I'm ready now. We're live. Alright. Hi everyone. It's a congresswoman Kendra Horne, a great to be with you all again for our weekly Facebook live Zoom town Hall series. we usually I know do this on Wednesdays but yesterday I was in in markup for the defense authorization bill we had about a 14 hour markup and I'm very excited to say. we passed the we passed the bill just before midnight last night with a strong actually overwhelming unanimous bipartisan support and we did a lot of really important where we're building on what we've done last year and and so I'm glad to be with you today and please remember for those of you joining us live through Facebook. you can put your questions in the comments if you're on zoom you can raise your hand and and we. Work to get to as many questions as possible and please remember that these are opportunities for me to update you on the work that I'm doing here in DC as well as at home in Oklahoma and to answer your questions. so one other way to ask questions is to go online at Horne dot House dot Gov forward slash questions and submit your questions and we'll do our best to get to as many as possible, but you know we'll be back again next week and and and Remember this is this is also a chance for us to understand each other a little bit better have a dialogue ask questions but ask that you be respectful of each other, Even when we have disagreements, we can we can disagree without without resulting to name calling and going down those kind of roads. so let's make this productive as possible. Alright. So let me tell you a little bit about what we did on the defense. Bill this year what I worked on what we've continued to fight for first. I'm incredibly proud to say that my military Homes Act was included in this year's defense authorization bill. this is something that we that is building on our our tennis bill of rights last year and and basically it's providing more protections for military families. who are living in on base housing to make sure that they. Make sure that they have access to a safe quality housing and that is the very least we can do so the military Homes Act is another bipartisan bill that I introduced with several of my colleagues as a standalone bill and we also had included in in the building that we passed out of Committee last night and next step is to get a pass off of the House floor. one other piece that I worked on and I'm very proud to say that was included in the authorization bill was fallen soldier. Database because for far too long or we don't have a haven't had a good record of where our soldiers sailors Airmen Marines those who have served our country in uniform and paid the ultimate sacrifice. where we have lost them we've had we've had information in a number of different places and so what this what this fallen soldiers database would do is bring all of the. And in into one place so that we can we can recognize and honor the contributions of those who've paid paid the ultimate price and I'm I'm I'm honored that that this was included in into the into the defense authorization Bill last night, the rest of the bill includes you know support for critical programs from basis from Tinker to all of the bases in Oklahoma and across the country and the world to make sure that our. Is have the support and resources they need to do their job and and looking forward to having that come to the floor and I'll continue to fight for for military families and for sensible policy that ensures that our service members have what they need and this week was also busy as well with infrastructure as I'm sure many of you are not surprised we have incredible infrastructure needs in Oklahoma and across the country and this week we passed. Bill out of the House that would do a number of things that are very important for Oklahoma, it would be rebuild highways bridges Transit rail airports and invest nearly 500 billion dollars to improve safety and reduce gridlock across the country, which is incredibly important. Oklahoma's infrastructure, especially our roads and bridges have been given a C minus grade. we've literally seen the impacts of this, but it also does important things like invest in broadband. Sure that we're getting high speed Internet into the communities that don't have it and also would protect American jobs with strong by America provisions and make sure that that the men and women who are working on these infrastructure packages have have protections on prevailing wages and and and making sure that that we're that we're building a sustainable and a future for infrastructure, which is really critical for Commerce, so we can continue to. Economy It also will modernize our energy infrastructure and and expand access again to high speed Internet. there's a number of provisions and there's some important clean water provisions in there to make sure that all of our communities have clean safe drinking water amongst many other things and then additionally this week I introduced a bill with a number of my colleagues to examine whether the Chinese Communist Party has exploited Covid- 19 for their own gain, and To fight for Oklahomans and make sure that we are following up on the needs of our communities as we continue to navigate this historic health and economic crisis that covid- 19 has has caused in Oklahoma and across this country. so glad to be here with you today and I'm gonna leave it there and start with questions so we wanna get to as many as possible so don't forget to submit your questions either on the chat. if you're on Facebook. If you're