Congressman Kevin Hern applauded the election of Representative Jay Obernolte as Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee for the remainder of the 119th Congress, according to an April 15 announcement.
The leadership change is significant for the direction of policy discussions within the House Republican Conference. The committee plays a key role in shaping legislative priorities and advancing party goals.
“It’s been an honor to serve as the House Republican Policy Committee Chairman,” said Rep. Hern. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to move President Trump’s America-First agenda forward, and I’m thankful for the trust placed in me to lead principled, conservative policy wins for the American people.”
Hern also stated, “I congratulate Congressman Obernolte on his election by the entire Republican Conference to serve as the next RPC Chairman for the remainder of the 119th Congress. He is a strong voice within the Republican Conference, and I’m confident the committee will continue driving forward a bold policy agenda under his leadership.”
Hern was elected as Chairman of this committee in November 2024 after previously serving as chairman of another group within Congress during its previous session. He has represented Oklahoma’s 1st District since replacing Jim Bridenstine in 2018 according to GovTrack. In addition, he has held this seat since that time as reported by The Oklahoman.
Born in Belton, Missouri in 1961, Hern is currently 61 years old and lives in Tulsa according to Biographical Directory of U.S. Congress. He earned degrees from Arkansas Tech University and later from University of Arkansas at Little Rock as noted by Oklahoma House records.
The transition signals continued efforts among Republicans to advance their legislative priorities through established leadership roles.
