This is not an official government website.
© 2026 PLEJ LC. All rights reserved.
Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions members such as Burgess Owens.
Issued
May 12, 2026
house side of the record
People
1
Linked members mentioned in this section
Legislation
0
No linked legislation in this section
Committees
0
No linked committees in this section
Senate Holds
0
No hold activity linked here
Source Document
Connected Data
People mentioned
Source Control
Reader mode is for comprehension. The linked government PDF is the official published source.
Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. Owens of Utah was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.)
Mr. OWENS. 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.
District to participate in an essay contest as part of America 250. They were asked to answer a simple but profound question: What does America mean to me?
district that were heartfelt and profound. The winning essay I picked came from a senior in my district whose name is Katie.
Drawing inspiration from “The Wizard of Oz,” Katie reflected on the lesson that took Dorothy an entire journey to learn, that often what we are searching for is right in front of us.
Mr. Speaker, I will read Katie's essay into the Record:
As a child, I was fascinated with the Warner Bros. film,
“The Wizard of Oz,” where the main character, Dorothy, was
able to travel to a magical land over the rainbow in
an attempt to find the truth that she was looking for.
In her travels, she was confused by many people and left
unsatisfied. In the end, she realized that what she was
looking for could only be found in one place: the close,
simple, and inspired environment of home.
Today, many people confuse the beautiful simple nature of
truth found at home as dry and boring ideas that worked in
the past, but could never solve the progressive problems
posed now in our modern world.
They ignore the rich history of our country, discounting
our Nation's Founders and great documents of the past as
outdated or primitive. They dismiss the simple truths found
at the heart of our Nation as old-fashioned and instead seek
novel and progressive movements in a far-reaching attempt to
find truth.
As a member of the rising generation, I have observed many
of my peers looking, searching, and struggling to find
freedom, opportunity, and purpose in lands across the sea and
in ideologies that seem new and exciting.
I even, at times, wondered if truth really could be found
in the novel and sensational until I realized that this
wasn't satisfying my search for truth, that I was looking for
a purpose where purpose did not lie. I was seeking for
opportunity where I thought it was and freedom, true freedom,
in every place, except for where it really was.
These values were not found for me in my trips to
Switzerland, Portugal, or any other novel, foreign country. I
did not discover them in woke ideologies or progressive
podcasts, but instead in the simple and inspired environment
of home, America. That is what this country means to me.
Home is the source of truth. Home is where you can find
freedom, and I can say, without any doubt, that there is no
place like it.
I am proud beyond words to call the United States of
America my home, and I ask you today, whatever it is you
might be looking for, instead of going to podcasts,
conspiracy theories, or the fake news, look first to the
sweet and simple truths held in the heart of my home and
yours, the United States of America.
the exception. She is the example, and the example of what makes Utah and this country so special: hope, respect, appreciation, courage, hard work, big dreams, and love for this country.
youth to carry on the torch of liberty and freedom that we have been so blessed with from on high.