Rural Utah

“Our state’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers feed the nation and fuel our economy. For far too long, Washington politicians have overlooked rural America and drowned out the voices of rural Utahns. From severe drought and water scarcity to unrivaled growth and a booming population, Utah faces unique challenges and exciting opportunities. From lowering costs to reducing burdens, I am hard at work to support Utah’s rural communities.” – Rep. Burgess Owens

• Reintroduced H.R. 2429, the Open Access Evapotranspiration (OpenET) Act, legislation to get critical water use data in the hands of farmers, ranchers, and decision-makers for improved water management in Utah and across the Western U.S.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 1756, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act of 2023,  legislation to ensure that dairy farmers can price their products to reflect today’s market environment.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 3200, the Gateway Community and Recreation Enhancement Act, legislation to ensure unfettered access to recreational destinations for Utahns, and community-based solutions to infrastructure challenges and housing shortages in gateway communities.
• 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.
• Co-led H.R. 7762, the Water Data Act, legislation to improve water data infrastructure for better decision-making and management of water resources.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 3370, the Broadband Permitting Modernization Act, a package of four bills designed to strengthen rural broadband infrastructure in Utah and across the country. 
• 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. 
• 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. 
• Co-sponsored H.R. 267, the WHIP+ Reauthorization Act, legislation to help Utah’s farmers recover from drought-induced dairy and agricultural losses. 
• Co-sponsored H.R. 683, the PASS Act of 2023, legislation to protect our national security by preventing foreign adversaries from taking any ownership or control of the United States’ agricultural land and agricultural businesses.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 1586, the Forest Protection and Wildland Firefighter Safety Act of 2023, legislation to allow the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to use a fire retardant, chemical, or water for fire suppression, control, or prevention activities. 
• Co-sponsored H.R. 267, the Ceasing Age-Based Trucking Restrictions Act, legislation to eliminate unnecessary red tape and restrictions to allow more truckers to keep the nation’s supply chain flowing.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 209, the Permitting for Mining Needs Act of 2023, legislation to streamline the permitting process for mining projects nationwide to secure domestic mineral supply chains. 
• Co-sponsored H.R. 186, the Water Supply Permitting Coordination Act, legislation to establish a framework in which federal agencies with permitting responsibilities for the construction of new reservoirs must work together, coordinate schedules, share data and technical materials, and make findings publicly available. The result will be fewer delays, more efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and ultimately more abundant water supplies.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 6152, the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act, legislation to boost American manufacturing infrastructure.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 2500, the Forest TECH Improvement Act, legislation to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to assess the use of new technologies across reforestation activities.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 480, the Wildfire Recovery Act, legislation to make changes to the federal cost share for Fire Management Assistance Grants and provides that the federal share shall not be less than 75% of the eligible cost. 
• Co-sponsored H.R 1650, the Rural Broadband Network Study Act, legislation to study the impact of big streamers like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ on rural broadband network costs and availability. 
• Co-sponsored H.R 2454, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2022, legislation to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 1779, the More USDA Grants Act, legislation to provide rural counties in Utah with more assistance and lower the cost of applying for grants that invest in education, infrastructure, and healthcare in rural communities. 
• Co-sponsored H.R. 2349, the Acre Act, legislation to prohibit the USDA from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, or sex.
• Co-sponsored H.R. 4082, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act of 2021, legislation to establish a commission to study and make recommendations to improve federal policies relating to wildland fire prevention, mitigation, suppression, management, and rehabilitation.
• Visited dozens of farms, production facilities, and growing operations across Utah’s Fourth District to better understand the issues that matter most to our communities.

To see a full list of legislation sponsored and supported by Congressman Owens, click here.