Hi, I'm Burgess Owens.

Education is the key to success. From early learning to higher education, every single student in Utah and across the country deserves access to quality education – regardless of race, income, or zip code. Rest assured, one of my top priorities is supporting students and advancing policies that make our country’s education system stronger. As a member of the Education and Labor Committee and Ranking Member of the House Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee, I am dedicated to fostering the best opportunities for students to learn, workers to succeed, and job creators of tomorrow to thrive. In Congress, I have: Introduced H.R. 8671, the RECOVER Act, legislation to allow states and school districts to use unspent Covid relief funds to issue Child Opportunity Scholarships directly to parents. These scholarships, targeted towards low-income families, could be put towards educational opportunities, including tutoring services, private school tuition, and educational therapies for children with disabilities. Introduced H.R. 7942, the Securing Our Students Act, legislation to redirect unused American Rescue Plan funding to help identify and implement evidence-based school safety measures. Led H.R. 6056, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, legislation to protect parental involvement by reinforcing their right to be heard, their right to see curriculums, and their right to be updated on any violent activity that happens on their children’s campus. Introduced H.R. 4698, the Say No to Indoctrination Act, legislation to prohibit the use of federal funds to teach or advance concepts that separate individuals based on race, color, or national origin Introduced H.R. 3943, the Modernizing Financing of Early Care and Education in America Act, legislation to establish a bipartisan commission to make recommendations to Congress on streamlining and reducing duplication in the financing of early care and education programs. Introduced H.R. 889, the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act, legislation to expand quality elementary, secondary, and career and technical education opportunities for students by providing a federal tax credit to encourage individuals and businesses to donate to nonprofit scholarship funds. Co-sponsored H.R. 8655, the Responsible Education Assistance Through Loan Reforms Act, legislation to protect students from predatory lending practices, expand access to high-quality, short-term postsecondary education, and provide targeted relief for borrowers. Co-sponsored H.R. 8150, the Keep Kids Fed Act, legislation to help schools weather learning disruptions, supply chain challenges, and four-decade-high inflation through targeted and temporary aid. Co-sponsored H.R. 8137, the Educational Choice for Children Act, legislation to allow individuals and corporations a new tax credit after 2022 for charitable contributions to tax-exempt organizations that provide scholarships to elementary and secondary school students. Introduced H.R. 7924, the Securing Our Students Act, legislation to authorize local educational agencies and nonpublic schools to use certain COVID-19 emergency relief funds, services, or assistance for school safety uses. Co-sponsored H.R. 7525, the Protecting Charter Schools From Federal Overreach Act, legislation to prohibit the Department of Education from finalizing or implementing its proposed rule that revises priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for the Charter Schools Program. Co-sponsored H.R. 7461, the CBE Act of 2022, legislation to create a framework under which students participating in competency-based education programs may receive federal student aid. Co-sponsored H.R. 7031, the Change of Ownership and Conversion Improvement Act, legislation to ensure that institutions of higher education interested in changing ownership or converting from for-profit to nonprofit or public status are not slowed down by the U.S. Department of Education’s application process. Co-sponsored H.R. 6565, Kids in Classes Act, legislation to allow for Title I funding to follow children if their schools close due to COVID-19 or a strike. Co-sponsored H.R. 6123, the Crucial Communism Teaching Act, legislation to promote understanding of certain political ideologies that conflict with principles of U.S. democracy. Co-sponsored H.R. 5162, CRT Transparency Act, legislation to increase curriculum transparency. Introduced H.R. 4698, the Say No to Indoctrination Act, legislation to keep taxpayer dollars from funding Critical Race Theory. Co-sponsored H.R. 682, the Reopen Schools Act, legislation to encourage local educational agencies to resume in-person instruction at elementary and secondary schools. Co-sponsored H.R. 605, the Student Empowerment Act, legislation to amend the part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) that increased school choice by expanding 529 accounts to include tuition for K-12 elementary and secondary schooling.  Co-sponsored H.R. 1097, the CHOICE Act, legislation to amend the CARES Act to require that 10% of appropriations from the Education Stabilization Fund be used for Opportunity Grants.  Co-sponsored H.R. 3704, the Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act, legislation to provide choice in education for families to deposit education funds into a 529 account to follow their students in public school, private school, homeschool, or other qualified educational experiences. Co-sponsored H.R. 4967, POST Act, legislation to allow for funds to be used to promote career and technical education through social media campaigns, elementary and middle school showcases, and trade shows.  Co-sponsored H.R. 4764, No CRT for our Military Kids Act, legislation to prohibit funding for the Department of Defense Education Activity for CRT to be taught in schools or included in the curriculum. Co-sponsored H.R. 3422, the Competency-Based Education Act, legislation to provide U.S. colleges and universities with a framework to accelerate student success through mastering the subject matter rather than the amount of time spent in the classroom. Co-sponsored H.R. 426, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2021, legislation to make it a violation of federal law for a recipient of federal funds who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities to permit whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls. To see a full list of legislation sponsored and supported by Congressman Owens, click here.

