Press Releases
Lankford Letter - May 19
CLICK HERE for the May 19, 2017 Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
05.18.17
Senator Lankford Discusses Effects of Obamacare on Oklahoma Families on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate to discuss the skyrocketing health care cost for Oklahomans and to share stories of Oklahoma families who have lost their health care or struggle to support their family under the current government-run health care system. During the speech, Lankford encouraged the Senate to deal with the issues of the Affordable Care Act and the need to let Americans choose their own h… Continue Reading
05.17.17
Committee Passes Senator Lankford’s Regulatory and Transparency Bills
WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today favorably reported three pieces of regulatory reform legislation sponsored by Senator James Lankford (R-OK): the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act, and the Early Participation in Regulations Act. The Committee also passed the Federal Agency Customer Experience Act with Senator Lankford as the leading Republican cosponsor. "I'm please… Continue Reading
05.16.17
Senator Lankford Introduces Bill to Allow Physician-Owned Hospitals to Have a Level Playing Field
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2017, which lifts the ban on the creation and expansion of physician-owned hospitals and allows these hospitals to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. Lifting this ban will increase hospital competition, which will lower costs and expand access to quality care for more Americans, especially those with Medicare and Medicaid. Section 6001 of the Affordable Care Act prohibits ap… Continue Reading
05.12.17
Senators Lankford, Coons, and Rubio Introduce Resolution Promoting Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) have introduced a bipartisan resolution (S.Res.162) to affirm the commitment of the United States to promote religious freedom and condemn persecution based on faith. This resolution also encourages the President to nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom within the State Department. "The right to practice any faith, or have no faith, is a fundamental human right of all peopl… Continue Reading
05.11.17
Senator Lankford Votes to Confirm Robert Lighthizer as US Trade Representative
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted to confirm Robert Lighthizer as the US Trade Representative. He was confirmed by a vote of 82-14: "Trade is an essential part of the Oklahoma and American economy," said Lankford. "We must continue to expand exports and market access for our nation's agricultural industry, and support trade agreements that benefit our future. I look forward to working with Mr. Lighthizer to ensure that US trade policy harnesses the vital role of Oklahom… Continue Reading
05.11.17
Senator Lankford Discusses Russia, Drug Trafficking, Cyber Threats & Iran During Intel Hearing
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a rare open Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats. This is an annual hearing that the Committee holds to examine America's greatest national security threats from around the globe. Lankford used the opportunity to question U.S. intelligence and national security leaders on the Russia investigation, drug trafficking, cyber threats and Iran. The hearing witnesses included: Actin… Continue Reading
05.10.17
Senators Lankford, McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Government’s Customer Service Focus
WASHINGTON - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today introduced the bipartisan Federal Agency Customer Experience Act (S.1088), a bill to roll back a federal requirement that makes it difficult for agencies to get feedback from the public concerning their satisfaction with agencies' customer service. Lankford and McCaskill introduced this bill after several agencies pointed to a federal requirement that prevented them from seeking voluntary feedback from the public wit… Continue Reading
05.09.17
Senator Lankford Statement on FBI Director James Comey
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on the firing of FBI Director James Comey: "James Comey had an incredibly difficult job in his role as FBI Director and I am grateful for his service. The issues that our law enforcement, intelligence community, and congressional committees deal with each day are very sensitive and have life or death implications. Director Comey has been the public face representing thousands of committed law enforcement officers and… Continue Reading
05.08.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Applaud President’s Nomination to Federal District Court in Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applauded President Trump's nomination of Scott Palk to be US District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. "Scott is a great candidate to serve as a federal judge for the US District Court for Oklahoma because of his dedication to uphold the rule of law," said Lankford. "Scott's years of work in Oklahoma make him exceptionally qualified to serve as one of Oklahoma's federal judges, and I applaud President Trump for nom… Continue Reading
05.05.17
Senator Lankford Encourages Trump Administration to Support Assistance for Refugees and Victims of Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) sent a bipartisan letter to the administration to inquire about the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), which has successfully resettled more than three million refugees from various parts of the world to American communities in all 50 states. Specifically, the letter encouraged the administration to uphold USRAP as it enables the United States to fulfill key international commitments and assist those fleeing genocide and oppression. The letter … Continue Reading
05.04.17
Senator Lankford Speaks at National Day of Prayer Observance
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today served as co-host at the National Day of Prayer Observance with Representative Louie Gohmert (TX-01). Lankford read Daniel 9:1-23, this year's verse and inspiration for the theme For Your Great Name's Sake! Hear Us… Forgive Us… Heal Us! The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the Unit… Continue Reading
05.04.17
Senator Lankford Speaks on the Senate Floor to Recognize National Day of Prayer
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate in recognition of the National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan to designate the National Day… Continue Reading
05.04.17
Senator Lankford Encourages the White House to Take a Strong Stance to Protect Religious Liberty
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today urged the White House to take clear affirmative steps to ensure that the right to the free exercise of religion is protected for all Americans. "The right to practice any faith or choose no faith is a fundamental human right of all Americans guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution," said Lankford. "For too long, this right has been suppressed under hyper partisanship. True diversity should respect the views and conscience of al… Continue Reading
05.04.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after voting for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, also known as the omnibus bill. "In December, as Congress considered the Continuing Resolution, I argued that enacting another CR would further discourage Congress from appropriating in regular order, and would push last year's budgeting process to this year. I could not support that and I did not. "There are two options to fund our government right… Continue Reading
04.28.17
Lankford Letter - April 28
CLICK HERE for the April 28, 2017 Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
04.28.17
Sen. Lankford & Mr. Graham in The Hill: Congress’ next 100 days: Small businesses need regulatory relief
by Senator James Lankford and John Graham
As the nation evaluates the new President's First 100 Days and Washington looks ahead to the next 100, we must ask a simple question, do we want vibrant small businesses in America or not? The complexity and cost of the regulatory burden placed on each small business shows the evidence of our answer. When the regulatory burden drowns out productivity and innovation, the flowery rhetoric we often hear from politicians about small businesses is seen for what it is: lip service. When each new id… Continue Reading
04.27.17
Senator Lankford Applauds Regulatory Action of Congress and President Trump’s First 100 Days
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate to applaud the regulatory actions of Congress and President Trump's First 100 Days. The President has signed into law a historic 13 Congressional Review Acts to reverse the "midnight regulations" imposed in the final days of the previous administration. Before this year, only one midnight regulation had ever been rejected. According to the American Action Forum these ac… Continue Reading
04.27.17
Senators Lankford, Heitkamp, Daines Introduce Bill to Provide Educational Opportunities for Native Students
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced the Johnson O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill to update decades-old data the federal government uses to distribute funds to benefit Native American students. Although the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) last official count of eligible Native students took place more than two decades ago, the federal government still relies on this seve… Continue Reading
04.26.17
Government Accountability Official Urges Congress to Pass Lankford’s Taxpayer Right to Know Act
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Homeland Security and Government Affairs hearing entitled, "Duplication, Waste, and Fraud in Federal Programs." Most notably, hearing witness, Eugene L. Dodaro, a senior official at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), praised Lankford's Taxpayers Right to Know Act, and urged Congress to pass it and the president to sign it into law. The Taxpayers Right to Know Act is a bipartisan bil… Continue Reading
