Press Releases
Joint Op-Ed in Tulsa World: Lifting ban on crude oil exports starts new chapter for Oklahoma
by U.S. Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe, and U.S. Representatives Frank Lucas, Tom Cole, Markwayne Mullin and Steve Russell Sunday
Revenue in Oklahoma is down by 12 percent. We face a $900.8 million shortfall going into 2016. Our state Secretary of Finance has said we are facing the biggest fiscal challenge since the 2008 recession, and our state education agencies have been told to prepare for large, across-the-board budget cuts midway through the school year. On top of all of this, a report from Oklahoma State University shows our state could lose more than 20,000 jobs through 2016 as a result of our unstable energy mark… Continue Reading
12.23.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Oklahoma Veterans Affairs Problems
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the Oklahoma Veterans Affairs Medical Center problems detailed in this week's USA Today newspaper: "Our veterans have sacrificed to keep us safe and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. I remain continually frustrated by the issues happening at both the Department of Veterans Affairs and in our Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, the front line where we need to honor the promises to treat service-relate… Continue Reading
12.21.15
BLOG: Why I Voted For The Omnibus Spending & Tax Relief Bill
by Senator James Lankford
Last week, Congress passed a spending bill that funds the federal government for the Fiscal Year, which ends September 30, 2016. The total cost of the omnibus bill was $1.1 trillion. For context, the entire annual federal budget is almost $4 trillion. The Omnibus was a collection of 13 bills, all compiled into one giant bill. The House of Representatives had the luxury of voting separately on several of the appropriations bills, But in the Senate, most of the bills were filibustered by the Democ… Continue Reading
12.21.15
Oklahoma Delegation: Tulsa Air National Guard Best Choice For F-35A
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation today sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Debra Lee James urging her to consider the 138th Fighter Wing (138th FW) in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the next home for the F-35A. The Air Force is looking for two National Guard candidate wings as future bases for the F-35A. While these aircrafts would not begin to arrive until 2022 or 2023, a decision is expected sometime over the next year. Criteria that will be considered in the f… Continue Reading
12.20.15
Senator Lankford, Jonathan Small in The Oklahoman: Plan, commitment needed to tackle nation's debt
by Senator James Lankford & Jonathan Small
Question: How do you burn down your house? Answer: Get distracted and forget about the pan on the stove top. Our nation is focused on very real concerns with terrorism, education, immigration, energy, our economy and much more. But in the middle of the chaos, if we forget about our national debt, the most vulnerable among us will suffer the most. The federal government overspends (deficit) around $450 billion annually, putting our nation $19 trillion in total debt. To put it in plain terms, un… Continue Reading
12.18.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after voting for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (also known as the omnibus and tax reform bill): "The omnibus and tax reform combined bill is a stark visual of the broken Senate process. Legislation in a democracy is often a boisterous compromise, but this bill was a complete backroom negotiation. It is full of great policy provisions mixed with half-baked ideas and muddy process. While I voted for … Continue Reading
12.16.15
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Announce Judicial Nominees for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford and Jim Inhofe today announced the nomination of Judge Suzanne Mitchell and Scott Palk for federal judgeship positions for the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. "I'm pleased that the White House has nominated Judge Suzanne Mitchell and Scott Palk to the U.S. Federal Court for the Western District, and I congratulate both nominees," said Inhofe. "This nomination process for these seats has been unnecessarily long, and so I… Continue Reading
12.10.15
Implementing GAO and OIG Recommendations Could Save Billions in Gov't Waste
WASHINGTON, DC - The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Senator James Lankford (R-OK), today held a hearing to examine the government efficiency and cost-saving recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the federal agency Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs), the primary auditing offices of the federal government. Specifically, the hearing highlighted the billions of dollars tha… Continue Reading
12.09.15
Senator Lankford Supports Bill to Repeal No Child Left Behind, Expand State Role in Education
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported the Every Student Succeeds Act (S. 1177), which replaces No Child Left Behind and returns education decisions for students back to parents, teachers, local school boards, and state officials. The bill eliminates the heavy-handed, Washington-based approach of No Child Left Behind, which forced more than 42 states, including Oklahoma, to operate under waivers from the Department of Education. "After years of bureaucratic top-down fede… Continue Reading
12.07.15
Senator Lankford in Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Social Security: A Promise that Isn’t Being Kept
by Senator James Lankford
When I took the oath of office in January to be the next U.S. senator for Oklahoma, I made a commitment to represent our great state and our values in Washington, D.C. While Oklahomans do not agree on many issues, most Oklahomans are very protective and very skeptical of Social Security. We know years ago the federal government made a promise to America's seniors. We also know that, for decades, individuals have paid taxes into the trust fund to support their own retirement and to provide an eme… Continue Reading
