Press Releases
Senators Lankford, Hassan, Shaheen Call for Oversight of KC-46 Aircraft Delays
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today called on the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate ongoing delays to the KC-46 aircraft program that are preventing the aircraft from being used in operational missions. Lankford and Hassan serve on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee-the top Senate oversight committee-and the GAO prioritizes requests from this committee. The delays to… Continue Reading
05.22.20
Ahead of Memorial Day, Senator Lankford Honors US Military & Their Families
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) recognized the sacrifices of the US Armed Forces and their families on the Senate floor ahead of Memorial Day. Last weekend, Lankford attended the funeral of fallen Oklahoma hero, TSgt. Marshal Roberts, who tragically lost his life in an overnight rocket attack in Iraq on March 11, 2020. Lankford previously gave an emotional tribute to TSgt. Roberts on the Senate floor. Transcript In … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford Supports Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined 15 new cosponsors of Senator David Perdue's (R-GA) bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act. Lankford's support brings the total number of senators on the bill to 21. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would recapture a limited number of unused visas from prior years and allocate them to doctors and nurses who can help in the fight against COVID-19. The bill will not increase current immigration numbers and will not displace … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford, Inhofe Applaud Unanimous Passage of Resolution Honoring Life and Legacy of Judge West
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applaud the unanimous Senate passage of their resolution to honor the life and contributions to the field of law of former Chief Justice of the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Judge Lee Roy West, who passed away on April 24, 2020. Judge West served on the federal court for more than 40 years and received numerous accolades throughout his career. West was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford Supports Decision for US to Withdraw from Treaty on Open Skies
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement in support of an announcement made from the US Department of State that the US will withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies: "President Trump made the right decision to pull the US out of the Treaty on Open Skies. Russia has taken advantage of this decades-old agreement numerous times. It disadvantages nations like ours that follow the rules. Open Skies has allowed Russian spies to gather intelligence in the air and … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford Urges DOJ to Investigate Improper PPP Funding for Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), David Perdue (R-GA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Be… Continue Reading
05.20.20
Lankford Recognizes on Senate Floor the Work of Oklahoma Ag and Energy Industries during COVID-19
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHIINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today provided an update on the Senate floor of what the Oklahoma agriculture and energy industries are experiencing right now and what they see on the horizon with the impact of the coronavirus on markets, production, and workforce reductions. Lankford highlighted personal stories from Oklahoma agriculture producers in Jefferson and Washita Counties and their work to overcome the obstacl… Continue Reading
05.20.20
Lankford, Inhofe Praise Confirmation of Oklahoman John Heil
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today praised the Senate confirmation of Oklahoma attorney, Mr. John F. Heil, III, to serve as a US District Judge for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma. Lankford spoke on the Senate floor in support of Mr. Heil immediately before his confirmation. "I am grateful for the Senate's attention to Mr. Heil's nomination to fill this vacancy in the US District Courts for all areas of Oklahoma," said Lankford. … Continue Reading
05.19.20
Lankford Comments on Planned Parenthood Accessing PPP Loans
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on the in response to news that Planned Parenthood applied for and received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which it was not eligible for: "The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to support small businesses, non-profits, and their employees through the health crisis currently facing our nation. Planned Parenthood's budget of over one billion dollars a year and the explicit Small Business Ad… Continue Reading
05.19.20
Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution to Honor the Life of Dr. Tom Coburn
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution to honor the life and legacy of former Oklahoma Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn. Lankford and Inhofe both offered remarks on the Senate floor in tribute to the late Dr. Coburn. "The Senate is a better place because Dr. Coburn was in it," said Lankford. "When Oklahomans lost Dr. Coburn, our nation lost a man who fought for what's right and wielded his one voice and his one vote in the Senate to bring needed change. He eagerly challenged … Continue Reading
05.14.20
Lankford Votes to Protect Americans’ Privacy, Prevent Terrorism
