In the News
Sens. Lankford & Rubio: Daylight Saving Time should be permanent. Spring ahead and lock the clock, America
by Sen. James Lankford, Sen. Marco Rbuio
This weekend, millions of Americans will go to sleep knowing that they will wake up tired because we will arbitrarily lose an hour of sleep by "springing forward." After the dark year we've had, we could all really use that extra hour of rest, an extra hour of sunlight, and more consistency in our schedules. Who else is annoyed by having to get all the clocks changed in your home and car because of a 100-year-old practice that is no longer necessary? This is an idea whose time has come. As… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Lankford, Inhofe Want to Preserve Sleep for Oklahoma Families By Making Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Washington, DC - Oklahoma's Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to reintroduce the Sunshine Protection Act, legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country. The Senators were joined by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Ed Markey (D-MA) in the reintroduction. Fifteen states - Arkansas, Alabama, California, Delaware, Georgia… Continue Reading
02.28.21
Sen. James Lankford: Our American experiment of religious liberty – you can have your faith and live it, too
by US Senator James Lankford
It is remarkable we still have to discuss this question, but we do. Can a person believe the faith of their choice or can they only believe the faith of the "in" group? One of my favorite paintings is in the Capitol Rotunda, the Embarkation of the Pilgrims by Robert Weir. It depicts a group of Pilgrims on the deck of the Speedwell July 22, 1620, before its departure from Delfs Haven, Holland as it prepares to sail to England to join the Mayflower. The painting shows how America began: a small … Continue Reading
02.27.21
Cancelling Traditional Energy Isn’t the Solution
by US Senator James Lankford
Did you enjoy the recent free trial of living in Alaska? The sub-zero temperatures in the entire region challenged our families, our first responders, our churches, our nonprofits, and our energy infrastructure. The weather tested our resolve and our power framework. The first was proven again; the second was pushed beyond its limits. Ice-encased wind towers, snow-covered solar panels, frozen natural gas well heads all decreased electricity production and dramatically increased the costs to heat… Continue Reading
01.06.21
Oklahomans and the Nation Deserve Confidence in the Election Results
by US Senator James Lankford
If you randomly catch any 10 Oklahomans on the street today and ask them if there was at least some voter fraud in the November election, my suspicion is a majority of them would say yes. In the last two months, my office has received thousands of calls and questions from Oklahomans in every corner of the state about the 2020 presidential election. I've also had conversations with people at the grocery store, gas station, through text messages, and on personal phone calls. Some Oklahomans say Bi… Continue Reading
12.04.20
The Price of Turkey’s Russian Dalliance
by BY US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Turkey has been an American ally since 1952. Incirlik Air Force Base has been essential in the war on terror. The Turks helped thousands of Syrian refugees. For decades Turkey worked to build a society open to people of all faiths, and stood against Russian aggression. But a valuable ally has drifted. The US agreed to sell Turkey 100 F-35 jet fighters and include Turkish companies in manufacturing components of the aircraft. But three years ago, Ankara decided to purchase the Russian S-400 miss… Continue Reading
12.01.20
Sen. James Lankford: What Our Nation Needs Most
by US Senator James Lankford
Usually after a couple of snide comments about Washington, DC, and the state of the nation, people say to me, "I could never work with the people you work with; they would drive me crazy." I typically just smile and ask, "Would you join me in praying for them? They are my mission field." As a US senator who loves God and is grateful for His work in our nation, I know when we pray, God changes our attitude and their lives. Two-thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to lea… Continue Reading
11.10.20
Stay in Touch with the Veterans in Your Life
by US Senator James Lankford
Veterans Day represents an opportunity to thank our heroes and reflect on how our nation serves those who served us. Some of our veterans and their families are suffering from the health effects of COVID-19, while many also are suffering from the isolation and loneliness caused by social distancing and heightened precautions for those who are in high-risk categories. Isolation can breed despair, but outreach, connection, and love can counter depressing thoughts and loneliness. Our churches and c… Continue Reading
10.20.20
Judge Amy Coney Barrett will serve well on US Supreme Court
by US Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe
The recent death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman and first Jewish American justice, left a significant vacancy on the Supreme Court. Although we did not agree with her interpretation of the law, she was a poised and fierce fighter for her views. On Sept. 26, President Trump exercised his constitutional duty and nominated Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy. The Senate began our advice and consent process two weeks later, which is consis… Continue Reading
10.18.20
Opinion: Election security getting deserved attention
by Oklahoman Editorial Board
Concerns about mailed ballots have been a dominant theme during this election season, with President Trump saying "fraud" is likely to result and Democrats saying the U.S. Postal Service will be overwhelmed due to changes made within the agency by this administration. But what about election security, which was front and center after 2016 when Russia tried to meddle in the outcome? Are America's voting systems secure as we approach Nov. 3? Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, believes the ans… Continue Reading
09.08.20
US Stands with Hong Kong
