Press Releases
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Introduce Legislation to Expand Firing Authority in the VA System
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today introduced the Veterans Affairs Accountability Act (S.2554), a bill that would expand authority at the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow directors of Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) chapters to remove or demote any VA employee within their network whose performance warrants such action. The bill would also authorize VISN directors to contract with an outside entity to conduct investigations of their VA … Continue Reading
02.11.16
Senator Lankford: Federal Regulatory Enforcement and Fines Must Be Balanced
WASHINGTON, DC - The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Senator James Lankford (R-OK), today held a hearing on the federal government's use of discretion in setting and enforcing regulatory fines and penalties, as well as compliance assistance. Federal agencies have the authority to fine businesses and municipalities when purported violations of regulations have occurred. Specifically, the hearing exami… Continue Reading
02.09.16
Senator Lankford: Obama’s Budget is a Partisan Playbook of Spending Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on President Obama's $4.1 trillion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017: "President Obama's budget has turned the annual White House budget into a partisan playbook of spending priorities that is more suited for a stump speech than a responsible governing document. When forced to vote on it in the Senate, Obama's budget has been voted down by a combined vote total of 294-1 in the last four years. "Under Pres… Continue Reading
02.09.16
Senator Lankford Slams President’s Budget, Calls for Reforms to Budget Process
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about today's release of the President's Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal and some needed reforms to the Congressional budgeting process in order to address our debt crisis. In the speech, Lankford proposes reforms such as biennial budgeting, government shutdown prevention incentives, and the elimination of budget gimmicks. President Obama's $4.1 trillion budget pro… Continue Reading
02.08.16
Senators Lankford, McCain, & Johnson Urge DHS to Clarify Expansion of Resettlement Program for Central American Refugees
Senators Lankford, McCain, & Johnson Urge DHS to Clarify Expansion of Resettlement Program for Central American Refugees Washington, DC- Senators James Lankford (R-OK), John McCain (R-AZ) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to request information regarding the Obama Administration's plan to authorize an additional $70 million to expand the Emergency R… Continue Reading
02.05.16
Senator Lankford Blasts Obama’s Proposed Tax on Oil
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the Obama administration's proposal to place a $10 tax on every barrel of oil: "At least the President has remained consistent, even in his last year he is still proposing new taxes. This is not only a higher tax, it is a new type of tax. Creating yet another type of gas tax would further complicate the tax code and raise prices on consumers. I can only assume this is the first of many new taxes that wil… Continue Reading
02.04.16
Senators Lankford, Cruz and Lee Press Government Contractor on Internet Censorship
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Lee (R-UT) today challenged federal contractor, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to not support Chinese Internet censorship. In a letter to ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade, the senators raised serious concerns and requested information regarding Mr. Chehade's involvement with the World Internet Conference. The conference is organized by the Chinese government, a regime notorious for its censorship of th… Continue Reading
02.03.16
Senator Lankford Discusses Washington Gridlock at Conservative Policy Summit
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended the annual Heritage Action Conservative Policy Summit to discuss his vision to improve the way House and Senate Members hear from the American people and enact good policy. Lankford participated in a panel discussion on "Perspectives from the House and Senate," which looked at how each chamber of Congress works, and what they could do to improve the lives of people from all walks of life. Lankford spoke … Continue Reading
02.03.16
Senator Lankford Pushes To Permanently Phase Out Energy Tax Credit
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 and his two amendments: one to completely phase out the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and another to reform the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Yesterday, Lankford introduced an amendment to completely end federal renewable energy production tax credits by the end of 2031, making 2019 the last year a project could… Continue Reading
02.02.16
Senator Lankford Introduces Legislation to Completely Phase Out Federal Energy Tax Credit
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced an amendment to a Senate energy bill to completely end federal renewable energy production tax credits by the end of 2031, making 2019 the last year a project could qualify for a credit. The recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 enacted a gradual phase down of the Production Tax Credit by 2031, but failed to give the industry statutory certainty after the drawdown. Lankford's amendment would eliminate the credit at… Continue Reading
02.02.16
Lankford, Inhofe and Cole Statements on Fort Sill’s Plans for Future Structure
