Michael Baumgartner

“I want to congratulate Ferris High School on hiring Billy Newman as their new football coach and winning their first game. I wish them and all high school football teams in eastern Washington a great season.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Ferris High School’s football team for naming a new head coach, Billy Newman, and I congratulate them on their first win of the season on Friday. Billy Newman brings more than two decades of coaching experience and strong ties to the Spokane community. I remember him as a standout football player for Washington State University, and I appreciated Coach Newman when he coached my son in AAU basketball. Billy’s appointment reflects Ferris High School’s commitment to strengthening its football program through character development and meaningful partnership with students, staff, and the broader community. Billy said upon becoming the coach: ``This football program will be built on school and community pride. It is an honor to represent our school, our families. . . .’’ I wish the Saxons and all the high school football teams of eastern Washington success as they take on what looks to be a great football season. I wish good luck to the players, coaches, and the entire family, and, once again, I congratulate Coach Newman and the Ferris boys’ football team on that first win of the season. Honoring Life and Legacy of Dr. Charles ``Charlie’’ Robert Wolfe”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 41 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I want to honor Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald on his retirement. He served 30 years in the Marines and led local programs that helped over 500 veterans stay out of trouble with the law. Please join me in thanking him for his service.”

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor Spokane County Clerk Tim Fitzgerald on his upcoming retirement after a lifetime defined by service. Oftentimes, county clerks and other local and government officials get overlooked, but they shouldn’t be. Having a good county clerk matters, and Tim Fitzgerald was a great county clerk. Tim served as a vital nexus for the Spokane VET Court and Spokane Veterans Forum. By focusing on treatment, VA integration, and peer mentorship, he created a program that has graduated over 500 veterans and reduced the local veteran recidivism rate to 5 percent. This statistic represents real lives transformed and peace restored to hundreds of military families. Tim Fitzgerald’s devotion to duty began long ago. He dedicated three decades to the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a colonel after crucial leadership deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He brought that same elite leadership to county government, earning recognition as Washington State’s Clerk of the Year in both 2017 and 2022. A true gentleman and proud graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Tim embodies the highest traditions of public service. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Tim and wishing him and his wife, Tracy, the best in the next chapter of their lives. Recognizing Ferris High School’s Football Head Coach Billy Newman”

“I am honoring Walt Worthy. He created a grant that will give millions of dollars to Spokane wildfire victims in memory of his wife, Karen.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great member of the Spokane community, Mr. Walt Worthy. Many people know Walt and his wonderful wife, Karen, for their tremendous work to revitalize the Davenport Hotel. Today, I honor Walt for his extremely generous establishment of the Karen Worthy Memorial Wildfire Grant that will fund personal $10,000 donations to victims of the Spokane fires. In total, his generous donation could approach beyond $5 million, perhaps even $10 million, depending on how many fire victims are deemed eligible. It was only fitting that this announcement was made at Balboa Elementary School in the neighborhood of the fires and named in honor of his beloved wife, Karen. Karen taught first grade at Balboa Elementary School for nearly 20 years as Walt transitioned from his career as a survival specialist with the United States Air Force into a career as a builder and a developer. I thank Walt Worthy for his generosity to the victims of these terrible fires. I thank him for all he has done for Washington State, our Spokane community, and indeed these United States of America. I am pleased to share his lifetime romance in memory of Karen here on the floor of Congress.”

“I am honoring former Washington State University football coach Bill Doba, who recently died at 85. He spent 19 seasons coaching at the school and had a big impact on the community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a legend in Washington State University Cougars’ athletics, former head football coach, Bill Doba, who passed away last week at the age of 85. Bill was a great man and a great football coach, a longtime defensive coordinator, and 5-year head coach for the Cougars from 2003 to 2007. In all, he worked 19 seasons at WSU and was the lead architect of the renowned Palouse Posse defense, which led the country in 1994. Bill was also a very devoted husband. Many knew of his lifetime romance with his wonderful wife, Judy. Judy herself was a great woman. I knew her personally when she volunteered frequently in my mother’s kindergarten classroom at Franklin Elementary. Bill Doba left a great impact on the entire State of Washington and the Pullman community, and he is remembered fondly. Given that this is Apple Cup week, Mr. Speaker, I think it is also worth noting that Coach Bill Doba had a winning record against the Huskies and gave them a spanking in his last Apple Cup. Rest in peace, Bill Doba, and thank you for all you have done for Cougar nation.”

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  Speech in the House

  Signal 31 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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“I want the House to pass this bill. It fixes cross-references and minor errors in federal laws about Native Americans.”

