Press Releases
Senator Lankford Continues to Press Government Duplication Issues
CLICK HERE to view the Q&A WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today further examined the issues of program duplication during a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on "Government Reform: Ending Duplication and Holding Washington Accountable." The hearing focused on the US Government Accountability Office's (GAO) "Annual Report of the Additional Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits." Former US… Continue Reading
04.26.16
Senator Lankford Statement on US v. Sterling Oral Arguments
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement today on the start of oral arguments on Wednesday in US v. Sterling case before the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces: "In 1993, Congress passed and President Clinton signed, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), providing broad protections for religious exercise. RFRA reinforces our first freedom found in the Constitution, the freedom of religion. Our service members defend freedom for us every day-the… Continue Reading
04.25.16
Sen. Lankford and Rep. Smith Demand Information From FDA About Loosening of Abortion Drug Rules
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04) today led a bicameral letter to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to express concern and request information about the agency's recent decision to change policies regarding the abortion drug mifepristone. The letter was joined by 73 lawmakers. In the letter the lawmakers seek additional information in light of the controversial origins of the original approval of mifepristone in the United States. At t… Continue Reading
04.22.16
Senator Lankford Demands Answers From Obama Administration on Latest Iran Nuclear Side Deal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on the news that the Obama administration is purchasing from Iran 32 tons of heavy water, material used to produce atomic-weapons, to help them reach their Nuclear Deal responsibility: "Today's announcement that the US will buy Iran's heavy water, a key component of nuclear-weapon development, continues to reinforce my suspicions about the President's Nuclear Deal. Each day brings a new American concession and a… Continue Reading
04.21.16
Senator Lankford Offers Amendment to Eliminate Wasteful Budget Gimmick in Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today offered an Appropriations amendment to eliminate a commonly-used budget gimmick with the Crime Victims Fund (CVF). Specifically, the amendment was offered during today's Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science markup hearing to change the way that the Congressional Budget Office scores the CVF obligation limitations in future years, which would prevent a gimmick that allows for the same resources to be used as 'new' offsets for other program… Continue Reading
04.21.16
Senators Lankford, Heitkamp Introduce Bill to Update Cultural Educational Program for Native Students
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) today introduced bipartisan legislation to update decades-old data the federal government uses to distribute funds to benefit Native American students. The data currently excludes about 500,000 Native students from accessing federal resources they could be eligible for that would help address many of the students' unique academic and cultural needs. The bill is called the Johnson-O'Malley Supplemental Indian Education Prog… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senator Lankford Supports Oklahomans for US District Court
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of two nominees for the US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, Judge Suzanne Mitchell and Scott Palk. "Suzanne's and Scott's background and work in Oklahoma make them uniquely qualified to serve our state as federal judges," said Lankford. "I believe they are devoted to public service and will uphold both the rule of law and integrity of the court. I ask my Senate col… Continue Reading
04.20.16
Senator Lankford Opposes Energy Policy Modernization Act
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement after he opposed the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S.2012). "While I appreciate the intent of the bill and support several provisions, such as expediting permits so the US may continue to export some of our bountiful natural gas resources, I cannot support legislation that uses taxpayer dollars flippantly," said Lankford. "The bill encourages an expansion of federal land holdings by permanently reau… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Denounces Politicization of OKC Bombing Anniversary
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the Anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, and the politicization of the Anniversary in the debate over the Supreme Court Justice nomination process. Excerpts: …since February, Republicans have been very consistent, myself included, to say this is not the time to have a Supreme Court Justice go through the nomination process. In the hours after Jus… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Offers Amendment to Reform Land and Water Conservation Fund
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor on the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 and his amendment (#3210) to reform the broken Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Specifically, the amendment would require spending on land acquisition to not exceed spending on maintenance; require that land acquisitions funded through the LWCF include funding for maintenance needs on the land to be acquired; … Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Supports Bipartisan FAA Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2016, which includes several measures to increase vetting and screening of airport employees, expand enrollment to the TSA PreCheck program to expedite passengers through security lines, increase standards for hiring air traffic controllers and enhance security for international flights bound for the US. The bill also addresses cybersecurity threats that face… Continue Reading
