Press Releases
Lankford Issues Statement on President Trump’s Budget Proposal to Congress
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued a statement on the released of President Trump's Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal: "The biggest issue we face as a nation is our growing national debt and skyrocketing deficits. Nearly three-quarters of our unchecked spending is on auto-pilot and continues to dramatically rise each year. Now is the time to lay out a bold plan to manage our nation's out-of-control spending, and actually lower the national debt by eliminating the wastefulnes… Continue Reading
02.10.20
Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin, Hern, Stitt React to President Trump’s Proposal to Build VA Hospital in Tulsa
WASHINGTON, DC - This afternoon, President Trump released his 2021 Presidential Budget Request, which identifies his goals and funding priorities for next year. The request includes funding to build a new hospital in Tulsa and is complemented with plans for a major investment in the Muskogee health facility to support a transformative specialty care facility. These new investments-along with ongoing commitment to the VA Call Center and Regional Benefits Administration in Muskogee-will improve c… Continue Reading
02.07.20
Senator Lankford, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Teleabortions
WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) this week introduced legislation to protect the sanctity of human life by prohibiting chemical abortions from being performed without the supervision of a healthcare provider. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), John Kennedy (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Kevin Cramer (S-ND) are also cosponsors of the bill. The Teleabortion Prevention Act would make it a federal offense for healthcare p… Continue Reading
02.06.20
Senators Lankford, Hassan Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency, Address Waste Passes House
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act, introduced by Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), that would require the federal government to publicize the details, costs, and performance metrics of government programs. This bipartisan legislation, which would increase transparency and curb wasteful spending, passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last year. "I applau… Continue Reading
02.06.20
Senator Lankford Joins President Trump, Members of Congress at National Prayer Breakfast
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended the 68th-annual bipartisan National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. The National Prayer Breakfast is an opportunity each year for people from around the country and the world to come together to pray for peace, pray for our nation, pray for their nations, and pray for those who lead around the world. In 2019 Lankford and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) served as honorary co-chairs of the National Prayer Breakfast. This year's honorary … Continue Reading
02.05.20
75 Years after the Liberation of Auschwitz, Senators Lankford, Rosen Speak at US Holocaust Museum ahead of National Prayer Breakfast
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, as a part of National Prayer Breakfast week, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)) spoke at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, discussing the need to combat anti-Semitic hate and highlighting the work of their Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism. Lankford was an honorary co-chair of the 2019 National Prayer Breakfast. "The Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, is a somber but powerful testament to the millions of lives lost in the Holoc… Continue Reading
02.04.20
Senator Lankford Addresses Final Vote on Impeachment
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate Floor regarding his conclusion that he will not vote to remove the President tomorrow afternoon in the final vote on the two articles of impeachment. Throughout the entire trial, Lankford has provided Facebook Live updates following each day of the impeachment proceedings in the Senate. Excerpt Lankford: Our country is deeply divided on multiple issues right now. The impeachm… Continue Reading
01.30.20
Lankford: America Has a Debt Issue
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Budget and Economic Outlook for fiscal years 2020 through 2030 report showing US debt and deficits are projected to continue rising dramatically: "The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office's latest report on our nation's skyrocketing debt and deficits continues to paint a picture of what my team and I have been trying to address for years--our nation's debt. Deficit is not… Continue Reading
01.28.20
Senators Lankford and Rosen Applaud Signature into Law of Bipartisan Bill to Increase Security for Houses of Worship
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-chairs of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism and members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement applauding the signing by the President of the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019, companion legislation to a bipartisan bill they both cosponsored. "It is critical that Congress take action to assist ho… Continue Reading
01.27.20
Lankford, Johnson, Colleagues Send Letter on Misuse of Electric Vehicle Tax Credit
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Barrasso (R-WY) and 12 of their colleagues sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig Monday requesting information to better understand how the IRS enforces the electric vehicle tax credit in light of a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) audit report that detailed what appear to be systemic problems with the tax credit program. "On September 30, 2019, the Treasury Ins… Continue Reading
