Press Releases
Senators Lankford, Ernst, Paul Introduce COST Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Rand Paul (R-KY) today introduced legislation requiring every government project supported with federal funds to include a price tag that is easily available for taxpayers. The bill, called the Cost Openness and Spending Transparency (COST) Act, comes on the heels of a watchdog investigation that was released today. The report found federal agencies are not abiding by current law requiring the full disclosure of costs for… Continue Reading
03.13.19
Senator Lankford Discusses Foreign Policy and Trade Issues with China on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) spoke on the Senate floor about international trade with China, including Section 301 tariffs and agricultural subsidies, China's intellectual property abuses, and religious liberty in China. This week, Lankford participated in the first Senate Finance Committee hearing of 2019 focused on trade and specifically the current state of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Lankford questioned… Continue Reading
03.12.19
Senator Lankford Attends Finance Committee Hearing on the World Trade Organization
CLICK HERE to listen to Lankford's questions. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in the first Senate Finance Committee hearing of 2019 focused on trade and specifically the current state of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Lankford questioned US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer during the hearing entitled, "Approaching 25: The Road Ahead for the World Trade Organization." Lankford focused on asking Lighthizer about our trade relationship with China, Lig… Continue Reading
03.07.19
Senator Lankford Questions Government Accountability Office on High-Risk List
CLICK HERE to watch the video of Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) questioned Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Mark Gaffigan, Managing Director of Natural Resources and Environment team at GAO, during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled, High Risk List 2019: Recommendations to Reduce Risk of Waste, Fraud, and Mismanagement in Federal Programs. Officials discussed GAO's 2… Continue Reading
03.06.19
Senator Lankford Discusses Fourth Volume of Federal Fumbles on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) discussed the fourth volume of his annual federal government waste book, Federal Fumbles: Ways the federal government dropped the ball on the Senate floor. Lankford highlighted several key topics featured in Federal Fumbles, Vol. 4. CLICK HERE for a summary of the report. Video Excerpts On putting our debt in perspective (Starts at 00:00) Mr. President, the number 22 trillion should matter to us. Twenty-two trillion: that's our current debt nu… Continue Reading
03.05.19
Senator Lankford Releases Federal Fumbles, Fourth Volume of Government Waste Report
CLICK HERE to watch the video announcement. CLICK HERE for a copy of Federal Fumbles, Vol. 4. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today announced the fourth volume of his annual federal waste book, Federal Fumbles: Ways the federal government dropped the ball. The report highlights waste and inefficiency in the federal government and gives possible solutions to each of those issues. "I view Federal Fumbles as my to-do list for the upcoming year, and my office works to address as ma… Continue Reading
03.01.19
Lankford, Inhofe Praise Nomination of Tim Downing
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) praised the president's intent to nominate Timothy Downing to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. "I am grateful President Trump continues to nominate qualified individuals like Tim Downing to serve our Justice Department," Lankford said. "He has served Oklahoma and our judicial system with distinction, and he will continue to serve our nation well as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Okl… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Senator Lankford Visits Israel, Lebanon, UK for International Economic and Trade Events
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) returned earlier this week from a congressional delegation trip to Israel, Lebanon, and the UK to discuss economic development and the important regional partnerships we have in the Middle East and Europe to boost trade and economic prosperity internationally. In Israel at the Israeli-Palestinian Economic Forum, Lankford was the only US elected official to speak to the conference, and he challenged the attendees to plant trees of peace that would a… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Senators Lankford, Coons Re-introduce LIFT for Charities Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) today re-introduced bipartisan legislation to protect churches, charities, and other nonprofit organizations from a provision in the tax law that would tax some employee benefits for the first time. The Lessening Impediments from Taxes (LIFT) for Charities Act, would repeal a section of the tax code that requires some tax-exempt organizations to pay federal taxes on employee benefits, like parking, meals, or transportation be… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Senators Lankford, Coons, Representatives Kind, Walorski Introduce Import Tax Relief Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) today announced the bipartisan, bicameral Import Tax Relief Act, which would require the Executive Branch to create an exclusion process for List 3 (and any future list) of Chinese imports subject to Section 301 tariff imposition. Commensurate with the US Trade Representative's (USTR) exclusion process for Lists 1 and 2, US companies would also be able to apply for a refund for duties paid on imported goods subject to these t… Continue Reading
02.27.19
