Press Releases
Senator Lankford: Freedom of Religion Is Severely Violated Around The World
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today called on the Trump administration and international community to protect international religious freedom, in response to the release of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) 2017 Annual Report. "This report is further proof that the basic human right of freedom of religion is severely violated in many areas around the world. The report also shows the need to ensure that religious freedom is incorporated into the fore… Continue Reading
04.24.17
Senator Lankford Supports Sonny Perdue for Agriculture Secretary
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded Senate confirmation of George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue to be the next Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture. He was confirmed by a vote of 87 to 11. Mr. Perdue met recently in Senator Lankford's office on April 4, and discussed assistance for the wildfire victims in NW Oklahoma that affected Beaver, Harper, and Woodward Counties, as well as the importance of free trade to the agriculture industry. "We need a Secretary of Agricul… Continue Reading
04.19.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Oklahoma City Bombing Anniversary
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing: "The Oklahoma City bombing remains one of the worst terrorist attacks on United States soil, killing 168 people and injuring more than 850. No matter how much time passes, the sorrow and grief for those who were killed 22 years ago at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building remains. We continue to pray for those family members who lost loved ones, those who sur… Continue Reading
04.13.17
Support Builds for Senator Lankford’s Small Business Regulatory Bill
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - In March, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced a package of regulatory improvement bills, including the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act (S. 584). The federal regulatory burden on small businesses is enormous and disproportionate to the amount faced by big businesses. S. 584 would require agencies to consider all costs and the cumulative burden of regulations as well as hold real and meaningful consolations with small business owners before issuing a… Continue Reading
04.13.17
Senator Lankford Encourages Trump Administration to Protect Religious Freedom
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to President Trump to express appreciation for his supportive statements regarding the human right of religious freedom, and encourage his administration to take steps to protect religious freedom, both in America and around the world. Specifically, the letter encouraged the administration to clearly condemn ISIS genocide, integrate religious freedom throughout American foreign policy, nominate an Ambassador-at-Large for Inte… Continue Reading
04.12.17
Senator Lankford Cosponsors Bipartisan Resolution to Designate April as “Second Chance Month”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford has joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to introduce a resolution that designates April 2017 as "Second Chance Month." The bipartisan resolution honors those who work to remove unnecessary barriers that prevent those with a criminal record from becoming productive members of society. "I am proud to join this bipartisan group of Senators to designate April 2017 as Second Chance Month," said Lankford. "There a… Continue Reading
04.09.17
Senator Lankford Condemns Attack in Egypt
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on that terrorist attack against Coptic Christians in Egypt: "Today's Palm Sunday attack in Egypt on peaceful worshippers in their church is a horrible act of terrorism. Anti-religious and anti-Christian violence is alive and well throughout the Middle East, and the World. Radical Islamists kill Christians because they are Christians; Yezidis because they are Yezidis; and different Muslim sects because they believe… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Repeal of FCC rule is no loss for privacy
by The Oklahoman Editorial Board
THERE are times when the art of politics involves pretending trivial events are actually earth-shaking. That certainly seems to be the case with the reaction to a congressional vote repealing a Federal Communications Commission rule on customer privacy. As many have noted, the FCC rule had not yet taken effect, so no one lost any existing privacy protections. And the proposed rule actually exempted many online entities, so even had it taken effect the alleged benefits were far less than suggest… Continue Reading
04.07.17
Senator Lankford Votes to Confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after the Senate voted 54-45 to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the US Supreme Court: "I'm honored today to support Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. He is a jurist that will interpret the law as the law. In his career, Judge Gorsuch has decided over 2,700 cases, 97 percent of which have been unanimous. Ninety-nine percent of the time, he decided with the majority, even though the majority of the judges in his c… Continue Reading
04.06.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Airstrikes in Syria
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) tonight released the following statement on the U.S. launched airstrikes in Syria: "Bashar al-Assad is a ruthless tyrant who kills his own people and breeds terrorism throughout the Middle East. The latest chemical attack on innocent people is another chapter in a tragic pattern that has gone on for far too long. No one should expect the United States to ignore a dictator that commits war crimes and uses chemical weapons against his own people. Ru… Continue Reading
04.06.17
