Michael Baumgartner: “I rise today to celebrate a special tradition of the congressional delegation of Washington State. Just 1 year ago, I…”

“I rise today to celebrate a special tradition of the congressional delegation of Washington State. Just 1 year ago, I was sworn in to the 119th Congress and welcomed as one of the two new members of the Washington congressional delegation. If you are wondering why I have an oil painting of a baby chick next to me right now, I will tell you that it is about one of the most charming traditions of our Washington delegation. "The Chick" was bought at a charity fundraiser and presented to then-Congressman Joel Pritchard as a gift to his office in the early 1970s. Congressman Pritchard, as the story goes, wasn't too fond of the painting. In true Washington fashion, he decided that the honorable way to handle it was to regift the baby chick to the next new member of the Washington delegation. As such, he passed it on to Congressman Norman Dicks in 1976, and it then went to Congressman Mike Lowry in 1979. It has been passed down ever since, with each new Member from Washington State signing the back before giving it to the next new, proud owner.”