Press Releases
Senator Lankford Calls on US Fish and Wildlife to Remove American Burying Beetle from the Endangered Species List
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to the Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Daniel Ashe, to call on the agency to delist the American Burying Beetle under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The beetle was first listed as an endangered species in 1989 when declining populations were only found in Rhode Island and Oklahoma. Today, the beetles' populations continue to grow in Oklahoma and Nebraska. The comment period for the petition to remove the Americ… Continue Reading
05.06.16
Lankford Letter - May 6
CLICK HERE for the May 6, 2016 Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
05.04.16
Senator Lankford, Congressman Forbes Recognize National Day of Prayer with Special Prayer Caucus Video
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional Prayer Caucus Co-Chairmen Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Congressman Randy Forbes (VA-04) today released a special video to recognize the National Day of Prayer, celebrate the role of prayer in America, and share the story of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. CLICK HERE to watch the video. The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a join… Continue Reading
05.02.16
Senator Lankford: Oklahoma Needs More Foster Families
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on National Foster Care Month (May) and the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative: "National Foster Care Month is a time to raise awareness and think about the plight of vulnerable children currently in America's foster care system. Children often come into care from very troubling situations; all of us are grateful for the many selfless foster parents, special advocates, mentors and social workers who patiently serve… Continue Reading
04.29.16
Senator Lankford, Congressman Forbes Lead Congressional Inquiry Regarding Missing Bibles at Veteran POW/MIA Memorials
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Rep. J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, sent a letter Thursday to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, seeking answers as to why Bibles have been removed from Missing Man Table displays at multiple Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics around the country, including in Youngstown and Akron, Ohio and Houston, Texas. "We have been informed that Bibles as part of Missing Man Table displays have been r… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Senator Lankford Calls For Action on Government Efficiency, Duplication and Transparency
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the government efficiency and duplication. The speech focused on his efforts to make government more transparent, reduce duplication and eliminate wasteful spending. Lankford applauded yesterday's Senate hearing on duplication and the recent release of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office's (GAO) "Annual Report of the Additional Opportunities to R… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Senator Lankford Receives American Conservative Union Award
CLICK HERE to view the photo. WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has received the American Conservative Union "Award for Conservative Excellence" for his legislative record in 2015, receiving a score of 96 out of 100, which ties the second highest score in the U.S. Senate. "Senator James Lankford is a principled constitutional conservative who is deserving of this award," said American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp. "We are excited about new leaders like James… Continue Reading
04.27.16
Senators Inhofe, Lankford Statement on Meeting with Judge Garland
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and James Lankford (R-OK) today met with Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland to extend their deep appreciation for his critical role following the 1995 investigation into the Oklahoma City Bombing. Following the Court's vacancy, both Senators firmly stated that they are not supporting a President Obama nomination to the Supreme Court during this presidential election year. "During our time with Judge Garland, we extended Oklahoma's gratitude … Continue Reading
04.27.16
Senator Lankford Continues to Press Government Duplication Issues
CLICK HERE to view the Q&A WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today further examined the issues of program duplication during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on "Government Reform: Ending Duplication and Holding Washington Accountable." The hearing focused on the US Government Accountability Office's (GAO) "Annual Report of the Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits." Former US… Continue Reading
04.26.16
Senator Lankford Statement on US v. Sterling Oral Arguments
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement today on the start of oral arguments on Wednesday in US v. Sterling case before the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces: "In 1993, Congress passed and President Clinton signed, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), providing broad protections for religious exercise. RFRA reinforces our first freedom found in the Constitution, the freedom of religion. Our service members defend freedom for us every day-the… Continue Reading
04.25.16
Sen. Lankford and Rep. Smith Demand Information From FDA About Loosening of Abortion Drug Rules
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04) today led a bicameral letter to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to express concern and request information about the agency's recent decision to change policies regarding the abortion drug mifepristone. The letter was joined by 73 lawmakers. In the letter the lawmakers seek additional information in light of the controversial origins of the original approval of mifepristone in the United States. At t… Continue Reading
04.25.16
The Oklahoman Editorial Board: Federal officials disregard their land management failures
by The Oklahoman Editorial Board
In the private sector, if someone allows a home to become dilapidated because he lacks the funds to properly maintain it, no one argues the situation will improve if that person buys another home. Yet that's the model recently embraced by federal lawmakers. The federal government owns more than 600 million acres of land in the United States, which is roughly 30 percent of the entire country and as much as half of some Western states. That number is likely to increase, thanks in part to the fed… Continue Reading
04.22.16
Senator Lankford Demands Answers From Obama Administration on Latest Iran Nuclear Side Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the news that the Obama administration is purchasing from Iran 32 tons of heavy water, material used to produce atomic-weapons, to help them reach their Nuclear Deal responsibility: "Today's announcement that the US will buy Iran's heavy water, a key component of nuclear-weapon development, continues to reinforce my suspicions about the President's Nuclear Deal. Each day brings a new American concession and a… Continue Reading
04.21.16
Senator Lankford Offers Amendment to Eliminate Wasteful Budget Gimmick in Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today offered an Appropriations amendment to eliminate a commonly-used budget gimmick with the Crime Victims Fund (CVF). Specifically, the amendment was offered during today's Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science markup hearing to change the way that the Congressional Budget Office scores the CVF obligation limitations in future years, which would prevent a gimmick that allows for the same resources to be used as 'new' offsets for other program… Continue Reading
04.21.16
Senators Lankford, Heitkamp Introduce Bill to Update Cultural Educational Program for Native Students
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today introduced bipartisan legislation to update decades-old data the federal government uses to distribute funds to benefit Native American students. The data currently excludes about 500,000 Native students from accessing federal resources they could be eligible for that would help address many of the students' unique academic and cultural needs. The bill is called the Johnson-O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Prog… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senator Lankford Supports Oklahomans for US District Court
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of two nominees for the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Judge Suzanne Mitchell and Scott Palk. "Suzanne's and Scott's background and work in Oklahoma make them uniquely qualified to serve our state as federal judges," said Lankford. "I believe they are devoted to public service and will uphold both the rule of law and integrity of the court. I ask my Senate col… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senator Lankford Opposes Energy Policy Modernization Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after he opposed the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S.2012). "While I appreciate the intent of the bill and support several provisions, such as expediting permits so the US may continue to export some of our bountiful natural gas resources, I cannot support legislation that uses taxpayer dollars flippantly," said Lankford. "The bill encourages an expansion of federal land holdings by permanently reau… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Denounces Politicization of OKC Bombing Anniversary
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the Anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the politicization of the Anniversary in the debate over the Supreme Court Justice nomination process. Excerpts: …since February, Republicans have been very consistent, myself included, to say this is not the time to have a Supreme Court Justice go through the nomination process. In the hours after Jus… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Offers Amendment to Reform Land and Water Conservation Fund
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 and his amendment (#3210) to reform the broken Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Specifically, the amendment would require spending on land acquisition to not exceed spending on maintenance; require that land acquisitions funded through the LWCF include funding for maintenance needs on the land to be acquired; … Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Supports Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016, which includes several measures to increase vetting and screening of airport employees, expand enrollment to the TSA PreCheck program to expedite passengers through security lines, increase standards for hiring air traffic controllers and enhance security for international flights bound for the US. The bill also addresses cybersecurity threats that face… Continue Reading
