Press Releases
Lankford, T. Scott, Colleagues Want to Stop Democrats’ Big Government Lending Scheme
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) along with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and John Kennedy (R-LA), and their Republican colleagues to introduce the Protecting Access to Credit for Small Businesses Act. The bill is designed to prevent Democrats from turning the Small Business Administration (SBA) into a direct lender, which they are attempting to do in their tax-and-spend reconciliation bill. "The Small Business Administration's portion of the COVID relief loans under the Paycheck Pr… Continue Reading
12.17.21
As Inflation Soars, Lankford Joins Colleagues in Standing up for Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators John Thune (R-SD), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and several of their colleagues to send a letter urging federal financial regulators to provide community banks, credit unions, and Farm Credit institutions with the regulatory flexibility they need to responsibly work with their agriculture clients as the profit margins of farmers and… Continue Reading
12.17.21
Lankford, Tim Scott Push Effort to Protect Faith-Based Child Welfare Providers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC) along with Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC) sent a bicameral letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, condemning HHS's recent reversal of protections for faith-based adoption and foster care agencies. "We find it disturbing that one day before it released its 2021 AFCARS report, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-with your express approval- announced the rescission of waivers that w… Continue Reading
12.16.21
Finance Republicans Raise Privacy Concerns with IRS
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), along with Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) and the rest of the Finance Committee Republicans, is asking the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for information on a recent collaboration with the non-profit group Code for America (CFA), a partnership aimed at helping Americans file for Democrats' expanded child tax credits. In the letter, the Senators raise several concerns around security and privacy protections, especiall… Continue Reading
12.16.21
Lankford Wants to Know If Federal Contractors Are Verifying Workers’ Legal Status with E-Verify
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), lead Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, led a letter with Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), the lead Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the lead Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine and report to Congress on the compliance of federal contractors and su… Continue Reading
12.16.21
Lankford Says Biden’s Build Back “Broke” Adds Debt, Hurts Childcare Options
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) spoke on the Senate floor today about the Democrats' Build Back "Broke" reckless tax-and-spending spree and why he strongly opposed raising the debt ceiling to pay for climate-change, progressive social policy, and new entitlement spending that add even more to our existing almost $29 trillion debt. Lankford shared his opposition to several of the bad provisions in the bill that he believes steer … Continue Reading
12.15.21
Lankford, Rubio Want to Prohibit Non-Citizens From Voting
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford, along with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), introduced the Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens from Voting Act to prohibit federal funding to states and localities that allow non-citizens to vote. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Rick Scott (R-FL) joined Lankford and Rubio in introducing the legislation. Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC) will introduce companion legislation in the US House of Repres… Continue Reading
12.15.21
Lankford Supports Oklahoma Service Members in National Defense Bill after Fighting to Keep Out Progressive Wish-list Items
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted to support the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure our Oklahoma service members, civilians support teams, and defense contractors have what they need for their missions. "Senator Inhofe successfully fought off the progressives' wish list to pass a solid national defense bill," said Lankford. "The final bill helps move forward the missions of Oklahoma's military installations, gives members of the militar… Continue Reading
12.14.21
Lankford Strongly Opposes Raising Debt Ceiling
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after Senate Democrats voted to increase the debt ceiling, which Lankford has been critical of for months saying Democrats should be responsible for their reckless spending: "As I have stated throughout this process, I am strongly opposed to raising the debt ceiling without ever having a conversation about how to stop out-of-control federal spending. This entire process of continued unchecked spending only encourag… Continue Reading
12.14.21
Lankford, Rubio, Colleagues Want State Department to Support Tibetan Autonomy
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to lead a group of bipartisan colleagues in a letter to Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights at the US Department of State, ahead of her expected appointment as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, advocating for a US policy toward Tibet that protects the rights, autonomy, and dignity of the Tibetan people. The letter also calls for a policy that further vali… Continue Reading
12.14.21
Lankford, R. Scott, Colleagues Push to Block Biden’s Tax-dollar Giveaway to Illegal Immigrants
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), the lead Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management, today joined Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Mike Braun (R-IN) to introduce the Congressional Review of Agency Legal Settlements Act following reports that the Biden Administration is considering using taxpayer dollars to pay settle… Continue Reading
12.14.21
Lankford, Hawley, Colleagues Demand Answers on Nigeria's Removal from Religious Freedom Violators List
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) to pen a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding answers on why Nigeria was removed from the State Department's list of Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and requesting Nigeria be placed back on the list. Lankford remains a leader … Continue Reading
12.10.21
Lankford Leads Senate Republicans in Opposition to Removing Rule for Faith-Based Contractors
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) sent a letter to the Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh regarding his strong opposition to the Biden Administration's proposal to rescind a rule issued by the Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs (OFCCP) during the Trump Administration that provided clarification on the ability of people of faith to partner with the federal government. The initial rule to clarify the civil rights protections for religious organizations that co… Continue Reading
12.09.21
Lankford Strongly Opposes Gimmick to Raise Debt Ceiling
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to create a new process to increase the debt ceiling, which Lankford has been critical of for months saying Democrats should be responsible for their reckless spending: "I am strongly opposed to this new process and to raising the debt ceiling without any conversation about how to stop this out-of-control spending. The reason our country has a vote on our debt ceiling is to provide an opportu… Continue Reading
12.08.21
Lankford Successful in Blocking Biden's Vaccine Mandate on Private Businesses
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) took to the Senate floor to share his opposition to Biden's vaccine mandate and to support the resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) before the Senate to stop the vaccine mandate on private employers. The CRA passed by a vote of 52 to 48. Earlier today, Lankford participated in a press conference to discuss the Senate's planned vote today on a resolution of disapproval… Continue Reading
12.08.21
Lankford Recognized for Ongoing Work to Promote Religious Liberty Worldwide
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today received the Hero on the Hill award from Jeff King, President of the International Christian Concern (ICC), for his work to bring to light the persecution of people of faith around the world and his work to advance religious freedom. "In our nation, we have the right to have a faith, live that faith, and change our faith without persecution from our government," said Lankford. "We should stand up for the rights of any person in any nation to … Continue Reading
12.08.21
Finance Committee Republicans Urge Reopening of SSA Field Offices
WASHINGTON - Senator Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), ranking member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and other Republican members of the aging and finance committees in sending a letter urging Acting Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi to immediately reopen SSA's field offices to the public. "Social Security is a bedrock of our nation's social safety net, especially fo… Continue Reading
12.08.21
Lankford Stands for Oklahoma Workers to Stop Biden's Vaccine Mandate
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a press conference with Senate Republicans to discuss the Senate's planned vote today on a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act against Biden's vaccine mandate for private employers. As Senate Republicans, now joined by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), plan to take action today to stop the mandate and send the resolution of disapproval to the House of Repre… Continue Reading
12.07.21
Lankford Stands Against Communist Chinese Economic Coercion Worldwide
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), on which he serves as a commissioner, entitled, "How China Uses Economic Coercion to Silence Critics and Achieve its Political Aims Globally." Lankford's questions focused on China's international economic coercion attempts and how the US can continue to counter the communist Chinese government's expanding ec… Continue Reading
12.03.21
Lankford Prioritizes American Energy, Jobs over Biden Begging Foreign Countries for Oil
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), along with Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Lee (R-UT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Hoeven (R-ND), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to introduce the Strategic Production Response (SPR) Act to prioritize American energy production. The bill prohibits the Sec… Continue Reading
