Repeal & Replacement of Affordable Care Act:

• Throughout this year, Congress is debating health care reforms that will provide a smooth transition from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to a better health care system and better coverage options for everyone. Senator Lankford believes Congress should replace the ACA with the goal in mind of doing no harm to current enrollees as the transition occurs. 
• On March 6, 2017, House of Representative Republicans introduced the American Health Care Act, a bill to replace the ACA. You can read it for yourself at www.readthebill.gop. 
• On May 4, 2017, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act by a vote of 217-213 vote. CLICK HERE to read Speaker Paul Ryan's remarks after its passage. After House passage, the bill was sent to the Senate for further debate and consideration. 
• On June 22, 2017, Senate Republican leadership released the first working draft of their healthcare reform bill. On July 13, 2017, Senate Republican leadership released a revised draft bill. CLICK HERE to read a summary of the draft bill. CLICK HERE to read Senator Lankford's statement on the revised bill. 
• On July 25, the Senate began an open debate and amendment process for multiple healthcare reform bills. The Senate was unable to approve a bill to reform healthcare or repeal and replace Obamacare. CLICK HERE for a statement from Senator Lankford on this development. 
• On September 13, 2017, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dean Heller (R-NV), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) unveiled legislation to reform health care, and replace the ACA. CLICK HERE to read about that bill. At this time, the Senate is debating the merits of this bill. 

• PROBLEMS WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT:

  • Along with skyrocketing costs, in many parts of the country, Americans will have only one choice of insurer when they sign up for coverage on the public exchange.
  • Oklahoma will see a rise of 76 percent with only one health insurer to offer plans through the federal exchange in 2017. In 2016, there was a 35 percent increase.
  • According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, average annual family health care premiums have increased $4,767 since 2009. 
  • One-Third of Counties will have just one Obamacare insurer by 2017. 
  • In 2018, approximately 45 percent of counties could have one or no insurer to choose from on the Obamacare exchanges.
  • Nationwide, health care premiums will increase by an average of 25 percent in 2017.
  • The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) determined that as individuals’ income rises, ACA triggers higher taxes and lower insurance subsidies. The CBO predicts that by 2025, the ACA would cause employment to drop by the equivalent of 2 million full-time workers

Investigation Into Russian Interference in U.S. Elections:

• The Senate Intelligence Committee, of which Senator Lankford services on, is working in a bipartisan way to investigate Russia’s interference in the American election. At the end of the investigation, there will be a full bipartisan report that both Democrats and Republicans will sign off on.
• Senator Lankford is committed to a thorough and bipartisan investigation that follows wherever the facts lead.
• Russia interferes in elections to create instability and doubt in governments. Russia benefits from the chaos and the loss of confidence in U.S. government agencies.
• The Intelligence Committee is dealing with highly classified information and methods for how we collect intelligence. It is vitally important that this information and our classified methods remain confidential and secure. 
• CLICK HERE to view a March 28, 2017 news interview that Senator Lankford conducted about this topic.
• On May 9, 2017, President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey because of a recommendation from the Department of Justice (DOJ). The FBI Director serves at the pleasure of the President and Mr. Comey was four years into a 10 year term. CLICK HERE to read Senator Lankford's reaction to the firing. 
• On May 17, 2017, the Department of Justice appointed Robert Mueller as a special counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign with the Russians. CLICK HERE to view a Senator Lankford reaction interview on this topic

Supreme Court Justice Nominee Neil Gorsuch

• On January 31, 2017, President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court vacancy due to the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. 
• CLICK HERE to learn about Senator Lankford's opinions regarding Neil Gorsuch's appointment to the Supreme Court. 
• On March 29, Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor about Mr. Gorsuch. CLICK HERE to view the speech.
• On April 3, the Judiciary Committee voted to approve Neil Gorsuch out of Committee.
• On April 5, Senator Lankford again urged the Senate to confirm Neil Gorsuch to be the next Supreme Court Justice, on the same day that Senate Democrats conducted a partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee for the first time in the history of the U.S. Senate.
• On April 7, the Senate voted 54-45 to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court