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported reauthorizing three expired provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The three provisions considered today in the Senate concerned the use of wiretaps on multiple phones used by the same person, the collection of business records, and the "lone wolf" provision, which authorizes the FISA court to permit surveillance of an individual who isn't formally tied to a foreign government. The bill passed the Senate n a … Continue Reading
05.13.20
Lankford Provides COVID Update, Questions Hyper-Partisan House Bill on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today provided an update on the Senate floor about the Senate's work on COVD- and non-COVID-related legislative matters this week to ensure the nation can continue to move forward through the pandemic and beyond. Lankford has introduced legislation on or communicated with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Treasury Department recently on adjusting the Paycheck Protection Progra… Continue Reading
05.13.20
Lankford Joins Colleagues to Introduce a Bill to Permit PPP to Larger Nonprofits, Prevent Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Services
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) today introduced the Limiting Infant Fatality and Empowering Nonprofit Organization Workforces (LIFE NOW) Act. This legislation eliminates the affiliation rules and 500-employee cap for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations to allow larger nonprofits to receive PPP loans. It also prohibits taxpayer dollars from funding abortion providers. "Subjecting not-for-profit organizations to aff… Continue Reading
05.12.20
Lankford, Rosen Statement Condemning News of Anti-Semitism in Ukraine
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, released the following statement in response to reports that a senior Ukrainian police officer requested a list of all Jewish residents in the city of Kolomyya, including their personal information. "As co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism and strong supporters of the US-Ukraine bilateral relationship, we are grave… Continue Reading
05.12.20
Senate Passes Lankford, Inhofe Bill That Works Towards Taiwan’s Inclusion in WHO
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today praised the Senate's unanimous passage of S. 249, which calls for the Secretary of State to develop a strategy for Taiwan to regain observer status in the World Health Organization. "Taiwan is a stable, democratic US partner in the Asia-Pacific and I'm grateful the Senate unanimously passed legislation to advocate for them to regain its observer status with the World Health Organization," said Lankford. "US leadershi… Continue Reading
05.11.20
Senate Approves Lankford’s Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Public Servants Working to Overcome COVID-19
WASHINGTON, DC -The US Senate today unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution from Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management Subcommittee, that honors public servants in Oklahoma and across the nation and their work to overcome COVID-19 by designating May 3rd - May 9th as Public Service Recognition Week. The bipartisan resolution commends public servants at all levels of government -including Oklahoma… Continue Reading
05.11.20
Lankford Announces Continued Financial Support for Oklahoma Tribes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued details after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced a path forward for Coronavirus Relief Funds to Oklahoma Tribal nations. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided $8 billion to respond to the coronavirus preparedness, response, and recovery for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Lankford spoke with the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney a… Continue Reading
05.08.20
Lankford and Smith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Health Care Resources for Urban Indian Health Organizations Amid Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced bipartisan legislation to boost health resources for urban Indian health organizations as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forces many to grapple with financial hardship and even close operations. The Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act, also co-sponsored Tom Udall (D-NM) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to create parity within the Indian Health System (I… Continue Reading
05.07.20
Lankford, King, Colleagues Urge Leadership to Consider Nonprofits in Next Relief Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Angus King (I-ME) today sent a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to advocate that they do not overlook nonprofits, charities, and houses of worship in the fourth-phase relief proposal for the coronavirus pandemic. The letter asks the Leaders to consider expanding access to relief and support, increase unemployment insurance reimbursement for nonprofit employees, and stren… Continue Reading
05.07.20
Lankford Honors Former Oklahoma Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn, on the Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today honored the life and legacy of his friend and former Oklahoma Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn, whose passing was announced March 28, 2020. Lankford's tribute to Dr. Coburn included important lessons imparted on him by Dr. Coburn prior to Lankford's service in both the House and Senate. Lankford also highlighted the legacy Dr. Coburn leaves behind in the Senate as an institution and on his … Continue Reading
