Press Releases
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Slams Iran Nuclear Agreement On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate about President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran. Lankford, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has fully read the deal and has grave concerns about its implications for security and proliferation. During the speech, Lankford expressed concerns with the deal leading to Iran's ability to delay inspections of suspect nuclear sites for weeks and an end to the U.N. conventiona… Continue Reading
08.04.15
Senator Lankford Introduces Bill to Protect Conscience Rights of Americans
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and thirteen other Senators today introduced the Health Care Conscience Rights Act, a bill that would ensure that organizations, private businesses, institutions of higher education, health care providers, and insurance companies are not forced to sponsor insurance coverage that violates their religious or moral beliefs. "Our nation is divided on various issues, but the fabric of America is built on the First Amendment rights of free speech and the… Continue Reading
08.04.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Advocates For Pro-Growth, Fact-Based Energy Policy On Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate about domestic energy production, the Keystone Pipeline decision delay, and yesterday's EPA Climate Action Plan announcement. Below is the transcript from the speech: "I come from an energy state, Oklahoma. We truly do all of the above. We do coal, oil, gas, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal. We're just missing nuclear. Quite frankly, we probably have nuclear if … Continue Reading
08.03.15
Senator Lankford Statement on EPA Power Plan Rule
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) latest rule to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants: "The latest and final emissions rule for power plants released by the EPA has minimal environmental benefits with major economic repercussions to Americans," said Lankford. "This regulation appears to be more messaging than solution, but the pain to the American consumer will be profound. The rule… Continue Reading
07.29.15
VIDEO: Senators Lankford, Ernst and Paul Introduce New Bill To Redirect Planned Parenthood Funding To Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) today introduced a new bill to defund Planned Parenthood and redirect its taxpayer funding to other entities that provide women's health care services, including community health centers. Lankford, Ernst, and Paul led a working group for this bill (S.1881), which has support from Oklahoma's senior Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and the majority of the Republican Conference. Today, Majority Leader Mitch McConnel… Continue Reading
07.23.15
VIDEO: Lankford Calls For Dodd-Frank Reforms at 5-Year Anniversary, Discusses Regulatory Relief Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) delivered a speech Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the five-year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, often referred to as Dodd-Frank, and the dire need for reform. During today's Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Lankford discussed a framework proposal for traditional bank regulatory relief legislation that could be offered as a bill in the coming months. Dodd-Frank is a massive law c… Continue Reading
07.22.15
Senator Lankford Response To Social Security Trustees Annual Report: We Must Reform SSDI Now
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees Annual Report regarding the financial outlook of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). "The release of the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees Report is yet another warning that now is the time to reform SSDI," said Lankford. "We cannot continue down a path where we put seniors and disabled Americans at risk of losing their benefits. It's … Continue Reading
07.22.15
Senator Lankford Introduces Bill To Defund Planned Parenthood During Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced a bill to end taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood for a year while they are investigated for possible illegal practices. Specifically, the bill, Defund Planned Parenthood Act (S.1836) would set a one-year moratorium on Planned Parenthood funding from the government, unless the organization ceases performing abortions. This would allow more federal dollars to go toward organizations like community health centers, which serve low… Continue Reading
07.20.15
Senators Lankford, Heitkamp Introduce Regulatory Improvement Bills
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today announced they introduced three bills that will facilitate greater transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. The Smarter Regulations Through Advance Planning and Review Act would require agencies to plan for and conduct regular mandatory retrospective reviews; the Early Participation in Regulations Act of 2015 would allow Americans to participate in the regulatory process earlier; and the Pr… Continue Reading
07.20.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Explains Objection To Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, DC - Ahead of President Obama's Wednesday meeting with small business owners on the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, and a possible vote on it in the Senate this week, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released a video statement explaining his objection to the reauthorization, and possible reforms he would like to see. On June 30th, the Export-Import Bank's authorization expired. The Export-Import Bank is one of twenty federal agencies that participate in trade and export prom… Continue Reading
