Kevin Hern

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the First District of Oklahoma's February Veteran of the Month, Megan Lowry. A Military Police Officer in the United States Marine Corps, Ms. Lowry honorably served our nation for three years. Following her military career, Megan served in the Secret Service during President George W. Bush's last term in office helping to protect the First Family from various threats. Due to her outstanding work with the Secret Service, Ms. Lowry was awarded the Presidential Service Badge for honorable service to the President of the United States and the White House. Upon returning home from service, Megan Lowry has dedicated her life to serving other veterans. Megan serves her fellow veterans who may be suffering from the invisible wounds that remain from their time in combat. Lowry is a service dog trainer for Wounded Veterans of Oklahoma and also works with the Pups4Patriots program which works to provide service animals to veterans free of charge. Ms. Lowry is a recent alumna of the University of Tulsa where she was an active member of their Student Veterans Association, which seeks to help transition returning servicemembers into collegiate life. Megan is also an active member of the Delaware Tribe, helping to preserve her native heritage for future generations. Megan Lowry lives a life of unmatched dedication, sacrifice, and service to our great nation. She answered the call to defend freedom, and she sacrificed whatever was necessary in the name of that noble cause. She continues to serve our country, community, and her fellow veterans at a high level on a daily basis. It is my honor to recognize Megan Lowry as the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma's February Veteran of the Month.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I am in its current form.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, this motion is the final opportunity to amend the legislation and would do so without any delay in passage. This amendment ensures that labor unions are not using illegal foreign labor to expand their region to the American workplaces and collect more union dues. Under current law, an employee can sign a union authorization card to count toward the showing of interest in union elections regardless of whether that worker is authorized to work in the United States. Illegal immigrants should not be working at American companies, let alone used by labor unions to organize workplaces. This motion to recommit ensures that unions cannot communicate with employees for organizing purposes if the employee is not legally authorized to work in the United States. Because of the success I have worked for in life, not many people know that my life began very differently. My family was dependant on food stamps for most of my youth. My stepdad never worked, and my siblings and I paid the price for it. I knew from a young age that I would not let that be my life. From the moment I could start working, I did whatever it took to earn financial security: hog farming, welding, computer programming, and the list goes on. If it weren't for the McDonald's Franchisee program, I wouldn't be here today. After 11 years working in the restaurants, I was able to work my way into the franchisee program and purchase my first franchise location, then build a successful company with over 20 locations; a program that allowed a person that came from a place like I did to achieve the American Dream. I have lived a true American story. And my mission in life is to help every child who grew up like me, wondering where their next meal would come from, unsure if their lights would be on when they got home from school; I want those kids to know that our country is a place of opportunity and a place of hope for those who will work for it. We shouldn't be here discussing this bill today. It is not worthy of this Chamber. But since we are, I must do everything I can to show my disapproval in the strongest terms. The change we are proposing here is simple. We are asking that unions be barred from contacting individuals who are not eligible to work in this country. If an employer cannot hire someone in our country illegally, a union should not be allowed to organize those individuals. Believe it or not, this is not currently outlawed. If my colleagues insist on moving forward with legislation that empowers union bosses and strips independence from our workers, they should not do it in a way that encourages illegal immigration. This motion to recommit would make the PRO Act pro-American worker, rather than just pro-union bosses. I have been doing my research a long time. I spent 34 years as a business owner before coming to Congress. I have dealt with union issues for longer than some of my colleagues have been alive. