Press Releases
Lankford, Cloud Want to Stop Taxpayer Dollars from Supporting Abortion Providers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today reintroduced the bicameral Women's Public Health and Safety Act, which gives states the authority to exclude abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) introduced the House version of the bill on January 5, 2021. Under current law, states are required to allow any qualified provider to participate in a state's Medicaid system. A non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GA… Continue Reading
01.28.21
Lankford Criticizes Biden’s Move to Force Taxpayers to Pay for Abortion Overseas
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement after President Joe Biden's Administration signed a Presidential Memorandum to repeal the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy (PLGHA), often referred to as the expanded "Mexico City Policy," that banned US taxpayer dollars from supporting international organizations that promote or perform abortion, as well as organizations that support other organizations that promote or perform abortion: "The day before virtual… Continue Reading
01.27.21
Lankford Advocates for Education Scholarships
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), led by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), introduced the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act to expand elementary, secondary, and vocational education opportunities for students by providing a federal tax credit to encourage individuals and businesses to donate to nonprofit scholarship funds. Rep. … Continue Reading
01.27.21
Lankford Asks Senators and Americans: Is that a baby?
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered an impassioned speech on the Senator floor to ask a simple question: Is that a baby? His speech comes ahead of the annual virtual March for Life on Friday. Lankford pressed that some in our nation want to avoid the question of whether a child in the womb is in fact a human baby and instead ask whether or not a legislator supports programs that help children and mothers after the baby is born. … Continue Reading
01.27.21
Lankford and Graham Reintroduce 20 Week Abortion Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today reintroduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The legislation would provide common-sense protections for unborn children at 20 weeks after fertilization, a point at which there is significant scientific evidence that abortion inflicts tremendous pain on the unborn. "Every life is valuable-born or unborn," said Lankford. "It shouldn't be controversial to say that if a child survives an attempted … Continue Reading
01.26.21
Lankford Opposes Returning to Weak Foreign Policy Strategy, Opposes Secretary of State Nominee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after he opposed the confirmation of Mr. Antony Blinken to serve as the Secretary of State: "I strongly oppose Tony Blinken's nomination for Secretary of State because he brings the same failed foreign policy strategy from a decade ago that put us in a weak position with nations like Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, and other bad actors. As we confront a rise in cyber threats, election tampering by foreign adversar… Continue Reading
01.26.21
Lankford Issues Statement on Impending Impeachment Trial in the Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford issued the following statement after he voted to support Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)'s point of order on the constitutionality of the trial of a former president: "This is not a trial; this is political theater. You cannot remove someone from office who is already out of office. In this trial there is no current President, no Chief Justice and no possibility someone could be removed from office because they are not in any office. In a moment when our nation… Continue Reading
01.25.21
Lankford Joins Colleagues Call to Award Officer Eugene Goodman with Congressional Gold Medal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced legislation to award Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal to honor his heroic actions on January 6, 2021. Goodman confronted rioters in the Capitol, delaying their access to the Senate chamber and protecting the lives of those inside. "A congressional Gold Medal will never be enough to thank Office… Continue Reading
01.25.21
Lankford Supports Students' Right to School Choice
WASHINGTON, DC - US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC), Congressional School Choice Caucus co-chair, introduced a resolution declaring this week as National School Choice Week. Lankford and Scott were joined by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Mike Braun (R-IN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson… Continue Reading
01.22.21
Lankford Continues Strong Record to Stand for Life
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) was honored to receive an "A+" rating on the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List National Pro-Life Scorecard, which ranks senators and representatives on a series of SBA-selected key pro-life votes. "I can think of no more fitting way to honor the legacy of Susan B. Anthony in the year we have the most pro-life women serving in Congress ever than to join together to protect the lives of unborn children," said Lankford. "Standing up for those who cannot spe… Continue Reading
01.21.21
Lankford Says Halting Border Wall Construction Compromises US National Security
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after President Biden made it one of his first priorities to terminate the Trump Administration's declared national emergency at our southern border and halt funding and ongoing construction of the physical barrier at the border in as soon as one week: "After setting up walls and fences throughout Washington, DC, for the inauguration, President Biden announced that he does not believe fences promote our national secur… Continue Reading
01.21.21
Lankford Decries Biden Administration’s Immediate Obstruction of Keystone XL
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement following President Joe Biden's climate change-related Executive Action, which includes a revocation of the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline: "The Keystone XL is the physical embodiment of Democrats' crusade against traditional energy. President Biden wasted no time turning back years of Americans' hard work developing, ironing out the route, and building this trans-border pipeline," said Lankford. "Th… Continue Reading
01.20.21
Senator Lankford Issues Statement on Confirmation of President Biden's Pick to Serve as Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement on the confirmation of Avril Haines, President Joseph Biden's nominee to serve as Director of National Intelligence: "It is vital that our nation has in place a Senate-confirmed Director of National Intelligence to provide leadership for our intelligence agencies. The Senate Intelligence Committee completed its hearings and background work days ago so that the Senate could make a determination on consent as early as possible. Th… Continue Reading
01.19.21
Lankford Questions Janet Yellen to Lead Treasury Department
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended the Committee on Finance hearing to consider the nomination of the Honorable Janet Yellen to serve as Secretary of the Treasury in the Biden Administration. Yellen previously served as the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018. Lankford has engaged extensively with the Treasury Department during his time in Congress and particularly surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Lankford's… Continue Reading
01.19.21
Lankford Pushed DHS Nominee to Continue to Secure US Southern Border
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to consider the nomination of the Honorable Alejandro N. Mayorkas to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. His questions focused on the need to continue the work of the Trump Administration to continue to strengthen our US southern border , prioritize drug interdiction and combat drug cartels, and enfo… Continue Reading
01.15.21
Lankford, Inhofe, Lucas, Cole, Hern, Mullin, and Bice Welcome Naming Of USNS Muscogee Creek Nation
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representatives; Frank Lucas (OK-03); Tom Cole (OK-04), citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus; Kevin Hern (OK-01); Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), citizen of Cherokee Nation; and Stephanie Bice (OK-05) made the following statements after the Honorable Gregory J. Slavo… Continue Reading
01.14.21
Lankford joins Colleagues to Stop PPP Loans to Planned Parenthood
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), along with 29 of their colleagues, today in a letter to US Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to stop Planned Parenthood affiliates from receiving loans from the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The program is targeted to assist businesses with the highest need. Lankford called for DOJ to investigate improper funding to Planned Parenthood from the first round of PPP last year. In… Continue Reading
01.06.21
Lankford Condemns Violent, Destructive Protests at Capitol on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke during debate on certification of the electoral votes to condemn the acts of violence and destruction at the Capitol complex today as a mob of protestors stormed the Capitol building. Lankford also issued a joint statement this evening with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) on the election certification process and the need for attention to address concerns of voter fraud in the 2020… Continue Reading
01.06.21
Lankford and Daines Statement on Electoral Vote Certification
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Steve Daines (R-MT) issued a joint statement in response to today's protest and their previous plans to object to the Electoral College certification: "Today is a sad day for our country. The destruction and violence at our nation's Capitol is an assault on democracy. We thank the men and women of the US Capitol Police for working to restore peace. The actions at the Capitol are indefensible and not supported by the vast majority of Trump … Continue Reading
01.04.21
SIGNED INTO LAW: Lankford’s Bill to Help States Prepare for Disasters
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to applaud President Trump signing into law a bill to reduce the risks to communities of natural disasters. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act establishes loans that local governments coul… Continue Reading