07.17.15
Lankford Letter - July 17
CLICK HERE for the July 17, 2015 Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
07.17.15
Senator Lankford on FoxNews.com: We cannot be a nation that does this to our children
by By Senator James Lankford
On Tuesday, an undercover video was posted online and reported on by various news outlets that showed a Planned Parenthood executive talking about the organization's operation of selling body parts of aborted children. After learning about it, I was immediately struck with deep emotion. It is hard to believe this is occurring in the United States of America. I realize that our nation remains divided on the issue of abortion, but surely we are not divided on the procurement and sale of human org… Continue Reading
07.17.15
Lankford Subcommittee Examines Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
WASHINGTON, DC - The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Senator James Lankford (R-OK), held a hearing Thursday to examine the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the federal regulatory process. The hearing was entitled, "Reviewing the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs' Role in the Regulatory Process" and included OIRA Administrator Howard Shelanski as the sole witness. Crea… Continue Reading
07.16.15
Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Hosts 10th Annual Oklahoma Prayer Breakfast in Washington
WASHINGTON, DC - The Oklahoma Congressional delegation today hosted its 10th Annual Oklahoma Prayer Breakfast at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC to pray for Oklahomans and celebrate the proud history and tradition of the Sooner State. Approximately 140 people attended, ranging from Oklahomans visiting the Capitol to native Oklahomans who now work in Washington. Former Senator Don Nickles, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1981-2005, emceed the event, while former Governor Frank K… Continue Reading
07.16.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Speaks About Planned Parenthood on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the recent Planned Parenthood video and their abortion practices to harvest body parts. Lankford also wrote an op-ed on the matter calling for Congress to end taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood and take up the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S.1553) to ban abortions after 20 weeks. At the time of the speech, Lankford was the only Senator to speak on the floor about the Pla… Continue Reading
07.15.15
Senator Lankford Statement on President Obama’s Visit to Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement and information on the topics being discussed by President Obama during his visit to Oklahoma: “Even with our many differences on policy, I, like many Oklahomans, pray for the President and want the best for our nation. As I have said before, the President of the United States is always welcome in Oklahoma. I welcome the President to the conversation regarding criminal justice reform, prison employee issues, Triba… Continue Reading
07.15.15
VIDEO: Senator Lankford Advocates for Greater Local Control of Education Policy, End to No Child Left Behind
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the ongoing education debate over No Child Left Behind and Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177). Since No Child Left Behind was passed in 2001, it has forced states to adopt mandates imposed by Washington, such as Common Core, and test-based academic requirements. The Every Child Achieves Act will give state and local governments more control of education decisions, and decrease federal te… Continue Reading
07.14.15
Senator Lankford Statement on Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement on the United States and five other nations reaching a nuclear deal with Iran: "I have reasonable concerns with what has been announced regarding the Iran nuclear agreement. While I remain hopeful for a diplomatic solution, Iran is the world's largest state-sponsor of terrorism according to our State Department-this fact is impossible to ignore. The initial reports suggest that the UN would have limited or de… Continue Reading
07.14.15
Senator Lankford in National Review: Judicial Deference Enables Agencies to Usurp Congress’s Legislative Power
by Senator James Lankford
"It is emphatically the province and duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is" declared Chief Justice John Marshall in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison. For centuries this statement has stood as one of the most famous in American jurisprudence. It was a declaration of the role and duty of the judicial branch within our constitutional structure. The Constitution provides for three separate and distinct branches of government, each having a "check" on the other, thus allowin… Continue Reading
07.13.15
The Oklahoman: No shortage of issues to occupy Oklahoma's newest senator
by The Oklahoman Editorial Board
James Lankford was a quick study in the U.S. House of Representatives, rising to a leadership position after just a few years. Now Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, is boning up on life in the U.S. Senate, having won election last year to replace the retiring Tom Coburn. Coburn was a fiscal hawk who was never bashful about criticizing members of both parties for what he considered unnecessary spending and government waste. He also warned often about the loss of liberty stemming from an expansive centr… Continue Reading
