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 Drillers. 

“The people at home are the true leaders of our nation” said Rep. Hern. “We are at a crossroads in our country where we must decide who has earned our trust and respect. Who has earned the right to lead and influence our communities? Parents, pastors, teachers, small business leaders, civic organizations, local governments, or Washington D.C.? We have reached the point where we must ask ourselves if there is a sphere of society where we don’t want the federal government to dictate terms. People in D.C. would like you to think they are the smartest people in the world, but I know better. Those who demonstrate competence, character and consistency in our local communities on a daily basis are the experts and the leaders we need most.”

Rep. Hern continued, “These are the leaders I need to speak with and learn from, and it’s these leaders I intend to empower, not Washington D.C. I am honored to serve and represent you, and I am determined to do you proud in our great nation’s capital.”

HERN’S DISTRICT WORK HIGHLIGHTS:

Law Enforcement Roundtable Discussion 

Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, August 2.

Location: Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, 303 W 1st St, Tulsa.

Participants: Sheriffs from Tulsa, Wagoner, and Rogers counties, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and police chiefs or their representatives from Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Glenpool, Owasso, and Bartlesville.

Background: Congressman Hern held this roundtable to discuss solutions for rising concerns surrounding the recruitment, retention, and retirement of local law enforcement.

 

Tulsa Fire IAFF Meeting (Local 176) 

Time: 6:00PM-7:00PM, Monday, August 2.

Location: Tulsa Fire Museum, 1010 E 8th St, Tulsa, OK 74120.

Participants: Active Tulsa firefighters, retired firefighters, and the public.

Background: Congressman Hern met with active and retired firefighters to discuss challenges in the field and policy regarding retirement.

Bixby Rotary Club

Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM, Tuesday, August 3.

Location: Savastano’s, 8211 E Regal Blvd Suite 109, Tulsa, OK 74133.

Participants: Rotarians, guests, and the public.

KRMG and KFAQ Radio Interviews

Time: 7:00AM-8:00AM, Wednesday, August 4.

Location: Call-in.

Participants: Skyler Cooper (KRMG) and Casey Bartholomew (KFAQ). 

Background: Congressman Hern answered questions regarding the current infrastructure package, concerns with rising inflation, and Speaker Pelosi’s threat to imprison individuals who don’t comply with her mask mandate.

Tulsa Faith in Business 

Time: 8:00AM-9:00AM, Wednesday, August 4.

Location: Cedar Ridge Country Club, 10302 South Garnett, Tulsa, OK.

Participants: The public.  

Tour of Midwestern Manufacturing & Pipe Line Products

Time: 1:00PM-2:00PM, Wednesday, August 4.

Location: 2119 S Union Ave, Tulsa.

Participants: Midwestern management and employees.

Background: The importance of U.S. manufacturing and American energy independence was discussed. 

Tulsa Police FOP (Lodge 93)

Time: 6:30PM-7:30PM, Wednesday, August 4.

Location: Tulsa FOP Lodge.

Participants: Tulsa police officers and their families. 

Background: Concerns with retirement and the assault on qualified immunity to open police officers to severe civil liability was discussed.  

  

Oklahoma Green Country Information Sharing Group

Time: 10:00AM-11:00AM, Thursday, August 5.

Location: NSU-BA, 3100 New Orleans St, Broken Arrow, OK 74014.

Participants: Local, state, and federal law enforcement intelligence officers. 

Tulsa Memorial Surgery Center Tour  

Time: 1:00PM-2:00PM, Thursday, August 5.

Location: 8131 S. Memorial Drive, Ste 107, Tulsa, OK 74133.

Participants: Surgery center management and staff.

Warfeather Constructions Services 

Time: 4:00PM-5:00PM, Thursday, August 5.

Location: 30091 E Hwy 51, Suite B, Coweta, OK 74429.

Participants: Warfeather management. 

Veteran of the Month Presentation 

Time: 5:15PM-5:45PM, Thursday, August 5.

Location: Coweta Police Department, 212 N Broadway, Coweta, OK 74429.

Participants: Coweta Police Chief Mike Bell, July Veteran of the Month, Coweta City Manager Roger Koleman, Coweta Mayor Evette Morris, Coweta city staff, and friends and family of Chief Bell.  

Background: Chief Bell served our country in the United States Air Force for over twenty years. He worked in Security Forces and retired as a Master Sergeant. Upon retirement, Chief Bell continued to serve and protect his community as a member of law enforcement. Chief Bell has a true heart for serving others, earning him this recognition. 

 

NAVICO Marine Electronics Tour 

Time: 11:30AM-12:30PM, Tuesday, August 10.

Location: 4500 S. 129th East Ave. Ste 200, Tulsa, OK 74134.

Participants: NAVICO management and staff. 

Zoom Call with the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce 

Time: 2:00PM-2:30PM, Tuesday, August 10.

Location: Zoom.

Participants: Chamber leadership and associates.  

Background: Congressman Hern discussed a program designed to train underserved members of the community to use special technology such as drones, virtual reality, 3-D printing, cybersecurity, and tech programming.

Collinsville Local Leader Breakfast 

Time: 9:30AM-10:30PM, Wednesday, August 11.

Location: Dandelion Diner, 705 W Main St, Collinsville.

Participants: Tulsa County Commissioner Stan Salle, City Manager Pam Polk, Police Chief Matt Burke, Fire Chief Harold Call, Chamber of Commerce President Breanne Audet, Superindent of Public Schools Jeremy Hogan, Cherokee Nation Council Member Keith Austin, local press, and small business owners.    

Background: Congressman Hern received general feedback from the Collinsville community and took questions on the infrastructure package in Congress.