Temporary Travel Ban Executive Order

• On January 27, 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) aimed to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals who wish to do us harm after entering the United States through immigration or the refugee ressetlement program. 
• CLICK HERE for a statement from Senator James Lankford on the EO. 
• CLICK HERE to view the original EO from the Office of the White House and CLICK HERE for a statement from President Trump. 
• CLICK HERE for a summary of the current Refugee Resettlement program screening and vetting processes. 
• Because a federal court struck down the order on February 9, President Trump issued a revised EO on March 6. 
• CLICK HERE for a statement from Senator Lankford on the revised EO.
• CLICK HERE to read a May 5, 2017 letter to the Trump administration in support of the refugee program

Betsy DeVos for Education Secretary

• On November 23, 2016, then President-elect Trump nominated Betsy DeVos to serve as his Secretary of Education.
• Betsy DeVos’ vision for the Department of Education is to decentralize control of the U.S. education system, reduce federal bureaucracy, and transfer more control and authority to the states and local districts. 
• Oklahoma public advocacy groups, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and Americans for Prosperity Oklahoma, have urged Senators Lankford and Inhofe to confirm Betsy DeVos. 
• CLICK HERE to watch Senator Lankford's floor speech on his support for Betsy DeVos. 
• CLICK HERE to read a press statement from Senator Lankford about his support of Mrs. DeVos.
• On February 7, the Senate voted to confirm Betsy Devos

What You Should Know About REAL ID

• In 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act of 2005, a law that acted on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.”
• The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies and buildings from accepting licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards. The law is meant to inhibit terrorists’ ability to get fake ID’s.
• Oklahoma was one of several states that was not compliant with the federal law, because Oklahoma’s licenses did not meet the threshold for security. In 2007, Oklahoma passed a law prohibiting compliance with the federal REAL ID Act, which is §47-6-110.3 of the Oklahoma State Code. 
• For more information from the Department of Homeland Security about REAL ID, CLICK HERE.
• In February, the state legislature passed House Bill 1845, the REAL ID compliance bill, to amend current state law to allow persons to obtain a compliant REAL ID driver's license or identification card in Oklahoma. On March 2, 2017, Gov. Mary Fallin signed it into law. To learn more about it, CLICK HERE. 
• The Department of Homeland Security recently granted Oklahoma an extension through October 10, 2017 in order to comply with the requirements of the Real ID Act. More information can be found on DHS’ website

Federal Budget and Spending Background

• The fiscal year for the federal government begins on October 1 and ends on September 30.
• Each fiscal year, the federal government is required by law to pass a congressional budget, use that budget to put together 12 separate appropriations (spending) bills, and pass those 12 bills in some form.
• That process has only worked four times since the legislation put in place that requires it was enacted in 1974. That’s four times in 44 years. 
• CLICK HERE to listen to Senator Lankford’s recent podcast on the broken budget and spending process.
• Under the proper process, in February each year, the President offers his budget (which is never passed in Congress, but is simply used as a suggested proposal)and Congress (both the Senate and House or sometimes just one or the other) is supposed to follow suit and present a budget proposal and pass it to provide top-line numbers for the Appropriations Committees to begin work on setting the actual dollar values to fund all federal departments and agencies. However, even that process is broken since even agreeing on a budget (the first step in the process)  has been difficult for Washington over the years.
• Next, both the Senate and House have corresponding subcommittees in the full Appropriations Committee to work through each of the 12 appropriations bills.
• The 12 appropriations bill names originate from the federal agencies and departments they fund.  Some are combined with other agencies and some are separate. The 12 bills and their commonly used “Inside-the-Beltway” names are:
  • Agriculture (“Ag”)
  • Commerce, Justice, Science (“CJS”)
  • Defense (“DOD”)
  • Energy & Water
  • Financial Services and General Government (“FSGG”)
  • Homeland Security (“DHS”)
  • Interior
  • Labor-Health & Human Services-Education (“Labor-HHS-Ed”)
  • Legislative Branch (“Leg. Branch”)
  • Military Construction-VA (“Milcon-VA”)
  • State & Foreign Operations (“SFOPS”)
  • Transportation-Housing & Urban Development (“T-HUD”)
• Senator Lankford serves on the Senate Committee on Appropriations and on six of its subcommittees including: CJS; Energy & Water; DHS; Labor-HHS-Ed, and SFOPS. He also serves as the Chairman of the FSGG Subcommittee.
• Frustratingly often, Congress uses stop-gap funding mechanisms known as continuing resolutions (or “CRs”) to fund the government at the most recently approved appropriations or at previous levels. The process of using CRs to fund the government shirks Congress’ duty to budget and appropriate.  Most recently, Congress has increasingly leaned on CRs for short-term extensions while larger spending bills are finalized.  But the process of funding the government in this manner is unnecessary if Congress does its job and passes a budget and all of the appropriations bills in a timely manner.
• As the Budget and Appropriations Committees members work on the budget and the 12 spending bills, individual Senators and Members of Congress are theoretically supposed to work on legislation that eliminates waste and reforms federal programs to save taxpayer dollars.
• Senator Lankford continues to work to cut examples of wasteful federal spending, highlight and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of federal tax dollars, and improve our broken budget and appropriations process. 

