Kendra Horn

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on what has been the greatest honor of my life: the opportunity to represent my home State and Oklahoma's Fifth Congressional District here in the people's House. This is not an honor that I take lightly, nor is it a responsibility that I could have carried alone. First and foremost, I begin by saying thank you. Thank you to my family, to my parents, grandparents, great- grandparents, my friends, and all of those who have supported me throughout my life, who taught me the lessons about caring for our community, lessons about hard work and determination, about living the Golden Rule--the Oklahoma standard. Thank you to all my teachers and guiding voices who showed me, through words and actions, the value of service, the importance of showing up for each other and standing up for what is right. Thank you to Oklahomans who have shown up to make their voices heard. It is because of you we were able to accomplish everything we did. It is because of you that we were able to do what others said could not be done. Mr. Speaker, I express my gratitude for my staff, who worked day and night to serve the Fifth District: my legislative team who made sure that, with every vote I took, I did what was right for Oklahoma; my caseworkers, who were nothing short of lifesavers. Their work to help veterans and seniors, to help workers and small businesses and struggling families during this pandemic literally saved lives. Each and every one of my staff pushed themselves, not for my personal end, not to make a political point, but to serve a district and people that they care about, to help people who need it, and to make Oklahomans heard in Congress. After all, that is why we are here. Members and staff alike, we are here to serve, and public service means putting the best interest of others before ourselves. Service means listening to and working with others, even when we disagree. Service is not about winning at all costs. It is not about us versus them. It is about all of us working together. Service means leaving the world and our country a better place than we found it. I still believe that we can do that, that we must do that, that we must leave this country better than we found it. And, no, it is not easy. It takes work, but it is worth it. Mr. Speaker, during the 116th Congress, I held 54 townhalls, a record for Oklahoma's Fifth District. I met with thousand of Oklahomans: individuals, businesses, and organizations. It was worth it because connecting with constituents and making sure their voices are heard is a critical part of this job. One of the most frequent questions I had heard time and again--one that broke my heart--was when people would ask me if it was even worth it to work across the aisle to try to get things done, whether it was even possible to find compromise and common ground in today's bitter political climate. My answer was the same every time: Absolutely. We can and we must. We have done it before. Compromise takes hard work because it is always easier to walk away from the table, to point fingers, than it is to find a path forward. But finding common ground is worth it every time because, when we talk about service and working on behalf of our districts, to me, the best service we can provide here in Congress is putting politics aside and getting the work done for the people we represent. It is with hard work and commitment to talking to each other that we can do that, and we have proven it over and over again here in the 116th Congress. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that, in this Congress, that is what I have done. I have had 25 bipartisan bills signed into law in the midst of a divided government, those that make a real difference for our country and the people of Oklahoma's Fifth District, legislation like my Military Tenant's Bill of Rights and the Military HOMES Act, which work to address substandard and unsafe housing on our military bases; bills like the PPP Flexibility Act, which extends financial support to small businesses during this pandemic; and legislation like the USMCA trade deal and the CARES Act, which all needed bipartisan support to pass. These things made a difference. They were accomplished because we worked together. We were able to get them signed into law. We have accomplished real things over the past 2 years in service to our country, but only by working together. And there is so much more left to be done. We have work to do to deliver quality, affordable healthcare to all Americans. We have to strengthen our public education system. We have to work to create economic opportunity for all. And we must face the realities of inequity and injustice and systemic racism, and the work that has yet to be done to build a stronger America. There are no easy answers to these challenges. Simply put, there is no silver bullet or hashtag that will solve these deep-seated issues, but there is a right way to work towards a solution: by working together. Mr. Speaker, at this moment of fear and division, we have a choice: to retreat into our corners and find ourselves pitted against each other, to fall further into this well of darkness, or to come together and find a pathway back to civility, to remember that our neighbors' fears and struggles and challenges are not that different from our own. Mr. Speaker, this is a choice each of us must make, and we must urge our Nation's leaders to make the choice correctly. We need leaders who will solve problems rather than create them, who will remind us of what we can accomplish together when we try. At this moment in time, we need leaders who will renew our commitment to unity and public service because there is so much at stake. Mr. Speaker, we have more in common than we have that is different. We have more that unites us than divides us. And to make this great experiment that is our Nation work, we must recognize a fundamental truth: We are a government of the people, and that means we have to work for everyone. We are a government by the people--not by a party, not by two separate peoples, by the people. Mr. Speaker, to move ourselves forward for the people, to keep our democracy strong, we must recognize the humanity in each other. Our Nation's future hangs in the balance.