Press Releases
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
05.21.21
Lankford, Tillis, Colleagues Condemn Decision to Support Funding for Sanctuary Cities
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Braun (R-IN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) to send a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting Attorney General Merrick Garland release guidance memos produced by the DOJ that reinstated funding for sanctuary cities and jurisdictions. "Today, at least 11 states have … Continue Reading
05.20.21
Lankford, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Stop Giving Away Medical Technology to China
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and their colleagues to send a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai asking them to reverse the Biden Administration's decision to give US COVID intellectual property to China. Lankford also filed an amendment today to the United States Innovation and Competition Act that would prohibit the Biden Administration from implementing the decisi… Continue Reading
05.20.21
Lankford Alarmed at Biden Administration’s Move to Waive Nord Stream 2 Sanctions
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after the Biden Administration signaled it would not move forward with sanctions on those involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would transport natural gas from Russia to Germany and threaten the energy security of the US and our European allies: "President Biden just made President Putin and the Kremlin very happy, which is another huge mistake. President Biden blocked the Keystone Pipelin… Continue Reading
05.20.21
Lankford, Johnson, Paul, Scott and Hawley Request Documents on CDC’s School Reopening Guidance
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rand Paul (R-KY), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, requesting information and documents related to apparent political interference by teachers' unions in the CDC's school reopening guidance. Senator Johnson is leading an effort in which he and four other mem… Continue Reading
05.20.21
Lankford, Grassley, Hassan Give Small Businesses More Flexibility with Retirement Savings Options
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to introduce the Improving Access to Retirement Savings Act. This bill will build off the successful implementation of the SECURE Act and make improvements so that more organizations and small businesses can participate in multiple employer plans (MEPs). "Oklahoma families and employers should have greater access to retirement plans that best fit their needs," said Lankford. "By making … Continue Reading
05.19.21
Lankford Slams DC Democrat Policies Keeping Oklahomans from Going Back to Work
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today shared his frustrations on the Senate floor after Democrats voted to extend unemployment benefits through September 2021, which has caused Oklahoma workers not to fill numerous job openings because employers can't compete with federal benefits that should have been phased out when the economy reopened. In his remarks Lankford applauded Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's (R-OK) announcement this… Continue Reading
05.19.21
Lankford, Johnson, Colleagues Call Out President Biden’s Lack of Open, Transparent Government
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) in a letter with 19 of their Senate Republican colleagues in calling on President Biden to reverse his executive order that revoked federal agencies requirement to post guidance documents in a searchable database. The executive order was modeled after bipartisan, bicameral legislation led by Johnson and Lankford, the Guidance Out of Darkness Act (GOOD Act) that was approved by voice vote by the Senate Committee on H… Continue Reading
05.18.21
Lankford, Ernst Oppose Biden Administration’s Efforts to Give Tax Dollars to Abortion Providers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and their colleagues to oppose the Biden Administration's efforts to direct tax dollars to abortion providers. In a public comment letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra, the senators urged him to withdraw the Proposed Rule on the Title X family planning program, which would eliminate the Trump administration's 2019 Protect Life Rule. If finalized, the proposed rule would direct tens of… Continue Reading
05.18.21
Lankford Warns Biden Infrastructure Plan Will Add to Trillion-dollar Debt
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled, "Funding and Financing Options to Bolster American Infrastructure." Lankford's questions to the panel of witnesses focused on areas Oklahomans agree are actual infrastructure including transportation needs and how to pay for them, federal regulations impacting states and local governments and how they increase construction costs an… Continue Reading
