Press Releases
Lankford Joins Colleagues to Introduce Legislation to Create Transparency for Law Enforcement-Related Shootings
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in reintroducing the Walter Scott Notification Act. This critical legislation requires states receiving federal law enforcement funding to report a number of details surrounding officer-related shootings."Our nation is hurting and crying out to fix underlying systemic injustices that have existed for far too long," said Lankford. "While no one b… Continue Reading
06.03.20
Lankford Calls on State Department To Process 1.6 Million Backlog of American’s Passport Applications
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), along with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), David Perdue (R-GA), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Boozman (R-AR), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) on Wednesday sent a letter to Secretary Mike Pompeo to seek answers to why Americans' passport applications have not been completed since March 19, 2020. The lack of processing has resulted in a backlog of 1.6 million applications. The State Department has continued to receive applicants payments for … Continue Reading
06.03.20
Judicial and Postal Nominees Testify in Front of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today chaired a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing to consider five nominations; three to be an Associate Judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and two to be United States Postal Service Governors. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, Lankford was asked to chair today's full committee hearing as his subcommittee has jurisdiction over the District of Columbia … Continue Reading
06.02.20
Lankford Works to Fill OMB Director, OPM Inspector General Vacancies to Protect Taxpayers, Federal Employees
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today encouraged timely Senate confirmation of two important Executive Branch nominees following the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's (HSGAC) nomination hearing for Russell Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Craig Leen to serve as the Inspector General (IG) for the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The OPM IG position has been vacant for years, being served by deputies and others. … Continue Reading
06.02.20
Lankford Issues Statement in Support of Executive Order to Advance International Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement of support following President Donald J. Trump signing an Executive Order to advance International Religious Freedom: "Many people across the world are still persecuted for daring to exercise what we as Americans know is a fundamental human right of all people-the right to choose, practice, or change their faith. Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Fallin, Dafa, Bahá'í, Ughur, Yezidi, Hindu, Cao Dai, and secular… Continue Reading
06.02.20
Senators Lankford, Cruz, Blackburn, Cornyn, Cotton, Inhofe, and Lee Submit Amicus Brief to Supreme Court in Voting Rights Act Case
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), James Inhofe (R-OK), and Mike Lee (R-UT) submitted a joint amicus brief asking the Supreme Court of the United States to hear the case of DNC v. Hobbs, because the lower court's decision would jeopardize scores of neutral voting laws that are designed to prevent and deter election fraud. The case involves challenges to two Arizona election laws, including a law crimi… Continue Reading
05.29.20
Lankford, Sinema Call for Oversight of Federal Coronavirus Response to Improve Preparedness for Future Emergencies
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management Subcommittee of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the federal government's response to the coronavirus outbreak in the US and provide recommendations to improve America's preparedness for a future pandemic or public health emergency. "One of Congres… Continue Reading
05.29.20
Senator Lankford Wants Pressure Put on Ortega Regime in Nicaragua for Human Rights Violations
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Murphy (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ted Cruz (R-TX), David Perdue (R-GA), and Ben Cardin (D-MD), in a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin encouraging the administration to hold members of the Ortega regime in Nicaragua accountable for human rights violations. "We write in support of additional action… Continue Reading
05.22.20
Lankford Joins Colleagues to Request Full SBA Investigation of Improper Planned Parenthood PPP Loans
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 33 of his Senate colleagues, and 94 Members of the House of Representatives in requesting that Jovita Carranza, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), conduct a full investigation into how 37 Planned Parenthood affiliates applied for and improperly received a total of $80 million in loans from the Paycheck Protectio… Continue Reading
05.22.20
Senators Lankford, Hassan, Shaheen Call for Oversight of KC-46 Aircraft Delays
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today called on the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate ongoing delays to the KC-46 aircraft program that are preventing the aircraft from being used in operational missions. Lankford and Hassan serve on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee-the top Senate oversight committee-and the GAO prioritizes requests from this committee. The delays to… Continue Reading
