Burgess Owens

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of my amendment No. 71. Mr. Chair, for 60 years, the federally imposed perimeter rule has limited access and increased costs for Americans flying into Washington's Reagan Airport. My amendment is simple. It adds seven new routes, one for each airline currently operating out of DCA, while preserving all existing flight routes. Congress is long overdue to modernize this arbitrary, protectionist Federal policy put in place for the economic protection of one airport and one airline. Deliberate misinformation has been circulating wildly among my colleagues, and I want to be clear: Our effort is not about benefiting one airport, one airline, or any one Member of Congress. It is about empowering American consumers by providing more options and greater convenience for people traveling to and from Washington, D.C. For those who have benefited from the monopoly created by the perimeter rule 60 years ago, the message is clear: America, your choices will remain limited and your ticket prices will remain high. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment to help DCA fly into the 21st century. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Roy).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore).

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, in the latest edition of the U.S. News & World Report's ``Best States'' rankings, Utah was ranked the top in the Nation. Utah has one of the strongest economies in America because of our State's pro-market policies, family values, and entrepreneurial spirit. At the forefront of Utah's thriving economy is the booming technology industry in my district and across our State. Today, I recognize Roland Christensen, an entrepreneur, a businessowner, and an engineer who has made an invaluable contribution to the Gunnison community and the entire State of Utah. Raised in the rural town of Gunnison, Roland utilized his expertise in mechanical engineering to build one of the most successful aerospace companies in the Nation from the ground up in his hometown. ACT Aerospace is a defense technology manufacturing leader supporting our troops with the latest technology to win on the battleground because of the visionary leadership of Roland Christensen and the highly skilled workforce of Utah. Madam Speaker, I thank Roland for all he does to keep Utah the best place to live, raise a family, and start a business.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my friend, Representative Dale Strong, and many of my Republican colleagues today in full support of the HALT Fentanyl Act. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl. This week 30,000 fentanyl pills, enough to kill 1.8 million people, were recovered in Utah during a routine traffic stop. This deadly drug is pouring across our southern border and wreaking havoc in communities across the country. Fentanyl is now the number one cause of death for young people aged 18 to 45 and poses more danger to young Americans than COVID, car accidents, and suicide combined. The Biden administration and open-border Democrats have for 2 years ignored the border security crisis and the surge in drug trafficking. America's misery has become the Democrats' political strategy. The HALT Fentanyl Act delivers on one of the House Republicans' pledges under our Commitment to America, a Nation that is safe. The HALT Fentanyl Act will permanently classify fentanyl-related substances into schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act and close the criminal code loophole to apply the current minimum sentencing for illicit drugs to fentanyl. It also empowers law enforcement with the tools needed to keep these dangerous drugs off our streets. It will support research efforts to understand the effects of fentanyl-related substances on the health of Americans. The House GOP recently passed Secure the Border Act--the strongest border security legislative package in America's history--to address the border security crisis, increase Border Patrol agents, and to end the flow of deadly fentanyl. These two landmark pieces of legislation will finally tackle the ever-worsening catastrophe at the border, save American lives from deadly drugs, and support our law enforcement officers who risk their lives to protect and serve our communities. I urge the Biden administration and my colleagues across the aisle to support these commonsense, innovative solutions to our Nation's most pressing challenges.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate and honor our brave men and women in law enforcement who paid the ultimate price to protect and serve our communities and preserve our American way of life. In our Nation's Capital, there is a 304-foot-long wall, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, that features the names of more than 22,000 officers who sacrificed themselves in the line of duty. Beyond this magnificent architecture, the legacy of service, dedication, and hard work remains etched in every American heart and continues to inspire generations of police officers. Throughout our Nation, our men and women in blue risk their lives to fight crime, respond to emergencies, and keep our communities safe. During National Police Week, I highlight courageous officers who have gone above and beyond to serve others. The Riverton Police Department recently recognized the Violent Fugitive Apprehension and Suppression Team, VFAST, as Partner of the Year. It deploys