04.19.16
Senator Lankford Statement on Oklahoma City Bombing Anniversary
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today made the following statement on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing: "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the survivors and first responders of the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy 21 years ago. Although two decades have passed, we continue to remember this deplorable act of terrorism, but we also remember the many heroes who helped Oklahoma recover. We continue to grieve the loss of that fateful day, but we are proud that Okla… Continue Reading
04.13.16
Senator Lankford Speaks on Senate Floor About National Security, Iran and Guantanamo Bay Detention
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today spoke on the Senate floor about national security. Specifically, he discussed radical Islam, America's leadership role against terrorism, his Iran Nuclear Accountability resolution, and legislation to restrict detainee transfers from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. Excerpts: Introduction: Oklahomans are concerned about National Security: As I traveled all over Oklahoma during the… Continue Reading
04.13.16
Senator Lankford and Congressman Russell Introduce Bill to Terminate Nearly 40 Year Old “Temporary” Program
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Congressman Steve Russell (OK-5) today introduced the Senate and House versions of the Free Market Flights Act, a bill to terminate the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. The EAS was established in the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 with the intention of being a ten-year program to assist small communities in the transition to a free market airline system. EAS spending has grown 600 percent, in inflation adjusted dollars, in the last 20 year… Continue Reading
04.12.16
Senator Lankford Introduces ‘Federal Fumble’ Proposal as an Amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2016 (HR 636) that would eliminate the Department of Transportation Essential Air Service, a proposal included in Lankford's 'Federal Fumbles' government waste report. "With any bill the Senate addresses, we need to continue to push recommendations that reduce government waste and protect the taxpayer," said Lankford. "This amendment focuses on cutting waste out o… Continue Reading
04.12.16
Senator Lankford Leads Roundtable on USAJOBS Website and Federal Hiring Process
WASHINGTON, DC - The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, under the chairmanship of Senator James Lankford (R-OK), today held a roundtable on the ongoing efforts to improve the USAJOBS website platform and the federal hiring process. The USAJOBS website is the federal government's central job posting and recruitment website and is operated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The site receives 20 million visits per month a… Continue Reading
04.08.16
Senator Lankford Secures Change to DHS Religious Freedom Language
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today applauded the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision to change its documentation to accurately reflect America's First Amendment right of freedom of 'religion', and not just freedom of 'worship'. Last year, Lankford urged the Department to make this change. On Thursday, DHS issued a notice to the public that they are currently in the process of updating all relevant internal and external publications, including test study material… Continue Reading
04.07.16
As Iran Touts Their Nuclear Activity, Senator Lankford Pushes To Hold Them Accountable
WASHINGTON, DC - As Iran celebrates National Nuclear Technology Day today, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) re-emphasized his commitment to hold Iran accountable if they violate the terms in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Today, Iran President Hassan Rouhani unveiled Iran's latest nuclear achievements during a ceremony to honor the country's National Nuclear Technology Day on Friday. Rouhani unveiled 12 nuclear achievements at the Iran… Continue Reading
04.06.16
Senator Lankford Introduces Resolution to Hold President Obama Accountable for Iran Nuclear Deal Commitments
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today introduced a Senate resolution (S.Res 414) to ensure President Obama follows through on his commitment to reimpose sanctions if Iran violates the nuclear deal. "National security remains on the mind of every American," said Lankford. "The fact that Iran is still the world's largest state-sponsor of terrorism is impossible to ignore. The Obama Administration caved to Iran's demands to import arms, and Iran has continued to pursue a ballistic m… Continue Reading
04.05.16
Senator Lankford Joins Senate Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case Challenging Obama Administration’s Immigration Executive Actions
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and 43 other Senate Republicans filed an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in the case of the United States v. Texas, in opposition to the Obama Administration's November 2014 executive actions on immigration. Twenty-five other states, including Oklahoma, joined Texas in the lawsuit. The brief argues that only Congress has the authority to write immigration law, not the Executive branch. The President's action represents a clear cons… Continue Reading
