Representative George R. Nethercutt, Jr. Representative Nethercutt meets with a group of students on the steps of the Capitol Representative Nethercutt meets with a group of students on the steps of the Capitol Representative Nethercutt with two constituents Representative Nethercutt with two constituents Representative Nethercutt with two constituents Representative Nethercutt in the classroom Representative Nethercutt in the classroom Representative Nethercutt in the classroom
Representative George R. Nethercutt, Jr.

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U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, JR., made history when he was elected to represent Washington's 5th Congressional District in November 1994. His election victory over then-Speaker of the House Tom Foley represented the first defeat of a sitting Speaker since 1860. As a high profile member of Congress, Nethercutt serves on the prestigious House Committee on Appropriations. His Appropriations Committee assignment to the Agriculture, Interior and Defense Subcommittees provides an excellent opportunity to serve the diverse needs of the 5th District and state of Washington. As vice chairman of the Defense Subcommittee, Nethercutt is able to work closely on preparing America's military for our changing defense needs, homeland security, and the War on Terrorism. In addition to the Appropriations Committee, Nethercutt also serves on the House Science Committee. His Science Committee assignments are the Space and Aeronautics and Energy Subcommittees.Photograph

Nethercutt's service on the Appropriations Committee and voting record have earned him recognition from groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the United Seniors Association and the League of Private Property Voters. In 2000, he was recognized as "Wheat Leader of the Year" by the National Association of Wheat Growers and with the Golden Plow Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. This year, Americans for Tax Reform named him as a "Hero of the Taxypayer." Nethercutt has actively used his seat in Congress to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. He is a staunch supporter of free trade for U.S. agriculture products and successfully led the effort to open new markets to U.S. food and medicine, including Cuba.

Seen as a pragmatic and common-sense conservative, Nethercutt is sought by major news organizations such as The Washington Post, National Public Radio and CBS News for comments on major news events. Nethercutt uses these opportunities to speak out on the issues which brought him to Washington, D.C.: balancing the federal budget, reducing the size of the federal government in a compassionate manner, improving America's public education system, open markets to trade, and eliminating illegal drug use.

       Born in Spokane on October 7, 1944, Nethercutt graduated from North Central High School and earned a B.A. in English from Washington State University in 1967 before graduating from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1971, and was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in March 1972.

Photograph       After law school Nethercutt served as Law Clerk to Federal Judge Raymond E. Plummer, U.S. District Court, Anchorage, Alaska. In 1972, he moved to Washington, D.C. as Staff Counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R - Alaska). Nethercutt then served as Stevens' Chief of Staff working on issues including agriculture, fisheries, timber and mining. He then returned to Washington State and entered into private law practice with his father with offices in Spokane, Almira and Seattle, focusing on estate planning, probate and adoption law.

Long active in public service, Nethercutt and others co-founded the private, non-profit Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery for the prevention of child abuse. This organization mirrors the Representative's belief that the private sector is better equipped to handle social problems than the bureaucracy of government. He has also served as President of the Inland Northwest Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and a research grant was named in his family's honor in 1999. He was named the 1996 Legislator of the Year by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Nethercutt is also a member of the Spokane Central Lions Club, and the Spokane Masonic Lodge 34 where he is a 33rd degree Mason.

In the House, he founded and co-chairs the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. He also serves as co-chair of the Northwest Energy Caucus and the Northern Border Caucus.

Nethercutt is married to the former Mary Beth Socha of Summerville, South Carolina. They have two children, Meredith (1980) and Elliott (1984). Representative Nethercutt and his family attend First Presbyterian Church in Spokane.