Congressman Kevin Hern, who represents Oklahoma’s 1st District in the U.S. Congress, issued a statement on his decision to vote against a healthcare proposal backed by House Democrats. The bill aims to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“We need to lower healthcare costs for all Americans, not just a few. This bill spends billions in taxpayer dollars on a COVID-era bailout for insurance companies, and recommitting three more years to a failed program won’t lower costs or expand care access for families. Instead, my Democrat colleagues should work with Republicans to advance real, long-term solutions to make healthcare more affordable for everyone, whether they’re on the exchange or an employer-sponsored plan. It’s time to put patients back in the driver’s seat so they can choose the plan that works best for them,” Hern said.
Hern pointed out that in December, the House passed another piece of legislation called the Lower Health Care Premiums for All American Act. According to Hern, this act aims to improve coverage options, expand patient choice, increase transparency and competition within the healthcare system, and reduce costs across the board. A key provision of this bill is Hern’s own Choice Arrangement Act, which is designed to help small businesses provide healthcare options using tax-advantaged funds and strengthen employer-based coverage.
Kevin Hern has served as representative of Oklahoma’s 1st District since 2018 after succeeding Jim Bridenstine (https://hern.house.gov/about/). He was born in Belton, Missouri in 1961 and currently lives in Tulsa. Hern graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1986 and later earned another degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
