Press Releases
Lankford Asks for Receipts before Spending More Money
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today called on his colleagues to provide transparency on the upcoming $1.9 trillion Democrat COVID-19 bill, which the Senate is expected to begin debating in the coming days even though Members have not yet seen it. Lankford asked the Senate the reasonable questions of whether senators could read the bill first and whether senators could get real numbers on what is unspent and what can be reallocated from the funding already provided. Lankford par… Continue Reading
03.03.21
Lankford Seeks to Prevent Discrimination of Legal Businesses by Banks
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) to introduce the Fair Access to Banking Act today, a bill to prevent discrimination by banks and financial service providers against constitutionally protected industries and law-abiding businesses. The bill builds off the Trump Administration's Fair Access Rule, which Lankford supported. "Trying to 'cancel' certain legal industries, like energy companies or gun manufactures, by pressuring lenders not to loa… Continue Reading
03.03.21
Lankford Opposes President Biden’s Pick to Lead HHS In Committee Vote
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today during a vote in the Senate Finance Committee Business Meeting opposed the nomination of Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Lankford questioned Becerra during a hearing last week noting his hostility toward conscience protections and his lack of experience to lead such a critical agency during a global health pandemic. "During a pandemic we need a health care professional leading t… Continue Reading
03.02.21
Lankford Fact-checks Democrats’ COVID Bill
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today gave a fiery fact-check of President Biden's and congressional Democrats' pork-filled $1.9 trillion funding bill masquerading as a COVID-19 relief package. Lankford cited huge pots of money supposedly allocated to education and vaccines when most of the education dollars are not slated to be spent until next year and vaccine-distribution dollars passed in December have still not been fully spent by the C… Continue Reading
03.02.21
Lankford Pushes for Swift Implementation of His Government Transparency Bill
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing entitled, "GAO's 2021 High Risk List: Addressing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse." Lankford focused his questions on the completion of the US Census and updates on telework and remote working for federal employees. Lankford also raised his Taxpayers-Right-to-Know Act, which became law after a decade of advocating for tran… Continue Reading
03.01.21
Lankford, Coons, Tillis Advocate for a Senate Human Rights Commission
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, to introduce a resolution to establish a Senate Human Rights Commission, modeled after the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in the US House of Representatives. If passed, the resolution would create a bipartisan commission to examine human rights violations through regular briefings and events and promote human rights initiatives in the Se… Continue Reading
03.01.21
Lankford, Daines, and Colleagues Want to Permanently Ban Earmarks
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), led by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and several of their colleagues today introduced legislation to permanently ban earmarks. This follows an agreement by House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro to bring the practice back to Congress. Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Rand Paul (R-KY) joined Lankford and Daines in support o… Continue Reading
02.26.21
Lankford Honors Contributions of Black Oklahomans
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) honored two outstanding Black Oklahomans in his annual floor speech in honor of Black History Month. Lankford shared the legacy and accomplishments of the late Oklahoma Senator Maxine Horner and the many contributions and tenacious public service of his friend, retired federal judge, Vicki Miles-LaGrange. Transcript In 1932, 11 years after the Tulsa Race Massacre, Maxine Horner was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Lankford Calls on CDC to ‘Step Up’
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the Senate floor to provide Oklahoma seniors, those with comorbidities, teachers, and others who've received the full COVID-19 vaccine regiment with up-to-date guidance on when and in what ways it is safe to move forward with their daily lives now that they are completely vaccinated. On February 12, Lankford sent a letter to the CDC Director re… Continue Reading
02.24.21
Lankford Fights for Conscience Rights in Questions to Becerra
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Committee on Finance hearing to consider the nomination of California Attorney General and US Representative Xavier Becerra to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Lankford pressed Mr. Becerra on how he plans to protect the conscience rights of Americans and ensure faith-based entities receive fair treatment from the federal government. Lankford recently jo… Continue Reading
02.24.21
Lankford to Oppose President Biden’s Interior Nominee
CLICK HERE to watch Part One of Lankford's Q&A. CLICK HERE to watch Part Two of Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) participated in his first hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, following his selection to the Committee for the 117th Congress. The two-part hearing focused on consideration of the nomination of Rep. Debra Haaland (D-NM) to serve as the Secretary of the Interior. Lankford's questions in the hearing focused on energy leas… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Lankford, Colleagues Protect Health Care Workers from Discrimination
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today reintroduced the Conscience Protection Act of 2021 to protect healthcare providers, including health insurance plans from government discrimination if they decline to participate in abortions. The Conscience Protection Act also provides a private right of action for victims of discrimination. "No one should have to check their faith or moral convictions at the door when they enter their workplace. Unfortunately, many health care workers don'… Continue Reading
02.22.21
Lankford, Colleagues to President Biden: Withdraw Becerra Nomination to Serve as HHS Secretary
WASHINGON, DC. - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Representative Dan Bishop (R-NC), and 73 other Members of Congress today in a letter urging President Joe Biden to withdraw California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's nomination to serve as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). In part, the members wrote, "We write to express our grave concerns regarding the nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as the next Secr… Continue Reading
02.13.21
Lankford Votes to Acquit Donald Trump
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issues statement on his vote to acquit Donald Trump on the Article of Impeachment: "I cannot support removing someone from office who is not in office. An impeachment trial after someone has left office is unconstitutional." The former president was acquitted by the Senate. Prior to the trial, Lankford supported a point of order on the constitutionality of the trial of a former president. The US Constitution outlines the basic process for impeac… Continue Reading
02.12.21
Lankford: CDC Must Clarify Guidance for How Oklahomans Who Received Vaccine Can Return to Normal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requesting guidance for how people, particularly seniors, can reengage with their families and communities after they have received the vaccine. Lankford noted in his letter the specific isolation senior adults have endured over the last year since the start of the pandemic and how they need clear direction on how to balance preventative measures while gettin… Continue Reading
02.11.21
Lankford Joins Cotton and Colleagues to Warn President Biden of Immigration Crisis, Health Risks
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) sent a letter urging President Joe Biden to reassess and reverse his executive actions on immigration, which have led to increased illegal border crossings by unvetted and unvaccinated aliens in the middle of a pandemic. The letter may be found here. Full text may be found at the bottom of this release. Cosigners of the letter include: John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Lee (… Continue Reading
02.11.21
Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Thanks OK National Guard for Protecting US Capitol
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), along with Representatives Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Frank Lucas (OK-03), and Tom Cole (OK-04) sent a letter to the Oklahoma National Guard, thanking them for their exemplary service at the US Capitol last month. "It was my highest honor to personally thank our Oklahoma National Guard members, who kept everyone safe during President Biden's inauguration," said Lankford. "Their fami… Continue Reading
02.09.21
Lankford, Colleagues Advocate to Protect Hongkongers From Chinese Oppression
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chris Coons (D-DE) to reintroduce the bipartisan Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act, which would ensure those Hongkongers who peacefully protested Beijing's corrupt justice system and have a well-founded fear of persecution ar… Continue Reading
02.09.21
Lankford Questions OMB Nominee Whose Social Media Tone Doesn’t Match President Biden’s Call for Unity
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Ms. Neera Tanden to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Lankford questioned Ms. Tanden on disparaging remarks she's made on social media, especially her depiction of people of faith as using their faith as a "cudgel." Lankford also asked Ms. Tanden about President Biden… Continue Reading
02.08.21
Lankford Joins Lee to Support Employees’ Flexibility on How to Use Their Overtime
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined an effort let by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and 11 of their colleagues to introduce the Working Families Flexibility Act, which would give employees more flexibility on how to use their overtime benefits. "COVID-19 has taught our nation that a little flexibility for working families goes a long way," said Lankford. "Allowing private-sector workers in Oklahoma the flexibility to choose paid time off or work over-time for extra pay is a good step… Continue Reading
