Born in Marysville, Washington, Jack Metcalf served as a Republican member of the Washington State House of Representatives (1961-1964) and the Washington State Senate (1967-1975 and 1981-1993).
In 1994, he was elected as Representative for Washington State's 2nd Congressional District. Metcalf served as a member of the House Banking, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science Committees, and on subcommittees for Ground Transportation, Aviation, Financial Institutions and International Monetary Policy. As a politician and legislator, he focused much of his attention on regionally significant issues including transportation development in the Puget Sound area, natural resource and fisheries management, and environmental policy. Metcalf established the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission with Senator Patty Murray to help conserve marine life in Northwest Washington, and led an unsuccessful campaign against the resumption of whaling by the Makah Indian Tribe in Neah Bay, Washington. A long-time advocate for the US military and military personnel, Metcalf pursued investigations into the origins of Gulf War illnesses, sought funding to assist military families in Washington State, and in 1997 introduced the Robert Stodola Veterans Assistance Act to increase funding for homeless veterans' programs. Metcalf also served as chair of the Republican Housing Opportunity Caucus. He retired from the House of Representatives in 2000.
From the description of Jack Metcalf papers, 1973-2001 1981-2000. (Western Washington University). WorldCat record id: 57508693