Kevin Hern Said

Dear Friend,

2020 was a challenging year for us all, but as I consider the past year, I don't dwell on the bad, I focus on all the good that brought us together. The struggles and lessons we faced in 2020 equip us to be better and stronger in the year to come. I hope that as you stare down 2021, you are filled with hope, peace, and love as we all strive to move forward together with our families, communities and nation.

My team and I successfully engaged in over 550 meetings with constituents this year to answer questions, support our communities, and be as accessible as possible. Our casework team was able to close out 541 cases for constituents who needed assistance with a federal agency. Everything our constituents needed from military records, passports, Social Security, IRS needs and others, were carefully and compassionately handled – often times with favorable results. In addition to our casework, we were able to carry out our Student App Challenge, High School Art Competition, and (pre COVID-19) we conducted mobile office hours, where we go across the district to provide as much access to our services as possible.

I am proud to have introduced multiple new pieces of legislation to the House this year, despite Congress having spent much of the year in recess. Some of the bills I introduced this year are:

The Energy Poverty Prevention and Accountability Act (HR 8487) to ensure energy bills and policies won't result in increases in costs or decreased accessibility for minority and underserved groups.

H.Res. 1049, a resolution condemning Modern Monetary Theory which upholds the reality of our debts and resolves that Congress should never adopt Modern Monetary Theory, which says that federal debts don't matter and the government should spend as much money as they can.

HR 8602, renaming an Owasso Post Office after Staff Sergeant Marshal Roberts, who gave his life in service for our country this spring.

The America: FIRST Act (HR 7170), ensuring foreign nations are not wielding undue influence over our academic institutions because of subversive donations.

And the HERCULES Act (HR 8855), which aims to make the federal government more efficient by eliminating redundancy in federal agency employment practices.

I am proud of the work our team did this year and respect the dedication they have in serving our constituents every day.

Here are some of the highlights from my year:

COVID-19 Response
When COVID-19 was making its presence known in March, I visited the hard-working people of TAEMA (Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency). This Tulsa Fire Department's coronavirus task force held meetings with our city managers, kept in communication with the Tulsa Health Department, met with area hospitals, and met with long-term care facilities to keep all the moving parts of our local coronavirus response running smoothly and on the same page. This great collaborative effort helped me identify the federal resources our communities needed and guided my work in Congress as we discussed aid. The safety and health of my constituents will always be of the utmost importance, and addressing COVID-19 will continue to be in focus as we enter 2021.

TAEMA Executive Director Joe Kralicek and Rep. Kevin Hern

Blood Drive
COVID-19 stifled the critical giving of blood this summer, so my wife, Tammy, and I decided to donate in May, and we were proud to see over 150 Tulsans come out to donate blood and fill all the available donation appointments. Our community has, and will continue to, come together to address the challenges we face.

Mrs. Tammy Hern and Rep. Kevin Hern

USMCA - A New North American Trade Deal
Before COVID-19 changed life as we know it, the historic United States - Mexico - Canada trade agreement was signed, updating the old North American Freed Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and bringing trade with our neighboring countries into the 21st century.

For the first time in an American free trade agreement, an entire chapter is dedicated to small business agreements, opening this avenue to success for tens of thousands of American enterprises.

The USMCA expands opportunity for our country's largest employers by creating new information sharing tools for our three nations and establishes a committee to oversee the implementation and creation of trade opportunities. One of the hardest parts of expanding into a new country is understand the consumer and business environment. This agreement solves that.

John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park
I was honored to help present the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park as a new member of the National African American Civil Rights Network this September. Tulsa has our own painful piece of racial history, but we are now a testament to the hope of our people. We've come a long way in the last century.

The John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park is a symbol of hope and growth for Tulsa, and now it will show the rest of the country what's possible when people come together.

L to R: Sen. Kevin Matthews, U.S. Sen. James Lankford, Executive Director Reuben Grant, Rep. Kevin Hern, Tulsa Deputy Mayor Amy Brown

Commitment to America
In September, House Republicans unveiled our plan to restore the American way of life, rebuild the greatest economy in the history of the world, and renew faith in the American dream. We have over 150 policy proposals included in this plan touch on every aspect of American life - healthcare, taxes, law enforcement, first and second amendment freedoms, infrastructure, energy, and more.

This plan is a clear path back to the lives we led a year ago. I am proud to stand by my colleagues and offer Americans hope and opportunity after a year of devastation. When Congress reconvenes next week, I look forward to getting back to work on these policies and earning the votes of our Democrat colleagues on common-sense ideas to restore what COVID-19 took from us.

Tulsa VA Outpatient Clinic & VA Hospital
In August, I was able to see the construction underway for the new, state-of-the-art VA outpatient clinic in downtown Tulsa designed to provide comprehensive healthcare for our Tulsa-area veterans. This 170,000-square-foot health care center will consolidate important services under one roof for a one stop shop experience that delivers the highest quality of care for our deserving veterans. The clinic will provide a myriad of dental, mental health, and outpatient services that will strive to meet the needs of every veteran they serve and set a standard for excellence.