by US Senator James Lankford (R-OK)
While the world was distracted, Beijing escalated its threats against Hongkongers, eroded their autonomy, and removed their civil liberties. China's newly implemented security law, which makes secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign intervention criminal offenses, was immediately met with mass protests from pro-democracy groups in Hong Kong, which predictably led to mass arrests and oppression from China. Hundreds of people yearning to live free have been arrested and jailed as a result. … Continue Reading
08.21.20
The 2020 Election won't destroy the Post Office
by Senator James Lankford
Remember when institutions like the Post Office were non-partisan? Over the past weeks, media outlets have reported fears and accusations of sabotage about the USPS and mail-in voting for the 2020 presidential election. Some quick facts may help in the midst of the political noise. The Postmaster General is not a Trump appointee. He was unanimously selected by the non-partisan Postal Board of Governors just a few months ago. The Post Office can handle a surge of millions of pieces of first cla… Continue Reading
07.30.20
Preventing the Disappearance of America’s Rural Hospitals
by By US Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and James Lankford (R-OK)
When it can often take hours to drive to access the best medical care, rural hospitals are essential. Whether in downstate Illinois or in small-town Oklahoma, rural hospitals are the backbone of our communities. They don't just provide critical health care to communities, they also drive the local economy and are among the largest employers in the area. The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing many rural hospitals to the brink of extinction and poses a dire threat to the economies of rural America. Eve… Continue Reading
07.21.20
Supporting nonprofits is investing in our nation
by SENS. JAMES LANKFORD (R-OKLA.) AND ANGUS KING (I-MAINE)
Every company and nonprofit in America that had a "Vision 20/20" plan for this year was wrong. We're midway through one of the most tumultuous years in our nation's history, and there is no way to know what will happen next. But we can be certain that people will need help, and American nonprofits will be the first to step up and meet that need. Whether you care about faith-based initiatives, spiritual or wellness programs, addressing hunger in your community, combatting climate change, or suppo… Continue Reading
06.15.20
It’s time to work together to prevent an upsurge of anti-Semitism
by Gary Bauer, Gayle Manchin, and James Lankford
While the United States was celebrating American Jewish Heritage Month in May, the global Jewish community was experiencing a further increase in anti-Semitic incidents, which cannot continue. As the world reeled from the COVID-19 global pandemic in March, the Iranian Ministry of Health decided to hold a cartoon contest entitled "We Defeat Coronavirus," garnering thousands of submissions. Coming from Iran - a government that Elan Carr, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism,… Continue Reading
05.03.20
Oklahomans Will Weather This Storm
by Senator James Lankford
As Oklahomans, we know all too well how to weather a storm. This spring we are experiencing more than hailstones; we are facing a health and economic storm as we have never faced. We have done what it takes to "flatten the curve" to protect our friends and neighbors by staying home, practicing social distancing and washing our hands. In the past two months, Congress took unprecedented action for an unprecedented crisis to provide aid to millions of Americans who have been directly impacted when… Continue Reading
03.11.20
Embrace Hope in Southwest Oklahoma
by Senator James Lankford and Brenda Spencer-Ragland
Oklahomans are generous people. We give our time, our finances, and our prayers for each other. Even in good economic times, there are so many people around us with so many needs. Serving your neighbor is not about how much money you have or the title you hold; it's about compassion, duty, and hope. While we each do a great deal individually, we can do even more when we work together. That's the vision behind this weekend's Embrace Hope event. On March 14, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. a… Continue Reading
10.28.19
Coming Together to Combat Anti-Semitism
by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Too often, Members of Congress feel compelled to highlight what divides us. In an age of intense partisanship and ideological division, it is an easy trap - one that can distract us from addressing the core issues on which we agree and can take action. Today, the two of us - a practicing Jewish Democrat from Nevada and a devoted Christian Republican from Oklahoma - are calling on our colleagues to set aside the labels, the bickering, and the grandstanding to join together to take on one of the m… Continue Reading
10.23.19
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act Will Not Cost $12.6 Trillion
by Staff of Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act (PGSA) would establish an automatic continuing resolution (auto-CR) to prevent shutdowns and would put into place incentives to encourage Congress to enact its own CR or appropriations bill. Its fiscal effect would be minimal, as the legislation itself is not intended to take effect on a permanent basis. Rather, it is intended to serve as a bridge while policymakers agree to appropriations levels. Due to scorekeeping technicalities, the Congressional Budget … Continue Reading
10.08.19
Office Visit: PBMs on hot seat
by David Holden
If I were to guess, I have a feeling most people don't know what the acronym PBM stands for? PBM is short for pharmacy benefit manager. According to Wikipedia, PBMs are middlemen that were originally designed to reduce administrative costs for insurers, validate patient eligibility, administer plan benefits as well as negotiate costs between pharmacies and health plans. However, according to the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, PBMs reduce prescription drug costs and improve convenie… Continue Reading
