Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee blocked GOP amendments Tuesday that would have prohibited further tax increases until the economy returns to its pre-pandemic condition. Republican Reps. Kevin Hern and Lloyd Smucker introduced the bills as amendments to Democrats’ $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package during the committee’s markup of parts of… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) led Republican members of the House Committee on Ways and Means on a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging protection of the Medicare program as it inches closer to insolvency. The letter calls on Democrat leadership to reconsider proposals that threaten the Medicare Advantage program for seniors. The letter was entered into the record during last week’s… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) spoke during the House Committee on Ways and Means’ markup yesterday, criticizing their continued focus on moving the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package through Congress as quickly as possible while ignoring the crisis at our Southern border, the domestic oil shortage, the inflation crisis, the crime crisis, and the crisis in Afghanistan that led to… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after Biden announced his plan for the Department of Labor to institute a vaccine mandate on private companies employing more than 100 people.  “The federal government has once again overstepped into the lives and livelihoods of American citizens,” said Rep. Hern. “Private companies, especially small… Read more »

Midway through his second term, 1st District Congressman Kevin Hern has positioned himself about where he wants. He has a seat on the House Ways and Means Committee and what seems to be growing influence on GOP tax and health care policy. Besides the plum committee assignment, Hern is chairman of the Budget and Spending Task Force of the Republican Study Committee, the policy… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01), chair of the Healthy Futures Task Force subcommittee on affordability, hosted the first meeting of subcommittee members on Monday this week. Members of the subcommittee include Representatives Rick Allen and Victoria Spartz.  “Americans have been demanding an answer to rising health care costs,” said Rep. Hern. “Today we took… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) led 106 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives on a letter to the American people yesterday, affirming their commitment to fiscal responsibility and promising not to participate in any attempt from the Democrats to raise the debt ceiling. Historically, negotiations to raise the debt ceiling have been bipartisan.  “Over the last… Read more »

Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) spoke at a press conference held by the Republican Study Committee (RSC) this afternoon on the $3.5 trillion reconciliation plan working through Congress. Rep. Hern serves as the Budget and Spending Task Force Chairman within RSC. Watch video here or above. Remarks as… Read more »

In wrapping up the last three weeks of district work, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) engaged in dozens meetings across Oklahoma’s First Congressional District with civic organizations, small business owners, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, police officers, firefighters, medical institutions, veterans, agriculture leaders, local press and even the Tulsa… Read more »

As we head toward Labor Day, there is encouraging news for most Americans: unemployment numbers fell to 5.4% as the economy added 943,000 jobs in July. Unfortunately, these economic downturns are not felt equally by all. Black and Hispanic unemployment dropped to 8.2% and 6.6% respectively, but the figures remain high compared to the jobless rate for their White and Asian… Read more »