Press Releases
Lankford, Grassley, Hassan Give Small Businesses More Flexibility with Retirement Savings Options
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) 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). "Oklahoma families and employers should have greater access to retirement plans that best fit their needs," said Lankford. "By making … Continue Reading
05.19.21
Lankford Slams DC Democrat Policies Keeping Oklahomans from Going Back to Work
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today shared his frustrations on the Senate floor after Democrats voted to extend unemployment benefits through September 2021, which has caused Oklahoma workers not to fill numerous job openings because employers can't compete with federal benefits that should have been phased out when the economy reopened. In his remarks Lankford applauded Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt's (R-OK) announcement this… Continue Reading
05.19.21
Lankford, Johnson, Colleagues Call Out President Biden’s Lack of Open, Transparent Government
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) in a letter with 19 of their Senate Republican colleagues in calling on President Biden to reverse his executive order that revoked federal agencies requirement to post guidance documents in a searchable database. The executive order was modeled after bipartisan, bicameral legislation led by Johnson and Lankford, the Guidance Out of Darkness Act (GOOD Act) that was approved by voice vote by the Senate Committee on H… Continue Reading
05.18.21
Lankford, Ernst Oppose Biden Administration’s Efforts to Give Tax Dollars to Abortion Providers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and their colleagues to oppose the Biden Administration's efforts to direct tax dollars to abortion providers. In a public comment letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra, the senators urged him to withdraw the Proposed Rule on the Title X family planning program, which would eliminate the Trump administration's 2019 Protect Life Rule. If finalized, the proposed rule would direct tens of… Continue Reading
05.18.21
Lankford Warns Biden Infrastructure Plan Will Add to Trillion-dollar Debt
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled, "Funding and Financing Options to Bolster American Infrastructure." Lankford's questions to the panel of witnesses focused on areas Oklahomans agree are actual infrastructure including transportation needs and how to pay for them, federal regulations impacting states and local governments and how they increase construction costs an… Continue Reading
05.17.21
Lankford Supports Decision to Get Oklahomans Safely Back to Work
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued a statement following Governor Kevin Stitt's announcement on getting Oklahomans back to work: "At the start of the pandemic, Congress came together to pass legislation to address the real needs of Americans. We had a call to support those who were out of work due to the shutdowns across our state. Oklahoma is open, is safe, and businesses are hiring. I support Governor Stitt's plan today to end the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. W… Continue Reading
05.17.21
Lankford, Cruz, Gallagher Recognize Israeli Sovereignty
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) to introduce the Israeli Sovereignty Reassurance Act of 2021 (ISRA), legislation to prohibit the State Department from reversing the US recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. ISRA ensures no funds go to "prepare, propose, draft, review, or promulgate any regulation, guidance, or executive order or to otherwise implement, administer, or enforce any policy" reversing th… Continue Reading
05.17.21
Lankford Joins Amicus Brief to Protect Babies With Down Syndrome
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to file an amicus brief in Little Rock Planning Services v. Rutledge, urging the court to uphold Arkansas's law to protect unborn babies with Down syndrome. For text of the brief, click HERE. Other supporters of the brief include 65 members from the House of Representatives and Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jo… Continue Reading
05.13.21
Lankford Warns Against Democrats’ Dangerous Election Takeover Bill
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to warn Oklahomans and the nation about the Democrats' so-called "For the People Act" or H.R. 1/S.1. The bill is being sold to the American people as necessary to protect election integrity, but it is actually a massive federal takeover of our election and a way to force states to adopt dangerous practices like voter intimidation, voter suppression, federally funded … Continue Reading
05.13.21
Lankford Questions Head of Homeland Security on Failure to Secure Southern Border
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled, "DHS Actions to Address Unaccompanied Minors at the Southern Border," at which Lankford finally had an opportunity to question Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on why the crisis at the southern border is not being addressed. Lankford addressed his frustrations on the lack… Continue Reading
05.13.21
Lankford, Colleagues Stand with Israel
