Press Releases
Senator Lankford Co-Introduces Bipartisan Bill Demanding Turkey End Unjust Detention of US Citizens
WASHINGTON-DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators Bob Corker (R-TN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Bill Nelson (D-FL) to restrict loans from international financial institutions to Turkey until the Turkish government ends the unjust detention of US citizens. In 2016, Turkey imprisoned American Pastor Andrew Brunson and indicted him on unsubstantiated charges earlier this year. A Turkish court ruled yesterday… Continue Reading
07.19.18
Senators Urge President to Work With Faith Community to Keep Families Together at Border
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Chris Coons (D-DE) today sent a letter to President Trump, signed by a bipartisan group of more than two dozen senators, stating that the default position of the United States should be to keep families together at the border, and urging the administration to work with the faith community on its efforts to reunify families. The letter says, "Throughout our history, faith-based organizations have p… Continue Reading
07.19.18
Senator Lankford Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh
CLICK HERE for photos of Senator Lankford and Kavanaugh WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today met with President Trump's Supreme Court Justice nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh. On July 9, Kavanaugh was nominated to serve as an Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court to replace the retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy. "It was a pleasure to meet with Judge Brett Kavanaugh in my office today. He is an impressive and qualified nominee to be considered for the Supreme Court. … Continue Reading
07.18.18
Senator Lankford Gives Floor Speech on Importance of Securing US Elections
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) delivered a speech on the Senate floor today about Russia's ongoing targeting of US elections, and the need for Congress to pass election security legislation. During the address, Lankford also summarized how Oklahoma dealt with Russia's interference attempts on their voting system. Excerpts: (1:31-3:15) In Oklahoma, in the 2016 cycle, the FBI and others began to discover that there were issues with the elections in s… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Senator Lankford Questions OMB Deputy Director on the Administration’s Federal Government Reorganization Plan
WASHINGTON, DC -Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today questioned Deputy Director for Management Margaret Weichert of the Office of Management and Budget on the Administration's proposal to reorganize the federal government during a hearing for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC). Lankford and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of HSGAC, introduced a bill in June that would expand the executive branch's authority to reorganize federal agencies. This hearing gave Membe… Continue Reading
07.16.18
Senator Lankford Statement on Trump-Putin Press Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the President's press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I trust the assessments from Dan Coats and Gina Haspel and their Intelligence teams more than I trust a former KGB agent, Vladimir Putin. It is a fact that Russian entities hacked US presidential campaign accounts, launched cyber-attacks against at least 21 states, attacked US voting system software companies, and engaged in social medi… Continue Reading
07.13.18
Senator Lankford Statement on Justice Department Russian Indictments
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the Justice Department's indictments of 12 Russian nationals as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. The indictments accuse the Russians, all members of the Russian Federation intelligence agency, of engaging in a "sustained effort" to hack Democrats' emails and computer networks. "With each passing month, our Russia investigations continue to c… Continue Reading
07.11.18
Senator Lankford Continues to Push for Real Immigration Reform
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor to discuss the need for Congress to actually fix the issues with immigration, child migrant reunification numbers from the Department of Homeland Security, and why we need the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In June, Lankford gave a speech on the Senate floor about the administration's policy of separating families at the border, the need for real immigration r… Continue Reading
07.11.18
Senator Lankford Introduces Tulsa Attorney at Judiciary Nomination Hearing
CLICK HERE for the video of both Lankford and O'Connor WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced John O'Connor, a Tulsa attorney, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. O'Connor was nominated by the President on April 10 to serve as District Judge on the US District Court for the Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma. O'Connor is currently an attorney at Hall Estill, a Tulsa-based regional full service law firm. Excerpts from Sen… Continue Reading
07.11.18
Senator Lankford Urges Senate Rules Committee to Pass Secure Elections Act
CLICK HERE to view Lankford's remarks. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today testified before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration as the Committee examines the issue of election security and considers the bipartisan bill Secure Elections Act, which strengthens election cybersecurity in America. Lankford originally introduced the bill in December 2017; after working with stakeholders, he introduced a revised version of the bill in March 2018. The purpose of the bill … Continue Reading