joining us via Zoom, you can raise your hand and and somebody on my team will we'll get with you and then you can also go online to Horne dot House dot Gov forward slash questions and and I'll be happy to answer questions from there too. We're gonna keep bringing them in and get to as many as we can so our first question today comes from Shirley. who ask where do you stand on State Question eight 02. Well, Shirley. I am very excited about the outcome of state question eight 02 and this week's election it took place on Tuesday. Long been a supporter of expanding Medicaid because of because of the importance and the impact that we have on our Oklahoma by expanding Medicaid more than 200000. Additional Oklahomans will now be able to get insurance where they weren't before the most part. These are working Oklahomans who make too little to qualify for for help under the ACA and too much to qualify under the current Medicaid programs and just to put that in context that's about $400 a month. That's where that dividing line is. The reason this is important in addition to and 200000 more Oklahomans having access to insurance is that over the past decade since we have an expanded Medicaid, our state has lost out on billions and billions of dollars that Oklahoma taxpayers have sent sent to the federal government and and it's going out to other States because we didn't expand Medicaid. Additionally, we've seen eight rural hospitals across the state close over the last over the last decade and many more are right there on the verge right now is. An unprecedented global pandemic the the need to ensure that all Oklahomans have access to quality affordable health care has really never been more present. and that's why I'm glad to see eight 02 pass and and and look forward to seeing the implementation. It also means just a couple of things. It also means jobs It means health care workers will have jobs. there's some studies that indicate that up to 27000 jobs will be. As a result of this and and health outcomes are better, there's a lot of evidence to show that when people have health insurance when they can go to the doctor on a regular basis before they get sick that they that they don't wait as long We all know people or maybe we've all some of us have done it ourselves who've put off going going to see a doctor because you don't have health insurance or can't afford the copay and and that's one of the things that this will address in the meantime. Also, I also just recently last week we voted on a bill to strengthen the ACA and protect people from losing coverage for preexisting conditions to prevent the reinstatement of lifetime caps and other things that are so important to ensure that everyone has access to quality affordable health care. You know the bottom line is at some point in our lives. This is one thing that unites us right. absolutely all of us are going to need. At some point and that's why being smart and intentional about it fixing the problems we have in the system, making sure that more people can get the care they need making sure we have qualified providers in our communities is so important and we have seen that really front and Center over the last few months even more than I think we previously had and it's especially critical now as we continue to navigate this covid- 19 pandemic so that's why it's important that we expanded Medicaid and and I have continued to fight Lowering the cost of prescription drugs, a couple more things that Bill did last week was to allow Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug pricing, something that I have been working on that we passed in the lower drug costs now at the end of December last year, it also it also. gives Oklahoma a federal matching dollars at 90 percent, but I the bill that we passed last week would also. start the clock. For Oklahoma at for the matching dollars for the Medicaid expansion, which would mean a hundred percent federal match for the first few years, and I'm gonna continue to work on that I've been working with with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the smart sensible solutions that ensure that all people get access to quality affordable health care and the way that we do that is take a concrete steps. and and and we do it. We do it in a way that is is smart and sustain. I am grateful for your question Shirley and and thanks for being here with us waiting on some additional questions that are that hopefully are coming in soon in the meantime, just a few more things that I'll I'll go ahead and and and touch on and that is in in the work that's in the work that we've been doing on health. Think it's important to note that we still do have to fight to ensure to ensure that people are protected from losing their coverage. from preexisting conditions from lifetime caps because that is not a foregone conclusion and I will continue to fight for that. we absolutely need to continue to work on that and and We we don't we need to continue to work on that because again, health care is right at the heart of what we of of of what unites us alright so next question. is from. Morgan. who asked what is your advice for young people wanting a career in politics? Morgan Thank you so much for that question I I truly appreciate it first and foremost. I think it's important to note that our systems our government impacts all of us and the reason that I'm so honored to serve Oklahoma in the fifth district and what inspired me to run for this seat was that I know that public servants of people who care about our communities and the