innovative investigative methods to apprehend violent fugitives. Officer Kevin Salmon, a combat veteran and a Purple Heart recipient, received the inaugural Fraternal Order of Police officer wellness award due to his pioneering work to promote the wellness, the mental and physical health of his fellow officers. The team at the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake has built a relationship of trust and confidence between law enforcement officers and the Salt Lake community to help at-risk youth pursue life- changing academic and professional opportunities. Detective Marisha Manzano is a beloved member of the Herriman police force dedicated to quality education, welfare, and safety of students in her role as a school resource officer at Copper Mountain Middle School in Herriman, Utah. The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force established by Saratoga Springs is at the forefront of the battle against human traffickers and online predators. It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent and champion the extraordinary police forces in my district and throughout the country. We began our Nation with certain promises--the promise of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness--and that can only happen in an environment of safety. The fact that we have the most robust middle class, the biggest dreamers, the most innovative States in the world today is because we have a nation of safety. I thank all those who have given their lives, given their efforts to get up every single morning to go out and protect this Nation and come back home to their family knowing they have done their job to make sure we stay safe. To all my friends in law enforcement, thank you for all you do and happy National Police Week.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Julie Su for U.S. Labor Secretary. I have always been told that you can get some idea of a person's future judgment and skill based on their past judgments and skill. Ms. Su has a history that is very instructive. It was her tenure as the secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency of California that put the Golden State on a fast track to bankruptcy and economic collapse. Because of Julie Su's leadership, hundreds of business headquarters have fled the State. Between 2020 and 2022, over one-half million Californians left the State for greener pastures. Mr. Speaker, as a California executive, the primary responsibility in representing your State should be growing it, not expelling your citizens. Ms. Su's reign has shown a failure in both judgment and skills. Under her watch, over $31 billion of California COVID funds were delivered to the bank accounts of fraudsters. At the same time, delays and red tape plagued legitimate COVID relief claims for those who desperately needed it. Caving to the demands of union bosses, Ms. Su has been and will continue to be totally tone-deaf to businessowners. She will never understand Americans who build our Nation's tax base; who power our middle class; who pay her salary; and who, through robust employment, are the source for union dues. She literally turned her back on the goose that laid the golden egg--California's risk-taking businessowners. At the behest of the union bosses, she instead launched an all-out assault on independent contractors critical to the success of the gig economy. At every government post Ms. Su has been appointed to, she has prioritized non-revenue producers: the union bosses and unelected bureaucrats. Her priority has always been those who empty the government coffers instead of the small business owners who, through work, risk, expansion, and paying taxes, replenish them. After forcing Californians who can afford to leave to move out, the Democratic-controlled legislature then figured a way to tax departing citizens several years after the taxpayer's departure. It is sad that wisdom and creativity weren't used at the front end to keep them from leaving the State. Unsurprisingly, the Biden administration plans to continue its disastrous antigrowth and antibusiness policies under the leadership of Ms. Su. American families and the workforce are hurting from 40-year record inflation, supply chain disruptions, and high energy prices. Ms. Su is not the right person to tackle America's pressing economic challenges. Mr. Speaker, I call on the White House to withdraw Julie Su from the confirmation process for Secretary of Labor and prioritize American families, the workforce, and economic growth.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I have the honor and privilege to stand in the House today to highlight the courage of a young man, Enes Kanter Freedom, who has dealt with the tyranny of a country that he came from. Since becoming an American citizen, he decided to stand for those who do not have the voices that we have here. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for being here to share these moments with us, and to educate the American people to the fact that freedom is something we have to fight for. Not only here, but everywhere, there is a voice that is speaking for the things we sometimes take for granted. Mr. Speaker, I am very, very proud to highlight Enes Kanter Freedom's journey. The fight exposes tyranny in Turkiye and China. I encourage those who are watching to tune in so we can support and help those that are truly voiceless in these other countries. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. De La Cruz).

