Press Releases
Senator Lankford Discusses His Bipartisan Bill to Avert Government Shutdowns
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today discussed on the Senate floor the need for Congress to take up his bipartisan Prevent Government Shutdown Act to avoid any needless future government shutdown drama, keep federal workers working, and ensure Congress and the White House remain at the negotiating table to resolve federal funding issues until the job is done. The Prevent Government Shutdowns Act is a simple, effective solution to g… Continue Reading
07.18.19
Senators Lead Call for Implementation of Operation Safe Return
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Doug Jones (D-AL), Rob Portman (R-OH), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kevin McAleenan, and Attorney General William Barr to urge the implementation of Operation Safe Return-a pilot program using existing law and authorities to rapidl… Continue Reading
07.17.19
Senator Lankford Responds to White House Statement on Turkey Accepting Russian S-400
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after the White House announced they would not allow for the purchase of US F-35 by Turkey after they obtained the Russian S-400 air defense system: "When I first introduced a bill in April 2018 to stop the transfer of the F-35 to Turkey, it was the hope that they would change direction and not partner with Russia. Unfortunately, Turkey has ignored multiple warnings and they will have to face the consequences of… Continue Reading
07.17.19
Senators Lankford, Duckworth, Grassley Introduce Bill to Ensure Justice to US Victims of Terrorism
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), member of the Senate Finance Committee, Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today introduced the Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which seeks to provide justice for US victims of international terrorism while promoting the important security cooperation among US, Israeli, and Palestinian security forces. With respect to US victims of terrorism, the bill would stre… Continue Reading
07.17.19
Senator Lankford joins Letter to Secretary Bernhardt about Lesser Prairie Chicken
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK joined a letter to Interior Secretary Bernhardt expressing concern about the decision-making process for listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. Lankford was joined by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Cornyn (R-TX). In the letter the Senators remind regulators that legislative intent is clear-voluntary conservation efforts should be fully c… Continue Reading
07.16.19
Senator Lankford Questions Administration Officials on 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today had the opportunity to question officials from the US Census Bureau within the US Department of Commerce and officials from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) during a Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing about the upcoming 2020 Census. Lankford's questions, whose answers came from Census Director, Dr. Steven Dillingham, focused on efforts to improve Census efficiency by augmenting paper questionnaires with safe p… Continue Reading
07.16.19
Senators Lankford, Lee, Romney, Isakson, Perdue Introduce Bill to Repeal 180-Day Hiring Restriction for Military Retirees
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and David Perdue (R-GA) introduced a bill to repeal the 180-day waiting period that a military retiree must wait until he or she can enter a civilian job at the Department of Defense (DoD) for which he or she is qualified. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House. In order to protect the hiring process and ensure there is not a "revolving door," for which the 180-d… Continue Reading
07.15.19
Senator Lankford Releases Podcast on Solution to End Government Shutdowns
CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast. WASHINGTON, DC - The Office of Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released an episode of Lankford's podcast, The Breakdown with James Lankford. Lankford discusses the budget that must be agreed upon by the House, Senate, and White House; what must happen to avoid another government shutdown; and the next steps necessary to pass the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. Lankford and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act,… Continue Reading
07.12.19
Senators Respond to Turkey Accepting Russian Air Defense System
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following joint statement after reports today that a shipment of parts for the Russian S-400 air defense system had arrived in Turkey. The group of Senators led a bipartisan effort earlier this year that prohibits the transfer of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey. The Senate included this provision in the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) … Continue Reading
07.10.19
Senator Lankford Address Rising Prescription Drug Prices on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today addressed the rising cost of prescription drug prices on the Senate floor. Since January, the Finance Committee has held several hearings to better understand the complexity of drug pricing, including the steps a drug takes as it goes from research and development to the medicine The first of the multi-part series of hearings dealing with rising drug cost, Lankford focused on the 340B Drug Pricin… Continue Reading
07.10.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe, Representative Cole Support New Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada
Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler in support of the of the new Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center in Ada, Oklahoma. The letter is available here and pasted below. Dear Administrator Wheeler: We write today in support of the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center (Kerr Center) located in Ada, Oklahoma. This Center has consistently proven itself … Continue Reading
07.10.19
Senators Lankford, Rounds, Sinema, Representatives Cole, O'Halleran, Johnson Introduce Legislation to Reduce Laws Directed Toward Native Americans
Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) today introduced the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes Act. Their legislation would repeal several outdated federal laws that are discriminatory against Native Americans, including laws that allow for the forced removal of Native American children from their homes to be sent to boarding schools… Continue Reading
07.01.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Applaud Nomination for Oklahoma US Marshal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applauded the President's nomination of Kerry Pettingill to serve as United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. "Kerry Pettingill is an excellent choice to serve as United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma," said Lankford. "Kerry is well-qualified, has a strong reputation, and has served Oklahoma well as Director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security, through his work with the … Continue Reading
06.27.19
Senator Lankford Applauds Senate Passage of FY20 Defense Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a vote of 86-8. The NDAA is an annual defense bill to support the nation's military and to ensure national security for the US. Yesterday, Lankford spoke on the Senate floor in support of the NDAA and several of its key provisions that help support Oklahoma's defense community and to discuss the impact of Iran on our nation's military and national sec… Continue Reading
06.27.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe, Representative Hern Urge Army Corps of Engineers to Prioritize Tulsa Levees
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and Representative Kevin Hern (R-OK) wrote a letter to urge the US Army Corps of Engineers to complete the feasibility study for the Tulsa-West Tulsa levees by the end of this year. The feasibility study is a key first step to modernizing the aging levee system. The members also request the immediate implementation of critical improvements following the conclusion of the study. The letter is available here and pasted below. … Continue Reading
06.26.19
Senator Lankford Discusses National Defense Bill and Iran on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today took to the Senate floor to discuss that Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and praise the bipartisan work of Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI). This week, the Senate continued consideration of this complex annual legislation to fund our nation's military and to ensure national security for the US. Lankford specif… Continue Reading
06.26.19
Senator Lankford Supports Bipartisan Senate Supplemental Humanitarian Aid Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted to support the Senate's bipartisan supplemental humanitarian aid bill to provide additional necessary funds to the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS), Defense, and Justice to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border. The bill passed the Senate in a vote of 84-8. Earlier today, Lankford expressed great frustration over partisan bickering that has resulted in delaying essential border s… Continue Reading
06.26.19
Senator Lankford Shares Frustrations on Treatment of Children at Southern Border
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today shared his frustrations with the treatment of children at the Southern Border because of the lack of action by Congress to address needed changes to the legal immigration loopholes, such as the Flores Settlement, and Congress not approving supplemental funding immediately for immigration officials to care for the influx of children entering the country. During a Homeland Security and Governmental Aff… Continue Reading
06.21.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe, Representatives Mullin, Cole Welcome Naming of USNS Cherokee Nation
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Jim Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Representatives Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), citizen of Cherokee Nation, and Tom Cole (R-OK), citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, made the following statements after Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer announced the newest Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ship (T-ATS) would be named in honor of the Cherokee Nation for the service and cont… Continue Reading
06.20.19
Senator Lankford Applauds SCOTUS Decision Affirming Religious Liberty
Court will Allow Peace Cross to Stand WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after the US Supreme Court ruled in support of religious freedom on American Legion Et Al. v. American Humanist Assn. Et. Al., known as the Bladensburg Peace Cross case. Lankford joined the case as an amicus curiae. The case dealt with whether a public war memorial in Bladensburg, Maryland, which featured a "peace cross" was unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause of… Continue Reading
