Burgess Owens

The right to life is the most fundamental of all rights bestowed by God on mankind. To us falls the responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us and to preserve the God-given rights of those unable to defend themselves.

As a father of six children and 16 grandchildren, I am an unequivocal advocate for life. This issue is deeply personal to me, and I will always stand for the unborn.

In Congress, I have supported the following legislation that protects both mothers and the unborn:

*Co-sponsored H.R. 8428, Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act

*Co-sponsored H.R. 541, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2021

*Co-sponsored H.R. 243, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

*Co-sponsored H.R. 18, the Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

*Co-sponsored H.R. 619, the Protecting Survivors of Abortion Act

Every person deserves the opportunity to pursue the American dream.  The Biden administration’s policies are making that dream nearly impossible for the average American to achieve. Skyrocketing inflation, reckless government spending, and over-burdensome regulations are stifling innovation and preventing entrepreneurs from achieving success.  I will continue to support legislation that empowers business owners, grows the economy, and allows hard-working Americans to keep more of the money they earn.  I am proud to support legislation that addresses our current economic challenges, including:

Co-sponsored R 8655, the Responsible Education Assistance through Loan (REAL) Reforms Act

Co-sponsored H.R 7151, the Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act

Introduced the EXPORT Act of 2022, legislation to level the playing field for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators to compete internationally.

Co-sponsored H.R 6913, the Stop the Nosy Obsession with Online Payments Act of 2022 (SNOOP) Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 7628, the IMPROVE the SBA Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 2974, the Military Spouse Hiring Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 6629, the Informed Lawmaking to Combat Inflation Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 4568, the Entrepreneurs Need Timely Replenishment for Eating Establishments (ENTRÉE) Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1284, the Fair and Open Competition Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1980, the Working Families Flexibility Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1745, the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act

Supported H.Res. 1015, a resolution stating Congressional support for the step-up in tax basis and recognizing the contributions of family-owned farms and businesses.

Co-sponsored H.R. 5814, the Prohibiting Unrealized Capital Gains Taxation Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1346, the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 4608, the Growth and Opportunities Act of 2021

Co-sponsored H.R. 5178, the Truth in Employment Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 6016, the Fairness for Federal Contractors Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 6280, legislation to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt certain employees engaged in outdoor recreational outfitting or guiding services from maximum hours requirements.

Proper education is the key to the middle class and a prosperous future.  Every student, no matter their zip code, race, or income level, deserves proper education.  I am proud to be a member of the Education and Labor Committee and Ranking Member of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee. I am dedicated to improving our educational system for students’ future and the future for all.

As your Congressman, I have introduced and cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation relating to education, including:

Co-sponsored R. 6056, the Parents Bill of Rights Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 8137, the Educational Choice for Children Act

Introduced R. 8671, the RECOVER Act

Introduced R. 7942, the Securing Our Students Act

Introduced R. 4698, the Say No to Indoctrination Act

Introduced R. 3943, the Modernizing Financing of Early Care and Education in America Act

Introduced R. 889, the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act

Co-sponsored R. 8655, the Responsible Education Assistance Through Loan Reforms Act

Co-sponsored R. 8150, the Keep Kids Fed Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 7525, the Protecting Charter Schools From Federal Overreach Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 7461, the CBE Act of 2022

Co-sponsored H.R. 7031, the Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 6565, the Kids in Classes Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 6123, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 5162, the CRT Transparency Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 605, the Student Empowerment Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1097, the CHOICE Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 3704, the Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 4967, the POST Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 4764, the No CRT for our Military Kids Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 3422, the Competency-Based Education Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 426, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021

We, as citizens of the United States, have a right granted by God and protected by the Constitution to arm and protect ourselves.  The right to bear arms is a fundamental truth outlined in the 2nd amendment and I will continue to fight against laws that aim to regulate our constitutionally provided liberty.

As your Representative, I have a proven record upholding your second amendment rights, and I promise to defend them as long as I am in Congress.

I sent a letter to the ATF in response to their attempts to restrict the ability of law-abiding Americans to use silencers on firearms.  I will continue to fight ATF overreach and any of their attempts to restrict your second amendment rights.