Senators Lankford, Hassan Introduce the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, a bipartisan Senate proposal to address the threat of government shutdowns. The bill is fairly simple. If all appropriations bills are not passed by both houses and signed by the President by October 1, no official travel will be allowed for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) leadership or staff, Cabinet members, or Senators and Representatives along with their commi… Continue Reading
02.26.19
Senator Lankford Joins Resolution to Recognize America’s National Debt Crisis
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and David Perdue (R-GA) along with Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) today introduced resolutions in the Senate and House to recognize America's national debt as a threat to our national security. Earlier this month, the national debt reached $22 trillion. The Senate resolution is also cosponsored by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Joni Ernst (R-IA). "As I have said before, slow economic growth and our skyrocketing national de… Continue Reading
02.16.19
Lankford Provides Keynote Address at USS Tulsa Commissioning in San Francisco
WASHINGTON, DC-Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today provided the keynote address at the commissioning of the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the USS Tulsa. Lankford attended the commissioning at Embarcadero Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, CA. "It is a great honor to join so many Oklahomans to officially welcome the USS Tulsa into the Navy's LCS fleet," said Lankford. "The USS Tulsa truly represents the future of naval vessels. It is a high honor and a testament to the innovative spirit of the peopl… Continue Reading
02.16.19
Senator Lankford Keynote Address at USS Tulsa Commissioning
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) provided the keynote address at the commissioning of the new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the USS Tulsa. Lankford attended the commissioning at Embarcadero Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, CA. Transcript: Well, I want to say welcome, but then I have to do the welcome as we've done before. Welcome, mayor, mayor, mayor, mayor, mayor, mayor. Welcome. Thank you for being here, Admiral, Admiral, Admiral, Admiral, Adm… Continue Reading
02.15.19
Lankford Commemorates Black History Month
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today praised the important work in the US Senate to honor Black History Month and to continue to address improving race relations in the US. This week, Lankford cosponsored a Senate resolution to formally commemorate Black History Month. Lankford also joined Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tim Scott (R-SC) to finally address the crime of lynching through the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act. "In February, our nation pause… Continue Reading
02.14.19
Senator Lankford Votes to Fully Fund the Government, Provide Border Security
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted to support a bill to fully fund the federal government for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year (ends September 30, 2019). The bill, which passed in a bipartisan vote of 83 to 16, notably includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security and related agencies after a Conference Committee negotiated the final version following passage of a continuing resolution on January 25, 2019. It also contains funding for the six remai… Continue Reading
02.13.19
Senators Lankford, Blunt Resolution to Reduce Needless Delays for Senate-Confirmed Nominees Passes Rules Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Roy Blunt's (R-MO) resolution (S. Res. 50) to update the Senate rules for most Senate-confirmed nominees passed out of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee in a vote of 10-9. The resolution will reduce the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time to two hours for most nominees, including many Executive Branch nominees and district court judges, while maintaining 30 hours for high-level nom… Continue Reading
02.09.19
Senator Lankford Saddened by the Passing of Bill Burgess
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) offered his deepest condolences to the family of Oklahoma favorite son, Bill Burgess, after his passing yesterday: "I learned of Bill Burgess's passing last night as I was driving through Lawton on the highway named for him. Like that highway, Bill was such a foundational part of the Lawton community. He was a fierce defender of Lawton, a visionary for growing the community, and an endless advocate for Fort Sill. I will miss his leadership and h… Continue Reading
02.09.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe, Governor Stitt, Congressman Lucas Welcome Delivery of Altus' First KC-46
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Governor Kevin Stitt, and Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) celebrated the delivery of the second KC-46 in the country and the first delivery for a training mission today. Altus Air Force Base is home to the training mission for the KC-46 tanker, the next generation of aerial refueling, and maintenance will be done at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City. "I am honored today to join my colleagues, Senator Inhofe and Rep. Lu… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Senator Lankford, Chairman Blunt Introduce Resolution to Reduce Needless Delays for Senate-Confirmed Nominees
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO) today introduced a resolution to update the Senate rules for most Senate-confirmed nominees. The resolution would reduce the 30 hours of post-cloture debate time to two hours for most nominees, including many Executive Branch nominees and district court judges, while maintaining 30 hours for high-level nominees, including Supreme Court Justices and Cabinet-level officials. The r… Continue Reading