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking Mr. Gonzalez for his work on this legislation and to say how much of a privilege it has been to be able to serve with him and work with him on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. Indeed, this is one among many ways that we have proven that there is still the ability to work together to achieve common ends. To my colleague, Ms. Kaptur from Ohio, thank you for your friendship and support. It is an honor to be able to work on issues that acknowledge and recognize the accomplishments of those heroes in the Apollo program who showed us what it means to come together to achieve something that has never been done before. As we recognize Neil Armstrong with this renaming of this facility, it is in honor of perhaps one of the most well-known quotes of all time. Because of the magnitude of that accomplishment, ``One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,'' was only made possible through the innovation and the effort of Neil Armstrong and so many others across this Nation who invested in the Apollo program. As an Oklahoman, although we cannot claim Neil Armstrong but can claim a rich heritage in the aerospace arena and have astronauts at every phase of the Apollo program, I can think of no more appropriate recognition of Neil Armstrong than to name this facility after him. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2472, the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act. NASA astronaut and Apollo 11 spacecraft commander Neil Armstrong inspired all of humanity by taking ``one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,'' touching down on a planetary body hundreds of thousands of miles away as a part of the Apollo 11 Moon landing mission. He is a national hero, a naval aviator, and one of many early pioneers of human space exploration. Mr. Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and started his NASA career in 1955, at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics--or NACA--Lewis Research Center, now the NASA Glenn Research Center. This legislation recognizes his significant achievements, service, and contributions to the Nation by renaming the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, as the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility. NASA's Plum Brook Station, located in Sandusky, Ohio, is home to world-class test facilities, where NASA and the international space community perform complex, critical ground tests of space vehicles and systems. Just this year, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle finished its final campaign of environmental testing at Plum Brook Station as NASA prepares to return humans to deep space exploration. Mr. Armstrong returned to his home State of Ohio after his service to the Nation and NASA. It is truly appropriate that a world-class aerospace test facility in the State of Ohio be named for a native son and one of the world's most accomplished and dedicated pilots. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on S. 2472, the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act, to honor an American hero. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2472) to redesignate the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Plum Brook Station, Ohio, as the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur). It is very fitting that we have another Ohioan to speak on this bill.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 2472, the bill now under consideration.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by first thanking Ranking Member Babin, as well as Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas and Senators Peters and Cruz, for their work on this. Particularly, I thank Ranking Member Babin. It has truly been an honor to be able to work with his on these issues and to do so in a constructive way that advances policy that is good for the United States, for discovery, for innovation, and for our leadership in a way that we can come together. Space is one of those areas where it is and should be bipartisan, where we can come together for the best interests of our Nation, to continue to advance discovery and to encourage innovation. Mr. Speaker, this bill does just that. It finds the right balance between preserving the heritage of the Apollo era, for a reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together to work, to advance technology, to do what has never been done before, while not placing too much burden on our ability to move forward into the future and advance that discovery. Our Nation's space program has long served as a source of inspiration and innovation and helped make sure that we, as a nation, are a leader in technology, innovation, and discovery. Mr. Speaker, I encourage swift passage of this bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote ``yea,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1694, the One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act. First, I thank Senators Peters and Cruz for their leadership in the Senate on this important legislation, as well as Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas and Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Babin, along with myself, for introducing the companion bill in the House of Representatives, which we are all cosponsors of. Mr. Speaker, I think we can all recognize the incredible accomplishments of the United States and our leadership in space and particularly when, 51 years ago, our Nation sent Apollo 11 on its journey to the Moon and back, when some 650 million people tuned in to watch this historic first Moon landing and see astronaut Neil Armstrong take humankind's first step onto the lunar surface. Now, half a century