EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) launched a new House caucus on Wednesday meant to combat diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology in education.

Owens, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, announced the “Merit Caucus” on Wednesday morning, the Washington Examiner learned exclusively, saying the Left has a “war on meritocracy” and is “lowering standards for students and teachers, discouraging achievement in the classroom, and eliminating academic excellence, all in the name of equity.”