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, who will financially benefit from the passage of this bill, said: Those who will oppose, delay, or derail this legislation, do not ask us for a single dollar or a door knock. We won't be coming. Well, I am standing here today to let Mr. Trumka know that I proudly oppose this legislation. One of the biggest glaring failures of this legislation is taking away employee choice; effectively repealing right-to-work laws all across this country, like in my home State, where we choose to empower employers and employees alike. Decades of legal precedent will be pushed aside. Where workers have previously had the freedom to choose whether or not to pay fees and join a union, they will now be forced to pay membership fees or lose their job. This will put immeasurable power in the hands of union bosses. Privacy provisions--that have been in place for decades--barring unions from accessing private information about employees, will be eradicated under this bill. You heard that right. Unions will be able to access employees' private information, even those that are not members of the union. They can use that information for anything; sell it to the highest bidder, all without the knowledge or the consent of the individuals. The same franchises that gave me the opportunity to achieve the American Dream are under attack with this legislation. Over 750,000 franchise locations that employ more than 8 million people are at risk because of the joint employer provisions in the bill. The expanded joint employer standard has cost franchise businesses $33.3 billion per year; resulting in 376,000 lost job opportunities and 93 percent more lawsuits. Many of the ideas in this bill have already been rejected in the court system and are currently opposed by a bipartisan coalition in Congress. I urge my friends across the aisle to support the motion to recommit on behalf of the American worker and their right to choose. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the First District of Oklahoma's January Veteran of the Month, Jim Lyall. A sergeant in the United States Army, Mr. Lyall honorably served our country in the Vietnam conflict. Throughout his time in the military, Mr. Lyall earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, an Army Commendation with Valor, the Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and he received a Citation for Valor on September 27, 1968. Mr. Lyall's courageous and valorous service in the name of freedom is truly honorable. Following his departure from the military, Jim became a tireless servant for the veterans of northeastern Oklahoma. Currently, he serves as the Veterans Outreach Coordinator for the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, ensuring that those who have served our country have access to meals. Mr. Lyall also currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Coffee Bunker, a Tulsa non-profit, that seeks to meet veterans ``where they are'' and help them transition to family and community life following their service. Before his retirement in 2017, Jim served at the Community Service Council beginning in 1980, retiring as the Associate Director. Mr. Lyall helped spearhead many of the programs that help to make the Community Service Council a premier service organization in Oklahoma and, in spite of his retirement, remains active with the Council. He currently serves as a Resource Member for the Community Service Council and is active in their Oklahoma Veteran Alliance program. Jim Lyall lives a life of unmatched dedication, sacrifice, and service to our great nation. He answered the call to defend freedom across the globe and sacrificed whatever was necessary in the name of that noble cause. He continues to serve our country, community, and his fellow veterans at a high level on a daily basis. It is my honor to recognize Jim Lyall as the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma's January Veteran of the Month.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to provide for a motion to recommit on the Senate amendment to H.R. 550 so that minority voices can be heard on the critical issue of war.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, it is not always that you work together, being from Oklahoma, with somebody from Texas, but it was really great to work with somebody on this particular bill. I rise today in support of H.R. 5130, the Capturing All Small Businesses Act. I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Veasey from Texas, on his leadership on this important legislation which will help small business manufacturers gain a greater competitive edge in the open marketplace. This bill provides parity with another important small business bill that the committee passed which was signed into law nearly a year ago. The previous bill extended the runway for revenue-based small businesses, allowing them to stay smaller for a longer period of time. Rapid growth in small businesses can sometimes push them out of a small business status before they are prepared to tackle the challenges of a large corporation. While revenue-based and employee-based firms differ in many respects, one thing remains constant: Competing in the open marketplace when a firm is not ready to leave the small business arena can have disastrous effects on a small business's growth trajectory. There is a reason why so many small businesses compare this transition to jumping off a cliff. Oftentimes, small firms cannot compete against the giants in their particular industries, eventually fail, stay small, or become acquired into a large company's supply chain. None of these outcomes promote growth for small businesses, and none of these options are good for competition. Therefore, it is critical that we ensure our small manufacturers are capable of successfully and smoothly transitioning out of the small business space and into the open marketplace without falling off of this cliff. That is exactly what this bill does for small manufacturers. By extending the measurement of a small manufacturing concern's size from a rolling 12-month average to a rolling 24-month average, we provide these small businesses with more time to build their competitive edge and infrastructure so they are better equipped to handle the more robust competition once they graduate out of the small business space. In short, H.R. 5130 is a good, commonsense policy aimed at encouraging small business growth and competition at the highest levels. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Public hearings began November 13. Less than a month later, Speaker Pelosi announced Articles of Impeachment on December 5, saying the investigation had revealed enough information to move forward with impeachment. Let's think about that 22-day investigation. Six of those days were weekends where hearings weren't happening, and the House was not in session. Seven of those days were weekdays that the House was in recess, including the week of Thanksgiving. Two of those days were fly- in days, where Congress doesn't hold hearings. So out of the 22 days, just 7 days were used to investigate, debate, and vote on the impeachment of the duly elected leader of our country. No wonder my constituents are upset; 7 days to impeach the President of the United States. Not to mention that this 7-day investigation uncovered zero facts in support of impeachment. I spent every minute I had in there as an observer of these hearings, and all I learned is if you hate someone so strongly and enough people agree with you, that is grounds enough to be impeached. We asked for 12 hours of debate, the same amount of time allotted to President Clinton's impeachment, 12 hours of debate for possibly the biggest vote I would cast in my tenure as a Representative. It isn't asking too much, but, no, they want to get out of here before Christmas, so it is okay to rush the process. I am ashamed to be part of this today, even as I vote against the impeachment. My constituents are calling every day mad as hell, saying we should be ashamed that this historic Chamber has fallen so low as to allow something like this to happen.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the passing of a great American. Allan Trimble was first and foremost a man of faith, whose mission field for 35 years was 100 yards long and 53\1/2\ yards wide. Coach Trimble was the most successful high school coach in Oklahoma history with 13 State championships, and in 2017, Jenks High School affectionately renamed their stadium the ``Allan Trimble Stadium'' in his honor. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Trimble believed that when you make better people, you make better players. For Coach Trimble, winning on the field was a by-product of winning off the field, keeping your priorities of faith, family, and football, in that order. Coach Trimble was a master mentor who spent his entire adult life pouring his wisdom into high school students and young adults. Countless people were blessed by his mentorship. Despite his battle with ALS, Coach Trimble continued to believe that he was blessed and needed to bless others. Coach Trimble spent his last year developing the Trimble Strong Foundation, a continuation of his efforts to serve others and mentor the next generation. Last week, Coach Trimble left this earthly pain to join our Father in Heaven. He is remembered a hero by thousands of lives he touched both on and off the football field. Oklahoma will never forget his legacy of service and of selflessness, faith, and football. Congratulating State Football Champions

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of three high school football teams in my district who won statewide football State championships this weekend. In 6A Division I, Owasso High School, coached by Bill Blankenship, had an impeccable and undefeated season, earning their second State championship in 3 years. In 6A Division II, Bixby High School, coached by Loren Montgomery, cruised to an undefeated season as well, winning State for the fifth time in 6 years. In 3A, Lincoln Christian School, coached by Jerry Ricke, also went undefeated this year. They sailed through the playoffs to a victory in the State finals on Saturday. Congratulations to the Rams, the Spartans, and the Bulldogs. These players and coaches worked hard all year to earn these championships. In addition to these championship teams, Oklahoma's First District had several teams make it to the finals. Jenks High School took runner- up in 6A Division I. Metro Christian School is playing in this weekend's 2A championship game. And Regent Prep is playing for the Class B championship. With so many exceptional teams, Friday nights are never boring in Tulsa.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Chair, as we heard in the Rules Committee debate yesterday, this package of bills before us is the first major package put forth by House Democrats to solve the climate crisis that we hear about daily. Many House Democrats ran their last elections on the platform of putting forth real, tangible solutions to this situation. Unfortunately, they have not lived up to those promises and are letting their constituents down with this package. As Ranking Member Bishop mentioned, this package is a hodgepodge of provisions that reinstate current Federal authorities, all to the tune of nearly 1.4 billion taxpayer dollars. Let's examine just a few of the provisions in this bill: Section 102 authorizes a Living Shoreline Grant Program. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ``The agency currently provides financial and technical assistance to coastal communities for the use of living shorelines through existing programs.'' CBO estimates that this provision will cost American taxpayers $300 million. Section 103 authorizes the Working Waterfronts Grant Program. According to NOAA, ``Under the CZMA, coastal States have the discretion to use funding for many of the purposes that would be addressed by the Working Waterfronts Grant Program.'' The CBO estimates this provision will cost American taxpayers upwards of $23 million. Section 106 authorizes coastal climate change adaptation planning and preparedness grants. According to NOAA, under the CZMA, coastal States already have the discretion to use funding to develop and implement adaptation plans. CBO estimates that this provision will cost American taxpayers upwards of $114 million. Subtitle A of title II authorizes the National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships program, at a cost to American taxpayers of nearly $40 million. Supporters of this provision have stated its great success, which is very true. However, this program has been successfully leveraging Federal and State funds since 2006, all under existing Federal funding. That leads me to question why we are now authorizing an additional $40 million for something that we have already been spending on since 2006. Ultimately, this package is a deceitful attempt to act on climate policy. Democrats have promised sweeping policy reforms and under- delivered in a major way. I would urge my colleagues to oppose this misguided legislation.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the American heroes who nobly defended our nation, and those who lost their lives in the name of that cause, during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. With the 78th anniversary of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor approaching, I cannot think of a better time to take pause and to remember those Americans who courageously jumped into action upon seeing enemy airplanes overhead. In what would remain the deadliest foreign attack on American soil for 60 years until the devastating events of September 11, 2001, 2,335 American servicemen were killed that day and an additional 1,143 were wounded. In an effort to cripple America's naval might, the Japanese destroyed or damaged 19 United States Navy ships, including eight battleships during the attack. In spite of their best efforts, the Japanese could not defeat American resolve and although our nation was wounded, as the world would later learn, the Japanese had simply awoken a sleeping giant. As time marches on and we lose more and more members of America's Greatest Generation, I am proud to recognize Arles Cole. Quartermaster Cole was aboard the USS West Virginia on December 7, 1941, and heroically defended his ship and its crew at all costs. Quartermaster Cole is one of the few survivors of Pearl Harbor still with us and I am proud that he is my constituent in Oklahoma's First Congressional District. I am honored to recognize Quartermaster Arles Cole not only for his venerable service on December 7th and throughout World War II, but also for his continued commitment to his community. Every American should take heed of the example set by those brave servicemembers who fought and those who died at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. In the face of overwhelming odds, they remained committed to their mission and to their country even if it meant sacrificing their life. I am proud to recognize them today and to remember and honor their service and sacrifice everyday as we enjoy the freedoms that they so gallantly defended.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the First District of Oklahoma's October Veteran of the Month, Senior Airman Kelli Ingraham. A Public Health Journeyman in the United States Air Force, Senior Airman Ingraham honorably served our nation for four years. Upon returning home from service, Senior Airman Ingraham followed her passion for service and has dedicated her life to serving her fellow veterans. As a Veterans Services Representative with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA), Senior Airman Ingraham works with our nation's veterans to help them in navigating the federal bureaucracy. Assisting veterans with claims for service-related disabilities, education opportunities, advance medical compensation, as well as employment and housing placement, Ingraham's work with the ODVA is truly admirable. Her devotion to ensuring that our nation's heroes receive the benefits they deserve is honorable and she sets an example we should all strive to follow. In addition to working as a Veterans Services Representative for ODVA, Ingraham is involved with the Tulsa Vet Center, the Tulsa Stand Down for Homeless Veterans committee, and the Oklahoma Women Veterans Organization. Senior Airman Ingraham lives a life of unmatched dedication, sacrifice, and service to our great nation. She answered the call to defend freedom across the globe and sacrificed whatever was necessary in the name of that noble cause. She continues to serve our country, community, and her fellow veterans at a high level on a daily basis. It is my honor to recognize Senior Airman Kelli Ingraham as the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma's October Veteran of the Month.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, Oklahoma native, Christopher Horton, is one of the namesakes of H. Res. 107 which passed the House yesterday. Army Specialist Christopher Horton served in the Oklahoma National Guard's 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade. Horton grew up in Collinsville, Oklahoma, and was an exceptional sharpshooter. Horton was killed in action on September 9, 2011, in Afghanistan while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. His bravery and patriotism are remembered today as his legacy is enshrined 8 years later. Family members of fallen heroes hold a special place in our society. The program started with this legislation will give family members of our fallen heroes the unique opportunity to experience our government up close with a 12-month fellowship in Congress. A front-row seat to the legislative process is a valuable asset to a person deciding where they want to go in their career. These yearlong fellowships will allow the family members of our fallen veterans to become a part of the same democracy that their loved ones fought to defend. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the passage of this bill and the bipartisan work of my colleagues, Trent Kelly and Mikie Sherrill, as well as the tenacious perseverance of both families of the fallen soldiers.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2513, the so-called Corporate Transparency Act. I fear that, in the pursuit of ``transparency,'' my colleagues have crossed a line. This bill would be more appropriately titled the Small Business Registration and Surveillance Act because that is exactly what it would do. This bill would require America's small business owners--those with 20 or fewer employees--to register their confidential information with a Federal law enforcement and intelligence agency they have never heard of and allow that agency to surveil them without a subpoena or a warrant. As a former small business owner for 34 years, I know that paperwork is incredibly burdensome and small business owners have to file paperwork themselves. Unlike the big banks, they don't have compliance departments to fill this information out. NFIB estimates that this legislation will cost small business owners $5.7 billion over 10 years. CBO estimates that this bill will have a significant impact on 25 to 30 million small businesses in America. This is a slap in the face to the small business owners who are doing everything they can to achieve the American Dream. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 2513.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, Republican or Democrat, we can all agree on this: When you have been accused of something, you have the right to publicly defend yourself. My colleagues across the aisle are making heinous accusations about President Trump but are refusing to give him a voice in the process to defend himself. Any impeachment proceeding in the history of our country has operated with full transparency and with a bipartisan effort, but that is not what is happening here. Subpoenas are flying right and left without any consultation of the minority. Interrogations and hearings are happening in secret. Why isn't the media demanding to be in the room instead of waiting for individuals to come out and get cherry-picked information? The American people deserve better. If they had solid evidence or even a factual basis for impeachment, they would be shouting it from the rooftops and broadcasting it on every screen in America. This is a sham process. It makes a mockery of our government. We must end this illegitimate inquiry and return to the rules and traditions that have governed this body for the last 232 years.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4407. The Service Corps of Retired Executives, better known as SCORE, has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs over the last 50 years. SCORE is a nonprofit organization made up of active and retired business executives who act as mentors for entrepreneurs. These volunteers provide face-to-face counseling on business issues ranging from planning to budgeting, marketing, and financing, all of this at no charge to the entrepreneur. As a small business owner myself, I can attest to the importance of mentorship programs like this for first-time entrepreneurs. In a country like ours, where a good idea and hard work can put you on the path to the American Dream, the mentorship of an experienced business owner can be a huge asset to a startup. Today, there are more than 300 SCORE chapters across the country, totaling more than 11,000 volunteers. This includes a chapter in my hometown of Tulsa, which has over 40 volunteers. H.R. 4407 will continue the success of the SCORE program by reauthorizing the funds while safeguarding the program for the future by modernizing data standards, closing loopholes for fraud, and adding important oversight to the use of funds. These provisions will only increase the integrity of SCORE and help the program to assist even more small businesses and entrepreneurs. All the reforms made in this bill are supported by SCORE. This bipartisan effort to invest in our small business owners and encourage more Americans to follow their dreams is a big step forward in support of the things that make our country so special. I thank my colleague Ms. Craig from Minnesota for being an original cosponsor of this legislation and supporting its progress through the committee and now here on the House floor. The passage of this bill will not only be an important moment for our country's future business owners, but it is also my first piece of legislation to pass the House. Focusing on the businesses that drive our local economies and encouraging the growth of entrepreneurship across our country has been my top priority in Congress. Reauthorizing and strengthening SCORE is a necessary step to help grow our economy and invest in our communities, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill today. Mr. Speaker, before I close today, I want to say that I really appreciate the leadership and the bipartisanship of Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking Member Chabot. They do a great job with bipartisanship in their leadership. It is a great example for the people's House. I encourage all of our Members to come sit in on a meeting sometime. It might be something that they would like to see.