later, the rugged boot print of Neil Armstrong's and Buzz Aldrin's feet and their walk on the Moon remain at Tranquility Base. The first American flag to be planted on the Moon's surface still marks the site of their landing, as do the scientific hardware and other items that Armstrong and Aldrin left behind. These objects and others from the Apollo era tell the story of humankind's extraordinary journey to the Moon. They have historical, archaeological, and inspirational value, and it is up to us to work to protect them. Mr. Speaker, following the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, the One Small Step Act both recognizes the achievements of the Apollo program and takes important measures to preserve our Nation's human heritage in space, heritage such as the rover tracks, footprints, scientific experiments, and spacecraft hardware, among others, at these lunar landing sites. Now, today, as more and more actors enter the space arena, including other nations and commercial entities with plans to carry out lunar activities, and we as a nation are working our way to send humans back to the Moon and then on to Mars as part of our deep space exploration program, it is more important today than ever that we take action to protect the historic artifacts that memorialize our first exploration of the Moon and the advancements achieved by the Apollo program. The One Small Step Act does this by taking timely action based on guidance from NASA. In 2011, our Nation's space agency released recommendations on how to preserve the first lunar landing sites. Their report states that future visits to the Apollo landing sites ``could impose significant disturbance risks to these sites, thus potentially destroying irreplaceable historic, scientific, and educational artifacts and materials.'' The act we are considering today requires action to follow this report's recommendations. S. 1694, the One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act, directs the NASA Administrator to include in its contracts, grants, and agreements lunar activities carried out by, for, or in partnership with conditions and requirements of its 2011 recommendations about how to protect and preserve the historic and scientific value of U.S. Government lunar artifacts. The One Small Step Act further directs the NASA Administrator to inform other relevant Federal agencies of the recommendations in the 2011 NASA report. The bill we are considering today makes changes to the language originally passed by the Senate last year. It recognizes NASA's central role in working with partners on lunar activities and ensures they follow best practices regarding U.S. lunar landing site artifacts. This approach strikes an important balance in preserving lunar heritage sites, while not imposing regulatory framework. Further, this act builds on NASA's work through the Artemis Accords to establish principles and set positive examples of responsible behavior, including ``to preserve outer space heritage, which they consider to comprise historically significant human or robotic landing sites, artifacts, spacecraft, or other evidence of activity on celestial bodies in accordance with mutually developed standards and practices.'' Mr. Speaker, NASA's Apollo program was an inspiration to so many across this country and around the world. Its lunar landing artifacts are of cultural, historic, archaeological, and scientific significance for all of humanity, beyond just the United States. The Senate is prepared to pick up this version of their bill as soon as it passes the House. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act and to ensure that this important legislation is enacted into law. Mr. Speaker, before I conclude, I thank the Committee on Foreign Affairs for helping us to bring this bill to the floor today, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Washington, DC, December 14, 2020. Chairman Eliot L. Engel, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Eliot: I am writing to you concerning S. 1694, the ``One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act,'' which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs on July 19, 2019. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this bill. I recognize that S. 1694 contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I appreciate that your Committee will waive further consideration of the bill and that this action is not a waiver of future jurisdictional claims over this subject matter. I will make sure to include our exchange of letters in the Congressional Record and will support the appointment of the Committee on Foreign Affairs conferees during any House- Senate conference. Thank you for your cooperation on this legislation. Sincerely, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 1694, the bill now under consideration.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1694) to require any Federal agency that issues licenses to conduct lunar activities to include in the requirements for such licenses an agreement relating to the preservation and protection of the Apollo 11 landing site, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 8276) to authorize the President to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Alwyn C. Cashe for acts of valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank my colleagues Congresswoman Sherrill, Ranking Member Lucas, Chairwoman Johnson, and Congressman Gonzales for all of their work on this bill. