Press Releases
Senator Lankford Joins Vice President Pence and Rep. Walker to Honor J.C. Watts and Sam Brownback For Establishing Museum
WASHINGTON, DC - In honor of Black History Month, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Vice President Mike Pence, White House chief-of-staff Gen. John Kelly, Senator Joni Ernst, Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), and Heritage Foundation President Kay Coles James to tour and celebrate the National Museum of African American History and Culture and honor former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK) and Ambassador Sam Brownback for their role in the creation of the museum. Today's program was sponsored by Insight … Continue Reading
02.13.18
Lankford Joins Senators to Introduce Bill to Expand Tax Relief to Pregnant Moms
WASHINGTON, DC -Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) today introduced a bill to expand the Child Tax Credit to cover all families, including pregnant moms. The Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act builds on the Child Tax Credit provisions included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act by supporting families and pregnant mothers with the many costs that accompany caring and planning for the care of a newborn baby. "Parenting costs don't just be… Continue Reading
02.13.18
Senator Lankford Discusses Rising Domestic and National Security Threats During Intel Hearing
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today participated in an open Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Worldwide Threats. This is an annual hearing that the committee holds to examine America's greatest national security threats from around the globe. Lankford used the opportunity to question US intelligence and national security leaders on the rising threat from Mexico and drug trafficking, cyber threats, and the recent arrest of Naif Abdulaziz Alfal… Continue Reading
02.12.18
Senator Lankford Delivers Floor Speech on Immigration Reform
CLICK HERE to view the video. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to advocate for the Secure and Succeed Act, a bill that will strengthen border security, provide a permanent solution for DACA, reform family sponsorship policy, and reallocate the Diversity Visa lottery. Senator Lankford today joined Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), David Perdue (R-GA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to introduce the Secu… Continue Reading
02.11.18
Senators to Introduce Border Security, DACA Framework
WASHINGTON, DC - A group of U.S. Senators tomorrow will introduce a common-sense proposal aimed at providing legal certainty for undocumented children brought to the United States by their parents and preventing others from falling into the same legal limbo in the future. Their proposal, which mirrors the White House framework announced by President Trump, provides a generous opportunity for approximately 1.8 million DACA or DACA-eligible immigrants to earn citizenship while strengthening our na… Continue Reading
02.09.18
Senator Lankford Opposes Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the Continuing Resolution (HR 1892), which includes the budget deal offered Wednesday by Senate Leadership that would increase the debt limit and roll back spending caps put in place in 2011: "This budget deal shows the American people exactly how broken our budget and appropriations process is. It does not address our runaway deficits and actually takes major steps backwards in the fight to rein in Washingto… Continue Reading
02.08.18
Senators Lankford and Coons Named Co-Chairmen of the 2019 National Prayer Breakfast
CLICK HERE to view video of their remarks WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) were today named co-chairmen of the 2019 National Prayer Breakfast. The announcement was made at this morning's 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast. Lankford and Coons both spoke at the gathering about their weekly Senate prayer gathering, and how faith is a common bond that unites them. "Prayer is a unifying force in our country," said Lankford. "When the pressures of life build… Continue Reading
02.06.18
Senator Lankford Awarded Legislator of the Year by Agricultural Retailers Association
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today received the Legislator of the Year award from the Agricultural Retailers Association for his work to make commonsense regulatory reforms and efforts to streamline the federal rulemaking process. Lankford serves as the chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. As Chair, Lankford has held hearings and introduced regulatory reform legislation such as the Small Business R… Continue Reading
01.30.18
Senator Lankford Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video statement WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) tonight made the following statement on the President's State of the Union address to the nation: "This State of the Union speech was a pretty remarkable speech. The beginning of the speech was actually unusual for a State of the Union. It didn't begin with what the Trump Administration had done this past year, it began with what the American people had done. The beginning focused on what people ha… Continue Reading
01.29.18
Senator Lankford Delivers Floor Speech on Pain-Capable Bill
CLICK HERE to view the video. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to advocate for the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act, which the Senate voted on earlier this evening. Lankford, along with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), introduced the bill in October 2017, which would ban abortion past five months of pregnancy. The bill failed to receive the necessary votes on the motion to proceed by a vote of 51-46. Last year, Lankford intr… Continue Reading
