Press Releases
Senator Lankford Commends President Trump’s Iran Strategy
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement in response to President Trump's new Iran strategy: "I commend the new Iran strategy which rightly seeks to address Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile program, support for terrorism, and abysmal human rights record. We must address the entire threat posed by Iran, not just their nuclear program. "For the last eight years, US foreign policy appeased the ayatollahs and chose not to confront their aggr… Continue Reading
10.12.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Healthcare Executive Order
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the President's Executive Order to reform Obamacare regulations to provide more affordable options for healthcare insurance. The Executive Order expands the availability of Associated Health Plans, which will allow small businesses and other trade organizations to band together across state lines to offer their employees affordable health insurance; short-term limited duration insurance policies, which are not subject to the strin… Continue Reading
10.11.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen as DHS Secretary
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement on the nomination of Kirstjen Nielsen to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security: "Kirstjen Nielsen has the right type of experience to do this important job. Nielsen's long history at DHS and her work on cybersecurity threats will serve the mission of this agency well. It is vitally important that we have a Secretary of Homeland Security in place to lead this agency to protect against the many th… Continue Reading
10.11.17
Senator Lankford Releases Solution Sunday Video
CLICK HERE to watch the video OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senators James Lankford and Tim Scott today released a video about their Solution Sunday Initiative, an effort started last year to improve race relations in our country. The simple idea encourages Americans to address racial tensions in our nation by engaging people of another race over meals in their home, for the purpose of building genuine relationships and learning from other perspectives. This video also features Senate Chaplain Barry Bla… Continue Reading
10.08.17
Senator Lankford Statement on White House Immigration Principles
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement on the White House's release of immigration reform principles: "No one in America thinks the current immigration system works well. It hasn't been updated in 30-plus years and the lack of action has led to a system that has incentivized illegal immigration. I appreciate the White Houses' input on reforming our immigration system. Congress must stop kicking the can down the road, and finally address our border s… Continue Reading
10.06.17
Senator Lankford Urges ATF Review of 'Bump Stock' Firearm Regulation
OKLAHOMA, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) and seven other Senators to urge the Trump Administration's US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to swiftly review an Obama Administration regulatory decision that permitted the sale of firearm 'bump stock' devices and issue its own interpretation. The Senators' request for review comes after a gunman opened fire on 22,000 innocent concertgoers in Las Vegas, Nevada, killing 58 people and… Continue Reading
10.06.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Administration Actions to Protect Religious Freedom
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the Department of Justice's guidance on religious freedom, and the interim final rule issued by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, on conscience protections: "I applaud today's guidance issued by the Department of Justice and the clarity it provides for a fundamental American right - religious freedom. As the guidance notes, 'religious liberty is not merely a right to personal religious beliefs o… Continue Reading
10.06.17
Senator Lankford Gives Update on Russian Interference With US Elections
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) spoke on the Senate floor yesterday about Russia's interference with US elections, Russia's use of troll farms to create propaganda that promotes a greater divide in US current events on social media, and the need for states to protect their voting systems. Transcript: I'd like to update this body…about Russia and their interference with our elections and how they are trying to engage with us in a way that much… Continue Reading
10.06.17
Senator Lankford to Host Community Conversation at Tulsa’s Historic Big 10 Ballroom
OKLAHOMA CITY - Senator James Lankford will host a townhall-style Community Conversation in Tulsa on Thursday, October 12 at the historic Big 10 Ballroom. The event will showcase and celebrate the near completed renovation of the venue, which will operate as the A Pocket Full of Hope Community Revitalization Center at The Big 10 Ballroom. During the program, Lankford will deliver remarks on the 1921 Tulsa Race Riots, the revitilization of the community, and take questions from the audience. Stat… Continue Reading
10.05.17
Senator Lankford Joins Senators Graham, Ernst to Introduce Five-Month Abortion Ban
CLICK HERE to watch the video WASHINGTON, DC - During a press conference today, Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S.1922), a bill to ban abortion past five months of pregnancy. On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives passed the same legislation by a vote of 237-189. If the Senate passes this bill, the President has committed to sign the legislation into law. "The United States is one of only … Continue Reading
10.04.17