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of H.R. 4990, the Election Technology Research Act, a strong bipartisan bill that I am proud to support and also proud to cosponsor. Madam Speaker, in less than 2 months, Americans will head to the polls and exercise their fundamental right as Americans to vote and to have a voice in their government. Our elections are foundational to our democracy, and Americans deserve to know that their vote is secure. The Help America Vote Act, which became law nearly two decades ago, included a much-needed investment in election technologies, security systems, electronic poll books, and others supported by HAVA are in common use today. But as we all know, technology advances quickly, and it is critical that our election technology advances with it. Given the varied and widespread election technologies in use across our country, it is vitally important that we examine the risks, find opportunities for modernization, and pursue secure updates to protect the sanctity and security of our elections. We must make investments in research to improve cybersecurity of our voting systems. Cyber warfare is an ever-escalating program, and our right to vote is foundational and must be protected. This bipartisan bill will initiate important research into the security of election technology, enabling us to take the necessary steps for every American to trust that their vote is counted. Madam Speaker, I am glad to support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Perlmutter for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I begin by saying, I rise in strong support of S. 881, the Promoting Research and Observations of Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow, or the PROSWIFT Act, and recognize my colleague, Mr. Perlmutter, for all of his efforts on this, as well as my fellow Oklahoman and ranking member of the committee, Mr. Lucas, and particularly, too, recognize Senator Peters for all of his work on this important issue, which I think can often go underrecognized and unappreciated. I was proud to cosponsor the House version of the PROSWIFT Act, H.R. 5260, with Mr. Perlmutter and many others, which passed out of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and I would like to, again, recognize the leadership on this bipartisan and bicameral bill, including Mr. Brooks and others for the committee's work to advance an understanding of and the importance of predictive capabilities of space weather. The PROSWIFT Act is really the culmination of years of work and reflects input from hearings, including joint hearings, the Subcommittee on Environment and the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, which I chair. Though, it can feel remote, space weather can have a significant impact on us right here on Earth, as you have heard. Space weather, such as solar flares, solar wind and geomagnetic storms of energized, charged particles can affect everything from our electric power grids, to satellites, to aviation operations, human spaceflight operations, and much more. In short, severe space weather events pose significant risks to our infrastructure, and in turn, our economy and our national security. This is an important time and an important thing to take action on. Madam Speaker, space weather forecasting is years, if not decades, behind the maturity of terrestrial forecasting, and that is why S. 881, the PROSWIFT Act, is critical. Without improvements in space weather forecasts and prediction, we run the risk of potential disruptions to our critical infrastructure. The PROSWIFT Act establishes U.S. policy to help prepare and protect us against the social and economic impacts of space weather phenomena by supporting actions to improve space weather forecasts and predictions. This act makes clear the importance of federal agency contributions, and their effective coordination, including NASA. To carry out research on the Sun and its effects on near-Earth environments, NASA operates research satellites whose measurements are also essential to NOAA's operational space weather forecasts. The PROSWIFT Act moves us forward from relying, in part, on these research assets, some of which have been operating for over two decades, to developing a strategic and coordinated approach to sustaining a baseline of space weather operations and better predicting space weather events. It is also important to enabling our future goals of space, including exploration goals to send humans to the Moon and to Mars, as laid out in H.R. 5666, the bipartisan NASA Authorization Act of 2020. Improvements in space weather forecasts will help keep our astronauts safe from harmful space radiation, which can be elevated during solar storms. In addition, H.R. 5666 complements S. 881, the PROSWIFT Act, by directing the NASA administrator to establish a space weather research and applications program. Madam Speaker, the Senate passed S. 881 on July 27, 2020, and now the House must act to make sure this important legislation becomes law.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for taking up this important bill to honor Clara Luper and her sacrifice. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to urge passage of H.R. 5597, a bill to rename the downtown Oklahoma City Post Office in honor of Clara Luper. Clara Luper, known as the mother of Oklahoma's civil rights movement was a teacher, a publisher, and so much more. On August 19, 1958, Luper and 13 NAACP youth council students led the Nation's first lunch counter sit-in at Katz Drug Store in downtown Oklahoma City. These sit-ins inspired similar action across the south during the civil rights movement, including the Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in in Greensboro, North Carolina. When Luper and the NAACP students sat down at that lunch counter, they knew they would be refused. They also knew what was on the line. In Ms. Luper's words, ``Within that hamburger, was the whole essence of democracy.'' Each day they returned to the drugstore with more people asking to be served. Though verbally and physically assaulted, they persisted. Sitting in peaceful protest, their fearlessness and determination resulted in Katz Drug Stores integrating lunch counters, not just in Oklahoma City, but also in Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa. And they went on to integrate lunch counters and businesses throughout Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City was ground zero for America's civil rights movement, and we have a responsibility to share that proud history and make