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for her remarks. The gentlewoman is a great addition to our Conference. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who is my good friend.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack), who is my favorite Gator of all time.

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks. Mr. Speaker, we are going to switch slides here in a minute. First of all, I thank my colleagues. It has been a full day, a flying day, yet they found the time. Many would have loved to have been here-- but they had other things going on--to speak up for a young man who had the courage when many in the NBA league would not. He had the courage to stand out. He had the courage to stand up because freedom is something that many of us take for granted. He happened to be a young man at the age of 20 who stood up against the regime that he saw changing. Two years ago, he started exposing the atrocities in Communist China, a country that is very near and dear to the NBA because that is where they get a lot of funding now and where they get a lot of profits now. We can see that there are many who are playing the game and becoming very, very wealthy and becoming very, very popular and getting a lot of fame but not willing to do what Enes Kanter was able and willing to do--to give it all--because he believes so much in the idea of freedom. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my grave concerns regarding the human rights abuses discussed tonight. Once a thriving democracy, the two-decades-long ruthless regime of Erdogan has made Turkiye notorious for human rights abuses. For over a decade, former NBA star Enes Kanter Freedom has used his platform to speak for the voiceless who are suffering under the tyranny of Turkiye and Communist China. Turkiye's oppressive behavior does not end with Enes. Journalists, human rights activists, and protesters are jailed. His father was jailed because he spoke up here in the United States--unjustly, to say the least. Protesters are jailed without trial and labeled ``terrorists'' without evidence. Turkiye is ranked fourth globally for arresting journalists critical of the government. Turkiye's President has also weaponized the judiciary system to target opposition parties. This is not democracy. This is not what a NATO ally should be standing for or acting like. Two years ago, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Turkiye shut down the second largest political party. Women's rights are also under threat in Turkiye, as well. The Turkish Government withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty to tackle gender-based violence. In anticipation of a formidable challenge in the upcoming general elections in Turkiye, the regime is intimidating rival parties, voters, and the press to sway the election results in the government's favor. The Biden administration and other NATO allies must condemn these heinous actions of the Turkish regime. Unfortunately, once again, President Biden is a laggard when it comes to protection of basic human rights and freedoms. Though an American citizen, Turkiye put a $500,000 bounty on Enes for calling out the abuse of power in Turkiye. President Biden, as has been noted before, has repeatedly refused to meet with our fellow citizens. He has also ignored the official requests from many of my fellow Republican colleagues to do so. The Biden administration has failed to protect one of the most fundamental rights of every American--freedom of speech. When Enes criticized the Chinese Communist Party for its brutality against its own people, the NBA abruptly ended his career. As the corporatist sports complex--NBA, NFL, and Nike--promoted the anti-flag, anti-American, BLM, Marxist movement, it was Enes Freedom who was speaking about the real human rights abuses being perpetrated by the CCP. Note here the shoe, ``end slavery.'' No slavery. That is something that you did not see on TV, I can promise you that. It was his voice that exposed the corporatist sports complex hypocrisy as they chose to turn a blind eye to the misery their business model had created for the Chinese people. Enes' criticism culminated in the CCP's demand that he be canceled. The CCP's cancellation of China's NBA TV coverage drove home the consequences of not bowing to their demands. Once the NBA acted to terminate the 11- year all-star's career, the CCP allowed NBA games to once again be aired in the Chinese market. The NBA, NFL, and Nike's decades-old partnership with the CCP has created a culture within the corporatist sports complex that can best be summarized as profit over American patriotism and profit over the Chinese people. It is a culture that has granted credibility to the Communist Chinese regime, a regime that has interned over 1 million Muslim Uyghurs. It is a culture that promoted BLM rhetoric of America's systemic racism as the global corporatists in real time profited in the billions from slavery in China. This sports complex has discovered the financial benefits of the 1800's slave trade, that when given scale, human slavery is the cheapest and most profitable labor on planet Earth. The NBA, NFL, and Nike culture of greed profit over patriotism and profits over the Chinese