01.25.20
Senator Lankford Statement on Extradition of Baltazar Sanchez-Garcia to the US
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement after the announcement that accused murderer Baltazar Sanchez-Garcia was extradited to Stephens County, OK, to stand trial for the alleged murder of Linda Salazar, the mother of the couple's child: "After four years of waiting by the victim's family, today Mexico finally did what was right and extradited Baltazar Sanchez-Garcia to the United States to get his long-awaited day in court. I join the Salazar family in con… Continue Reading
01.23.20
Lankford Applauds No WOTUS No More
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford issued the following statement to applaud the Trump Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Navigable Waters Protection Rule. This rule replaces the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, which removes burdensome regulation from America's farmers, ranchers, and landowners: "Oklahomans want clean, safe water in our rivers, lakes, and streams. Unfortunately, previous administrations used an extreme interpretation of the Waters of the Uni… Continue Reading
01.23.20
Lankford, Rosen, Cramer, Menendez, Cardin Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Commemorating 75th Anniversary of Liberation of Auschwitz by Allied Forces
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) announced the introduction of S.Res. 481, a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by Allied Forces during World War II. The anniversary will take place on January 27th, designated by the United Nations as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Grace Meng (D… Continue Reading
01.16.20
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roy Blunt (R-MO) Mike Rounds (R-SD), James Risch (R-ID), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Rick Scott (R-FL) to introduce a resolution designating January 16th as Religious Freedom Day. This resolution also commemorates the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom's 234th anniversary, a statute that laid the foundations for … Continue Reading
01.16.20
USMCA Heads to President’s Desk
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today voted in support of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which, with its passage in the Senate in a bipartisan vote of 89 to 10, finally sends the agreement to update North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the President's desk. Lankford recently supported the USMCA when it was considered and passed on January 7th in the Senate Finance Committee and on January 14th when it passed the Senate Appropriations Committee. Lankford also hig… Continue Reading
01.15.20
Senator Lankford Recognizes Iranian Protests, Condemns Regime Retaliation
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) to introduce a resolution making clear the US Senate stands with the Iranian people. This resolution comes just days after thousands of Iranian protestors took to the streets in opposition to oppressive Iranian government policies and the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet. "We seek to assure the coura… Continue Reading
01.14.20
Senator Lankford Addresses US Tension with Iran on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today expressed continued support for the Iranian people who are actively protesting their tyrannical regime in the streets of Iran. Lankford spoke at length about the threat the US faced from Soleimani and the need for decisive action earlier this month to take him down to prevent another attack on US personnel and facilities abroad. During his speech Lankford addressed the need for continued Middle Eas… Continue Reading
01.14.20
Senator Lankford Praises Updates to Outdated Labor Laws
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) praised the Department of Labor's finalization of a rule on January 12 that provides a much-needed update to the joint employer provisions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The final rule will take effect March 16, 2020. "The previous joint employer rule had the potential to devastate America's franchise, small-business economy," said Lankford. "Oklahoma small businesses consistently tell me they want greater clarity and consistency from the fede… Continue Reading
01.13.20
Senators Lankford, Tester Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen VA Oversight
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jon Tester (D-MT) are kicking off the new year with bipartisan legislation to strengthen oversight for veterans at the nation's second largest federal agency. Under current law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) does not have testimonial subpoena authority to compel former VA employees who have left federal service, former contractor personnel who performed work for the Department, or other potentially r… Continue Reading
01.09.20
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Cosponsor Legislation Honoring Americans Responsible for Soleimani Strike
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) along with 42 other Republican senators, cosponsored a resolution introduced today honoring members of the military and intelligence community who carried out the mission that killed Qasem Soleimani, leader of Iran's Quds Force. "The decisive and justified attack that killed long-time Iranian terrorist leader, Qasem Soleimani, was a well-executed action by our military to help prevent Soleimani from taking additional American… Continue Reading