Additionally, a world class, 275,000-square-foot VA hospital will open in downtown Tulsa in 2024 and stand ready to serve those who have sacrificially served us. Because of its central location, the new hospital plans to serve up to 30% more, or 61,000 veterans annually.

Rep. Hern tours the construction site of the new Tulsa VA Outpatient Clinic.

Police Pledge

This summer, we were introduced to a new movement - "Defund the Police". This movement vows to cut funding and even eliminate police departments altogether in communities around the country. Several cities have already taken steps to do so. We all know how dangerous this is. Our law enforcement officers make the choice to protect and serve their communities every single day. They run towards danger to keep us safe, which is why I could never support a movement that vows to defund our law enforcement agencies.

To that end, I joined multiple petitions and movements in support of our police officers, including signing the Heritage Action Police Pledge and the Stand with Cops Pledge.

Eagle Ops Welcome Back 5k
When you see a veteran, it's good to thank them for their service, but they also need to hear "welcome home".

I was proud to speak at the Eagle Ops Welcome Home 5K this November. This event honors our fallen heroes, while also highlighting the needs of veterans in our community today. Too many of our veterans are lost to suicide year after year, and they need to know that the home they fought for overseas is eager to welcome them back with open arms.

The veterans in our community are right here in front of us, needing a warm embrace and a "welcome home" from us all in 2021.

Rep. Hern speaks at the Eagle Ops 5k

Remembering Sergeant Craig Johnson & TSgt. Marshall Roberts
Our community mourned the death of Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson this July following a violent shooting. Officer Aurash Zarkeshan was also severely injured in the incident and has made a remarkable recovery. Aurash is already back at work with TPD after a rigorous rehabilitation program – showing his Tulsa grit. Tammy and I were honored to be at Sgt. Johnson's graveside funeral and witness the outpouring of love that lined the streets for miles and miles for him and his family.

Sergeant Craig Johnson

Technical Sergeant Marshall Roberts, an Owasso National Guardsmen fought and died bravely in Iraq on March 11th this year. His ultimate sacrifice and the sacrifices of his family will be honored and not forgotten. No words can describe the love and respect I feel for our fallen patriots, and for the families that served nobly with them.

Technical Sergeant Marshal Roberts

Blue Star Mothers
Tammy and I had the privilege of joining some incredible women this Christmas. The Blue Star Mothers send Christmas goodies to Oklahoma soldiers serving overseas in Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Afghanistan, and elsewhere.

Our soldiers are the ones sent out to protect our national security, but it's their families that protect the home front while they are away. Tammy and I were able to help box up their latest shipment of 136 care packages that are being sent out to our deserving soldiers, and I was able to write them thank you notes, expressing how proud I am of them.

Rep. Hern (center left) and Tammy Hern (center right) join the Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers at their headquarters.

We're closing in on the end of a wild year. This year has challenged us in ways we never imagined, but we are coming out of it stronger than ever before.

Please let me know if there's anything my office can help you with, call us at (202) 225-2211 in DC or (918) 935-3222 in Tulsa. As always, I keep everything up-to-date at Hern.house.gov and on my Facebook page, so you know what's happening whether I'm in our nation's capitol or at work in Oklahoma.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hern
Member of Congress

WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
1019 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2211

TULSA OFFICE
2448 East 81st Street
Suite 5150
Tulsa, OK 74137
Phone: (918) 935-3222

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Kevin Hern Said

Friday, February 5, 2021

RT @RepublicanStudy: While @HouseDemocrats prepare to pass a $2 trillion economy-killer, the #RSC budget and spending task force met to discuss the framework for a balanced budget. We cannot continue to strap our children and grandchildren with insurmountable debt. https://t.co/CxFX9iVknl

This morning, I met with the @RepublicanStudy Budget & Spending Task Force. I am proud to lead this team - we have big plans for this year’s budget! https://t.co/5SQMt581yy

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Today, we honor the life and service of Officer Brian Sicknick, killed defending the US Capitol Building during the attack on January 6th. Officer Sicknick is the 5th person to receive the rare distinction of lying in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. We will never forget him.

Monday, January 25, 2021

This is a well-deserved honor for Southern Hills! Hosting the 2022 @PGA championship will be great for our local economy and will give us the opportunity to showcase our beautiful city on a national stage. Congrats to @SouthernHillsCC! https://t.co/HcSdBPUVY6

Sunday, January 17, 2021

The Hern Roundup: Looking back at 2020

Friday, January 15, 2021

RT @InhofePress: Today, @JimInhofe, @SenatorLankford, @repkevinhern, @RepMullin, @RepFrankLucas, @TomColeOK04 and @RepBice welcomed the naming of the USNS Muscogee Creek Nation (T-ATS 10) to honor the self-governed Native American tribe located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.