people has justified them closing their eyes to the genocide of the Muslim Uyghurs. It confirms that child labor, human trafficking, and organ harvesting from healthy Muslim Uyghurs is okay as long as it is out of sight and out of mind. What the voice and action of Enes Freedom did was show the hypocrisy of their virtue signaling. As the NBA handed out slogans to players on their jerseys to support Black Lives Matter, he was wearing shoes that highlighted the real issue of atrocities of slavery in China. Again, this is what was not seen on prime time TV. On a side note, and a personal note: Where are the activist voices of this corporatist sports complex as throughout our country hopeless Black youth callously kill each other by the thousands? Where are their BLM slogans and messages on the sidelines as in every urban city our education system betrays at-risk kids by the millions? Where is the presence and voice of the sports complex whose very survival depends on 70 to 80 percent of Black talent? Mr. Speaker, the corporatist sports complex of the NFL, NBA, Nike could care less about Black lives, Muslim lives, Asian lives, White lives, or American lives. For them, it is indeed profit that matters. If turning their backs on their loyal fans here in America and betraying the values that have made us the greatest country in the history of mankind, so be it. Profit over patriotism. One of the values that the Republican Conference holds dear and will make clear is loyalty to our fellow countrymen and women. Turkiye, remove the bounty off Enes Kanter Freedom and any other American citizen. If not, there will be legislative action from this body, I can promise you. We call on the Turkish Government to release all political prisoners and cease its persecution of the Hizmet movement and its members. We expect a NATO ally to respect free speech and assembly and to uphold its international obligations to protect human rights. Let us not be the generation that history looks back on as one of moral indifference. Let us not be the generation that is compared to the 1800s pre-Civil War era when industries flourished from the demands of cotton as they betrayed their commitment to our human rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Enes Kanter Freedom has shown the bold courage, tenacity, and empathy that defines our American way. For the millions who depend on American resolve to remain the shining city on the hill, we are committed to freedom and liberty in every corner of the world. We must stand, rise, support those Americans who speak and stand for freedom and the freedom of speech. Let's make sure as Americans we are not looked at as the one who dropped the ball in this case. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chair, when Title IX became law in 1972, it was a watershed moment for every woman in America. Title IX was a game changer for women and girls in sports to showcase their talents on the field without discrimination or prejudice. I watched with pride as my five daughters competed during their high school days. I feel the same pride as I watch my 12 granddaughters learn, grow, and thrive as they compete and work to gain respect from their teammates through hard work and meritocracy. Unfortunately, these life-changing opportunities afforded to generations of women and girls are under assault today. We cannot sit back and watch biological males rob biological women of equal athletic opportunities. We need to stop putting feelings of boys and men above fairness and opportunity for girls and women. With this upside-down world of feelings over fairness, we are also stealing from our young men a major component of their self-esteem, the inborn and innate desire to respect and protect womanhood. This is why I am proud to support the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 to make sure women's sports are safe and fair. Allowing biological men to compete in women's sports erodes the progress women and girls have made in athletics and undermines our cherished American values of meritocracy, hard work, and equality. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this commonsense bill and preserve the rights of all women to achieve their American Dream.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Since Title IX became law 50 years ago, women and girls have shattered records, broken barriers, and blazed a trail for generations of female athletes to dream big and to rise to new heights in athletics. As a former athlete, I know firsthand the far-reaching, profound impact of sports participation on physical, academic, and social development. In a recent survey, over half of the women executives of major U.S. companies attributed their success to participating in collegiate athletics. The regressive, unscientific, and unsound policy of the Biden administration to allow biological men to compete against women strips the rights and dignity of every woman to safe and fair competition in sports. The science is clear. Men are physiologically faster, stronger, and bigger than women. Biological men develop larger hearts and lungs, denser bones, and stronger muscles. This is common sense, my friends, and we all instinctively know this. Putting a stronger, faster, bigger