Press Releases
Appropriations Committee Passes Senator Lankford’s First Legislative Branch Funding Bill as Chairman
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved Senator James Lankford's (R-OK) FY2018 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill with funding and policy provisions to address heightened Capitol security challenges, freeze pay for Members of Congress, and address a number of other issues within the Legislative Branch. Lankford was named chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch in January. "In a year with limited resources, we've had to make thoughtful d… Continue Reading
07.26.17
Senator Lankford Applauds Nomination of Ambassador for International Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to be the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department: "I applaud the President for nominating an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2017 report claims that numerous countries, including China, Cuba, Iran, North … Continue Reading
07.26.17
Lankford Letter - Healthcare Update
CLICK HERE for the special Healthcare Update Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
07.25.17
Senator Lankford Votes to Start Debate on Healthcare Reform
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted in favor of a procedural measure to begin an open debate and amendment process to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. "Today, I voted to start debate and begin the amendment process to repeal and replace Obamacare," said Lankford. "This was the first step to provide Oklahomans relief from the problems of Affordable Care Act. In Oklahoma, we are down to only one health insurer on the individual market and have experienced an ave… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Senator Lankford Supports CRA to Stop Arbitration Rule
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Republican colleagues to file a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution of Disapproval in the Senate against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) arbitration rule. "Federal agencies cannot create new regulations at their own discretion," said Lankford. "The arbitration rule adopted by the CFPB is another example of a rogue federal… Continue Reading
07.19.17
Senator Lankford Challenged US Postal Officials on Allegations USPS Employees Worked on 2016 Campaigns
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today challenged a panel of witnesses during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on violations of the Hatch Act by the United States Postal Service during the 2016 campaign. The hearing entitled, "The Postal Service's Actions During the 2016 Campaign Season: Implications for the Hatch Act," focused on an investigation by the Postal Service Inspector General and the Office of Special Counsel in re… Continue Reading
07.14.17
Lankford Letter - July 14
CLICK HERE for the July 14, 2017 Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
07.13.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Revised Senate Healthcare Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) made the following statement on today's release of Senate Republican's revised healthcare reform bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which intends to stablize healthcare markets, lower premiums, and give the states more control over healthcare regulation: "I believe we need healthcare reform that provides better healthcare choices and helps bring down costs for people in our state. I have started analyzing the revised draft bill to de… Continue Reading
07.13.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Applaud Nomination of Judge Charles Goodwin to US District Court in Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applauded President Trump's nomination of Judge Charles Goodwin to the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. "Charles Goodwin is a qualified judicial candidate for the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and I'm pleased he's been nominated," said Lankford. "He has served Oklahoma well as a Magistrate Judge, and I am confident that he'll continue to serve this court and the nation well bec… Continue Reading
07.13.17
Senator Lankford Meets with FBI Director Nominee Christopher Wray
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today met with Christopher Wray, President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). "Christopher Wray's experience both in private and public service will serve him well to uphold the mission of the FBI to protect and defend the United States," said Lankford. "Today's meeting with Chris was an opportunity to meet and ask specific questions about his qualifications and priorities. We discussed inv… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Majority Leader McConnell Accepts Senator Lankford’s Request to Delay August Recess
WASHINGTON, DC - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today delayed the start of the August state work period, after a group of Senators, including Senator James Lankford (R-OK), asked him to cancel or shorten the recess. Specifically, McConnell announced that he will delay the August recess until the third week of August if meaningful progress has not been made on several pressing issues in Congress, including health care, defense authorization, and budget issues. "I'm pleased that M… Continue Reading
07.11.17
Senators Lankford, Fischer Reintroduce Bill to Bring Transparency to Unfunded Mandates
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) today introduced The Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act. The legislation addresses loopholes that allow federal agencies to impose mandates on state and local governments-as well as the private sector-without providing a transparent accounting of costs. "Expensive, hidden costs from regulators continue to force American families to pay more for goods and services," said Lankford. "The Unfunded Mandates Refo… Continue Reading
07.03.17
Senator Lankford in The Atlantic: Finding Unity in a Divided Washington
by Senator James Lankford
Several weeks ago, a routine early morning baseball practice for a charity game became the site of an unthinkable attack. Republican members of Congress were shot by a gunman who had made clear his antipathy for their party and the president who leads it. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise suffered wounds that resulted in an "imminent risk of death," according to hospital staff. Zach Barth, a congressional staffer, was wounded and Matt Mika, a former congressional staffer, spent days in the hos… Continue Reading
06.30.17
Senator Lankford: Cancel August Recess to Address Pressing Issues in Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined a group of Senators to ask Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to cancel or shorten the Senate's scheduled August state work period if meaningful progress has not been made on several pressing issues in Congress. The Senators urge Congress to focus on the following five priorities before adjourning in August: fixing health care, passing a budget resolution, funding the government through appropriations, dealing with the debt ceiling… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Applaud US Attorney Nomination to Federal District in Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applauded the President's nomination of R. Trent Shores to be US Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma. The United States Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer within his federal judicial district. "Trent is a great candidate to serve as a US Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma because of his experience and commitment to enforce the rule of law," said Lankford. "Trent's years of work… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Senator Lankford, Rep. Jenkins Introduce Social Cost of Carbon Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) today introduced the Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regulations Act, a bill to prohibit the federal government from using the flawed social cost of carbon, social cost of methane, social cost of nitrous oxide, or the social cost of any other greenhouse gas metrics in the rulemaking process. These social cost of greenhouse gas metrics are theoretical measurements to try to put a price or economic impact on emissions… Continue Reading
06.29.17
Senator Lankford Chairs Hearing on Security for US Capitol, members of Congress, and Police
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today chaired a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, which includes jurisdiction of the United States Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms (SSA). The hearing focused on the FY2018 budget request for SSA and Capitol Police for the protection of Members of Congress, staff, and the over four million visitors to the Capitol each year. Transcript from opening statement: Senator James L… Continue Reading
06.26.17
Senator Lankford Applauds Supreme Court Trinity Lutheran Ruling
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the Supreme Court 7-2 ruling, in favor of Trinity Lutheran Church and religious freedom, that the state of Missouri was wrong to exclude Trinity Lutheran Church from a program intended to help nonprofits improve the playground at its preschool and daycare center. In April 2016, Senator Lankford joined colleagues in the House and Senate to submit an amicus brief in this case in support of Trinity Lutheran Church. "I applaud the Supr… Continue Reading
06.22.17
Senator Lankford Questions NIH Officials on Medical Research Efficiencies
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in an Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education hearing on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding for the FY2018 budget. Lankford's questioning focused on how the NIH could help the federal government increase efficiencies and reduce duplication. On June 5, Lankford joined other Senators for a meeting at NIH to discuss medical research and his support for NIH funding. Transcript from… Continue Reading
06.22.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Statement on Senate Republican Draft Healthcare Bill
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today issued a statement on the Senate Republican working draft healthcare bill: "Insurance markets are collapsing under the Affordable Care Act," said Lankford. "As time goes on, more insurance companies will pull out of the Obamacare exchanges and healthcare costs continue to rise. This year, about one-third of the counties across America, including all 77 counties in Oklahoma, have just one choice of an insurer in the exchange. Ok… Continue Reading