systems that that impact us from social security to Medicare to to so many other things have the ability. Impact our lives in a lot of ways and I think that public service and being involved and understanding how to make your voice heard is absolutely critical. and and and to remember that this is about This is about what we can do for our friends and our neighbors and how we show up the differences of opinion in our ability to have conversations and look at policies solutions and and and explore opportunities to bring people together. And build something better is incredibly important, So my advice is is is show up it's make sure that you are voting and that you're your friends are voting. There are many ways to volunteer whether it's with an issue Organization that you care about or on a campaign or to you know, seek an internship and an office to understand how the systems work and that they touch us all that is one of. Ways to get involved because service to our community looks like a lot of different things some people some people served by working in nonprofits or in health care or they are first responders and others others are involved by by running for office or working with someone or getting involved in policy. So there's a lot of ways to do it, but the first and most important thing is to show up is to be. Be involved and and that's how it will continue to build because the more we show up the more we are involved. the more we realize that we've got more in common than we have that's different but the more voices that we have that are participating. We are also better off and that's why it is so important that we all are engaged. We're not gonna be on everything but don't know anybody. I agree with 100 percent of the time and that ability to. Have conversations to ask the hard questions to discover places that we agree and make for progress. That's how we do it. that's what I do every day and I'm so honored to do it and would love to see more young people get involved because the lowest the the lowest voter participation is a group of 18 to 24 year-olds and one of the most dangerous things I think for all of us, I don't care who you are what party is or what you're beliefs are is that when. Believe that our votes don't matter and when we stop to participate because we need all of our voices involved to make a difference. So thank you for that question Morgan. I appreciate it. Alright. Michael is our next question for Michael Michael says. we talk about reforming police practices to address the systemic racism but the systemic race issues are deeper than that any ideas as to what we can do to change hearts and souls. we need more than policing reform to eradicate the hatred ingrained in our country. Michael Thank you that is a very powerful observation and statement and you're right the issues surrounding surrounding race surrounding systemic racism surrounding many of the challenges. That we face in our communities go well beyond police police reform they they extend to a number of other things and we we have to we have to recognize that we can't do everything at once, but we have an important opportunity to begin to examine our systems to really look at what changes we can make and to quite frankly have some of the difficult conversations about what. Contributed to this, I think for me one of the things that is so important in terms of how we how we can change and our hearts and hearts and souls as you say, how we can find space for growth and and and how we can connect with people who's who's experiences in life are very different from our own is by having. And listening to people listening to their listening to their experiences by looking at the impact of systems by hearing personal stories, but also looking at the looking at the data but I think part of that requires us to to talk to people we disagree with to to to create those opportunities without without expecting someone to immediately agree right away or understand where you're coming from or. You know there's a lot of pieces to this puzzle and I think that dialogue and conversation reaching out to people who have a different political beliefs listening to listening to people listening to communities about their experiences, especially our black communities and communities of color about what they've experienced is is also important and when we're making changes we we have to. Continue forward and I believe as we take steps forward to make sensible reforms that recognize you know in the policing space, for example, that these are sensible reforms that make it safer for all of us. that our police should be there to protect and serve and that and that no one should be afraid to interact with the police because of the color of their skin and having all of this, you know front. Gives us an opportunity should we choose to take it to? understand things that we may not have seen before and to do the work of reconciliation, and it also means that I think we've got to look at our history and to better understand it where where things that make someone may not have been aware of and where things were not taught such as Tulsa Race Massacre, which was not it was not taught in our schools, which was basically lost. To unfortunately to too much history for for a long time and these are the things that we need to think about talk about and understand and and it's it's gonna take a lot of it's gonna take a lot of work to address it. absolutely understanding policies such as redlining and how they've impacted communities all of those things mean that