From manufacturing to the restaurant industry and everything in between, Utah runs on small businesses. Small business is the backbone of our state’s economy, and Utah is soaring to new heights thanks to our business-friendly environment, competitive free-market principles, and state-level policies that encourage innovation. To continue this upward trajectory, we must get the government out of the way. My top priority is to ensure that Utah’s economy continues to recover and flourish following the COVID-19 pandemic. Small business is the heart and soul of our state, and as the Fourth District heads back to work, Team Owens has your back at home and in the halls of Congress. In addition to visiting small businesses in every corner of Utah’s Fourth, my team and I have worked hard to amplify their voices in Washington.  In Congress, I have: Co-sponsored H.Res. 1015, a House Resolution to oppose any efforts to impose new taxes on family farms or small businesses and recognize the importance of generational transfers of farm and family-owned businesses. Co-sponsored H.R. 8913, the TCJA Permanency Act, legislation to make permanent the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which delivered sweeping tax cuts for individuals and small businesses across the country. (can we add full press release language here) Co-sponsored H.R. 2491, the Wage Equity Act of 2021, legislation to encourage employers to proactively evaluate their pay practices and eliminate pay disparities in their workplaces, while empowering employees to negotiate pay based on their qualifications and merit. Supported H.R. 3185, the Save Local Business Act, legislation to empower job growth and creation without stifling Main Street U.S.A with harmful regulations and ambiguous standards. Supported H.R. 1799, the PPP Extension Act, legislation to keep small businesses open and thriving through the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-sponsored H.R. 1450, the Emergency Savings for Small Businesses Act, legislation to aid Utah’s hard-hit industries. Supported H.R. 1651, the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act, legislation to help relieve economic burdens and extend vital COVID-19 bankruptcy relief provisions for an additional year. Co-sponsored H.R. 4568, the Entrepreneurs Need Timely Replenishment for Eating Establishments (ENTRÉE) Act, legislation that would redirect unused COVID-19 relief dollars to Utah’s restaurant owners who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-sponsored H.R. 7628, the IMPROVE the SBA Act, legislation to reform and revamp the Small Business Administration by improving communication, transparency, and oversight.  Co-sponsored H.R. 4141, the Promotion and Expansion of Private Employee Ownership Act, legislation to eliminate barriers that businesses and their owners currently face in establishing new S corporation ESOPs or expanding the employee-ownership stake in an S corporation. Co-sponsored H.R. 1453, the Military Spouses Retirement Security Act, legislation to help spouses of active duty service members save for retirement by expanding access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. Co-sponsored H.R. 2954, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act, legislation to help more Americans successfully save for a secure retirement and further improve workers’ long-term financial well-being.  Co-sponsored H.R. 6597, the Blockchain Solutions for Small Businesses Act, legislation to require a study on how blockchain technology can improve the Small Business Administration’s efficiency and data security. Co-sponsored H.R. 6658, the Protecting Family and Small Businesses Tax Cuts Act, legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent certain provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act affecting individuals, families, and small businesses. Co-sponsored H.R. 6161, the Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act, legislation to reinstate the Employee Retention Tax Credit through the end of 2021, as it was originally written, to help struggling small businesses and nonprofits who were counting on the ERTC to pay their employees through the end of the year. To see a full list of legislation sponsored and supported by Congressman Owens, click here. Supporting Utahns in the small business community is more important than ever. If you need help with the Small Business Administration or other government agencies, contact my West Jordan District Office at (801) 999-9801.  To see the complete list of small businesses we’ve visited, click here. If you are a small business owner and would like to share your thoughts with me, click here to take a short survey. Local Utah Resources: Utah Broadband Outreach Utah’s Opportunity Zones Rural Development Utah Industry and Innovation Center Business Resources Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) SBA Resources: CARES Act Rapid Response Team (RRT) – Get Help Fast! Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Info & Apply Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Info & Apply COVID-19 Business Guidance & Loan Resources Sign Up to Receive the Latest Updates! Lender Application for PPP Loan Guaranty Borrower Application for PPP PPP Revisions to First Interim Final Rule