07.10.18
Ahead Of NATO Summit, Senators Lankford and Inhofe Encourage Allies To Increase Defense Contributions
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today joined a group of Senators to introduce a Senate resolution to reinforce the need for greater defense spending in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and stress the importance of the Alliance. This week, President Trump is meeting with world leaders at the annual NATO summit, where he will reaffirm the United States' commitment to global security and encourage NATO allies to fulfill defense spending commitments… Continue Reading
07.09.18
Senator Lankford Statement on President’s Supreme Court Nominee
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the President's nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as Associate Justice to the United States Supreme Court. Lankford attended the nomination ceremony in the East Room of the White House this evening. "Judge Brett Kavanaugh is an impressive and qualified nominee to be considered for the Supreme Court and it is vitally important that he receives a fair impartial nomination process in the Senate. In the weeks a… Continue Reading
07.06.18
Senator Lankford Releases Video Highlighting the First Half of 2018
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released a video to highlight the Senate's accomplishments in the first six months of 2018. During the video, Lankford features the growing economy, increase in wages, passing the historic tax reform bill, reforming Dodd-Frank regulations to reduce the burden on community and small banks, passing the VA Mission Act, passing Right to Try bill, fighting to combat the opioid epidemic, stopping sex trafficking and hum… Continue Reading
06.29.18
Senator Lankford Announces New Podcast: The Breakdown with James Lankford
CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast. WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today announced the release of a new regular podcast called "The Breakdown with James Lankford." The podcast will include episodes that break down some of the most complex issues facing Congress. The first episode covers immigration, specifically the separation of families at the border, the Flores Settlement Agreement, and the difference between the refugee and asylum process. Lankford is joined by his research… Continue Reading
06.28.18
Senator Lankford Statement on The Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after voting against the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which passed by a vote of 86-11: "I strongly support the important work of our farmers and ranchers in Oklahoma. Our families in Oklahoma, around the country, and the world have good, healthy food to eat and clothes to wear because of their hard work and relentless toil. The farm bill has a nice-sounding name-the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018-b… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Senator Lankford Statement on Justice Kennedy’s Retirement
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement regarding Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement and the upcoming confirmation process. "I would like to thank Justice Anthony Kennedy for his 43 years on the federal bench. During his time on the Court, Justice Kennedy has served with honor and dignity. Even those who disagree with his decisions cannot question his dedication to the rule of law, the country, and the Supreme Court. The Senate will n… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Senator Lankford Urges Senate to Act on Obvious Immigration Problems
CLICK HERE to view the video WASHINGTON, DC - In a floor speech, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today criticized the Senate, and Congress, for not solving the nation's many immigration problems. Lankford specifically talked about the Senate's failure to meaningfully secure our border, keep migrant families together by fixing the Flores Agreement, or enacting a solution for DACA. Excerpts: On the nominations process slowing down the Senate overall: Our days are busy and full. For some reason… Continue Reading
06.27.18
Senators Lankford, Johnson Introduce Bill to Provide Administration Reorganization Authority
WASHINGTON - Senator James Lankford (R-OK), chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced legislation Tuesday that would expand executive branch authority to reorganize federal agencies. "It is not a new concept for Congress to allow the administration the ability to reorganize federal agencies," said Lankford. "There are a wide-range of issues to … Continue Reading
06.26.18
Senator Lankford Applauds Supreme Court Ruling on Free Speech
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision in National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra: "Today's ruling is a great victory for the First Amendment and free speech in America. It's a shame that free speech is under attack more and more in our country, but I'm glad the Supreme Court is speaking truth to this value that makes America so unique and great. No organization should be forced by their govern… Continue Reading
06.26.18
Senator Lankford Applauds Senate Passage of First Appropriations Bills
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) applauded Senate passage, by a vote of 86-5, of the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act (H.R. 5895), which included several highlights for Oklahoma and Lankford's focus on government reform and efficiency. "I'm pleased that the Senate has passed its first three of twelve Appropriations bills for this Fiscal Year," said Lankford. "To avoid another omnibus disaster, we must be di… Continue Reading
