Rep. Burgess Owens is feeling great after the Republican Party’s victory in the election, which resulted in control of the White House and Congress. To celebrate, he took a trip to Disney World with his 15 grandchildren, a trip planned just a week ahead.
Owens expressed his excitement, saying it felt like winning an NFL Super Bowl—after a lot of hard work and anxiety, only to realize you’ve won the big one.
Owens, who represents Utah’s 4th District, emphasized the fleeting nature of such victories, whether in football or politics, but is hopeful about the future under President Donald Trump and his team, believing they can create lasting positive change.
Looking ahead, Owens aims to use the Republican victory to secure the position of top Republican on the House Education and Workforce Committee.
He has been working towards this goal for 40 years, ever since he left the NFL and started a business aimed at helping children. Owens will face competition from Michigan Rep. Tim Walberg for the role, a former steelworker who has campaigned for the position before.
Walberg focuses on improving workforce opportunities, while Owens plans to build on Rep. Virginia Foxx’s legacy, who has led the committee since 2017.
Owens, who currently chairs the subcommittee on higher education, is focused on bringing innovation to education reform.
He believes the U.S. education system is outdated and wants to give parents and children more control over their education. He also wants to ensure that America’s workforce is trained locally to avoid relying on foreign talent.
Regarding President Trump’s previous proposal to close the Department of Education, Owens supports the idea, suggesting that they could develop something better and more innovative to improve the relationship between federal and state education systems.
He also praised former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for her experience and commitment, saying he would appoint her again if given the chance.