End-of-Year 2018 Funding Details

• Earlier this year, the House and Senate successfully passed and the President signed into law 5 of 12 annual appropriations bills required to fund the federal government. (Leg. Branch, Energy & Water, Labor-HHS-Ed, DOD, and Milcon-VA).
• Currently, the House and Senate are in the final stages of negotiating the remaining appropriations package to approve the final 7 appropriations bills: T-HUD, FSGG, Ag,, Interior, SFOPS, DHS, and CJS.
• On September 28th, President Trump signed a partial CR  to fund the government through December 7th.
• In early December, the House and Senate  agreed to a another partial two-week continuing resolution to fund the government through December 21, 2018.
• On December 19, 2018, the Senate reluctantly passed by a voice vote a CR to fund the government through February 8, 2018, which unfortunately did not contain additional funding for border security. Senator Lankford was extremely disappointed that the Senate resorted  to a CR without a border security agreement. You can read his remarks on the CR vote HERE.
• On December 20, 2018, House leadership visited the White House and were told the President would not sign the bill.
•  Later that day, the House passed a continuing resolution to fund the government that included $5 billion to fund border security on our southern border.
• Senator Lankford remains engaged in the ongoing negotiations and stands ready to consider legislation to fund the government and provide effective border security (wall/fence/barrier at the southern border), if the House, Senate, and White House can come to an agreement

First Step Act to Address Federal Criminal Justice Reform

• On December 18th, the Senate passed the First Step Act in a vote of 87-12. The House passed the bill on December 20th in a vote of 358-36. The bill now goes to the President for him to sign into law.
• The bill provides modest reforms to our federal criminal justice system to help make our prisons safer and our prisoners more equipped to leave crime behind when they leave prison.
• The bill includes important human rights provisions like prohibiting the use of restraints on pregnant prisoners (with safety exceptions) and limiting the use of solitary confinement of juveniles. That particular provision is modeled on the bipartisan MERCY Act, which Senator Lankford sponsored along with Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).
• Despite some misinformation being circulated, the First Step Act’s recidivism reduction programdoes not shorten sentences, even for those with good behavior. In fact, earned time that could be used at the end of a sentence to transition to lower-security facilities is unavailable to inmates who present a medium or high risk to recidivate.
• The bill also classifies numerous heinous crimes as ineligible from using earned time credits for this purpose. For example, those ineligible include traffickers of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine.
• The First Step Act restores congressional intent regarding “good time” credits, which are current law and allow a prisoner who has displayed exemplary compliance with prison discipline rules and who has also made satisfactory progress toward an educational degree to earn 54 days per year toward reducing his or her sentence.
• Senator Lankford offered an amendment, which passed by voice vote, to the First Step Act to allow faith-based groups to provide job training, social and family development to our prison population the same as non-faith-based groups. The amendment ensures that faith-based communities can engage with prison communities but prevents federal funds from being used for overtly “religious” activities.
• To read a summary of the First Step Act, pleaseCLICK HERE.
• To learn more about the First Step Act and why I supported it when it passed the Senate, pleaseCLICK HERE.

Migrant Family Separation at the Border:

• This is a very complicated matter. It will not be solved quickly. Senator Lankford believes it should be U.S. policy to keep families together as much as possible.
• A policy known as the Flores Settlement Agreement led to the Departments of Homeland Security or Justice to be unable to keep children in custody with their parents for an extended period of time IF the parents are charged with a crime for crossing the border illegally. This agreement is the result of the 1997 Flores v. Reno court case, and subsequent interpretations by federal courts, about how to handle Unaccompanied Alien Children and family units who have crossed our border illegally.
• On June 19, Senator Lankford sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions calling for a halt of family separation while Congress works on a legislative fix.
• On June 20, Senator Lankford co-sponsored a bill (the Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act) that would keep families together while ensuring the integrity and enforceability of our immigration laws. I appreciate that the President took action with an Executive Order, but I believe that legislation is still needed to withstand legal criticism, and also codify this policy into permanent law.

