Press Releases
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
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
05.14.19
Senator Lankford Awarded Conservative Excellence Award for Voting Record
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) was awarded the "2018 Award for Conservative Excellence" by the American Conservative Union (ACU) for his voting record in 2018. Lankford has obtained an ACU rating of 91 percent, the eighth-highest in the Senate. "I am grateful for ACU's continued work to highlight conservative ideas across the nation," said Lankford. "The people of Oklahoma sent me to Washington to work on the federal issues affecting their families and their businesses, and adva… Continue Reading
05.10.19
Senator Lankford Statement on US-China Trade Negotiations, 25 Percent Tariff
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after the Administration talks on trade with China have stalled and announced a 25 percent tariff: "The announcement from the White House that talks with China have fallen apart is not good news for American consumers. The Chinese must return to the table to negotiate in good faith to finally resolve our longstanding trade uncertainty. Tariffs are not an effective long-term strategy for either country and hurt t… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Praise Committee Advancement of Oklahoman Tim Downing
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today praised the committee advancement of Timothy Downing to serve as US Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. Downing's nomination was reported favorably by voice vote today in the Senate Judiciary Committee and will now move to the full Senate for consideration. "I'd like to thank the Judiciary Committee for approving the nomination of Tim Downing to serve as US Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma," said… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Senators Lankford, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Issue Impacting Military Reservists & National Guard Members
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation to help reserve component members of the United States Armed Forces - including members of the Reserves and National Guard - receive the benefits they have earned following their retirement or completion of service. Currently, Reservists do not receive a separation document detailing their service and Guardsmen do not receive the same forms as Active Duty service members after completion of s… Continue Reading
05.08.19
Senator Lankford Honors Oklahoma Public Servants 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 federal, state, and local public service employees during Public Service Recognition Week. Lankford also remembered the public service victims in the Oklahoma City bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. Last week, Lankford cosponsored S. Res 180, which designates May 5th through 11th as Public Service Recognition Week. The resoluti… Continue Reading
05.07.19
Lankford, Sinema Hold Subcommittee Hearing on Regulatory Reform
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), today conducted a hearing entitled, "From Beginning to End: An Examination of Agencies Early Public Engagement and Retrospective Review." The hearing examined how agencies create regulatory schemes and the ways agencies measure success of regulatio… Continue Reading
05.06.19
Senators Lankford, Inhofe Statement on Clemency for Michael Behenna
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) issued the following statement on President Trump signing of an Executive Grant of Clemency for former Army First Lieutenant Michael Behenna: "I'm grateful that the long road for Michael Behenna and his family has finally come to a joyous end," said Lankford. "Michael now gets a clean slate and a second chance at life. Michael's family, the Oklahoma congressional delegation, and Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter have wor… Continue Reading
05.03.19
Senators Lankford, Daines, Hoeven, Peters Launch Bipartisan Effort to Protect Americans’ Privacy
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Gary Peters (D-MI) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to require US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to remove personally identifiable information (PII), which includes social security and passport numbers, from public disclosure. A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Charlie Crist and Michael Waltz. "Those serving our nation abroad should not have to constantly … Continue Reading
05.02.19
Senators Lankford, Carper, Reps. Bilirakis, Levin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Fry Eligibility
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Tom Carper (D-DE), Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Mike Levin (D-CA) announced the introduction of legislation to extend eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to spouses and children of members of the National Guard and Reserves who died of service-connected causes but whose deaths did not occur when the member was on active duty. The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service membe… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Senator Lankford Questions Acting DHS Secretary on Crisis at the Southern Border
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's Q&A. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today questioned Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan on the agency's plan to address the rapidly growing humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexico border. Lankford specifically talked about the "recycling" of children by human traffickers to assist individuals seeking to enter the country. Lankford has advocated for Congressional action to address loopholes in the US immigration syste… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Senator Lankford Applauds Action to Protect Conscience Rights of Healthcare Providers
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauds the issuance of a final rule by the Trump Administration to ensure that healthcare professionals are free from discrimination on the basis of religious belief or moral conviction and not forced to act contrary to their beliefs. The rule provides much-needed enforcement of laws passed by Congress to ensure the protection of conscience rights for those in the healthcare fields. "The final rule issued by the Administration today will en… Continue Reading
05.02.19
Lankford, King Introduce Resolution Recognizing the National Day of Prayer
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Angus King (I-ME) today introduced a resolution to recognize May 2, 2019, as this year's National Day of Prayer, which is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan to designate the National Day o… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Lankford Joins Bipartisan Resolution to Honor the Nation’s First Responders
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) today to introduce a resolution to designate October 28, 2019, as "Honoring the Nation's First Responders Day." According to the Department of Homeland Security, an estimated 4.6 million career and volunteer firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians, and paramedic workers serve communities all across the United… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senator Lankford Designates Week of May 5th Public Service Recognition Week
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), ahead of Public Service Recognition Week, designates May 5th through 11th as "Public Service Recognition Week" to honor employees of federal, state, and local governments, and members of the uniformed services. The resolution (S. Res 180) commends these public servants for their service, honors those who have given their lives for their country, and calls upon the next generation to consider careers in public service, and encourages efforts to prom… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senator Lankford Pushes to Prevent Use of Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons
CLICK HERE to watch Lankford's floor speech. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor on the issue with contraband cell phone use in prisons. In 2018, Oklahoma state prisons confiscated 7,518 cell phones from inmates. Lankford used examples from Oklahoma to show how this issue is impacting the state. Lankford is pushing for a change in federal law that will allow states to use jamming technology to prevent the use of contraband cell phones in prisons. … Continue Reading
