Press Releases
On 75th D-Day Anniversary, Lankford Joins Bipartisan Delegation to Normandy
COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Johnny Isakson, (R-GA) chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, this week on a bipartisan Senate delegation to Normandy, France, for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion by Allied forces during World War II. The 17-senator delegation joined President Donald J. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at an official ceremony at the American Cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer to mark the milestone. Lankford… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Lankford Supports Efforts by Administration to Stop the Use of Tissue, Organs from Unborn Children for Research
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the decision by the Trump Administration to move to terminate the inhumane research of human fetal tissue from elective abortions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). "The decision by the Administration to end its current contracts with the University of California San Francisco, stop new research at NIH, reevaluate outside research, and consider alternatives for research of human fetal tissue is an important ethical and mora… Continue Reading
06.04.19
Senator Lankford Commemorates 75th Anniversary of D-Day on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today provided brief remarks on the Senate floor ahead of the 75th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, 2019. Lankford also spoke separately to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Senate passage of the 19th Amendment on this day in 1919. Transcript I rise today to just remind the Senate of two anniversaries that are happening this week. This week is the 75th anniversary of the invasion in Normandy. It'… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Lankford Letter - May 31
CLICK HERE for the May 31, 2019, Lankford Letter.… Continue Reading
05.31.19
Senator Lankford Marks 98th Anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre
TULSA, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today marked the 98th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Last week, Lankford recognized the anniversary on the Senate floor. Lankford today will participate in the John Hope Franklin Symposium at the John Hope Franklin Center in Tulsa and speak on reconciliation. "We are still a nation that honors reconciliation. We should always remember who we were and envision who we can be as a nation," said Lankford. "We must continue to resolve broken relatio… Continue Reading
05.30.19
Senator Lankford Issues Statement on Passing of Former US Senator
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the passing of form Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS): "Cindy and I are saddened to hear of the passing of former Senator Thad Cochran. He served a distinguished career as a US Senator, and it was an honor to serve with him when he was Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. I pray for his family as they mourn his loss." ###… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Senator Lankford Supports Bill to Provide Disaster Aid to Oklahoma
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement on H.R. 2157 Disaster Supplemental funding, which includes supplemental funding for flooding and tornado damage caused by severe storms in Oklahoma and across the Midwest this week: "Today's vote is important for many Oklahomans as we endure a long stretch of severe storm damage across the state," said Lankford. "The bill includes necessary funding to aid those who were already impacted by storms and the thousands mor… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Lankford, Rubio Held Joint Hearing on Strengthening Small Businesses Voice Through SBA Office of Advocacy
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, and Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and U.S. held a joint hearing to discuss ways to strengthen the Office of Advocacy at the US Small Business Administration, the independent regulatory watchdog that provides a voice for small businesses during the fede… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Lankford, Shaheen, Tillis, & Van Hollen Announce Bipartisan Effort to Prohibit Transfer of F-35 Aircraft to Turkey Included in Committee-Approved Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The annual legislation authorizes national defense objectives for the fiscal year. The defense bill includes bipartisan legislation authored by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) that would prohibit the transfer of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey. This provision also applies to … Continue Reading
05.23.19
Senator Lankford Questions Acting DHS Secretary in Homeland Security Committee Hearing
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing entitled, "Resources Needed to Protect and Secure the Homeland," at which he questioned Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Kevin McAleenan about DHS efforts to secure the southern border and prevent drug trafficking, to determine DHS preparedness to help after the natural disasters in Oklahoma and … Continue Reading
05.23.19
Senator Lankford Remembers on Senate Floor the 1921 Race Massacre
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) spoke on the Senate floor in remembrance of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre as we approach May 31, 2019, the 98th anniversary of the tragic two-day event that devastated Tulsa's Greenwood District, once known as Black Wall Street, and resulted in the deaths of as many as 300 people and the near-complete destruction of the community and surrounding areas. On February 24, 2017, Lankford joined State Senator… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Senator Lankford Speaks on Senate Floor about Recent Severe Storm Damage in Oklahoma
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to discuss the impacted communities still reeling from flash flooding, tornadoes, and strong wind damage that struck the state on Monday and Tuesday. Some of the damage came from flooding due to torrential rainfall from the series of storms after already elevated spring rainfall totals for most of the state. Local, state, and federal entities remain in contact about how to… Continue Reading
05.17.19
Senator Lankford Releases Podcast on Tariffs and Trade Negotiations with China
CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - The Office of Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the eighth episode of Lankford's podcast, The Breakdown with James Lankford. During the episode, Lankford explains section 232 tariffs, section 301 tariffs, trade with Canada and Mexico, and how trade with China is affecting Oklahoma companies, ranchers, and farmers. Lankford remains engaged on trade and how the negotiations affect Oklahomans. Last week, Lankford issued a stat… Continue Reading
05.17.19
Senator Lankford Joins Call for Government Accountability Office Review of IHS Management Failures in Weber Case
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined a bipartisan group of nine senators, all members of the Indian Affairs Committee, to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate potential misuse of employee transfers, duty reassignments, and administrative leave at federally operated Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities to cover up misconduct that endangers patients, other employees, and Tribal communities. The letter specifically addresses the case of a former … Continue Reading
05.15.19
Senator Lankford Questions Mnuchin on Cooperation with OIRA on Regulation Review, Seeks Clarity on Opportunity Zones
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's full questions of Secretary Mnuchin. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today attended a Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) hearing regarding fiscal year 2020 funding for the Department of the Treasury. Lankford questioned Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about Treasury's work to prevent US dollars from being funneled to international terrorist organizations and drug cartels. Additionall… Continue Reading
05.15.19
Senator Lankford Honors Military Members and Families on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to honor the women and men serving in the US military and their families during Military Appreciation Month. Lankford took a moment to thank the Gold Star Families-families who have lost a loved one in military service-during the speech. Lankford introduced legislation this month that will expand the eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to spouses and children of members o… Continue Reading
05.15.19
Senators Lankford, Peters, Sinema introduce the Representative Payee Fraud Prevention Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the Representative Payee Fraud Prevention Act, a bill that would crack down on federal retirement benefit fraud and misuse. "Most Americans work toward their retirement and count on their retirement funds. We should ensure federal employee's retirement funds are secure by protecting them from the embezzlement of their benefits," said Lankford. "Currently, the misuse of funds by a representa… Continue Reading
05.15.19
Crossing the Aisle to Streamline Regulation
by By Susan E. Dudley, Sally Katzen
Bipartisanship isn't dead, even when it comes to streamlining regulation. Sens. James Lankford (R., Okla.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.) have introduced two bills with surgical fixes to the regulatory process-one to promote public engagement; the other, a review of existing regulations with an eye toward changing course if they aren't working. Presidents from both parties have pursued both objectives with uneven results, so a legislative fix would be salutary. Government agencies have long bee… Continue Reading
05.15.19
Lankford, Sinema Introduce Regulatory Reform Bills
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's (HSGAC) Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) today introduced the Early Participation in Regulations Act and the Setting Manageable Analysis Requirements in Text (SMART) Act. Today, the HSGAC Committee held a markup of Sinema's SMART Act, and the Committee is expected to markup the Early … Continue Reading
05.14.19
Lankford, Peters, Johnson, & Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Cybersecurity for Voting Systems
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Ron Johnson (R-WI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee today introduced bipartisan legislation to add the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a member… Continue Reading