Sperry Local Leader Coffee 

Time: 10:45AM-11:30AM, Wednesday, August 11.

Location: Sunny's Country Diner, 118 OK -11, Sperry.

Participants: Tulsa County Commissioner Stan Salle, Mayor of Sperry Debbie Lamberson, and small business owners.    

Skiatook Chamber of Commerce 

Time: 11:45AM-12:45PM, Wednesday, August 11.

Location: Skiatook FBC, 940 W. Oak St, Skiatook, OK 74070,

Participants: Skiatook chamber members, guests, and the public.     

Background: Congressman Hern provided a legislative update on his work on the Ways and Means Committee, tax policy, and infrastructure. 

Family Caregiver Assistance 

Time: 2:30PM-3:30PM, Wednesday, August 11.

Location: 118 E Commercial St, Broken Arrow, OK 74012

Participants: Family Caregiver management, staff and students.

Background: A workforce shortage in the medical industry and elsewhere has exposed a need for more CNA’s (Certified Nursing Assistant). Organizations like Family Caregiver Assistance are needed to train individuals and meet the demand of the market. 

Americans for Prosperity 

Time: 12:45AM-1:00PM, Friday, August 13.

Location: 3307 Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74135, Tulsa, OK 74135.

Participants: The public.     

Background: Congressman Hern gave an update on the infrastructure package in Congress.  

Drillers Baseball - First Pitch 

Time: 7:00PM-1:00PM, Friday, August 13.

Location: ONEOK Field, 201 N Elgin Ave, Tulsa, OK 74120.

Participants: Hornsby, the Tulsa Drillers, and the public.    

Background: Congressman Hern threw out the first pitch and presented Hornsby, along with the entire Tulsa Drillers organization, a congressional commendation recognizing their service to the community of Tulsa.

Meeting with Flogistix 

Time: 9:00AM-10:00AM, Tuesday, August 17.

Location: Plaza Center, 1831 East 71st Street, Tulsa, OK 74136.

Participants: Flogistix management.     

Background: Congressman Hern met with Flogistix, an oil and gas service company, regarding the progress of oil and gas companies becoming more efficient and innovative through technological advances. 

Tulsa Chamber Board and Economic Development Team 

Time: 10:30AM-12:30PM, Tuesday, August 17.

Location: 1 W 3rd St, Tulsa, OK 74103.

Participants: Tulsa Chamber board of directors and the Tulsa Chamber Economic Development staff.      

Background: A status report of the Tulsa Chamber was discussed, as well as future economic development opportunities. 

Wagoner County Agriculture Roundtable  

Time: 1:30AM-2:30PM, Tuesday, August 17.

Location: Wagoner County OSU Extension Office, 30058 E 147th St S, Coweta, OK 74429.

Participants: Representatives from the Farm Bureau, Cattleman’s Association, the American Farmers and Ranchers Association, the OSU extension office of Wagoner County, Wagoner County Commissioner Tim Kelley, and local farmers and ranchers.       

Background: Congressman spoke with agriculture stakeholders in Wagoner county about concerns they have with Congress raising capital gains, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. 

DMI Industries Tour 

Time: 3:15PM-4:15PM, Tuesday, August 17.

Location: 300 SE 15th St, Wagoner, OK 74467

Participants: Wagoner Mayor Albert Jones, Wagoner Economic Development Authority Chair Pamela Stephens Karnes, Monica Medley, the Wagoner Tribune, and DMI management and staff.       

ARC of Oklahoma 

Time: 6:00PM-6:30PM, Tuesday, August 17.

Location: 9711 E 71st St, Tulsa, OK.

Participants: Members of the Tulsa ARC chapter.       

Background: Disability rights and Social Security policy initiatives were discussed. 

Tulsa Sunrise Rotary 

Time: 6:45AM-8:00AM, Wednesday, August 18.

Location: 1902 E 71st St Tulsa, OK 74136.
Participants: Rotarians, guests, and the public.       

American Veterinary Medical Association 

Time: 10:00AM-10:45AM, Wednesday, August 18.

Location: 9360 S. Union Ave, Tulsa, OK 74132.

Participants: Members of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Jenks Chamber.       

Tour of the Jenks Aquarium 

Time: 11:00AM-11:30AM, Wednesday, August 18.

Location: 300 Aquarium Dr, Jenks, OK 74037.

Participants: Jenks Aquarium management, Sen. Cody Rogers, Rep. Lonnie Simms, Rep. Shelia Dills, Jenks Mayor Cory Box, and Jenks Chamber President Josh Driskell.        

Background: Congressman Hern and participants took a tour of the facility. 

  

Jenks Chamber of Commerce 

Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM, Wednesday, August 18.

Location: 115 S 1st St, Jenks, OK 74037.

Participants: Jenks Chamber members, guests, and the public. 

Background: Congressman Hern provided a legislative update on his work on the Ways and Means Committee, infrastructure, his RSC budget, his position on the Healthy Future Task Force, and the unstable situation in Afghanistan.

Tour of Grace Jenks 

Time: 1:15PM-2:15PM, Wednesday, August 18.

Location: 711 N. 5th Street, Jenks. 

Participants: Jenks Grace administration and staff. 

Background: COVID-19 relief finds, workforce issues and vaccine mandates for nurses were the topics of discussion. 

Creek County Agriculture Roundtable  

Time: 5:00PM-6:00PM, Wednesday, August 18.

Location: Freddies BBQ, 9999 OK-66, Sapulpa, OK 74066. 

Participants: Representatives for the Farm Bureau, and local farmers and ranchers. 

Background: Congressman Hern spoke with agriculture stakeholders in Wagoner county about concerns they have with raising capital gains, estate taxes and inheritance taxes.

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