sure that the story of the Oklahoma sit-in movement is never lost. Renaming the downtown post office in honor of Clara Luper is just one small step we can take to honor those who struggled and fought for civil rights in Oklahoma and across the country. We have come a long way because of the sacrifices of Clara Luper and those who stood with her in the civil rights movement, but there is much more work left to be done. This bill will take a step forward but, to me, the best way we can honor Ms. Luper is to uphold her legacy through a commitment to justice and equity in our laws and policies. Today, 62 years after Clara Luper and the NAACP youth council students first sat down at Katz Drug Store to stand up for justice, she and the sit-inners are inspiring a new generation of Oklahomans to take action through peaceful protest, to challenge injustice and systemic racism. Mr. Speaker, I hope the Clara Luper Post Office can stand as a testament to her enduring legacy, her courage, and her historic fight for justice, and I urge passage.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for allowing me to speak on this critical issue. I rise in strong support of the Child Care Is Essential Act and am grateful for the inclusion of my bill, the Children's Mental Health Care Access Act. Quality, affordable childcare is critical, not only for children and families across the country, but investing in the physical health and safety of our children as well as the mental health of our children is critical. After months of social isolation, disrupted schedules, and an environment that has created stress, uncertainty, and anxiety for families, children are included in this. I introduced the Children's Mental Health Care Access Act to provide mental health services at childcare facilities through the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, a 2019 study showed that 16.5 percent of American children experience mental health issues, and fewer than half receive treatment. My bill ensures that caregivers have a support system and are prepared with evidence-based and trauma-informed solutions to help our children. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful my bill is included, and I urge support of the Child Care Is Essential Act.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. It is my honor to rise today to recognize, honor, and celebrate the life, legacy, and impact of Congressman John Lewis. Of those who have left their mark on history, the unique and indelible imprint of John Lewis stands in a category all its own. His strength, courage, commitment, compassion, kindness, and fierce determination to challenge injustice made the world a better place for all of us and truly bent the arc of history ever closer to justice. John showed us that being bold and standing up for those whose voices aren't heard are inextricably linked with the need for compassion and hope. Though I don't think any of us were ready to let him go--I know I certainly wasn't--I simply cannot imagine the world had he not been in it. And it is one of the greatest honors of my life to be able to have served with him and to call him a colleague and to join him on the civil rights pilgrimage last year, as I know many voices have said before. And it was on this journey that I had the opportunity to share with him a blessing that had been bestowed upon me that I believe embodies the life and the lessons and the legacy of John Lewis that I will share today in his Honor. ``May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart. ``May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people. ``May God bless you with a gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy. ``May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.'' Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for living those lessons and those words. Godspeed.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the importance of participation in the upcoming 2020 Census, and specifically the critical importance of getting a full count of Tribal Nation citizens. Census results affect our communities every day. As the official count of how many people live in our communities, the Census determines everything from plans for highways, to funding for special education, and support for our firefighters. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in Federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. Think of our local schools: Census counts help determine how money is allocated for Head Start early education programs and for grants that support college access and education programs for children with disabilities. But that is not all. The Census determines Federal funding for SoonerCare, foster care programs, housing assistance, infrastructure investments, and so much more. We have to make sure that every Oklahoman is counted so that our communities receive the support they need. This past week, I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation encouraging Federal, State, local governments, and Tribal Nations to work together as partners to encourage participation in the 2020 Census among American Indians and Alaskan natives. Today, Oklahoma is home to 39 Tribes. The Census ensures we make a strong investment in Oklahoma and provide resources to Tribal Nations that fulfill the Federal-Indian trust responsibility. Funding for critical healthcare programs, housing initiatives, and education is at stake. For too long, Tribal Nations have been shortchanged in Federal funding due to a Census that has historically undercounted Native American populations. In the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau estimates that American Indians and Alaska Natives were undercounted by approximately 4.9 percent, more than double the undercount rate of the next closest population group. The negative consequences of undercounting cannot be quickly corrected. The Census occurs only once every 10 years, and as a result, undercounting Tribal nations can significantly reduce Federal funding