12.03.15
Senator Lankford Statement on FAST Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement after voting against the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act conference report. The bill passed by a vote of 83-16. "The FAST Act transportation bill maintains many of the highway reforms from previous years and builds on those programs by beginning the transition to more state control of highway construction. The new block grant structure for the Surface Transportation Program is a positive ste… Continue Reading
12.03.15
Senator Lankford Votes to Repeal Obamacare, Provide More Health Care Options
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted in support of the Restoring Americans' Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act (HR 3762), which repeals Obamacare and limits federal funding for organizations that perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood. The bill passed by a vote of 52-47. "Five years ago, President Obama made big promises to the American people," said Lankford. "He promised Americans that they could keep their health care plan, and he promised lower health care co… Continue Reading
12.02.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Affirms State Role in Health Care, Calls For Obamacare Repeal, Defunding Planned Parenthood
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate today in support of the Restoring Americans' Health Care Freedom Reconciliation Act, which will repeal Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood. Lankford also spoke in support of his own Health Care Compact amendment (#2877). The amendment would give Americans more health care choices by allowing states, like Oklahoma, to join a compact pilot program that gives them free… Continue Reading
12.02.15
Gov't Watch Groups Applaud Sen. Lankford’s “Federal Fumbles” Report
WASHINGTON, DC - Nonpartisan government watch and taxpayer protection groups are speaking out in favor of Senator James Lankford's new federal waste and solutions report, "Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball," which was released on Monday. Here is what they're saying: Citizens Against Government Waste Praises Sen. Lankford's "Federal Fumbles" Report The report not only provides details about each extravagant expenditure, it also reveals "how to recover the ball" with s… Continue Reading
12.01.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Talks Gov’t Waste, Federal Fumbles on the Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate tonight about America's massive federal debt and government waste. Lankford also discussed his recently released government waste and solutions report, "Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball." The report highlights examples of wasteful or duplicative spending, along with burdensome regulations but also offers policy solutions to each of the problems.… Continue Reading
11.30.15
Lankford Releases Waste Report: “Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball”
WASHINGTON, DC- During a press conference today, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released a federal government waste and solutions report. The report highlights examples of wasteful or duplicative spending, along with burdensome regulations but also offers policy solutions to each of the problems. Lankford's report, entitled, "Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball", will serve as guide for his office to work with federal agencies and departments to turn the waste highlighted in… Continue Reading
11.30.15
ADVISORY: Senator Lankford to Release Government Waste Report TODAY
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) will release his federal government waste and solutions report at a press conference today, November 30 at the U.S. Capitol. The report, entitled, "Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball," will highlight examples of wasteful or duplicative spending, along with burdensome regulations, but will also offer a policy solution to each of the problems. The Office of Senator Lankford released two short videos on social media this month to… Continue Reading
11.29.15
Senator Lankford in The Washington Times: The freedom to bow our heads and pray in public
by Senator James Lankford
Telling grieving families that our thoughts and prayers are with them in times of tragedy or hearing people say "God bless the United States of America" at the end of a speech are common. They are part of our American tradition. Culturally, it is acceptable to talk about prayer, and even ask God for his blessings in public settings, but what if it goes a step further? What if we actually pray in public - closing our eyes and bowing our heads where others can see? Is that still free in America? … Continue Reading
11.24.15
ADVISORY: Senator Lankford to Release Gov't Waste Report Monday
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) will release his federal government waste and solutions report at a press conference next Monday, November 30 at the U.S. Capitol. The report, entitled, "Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball," will highlight examples of wasteful or duplicative spending, along with burdensome regulations, but will also offer a policy solution to each of the problems. The Office of Senator Lankford released two short videos on social media this mo… Continue Reading
11.18.15
Senators Inhofe, Lankford Applaud Senate Passage of National Adoption Month Resolution
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed a resolution, co-sponsored by Oklahoma Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and James Lankford (R-OK), that supports the goals of National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day. November is National Adoption Month and November 21 is National Adoption Day. "I am always proud when Congress comes together in support of adoption," said Inhofe. "Since 2000, National Adoption Day has helped raise awareness and further educate people across the nation of the numb… Continue Reading
