Lankford, Rubio reintroduce bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent

Lankford Continues Work to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent WASHINGTON, DC (March 2nd) - Ahead of Daylight Saving Time, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced the Sunshine Protection Act of 2023 for the 118th Congress. The legislation would end the antiquated practice of changing clocks twice a year. Read more » by Jamison Faught - March 05, 2023 at 02:18PM

Lankford, Rubio reintroduce bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Bice call for transparency, communication in DOJ investigation of OKCPD

Lankford, Bice Call for Transparency, Communication in DOJ Investigation of Oklahoma City, OKC Police Department OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Jan. 9th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) and Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced in November an investigation into the state of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD). Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 11, 2023 at 02:01PM

Lankford, Bice call for transparency, communication in DOJ investigation of OKCPD Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Inhofe move to protect Oklahoma ag land from foreign purchases

Lankford, Inhofe Move to Protect Oklahoma Ag Land from Foreign Purchases WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today introduced the Security and Oversight of International Landholdings (SOIL) Act in order to provide oversight and transparency of purchases of US agricultural land that threaten national security. Lankford continues to respond to concerns from Oklahomans about the multiple recent purchases of Oklahoma agricultural land by foreign entities. Read more » by Jamison Faught - September 13, 2022 at 02:04PM

Lankford, Inhofe move to protect Oklahoma ag land from foreign purchases Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, colleagues move to stop contraband cellphone use in prisons

Lankford, Cotton, Colleagues Move to Stop Contraband Cellphone Use in Prisons OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (August 8th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) to introduce the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, legislation to prevent contraband cellphone use in federal and state prison facilities by allowing state and federal prisons to use cell phone jamming systems. The bill gives state and federal prisons the authority to implement a jamming system to protect inmates, guards, and the public at large. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) joined Lankford and Cotton in introducing the bill. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN) introduced companion legislation in the House Of Representatives. Read more » by Jamison Faught - August 09, 2022 at 02:34PM

Lankford, colleagues move to stop contraband cellphone use in prisons Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Cruz move to stop Biden ATF's anti-gun rules

Lankford, Cruz, Colleagues Move to Protect Americans’ Second Amendment Rights OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (April 14th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to announce they will introduce a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to prohibit President Biden’s Department of Justice from implementing a new rule to expand firearm definitions. Read more » by Jamison Faught - April 16, 2022 at 04:15PM

Lankford, Cruz move to stop Biden ATF's anti-gun rules Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, colleagues call on Fed Dep't of Ed to drop proposed rule change attacking Charter Schools

Press release from U.S. Sen. James Lankford: Lankford, Colleagues Work to Save School Choice After Bureaucrats Threaten to Gut It OKLAHOMA CITY, OK –Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Scott (R-SC), and 10 colleagues urged the Department of Education to reconsider the proposed rule redefining the Charter Schools Program, stripping parents of their ability to choose the best school for their child. Read more » by Jamison Faught - April 10, 2022 at 08:25PM

Lankford, colleagues call on Fed Dep't of Ed to drop proposed rule change attacking Charter Schools Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, 68 GOP colleagues demand DOJ investigate deaths of Washington DC preborn babies

Lankford, Lee, Colleagues Demand DOJ Investigate Deaths of Washington DC Preborn Babies OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (August 8th) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) to send a letter signed by 23 Senators and 46 Representatives to Attorney General Merrick Garland, demanding the Department of Justice investigate the deaths of preborn babies whose remains have been found in Washington, DC. Images have been widely circulated of the remains that suggest some of the babies may have undergone unlawful partial-birth abortions or possibly infanticide at the Washington Surgi-Clinic. Yet, the Metropolitan Police Department of DC has made the assumption that each preborn baby died as the result of a legal abortion. Read more » by Jamison Faught - April 09, 2022 at 06:01PM

Lankford, 68 GOP colleagues demand DOJ investigate deaths of Washington DC preborn babies Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Inhofe to oppose Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court

Lankford, Inhofe to Oppose Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) today issued the following statements after meeting with Judge Jackson, who was nominated to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States: Read more » by Jamison Faught - April 02, 2022 at 08:22AM

Lankford, Inhofe to oppose Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Hern slam Biden's budget proposal