Tax Reform:

• Throughout 2017, the President and the Congress made tax reform a priority. 
• On November 9, 2017 the Senate Republican leadership also introduced a tax reform proposal (Tax Cuts & Jobs Act). The Senate passed an amended version of this bill on December 2, 2017. CLICK HERE to read Senator Lankford's statement in support of the bill. 
• On December 15, a joint House-Senate Conference Committee merged the two bills. CLICK HERE to read a summary of the Senate-House tax conference bill. 
• On December 19, the House passed the Senate-House tax conference bill, and the Senate passed it on December 20. CLICK HERE to read Senator Lankford's statement. CLICK HERE to view a special edition e-newsletter and video about the tax bill from Senator Lankford

House Impeachment Inquiry

• On Wednesday, September 24, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally announced that the House would begin an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.
• House Democrats have focused their inquiry on President Trump and his Administration’s engagement with Ukraine.
• Since the inquiry began, the House Intelligence Committee, Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Committee on Oversight and Reform have begun to subpoena witnesses, hold closed-door hearings, and gain testimony from current and former members of President Trump’s team and national security personnel.
• Unfortunately, the impeachment hearings and information-gathering sessions have been held largely behind closed doors, so there is very little information available to the public or many Members of Congress about the evidence or content of the investigation. The only two documents available to review in their entirety were released by the White House.
• One of the most serious checks and balances in our system of government is impeachment, which is why previous inquiries have been conducted through public hearings in which all sides can fully participate.
• Senator Lankford believes people have a right to their own opinions about the President, but he believes the American people deserve to at least make up their mind based on all the facts, not just the details the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee deems the most important news of the day.
• Constitutionally, any impeachment proceeding must start in the House, which has jurisdiction to conduct an investigation, file articles of impeachment, and vote to impeach. If that happens, the Senate’s role is to conduct a trial to convict or acquit. Ultimately, the Senate cannot act until the House votes.
• On October 24, Senator Lankford cosponsored a Senate resolution, led by Majority Leader McConnell and Senator Graham of South Carolina, to urge the House of Representatives to conduct a transparent impeachment inquiry process.
• Senator Lankford believes if House Democrats are as serious about impeachment as they are acting, they should apply an equal level of gravity to the process they think is so important.
• Senator Lankford has pointed out that Speaker Pelosi could not even wait for the whistleblower report to be made public before calling for an official impeachment inquiry.
• The resolution:
  • calls on the House of Representatives, prior to proceeding any further with its impeachment investigation into President Trump, to vote to initiate a formal impeachment inquiry;
  • calls on the House of Representatives to provide President Trump, like every other American, with due process, to include the ability to confront his accusers, call witnesses on his behalf, and have a basic understanding of the accusations against him that would form any basis for impeachment; and
  • calls on the House of Representatives to provide members of the minority with the ability to participate fully in all proceedings and have equal authority to issue subpoenas and other compulsory process.
• CLICK HERE to read the full text of the resolution.

REAL-ID

• The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety recently announced that the state received an extension from the US Department of Homeland Security through September 18, 2020, for Oklahoma to comply with the federal REAL ID requirements for our state-issued IDs, i.e. driver’s license.
• The extension ensures Oklahomans can continue to fly domestically using their OK driver’s licenses and enter federal buildings that require IDs. However, the final deadline for state-issued driver’s licenses to be REAL ID compliant is October 1, 2020. On that date, you will not be able to fly domestically with a non-compliant license.
• To avoid the impending rush of Oklahomans who choose to get the REAL ID compliant state-issued ID in advance of that October 2020 deadline, it is recommended that Oklahomans get or renew a passport. You can go to Travel.State.Gov for instructions on how to apply for a passport.
• Having a passport book (passport cards only provide for domestic travel or to Canada/Mexico by car) will ensure that regardless of a person’s Oklahoma ID status, he or she can fly (domestically or internationally), enter federal properties that require an ID, and travel internationally. All alternative forms of identification for the purpose of travel can be found here: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification
• Oklahomans who have a valid state driver’s license that expires sometime after October 2020, may still use that license combined with a US Passport to meet the REAL ID requirements (and obtain an Oklahoma REAL ID at their regular renewal time).
• If you have questions going forward go to: https://www.ok.gov/dps/REAL_ID_Enforcement.html for more details.