“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4584) to make technical amendments to update statutory references to certain provisions which were formerly classified to chapters 14 and 19 of title 25, United States Code, and to correct related technical errors. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:”

“I want to recognize the Eastern Washington University football team and wish them good luck this season.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Eastern Washington University Eagles football team as they prepare for what promises to be a fantastic 2026 season. Everyone in eastern Washington knows that EWU plays some of the most exciting brands of football in the Western United States, and I know personally that their tailgating in Cheney is second to none. They are led by Coach Best, a former All-Big Sky center and Eastern Washington alum who has had an exemplary career as coach of the Eags. The Eastern Washington Eagles have a stacked schedule this fall with away games at Northern Arizona, South Dakota, University of Washington, UC Davis, University of Idaho, and Utah Tech, while welcoming schools like Northern Iowa, Cal Poly, Northern Colorado, Montana, Montana State, and Portland State to Cheney. I look forward to a great season of Eastern football, and I know the Eastern Eagles will be very competitive. I am sure the coach, his staff, every student-athlete, and the student body of Eastern all look forward to this exciting season. Go Eags.”

“I am honoring Wes Anderson from Spokane, who recently died. He was a Vietnam veteran who spent over 50 years helping other veterans in our community.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to note the passing of a great American, a great patriot, and a friend, Mr. Wes Anderson of Spokane, Washington. Wes was known across the communities of Spokane County for his exemplary service to fellow veterans who knew him best as ``Doc.’’ Wes was a lifelong Spokanite whose life was defined by service, first in Vietnam where he served as a hospital corpsman and later across our communities where he had time for every veteran. The moments in Vietnam crystallized a lifetime of determination to serve veterans when, on his return to the United States, he had to fight his way through a crowd of war protesters on his flight home. His service to veterans took the form of over five decades of service through leadership roles in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, where he was honored for his work as a chaplain, and through various initiatives, small and large, that included his support for the residents of Spokane’s veterans homes, 20 consecutive years of cleaning the Spokane Vietnam Veterans Memorial on each Memorial Day, and his volunteer work for veterans organizations such as Heroes Homestead. With Wes’ passing, there is a void in our community that will be felt for many years to come. Mr. Speaker, Wes was a patriot, a great American, and a friend. I speak for the entire Spokane community when I say that he will be sincerely missed.”

“I am honoring NBA player and former Gonzaga basketball star Domantas Sabonis. He donated money to Gonzaga University for a new strength and conditioning center to help student-athletes.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a Gonzaga men’s basketball legend, Domantas Sabonis, and his significant contribution to Gonzaga University. Sabonis starred at Gonzaga in 2014 to 2015, before embarking on an outstanding NBA career. Recently, Sabonis provided the school with a transformative gift and had the program’s basketball strength and conditioning center named after him in a dedication ceremony last week. The Sabonis Family Strength and Conditioning Center will serve as a training foundation for Bulldog basketball student-athletes, supporting year-round strength development, injury prevention, and recovery and performance optimization. The ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon in front of an invited audience of donors, alumni, student-athletes, and university leadership, where Sabonis and Coach Mark Few both spoke. ``This is a significant gift from a remarkable family, and we are deeply grateful to their generosity,’’ said Coach Few. ``Their investment will have a lasting impact on student-athletes and help ensure future generations of Bulldogs have every opportunity to grow and succeed.’’ The three-time all-star and two-time all-NBA Third Team selection led the NBA in rebounds over previous seasons. He has made a significant contribution to the NBA and now has a lasting legacy at Gonzaga, one that will benefit future generations of Bulldogs. Well done, Mr. Sabonis.”

“I am honoring Jim Walden, who died recently. He was the head football coach at Washington State University from 1978 to 1986. He helped make the team a winner again, led them to their first bowl game in 50 years, and later called games on the radio.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a legend and the life of a legend, Washington State University Coach Jim Walden, who passed away recently. Coach Walden served as the Cougars head football coach from 1978- 1986. From the time he took over between the 1977 and 1978 seasons, he was not one to hold back as a coach, and neither was his Cougar football team. The Cougs displayed many of the same characteristics Jim exhibited, including a passion for the sport and an outspoken and charismatic personality. Taking the reins after WSU had three coaches in 3 years, Jim Walden assured the Cougar faithful he would not only stay around, but he would stay around and build a winning team. Four years later, he guided WSU to its first bowl game in many years, the 1981 Holiday Bowl. That was WSU’s first post-season game since 1931. Jim delivered on his promises while defeating nearly every team in the PAC-10 conference. He finished his 9-year stint with 44 wins, at that time the second most among Washington State’s all-time list, while also being named PAC-10 Coach of the Year twice, once in 1981 and again in 1983. After retiring from coaching in 1994, Jim showed his Crimson pride by returning to the Palouse, where he served as Bob Robertson’s broadcast sidekick for 11 seasons. Jim Walden was inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 and the University of Wyoming Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 for his play as a quarterback when he was a student there. Madam Speaker, I commend Coach Jim Walden for his unwavering passion for Cougar athletics and his lasting commitment to the game of football. His leadership helped shape the proud tradition and identity of Cougar football that generations, including myself, have known and cherished. Jim Walden will be deeply missed and his legacy will continue to inspire Cougs.”