Lankford Responds to Biden Budget Proposal WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) responded to President Biden’s budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2023: “A president’s budget is simply a wish list for the upcoming year. Biden’s wish list is more taxes, more spending, and no genuine proposal to solve our skyrocketing debt. The lack of focus on lowering our debt and deficit perpetuates our nation’s growing inflation rate and cost of living. Everyone in the nation sees the fiscal problem and understands this moment requires serious debate and real solutions to our economic future “It’s time to fix the broken budget process, cut unnecessary spending on earmarks, and put the needs of the American people first.” “More spending is not the answer”: Hern slams Biden’s bloated budget proposal WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28th) – Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced his budget proposal to Congress for FY 23. “Inflation is the number one issue facing our country,” said Rep. Hern. “Instead of addressing this problem, Biden’s budget proposal only increases the economic pressures that are suffocating American families. More spending is not the answer; we will never spend our way out of an inflation crisis. An immediate return to fiscal responsibility is the only solution, but that’s not what we got today. “The Biden Administration began their attack on American energy on Day 1. Today’s budget announcement continues that war, ensuring prices at the pump continue to rise and further increasing our dependence on foreign oil. Biden is following through on his campaign promise to end fossil fuels, a move that will destroy jobs in Oklahoma. Biden also made the campaign promise to only raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans; however, the tax increases proposed in this budget will realistically impact ALL Americans regardless of their tax bracket.” Rep. Hern continued, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: DC doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. I’m proud to be writing a federal budget for FY 23 with fiscal conservatism at its heart. My budget balances in just a few years – something Congress hasn’t been able to do since the 90s. It’s not too late to return to fiscal responsibility.” Read more » by Jamison Faught - March 29, 2022 at 11:26AM

Lankford, Hern slam Biden's budget proposal Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin respond to report about potential closure of the Muskogee VA

Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin Respond to VA Report about Proposed Changes at the Muskogee VA WASHINGTON, DC (March 14th) – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) today offered the following joint statement after a report was released by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), in which recommendations are made to “modernize and realign” the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee (for eastern Oklahoma recommendations, see pages 72-74 of the VISN-19 Market Recommendation Report): “It’s appropriate for the VA to conduct reviews like this to ensure we continue to serve veterans in the best ways possible, but we are not convinced that the contents of this report accurately reflect the needs of veterans’ health care, especially mental health, in our state right now. The arrangement for the expansion of the facility in Tulsa assumed we would increase mental health and substance abuse for our veterans, not contract it as this proposal suggests. The need for direct access to mental health and behavioral health for veterans in our state has only increased. We are concerned that the report’s recommendation to move care to the surrounding community cannot accommodate this influx until a behavioral health hospital is completed. We are committed to veterans’ access to quality healthcare and will continue to assess the full impacts of this report to see what is in the best interest of our Oklahoma veterans. We just received this report, and there will be many questions that need to be answered before going forward.” The report recommends moving inpatient veteran-specific mental from the Muskogee VA into the community until the second phase of the CHIP-IN project—a behavioral health hospital—is completed. by Jamison Faught - March 15, 2022 at 08:56AM

Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin respond to report about potential closure of the Muskogee VA Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Rubio call for 2022 Winter Olympics to be moved out of China over human rights abuses

Lankford, Rubio Call on Olympic Committee to Relocate 2022 Winter Games WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee to relocate the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games in response to China’s refusal to acknowledge and stop their egregious human rights abuses. These abuses include genocide, forced labor, and crimes against humanity as a direct attempt to forcibly “assimilate,” or eventually eliminate, vulnerable ethnic and religious groups such as the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region of northwest China. “When our athletes are being instructed to leave their cellphones in the United States before heading to China, and we still do not know the wellbeing of tennis star Peng Shaui, we have a responsibility to question why the Olympic Committee is allowing China to host the 2022 Winter Olympic games,” said Lankford. “What’s more embarrassing is that we’re allowing the Chinese Communist Party to profit off of the games when it is responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity. Our athletes have trained, worked, and dedicated their lives to representing our nation. American Olympic athletes should not be punished or put in harm’s way while competing in this historic event. I’m calling on the Olympic Committee to relocate the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games to another host country.” Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 23, 2022 at 04:00PM

Lankford, Rubio call for 2022 Winter Olympics to be moved out of China over human rights abuses Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Scott, colleagues want to stop Congress from overspending when inflation soars

