Press Releases
Senator Lankford Statement on Tax Day
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on Tax Day, the annual April 15 filing deadline and due date for federal income tax returns: “The federal government’s overly complex tax code, which contains over 4 million words and has changed over 4,600 times in the last 12 years, is a burden on all of us. “As we conclude the first year of the individual mandate of Obamacare in the federal tax code, we see the consequences the failed law has on American taxp… Continue Reading
04.13.15
Senator Lankford Provides Information for Panhandle Residents to Register Comments on Proposed Gaming Complex
WASHINGTON, DC— To help Panhandle Oklahoma residents voice their opinions regarding the possible construction of a gaming complex, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) is providing Oklahomans with contact information for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In February, the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma announced a proposal to build a gaming center near Guymon. The contact for the Bureau of Indian Affairs official in Oklahoma who will review the proposal is Bruce Maytubby. He can be reached by phone at (405) 2… Continue Reading
03.27.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Senate Passage of a Budget
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on the final passage of a Senate Budget resolution by a vote of 52-46: “Over the last 24 hours, the Senate engaged in a lengthy full and open debate about our nation’s budget and our governing priorities. The Senate took more amendment votes today and yesterday than the Senate took all of last year, and passed a balanced budget resolution. The Senate budget responsibly balances the federal budget in 10 years and pr… Continue Reading
03.26.15
Lankford, Heitkamp Launch #CutRedTape Initiative to Gather Stories About Impacts of Federal Regulations
WASHINGTON, DC - During a press conference today, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) launched a new bipartisan #CutRedTape Initiative, a new way for American families and businesses to communicate with the Senate about how federal regulations impact them. In their new roles as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Lankford and Heitkamp have made improving federal regul… Continue Reading
03.25.15
Senator Lankford Invites Afghan War Widow as Guest For Joint Meeting of Congress
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) invited Jane Horton, widow of Army Specialist Chris Horton, to be his guest as Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani addressed a joint meeting of Congress today. Mr. Horton was an Oklahoma National Guard Army Sniper who was killed in action in Paktyia, Afghanistan on September 9, 2011. "During this on-going time of conflict in the Middle East, America must work closely with Afghanistan to root out global terrorism and intimidation," said Lankford. "As … Continue Reading
03.25.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on the Army charging Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and "misbehavior in the face of the enemy" for leaving his post in Afghanistan in 2009: "The Bergdahl trade for five Taliban militants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba last year sent the wrong message to the world that America will negotiate with terrorists. Just returning from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, I remain firm that the thug detainees should not be u… Continue Reading
03.23.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Joins Freshman Senators in Slamming Obamacare on Five-Year Anniversary
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today held a press conference on the five-year anniversary of Obamacare with fellow freshman Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). The Senators discussed the importance of responsibly balancing the federal budget and providing relief to the American people by repealing and replacing Obamacare. Excerpts: "This is not only the five-year birthday of Obamacare, it's also… Continue Reading
03.19.15
Senator Lankford Chairs First Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today led his first Senate hearing as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. The hearing, entitled "Examining Federal Rulemaking Challenges and Areas of Improvement Within the Existing Regulatory Process" examined current federal regulations and the rulemaking processes. "Today's hearing focused on the federal government's regulatory process; specifically, how regulatory process affects the quality, structure, ef… Continue Reading
03.19.15
Senators Lankford, Cotton Introduce Bill to Prevent Guantanamo Bay Detainees From Returning to Terrorism
WASHINGTON, DC— Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) have introduced the Guantanamo Bay Recidivism Prevention Act of 2015, legislation that would improve the monitoring of former Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to foreign countries to prevent them from returning to terrorism. The Senators introduced the bill days after returning from a trip to the detention facility over the weekend. “My recent trip to Guantanamo Bay has only deepened my understanding of the need for this… Continue Reading
03.18.15
Senators Lankford, Cruz Introduce Resolutions to Protect Religious Freedom of Washington D.C. Organizations
WASHINGTON, DC- Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today introduced two resolutions (S.J. Res. 10 and S.J. Res. 11) to overturn recently enacted D.C. Council legislation that undermines religious freedom. In January, the District enacted the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014, which could require employers to provide health plans that cover abortion services, and the Human Rights Amendment Act of 2014, which would force religious schools to support activ… Continue Reading