Human trafficking is a heinous crime that impacts people of all ages in communities worldwide. It is estimated that over 25 million people are subjected to human trafficking and forced labor, an industry responsible for roughly $150 billion annually. We must be vigilant in putting the criminals responsible behind bars and providing all-encompassing support to survivors. With collaboration among local, state, and federal partners and the private sector community, we can abolish these heinous crimes and restore the lives and livelihoods of those impacted. In Congress, I have: Introduced H.R. 8672, the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act, legislation to give survivors a path to clear their criminal records of non-violent offenses committed as a direct result of having been a victim of trafficking.  Introduced H.R. 6911, the No Travel For Traffickers Act, legislation to bar from the visa waiver program any country that allows individuals to obtain citizenship by making an investment in that country. Co-sponsored H.R. 6544, the EARN IT Act, legislation to revise the federal framework governing the prevention of online sexual exploitation of children. Co-sponsored H.R. 8061, the Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act, legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations for a minor victim of a human trafficking offense or federal sex offense to file a civil action to recover damages. Co-sponsored H.R. 7181, the Human Trafficking Prevention Act, legislation to require the posting of contact information of the national human trafficking hotline in a visible place in all federal buildings; in the restrooms of each U.S. aircraft, airport, over-the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station; and at each port of entry. Co-sponsored H.R. 5884, the Child Rescue Act, legislation to create a national Working Group under the Attorney General tasked with studying proactive strategies and identifying the resources needed for the identification and rescue of children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Co-sponsored H.R. 6480, the Human Trafficking Awareness Training Act, legislation to establish a program to train law enforcement officers at state and local levels to recognize human trafficking and funds the program with $2.3 million for the next 5 years. Co-sponsored H.R. 1198, the End Child Exploitation Act, legislation designed to extend the period of time that technology companies are required to preserve information about child sexual abuse images they report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).  Co-sponsored H.R. 3996, the Empowering Law Enforcement to Fight Sex Trafficking Demand Act, legislation to expand the authority of the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Program to enable law enforcement agencies to compete for federal funding, specifically to develop and implement sex trafficking demand reduction programs. Co-sponsored H.R. 6544, the EARN It Act of 2022, legislation to establish the National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention, and limits the liability of online service providers with respect to claims alleging violations of child sexual exploitation laws if they knowingly have CSAM on their site. Co-sponsored H.R. 1527, the Homeland Security Investigations Victims Assistance Act, legislation to formally authorize the Victim Assistance Program within Homeland Security Investigations. Co-sponsored H.R. 5150, Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2021, legislation to expand and authorize programs for survivors, including a program to prevent re-exploitation. Worked alongside Education and Labor Republican Leader Dr. Virginia Foxx to initiate a formal request to the Government Accountability Office to study and identify gaps in existing human trafficking laws so we know what is and isn’t working. Co-signed a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding harms that may befall migrant children, including human trafficking, and demanded to know what the Department of Homeland Security is doing to protect them. If you see signs of human trafficking, call the human trafficking hotline at 1-888-373- 7888 or visit humantraffickinghotline.org. To see a full list of legislation sponsored and supported by Congressman Owens, click here.