we've got to show up and speak to each other and listen and be willing to take steps forward to address it. So thank you for that question I. and our next our next question is from Jojo who asked about, Could you touch upon the House markup and what is important to you and the proposed legislation and wow Jojo. there's so many things Thank you for that. let me just let me just touch on a few things. I think I briefly touched on at the beginning at the at the very beginning of this excuse me a very beginning of this town Hall one of the things. I have been working on since taking elected office is is is housing for military families, our service members and their families if they're living on base housing. deserve no less than to have safe and decent quality housing. and that's the least we can do for those are sacrificing so much for us. Sadly I found out through stories from. Living at tinker and then discovered it was happening across the country, but we had private housing contractors that we're not taking care of our military families. That's why last year we held a number of hearings to get to the bottom of this. we pass the tenants Bill of rights. We've put more protections in place and we're working to make sure that no military family ever has to go through what so many have experienced. As a a result substandard and housing and lack of concern and that's why we followed on this year with the additional provisions in the bill that continue to follow up on what we need to do to protect military families to enforce. the standards and that's why I also introduced the Military Homes Act bipartisan bill. This is all lots of bipartisan support on this and I'll let me let me go over. That that this bill would do that I introduced with three other members on both sides of the aisle that are in armed services with me. so the homes that does a number of things It includes Hazard mitigation protection, so that means that it's it's it's going to provide additional protections for our military family families when they have property that's been damaged because of substandard housing. Such as mold damage sewage backup environmental hazards things like that, you know infestations, which the these are all things that we don't ever wanna see happen but that that have happened to make sure that we make those families whole that we help them replace the property that was damaged or destroyed and and that's that's important piece of this It also provides for transparency and. Contracts so many of the contracts that these housing companies had with the DOD they they would get in incentive fees, but there, which means basically like bonuses unfortunately, there was no transparency and how these incentives these bonuses were being paid out and and sadly we have companies that we're getting bonuses while our families were suffering and that to me is absolutely unacceptable, which is why I have continued to push on these companies. to hold them accountable and one of the things that the homes that does is to make sure that there's transparency and they have to prove that they earned these incentives in order to get them. It also includes a mold mitigation working group so this working group is basically a mold has been a problem in housing and a lot of different places and and what we're doing here is to put a group together service generals that. Are going to put guidance out so there is absolute clarity and make sure that this housing contractors and anyone else with Res responsibility for military base housing for our families. take more seriously and know how to respond and and make sure that we are not forcing families to live in in dangerous conditions for mold is present it also it also includes expanded policies and additional policies again building on the attendance Bill of rights that we that we passed into law last. Was signed into law at the end of the year. Strong bipartisan support both sides of the both sides of the House and the Senate and both sides of the aisle. so this just builds on that and what it does is it makes more clear and puts more protections and for for our military families including what things like detecting lead asbestos and mold in a home. All of these things have happened and that minimum standards practices so that our military families can look at look at okay. These are the things. I'm entitled to that's part of That's what we did in the bill of rights and this is building on that so what happens if we identify something we know things are gonna happen if you find mold or something crops up how how do they have to respond? What is the timeline maintenance? making it clear? what what these housing and companies can charge our military families what they can't so it's really making it easier for our military families to know that. Are protected and they're not left on their left left to defend for themselves in contracts with with these companies, which is sadly what was happening and and so a number of protections as well. it also we've also created the exceptional family member program. and a facility housing liaison. That's what's included in this home. so what it does is it creates a liaison a position that is just somebody that is there to be an advocate for these military. With the housing contractors to be their their voice if they say something that they've got somebody standing there with them and that they're not that they're not just basically left on their own and finally we're making sure that this all of these changes for getting implemented and it's we're gonna make sure