05.22.20
Ahead of Memorial Day, Senator Lankford Honors US Military & Their Families
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) recognized the sacrifices of the US Armed Forces and their families on the Senate floor ahead of Memorial Day. Last weekend, Lankford attended the funeral of fallen Oklahoma hero, TSgt. Marshal Roberts, who tragically lost his life in an overnight rocket attack in Iraq on March 11, 2020. Lankford previously gave an emotional tribute to TSgt. Roberts on the Senate floor. Transcript In … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford Supports Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined 15 new cosponsors of Senator David Perdue's (R-GA) bipartisan Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act. Lankford's support brings the total number of senators on the bill to 21. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would recapture a limited number of unused visas from prior years and allocate them to doctors and nurses who can help in the fight against COVID-19. The bill will not increase current immigration numbers and will not displace … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford, Inhofe Applaud Unanimous Passage of Resolution Honoring Life and Legacy of Judge West
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today applaud the unanimous Senate passage of their resolution to honor the life and contributions to the field of law of former Chief Justice of the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Judge Lee Roy West, who passed away on April 24, 2020. Judge West served on the federal court for more than 40 years and received numerous accolades throughout his career. West was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford Supports Decision for US to Withdraw from Treaty on Open Skies
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement in support of an announcement made from the US Department of State that the US will withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies: "President Trump made the right decision to pull the US out of the Treaty on Open Skies. Russia has taken advantage of this decades-old agreement numerous times. It disadvantages nations like ours that follow the rules. Open Skies has allowed Russian spies to gather intelligence in the air and … Continue Reading
05.21.20
Lankford Urges DOJ to Investigate Improper PPP Funding for Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MI), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), David Perdue (R-GA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Be… Continue Reading
05.20.20
Lankford Recognizes on Senate Floor the Work of Oklahoma Ag and Energy Industries during COVID-19
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's remarks on the Senate floor. WASHIINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today provided an update on the Senate floor of what the Oklahoma agriculture and energy industries are experiencing right now and what they see on the horizon with the impact of the coronavirus on markets, production, and workforce reductions. Lankford highlighted personal stories from Oklahoma agriculture producers in Jefferson and Washita Counties and their work to overcome the obstacl… Continue Reading
05.20.20
Lankford, Inhofe Praise Confirmation of Oklahoman John Heil
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today praised the Senate confirmation of Oklahoma attorney, Mr. John F. Heil, III, to serve as a US District Judge for the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma. Lankford spoke on the Senate floor in support of Mr. Heil immediately before his confirmation. "I am grateful for the Senate's attention to Mr. Heil's nomination to fill this vacancy in the US District Courts for all areas of Oklahoma," said Lankford. … Continue Reading
05.19.20
Lankford Comments on Planned Parenthood Accessing PPP Loans
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on the in response to news that Planned Parenthood applied for and received loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which it was not eligible for: "The Paycheck Protection Program was designed to support small businesses, non-profits, and their employees through the health crisis currently facing our nation. Planned Parenthood's budget of over one billion dollars a year and the explicit Small Business Ad… Continue Reading
05.19.20
Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution to Honor the Life of Dr. Tom Coburn
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution to honor the life and legacy of former Oklahoma Senator, Dr. Tom Coburn. Lankford and Inhofe both offered remarks on the Senate floor in tribute to the late Dr. Coburn. "The Senate is a better place because Dr. Coburn was in it," said Lankford. "When Oklahomans lost Dr. Coburn, our nation lost a man who fought for what's right and wielded his one voice and his one vote in the Senate to bring needed change. He eagerly challenged … Continue Reading
05.14.20
Lankford Votes to Protect Americans’ Privacy, Prevent Terrorism
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported reauthorizing three expired provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The three provisions considered today in the Senate concerned the use of wiretaps on multiple phones used by the same person, the collection of business records, and the "lone wolf" provision, which authorizes the FISA court to permit surveillance of an individual who isn't formally tied to a foreign government. The bill passed the Senate n a … Continue Reading
