Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) led 49 of his colleagues on a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma encouraging permanent expansion of telehealth services. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic this spring, Administrator Verma temporarily expanded requirements for telehealth services to Medicare and Medicaid recipients, allowing both rural communities... Read more »
When the dust settles and COVID-19 is finally behind us, there are many aspects of this “new normal” that I will not miss, but there’s a lot that I hope sticks around, like valuable time at home with my family and creative ways to stay connected virtually. As a society, though, our most important lasting benefit will be the telehealth services that have rapidly expanded over the last five months. ... Read more »
Congressman Kevin Hern (OK-1) spent this week’s district work period meeting with veteran organizations, presenting the veteran of the month, visiting the Tulsa VA outpatient clinic under construction, met with industry leaders in aerospace, engaged in a virtual town hall with the Oklahoma Association of Realtors, and spoke to various local organizations about issues he’s working on in Washington ... Read more »
Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after being notified that Bartlesville high school teacher, Mrs. Cheryl Fentress, received the Presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching (PAEMST). Mrs. Fentress has been a dedicated teacher for over 35 years, and is currently a ninth-grade honors Biology teacher at Bartlesville High School. She was the 2... Read more »
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. “In many in... 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 System. Last ... Read more »
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 actually go out and f... 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 businesses. Te... 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 expanding their... 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 on the left... Read more »
