Embassy of Japan
Press Release
November 3, 2018

2018 Autumn Conferment of Decoration
The Honorable David Reichert

 

On November 3, 2018 (Japan time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2018 Fall Imperial Decorations. Among the foreign recipients is Representative David Reichert, who will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star in recognition of his significant contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting friendship between Japan and the United States.

  • DECORATION: Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star
  • SERVICE: Contributed to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting friendship between Japan and the United States
  • NAME: David Reichert
  • MAJOR TITLES:
    • Co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus
    • Member of the U.S. House of Representative
  • ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Washington, D.C. (United States of America)

 

SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS

 

Representative Reichert graduated from Concordia Lutheran College in 1970 and joined the Air Force Reserve while serving in the King County Sheriff’s Office. Bringing a resolution to the largest serial murder case in U.S. history at the time (the "Green River Killer"), he was elected sheriff and continued to devote himself to the safety of his communities.


In 2004, he ran for office in Washington’s 8th congressional district and since won seven consecutive elections. He joined the influential Ways and Means Committee in 2008 and became the chair of its Trade Subcommittee in 2015, leading the discussions on trade issues including the TPP in Congress.


Representative Reichert joined the U.S.-Japan Caucus, aimed at strengthening Japan-U.S. relations and enhancing bilateral cooperation, at its inception in 2014. Becoming co-chair of the Caucus in March 2016, he has made significant contributions for promoting Japan-U.S. legislative exchanges as well as advancing bilateral cooperation. He also made tireless efforts to develop the bipartisan U.S.-Japan Caucus which expanded to have more than 100 members.


While we are sad to see him leave Congress at the end of this term, the Government of Japan sincerely hopes that the conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star on Representative Reichert, a long-standing advocate for Japan in Congress as co-chair of the U.S.-Japan Caucus, will lead to further development and deepening of the Japan-U.S. relationship.

 

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