Press Releases
Lankford, King Introduce Resolution Recognizing the National Day of Prayer
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Angus King (I-ME) today introduced a resolution to recognize May 2, 2019, as this year's National Day of Prayer, which is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan to designate the National Day o… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Lankford Joins Bipartisan Resolution to Honor the Nation’s First Responders
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) today to introduce a resolution to designate October 28, 2019, as "Honoring the Nation's First Responders Day." According to the Department of Homeland Security, an estimated 4.6 million career and volunteer firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, and paramedic workers serve communities all across the United… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senator Lankford Designates Week of May 5th Public Service Recognition Week
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), ahead of Public Service Recognition Week, designates May 5th through 11th as "Public Service Recognition Week" to honor employees of federal, state, and local governments, and members of the uniformed services. The resolution (S. Res 180) commends these public servants for their service, honors those who have given their lives for their country, and calls upon the next generation to consider careers in public service, and encourages efforts to prom… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senator Lankford Pushes to Prevent Use of Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor on the issue with contraband cell phone use in prisons. In 2018, Oklahoma state prisons confiscated 7,518 cell phones from inmates. Lankford used examples from Oklahoma to show how this issue is impacting the state. Lankford is pushing for a change in federal law that will allow states to use jamming technology to prevent the use of contraband cell phones in prisons. … Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senator Lankford Prays for Nation on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to pray for the nation ahead of the National Day of Prayer, which is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the US Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan to designate the Nat… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Lankford Joins Senators to Urge RFS Policy to Reflect Market Realities
WASHINGTON, DC - In advance of the upcoming proposed rulemaking for the 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Senator James Lankford (R-OK) signed onto a letter led by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) urging EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to reset conventional biofuel volumes to reflect market realities. The letter was signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senators Lankford and Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Better Assess and Improve Federal Government’s Customer Service
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), ranking member of the HSGAC Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management introduced bipartisan legislation today to better assess and improve the customer service experience Americans receive when dealing with federal agencies. The bipartisan Federal Agen… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Senators Lankford, Booker, Rep Blumenauer Seek to End Federal Tax Incentives for Professional Sports Stadiums
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who is leading the bipartisan effort in the House, today introduced the Eliminating Federal Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act, a bill to end generous federal subsidies for professional sports stadiums. The bill would close a loophole in the tax code that allows professional sports teams to finance new stadiums with municipal bonds that are exempt from federal taxes. Municipal bonds are int… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Lankford Joins Grassley to Require FTC Study of the Role, Behavior, and Recent Merger Activity of Prescription Drug Supply Chain Middlemen
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lankford joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today to introduce legislation requiring the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study the role and recent merger activity of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), as well as possible anticompetitive behavior. The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019 helps to shine a light on the PBM industry by examining the effects of consolidation on pricing and other potenti… Continue Reading
04.25.19
Lankford, Blunt, Scott Announce Bill to Protect First Amendment Rights of Faith-Based Student Groups
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Today, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Roy Blunt (MO), and Tim Scott (SC) announced the Equal Campus Access Act, legislation to ensure that religious student organizations can operate in accordance with their faith-based principles. The bill prohibits funding for public institutions of higher education if they deny rights, benefits, or privileges to student organizations because of their beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or codes of conduct. "Our nation's col… Continue Reading
04.15.19
Point of View: It's almost Tax Day and the news is good
by Senator James Lankford
Tax Day is a significant day for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Since January, I've been able to hear from Oklahomans about how the tax changes affected their families and small businesses, but soon we'll see the final numbers. Some national media have done all they can to find problems, and since no one likes paying taxes, it's not hard to find negative stories. But there are some undeniable facts. Wages are up, unemployment is down and business investment is up. The economy has added over 3 milli… Continue Reading
04.15.19
Senator Lankford to Hold OKC Community Conversation TODAY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today will hold a Community Conversation at the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives facility in Oklahoma City. Lankford will provide a brief legislative update and then will take questions from the attendees. WHO: Senator James Lankford (R-OK) WHAT: Community Conversation with Senator James Lankford WHEN: Monday, April 15, 2019, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 pm WHERE: Oklahoma Associa… Continue Reading
04.11.19
Senator Lankford Questions NIH Heads on Efforts to Find Non-Addictive Alternatives to Opioid Pain Medicines
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended a Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on the fiscal year 2020 budget for the National Institutes of Health. Adequately funding research and treatment or cure development for national public health issues are high priorities for Lankford in his work on the Appropriations Committee. Lankford questioned NIH Dire… Continue Reading
04.11.19
Lankford, Portman, Blumenthal, Carper Reintroduce Bill to Improve Care & Safety for Unaccompanied Minors, Accelerate Immigration Court Proceedings
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Tom Carper (D-DE) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation, the Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act, which requires HHS to keep better track of and care for unaccompanied alien children (UACs). This measure, which was first introduced in September 2018, will help both ensure the children's safety and ensure they appear at their immigration court proceedings. A summary of the bill is here … Continue Reading
04.11.19
Senator Lankford Statement of Support for Energy Independence
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement in response to the Executive Order signed by President Trump to promote energy infrastructure and economic growth: "I am pleased President Trump continues to take an active approach to reduce burdens on North American energy independence through the latest Executive Orders," said Lankford. "The US should continue to explore as many forms of energy as possible to power our nation, and our energy producers sho… Continue Reading
04.10.19
Senator Lankford Highlights Positive Impact of Federal Tax Reform in OK
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of Tax Day next week about some of the positive news and real stories from Oklahomans about their experience filing their taxes this year. Lankford specifically offered examples shared with our office from Oklahomans. This year is the first opportunity to see the effects of tax reform on Oklahomans, and Lankford reflected on the positive economic impacts tax reform has had for our state and nation. Lankford supp… Continue Reading
04.10.19
Senators Lankford, Grassley, Risch, Roberts, Hoeven Introduce Small Business Regulatory Relief Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act (S.1120) to require federal agencies to analyze the full impact of a proposed regulation on small businesses during the rulemaking process. Lankford chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Federal Management. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is chairman of the Finance Committee, Jim Risch (R-I… Continue Reading
04.10.19
Senators Lankford, Menendez, Gardner, Markey Honor US-Korean Alliance
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced a resolution to honor the US Alliance with the Republic of Korea. The two countries have worked together to promote international peace, security, economic prosperity, human rights, and the rule of law. "The US and Korea have a rich history and partnership that stems from our shared values and national interest," said Lankford. "Korean Americans are an essential benefactor … Continue Reading
04.10.19
Senators Lankford, Casey Call for Support of Organizations Providing Syrian Humanitarian Aid
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced a resolution to affirm the work of Operation Good Neighbor, a partnership of the Israeli government, US NGO's, including faith-based organizations, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to provide humanitarian relief to Syrians. Operation Good Neighbor has helped to provide secure and safe access for NGOs throughout southern Syria. The bicameral, bipartisan resolution affirms the unique collaboration across gover… Continue Reading
04.09.19
Senate Confirms Oklahoman Patrick Wyrick as District Court Judge
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Oklahoma State Supreme Court Justice Patrick Wyrick to serve as District Judge on the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma: "A year ago, President Trump nominated Justice Wyrick to serve our nation on the federal bench," said Lankford. "Today, the Senate finally confirmed his nomination. I am grateful to State Supreme Court Justice Wyrick for h… Continue Reading