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today released the following statements about Fort Sill's announcement regarding the vital role Fort Sill will continue to play as the Army plans for its future force structure: "Our nation faces very serious world-wide security threats, and it's more important than ever to have an Army tha… Continue Reading
02.02.16
Senator Lankford Discusses Rural Hospital Decline at Annual Rural Health Policy Institute
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) spoke at the National Rural Health Association's (NRHA) 27th Annual Rural Health Policy Institute today. During his speech, Lankford stressed the importance of rural health organizations and the communities they serve. Lankford discussed the options Congress is considering to continue support for Oklahoma's rural hospitals. "Rural hospitals are essential to our rural communities and families in Oklahoma. The threat of closure of rural hospitals is … Continue Reading
01.28.16
Senators Lankford, Manchin Ask Senate Tax Leaders to Not Abandon SSDI Reform
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) today encouraged Senate finance leaders to not abandon the pursuit of real reforms for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, because the short-term reallocation patch in October's Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 is not a long-term solution. In a letter to Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch and Ranking Member Ron Wyden, Lankford and Manchin reminded them that the Bipartisan Budget Act's reallocation of payro… Continue Reading
01.27.16
Senator Lankford Participates in Recognition of ‘National School Choice Week’
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined 20 Senators today to designate the week of January 24 through January 30, 2016 as "National School Choice Week". "Parents should have all the tools necessary to ensure their child will receive the best education, no matter economic status or home address," said Lankford. "Kids can't wait for schools to improve. Their educational opportunity is now. Oklahomans want a great education for their families, and I am proud to sponsor the 'National… Continue Reading
01.27.16
Senator Lankford: Cut Foreign Aid to Nations Who Mishandle GITMO Terrorists
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today called on Senate Appropriations leaders to cut taxpayer-funded foreign aid for nations who mishandle terrorists formerly held at America's Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. Earlier this month, two detainees were transferred from Guantanamo Bay to the west African nation of Ghana. To better ensure that terrorists don't return to the fight, Lankford and three other Senators wrote a letter calling for the reduction of foreign aid to G… Continue Reading
01.24.16
Senator Lankford Discusses National Security and Hillary Clinton on Fox News Sunday
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to discuss the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of classified emails and a private server, and whether it has implications for national security. Senator Lankford is the only Senator on both the Intelligence Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. CLICK HERE to view the interview Excerpts: Does Hillary Clinton's use of a private server represent a security threat? It absolutely represents a s… Continue Reading
01.21.16
Senator Lankford Receives Inaugural Pro-Life Leader Award at Evangelicals for Life Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today was presented with the inaugural Pro-Life Leader Award during the Evangelicals for Life conference in Washington, DC. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention and Focus on the Family hosted the conference in conjunction with the Washington, DC March for Life event, an annual pro-life march on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. "I'm humbled by this honor, but I really want to recogn… Continue Reading
01.21.16
Senator Lankford Introduces Resolution to Support a Woman on the $20 Bill Instead of the $10 Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced a Senate resolution to support the removal of Andrew Jackson from the twenty-dollar bill, rather than change the ten-dollar bill. As president, Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policies led to the forced relocation of millions, and the death of thousands, of American Indians. In June, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced that a significant woman from American history would be placed on the ten-dollar bill. This denomination was sele… Continue Reading
01.20.16
Senator Lankford Advocates for Unborn Life, Applauds Pro-Life Activists on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a floor speech on the Senate floor about the sanctity of unborn life, the pro-life movement, and the upcoming March for Life on Friday. Transcript: Thank you, Mr. President. It's a basic American value: Families. Americans are kind of particular about our families. We love our families and we love our kids. It has been one of the struggles we've had as a nation, because we've seen this collap… Continue Reading
01.20.16
Senator Lankford Questions Attorney General on President Obama’s Fast and Furious Program and Gun Control Proposals
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today questioned Attorney General Loretta Lynch about the President's Fast and Furious program and recent proposed executive actions on gun control. On January 5, 2016, President Obama issued a number of proposed executive actions aimed at curbing gun violence by instituting new background check requirements, hiring more government workers to oversee gun policy, and increasing funding for mental health research and gun technology. Specifically, the… Continue Reading