man against women turns back the clock on this remarkable accomplishment of female athletes by half a century. Who also suffers from this attack on womanhood? Young men who have already been damaged for decades of progressive left policies that have destroyed the nuclear family. Mr. Speaker, 80 percent of these urban men no longer have a father who will teach them their primary job as a man is to respect and protect womanhood, that his greatest success and legacy will be leaving his children and wife a good name. Instead, you see in these urban, crime-ridden Democrat cities young men who have lost hope and as a result are losing their souls. Turn on the TV. In the same cities where these urban city political leaders are closing their eyes to sexualization of children as young as 3 or 4 years old, where confusing our children about gender fluidity is at its heights, you will see gangs of young men with no respect for women as they bully, use, abuse, and beat up girls and women and, with no shame, boast about it as they post their insidious attacks on TikTok. No hope, no soul. I'll make a request to those on the other side of the aisle; ask the urban community of Black women what they think of turning men into women, not the elitist Black minority who are married and have a safe life inside their middle-class neighborhood bubble, but the 78 percent of single mothers who are trying to raise and provide for their children solo. Ask them how it is for generations to deal with the absence of good, God-fearing, honest, hardworking, committed, visionary, and courageous men who will stand and sacrifice anything, including their lives, for their wives and children. These women will tell you that they already live in communities where males no longer identify as men. We will not stand by and allow the anti-family, anti-women progressive left to add women to their long list of hopelessness. Our message with this bill is to all women, regardless of your politics, creed, color, background, social status, or religion. The Republican Party will ensure that you and your daughters will never lose hope; that your efforts, your work, and your dreams will never be stolen by an ideology that has driven the party that has lost its way. We promise never to demean your contributions, past and present, your efforts and sacrifice, acknowledged or forgotten, that has helped to forge this great Nation. We start today by defending meritocracy and granting every woman a level playing field of fairness. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, I am proud to support the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to end the reckless, anti-women, and unfair policies of the Biden White House against female athletes.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my esteemed colleague for yielding. Here are some facts you need to know about the abysmal record of the Chinese Communist Party on human rights and against our American way of freedom. China has carried out the torture, forced sterilization, and sexual abuse of over 1 million Uyghurs. China has ranked 175 out of 180 countries that lack free press, and it is notorious for jailing journalists with dissenting voices. Chinese officials have detained, tortured, and executed protestors with impunity. Since 2013, U.S. colleges and universities have received more than $1 billion in gifts and contracts from the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated sources. As a result, professors, student groups, and guest speakers critical of the Communist Party's human rights abuses have been silenced, threatened, and de-platformed. The China regime is spreading anti- democratic, anti-American propaganda by funneling large sums of money into education. Sadly, we have Americans who have and continue to think that turning their back on our Nation for self-aggrandizement is okay. This profit over patriotism culture that has infested our country and our institutions of higher learning is okay. This must end. It is a national security issue when the Communist Party simply buys onto platforms that manipulate our children, their education, the vision and ability to appreciate this great country. We have for years allowed the Chinese Communist Party to find a home in our high schools and colleges with their Confucius Institutes. Granted the credibility of our institutions and the pipeline of our children, they indoctrinate them into their form of government, one that can only survive through tyranny, is good, and that our form of government, a representative republic that thrives on freedom, is bad. It is on these college campuses where the stealing of our intellectual property, technology, and national security secrets is not looked upon as betrayal, which it is at the highest, but instead deemed a necessity to build bigger, more spacious buildings and to hire more bureaucrats committed to teach our impressible and trusting children that Marxism is okay after all. The manipulation of our children on American soil, paid for by American taxpayers, is unacceptable. Again, the profit over patriotism culture that has infested too many of our higher education institutions must stop now. As we watched a slow-moving Communist spy balloon that took a