Assemblyman and Assistant Majority Leader. There he was honored by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association for his work to reform auto insurance, heralded as “the most important legislation of the decade.” He also received honors from the National Association of Small Business Owners, the National Association of the Self-Employed, and others for his thoughtful approach to policy.
Born in Bergen County on July 9, 1959, Scott Garrett lives in Wantage with his wife, Mary Ellen; the couple have two adult daughters. He graduated from High Point High School and cum laude from Montclair State University before earning his J.D. from Rutgers University Law School.
