First District Congressman Kevin Hern said Wednesday it’s imperative that the government perfect a playbook to effectively deal with the financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are re-inventing the wheel right now,” he said. “There is no precedent been set on how to deal with this. So this comes from how you keep businesses open, how you keep compensated so they can… Read more »

Small businesses are under siege. First COVID-19 shut them down; then protesters and rioters shattered windows and mayors imposed curfews. Now, everyone is hoping we don’t have a second wave of COVID-19 while working to rebuild the economy. Businesses adapted almost overnight, adjusting to operate in the new normal. Digital technologies and platforms played a key role for many small… 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 »

Looking back on all the pain, frustration, and hardship of the last several months, there’s one thing that sticks out to me: it didn’t have to be this bad. We are more than capable of containing a virus if we catch it early. In fact, world leaders built an infrastructure for that exact situation over 70 years ago. Yet, months after coronavirus cases appeared in China, the World Health… Read more »

TULSA, OK – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging him to reopen IRS call centers to provide assistance to Americans having difficulties accessing their stimulus funds, tax returns, and many other issues.   IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers help millions of Americans every year with their telephone hotlines. These hotlines have been… Read more »

TULSA, OK – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer canceled the House’s return to work on May 4, 2020. “The nation is looking to us for leadership,” said Rep. Hern. “They need Congress to do what we were elected to do – show up and represent the needs of our constituents. As many states across the country are beginning… Read more »

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting against the formation of a Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis. “Redundancy in government is a waste of time and resources,” said Rep. Hern. “There are currently eight House committees with oversight authority on the federal government’s response to coronavirus, creating an entirely… Read more »

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act. The bill passed with a vote of 388-5.  “The Paycheck Protection Program is the lifeline our workers and business owners need right now,” said. Rep. Hern. “Our small business owners are some of the… Read more »

TULSA, OK – On Monday, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) hosted a virtual town hall meeting with local business owners to answer questions on the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Rep. Hern’s Legislative Director Mike Martin joined the call to discuss upcoming legislation to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program. This was Rep. Hern’s second small… Read more »