House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) announced today that he will not run for re-election, thus retiring as both speaker and from his congressional seat at the end of the current Congress. A member of Congress since 1999, he was elected speaker in 2015. He previously served as chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee and Ways and Means Committee. Last year, Ryan secured passage of a tax reform bill that had been one of his long-standing policy goals.
American Bankers Association President and CEO Rob Nichols thanked Ryan for his service. “Congress will be losing a steadfast public servant, a champion of economic growth and opportunity for all Americans and a good man,” he said. “Speaker Ryan has always appreciated the critical role America’s banks play in the economy, and we thank him for consistently supporting policy that will allow banks to better serve their customers and communities.”