Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Al Swift, former Washington state congressman, dies at 82

Associated Press

SEATTLE – Al Swift, an eight-term Democratic congressman from Washington state who helped modernize Pacific Northwest energy, has died in Alexandria, Virginia. He was 82.

Family members told Seattle Times that Swift had been diagnosed with a lung disease unrelated to smoking.

He retired from Congress in 1995 and had lived and worked as a lobbyist in Alexandria near his two daughters and several grandchildren.

Swift represented the 2nd Congressional District in northwest Washington and was known as a bipartisan collaborator drawn to complex issues.

The newspaper said he served on the powerful House Energy & Commerce Committee and worked to pass the Northwest Power Act involving regulation and conservation of hydroelectric energy generation for Washington and three other Northwest states.