SOT 2013–2014 President Lois D. Lehman-McKeeman visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday, July 23, 2013, to present the 2013 Congressional Scientific Leadership Award to Rep. Dave Riechert (R-WA). He received this award for his leadership in sponsoring and supporting legislation that recognizes the importance of science as the basis for sound decision making. Rep. Reichert has been a consistent force in advancing children’s health care and in strengthening science research. The Congressman is serving his fifth term as the Representative from the Eighth Congressional District of Washington. From 1971 through 1976, he was a member of the United States Air Force Reserve. In 1972 he joined the King County Sheriff’s Office and in 1997 he became the first sheriff elected to the House of Representatives in 30 years.
Congressman Reichert serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, with appointments to two subcommittees: Trade and Human Resources, of which he is Chairman. He also serves on a number of health-related causes including the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus, Congressional Global Health Caucus (Co-Chair), Congressional Health Care Coalition, Congressional Hunger Caucus, Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus, Congressional Task Force on Childhood Obesity (Co-Chair), Congressional Kids Healthcare Caucus, and Congressional Malaria Caucus.