Immigration and Border Security

• Senator Lankford serves on the US Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which have jurisdiction for oversight and funding of the Department of Homeland Security, the primary border security agency in the US government.
• Senator Lankford remains actively involved in bipartisan conversations and negotiations surrounding proposals to repair the faulty immigration and broken border security policies in our country. 

   

• Immigration:
  • On September 5, 2017, President Trump rescinded the 2012 Obama Administration initiative Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). While he agreed that DACA recipients should receive protection, it is inappropriate for any president to create the program through executive action. 
  • In February 2018, before DACA was set to expire, the Senate opened the floor for proposals to debate and solve our nation's immigration issues, including a solution for the DACA-eligible population. 
  • When President Trump rescinded the program, he set the effective end date to be March 5, 2018, which gave Congress six months to provide legislative permanency for these individuals and time to include provisions to prevent a similar situation from happening in the future. 
  • Last Congress, several groups of Senators proposed a variety of plans to provide a permanent solution for DACA recipients. The plan Senator Lankford supported, included the necessary reforms in the White House framework and could have received enough votes to also pass the House. Each of the four bills debated in the Senate received bipartisan support, but none of the bills received the 60 votes needed to proceed to a final vote.  
  • The SECURE and SUCCEED Act would have appropriated $25 billion for a variety of border and entry security; provided necessary methods of enforcement, such as the permanent authorization of the voluntary electronic employment verification system (E-Verify) and the enactment of Kate's law; and would have provided an opportunity for 1.8 million DACA-eligible immigrants to earn naturalization in 10 to 12 years.
  • Under DACA, recipients were not granted legal immigrant status, were not put on a pathway to citizenship, and did not have the right to vote in our elections. Additionally, they are barred from receiving any federal public benefits, which would continue while the individual has conditional permanent residency.
  • On January 8, 2019, Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor for the 11th time since he began serving in the Senate about the need to finally solve our immigration issues. 
  • In addition to the problems mentioned above, the nation is facing a migrant crisis because individuals are able to take advantage of our country’s broken asylum system to gain access into the country.
  • Individuals and family units at our borders and ports of entry will often claim asylum, even if they don’t have a valid case. In fact, at least half who make a credible fear claim do not actually apply for asylum.
  • Only about 12 of every 100 credible fear claims result in a grant of asylum by an immigration judge.
  • However, individuals are able to disappear into the interior of the United States because they are released while waiting for their case to be heard due to a lack of detention space and court rulings that prohibit families from being detained together while waiting.
  • These precedents also encourages adults to smuggle children to the border who have no familial relation to them.
  • There are more than two million individuals currently living in the country who have made asylum claims. While seeking asylum is legal and should be encouraged for individuals who truly need it, our broken laws have created a years-long backlog, making it more difficult for genuine asylum seekers and easier for individuals taking advantage of the system.
  • On May 16, the President announced his intention to address legal immigration reform and enhanced border security. While specific details of the plan have not yet been released, Senator Lankford looks forward to continuing to work with the administration to develop immigration policies that best fit the economic and security needs of our nation.

     