03.14.15
Senators Lankford, Cotton, Ernst, Tillis, Rounds Visit Guantanamo Bay
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK), along with fellow freshman Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mike Rounds (R-SD), last night returned from a trip to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Senators toured the Guantanamo Bay base, observed detention operations, and met with military commanders. "Having seen the Guantanamo Bay detention facility for the first time, I have even more confidence that our men and women in uniform are perf… Continue Reading
03.13.15
Senator Lankford Announces First Hearing as Chairman
WASHINGTON, DC - The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Senator James Lankford (R-OK), will hold a hearing on Thursday, March 19, at 10:00am to examine the federal regulatory process. The hearing is entitled, "Examining Federal Rulemaking Challenges and Areas of Improvement Within the Existing Regulatory Process" and will take place in Senate Dirksen 342. The hearing will examine current rulemaking proc… Continue Reading
03.10.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Oklahoma State Capitol Ten Commandments Case
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on the Western District of Oklahoma dismissal of the case involving a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol: “I’m pleased that Judge Cauthron and the court confirmed what is obvious to Oklahomans - that the Ten Commandments is a vital part of Oklahoma and American history. The Oklahoma State Capitol display of the Ten Commandments is a reasonable recognition of its significance to t… Continue Reading
03.10.15
White House Ignores Senator Lankford Immigration Request
WASHINGTON, DC- On February 27, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) wrote a letter to President Obama seeking clarification on the President's February 25 comments that there would be "consequences" for federal immigration officials who continue deportations after the President's November immigration executive actions. However, in early February, a federal district court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction against the President's immigration executive overreach, effectively supporting the continu… Continue Reading
03.09.15
Lankford Joins Senators in Demanding Release of Americans Held In Iran
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), in addition to 16 other Republican senators, in urging the Obama administration to demand the unconditional release of American citizens unjustly imprisoned in Iran. In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, the senators highlighted the cases of three American citizens who are languishing in Iranian jails. The senators urged Secretary Kerry to discuss these cases in his communications with Iran… Continue Reading
03.09.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Sigma Alpha Epsilon Video
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on the hateful video involving the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Oklahoma: “The hateful video of some fraternity students that surfaced over the weekend is disgusting and does not reflect the values of the state of Oklahoma. This is not who we are. We are a state that embraces cultural and ethnic diversity at every level. We must clearly speak out against this type of bigotry. Our state has ma… Continue Reading
03.04.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Supreme Court Opening Arguments for King v. Burwell
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on today’s opening oral arguments for the Supreme Court case, King v. Burwell: “Obamacare has caused harm to our nation’s families, economy, and health care system. The King v. Burwell case reveals yet another problem with the policy and implementation of this law. The plain text of the law did not permit subsidies or employer mandates when a state chose to reject Obamacare. The administration case’s legal argument… Continue Reading
03.03.15
Senator Lankford Speaks at AIPAC, Reiterates Unwavering Support for Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu
WASHINGTON, DC— Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement after speaking at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his address before a joint-session of Congress: “I am pleased that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address Congress and meet with a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders,” said Lankford. “America has no closer friend in the world than Israel. During… Continue Reading
03.02.15
Senator Lankford Questions White House on Cutting School Choice Options for Low-Income Communities
WASHINGTON, DC— Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Tim Scott (R-SC) today sent a letter to President Obama questioning the administration’s decision to reduce funding for the school choice program in Washington, DC, as well as terminating all future funding for the program, in the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request. The Senators voiced their support for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), which serves predominantly low-income … Continue Reading
02.27.15
Senator Lankford Presses Obama on Recent Immigration Enforcement Comments
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today pressed President Obama on his recent comments suggesting there would be "consequences" for federal immigration officials who continue deportations in violation of the President's executive actions, the same actions a federal court ruled against. Earlier this month, a federal district court in Texas issued a preliminary injunction against the president's immigration executive overreach. During an Immigration Town Hall at Miami's Florida Intern… Continue Reading
