BIOGRAPHY
Congressman Scott Garrett - Biography
Scott Garrett was first elected to represent New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District in November 2002. Currently in his third term in Congress, Scott has become a leading advocate for the family budget. His commonsense fiscal responsibility led to his unanimous election by his colleagues to the House Republican Policy Committee, the think tank for Republican ideas.
As a member of the House Budget Committee, Scott Garrett is a budget hawk, carefully monitoring 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.
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 has 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 now lives in Wantage with his wife, Mary Ellen, and two daughters, Jennifer and Brittany. He graduated from High Point High School and cum laude from Montclair State University before earning his J.D. from Rutgers University Law School.