that there's a follow up that the needed changes are being put into place. There's a report on that. so that's that. That is just incredibly important, not only not only to me but to military families across the country and quite frankly across the world. We also expand expanded protections to base housing base overseas, including government owned and run facilities to make sure that we're protecting our families. So I know I've spent a lot of time on that, but it is absolutely critical. there are so many things that were included in this defense authorization bill that were important to me as well. I'll. On a few, I'll just touch on a few. additional provisions and I mentioned this a little bit earlier but the fallen soldier's database is is something that that I worked hard on and was included in yesterday's bill and what this does is it it will create a database on the DOD website about our fallen soldiers where all of the information has to be has to be maintained in one place, it can be sorted by. by where they gave the they paid the ultimate price by where they were from because it's it's truly it is absolutely important that we that we make sure that we are doing everything we can to care for and to honor the ultimate sacrifice because right now we don't have a Central place. And that by not having this information, we're doing a disservice to our fallen soldiers and to our history by forgetting each individual, it's not just a collective sacrifices The individuals sacrifice when considering the cost of war in this database would make sure that their sacrifice is never forgotten individually as well as as well as collectively. there are many other provisions in in the NDAA that are important, including overall making sure that our that we were. And readiness and and in being having a dramatic impact in balancing our current needs of looking forward to the future and investing and next generation technology, but also ensuring that we're taking care of the people at the same time and and so we a lot of different provisions. I think I wanna focus on those right now, but it was it's a truly remarkable strong bipartisan effort that that we. We're able to pass this out of Committee and a vote of 56 to zero last night, and it's one of the things that I appreciate about about the armed services Committee is that we can and we do work together alright We I'm gonna move on to a couple more questions and remember if you have a question, you can put it in the comments. If you're on Facebook, you can raise your hand if you're on zoom or you can email us your questions at Horne dot House dot Gov forward slash questions and we will do our best to get. As possible, alright Becky asked when will follow other States in capping insulin prices for all Becky. I don't know how to answer that when and I'm not sure that I can comment on specific requirements of all other States, but what I can tell you is that I have been and I will continue to work on the skyrocketing and unsustainable cost of prescription drugs life saving prescription drugs in in in Oklahoma and across. This is not a problem that is unique to Oklahoma. in fact, we hold last year I held the whole town Hall on the cost of insulin on on the challenge is so many oklahoman space in and simply getting access to this life-saving this life-saving drug that they need I have I have been working with my colleagues again on both sides of the aisle last year. we passed the lower drug costs now act, which would do a great deal to address this That the Senate still hoping that the Senate will take it up and and and absolutely will continue to fight for that. in the meantime that's why we have to take steps forward to hold our drug companies and our insurance companies accountable and and we'll continue to work on that one of the challenges with insulin is that it is is that there's there's not a generic insulin but we have I have. we had a report done last year about the cost of insulin and it is unconscionable how much the cost of insulin is has increased in Oklahoma and and it's something that we will continue to work on and on a on a more closer to home note here in in Oklahoma we have worked with Oklahoman who've reached out to us about about their individual experiences to help them get access to insulin that is absolutely life saving. There are some nonprofits that. Help with that if you or someone you know is is is having trouble accessing life-saving insulin you need. please don't hesitate to reach out to my office. We are here to help and I'm gonna keep fighting for the policy level but you're right. I can't tell you when but I can tell you I agree with you. It's a problem and that I'm doing everything in my power to address this. now. I know that we are our pharmaceutical companies still have to be able to do research absolutely, but what. Seen in the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs is well out paces the the cost of of doing research and investing in finding new cures and new technologies and it also it also reminds us why it is so important for us as a federal government to invest in things like NIH and CDC research because that basic research is what then enables the pharmaceutical companies to take that basic research. And and move it to the next to the next stage and it all has to fit together but you're right it is it is not something that is sustainable for far too many Oklahoma families and we cannot just say that's the way it is we have to continue to take action again. The bill we passed out of the House last week would allow Medicare