levels for important programs for an entire decade. Over 300 Federal programs rely on data derived from the Census, and Tribal nations rely on many of them. They include Native American schools and education programs; Native American workforce programs; Tribal health programs; Tribal housing programs; water and sewage projects; and transit, infrastructure, and economic development programs. We must ensure Native voices are heard and counted. The Census is an opportunity, not a threat. Responses to the 2020 Census are confidential, protected by law. Personal information is never shared by the Census Bureau with any other government agencies or law enforcement, and responses cannot be used against individuals by government agencies or in court in any way. All households will receive official Census mail by April 1, and individuals and families can respond online, by mail, by phone, or in person. It is critically important that all Oklahomans participate in this Census. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from the Native American Caucus, including co-chairs Congressman Tom Cole from Oklahoma and Congresswoman Deb Haaland from New Mexico, who have helped to highlight the importance of getting a full Census count among Tribal nations. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and communities to work together as partners with Tribal nations to encourage participation in the 2020 Census and to inform the public that the 2020 Census is safe, easy, and important.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the legacy of Mrs. Katherine Johnson, a beloved American hero who passed away on February 24, 2020, at 101 years old. Mrs. Johnson was an African American pioneer in aeronautical mathematics and was one of the original ``Hidden Figures'' behind NASA's work. Her mathematical work was critical to our nation's first moon landing and it is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of this extraordinary woman. We must never forget Mrs. Johnson's extraordinary accomplishments, and, we must ensure that her legacy will continue to live on and inspire generations of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Born in 1918 in West Virginia during the era of Jim Crow, Katherine Johnson faced many challenges during her lifetime. In the face of adversity, Katherine became one of only three African American students to attend West Virginia's graduate schools. After graduating from West Virginia State College, she planned to dedicate her career to teaching at a public school in Virginia. As we now know, life took this woman in a very different direction. In 1953, Mrs. Johnson accepted a job as a ``computer'' at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), where she checked her superior's math to ensure accuracy for NACA, which would later become NASA. After only two weeks of work, she became a permanent mathematician for NASA and spent the next four years of her life analyzing flight tests. In 1958, Mrs. Johnson went on to work on trajectory analysis for America's first human spaceflight, Freedom 7 Mission. Just two years later, she accomplished what no woman had--she coauthored equations depicting orbital spaceflight and the landing positions of spacecraft. While Mrs. Johnson's work was not given fair recognition at the time, her calculations were critical to bridging the gap between the United States and the Soviet Union in the Space Race and completing the first successful manned lunar landing. We must not forget the pioneering work of women like Katherine Johnson. Last year, I was proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson and all of the ``Hidden Figures'' women who made NASA's work possible. During her lifetime, Katherine Johnson also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama in 2015 for her groundbreaking work. As Chairwoman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life and legacy of Mrs. Katherine Johnson as an American trailblazer in mathematics and engineering who ultimately shaped space history in the United States and globally.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on the issue of healthcare in Oklahoma. I hear from far too many Oklahomans who can't afford the healthcare they need. Today, Oklahoma has the second highest rate of uninsured people in the Nation. Our State ranks 48th for uninsured children. We cannot continue to let Oklahomans fall through the cracks of our healthcare system. The answer to solving our State's healthcare crisis is straightforward. We must expand Medicaid. By not expanding Medicaid, Oklahoma has lost up to $1 billion per year. Seven hospitals across our State have closed, in part because we did not accept the healthcare support our State is entitled to. Expanding Medicaid in Oklahoma would extend health insurance to up to 200,000 Oklahomans who don't currently have insurance. It is the right choice for our State. Instead, the administration and our Governor are proposing an alternative plan to turn SoonerCare into a block grant program. The plan to block grant Medicaid would encourage cuts to healthcare services, restrict access to healthcare providers and lifesaving medications, and contribute to hospital closures. Too often, block grants have often been misused for political pet projects and to fill holes in the budget. While we are still learning the specifics of the block grant plan, here is what we do know: more than 500,000 children rely on SoonerCare, and their insurance would be threatened by the plan to cap and slash Medicaid. Enough is enough.