Press Releases
Senator Lankford Opposes Fiscally Irresponsible Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement today on his opposition to the Senate vote on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which includes $1.1 billion in additional debt spending to address the Zika virus: "I am pleased that a more transparent and open appropriations process is moving through the Senate again. At times, transparency exposes spending behaviors that ar… Continue Reading
05.19.16
Senator Lankford Defeats Fiscally Irresponsible $7.5 Billion Spending Amendment
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC-Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today objected to a spending amendment that would have allotted $7.5 billion in emergency funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lankford successfully raised a point of order to defeat an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. Lankford did this to stop an effort to use emergency funding and challenged the… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Senator Lankford Blasts Senate for Spending Extra $1.1 Billion on Zika Without Paying for it
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor on his disappointment with the Senate's failure to find $1 billion in the existing budget to pay for the US response to Zika virus. Lankford filed an amendment that would have authorized the use of unobligated, existing funds from US Departments of State, Health and Human Services (HHS), and US Agency for International Development (USAID) to use for Zika virus research… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Law Professors: Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is Guilty of Overreach
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has repeatedly challenged the Department of Education's inappropriate use of 'Dear Colleague' letters and 'guidance documents' to mandate policies for schools without adhering to legally required regulatory processes - and threatening federal funding if a school fails to comply. He has led hearings that confirm that the Department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is a frequent abuser of executive overreach. In February, numerous academics and legal e… Continue Reading
05.18.16
Senator Lankford Condemns Senate Failure to Find $1 Billion in a $4 Trillion Budget to Pay for “Emergency”
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Senate took a step forward to pass legislation regarding the Zika virus that will ultimately add $1.1 billion to the national debt, but did so without a serious attempt to find a reasonable pay-for. The amendment, which seeks to provide funding to combat the spread of the Zika virus through emergency spending, will be added to Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill being debated i… Continue Reading
05.17.16
Senator Lankford Challenges Department of Education on Legal Justification for Public School Bathroom Directive
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today challenged the Department of Education's legal justification for its May 13 guidance directive to local school districts regarding the use of public school bathrooms. Lankford contends the directive is part of a long pattern of attempts to create new mandates and requirements without the normal, transparent rule-making or legislative process. The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) allows agencies to produce guidance documents to clarify issue… Continue Reading
05.16.16
Senator Lankford Statement on the Court’s decision to send Obamacare Case Back to Lower Courts
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement today on the US Supreme Court's decision to send the Zubik v. Burwell case back to the lower courts to consider an acceptable compromise: "The Supreme Court's decision is an important step to ensure that federal law considers the free exercise of religion. Four Oklahoma universities led the nation to consider the overreach of Obamacare into private religious practice; today the court vacated the lower court and the Ad… Continue Reading
05.13.16
Senator Lankford Statement on Department of Education’s Latest Abuse of Executive Overreach
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) released the following statement on the Department of Education's guidance letter to local school districts regarding the use of public school bathrooms: "The Obama Department of Education's guidance letter on the use of public school bathrooms is another example of how they have continued to create law out of thin air with Dear Colleague letters, threats and intimidation. They have continually shown a pattern of federal overreach and bullying o… Continue Reading
05.12.16
Senator Lankford Statement on House v. Burwell Obamacare Lawsuit
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) issued the following statement today following a US District Court decision that the Obama Administration has improperly funded an Obamacare subsidy program: "The Obama Administration continues to re-write laws to suit their political agenda, which sets a dangerous precedent for future presidents to exploit. For five and a half years, the Oklahomans I represent have expressed their frustration about how this Administration illegally expands their a… Continue Reading
05.12.16
Senator Lankford, Heitkamp: Social Security Administration Disability Backlog Proposal is a Problem
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 hearing on the massive social security disability backlog and what the Social Security Administration (SSA) is doing to address the problem. The number of Americans waiting for a hearing to determine their eligibility for disability benefits surpassed one million cases last year, and the average wait time … Continue Reading
05.12.16
Senator Lankford Urges Congress to Prioritize Funding to Address Zika
