Lamar Seeligson Smith (born November 19, 1947) is an American politician, attorney, and lobbyist who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 21st congressional district from 1987 to 2019, representing 16 terms. The district encompasses parts of San Antonio, Austin, and surrounding areas. During his tenure, Smith was a prominent conservative voice, chairing the House Judiciary Committee from 2015 to 2019 and previously chairing the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee from 2013 to 2015. He was known for sponsoring and supporting strict immigration and national security legislation, including authoring anti-immigration bills such as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, efforts to limit H-1B visas, opposition to pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and authoring the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012. Smith also promoted climate change skepticism while chairing the Science Committee, drawing criticism from environmentalists and scientists. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies in 1969 and earned a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 1975. Prior to Congress, he practiced law in San Antonio and served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1981 to 1986. After retiring from Congress in 2019, Smith joined the lobbying firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, focusing on immigration and technology policy, which raised allegations of conflicts of interest. His career has been marked by strong ties to conservative groups and donors, influencing Republican policy on national security and border control.