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the First District of Oklahoma's September Veteran of the Month, Lieutenant William Caldwell. A B-17 Pilot in the United States Air Force, Lieutenant Caldwell honorably served our nation during World War II. A member of the Greatest Generation, Mr. Caldwell began his military service in 1936 at the age of 14 when he joined the National Guard. When the United States entered World War II, William and his four brothers, Wayne, George, James, and Floyd, like so many others, courageously answered their nation's call. All five Caldwell brothers served abroad and returned safely home to Oklahoma. As our nation has recently paused to remember our POWs and MIAs through POW/MIA Recognition Day, it is important that we honor veterans like Lieutenant Caldwell who continued to honorably serve their country while being held captive by enemy forces. On his 22nd and final bombing mission, Lieutenant Caldwell and his crew were shot down over Germany. They were taken captive by German forces and held in prison camps until they were liberated in 1945. Lieutenant Caldwell has lived a life of unmatched dedication, sacrifice, and service to our great nation. He answered the call to defend freedom across the globe and sacrificed whatever was necessary in the name of that noble cause. It is my honor to recognize Lieutenant William Caldwell as the 1st Congressional District of Oklahoma's September Veteran of the Month.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Alaska for yielding. Mr. Chair, how long must we rely on foreign adversaries for fuel? Utilizing our domestic resources is essential to a strong economy. Energy dominance on the world stage is our end goal. We will never get there if we continue to cut off access to our own resources. The truth is, oil and gas production in ANWR benefits our country as a whole, but it is also a key industry for the people of Alaska. The community of Kaktovik sees the energy sector as a significant source of employment, revenue, and reliable energy. The people, including the local Tribe of Alaska Natives, are incredibly supportive of the continuation of oil and gas production in their community. These people were never consulted by my colleagues at any point in the development of this bill. Neither was our colleague Don Young, who has represented the needs of the people of Alaska for more than 40 years, who has more experience than everyone who wrote this bill combined. Don Young, the dean of the House, the longest serving Member in Congress, should have been the first person consulted about this legislation was never sought out. Instead, they consulted a Tribe 350 miles away that has nothing to do with oil and gas in ANWR. To put this in perspective, I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Omaha, Nebraska, is about 380 miles away. Can anybody tell me what my opinion would matter in Omaha, Nebraska? I don't spend time there. I don't know what the people there want. The only assumption we can make as to why a Tribe over 350 miles away was consulted instead of the local community is that my colleagues knew they wouldn't find support in Kaktovik. This should be an easy decision. There is no reason to vote ``yes'' on this bill. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to think about the future of our country and vote ``no'' today on H.R. 1146.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, today I honor the First District of Oklahoma's August Veteran of the Month, Officer Stacy Hester. Stacy Hester served as a Military Intelligence Officer for 8 years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps. Additionally, Officer Hester has done remarkable work in our community for veterans. Since being out of the Marines, Officer Hester has found a passion for advocating and helping veterans. He's developed best practice, veteran-specific programs at the local, state, and national level, including Justice For Vets, the largest advancing justice for veterans organization in the world. Also, he owns and operates a business, 3C Concepts, which stands for Connect-Communicate-Community. The mission of his business is to help veterans transition back into their communities through the 3C application. Officer Hester is also the co-founder of the Eagle Ops Foundation, along with fellow Marine Jonathan Shepherd--our July Veteran of the Month--and his wife, Jessica. In 2018, they launched Eagle Ops as an outreach program for veterans and their families, with the focus on community. I am thankful for Officer Hester's faithful commitment to helping veterans in our community and across the country. Officer Hester plays an essential role in our community of veterans, and I'm glad to have this opportunity to recognize him as our August Veteran of the Month. His service to our country and impact within our community is one that will last forever.