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the tragic death of Dustin Parker. At 25 years old, Dustin was a loving father, a hard worker, and a generous member of his community in McAlester, Oklahoma. As a man who happened to be transgender, Dustin helped found the McAlester chapter of Oklahomans for Equality. Sadly, Dustin was shot and killed on New Year's Day. While we do not know who is responsible for Dustin's death, we do know that transgender Americans are disproportionately the victims of violent crimes. Last year, more than two dozen trans and gender nonconforming people were violently killed, that we know of. Every death underscores the Nation's need for urgent action to address this epidemic. Mr. Speaker, our country lost a champion for equality. As we continue to search for answers following Dustin's death, we must continue to fight to ensure that all Americans are treated with dignity and respect. My prayers are with Dustin's entire family for their loss, and my heart goes out to our communities bearing this pain.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairwoman and ranking member, and Representatives Jeffries and Burchett, for bringing this important legislation forward. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5065, the Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act. Incarceration rates in the U.S. are disturbingly high, and my home State of Oklahoma has the highest rates of any in our country. According to a study done by the Prison Policy Initiative, more than 1 in 100 Oklahoma adults were in jail at any given time in 2018. The numbers are even more disturbing for African Americans in Oklahoma, with nearly 4 in 100 incarcerated in 2010. High incarceration rates have both economic and human costs. They are costly to taxpayers and crippling to communities, which lose so many individuals to incarceration. While Congress has spent time focusing on how people end up in prison, we have not committed enough time focusing on how to prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from returning. While Oklahoma and other States have also made positive steps in criminal justice reform to reduce the unnecessarily harsh prison sentences, releasing individuals is only one step in decreasing incarceration rates. According to the Justice Center's National Reentry Resource Center, employment after an individual is released from prison is the single most important predictor of recidivism. Sadly, 75 percent of incarcerated individuals are still unemployed after a year of being released from prison, causing them too often to resort to criminal activity, leading back to prison. H.R. 5065 addresses the critical issue of employment and helps break this devastating cycle by creating a program where SCORE association volunteer business counselors can mentor formerly incarcerated individuals. The counselors provide formerly incarcerated individuals with entrepreneurial development training and workshops to help them utilize their skills and gain new experience to go into workplaces or run businesses of their own. Helping individuals find a job and career opportunities after leaving prison is a critical step in addressing our Nation's high incarceration rate and ensuring those who have gone to prison don't return. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation and encourage my colleagues to vote for H.R. 5065.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Neal for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. I am proud to support this bipartisan agreement that strengthens trade and is good for both economic growth opportunities and for our workers. A stronger trading relationship with Mexico and Canada is good for a stronger economy for Oklahoma. These two countries are already the Sooner State's largest trading partners, accounting for $2.4 billion in Oklahoma exports in the last year alone. This newly-agreed-to USMCA is a monumental step in strengthening this trading relationship. This agreement not only ensures fair trade for Oklahoma businesses and workers--who continue to create world-class products--by guaranteeing that exports that enter Canada and Mexico are all tariff-free, but it also gives Congress the necessary tools of enforcement to combat the high cost of prescription drugs and is good for our workers. This strongly improves labor standards, as well as allowing workers to compete on a level playing field. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this USMCA and other bipartisan solutions.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, I applaud the House for passing the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act in an overwhelming bipartisan vote. This bill includes important modernizations and protections for our service members, military families, and our nation's Armed Forces. It was an honor to represent Oklahomans as one of four freshmen on the House Armed Services Committee included at the bill's conference. This legislation includes a Tenants Bill of Rights to address unsafe housing conditions on military bases and other critical protections for service members in privatized base housing. I led the effort in the House for these protections after hearing about military housing problems at Tinker Air Force Base during one of my town halls. The Tenants Bill of Rights will protect our military families from predatory contracts and provide increased oversight of privatized base housing. I am proud this bill included legislation I introduced to address a severe shortage of pilots in both our Air Force and in the aviation industry. My provision would assist JROTC members in getting their pilot's certificate. In Oklahoma, Air Force JROTC provides specialized aeronautics and space education. With about 1,000 students participating in Air Force JROTC units alone, these programs provide an important and unique service to strengthen our aerospace workforce of the future. This need will only become more pronounced with the establishment of the United States Space Corps within the Department of the Air Force. As the Chair of the Space Subcommittee of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have heard from and worked with experts who recognize the imminent threats that our existing space infrastructure face. Satellites that offer geolocation services, weather data, and communications are all necessary elements to our modem day infrastructure. Our new Space Corps will protect these interests from natural catastrophes