Representative Matthew John Rinaldo

Matthew John “Matt” Rinaldo (September 1, 1931 – October 13, 2008) was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives for ten terms, serving in the 12th congressional district from 1973 to 1983 and in the 7th congressional district from 1983 to 1993. A member of the Republican Party, he contributed to the legislative process during 10 terms in office and participated actively in the democratic process on behalf of his constituents during a significant period in American history.

Rinaldo was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on September 1, 1931. He was educated in local schools and graduated from St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, in 1949. He pursued higher education at Rutgers University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953. Continuing his academic advancement while beginning his professional and political life, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Seton Hall University in 1959. Demonstrating a sustained interest in public administration and policy, he later completed a Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.) at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University in 1979.

Before his election to Congress, Rinaldo built a record of public service at the local and county levels in New Jersey. He was elected to the Union Township Zoning Board of Adjustment, serving from 1962 to 1963, where he gained experience in land use and municipal governance. He then served on the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1963 to 1964, participating in county-level administration and oversight. Rinaldo advanced to state office as a member of the New Jersey Senate, in which he served from 1967 to 1972. His tenure in the state legislature helped establish his reputation as a capable Republican lawmaker and prepared him for federal legislative responsibilities.

Rinaldo was elected as a Republican to the 93rd Congress and to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 1993. During his first decade in the U.S. House of Representatives he represented New Jersey’s 12th congressional district, and following redistricting he represented the 7th congressional district from 1983 until his retirement. His 20 years in Congress spanned a period marked by major national and international developments, including the end of the Vietnam era, the Watergate aftermath, the energy crises of the 1970s, the Reagan administration, and the end of the Cold War, during which he consistently represented the interests of his New Jersey constituents within the broader national debate.

In the House of Representatives, Rinaldo held important committee assignments that shaped his legislative focus. He served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Aging, where he rose to the position of Minority Leader of the committee, reflecting his party’s confidence in his leadership on issues affecting older Americans. He also served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of the chamber’s key panels with jurisdiction over energy policy, environmental regulation, interstate and foreign commerce, and aspects of public health and communications. Through these assignments, he was involved in deliberations on environmental protection, consumer issues, and regulatory policy.

Among the legislative accomplishments Rinaldo cited prior to his retirement were measures aimed at protecting children and the environment. He listed as a top achievement his work on a bill to limit the airing of commercials during children’s television programming, an effort intended to reduce excessive and inappropriate advertising directed at young viewers. He also played a role in securing public access to pollution data under the federal Superfund law, thereby enhancing transparency and public awareness regarding hazardous waste sites and environmental contamination. These initiatives reflected his interest in consumer protection, public health, and environmental accountability.

After choosing not to seek reelection in 1992, Rinaldo left Congress at the conclusion of his tenth term on January 3, 1993. In his later years he lived in New Jersey and remained associated in the public record with his long congressional career and his earlier service in local and state government. He experienced several years of poor health and died on October 13, 2008, from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. His career is documented in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress and other reference works, and his public life is preserved in archival materials and media appearances, including those recorded by C-SPAN.