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the First District of Oklahoma's July Veteran of the Month, Sergeant Johnathon Shepherd. Sergeant Shepherd joined the Marines in 1997, where he served for 5 years, deploying to the Mediterranean in 2000. Once back in Tulsa, Sergeant Shepherd started his first business after learning about federal opportunities available to veteran-owned businesses. He and his wife, Jessica, built the company in their spare time for 8 years before devoting their full efforts to establish Americom Technologies Group in 2016. Also in 2016, Sergeant Shepherd and his wife launched Eagle Ops as an outreach program for veterans and their families. In 2018, they joined with fellow Marine Stacy Hester to create the Eagle Ops Foundation with the focus on community. The Foundation is active in the Tulsa community and works to build relationships for our veterans, their families and patriots in the community. Sergeant Shepherd truly is an impressive man of integrity and honor. He makes Oklahoma proud and plays an important role in our community of veterans. I'm glad to have this opportunity to shine a light on his work and give him the recognition he deserves as our July Veteran of the Month.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Frank Riesinger and the valuable contributions he makes to our community. Mr. Riesinger served as an airman in World War II and has been the driving force behind the V-J Day celebrations here in Broken Arrow, commemorating the end of World War II on August 14th, 1945. Mr. Riesinger recalls America's great Victory Over Japan from when he was just an 18-year-old airman home in Tulsa on furlough. He remembers standing in his dad's office downtown when he heard an uproar coming from the streets and saw Tulsans celebrating with shouts and car horns, making celebratory noise with whatever they could. This memory has inspired him to continue celebrating that triumphant day. Thanks to Mr. Riesinger, V-J Day has been commemorated by Oklahomans for the past four years through this wonderful event. I appreciate his work to make sure that this monumental day for the U.S. and Oklahomans, is still remembered. Although V-J Day is not nationally recognized, the Broken Arrow City Council issued a proclamation making August 14th V-J Day Celebration Day for Oklahomans. I am grateful for Mr. Riesinger's service to our country and community. Mr. Riesinger's impact on Oklahomans is one that will never be forgotten.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for yielding me a few minutes here to talk about the energy dominance in our country, and tonight we are celebrating American excellence and innovation in a field absolutely essential to the future of our country: energy. There is a lot to be debated and argued on, but the crux of the matter is that energy independence--better yet, energy dominance--is the only pathway to a stable, fruitful, successful American economy. We use energy every day. We power our homes, our offices, our cars, our phones, and our devices. All of this uses energy in a different way. Since energy is such a pervasive need in our society, it should be a top priority in Congress. Completely cutting our energy sources like clean coal, which we have relied on for centuries, is simply not the answer. Making drastic, astronomical changes to our economy and way of life are simply not feasible, let alone rational. My district is home to the oil and gas sector. One in five jobs in Oklahoma are supported by the oil and natural gas industry. Every new direct oil and gas job supports more than two additional jobs statewide. The average Oklahoma oil and natural gas worker makes more than $94,000 per year. Not only is Oklahoma's energy sector a major job creator and economic stimulator, but it is also a nationwide leader in oil production and innovation in the industry. In 2017, Oklahoma was the Nation's sixth largest crude oil producing State. As of last year, we had five operable petroleum refineries with a combined daily processing capacity of over half a million barrels per day, accounting for almost 3 percent of the U.S. total. More than a dozen of the country's 100 largest gas fields are located in Oklahoma. These are things to be celebrated, not criticized. If you were to listen to some of our colleagues across the aisle, you would think oil and gas are the enemy. That is not the case at all. Oil and gas are the foundation to build on. Renewable energy like wind and solar are great, and I agree that we need to continue investing in them and researching how to improve them, but they are not a replacement for oil and gas. The future of energy in our country is dependent on an all-of-the-above approach. All of these energy sources can and should work together to make America successful and energy dominant on the world stage. I look forward to working with my colleagues on HEAT this year to find out energy solutions that play to our country's strengths as well as incorporate the innovation that new technologies provide.

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma

Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, this week, I welcomed to my office a family of constituents in town to celebrate the life and legacy of a fallen war hero at Arlington National Cemetery. The Geiger family traveled here to honor the life of their relative Commander James B. Mills, who died more than 50 years ago while serving in the Navy. Commander Mills' plane disappeared from radar just past midnight on September 21, 1966. No distress call was heard, no one saw the plane go down, and extensive aerial searches yielded no clues as to what happened to Commander Mills and his copilot James Bauder. For more than 50 years, Commander Mills' family had no closure on his loss, until about a year ago when his remains were found off the coast of Vietnam. This week, Commander Mills was honored with a burial at the Arlington National Cemetery attended by more than 300 people who came to celebrate his life and finally put Commander Mills to rest in his home country as the hero he is. Commander Mills and his loved ones have found peace at last.