and Medicaid to negotiate drug pricing, including on things like insulin same thing in the. Lower Drug costs now act, which we passed at the end of the year so I'm doing everything I can we have to continue to encourage lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to take action to save lives and to ensure that Oklahomans have access to the life saving prescription drugs that they need. okay. Thank you Becky for that question. our next question today Is from David, who asked. Do you see Amtrak getting more funding in the infrastructure bill so David Thank you for that question is as you know we pass an infrastructure package out of the House this week. I know there's a lot more work to do. There's one thing that we can all agree on but broad bipartisan agreement that we need that we need to that we need to invest in infrastructure that infrastructure is absolutely critical to our ability. to get from place to place to conduct business Commerce to communicate with each other and and quite frankly to live. and it includes a lot of things it includes roads and bridges that includes our power grid. It includes water supply. it includes access to broadband and high-speed Internet, which we now we now are really seeing in this time of covid-, 19. How important it is, It's not just a luxury. it is And that we that we continue to move forward and invest in these things in this infrastructure bill that we that we just passed out of the House. I I first I wanna say it is not perfect. There were things in there that I disagree with but it also I know it's so important for Oklahoma and will benefit Oklahoma in so many ways including transit including roads and bridges, including high speed Internet including water. There's so many things that are absolutely essential for Oklahoma and the rest of the country. that I think we have to keep moving this forward and we have to figure out ways to continue to pay for pay for infrastructure to invest in infrastructure. This is one of the most challenging things but being responsible and fiscally responsible means we have to continue to pay for things as well. So that's a that's a challenge that I'm gonna keep fighting fighting for to make sure that we're we're doing this right but this bill that we pass this week includes includes. Nine I'm gonna make sure I get the number correctly 29 point three billion dollars over five years in grants to support and tracks National network so it includes funding for rail. It includes funding for roads and bridges. It includes funding for not just passenger rail and Amtrak, but for other rail systems and and in a in a whole variety of other important infrastructure infrastructure issues that we. Need not only in Oklahoma but across the country and we need to to get this across the finish line and I'm hopeful that we'll we'll be able to do that. so I think I think that that is that's something we'll continue to update you on. I'm gonna keep fighting for these are these are jobs and economic opportunity and these are things that enable us to. to do what we need to do. it's it's infrastructure. Incredibly important for all of us, alright next question from Rick is what is the status of stimulus funds for native tribes at Trump has refused to release Rick there were a number of different pieces in the in in the bills that we've passed in response to Coen 19. in the first we had some in the Family First Act and then cares and and of course. We fought to make sure that that tribal businesses are owned businesses native owned businesses, also got access to AP funds as well. we pushed a very hard after the first the first bill that we passed in those funds were being held up and and and to make sure that they that they were released. I believe that that they have now made their way they have now made their way out. into the communities where they're needed but I don't know if all of them have been released yet, so I need to check on where everything is, but I do know we were able to keep pushing and again. This is another place where I work hand-in-hand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle with Republicans and Democrats, including in our delegation and across the country that we have pushed to ensure that these funds are getting where they are most critically needed and we'll. To do that there were a number of different buckets and and as I understand it, the funds have begun to move where they need to be, but I I need to verify if there is there any that are still being held up and we can follow up on. I'll follow up next week with some more information about that for you and thank you for that question and and just specifically I okay, I got I got a confirmation on something so. You know I can confirm that the the the 80 million dollars in money for health and Human services through health and Human services that we included in the Family First Act was released was all of those funds were released to tribal Nations across the country and and I thought that was the case and we need to I need to find out if all of the rest of the Cares Act funds have been released. I know that some. Have but I'll follow up with you on specifics with the remainder of those funds, but we do know that we were able to get that at 80 million release and we've continued to fight to make sure the rest are released so thank you. I I appreciate that because you know bottom line it is absolutely. essential. absolutely essential that we take care of of our communities that we uphold our responsibility to tri. And our trust responsibility, and I