What Burgess Owens said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a beloved Utah family whose lives were lost this past week in a flash flood in Wayne County. Provo Fire Captain Spencer Long; his wife, Katrina; and their three sons, Reid, Thayne, and Gage, were camping when they were caught in floodwaters.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my outgoing chief of staff, Mr. Lee Lonsberry, a beloved fixture here on the Hill and one of Utah's most trusted voices.”

“Mr. Speaker, in a speech given by Frederick Douglass in 1894, he said: ``Education . . . [is] the light only by which men can be free. To deny education . . . is one of the greatest crimes against human nature [because] it is to deny them the means of freedom and the rightful pursuit of happiness.'' Mr.”

“Mr. Speaker, every cent of taxpayer money should be treated as sacred. It comes directly out of the pockets of hardworking Americans. That is why no amount of fraud in Federal public assistance programs is acceptable.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to start my comments with a simple truth: There are only two sexes, male and female. Sex is a biological fact, not an ideological whim.”

“We are not talking about nicknames on football teams. We are talking adults, with no relation to a minor child, secretly transitioning a child, and then actively working to conceal it from that child's parents.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share an incredible essay written by a student from Utah's Fourth District to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country's founding. Last fall, I invited students from across Utah's Fourth Congressional District to participate in an essay contest as part of America 250.”

“Mr. Speaker, as with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I stand before my colleagues with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend and esteemed colleague, Doug LaMalfa.”

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in strong support of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act. This legislation will make it easier for small businesses to offer quality, affordable healthcare coverage to their employees by allowing them to band together to have access to the same regulatory and economic benefits as large group plans.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my friend, Ms. Emma Hall, my deputy chief of staff and the first and only communications director since the beginning of my journey here to D.C.”

“During this time, I have come to rely on her sharp instincts, her keen attention to detail, and her unwavering commitment to keeping my constituents back home informed of the day-to-day effort here in Washington.”

“Mr. Chairman, I, too, thank Chairman Graves for his leadership in advancing commonsense permitting reform that cuts red tape and restores accountability to Federal decisionmaking. I am proud that one of our top priorities this Congress, the Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act, is included in this package.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mrs. Veena Black, an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, a dedicated elementary schoolteacher for over 20 years, and a personal friend who has served our office with exceptional commitment this past year.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1069, the PROTECT Our Kids Act. For far too long, American education has been undermined from within by actors who have taken advantage of our free and open society to advance the nefarious and anti-freedom objectives of the Chinese Communist Party.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nightingale College, headquartered in Utah, for the remarkable work they are doing to meet one of America's greatest needs: More nurses.”

“Madam Speaker, after meeting with farmers, ranchers, small businesses, teachers, students, and community leaders across Utah's Fourth District, I am here to report the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a win for Utahns.”

“Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize an extraordinary Utah educator, Mr. Mark Otten, a teacher at Gunnison Valley High School in South Sanpete School District. Mark has been teaching for 40 years at the same high school he once attended.”

“Mr. Speaker, the one big, beautiful bill is the most transformative legislation in a generation. It delivers tax-free Trump accounts for newborns, tax cuts for working families, and no tax on tips and overtime.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Utah's State Teacher of the Year, Sayre Posey, an outstanding educator who embodies the mission of the Merit Caucus: excellence, innovation, and high expectations.”

“Mr. Speaker, there is no greater joy than being a father. I am blessed with six incredible children, 17 grandkids, and they are the heartbeat of everything I do.”

“One of the Merit Caucus' core missions is to spotlight exceptional educators, and Utah is blessed with so many. My team recently visited Bluffdale Elementary, a dual language immersion school where students start learning Portuguese in the first grade and stick to it throughout high school.”

“Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the House Merit Caucus, I am proud to recognize a Utah educator who embodies excellence, Ms. Lacey Anderson. Lacey is a special education teacher who refused to accept low expectations for neurodivergent students.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank Blake for the time. Mr. Speaker, this week, we honor the brave men and women who wear the badge, those who serve with courage, professionalism, and heart to keep our communities safe.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Olympus High School Titans on winning the 5A Boys Basketball State Championship. With a commanding 69 to 40 win over Highland High, the Titans capped off a season defined by discipline, grit, and teamwork.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Margaret Peterson, a dedicated public servant and respected leader in West Valley City. Margaret served on the city council for 18 years, always putting families and students first.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor K9 Officer Andy Maybo of the U.S. Capitol Police, whose tireless work has ensured that our fallen heroes are never forgotten.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Utah Pipe Band and the Barclay School of Highland Dance--two groups that embody the spirit of tradition, excellence, and service.”

“Mr. Speaker, in Utah, we believe in opportunity, hard work, and raising kids with the character to stand tall--not just in the classroom, but in life. That means giving them more than screens and participation trophies.”

“Mr. Speaker, today we remember and honor a trailblazer, a leader, and a dear friend, Mia Love. Mia made history as Utah's first Black mayor and the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, but her impact went far further than those titles.”

“Mr. Chair, imagine our esteemed universities, pillars of free thought and innovation, quietly channeling millions into investments linked to the Chinese Communist Party, Russian oligarchs, or the Iranian regime.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Fifty years ago, Title IX revolutionized women's sports and opened doors that had been closed for all previous generations.”

“Mr. Speaker, the only respect they earn is the respect to defend and honor womanhood. Our daughters and women are watching. The message to men standing quietly on the sidelines of this issue is: It is time to man up.”