Press Releases
Senator Lankford Defends Religious Freedom in Major CPAC Speech
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a major speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) about the importance of the First Amendment right of religious freedom to the fabric of America. Lankford also made the case that protecting religious freedom for all faiths should remain a key tenet of conservatism. CPAC is the largest conference in America for conservative grassroots activism. The four-day conference has more than 10,000 attendees from all over … Continue Reading
03.01.16
Lankford, Johnson, Ayotte Bill Reining in Administrative Costs for Major Disasters Becomes Law
WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday night, the president signed into law S. 2109, the Directing Dollars to Disaster Relief Act of 2015, co-sponsored by Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH). The bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work to control and reduce its internal administrative costs for major disasters. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised concerns for years about FEMA's rising administrative costs… Continue Reading
02.26.16
Senator Lankford Invites Oklahomans to Java with James in Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released a video message inviting Oklahomans traveling to Washington, DC to a weekly constituent coffee called Java with James. The constituent coffee takes place every Wednesday that the Senate is in session from 9am-10am ET in Lankford's office, 316 Hart Senate Office Building. The video describes what visitors can expect when they visit and the amenities the office can provide constituents, such as tours of the US Capitol and the Library of… Continue Reading
02.25.16
Academics and Legal Experts Agree with Senator Lankford: Dept. of Education Actions Are Clearly Executive Overreach
WASHINGTON, DC - On January 7, Senator James Lankford challenged the Department of Education on their use of guidance documents that attempt to inappropriately establish regulatory-type policy changes for colleges and universities without going through the legal rule-making process. The Department of Education's response (nearly 2 weeks late), confirmed the suspicion for many academics, journalists and legal experts that these actions constitute executive overreach. Here is what they're saying… Continue Reading
02.24.16
Local Legislators: Federal Unfunded Mandates Harm State and Local Governments
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 on the federal government's regulatory relationship with state and local governments and challenges they face in implementing congressional and agency unfunded mandates. "Government that is closest to the people is often the most responsive and the least harmful," said Lankford. "When someone in D… Continue Reading
02.23.16
Senator Lankford: National Security Should Outweigh GITMO Campaign Promise
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today criticized President Obama's plan to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. "Now, more than ever before, we need a national security strategy that puts the safety of the American people before political campaign promises," said Lankford. "There is too much instability around the world to risk detainee recidivism. President Obama's announcement comes on the same day that Spanish and Moroccan police arrest a former Guantanamo deta… Continue Reading
02.18.16
As White House Prepares Cuba Trip, Senator Lankford Asks President Obama to Reevaluate Growing Diplomatic Ties with Cuba and India
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today asked the President to reevaluate his decision to open diplomatic and trade relations with Cuba and India because of their poor human rights and religious liberty records. In a letter, Lankford cited Cuba and India's restrictive speech policies and oppressive culture against religious minorities as a reason to halt the increasingly close relations. This letter comes on the same day the White House announces an historic upcoming trip for Pr… Continue Reading
02.14.16
Tulsa World Editorial Board: Lankford seeks reasonable rules change in Senate
by The Tulsa World
Every important piece of legislation that makes its way to the U.S. Senate deserves deliberate consideration. Deliberation and recalcitrance, however, are not the same. Over the last few decades, a rule in the U.S. Senate, originally intended to encourage constructive debate and deflect unnecessary bills, has morphed into a stalling tactic that too often leaves the Senate knotted. Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford fully understands the pros and cons of the current Senate rule; and, rather than en… Continue Reading
02.14.16
The Oklahoman Editorial Board: Lankford offers straight talk on dealing with U.S. budget
by The Oklahoman Editorial Board
In remarks on the U.S. Senate floor last week where he criticized the final budget of Barack Obama's presidency, Sen. James Lankford also took some time to explore just how troubling and serious are the nation's finances, and offered proposals he would like to see considered. They merit further mention. Obama's $4.1 trillion budget, Lankford noted, includes about $3.4 trillion in new taxes over the next decade and would increase spending by $2.5 trillion in that time. The U.S. had $10.6 trillio… Continue Reading
02.13.16
Senator Lankford Statement on the Death of Justice Scalia
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the death of Justice Antonin Scalia: "The loss of Justice Antonin Scalia is a tremendous loss for the Supreme Court and for America. He was a principled Constitutionalist that provided an excellent model for how a Supreme Court Justice should evaluate a case and interpret the original intent of the law. He lived a full life of many accomplishments, including success as a lawyer and scholar, as well as a … Continue Reading
02.12.16
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Introduce Legislation to Expand Firing Authority in the VA System
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today introduced the Veterans Affairs Accountability Act (S.2554), a bill that would expand authority at the Department of Veterans Affairs to allow directors of Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) chapters to remove or demote any VA employee within their network whose performance warrants such action. The bill would also authorize VISN directors to contract with an outside entity to conduct investigations of their VA … Continue Reading
02.12.16
Lankford Letter - February 12
CLICK HERE for the February 12, 2016 Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
02.11.16
Senator Lankford: Federal Regulatory Enforcement and Fines Must Be Balanced
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 on the federal government's use of discretion in setting and enforcing regulatory fines and penalties, as well as compliance assistance. Federal agencies have the authority to fine businesses and municipalities when purported violations of regulations have occurred. Specifically, the hearing exami… Continue Reading
02.09.16
Senator Lankford: Obama’s Budget is a Partisan Playbook of Spending Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on President Obama's $4.1 trillion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2017: "President Obama's budget has turned the annual White House budget into a partisan playbook of spending priorities that is more suited for a stump speech than a responsible governing document. When forced to vote on it in the Senate, Obama's budget has been voted down by a combined vote total of 294-1 in the last four years. "Under Pres… Continue Reading
02.09.16
Senator Lankford Slams President’s Budget, Calls for Reforms to Budget Process
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about today's release of the President's Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal and some needed reforms to the Congressional budgeting process in order to address our debt crisis. In the speech, Lankford proposes reforms such as biennial budgeting, government shutdown prevention incentives, and the elimination of budget gimmicks. President Obama's $4.1 trillion budget pro… Continue Reading
02.08.16
Senator Lankford in The Washington Post: Change Senate rules on votes to open debate
by Senator James Lankford
Here is something you can count on: at one time or another, House members and senators will blame Senate rules for the lack of progress in Congress. People across the fruited plain agree. Most people do not understand the complex rules of the Senate, but they do understand that very little is moving in Congress because of the upper body. The American people see the glacial pace of the Senate as out-of-touch with a 21st century era of instant communication and a fast-moving 24/7 news cycle. The g… Continue Reading
02.08.16
Senators Lankford, McCain, & Johnson Urge DHS to Clarify Expansion of Resettlement Program for Central American Refugees
Senators Lankford, McCain, & Johnson Urge DHS to Clarify Expansion of Resettlement Program for Central American Refugees Washington, DC- Senators James Lankford (R-OK), John McCain (R-AZ) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to request information regarding the Obama Administration's plan to authorize an additional $70 million to expand the Emergency R… Continue Reading
02.05.16
Senator Lankford Blasts Obama’s Proposed Tax on Oil
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the Obama administration's proposal to place a $10 tax on every barrel of oil: "At least the President has remained consistent, even in his last year he is still proposing new taxes. This is not only a higher tax, it is a new type of tax. Creating yet another type of gas tax would further complicate the tax code and raise prices on consumers. I can only assume this is the first of many new taxes that wil… Continue Reading
02.04.16
Senators Lankford, Cruz and Lee Press Government Contractor on Internet Censorship
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mike Lee (R-UT) today challenged federal contractor, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), to not support Chinese Internet censorship. In a letter to ICANN CEO Fadi Chehade, the senators raised serious concerns and requested information regarding Mr. Chehade's involvement with the World Internet Conference. The conference is organized by the Chinese government, a regime notorious for its censorship of th… Continue Reading
02.03.16
Senator Lankford Discusses Washington Gridlock at Conservative Policy Summit
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended the annual Heritage Action Conservative Policy Summit to discuss his vision to improve the way House and Senate Members hear from the American people and enact good policy. Lankford participated in a panel discussion on "Perspectives from the House and Senate," which looked at how each chamber of Congress works, and what they could do to improve the lives of people from all walks of life. Lankford spoke … Continue Reading
