Congressman Dave Reichert brings over 35 years of public service experience to Washington. Reichert is serving his second term as the Representative from the Eighth Congressional District of Washington.
Congressman Reichert serves on three committees: Homeland Security, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science and Technology. During his first term in Congress, Reichert was only the sixth freshman in the history of the House of Representatives to be given a subcommittee chairmanship. Reichert was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology. In this position, Chairman Reichert led the way in drafting comprehensive legislation to fix the emergency response problems associated with FEMA following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This legislation included a section on improving the ability of first responders to communicate during emergencies and it was signed into law on October 4, 2006.
Reichert, once again, has a leadership role on the Homeland Security Committee, serving as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment. In this capacity, Congressman Reichert works to protect the security of Americans against threats and homegrown terrorism. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over federal, state, and local intelligence and information-sharing efforts within the United States; terrorism-related threat, vulnerability, and risk analyses at the Department of Homeland Security; terrorism threat advisories and warnings; Homeland Security Advisory System; liaison of the Department with U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies; and, the role of terrorism threat prioritization. Congressman Reichert also serves on the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
Reichert has a remarkable record of service. Decisive leadership, integrity and tireless dedication are his hallmarks. From 1971 through 1976, Reichert was a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. In 1972 Reichert joined the King County Sheriff’s Office and in 1997 he became the first elected sheriff in 30 years. Under his leadership, the county saw a significant drop in violent crime. Reichert brought national recognition to the Sheriff’s Office as head of the Green River Task Force solving the largest serial murder case in U.S. history. As Sheriff, Reichert also brought an unprecedented $28 million in federal funding to King County law enforcement efforts.
Sheriff Reichert established himself as a leading voice against domestic violence and an advocate of strong family values. In 2004 Reichert received the prestigious National Sheriffs’ Association’s “Sheriff of the Year” award. He is a two-time Medal of Valor Award recipient from the King County Sheriff’s Office and was honored with Washington Policy Center’s Champion of Freedom Award. Reichert received the Families Northwest Public Policy Award and took top honors in a local television network’s (King 5) leadership poll.
Reichert served as president of the Washington State Sheriffs’ Association and an executive board member of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. He has served on numerous advisory boards including the King County Criminal Justice Council and the King County Domestic Violence Council. Reichert co-chaired the Washington State Partners in Crisis, a statewide coalition targeting issues related to mental health. Reichert also was a leader in the fight against Meth in Washington State by implementing annual Statewide Conferences, State Meth Action Teams, and was co-chair of the KC Meth Coalition. As Sheriff, he was also a member of the KC Committee to End Homelessness. He currently serves as a member of the Special Olympics of Washington State Board of Directors.
Dave Reichert was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, in 1950, the oldest of seven children and grandson of the town marshal. His family moved to Washington State in 1951, living first in Renton and later in Kent, where Reichert attended Kent Meridian High School. He graduated with an A.A. degree from Concordia Lutheran College in Portland, Oregon, where he played football and met his wife of more than 35 years, Julie. The Reicherts currently live in Auburn and have three grown children, Angela, Tabitha and Daniel, and six grandchildren.
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