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor on the importance of a US response to the Zika virus and to urge Congress to prioritize spending with already-appropriated funding. Specifically, Lankford calls for the Senate to support a transfer of funds, rather than spending new money to proactively address the spread of the virus. On Tuesday, Lankford published an op-ed in The Hill concerning emergency funding a… Continue Reading
05.12.16
Senator Lankford Examines Massive Social Security Administration Disability Backlog
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today chaired a congressional hearing on the massive social security disability backlog and what the Social Security Administration (SSA) is doing to address the problem. According to the latest available data through March of this year, there are 13,169 pending social security disability cases in Oklahoma. By comparison, neighboring state, Kansas, has 9,219 pending cases, and Arkansas, has 8,873 pending cases. The average processing time for a hear… Continue Reading
05.12.16
Senator Lankford Supports Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, Which Includes a ‘Federal Fumble’ Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today supported the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2028), which includes a proposal from his government waste report, "Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball." Today's Energy and Water bill is the first of the 12 appropriations bills that Congress is expected to consider this year. "I'm glad the Senate has begun to finally pass appropriations bills in an open process," said Lankford. "T… Continue Reading
05.06.16
Senator Lankford Calls on US Fish and Wildlife to Remove American Burying Beetle from the Endangered Species List
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to the Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Daniel Ashe, to call on the agency to delist the American Burying Beetle under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The beetle was first listed as an endangered species in 1989 when declining populations were only found in Rhode Island and Oklahoma. Today, the beetles' populations continue to grow in Oklahoma and Nebraska. The comment period for the petition to remove the Americ… Continue Reading
05.04.16
Senator Lankford, Congressman Forbes Recognize National Day of Prayer with Special Prayer Caucus Video
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressional Prayer Caucus Co-Chairmen Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Congressman Randy Forbes (VA-04) today released a special video to recognize the National Day of Prayer, celebrate the role of prayer in America, and share the story of the Congressional Prayer Caucus. CLICK HERE to watch the video. The National Day of Prayer 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 join… Continue Reading
05.02.16
Senator Lankford: Oklahoma Needs More Foster Families
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today issued the following statement on National Foster Care Month (May) and the Oklahoma Fosters Initiative: "National Foster Care Month is a time to raise awareness and think about the plight of vulnerable children currently in America's foster care system. Children often come into care from very troubling situations; all of us are grateful for the many selfless foster parents, special advocates, mentors and social workers who patiently serve… Continue Reading
04.29.16
Senator Lankford, Congressman Forbes Lead Congressional Inquiry Regarding Missing Bibles at Veteran POW/MIA Memorials
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Rep. J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, sent a letter Thursday to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, seeking answers as to why Bibles have been removed from Missing Man Table displays at multiple Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics around the country, including in Youngstown and Akron, Ohio and Houston, Texas. "We have been informed that Bibles as part of Missing Man Table displays have been r… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Senator Lankford Calls For Action on Government Efficiency, Duplication and Transparency
CLICK HERE to view the YouTube video WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the government efficiency and duplication. The speech focused on his efforts to make government more transparent, reduce duplication and eliminate wasteful spending. Lankford applauded yesterday's Senate hearing on duplication and the recent release of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office's (GAO) "Annual Report of the Additional Opportunities to R… Continue Reading
04.28.16
Senator Lankford Receives American Conservative Union Award
CLICK HERE to view the photo. WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) has received the American Conservative Union "Award for Conservative Excellence" for his legislative record in 2015, receiving a score of 96 out of 100, which ties the second highest score in the U.S. Senate. "Senator James Lankford is a principled constitutional conservative who is deserving of this award," said American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp. "We are excited about new leaders like James… Continue Reading
04.27.16
Senators Inhofe, Lankford Statement on Meeting with Judge Garland
WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and James Lankford (R-OK) today met with Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland to extend their deep appreciation for his critical role following the 1995 investigation into the Oklahoma City Bombing. Following the Court's vacancy, both Senators firmly stated that they are not supporting a President Obama nomination to the Supreme Court during this presidential election year. "During our time with Judge Garland, we extended Oklahoma's gratitude … Continue Reading
