On September 3, Riley Owen joined fellow candidates for Utah's 1st Congressional District at a non-partisan forum focused on hunger, housing instability, and poverty. The full video is below.

The forum was hosted by Face Hunger and Homelessness, Powerful Moms Who Care, and Crossroads Urban Center, with Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City generously providing the venue. Ben Winslow of Fox 13 News moderated. Riley was joined on stage by Democrat Ben McAdams and Libertarian Jesse West.

Over the course of the hour, candidates answered questions submitted by members of the host organizations:

1. Last year Congress made major changes to the federal rules for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in ways that have shifted costs to states and led to millions of Americans losing benefits. Do you support efforts to repeal or roll back some of these changes? 
2. What can Congress do to help states reduce homelessness in general, and homelessness among seniors and families with children in particular? 
3. Orrin Hatch helped to introduced the DREAM Act 25 years ago but Congress has failed to provide a pathway to permanent residency citizenship for long term immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. On a couple occasions President Trump has indicated this is one issue he is willing to compromise on. Do you support legislation like the American Dream and Promise Act that provide protected status to Dreamers?
4. What other changes would you like to see Congress make to the immigration system in our country?

Riley knows these issues touch every community in Utah, and they don't stop at party lines. Conservatives should be in the room, informed and engaged. He also made the case that limited government carries a second obligation — local responsibility. If we want government to do less, then neighbors, congregations, and community organizations have to do more.

Watch the full forum: