Press Releases
Lankford Says Halting Border Wall Construction Compromises US National Security
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after President Biden made it one of his first priorities to terminate the Trump Administration's declared national emergency at our southern border and halt funding and ongoing construction of the physical barrier at the border in as soon as one week: "After setting up walls and fences throughout Washington, DC, for the inauguration, President Biden announced that he does not believe fences promote our national secur… Continue Reading
01.21.21
Lankford Decries Biden Administration’s Immediate Obstruction of Keystone XL
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement following President Joe Biden's climate change-related Executive Action, which includes a revocation of the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline: "The Keystone XL is the physical embodiment of Democrats' crusade against traditional energy. President Biden wasted no time turning back years of Americans' hard work developing, ironing out the route, and building this trans-border pipeline," said Lankford. "Th… Continue Reading
01.20.21
Senator Lankford Issues Statement on Confirmation of President Biden's Pick to Serve as Director of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement on the confirmation of Avril Haines, President Joseph Biden's nominee to serve as Director of National Intelligence: "It is vital that our nation has in place a Senate-confirmed Director of National Intelligence to provide leadership for our intelligence agencies. The Senate Intelligence Committee completed its hearings and background work days ago so that the Senate could make a determination on consent as early as possible. Th… Continue Reading
01.19.21
Lankford Questions Janet Yellen to Lead Treasury Department
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended the Committee on Finance hearing to consider the nomination of the Honorable Janet Yellen to serve as Secretary of the Treasury in the Biden Administration. Yellen previously served as the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018. Lankford has engaged extensively with the Treasury Department during his time in Congress and particularly surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Lankford's… Continue Reading
01.19.21
Lankford Pushed DHS Nominee to Continue to Secure US Southern Border
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a hearing of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to consider the nomination of the Honorable Alejandro N. Mayorkas to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. His questions focused on the need to continue the work of the Trump Administration to continue to strengthen our US southern border , prioritize drug interdiction and combat drug cartels, and enfo… Continue Reading
01.15.21
Lankford, Inhofe, Lucas, Cole, Hern, Mullin, and Bice Welcome Naming Of USNS Muscogee Creek Nation
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representatives; Frank Lucas (OK-03); Tom Cole (OK-04), citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus; Kevin Hern (OK-01); Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), citizen of Cherokee Nation; and Stephanie Bice (OK-05) made the following statements after the Honorable Gregory J. Slavo… Continue Reading
01.14.21
Lankford joins Colleagues to Stop PPP Loans to Planned Parenthood
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), along with 29 of their colleagues, today in a letter to US Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza to stop Planned Parenthood affiliates from receiving loans from the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The program is targeted to assist businesses with the highest need. Lankford called for DOJ to investigate improper funding to Planned Parenthood from the first round of PPP last year. In… Continue Reading
01.06.21
Lankford Condemns Violent, Destructive Protests at Capitol on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke during debate on certification of the electoral votes to condemn the acts of violence and destruction at the Capitol complex today as a mob of protestors stormed the Capitol building. Lankford also issued a joint statement this evening with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) on the election certification process and the need for attention to address concerns of voter fraud in the 2020… Continue Reading
01.06.21
Lankford and Daines Statement on Electoral Vote Certification
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Steve Daines (R-MT) issued a joint statement in response to today's protest and their previous plans to object to the Electoral College certification: "Today is a sad day for our country. The destruction and violence at our nation's Capitol is an assault on democracy. We thank the men and women of the US Capitol Police for working to restore peace. The actions at the Capitol are indefensible and not supported by the vast majority of Trump … Continue Reading
01.04.21
SIGNED INTO LAW: Lankford’s Bill to Help States Prepare for Disasters
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to applaud President Trump signing into law a bill to reduce the risks to communities of natural disasters. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act establishes loans that local governments coul… Continue Reading
01.02.21
Lankford Calls for Election Commission to Review 2020 Voter Fraud
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today announced he would join a group of Senators to propose an election commission to review the November 3, 2020, election process. "Millions of Americans, including thousands of Oklahomans, still have significant questions about the November 3 election process. We have reports of problems with voting machines, people voting twice, non-residents voting in a state, or people mysteriously voting after their death months or years before. In some sta… Continue Reading
01.01.21
Lankford: We Must Prioritize Service Members and National Security
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued a statement after the Senate voted to enact the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law: "I agree with President Trump that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act needs major reforms and it must be dealt with immediately. The Senate has held hearings in the past month and has brought up legislation to provide more accountability to the social media companies. But, if the NDAA fails, essential m… Continue Reading
01.01.21
Lankford’s Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act Becomes Law
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded final passage of his Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act. Lankford has fought for this legislation since 2011, to ensure completion of a functional federal program inventory that can be used as a tool for oversight of federal spending; to highlight good stewardship of tax dollars; and to provide greater transparency of duplication, inefficiency, and waste. "The Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act gives us an opportunity to finally see exactly how… Continue Reading
12.21.20
Lankford Supports COVID Relief, Slams Broken Process
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued a statement following passage of HR 133, Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes targeted relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The bill now heads to the President. "Oklahomans and Americans have endured a year with too many challenges. That includes waiting for relief that Congress should have provided months ago. We have agreed for months that another relief package is needed for those directly affected by Covid, th… Continue Reading
12.21.20
COVID Relief Bill Includes Lankford’s Provisions for America’s Nonprofits and Houses of Worship
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), member of the Senate Committee on Finance and Senate Committee on Appropriations, applauded the extension of a proposal that he successfully advocated for under the CARES Act, to allow a $300 deduction ($600 for those filing jointly) for charitable giving on federal income taxes in the latest COVID relief package, which the Senate is set to vote on later today. "Americans are at our best when we are helping each other. Our nation's nonprofits and… Continue Reading
12.20.20
PASSED: Senators Lankford, Smith & Rep. Mullin Ensure Legal Fund Access for Urban Indian Health Providers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) today applauded final passage of their legislation, Coverage for Urban Indian Health Provider's Act which passed both the US House and Senate this week. Lankford introduced the Senate bill in May in response to issues impacting Tribal health care. "Urban Indian health providers should not have to pay more for their liability insurance simply because they are in an urban area. This bi… Continue Reading
12.19.20
PASSED: Lankford’s International Call for Repeal of Blasphemy Laws
WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued a statement after a resolution he introduced passed the Senate unanimously. Lankford along with Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a resolution last year to call for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws. According to a recent report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), 84 countries still have criminal blasphemy laws, many of which punish individuals who engage in expression … Continue Reading
12.19.20
Lankford, Grassley, Hassan Introduce Retirement Bill to Give Small Businesses More Flexibility
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) along with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NN) 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). "Everyone knows that saving for retirement is important. These policies will make it easier fo… Continue Reading
12.18.20
Lankford, Inhofe Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) released the following statements after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine: "Operation Warp Speed is the result of public-private partnership and American ingenuity," said Lankford. "Through a great deal of hard work and innovative science, we have two safe and effective vaccines and more in the pipeline. Today the US Capitol's Office of Attending Physician encouraged Members of Congress, under the continuity of governmen… Continue Reading
12.18.20
Senate Passes Bill to Honor Clara Luper, Rename OKC Post Office
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK) to celebrate Senate passage of a bill to rename the downtown Oklahoma City post office in honor of civil rights hero Clara Luper. Passed by the House in September with the support of Oklahoma's full congressional delegation, the bill now heads to the White House to be signed into law. On August 19, 1958, Luper and the NAACP Youth Council led a civil rights sit-in at Oklaho… Continue Reading