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) along with 42 Republican colleagues to urge President Biden to stand with our closest ally in the region, Israel. As Israel is under attack from Iranian-back terrorists, the Biden Administration is negotiating and potentially offering sanctions relief to Iran, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. The Senators called on President Biden to immediately end negotiations with Iran, and make clear that sanction… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Lankford, Colleagues Demand President Biden Secure the Southern Border, Address Crisis
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and their colleagues in a press conference on the ongoing national security and humanitarian crisis at the US southern border, created by President Joe Biden's failed policies of open borders and amnesty. Tomorrow Lankford will participate in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on the southern border, and Lankford will fina… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Lankford Calls Out Biden For Sending NASA Rocket Scientists to the Southern Border Instead of Finishing the Wall
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) called out the Biden Administration for their continued failure to address the crisis at the southern border while secretly recruiting a "volunteer force" of federal employees from NASA, Department of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Department of Agriculture to work at the border transferring migrants with very few training requirements. Lankford wrote, "I write to express grave concern about the ongoing crisis at our Southern bo… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Lankford, Cotton Lead Letter to Warn Against Doing Business with Iran
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) led a group of 14 Republican senators in a letter to the international business community warning them about resuming business with Iran if US sanctions are lifted. In part, the senators wrote, "Your member companies may see this potential removal of US sanctions on Iran as a lucrative opportunity. Trust us, they should not. If US sanctions on Iran were temporarily lifted and these firms decided to reenter the Irania… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Lankford Points Out Noticeable Lack of US-Focused Trade Priorities in Biden Trade Agenda
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing entitled, "The President's 2021 Trade Policy Agenda." Lankford's questions to witness Katherine Tai, the US Trade Representative (USTR), focused on providing tariff exclusion clarity and being forward-looking on our international trade policies as well as the need to protect American intellectual property, especially American-made vaccines th… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Lankford Pushes Strengthened Security Against Ongoing Cyber Attacks From Russia
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A on YouTube. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled, "Prevention, Response, and Recovery: Improving Federal Cybersecurity Post-SolarWinds," in which Lankford asked questions about cyber security readiness in the wake of ongoing threats from ransomware and other cyber-attacks, including the recent Colonial pipeline. The hearing focused on the late-202… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Lankford, Colleagues Highlight Need for Government Watchdogs
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to urge President Biden to swiftly fill Inspectors General (IG) vacancies to help safeguard taxpayer dollars and strengthen independent oversight of federal agencies. The letter emphasizes the importance of Senate-confirmed IGs to Congress' oversight efforts and notes Senate-confirmed IGs are likely to be more independent than those in acting roles. "As the members of the Senate Committee … Continue Reading
05.05.21
Lankford Joins Franklin Graham to Recognize the 70th Anniversary of the National Day of Prayer
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) is joined by Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, to recognize the power of prayer and its necessity for our nation and leaders. Thursday, May 6, 2021, marks the70th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer, a day when people in communities all across the country will join together in prayer. Lankford will recognize the day at Stillwater Church of Christ in Stillwater, Oklahoma. T… Continue Reading
05.05.21
Lankford, Hill Press Biden on Need for US Leadership to Promote International Religious Freedom
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Congressman French Hill (R-AR) led a bicameral letter to President Biden on the pressing need for a nominee to the position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. The Members also emphasized the importance of America remaining a world leader in defending and promoting religious liberty for all people of any faith, especially in countries where people are violently targeted for their faith such as Burma, China, and Syria. … Continue Reading
05.05.21
Lankford Joins Call for Investigation into COVID-19 Nursing Home Deaths
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) and a group of Senate Finance Committee Republicans to call on Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) to open an investigation into New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's cover-up of New York's nursing home death toll. "This committee has direct oversight on this issue and a responsibility to act when HHS is unable to do its job due to a state deliberately misleading investigators or health officials. Nursing homes have been held ac… Continue Reading