while deterring aggression from those intent on harming U.S. national security. This bill also came with vital reforms to better our servicemembers daily lives. The FY20 NDAA includes a 3.1% pay increase for all military personnel. Members of our uniformed services have not received a pay raise in far too long. As a result, our servicemember have experienced financial difficulty and have struggled to put food on the table for their family members even while they serve their country. I am proud to represent the servicemembers of my district and thankful to have a part in ensuring they are well compensated. This bill provides 12 weeks of parental leave for all federal employees. A landmark policy for the U.S. government, we passed an NDAA that ensures all families can have the support they need in the crucial first month of starting or expanding their families. The US is the only industrialized nation without a national paid family leave policy, and this is a step in the right direction to ensure all families have the opportunity to work and take care of their families. It preserves funding for critical education needs. We passed a $40 million authorization to support the schools that educate our servicemembers' children. The Impact Aid program has maintained schools in areas with small to non-existent tax bases such as Indian reservations and military bases. This funding increase ensures that every student, no matter their zip code may have equal access to an education. The passage of the FY20 NDAA also came with crucial reforms to streamline internal processes and ensure transparency in our Defense Department. As the sponsor of Section 1011, 1 was concerned that requiring audit firms to disclose confidential disciplinary proceedings could ultimately lead to those proceedings becoming public, contrary to the express intent of Congress. I sponsored an amendment that remedies that concern. The best way to avoid such an outcome is for the DoD to permit contracting accounting firms to provide relevant proceeding information to the Department. This preserves the confidentiality requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley while remaining consistent with the confidentiality provision included in the conference report. In addition, I wish to make the observation that with respect to Section 1011, which amends Section 1006 of the FY 2019 NDAA, the disclosure provision covers ``associated persons'' in addition to the accounting firm because it is important for the DoD to know whether individuals that the accounting firm assigns to work on DoD audit contracts are subject to ongoing disciplinary proceedings. This bill also addresses a major problem that has plagued our service members spouses for far too long. The Survivor Benefit Plan/ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (SBP/DIC) offset, also known as the ``widow's tax'' unfairly asked military spouses to forfeit money owed to them. More than 60,000 surviving military spouses were negatively affected by this tax, including many in my district. The FY20 NDAA repeals this reduction over a three-year phase-in, allowing surviving families to collect both payments in full, receiving the justice they deserve. On employment practices, I worked tirelessly to extend direct hiring authority to domestic defense industrial base facilities when hiring civilian personnel. After extensive conversations with Lieutenant General Donald E. Gene Kirkland, the Commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center, I resolved to work to stem the staffing shortages at these crucial bases. These staffing shortages are happening across the nation, and reforms are critical to meet the workforce needs of today and tomorrow. I am happy to note that direct hiring authority reform was granted for civilian personnel at domestic defense industrial base facilities and the Major Range and Test Facility bases until 2025. These necessary changes are vital to meeting our national security and readiness needs. I am also glad to note that this legislation increased the cap for DoD sole-source contracts that can be awarded to the tribal community. The cap was raised to $100 million to ensure that our Native American businesses and contractors are given the opportunities to provide services for our military effectively. The National Defense Authorization Act is the proud product of bipartisan policies and compromise and ensures the needs of our men and women in uniform are met on and off the battlefield. I am proud to have been a part of the process from subcommittee to passage and applaud my colleagues for achieving this reform through compromise and negotiation, to secure major accomplishments for all Americans while promoting our national security.

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma

Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Madam Speaker, today I rise to mark a historic moment for our democracy as the House passed the Voting Rights Advancement Act. Today, more than 50 years after the original Voting Rights Act was passed into law, the right to be heard at the ballot box is under threat. The VRAA defends our right to vote with provisions that increase election oversight, strengthen transparency in voting changes, and ensure that the fundamental principle of one person, one vote is intact. As an Oklahoman, I am truly honored to stand here today to honor the history of a city as well as individuals with strong civil rights histories. Just over 61 years ago in Oklahoma City, Clara Luper led a group of 13 children at the first sit-in in the Nation at the Katz Drugstore that integrated the first lunch counter, to be followed by much more. Without Clara and those 13 children and without all of those who came before us, we wouldn't be here today recognizing the passage of the VRAA. We have more work to do, but as we celebrate today's legislation, we should give thanks to the foot soldiers and those who came before who have laid the foundation and acknowledged the work we have yet to do.