will continue absolutely continue to do that and in a way that that is we work in partnership with them and and you can you can absolutely count on me to do that. So thank you very much for for that. I appreciate it alright let's see our next question. Okay. I've got a question from Jenny. Do you support? PR or PBS well, if you mean personally or or other funding, I absolutely do it's important that we have a public public television and radio and quality sources of news and information and I I personally have long supported those entities and they're supported like many nonprofits are by the contributions of a lot of individuals like me and and. And that's something that I'm I'm proud of those quality information is is really critical and getting that out there to to people in our communities is important. so that's an that's an easy question. alright so oh, so many questions. Okay. I got a few more let's go to Erica who Erica has a question What will the House? In response to the allegations that the President knew about Russia and the bounties to kill our troops Erika thank you for that question. it's it's an important one first I am. deeply deeply disturbed about reports that that Russia that Russia was doing this and and there's a few layers to this. talk about. The President claimed that he was not briefed on this well This brings up a lot of questions as a member of the Armed Services Committee. That's troubling that if true if he was not briefed why wasn't he why didn't the intelligence community give him this information and and and and why did they why did the President? continue to talk to Could talk to to to President Putin If we if we if we knew this but the other problem is that now that it has now these reports have come into the public is what will the President do as a member of armed services? we're going to be holding hearings. I'll be asking questions of the intelligence community of of of those in charge what they knew when they knew it trying to find out what happened but. Bottom line is that the people who put their lives on the line for us. deserve no less than for the people in charge to do everything in our power to reduce the likelihood of any harm coming to them. We know that it is inherently dangerous, but it is up to us to reduce those dangers. So we have a lot of questions. We're going to be having hearings and briefings to find out what happened. and and and one if he wasn't briefed why wasn't he but now that he that that that these reports are out what actions is he gonna take to protect our troops to hold Russia accountable who continues to show themselves to be a bad actor. We have to we have to make sure that we are doing everything to protect our armed forces and I'm deeply disturb by this. these reports that we've got a lot of follow-up. To to do on this and I will continue to keep you informed as much as I can and absolutely is something that we cannot let go as we know that people are out to harm our trips. We know we know all of this but in the face of that what is the President doing? what did the what did the intelligence community know and why if he was not briefed? why wasn't he? But now the question is. What is he gonna do about it and we need we need direct answers from the intelligence community in Congress but we also need to know what happened and why and it is it is incredibly troubling and we absolutely have to hold Russia accountable. I did the escalating actions and they're very clear. malicious intent is not something we can or we should turn the other cheek to and continue to divide them in closer and closer when they repeatedly demonstrate themselves to be our adversary and not our allies and we should we. As such, Okay, next question is from Carrie actually I've got a couple of questions about O E S C, so I'll I'll read both of them cuz we're coming into last few minutes here so I can get to both of them is what is being done to rectify the problems with O E S C and then another question from David about have you received a response from your letter to? I'll answer the second question first. no we haven't received any correspondents from from the governor official. From the governor's office in response to either of my letters and respect to what is what is being done to rectify the problems that at OE S C I will speak for myself and what we are doing and that is to continue to do everything we can to to help Oklahomans who are still waiting for who are still waiting for the unemployment benefits that they are entitled to because they lost their jobs through no. Their own due to Cove 19 we are continuing to do anything we can to identify if if if there is a problem with the guidance or information from the Department of Labor to fight on behalf of Oklahomans and to and to ask O E S C what else what else they may need. I'll go back to a couple of things in this year alone we. Families First Act provided 11 million dollars to the State of Oklahoma to upgrade their systems to hire more workforce to to be prepared for what we knew was going to be a significant increase. we have reached out and offered our assistance and we are doing everything we can to help Oklahomans. We also conducted a study that more than eight hundred and 50 Oklahomans filled out or a survey. Rather, I should say a survey that more than eight hundred and 50 Oklahoman filled out to help help share that. I identify the potential problems and more than 50 percent of the people that responded reported three or more substantial problems I understand that old technology is is one of the