Press Releases
Lankford Applauds SCOTUS Decisions That Uphold the Constitution and Religious Freedom
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statements after the US Supreme Court released two 7-2 decisions today upholding the First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion. On the Little Sisters of the Poor case (Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania), Lankford commented: "Today is a great day for our nation and the foundational principle of religious liberty. As the Court said, 'For over 150 years, the Little Sisters … Continue Reading
07.06.20
Lankford Pushes DOD Head on Delay to Remove Turkey from F-35 Technology Supply Chain
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on the Department of Defense timeline to remove Turkey from the supply chain of the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. Lankford introduced a bill that was included in last year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to place limitations on the transfer of the F-35 technology to Turkey. Lankford was joined on the letter by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Va… Continue Reading
07.02.20
Lankford Joins Letter on Chinese Government Atrocities in Xinjiang to Administration Officials
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), along with Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Representatives James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Christopher Smith (R-NJ) were joined by 73 members of the Senate and the House in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin regarding the ongoing atrocities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. The letter urges the administration… Continue Reading
07.01.20
Lankford, Johnson Introduce Amendment to Replace Columbus Day with Juneteenth as New Federal Holiday
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, filed an amendment to this legislation Wednesday that would replace Columbus Day with Juneteenth as a new federal holiday. "Juneteenth is a day in our history that redefined the meaning of freedom and equality in America," said Sen. Lankford. "Throughout our history, we have strived to become a more perfect union and Juneteenth was a huge step in a… Continue Reading
06.30.20
Lankford Talks Importance of Charitable Giving Bill with IRS Chief
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Finance hearing entitled "2020 Filing Season and IRS COVID-19 Recovery," where Lankford questioned IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig on the lessons learned from closing IRS offices due to COVID-19 and from telework while protecting American's private information. He also asked what the agency's plan is to get things back up and running so Americans can get answers … Continue Reading
06.30.20
Lankford Statement on Passing of Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued a statement on the passing of Tulsa Police Sergeant Craig Johnson, who was shot in the line of duty: "Cindy and I are praying for the family of Sgt. Johnson and the entire Tulsa community as we grieve the loss of one of our own. The news is heartbreaking to the entire nation. We pray his family knows that Oklahomans everywhere mourn with them and pray for them today. Now is a time to band together in support of the police officers … Continue Reading
06.30.20
Lankford Praises NDAA Support of Oklahoma Military, Applauds Bipartisan Work
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) took to the Senate floor today to advocate for the annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This year marks the 60th year in a row that Congress will fulfill its duty to pass the bipartisan defense bill. The bill will authorize $740.5 billion in funding to support military construction projects, push a strong US national defense strategy, care for military families and th… Continue Reading
06.29.20
Lankford Offers Amendments to Prevent Government Shutdowns, Add Taxpayer Accountability to Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today offered two important amendments to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Lankford offered two long-time priorities, the Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act and the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, as amendments to the defense bill to protect taxpayer dollars, provide transparency of federal programs and spending, and prevent costly government shutdowns by holding Members of Congress accountable, not our important defense … Continue Reading
06.26.20
20 Bipartisan Senators Request Pompeo to Extend Emergency Refugee Protections for Afghan Sikh, Hindu Communities Facing Persecution
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), along with Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was joined by 18 of their Senate colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to grant emergency refugee protections to Sikh and Hindu communities in Afghanistan facing persecution as religious minorities. In a bipartisan letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the senators called on the State Department to prioritize resettlement opportunities un… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Lankford Pushes for Reforms in Annual Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today offered six amendments to the upcoming Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (FY21 NDAA). Lankford's initial amendments address key areas in our nation's defense policy that he hopes to see in the final version of the bill, which is set for consideration by the Senate next week. Lankford's amendments would repeal the 180-day waiting period for military retirees, close the coverage gaps in the Paid Parental … Continue Reading
06.25.20
Lankford Questions CBP on Seizing Drugs, COVID PPE, Test Kits at Border & Praises 11-Year High in Naturalizations
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to provide oversight of the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Lankford questioned CBP's Mark Morgan, the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner, on CBP's work to seize items, including illegal drugs and fake COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) and test kits along o… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Lankford, Portman, Fischer Introduce Bill to Reduce Regulatory Burden to Give Job Creators Freedom to Invest & Hire New Workers
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Unfunded Mandates Accountability and Transparency Act (UMATA). The bill will reduce excessive unfunded government mandates on job creators, giving them greater freedom to invest in their companies and hire new workers. When the federal government imposes unnecessary and burdensome regulations, it undermines employers' ability to hire more workers and makes it harder for American work… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Lankford Applauds Decision to Designate John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park as African American Civil Rights Network Site
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the decision at the direction of President Trump from Interior Secretary David L. Bernhardt to designate the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park as an official member of the African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN), formally recognizing the historical and national significance of the tragic Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 and Dr. John Hope Franklin's work to advance the African American civil rights movement. The African America… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Lankford Blasts Senate Democrats’ Block of JUSTICE Act on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today blasted Senate Democrats when not even four Democrats voted in favor earlier today of proceeding to open debate on the JUSTICE Act, which Lankford helped introduce. Lankford cited that Senate Democrats unreasonably-and for political reasons-demanded Speaker Pelosi's bill, the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, or nothing at all when so many families in our nation are hurting and want a… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Senate Democrats Block Police Reform from Coming to Communities Across America
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and members of the JUSTICE Act task force released the following statements after Senate Democrats' obstruction of the JUSTICE Act today. "It's unfortunate Senate Democrats have allowed partisan politics to get in the way of justice. Equal justice should not be a partisan issue," Lankford said. "The JUSTICE Act has more similarities with the House Democrat bill than differences. Bl… Continue Reading
06.23.20
Subcommittee Examines Federal Hiring Recommendations from National Commission
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Opening Statement and Q&A WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Senator James Lankford (R-OK), today held a hearing entitled, "Improving Public Service: A Review of Recommendations Made by the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service." Members of the Subcommittee heard from the chairman of the National Commission on Milit… Continue Reading
06.23.20
Lankford, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Help Protect US Energy Jobs
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) to introduce a bill to provide relief to America's energy industry during the coronavirus pandemic. The SAVE Jobs Act aims to promote liquidity and flexibility for domestic energy companies so they can maintain their workforce through the pandemic's economic downturn. Lankford and Cornyn were joined by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Barrasso (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Cindy Hyde-Smit… Continue Reading
06.22.20
Lankford Leads Bipartisan Group to Introduce Bill Expanding Federal Tax Deduction for Charitable Giving
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced the bipartisan Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act to expand the current above-the-line deduction for charitable giving made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March, The bill would ensure that Americans who donate to charities, houses of worship, religious organizations, and other n… Continue Reading
06.19.20
Lankford, Rosen Statement on Further Adoption of IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism
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 applauding Argentina and Serbia for recently adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition on anti-Semitism. "We have long-supported adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which is a helpful tool to train law enforcement and inform… Continue Reading
06.18.20
Lankford Statement on SCOTUS DACA Decision
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court released its ruling today in the case to determine whether the Trump Administration's decision to rescind the Obama Administration's executive action on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was appropriate: "The Supreme Court has now ruled that every future president has to abide by any previous President's executive actions, whether lawfully put in place or not, unless a court… Continue Reading