Okay, first of all, I think the last three words ("when inflation soars") should be left out of their chosen headline and effort. Republicans absolutely looooove to talk about government overspending -- when they're out of power. I've lost count of the times they failed to remember that when they controlled the purse strings. Anyway, maybe one day they'll get that right. Lankford, Scott, Colleagues Want to Stop Congress from Overspending When Inflation Soars OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and John Thune (R-SD), and eight of their colleagues to introduce the Inflation Prevention Act (IPA) to help combat inflationary spending. Due to record government spending over the last two years, many Americans face rapidly rising costs of consumer goods. This bill would bar legislation estimated to increase inflation until the year-over-year inflation rate drops below 4.5 percent. Lankford, Scott, and Thune are joined on the bill by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Todd Young (R-IN), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Hoeven (R-ND), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Steve Daines (R-MT). “It’s clear that Democrats’ reckless spending approach to the pandemic has created the inflation crisis Oklahomans now face, especially after inflation hit a devastating seven percent in December,” said Lankford. “I have warned about the impact of out-of-control spending on our economy for years. Our proposal protects against federal over spending that makes inflation worse, helps make sure future emergency spending only moves forward when absolutely needed, and reins it in when the federal pork barrel buffet starts to roll toward inflation.” “American families cannot continue to endure the burden of skyrocketing costs of everyday goods brought on by reckless spending in Washington,” said Tim Scott. “A sound financial future requires wise financial action now.” “Our country is facing the highest level of inflation in nearly 40 years, and South Dakotans are paying more for food, utilities, and gas,” said Thune. “I’m proud to join Sen. Scott in the fight to stop the Democrats’ reckless tax-and-spending spree, which would significantly worsen the already damaging inflation crisis.” Read more » by Jamison Faught - January 17, 2022 at 04:56PM

Lankford, Scott, colleagues want to stop Congress from overspending when inflation soars Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Rubio file bill to stop funding states and cities that allow non-citizens to vote

Lankford, Rubio Want to Prohibit Non-Citizens From Voting WASHINGTON, DC — Senator James Lankford, along with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), introduced the Protecting Our Democracy by Preventing Foreign Citizens from Voting Act to prohibit federal funding to states and localities that allow non-citizens to vote. Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Kennedy (R-LA), and Rick Scott (R-FL) joined Lankford and Rubio in introducing the legislation. Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC) will introduce companion legislation in the US House of Representatives.  “Democrats are not fooling anyone with their election schemes; the latest is to allow non-citizens to vote in New York City elections. This is ridiculous—only American citizens should vote in American elections,” Lankford said. “A government by the people for the people should be determined by its people. The Fifteenth Amendment guarantees the right of every citizen to vote. Federal law and federal funding should uphold and honor the Constitution. Our nation’s elections at every level should be fair, secure, and decided by American citizens.” “It’s ridiculous that states are allowing foreign citizens to vote,” Rubio said. “However, if states and localities do let those who are not US citizens to vote in elections, they shouldn’t get US citizen taxpayer money.”  Read more » by Jamison Faught - December 18, 2021 at 09:49AM

Lankford, Rubio file bill to stop funding states and cities that allow non-citizens to vote Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico

Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin demand answers on plans to close Vinita VA Clinic

Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin Demand Answers on the VA’s Plans to Close the Clinic in Vinita WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Representative Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough after learning that the VA continues to seek closure of the VA clinic facility in Vinita, OK, without reaching out to tribal or community leaders about the closure despite the clinic’s use in the area. The nearest facility if the clinic closes, would be in Claremore, OK, approximately an hour away from Vinita and the surrounding area. The Members wrote in the letter, “From our discussions with veterans in the state, community stakeholders, and others, it is clear the Vinita VA Clinic has been a tremendous benefit to veterans in northeastern Oklahoma. Given this wide acclaim, we were surprised to learn of VA’s plans to close Vinita’s clinic. This news was also a shock given that recent Eastern Oklahoma VA health leases indicated the Vinita VA Clinic lease would be renewed on October 1, 2021, and was not set to expire until September 30, 2030. Furthermore, we were concerned to hear the VA did not reach out to tribal and community leaders prior to the decision.” The Members’ letter requests further clarity and answers on how the decision was reached to close the Vinita VA Clinic as well as a detailed explanation and timeline of the solicitation process, any future plans for the clinic, and whether consideration was given for a potential re-bid on the lease. You can read a copy of the letter HERE and below: Read more » by Jamison Faught - December 01, 2021 at 01:00PM

Lankford, Inhofe, Mullin demand answers on plans to close Vinita VA Clinic Click the title to read the entire article at Muskogee Politico