week to lumber over our Nation, doing figure eights over our military bases; then, as we learned this morning of the secret Communist Chinese police station spying on, intimidating, and disrupting free speech of Chinese Americans in New York City, we have to wonder what is really being taught or not taught in our educational system. It is indeed broken if our past generations taught by these institutions can see the blatant attacks on our American culture and think there is nothing wrong; that the presence of misery, chaos, hopelessness, and divisiveness throughout our Nation is normal and acceptable. From establishing a bipartisan select committee on China, to reducing reliance on foreign adversaries for our American energy needs, the House GOP has delivered on its promise outlined in our Commitment to America; that is, to counter the malignant influence of China in corporate boardrooms, social media, and on college and high school campuses. We have done so in our first 100 days. As the chairman of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, I am proud to lead the charge in ensuring the freedom of speech of every American on every college campus and to preserve the integrity of America's higher education. I am committed to championing the freedom and liberty we enjoy as Americans. As was the statement made by a Japanese Admiral after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the deaths of close to 3,000 Americans, ``I fear we've awakened a sleeping giant.'' To the Biden administration that has for 2 years been asleep as our Nation has faced threats from within and without, the American people will not stand by and let our children be indoctrinated out of our belief in freedom, our American way, and the history of proud Americans who sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to grant us this great gift. You have awakened a sleeping giant, a freedom-loving we the people.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. I am the father of 6 children and the grandfather of 16 grandchildren. I am also the son of two educators. I know from experience that students succeed when parents and educators work together. Between crippling learning loss, school closures, and now teacher strikes, our kids have been through enough. They don't stand a chance if parents are kicked out of the driver's seat. Moms and dads are the primary stakeholders in a child's education, not the government, period. They have a God-given right to be involved in their child's education and development, especially in the classroom. Under the one-party Democratic rule in Washington, parents have been left behind, kept out of the classroom, and even labeled and targeted as domestic terrorists by the Biden DOJ. In Biden's America, parents come last. Under the House Republican majority, we are supporting parents and fulfilling our commitment to America by making sure moms and dads have a seat at the table. The Parents Bill of Rights Act is just good, old-fashioned common sense, and here is the truth of the Parents Bill of Rights Act. Parents have a right to know what is being taught in schools and to see the reading materials. Parents have a right to be heard. Parents have a right to see the school budget and spending. Parents have a right to protect their child's privacy. Parents have a right to be updated on any violent activity at school. Unfortunately, in committee, 17 Democrats opposed protecting these God-given parental rights. Just remember: Parental rights are nonnegotiable. Mr. Chair, I am proud to vote ``yes'' on the Parents Bill of Rights Act, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Ken Buck, a leading voice on demanding accountability from Big Tech and big media, for bringing us together tonight. I am here to speak against the censorship of conservative outlets by AT&T and DIRECTV. On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., was confined in a Birmingham, Alabama, jail. His crime? Fighting Jim Crow segregation and showing the injustice to the American people through peaceful, nonviolent protest. He shared his thoughts through a letter titled: ``Letter from Birmingham Jail.'' He gave millions of Americans the opportunity to read the thoughts of reason and one of faith in the Judeo-Christian values upon which our Nation was founded. Dr. King was someone who believed in the innate goodness of American's justice-seeking heart. He stated in that letter: ``Injustice anywhere in this country is injustice everywhere.'' We see injustice in the canceling of conservative voices by board members and executives who cowardly hide in secret behind closed doors, using the power granted to them through the corporate name built by other American-loving business leaders. AT&T and DIRECTV have in the last 2 years deplatformed two very prominent and successful conservative platforms, OAN and Newsmax. The cancel culture is driven by the insecure, the weak, and the intellectually lazy who work in the shadows to control the American heart. This is because they feel inept and unable through meritocracy to compete and change the American heart. We are standing in Congress today to fight against injustice. It is an injustice that literally threatens our freedom. The power brokers of the early 1900s focused on controlling the marketplace of property, wealth, and industry. Today's power brokers are focused on controlling the marketplace of thoughts, ideas, and communication. In doing so, they steal the American people's opportunity for unity. There will never be American unity without the freedom of speech, to be heard, and our thoughts to be judged by one another. Ignorant and free can never be. Those who seek to keep us ignorant, regardless of how powerful and popular they are, are not the friends of freedom. They are not friends of the American way. I call on all Americans to join us in this fight against censorship and preserve our freedom.