Press Releases
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
05.01.19
Senator Lankford Prays for Nation 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 pray for the nation ahead of the 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 US Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan to designate the Nat… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Lankford Joins Senators to Urge RFS Policy to Reflect Market Realities
WASHINGTON, DC - In advance of the upcoming proposed rulemaking for the 2020 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Senator James Lankford (R-OK) signed onto a letter led by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) urging EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to reset conventional biofuel volumes to reflect market realities. The letter was signed by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), John… Continue Reading
05.01.19
Senators Lankford and Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Better Assess and Improve Federal Government’s Customer Service
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), ranking member of the HSGAC Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management introduced bipartisan legislation today to better assess and improve the customer service experience Americans receive when dealing with federal agencies. The bipartisan Federal Agen… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Senators Lankford, Booker, Rep Blumenauer Seek to End Federal Tax Incentives for Professional Sports Stadiums
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who is leading the bipartisan effort in the House, today introduced the Eliminating Federal Tax Subsidies for Stadiums Act, a bill to end generous federal subsidies for professional sports stadiums. The bill would close a loophole in the tax code that allows professional sports teams to finance new stadiums with municipal bonds that are exempt from federal taxes. Municipal bonds are int… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Lankford Joins Grassley to Require FTC Study of the Role, Behavior, and Recent Merger Activity of Prescription Drug Supply Chain Middlemen
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Lankford joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today to introduce legislation requiring the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to study the role and recent merger activity of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), as well as possible anticompetitive behavior. The Prescription Pricing for the People Act of 2019 helps to shine a light on the PBM industry by examining the effects of consolidation on pricing and other potenti… Continue Reading
04.25.19
Lankford, Blunt, Scott Announce Bill to Protect First Amendment Rights of Faith-Based Student Groups
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Today, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Roy Blunt (MO), and Tim Scott (SC) announced the Equal Campus Access Act, legislation to ensure that religious student organizations can operate in accordance with their faith-based principles. The bill prohibits funding for public institutions of higher education if they deny rights, benefits, or privileges to student organizations because of their beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards, or codes of conduct. "Our nation's col… Continue Reading
