Amid Busy Legislative Week, Oklahoma Delegation Helps Honor Capitol Police With A Meal

A week that started with a formal and somber tribute to their fallen brother ended with smiles and full bellies, thanks in part to a member of the Oklahoma congressional delegation.

Second District Congressman Markwayne Mullin knew officer Billy Evans, who was killed three weeks ago when a man hit him with a car as he rammed the barricade outside the Capitol. Rep. Mullin said he also knew officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries sustained in the January 6 insurrection.

"I mean, they’ve lost two of their own, and that’s tough," said Rep. Mullin Friday in an interview. "So, there’s a group of us, several of us members that said, 'Why don’t we just feed them all', and it was just a gesture of kindness that goes a long way for these guys."

The twelve members bought breakfast for U.S. Capitol Police officers this morning to thank them, Mullin said, for their dedication and sacrifice.

"They take care of us every day," Rep. Mullin stated. "They’re willing to make sure we go home to our families before they get home to theirs."

Meanwhile, families in Indian Country could benefit from a Mullin bill that passed the House this week and would create a commission to study and recommend the best way to keep Native Americans from being defrauded, "because there’s not a group of individuals that’s been hit harder with scams in the pandemic than Indian Country," Mullin said.

Border crossing country remains a major concern among Republicans. Congressman Kevin Hern, (R) OK-1, went to Texas last week -- Eagle Pass and Del Rio -- to see the situation for himself.

"It’s really sad to see what’s happened," Rep. Hern said in an interview Wednesday. "To see that we’re probably going to see somewhere around a million to a million-two of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border [this year] -- it’s just not necessary."

Hern said the Biden administration is to blame for the surge and is now doing nothing to solve the problem. Vice President Harris announced this week she does intend to inspect conditions in person soon.

In separate actions to support the nation's military men and women this week, Senator James Lankford, (R-OK) joined Sen. Tom Carper, (D-DE) in introducing legislation to make sure benefits are awarded to widows, widowers and children when a soldier dies from a service related injury, but after to within 120 days after leaving service.

Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, (R) OK-5, introduced her first bill, along with a freshman Democratic member, to stop landlords from making military families pay for ADA upgrades to their base housing unit if a family member has a disability. She said, despite guidance to the contrary in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, that has been happening.

"If you have a child that is wheelchair-bound and you need ADA upgrades," Rep. Bice said in a Tuesday interview. "They are trying to charge for that, and it was shocking to me to hear that."