Press Releases
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
01.12.16
Senator Lankford Responds to President Obama's State of the Union Address
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video CLICK HERE to view the DropBox video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union address: "Families in Oklahoma have been harmed by the policies and politics of the last seven years. Washington has become more partisan, our economic growth has become more anemic, and federal regulations have dramatically increased, controlling more of our everyday lives. "I did appre… Continue Reading
01.12.16
Senator Lankford’s Taxpayers Right To Know Act Passes The House Unanimously
WASHINGTON, DC - The Taxpayers Right To Know Act, a transparency bill championed by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) for several years, passed the House of Representatives Monday evening by a unanimous vote of 413-0. "I applaud the House for passing the Taxpayers Right To Know Act and I call on my colleagues in the Senate to bring it up for a vote right away," said Lankford. "We need to put this type of transparency legislation on the President's desk for his signature. The American people deserve… Continue Reading
01.11.16
Senator Lankford Leads Congressional Amicus Brief in Support of Nonprofits’ Supreme Court Challenge to HHS Mandate
WASHINGTON, DC - Along with three other Members of Congress, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today submitted a bipartisan amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the religious nonprofits and charities challenging Obamacare's Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate, including the Little Sisters of the Poor. Senator Orin Hatch (R-UT) and Representatives Diane Black (R-TN) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) joined Lankford in leading the Congressional effort, which was signed by 207 Members of Congre… Continue Reading
01.07.16
Senator Lankford Calls Out Department of Education for Use of Guidance Documents Over Regulatory Process
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Education, John King, to question their use of guidance documents that attempt to inappropriately establish regulatory-type policy changes for colleges and universities without going through the rule-making process. As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Lankford led a hearing in September on whether federal agencies, including the Depar… Continue Reading
01.06.16
Senator Lankford’s Office Releases 2015 Activity Report
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - To mark the one-year anniversary of Senator James Lankford being sworn-in as the 18th United States Senator for Oklahoma, Lankford's chief-of-staff Greg Slavonic released a memo detailing the activities and accomplishments of the Senator's first year in the Senate. A PDF of the memo is available here, and the full text is below: TO: ALL RESIDENTS OF OKLAHOMA FROM: GREG SLAVONIC (REAR ADMIRAL NAVY-RETIRED), CHIEF-OF-STAFF, SENATOR LANKFORD … Continue Reading
01.06.16
Congress Puts Bill on President’s Desk to Repeal Obamacare, Defund Planned Parenthood
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the House of Representatives for passing the Restoring Americans' Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act (HR 3762), a bill to repeal Obamacare and limit federal funding for organizations that perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood. The Senate passed the bill on December 3 by a vote of 52-47. The bill now goes to President Obama for consideration to be signed into law. "Congress has finally put a repeal of Obamacare and defund… Continue Reading
01.05.16
Senator Lankford Reacts To President’s Gun Control Push
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement in response to the president's executive actions on gun control. "All Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, are broken-hearted by senseless acts of violence, especially towards children. As we grieve for those who are affected by violence, we must evaluate the root causes that lead to violence, like broken families, mental health, drug use and a culture that glorifies violence. Just like the 23 execut… Continue Reading
01.05.16
Senator Lankford Announces Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Dr. Everett Piper as State of the Union Guest
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today announced that Oklahoma Wesleyan University President Dr. Everett Piper will be his guest for the State of the Union address, which will take place next Tuesday, January 12. Dr. Piper is the fifth president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, a private faith-based institution that was established in 1909. "It is my honor to have Dr. Everett Piper as my guest for this upcoming State of the Union address," said Lankford. "Oklahoma Wesleyan Univ… Continue Reading
12.23.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Oklahoma Veterans Affairs Problems
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the Oklahoma Veterans Affairs Medical Center problems detailed in this week's USA Today newspaper: "Our veterans have sacrificed to keep us safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. I remain continually frustrated by the issues happening at both the Department of Veterans Affairs and in our Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, the front line where we need to honor the promises to treat service-relate… Continue Reading
12.21.15
Oklahoma Delegation: Tulsa Air National Guard Best Choice For F-35A
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation today sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Debra Lee James urging her to consider the 138th Fighter Wing (138th FW) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the next home for the F-35A. The Air Force is looking for two National Guard candidate wings as future bases for the F-35A. While these aircrafts would not begin to arrive until 2022 or 2023, a decision is expected sometime over the next year. Criteria that will be considered in the f… Continue Reading