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, I thank my teammate for pulling this together. Damar Hamlin's fighting spirit and his faith inspired all Americans. His miraculous recovery has reminded us of the power of prayer. He has been in the prayers of millions over the last 2 weeks, his teammates, his opponents, and Americans throughout our country regardless of race, creed, or color. As we stand on the House floor today, we see the vision of our Founders, a promise to become a more perfect Union. It is a celebration of meritocracy, of a young man whose strength comes from God and his family. We have seen our Nation's heart of empathy, one that blesses us with the opportunity to dream, to struggle, to overcome, and, the ultimate prize, to inspire and bless others. God bless Damar, the Hamlin family, his teammates, and the entire football community.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Madam Speaker, this year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Central Utah Project Completion Act, an absolute game changer for Utah's water conservancy efforts. Our state is the fastest-growing economy per capita, and our population will double by 2065. Historic drought is crippling states like Utah, which depend so heavily on our agriculture industry. The Central Utah Project plays an integral role in efficient and innovative water use and conservation measures to meet the demands of our booming population and economy. The project provides water for municipal and industrial use, irrigation, hydroelectric power, fish and wildlife conservation, and improved flood control. Since the Central Utah Project Completion Act became law 30 years ago, the Central Utah Project has ramped up water delivery to a million and a half Utahns daily. This remarkable accomplishment would not have been possible without the tireless work of Utahns. I will take this time to recognize a few of the extraordinary individuals who made invaluable contributions to the success of the Central Utah Project: Gene Shawcroft, Marcus Faust, Chris Hansen, Olivia Sanford. I am committed to working hand in hand with local, state, and federal partners to ensure Utah remains on the right track. To all of Utah, Congratulations on this remarkable milestone.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the Central Utah Project Completion Act--an absolute game changer for Utah's water optimization and conservatory efforts. Our State is the fastest growing economy per capita, and our population will double by 2065. Historic drought is crippling States like Utah, which reminds us that water truly is the lifeblood of the West. The Central Utah Project plays an integral role in efficient and innovative water use and conservation measures to meet the demands of our booming population and economy. Since this act became law 30 years ago, the Central Utah Project has ramped up water delivery to 1.5 million Utahns daily. This remarkable accomplishment would not be possible without the tireless work of Utahns. I am committed to working hand in hand with local, State, and Federal partners to ensure Utah remains on the right track. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone.

Mr. OWENS

Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, President Biden likes to brag about his handling of the economy: ``I am responsible for the strongest job creation economy in modern times. ``The stock market has hit record after record after record on my watch. ``Since I took office, families are carrying less debt, their average savings are up. ``Our economy had zero inflation in the month of July. Zero percent. ``We're not in a recession.'' Stop lying to the American people, Mr. President. Here is the reality of your economy. Americans are facing the highest inflation in 40 years, up 13.7 percent since President Biden took office, a recession. In fact, inflation has increased by 13.7 percent since Biden has become President. Year after year, prices are up more than 12 percent, the largest increase ever. Nearly three in four employees say the cost of living is outpacing their salary and wages. Gas prices have risen 55 percent since President Biden took office. The average mortgage payment is up 42 percent higher than a year ago. One in six households are behind in utility payments. Democrat-ruled Washington has spent trillions of your hard-earned dollars for liberal priorities that Americans don't want and can't afford. House Republicans have a plan to get our country back on track and to put an end to the wasteful spending that has crippled our economy.