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The Virginia Republican leads the powerful House Judiciary Committee, but his term as chairman ends next year. "This is a natural stepping-off point," he said.
Goodlatte's district has long been a safe seat for Republicans.
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WASHINGTON (AP) - Another House committee chairman is planning to
retire. Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte is
chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a 13-term congressman from
Virginia.
In a statement Thursday, he says it’s “the right time for me to
step aside and let someone else serve the sixth district.”Goodlatte’s
tenure as chairman of the judiciary panel ends in December 2018 due to term
limits.
He describes the marker as the “natural stepping-off point” and
a chance to begin a new chapter.
The 65-year-old Goodlatte is
among several other longtime House committee chairmen who have
announced plans to retire at the end of their term, including Jeb Hensarling of
Texas, who heads the financial services panel, and Lamar Smith of Texas, the
science committee chairman.