"Lamar Smith Quitting Congress; Second Texas GOP Chairman This Week"

"WASHINGTON -- San Antonio Rep. Lamar Smith, an immigration hardliner and climate change skeptic, announced Thursday that he will leave Congress at the end of his current term. He's the second GOP chairman this week from Texas to retire.

He chairs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Under GOP rules both he and Dallas Rep. Jeb Hensarling would hit a six-year term limit for chairmen at the end of 2018. Democrats are also hoping to win control of the House, though prospects for that are uncertain a year before the elections.

“I love my job,” Smith said. "If I were able to continue as chairman of the science committee... I would be running for reelection.""

Todd J. Gillman and Katie Leslie report for the Dallas Morning News November 2, 2017.

SEE ALSO:

"How a Minor Committee Became A 'Weapon' Of The Climate Wars" (ClimateWire)