01.29.18
Senator Lankford Travels to Mexico and Central America
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) returned today from a congressional trip to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and the ICE Immigration Detention Facility in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the trip was to conduct congressional oversight of intelligence and security operations, immigration, counternarcotics operations, and trade in the region. While in Central America, from January 25 to January 28, Lankford met with American Embassy diplomats and foreign officials, including US Ambassa… Continue Reading
01.25.18
Senator Lankford Statement on White House Immigration Framework
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement in support of the White House's immigration reform framework that was released this afternoon: "I applaud the White House for offering a solid framework for immigration reform that provides a responsible solution for DACA, border security, and other immigration issues. This framework provides certainty for families, enacts common-sense reforms to nuclear family sponsorship policy, and protects our nation. Ignorin… Continue Reading
01.25.18
Senator Lankford Announces Hire of Northwest Oklahoma Field Representative
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today announced the hire of Tanner Roberts as Field Representative for Northwest Oklahoma. His job as a Field Representative is to travel across Northwest Oklahoma to hear the needs and work with Oklahomans to solve federal issues. Roberts will work out of Enid, and he will travel throughout Northwest Oklahoma on Lankford's behalf on a daily basis. "I am pleased to welcome Tanner to the team," said Lankford. "His experience in the agriculture indust… Continue Reading
01.24.18
Senator Lankford Applauds Senate Confirmation of Gov. Brownback as International Religious Freedom Ambassador
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the confirmation of Governor Sam Brownback (R-KS) to be the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom at the State Department. The Office of International Religious Freedom - led by the Ambassador-at-Large- is charged with the promotion of religious freedom as a core objective of US foreign policy. "I'm pleased that the Senate voted today to confirm Governor Sam Brownback as the Ambassador-at-Large for International… Continue Reading
01.22.18
Senator Lankford Statement on Funding Vote To Reopen The Government
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement after voting for cloture on a 3-week Continuing Resolution (CR) funding bill, which passed 81-18. Following Senate final passage, the House must pass this bill, and the President must sign it into law for the government shutdown to end. "I'm pleased that Senate Democrats relented and finally agreed to reopen the government. Today, they voted for the exact offer we extended on Friday night before the shutdown. Thi… Continue Reading
01.19.18
Senator Lankford Urges Against a Government Shutdown, Encourages Continued Negotiation
CLICK HERE to view the video. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Thom Tills (R-NC) on the Senate floor to advocate for immigration reform that improves border security and fixes the DACA program but urged Senate Democrats against shutting down the government. Lankford has offered a number of solutions for DACA and border security. Last year, he introduced the SUCCEED Act and the SECURE Act and has also been a part of a number of negotiations to find solutions that provi… Continue Reading
01.18.18
Senator Lankford Advocates for Life, Religious Freedom on Senate Floor
CLICK HERE to view the video. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today lead a colloquy on the Senate floor along with Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) to advocate for pro-life legislation and the pro-life grassroots community a day before the 45th annual March for Life. Lankford serves as the co-chairman of the Values Action Team (VAT) and has long advocated to protect life and to protect religious freedom. Lankford will attend … Continue Reading
01.18.18
Senator Lankford Applauds New HHS Civil Rights Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the creation of the new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The Conscience and Religious Freedom Division is being established to more vigorously and effectively enforce existing laws protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom. This Office for Civil Rights does not create new law, but rather enfor… Continue Reading
01.17.18
Senator Lankford Promotes Martin Luther King’s Call For Respectful Dialogue
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his call for respectful political dialogue, and racial unity in America. Lankford gave a similar speech at the Mid-America Christian University last Friday. This year marks the 50th anniversary of King's tragic death. Racial unity has been a priority for Lankford during his time in Congress. ###… Continue Reading
01.11.18
Senator Lankford Pushes to Reform Senate Rules to Stop Gridlock
CLICK HERE to view the video. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor to advocate for Senate rules reform to end gridlock and streamline the executive confirmation process. In April 2017, Lankford proposed to reinstate a rule from 2013 in order to reduce Senate post-cloture debate time. This will allow the Senate more time to consider legislation. In December, Lankford testified before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on Senate Resolution … Continue Reading