Senator Lankford Meets with Nominee for Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today met with President Trump's nominee to be Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Governor Sam Brownback (R-KS). "Governor Brownback's commitment to advocate for human rights throughout the world is evident from his time serving in Congress and the state of Kansas," said Lankford. "He has long advocated for the voiceless. I know he will promote our nation's values with those who face religious persecution around the world and … Continue Reading
10.04.17
Senator Lankford Delivers Floor Speech on Tax Reform, Senate Gridlock Reform, and Dr. Andrew Brunson
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a floor speech on how tax reform will help our economy, how gridlock reform will make the Senate more efficient, and he also spoke about Dr. Andrew Brunson, an American who has been unjustly imprisoned in Turkey for a year. Excerpts: On the need for Tax Reform Our economy is stuck. We're in a bad spot of just treading water. Over the last 11 years our gross domestic product-that's how much our economy… Continue Reading
10.04.17
Senator Lankford Bill to Provide Educational Opportunities for Native Students Gets Committee Approval
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford's (R-OK) Indian education bill, the Johnson O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act, was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today during a markup. This is a bipartisan bill to update decades-old data the federal government uses to distribute funds to benefit Native American students "The Johnson O'Malley Act is a critical program that provides cultural and academic assistance to American Indian studen… Continue Reading
10.04.17
Senator Lankford Federal Workforce Improvement Bills Pass Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - During a markup hearing, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today passed three bills sponsored by Senator James Lankford (R-OK) to help federal agencies hire the best workforce and support the federal government reorganization process. Lankford is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. "These commonsense bills represent an important step towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal workforce for the… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Reaffirm Support of Judge Charles Goodwin
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today reaffirmed their support of the President's nomination of Judge Charles Goodwin to the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in a joint statement: "Charles Goodwin was appointed by his peers and has served as a US magistrate judge in the Western District of Oklahoma for four years, demonstrating a strong reputation for being fair and ethical. Judge Goodwin was nominated because of his strong credentials… Continue Reading
10.03.17
MEDIA ADVISORY: Committee to Markup Senator Lankford’s Federal Workforce Bills TOMORROW
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a business meeting tomorrow to vote on several pieces of legislation, including several of Senator James Lankford's (R-OK) federal workforce bills. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Lankford has examined the challenges facing our federal workforce and sought to develop comprehensive, bipartisan solutions to make government more efficient, accountable, and effecti… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Applaud US Marshal Appointments for Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applauded the President's nomination of Frank Coffman to be the US Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and Johnny Lee Kuhlman to be the US Marshal for the Western District of Oklahoma. "I am confident in the abilities of both Johnny Lee Kuhlman and Frank Coffman to serve Oklahoma well as United States Marshals," said Lankford. "They have a long history of public service and expert knowledge on security and law… Continue Reading
10.03.17
Senator Lankford Applauds Launch of Oversight.gov
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the launch of Oversight.gov, by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), to provide a single online tool for the thousands of reports and recommendations made by Inspectors General across government. "This website is an important step forward to ensure transparency and accountability in our government," said Lankford, "I applaud the Council for their commitment to developing this website that will … Continue Reading
10.02.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Las Vegas
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement on the mass shooting in Las Vegas: "The nation mourns last night's senseless massacre that took place in Las Vegas. Oklahoma knows all too well the evil that one person can commit against innocent victims and an entire region. This tragic attack will not only leave a scar on the hearts of the Las Vegas community but the entire nation. Our nation thanks to the first responders, we mourn with the families and frien… Continue Reading
10.02.17
Senators Lankford, Tillis in The Washington Times: A conservative approach to DACA
by Senators James Lankford & Thom Tillis
No one in America, from all sides of the political spectrum, thinks the current immigration system works well. It hasn't been updated in 30-plus years and the lack of action has led to a system that has incentivized illegal immigration and encouraged parents to take their children on the dangerous and often deadly trek across our southern border. Essentially, Congress ignoring the problem has actually encouraged more illegal immigration and facilitated a form of amnesty. It is past time for Con… Continue Reading