biggest challenges and that it has been a barrier and and that the there has been a significant influx. That's why we at the federal level provided additional funding and that's why it is important for us. our government a different. To ensure that we're continuing to maintain systems, it's similar to it's similar to to our investment in infrastructure when things get so far behind it becomes harder and harder to fix and and I and I think that that goes to the heart of it, but I won't quit fighting for Oklahomans. We're looking for solutions. We are here to to help help Oklahomans individual Oklahomans but also at the federal level, whatever we can do. To ensure that people are getting the help and support they need because the bottom line is this is this is as many things that are surrounding most things actually I think but surrounding the covid-, 19 pandemic and many other things, This is not an issue. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue about what is what is right for our friends and our neighbors the question of whether or not someone gets the unemployment assistance that they're entitled to could literally mean whether or not to keep a roof over their heads or food on the The reason that I am continuing to fight for this is because we get calls from people like Douglas who. lost his job because of covid- 19, the type one. diabetic and couldn't afford his insulin was about to lose everything and and went into a diabetic coma because he was waiting there are heartbreaking stories and calls that we have every day and that's why I'm gonna keep fighting for this. This isn't some abstract idea. This is about And this is about what we do when times are rough, We come together and we do what's right and that's why I'm gonna keep fighting for this so that's that's where things are I will continue to keep you posted and and and we will. not stop until everyone who's entitled to their unemployment assistance and has applied for it. gets gets the help that gets the help and support that they need so. Stay Stay tuned. We'll keep fighting for it okay. This is our last question. We're coming up at the end of the hour so again. Thank you so much for all of you for joining us for your questions. We'll see you again next week and I am going to last question is from Gregory who wants to know how do we move ahead with solar Solar power helps us all out? we really are wide open and so not only is this Commerce it even benefits our state. Particularly with Cogan, 19, Can we establish a task force to discuss the benefits of solar to our state? Alright? Well? Gregory Thank you very much that this is a big question and we only have a few minutes so I'm gonna touch on a few things specifically that we're in the infrastructure bill that we just passed it includes an extension of the solar energy tax credit. It includes it it also put in place a Grant program for solar installations located in low-income. Served areas as well as promoting wind solar and geothermal energy projects on public lands. We know that to address our energy and infrastructure needs we need to have a we need to have a diverse combination of different of different sources of energy. we need to make sure that we're being thoughtful and intentional about the way that we build this and we know that all of these different things are an important part of the puzzle. And and that is part of what we did in this infrastructure package. I think there's certainly more conversations that we need to have. There's more that we can do but I think that the the provisions that were included in this package are are are a good step in that direction and and and we've got to keep moving forward with intentional sustainable energy policy that recognizes where we are in the current challenges and understands that we need and an approach. That is that is in all of the above approach to help ensure our energy independence and our energy security and affordability as well as continuing to build and and grow new technology and opportunity at the same time so that so that we're meeting the needs of our community so Thank you all. I think that brings us almost here to the end. Thank you for being with us and thank you for your questions. if we didn't have time to get to some of your. Today we'll be back next week, never fear and you can in the meantime if you've got a burning question, but can't make our Facebook live event. you can you can call excuse me call you can Email or reach out at Horne dot House dot Gov forward slash questions just submit your questions and we we put some of those in as well and we'll keep doing that because the bottom line is I'm here for all of you and I'm always going to. But Oklahoma first to make sure that I am updating you on the work that we're doing in DC and at home for Oklahomans and for our country and and doing everything we can to build build opportunity reach across the aisle and fight for policies that are good for people and policies that are good for our pocket books and it's a real honor to be able to serve each and everyone of you and and if you need. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office especially if you're still struggling with unemployment. if you have any issues with federal agencies, that's what we're here for four zero 56 zero 23 zero 74 is my office number four zero 56 zero 23 zero 74, or you can you can reach out to us. Horne dot House dot Gov and and and we are we are here to help so thank you everybody. It's good to be with you today and I look forward to seeing you again next week. Take care.