Senator Lankford Announces Community Conversations, Coffees in Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - The Office of Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today announced eight town-hall style community events happening during the April state work week throughout Oklahoma. Community members are encouraged to attend so that Lankford can listen to their concerns and opinions in a meaningful, face-to-face conversation. For the Oklahoma City and Tulsa events, Lankford wants to ensure everyone has an opportunity to ask their questions. He will hold five 30-minute face-to-face conversations wi… Continue Reading
04.06.17
Senator Lankford Again Urges Senate to Confirm Neil Gorsuch
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today again spoke on the Senate floor in favor of the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to be the next Supreme Court Justice. Lankford delivered this speech on the same day that Senate Democrats conducted a partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee for the first time in the history of the U.S. Senate. On March 29, Lankford also delivered a speech on the Senate floor about Gorsuch's widespread support among the legal co… Continue Reading
04.05.17
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Co-Sponsor Bill to Protect Rights of Child Welfare Charities
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) have cosponsored the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act, a bill to protect the rights of child welfare charities to operate without the fear of discrimination based on religious beliefs. The bill was introduced in the Senate this week by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and in the House by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA). For decades, adoption and foster care providers-secular, government-operated and faith-based-have worked side-by-side t… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Senator Lankford: Assad Must Go
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the chemical weapons attack in Syria: "The recent brutal chemical attacks in Syria are the ultimate responsibility of one person-Bashar al-Assad. Not only does this ruthless tyrant kill his own people, including helpless children, his brutality breeds terrorism, creates regional chaos, and contributes to the growth of ISIS. Assad must go. We cannot eliminate the expansion of ISIS while Assad remains in pow… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Senator Lankford Meets with Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Sonny Perdue
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today met with George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue, President Donald Trump's nominee to be the Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture. "We need a Secretary of Agriculture in place to help facilitate agriculture policy and relief efforts," said Lankford. "Our conversation today primarily focused on the wildfires in NW Oklahoma that effected Beaver, Harper, and Woodward Counties. I want to start the conversation now, so that on day one, Secretary Per… Continue Reading
04.04.17
Senator Lankford to Host Facebook LIVE Conversation
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford today announced he will host a Facebook Live Conversation from his Washington, DC office to take questions from Oklahomans. WHAT: Facebook LIVE Conversation with Senator LankfordWHEN: Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 6:00PM CT WHERE: Senator Lankford's Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/senatorlankford) ###… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Senator Lankford Applauds Senate Passage of CRA to Restore States’ Authority to Make Title X Funding Decisions
CLICK HERE to view the video of Lankford's floor speech WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded Senate passage of H.J. Res. 43, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution of Disapproval for President Obama's Health and Human Services (HHS) Title X regulation. The resolution passed the Senate today by a vote of 51-50. Specifically, the CRA would restore states' ability and authority to make funding decisions for Title X health care providers. The HHS Title X regulation wo… Continue Reading
03.30.17
Senator Lankford Meets with US Trade Representative Nominee Robert Lighthizer
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today met with Robert Lighthizer, President Donald Trump's nominee to be the US Trade Representative. "Trade is an essential part of the Oklahoma and American economy. We must continue to expand exports and market access for our nation's agricultural industry," said Lankford. "We must also leverage our economy in trade negotiations to export our values and promote human rights with potential trading partners. I believe that Mr. Lighthizer is com… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Senator Lankford’s RESPECT Act Passes Indian Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK)'s Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act today passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. The bill would repeal several outdated, offensive federal laws against Native Americans, including unenforced laws currently in place subjecting Native Americans to forced labor. Specific to Oklahoma, the bill would repeal a 100-year-old law that allowed for the forced removal of Native American children… Continue Reading
03.29.17
Senator Lankford Statement on Security Incident at Capitol
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, made the following statement on today's security incident at the United States Capitol: "We're extremely grateful for the women and men who serve in our United States Capitol Police force. Today was yet another example of how they keep Members of Congress, the four thousand people who work here, and the millions of people who visit the complex, safe every single day. A … Continue Reading