I co-sponsored H.R. 1532, the Protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Act, a bill that would prevent any President from imposing stricter gun control measures on law-abiding citizens.

I co-sponsored H.R. 3130, the Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act, which would repeal excise taxes on the transfer of firearms. This bill is a step in the right direction to removing federal red tape for any American wanting to exercise their second amendment rights.

I was proud to vote NO on H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446, legislation that would unfairly punish law-abiding citizens, while doing nothing to enforce current laws to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.

I believe Utahns deserve health care that is affordable and accessible. I am proud to have co-sponsored and supported many pieces of legislation that reduce government red tape that adds extra layers of complexity and increases the cost of care.  It is my goal to improve health care outcomes for all Utahns, and I will continue to support legislation that furthers that goal, including:

Co-sponsored H.R. 19, the Lower Costs, More Cures Act of 2021

Co-sponsored H.Res 1330, Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Resolution

Co-sponsored H.Res 404, the National DIPG Awareness Resolution

Co-sponsored H.R.7791, the Access to Baby Formula Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 2050, the Huntington’s Disease Disability Insurance Access Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 7346, the John W. Walsh Alpha-1 Home Infusion Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 2883, the Stop Stalling Access to Affordable Medication Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 341, the Telehealth Expansion Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1332, the Telehealth Modernization Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 1474, the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 3738, the Medical Nutrition Equity Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 3733, the Essential Caregivers Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 6184, the Halt Fentanyl Act

Co-sponsored H.R. 3630, the Lymphedema Treatment Act of 2021

Co-sponsored a House Resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to halt President Biden’s harmful mandate for virtually all healthcare employees.

President Biden’s policies have created a national security and humanitarian crisis at our southern border. Democrat politicians have turned a blind eye as the crisis impacts communities all across the country. America’s national security should not be used as a political pawn to further an out-of-touch agenda. With record amounts of fentanyl pouring into our country at rates never seen before, we need to secure the border.

I am proud to have cosponsored H.R. 6184, the Halt Fentanyl Act, legislation that would change the scheduling of fentanyl, allowing researchers to study the dangerous public health crisis caused by this deadly drug in our communities.

I have also cosponsored H.R. 5854, the Illegal Immigrant Payoff Prohibition Act, legislation that prohibits payments of compromise settlements arising out of certain violations of the immigration laws.

I cosponsored H.R. 1496, Sarah’s Law, a bill that would require an illegal alien present in the US charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious injury of another person to be immediately detained.

I also co-authored a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting information on how DHS plans to secure the border in light of lifting Title 42 expulsion authority.

I am also proud to have co-sponsored H.R. 6122, the Protect American Taxpayer Dollars from Illegal Immigration Act, which would prevent the federal government from paying settlements to migrant families detained at the border.

We cannot tax and spend our way to prosperity. I am fiscally conservative and have proudly signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

I am proud to have co-sponsored the TCJA Permanency Act, legislation that makes permanent tax cuts for individuals and small businesses.

Washington continually overspends, and thanks to Biden’s economic policies, families and small businesses are struggling with inflation and the highest living costs in 40 years.  I will continue to support policies that allow Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money, while holding the Biden administration accountable for their wasteful spending of taxpayer funds.

Utah continues to face historic drought conditions that impact communities all across the state and threaten continued growth. We must work together at the Federal, State, and Local levels to take Utah’s water challenges head on through conservation efforts and innovation.  I’m committed to finding new and innovative solutions to provide Utahns with more water security.

I co-led H.R 8839, the Great Salt Lake Recovery Act, legislation to study historic drought conditions and protect the long-term health of the Great Salt Lake in Utah.

I co-sponsored H.R. 4832, the Open Access Evapotranspiration Data Act, legislation to track water consumption, evaporation, and transpiration, ultimately improving water resources for Utahns.

I also co-sponsored H.R. 5435, the Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2021, legislation to establish a Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program.

I secured $23 million for the Central Utah Water Project, a major source of drinking water in the state and along the Wasatch Front.