Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) introduced the Equal Opportunity First Amendment Act to the House last week. The bill addresses disparity between decisions made to ban certain First Amendment-protected activities under State of Emergency but not others. “Most states have seen wildly varying interpretations of social distancing guidelines over the last several months,” said Rep. Hern.… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement in support of HR 7575, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which passed the House by unanimous consent this afternoon. “There’s a lot to be happy about in the WRDA that passed today,” said Rep. Hern. “Included in the bill were funds for the Army Corps of Engineers to make upgrades on the Tulsa-West Tulsa Levee… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “Recent actions in the South China Sea, the Middle East, and North Korea prove the need for an unparalleled American military,” said Rep. Hern. “We are the target of numerous dangerous rising world powers. If countries like China and Russia continue… Read more »

This week, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) introduced a resolution recognizing that the implementation of Modern Monetary Theory would lead to higher deficits and inflation. “There is a startling idea popular among Democrats that says our federal debt does not matter,” said Rep. Hern. “Modern Monetary Theory is gaining traction among elected leaders at an alarming rate, worrying many… Read more »

Today, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) led a bipartisan letter with Representative Jared Golden (ME-02) to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza encouraging additional relief measures for seasonal employers who were impacted by changing PPP regulations. 23 Members of Congress joined Reps. Hern and Golden on the letter. The text of the… Read more »

This afternoon, Representative Kevin Hern launched the 2020 Congressional App Challenge for students in the First District. “Tulsa is home to fantastic STEM talent,” said Rep. Hern. “We have the potential to become the next great American tech hub, a lofty goal that starts with education. Our students have big ideas and big dreams; the Congressional App Challenge is a unique opportunity… Read more »

Today, after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on McGirt v. Oklahoma, Oklahoma’s congressional delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives issued the following joint statement. The case and resulting opinion relate to the authority and jurisdiction of the Five Tribes of Oklahoma – Muscogee (Creek), Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Seminole Nations – to prosecute crimes on… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after this morning’s Supreme Court ruling that The Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic charity, cannot be forced by the government under the Affordable Care Act to provide free contraception to their employees in violation of their religious beliefs. “This is a decisive win for first amendment freedoms,” said Rep.… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) and Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) introduced the bipartisan Protect Telehealth Access Act today to build on telehealth’s proven success during the COVID-19 pandemic by codifying Medicare reimbursements for telehealth services. The Protect Telehealth Access Act removes the requirement that (1) an individual receiving telehealth services must be… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting ‘no’ on HR 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. “People are marching around the country, demanding action from their government,” said Rep. Hern. “They deserve justice, and they deserve meaningful changes at the federal level. Unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle have no intention of… Read more »