Press Releases
Lankford, Inhofe, Boozman, Cotton Recognize 50 Years of Commerce on the MKARNS
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford today joined Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Boozman (R-AR), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) to recognize 50 years of commerce on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS) in Oklahoma. The MKARNS, also known as the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, is a key inland waterway navigation system for freight movement extending 445 river miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Muskogee, Oklahoma, through Arkansas, connecting to the Mississippi Rive… Continue Reading
06.01.21
Lankford, Bennet Encourage Retirement Savings and Leave Room for Family Emergencies
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Today, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) participated in the Tulsa Economic Empowerment Day with Nationwide, and he unveiled the Enhancing Emergency and Retirement Savings Act of 2021 to help Oklahoma families save for retirement and prepare for emergencies. The legislation would encourage participation in retirement plans by giving individuals additional flexibility and penalty-free access to funds should a family emergency hit. The bill was introduced last week with Senator Mic… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Lankford, Colleagues Demand Stronger Oversight of $45 Billion Biden Boost to Obamacare
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX-8) to send a letter to the Biden Administration imploring them to exercise greater oversight of the expanded Obamacare subsides enacted as a part of the $1.8 trillion American Rescue Plan. The members wrote in their letter, "The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that these subsidies are susceptible to significant improper payments. With the federal deficit proje… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Lankford, Cornyn, T. Scott, and Former Secretary of State Stress Need for US Sanctions on Iran As Biden Renegotiates Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) was joined by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tim Scott (R-SC) to introduce the Iran Sanctions Preservation Act. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also expressed his support for the measure. The legislation requires that the US maintain current sanctions targeting Iran's oil industry, financial sector, and supporters of terrorism until Iran suspends all of its destabilizing terrorist activities. The bill would ensure sanctions remain in place u… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Lankford Opposes Special Commission
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after he opposed a bill being pushed by the US House to establish a January 6th Commission: "Senator Schumer forced a political messaging vote on the flawed House commission this week because he knows that the Senate is currently finalizing a comprehensive bipartisan investigation involving six committees focused on Capitol security and lessons to learn from that terrible day. Senate Committees have already gathered… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Lankford, Rubio Push to Sanction Enablers of Palestinian Terrorist Groups
WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to reintroduced the Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act. Also joining Lankford and Rubio were Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Todd Young (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Josh Hawley (R-M… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Lankford, Rosen Lead Over Half the Senate to Condemn Recent Global Surge of Antisemitism, Call on Leaders to Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, led a group of 58 Senators-evenly divided by party-to introduce a bipartisan resolution condemning recent antisemitic incidents in the United States and around the world. The Senators' resolution also calls on leaders to denounce antisemitism and take specific steps to address it and prevent it. "We must all join together to fully condemn antisemitism… Continue Reading
05.27.21
Lankford Wants to Improve Customer Service for Oklahomans Interacting with Federal Agencies
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) to introduce Trust in Public Service (TIPS) Act, which would support the use of citizen and employee feedback to improve federal government communication and ways the federal government serves the public. Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The TIPS Act would establish federal customer experience as a means t… Continue Reading
05.27.21
Lankford, Blunt, Scott Urge Biden Administration to Protect Religious Freedom at Public Universities, Colleges
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in a letter to US Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging him to protect the First Amendment rights of faith-based student groups at public institutions of higher education. The letter follows a recent court filing that indicates the Department of Education is considering regulatory action related to the Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Uni… Continue Reading
05.27.21
Lankford, Braun, Daines Push to Outlaw Animal-human Hybrids
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Steve Daines (R-MT) offered an amendment, which received a vote on the Senate floor, to the United States Innovation and Competition Act to make it a crime to engage in chimera research or the creation of animal-human hybrid organisms. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced the original legislation in the House of Representatives. A chimera is an organism that contains cells from two distinct species, such as an animal-human h… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Lankford Disappointed in Proposal to List Lesser Prairie Chicken as Threatened
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement after the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act: "For Oklahoma farmers and ranchers who have spent thousands of hours and millions of dollars in voluntary conservation efforts to keep the lesser prairie chicken off the endangered or threatened list, today was a painful reminder of the need to reform the Federal Endangered Species Act. The lesser pra… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Lankford, Colleagues Press HHS to Prevent Discrimination of Individuals with Disabilities in Health Care
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to lead a bicameral letter along with Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Katie Porter (D-CA), and their colleagues to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra to push for action on the Department's stalled Request for Information (RFI) regarding Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, "Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Critical Health and Human Services Programs or Activiti… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Lankford Calls Out Democrats’ Newest Attempt to Cancel Traditional Energy
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's opening remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today raised strong concerns with Chairman Wyden's bill, the Clean Energy for America Act. In the Senate Finance Committee markup, Committee Democrats today brought a renewed push to try to "cancel" traditional energy and only incentivize investment in renewable and "clean" energy options. Lankford pointed out how the recent extreme weather event in Oklahoma and the region in February left … Continue Reading
05.26.21
Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Resolution Highlighting the Important History of the 100th Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre Adopted by Senate
CLICK HERE to watch video for the passage of the resolution. CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - The Oklahoma Congressional Delegation introduced and passed a resolution in the Senate unanimously on Tuesday to highlight and accurately tell the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The resolution also recognizes Oklahoma's historically Black towns. Senators Lankford (R-OK) and Inhofe (R-OK) made a procedural motion to call for the immediate passage of the r… Continue Reading
05.25.21
Lankford, Colleagues Seek to Improve Urban Indian Health Care
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) to introduce the Urban Indian Health Providers Facilities Improvement Act to pave the way for increased investment in the renovation and construction of Urban Indian health facilities. Lankford serves on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. "Oklahoma has the second-largest Urban Indian patient population and is proudly served in both Tulsa and Oklah… Continue Reading
05.25.21
Lankford, Colleagues Demand Answers on Status and Plans for Guantanamo Bay Prisoners As Biden Plans Afghanistan Troop Withdrawal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today led a letter to President Biden to demand a status update on his plans for continuing to detain terrorists at US facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since the Biden Administration has announced plans to withdraw our remaining troops from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021. Joining Lankford in sending the letter are Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), … Continue Reading
05.21.21
Lankford Joins Inhofe in Letter to Secretary Haaland Urging Against Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) sent a letter led by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) to Interior Secretary Haaland to urge against listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Lankford and Inhofe were joined by Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Cornyn (R-TX). The senators wrote: "We write regarding the Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) impending action later this month regarding the Endangered Species Act (ESA) … Continue Reading
05.21.21
Lankford, Johnson, Colleagues Request Information on National Institutes of Health’s Funding of Gain of Function Research
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) sent a letter to Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requesting information on gain of function research and NIH's 2014 moratorium on funding for that research. Lankford and Johnson were joined by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AK), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI). The senators sent 17 information requests and asked for NIH to … Continue Reading
05.21.21
Lankford, Rosen, Deutch, Smith Condemn Recent Global Surge in Antisemitism
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, and Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL) and Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, released the following statement condemning recent antisemitic incidents across the globe: "As co-chairs of the bipartisan, bicameral congressional task forces for combating antisemitism, we are alarmed and deeply conc… Continue Reading
05.21.21
Lankford, Colleagues Want to Block Democrats’ Anti-Free-Speech, Anti-Privacy Proposal
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), and their colleagues to introduce the Don't Weaponize the IRS Act, which would prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from being used as a political weapon against conservative nonprofit groups. From 2010 to 2012, the Obama IRS spent over two years systematically targeting conservative tax-exempt groups. The Trump administration released a final rule in May 2… Continue Reading