• Border security:
  • Every nation has the right to secure its borders and control its entry process for safety and economic development.
  • Our southern border is full of diverse terrain including mountains, desert, and the Rio Grande River. 
  • Senator Lankford does not believe a 2,000-mile fence alone is the best and most cost-effective solution. Technology like tethered drones, seismic sensors, and vehicle barriers are very effective in many areas of the desert Southwest.
  • Historically, border security has always been bipartisan. In 2006, Congress passed the Secure Fences Act, and President Obama consistently took steps during his presidency to add infrastructure at the border for security. However, recently border security has become highly partisan.
  • Senator Lankford believes all people are made in God's image and deserve dignity and respect. However, it is reasonable to expect those entering and living within our borders to obey the laws of our nation. 
  • In the most recent omnibus bill, Congress appropriated almost $1.4 billion specifically for fencing at the southern border because although we already have more than 700 miles of fencing, some of it is old and ineffective. Border agents continue to emphasize that the number of illegal immigrant entries in the new or replaced fencing areas has significantly decreased.
  • In addition to that funding, the President declared a national emergency and his intent to use funds from other accounts and agencies to address the crisis at the border. Senator Lankford supported the President’s declaration and spoke about his support for the declaration on the Senate floor.  
  • Moreover, in 2018, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 127,000 immigrants with criminal convictions and 5,000 gang members. ICE was able to rescue more than 500 human trafficking victims and 1,000 victims of child exploitation. Additionally, ICE seized nearly 500 tons of narcotics and enough fentanyl to kill more than 537 million people.
  • Already this year (through April 2019), Customs and Border Protection has apprehended 460,294unaccompanied minor children, family units, and single adults at the southern border attempting to cross outside a port of entry.
  • Senator Lankford also reintroduced the bipartisan Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act,which requires HHS to keep better track of and care for unaccompanied alien children (UACs). This measure, which was first introduced in September 2018, will help both ensure the children’s safety and ensure they appear at their immigration court proceedings. A summary of the bill is here and the bill text is here.
  • It is past time for Congress to solve these issues. Senator Lankford remains engaged directly with the White House and members on both sides of the aisle to try to find a resolution to these and other issues in immigration

Trade

• Senator Lankford serves on the Senate Finance Committee, whose primary areas of jurisdiction includes reciprocal trade agreements and tariffs;
• Senator Lankford joined the committee in January 2019 but has always been engaged on trade and how the negotiations affect Oklahomans.
• Senator Lankford supports strong trade agreements with other countries that give the United States and Oklahoma a fair playing ground for international trade. If a current trade agreement is unfair to the United States, it is appropriate to reengage, create fair trading partnerships, and resolve them quickly.
• Fair trading partnerships include a low- or no-tariff situation without any trade quotas.
• Once existing trade agreements are updated, we should seek new markets to get American products around the world. It is good for the US and good for Oklahoma.
• On May 22, 2018, Senator Lankford joined a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to urge him to consult with Congress as he worked to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which would later become the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
• On July 25, 2018, Senator Lankford met with President Trump at the White House to discuss the then-ongoing negotiations for the USMCA and to encourage the Administration to finalize negotiations to provide certainty to Oklahoma agriculture producers.
• On July 26, 2018, Senator Lankford questioned USTR Lighthizer during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the USTR’s goal to resolve existing trade negotiations and the continued work to open new trade markets.
• On August 3, 2018, Senator Lankford released his first podcast on trade. This episode focused on trade as a whole and how the ongoing trade negotiations between America and other nations impact Oklahoma.
• On October 3, 2018, Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor about the positive effects of the USMCA on Oklahoma agriculture producers.
• On February 28, 2019, Senator Lankford introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Import Tax Relief Act to require the Executive Branch to create an exclusion process for List 3 (and any future list) of Chinese imports subject to Section 301 tariff imposition.
• On March 13, 2019, Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor about international trade with China, including Section 301 tariffs.
• On May 10, 2019, Senator Lankford issued a statement after the Trump Administration’s unproductive trade talks with China stalled.
• On May 17, 2019, Senator Lankford recorded his second podcast on ongoing trade negotiations and the tariff situation with China.
• Because of our state’s role in agricultural production and energy development, Oklahomans understand the importance of free trade.
• Senator Lankford supports strong trade agreements with other countries that enable US exporters greater access to overseas markets. This supports high-paying jobs while helping bring wealth to our state’s economy.
• Senator Lankford continues to meet directly with the White House and with USTR Robert Lighthizer to provide an Oklahoma perspective in trade talks.

Cyber Security Protection Resources

Cyberattacks remain significant and credible threats for systems, computers, networks, and devices in the US and around the world, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself, your family, and your information from hacking, cyber terrorism, and other cyber threats.

• Cyberattacks on your personal and business devices and computers can come in many forms, and 21st century hackers are always working on new and crafty ways to trick users into false senses of security or catch them when their guards are down.
• According to information gathered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):
  • 1.3 million homes with computers are infected with malicious software.
  • 65 percent of Americans who are online receive at least one scam offer.
  • 600,000 Facebook accounts are hacked every, single day.
  • 31 percent of millennials share their passwords. The most of any group.
• Senator Lankford encourages all Oklahomans and all Americans to take a moment to assess the security measures in place for their personal and business information and encourages Americans to remain vigilant of malicious attempts to gain access to personal or business data.
• DHS has provided a number of valuable resources on proactive steps you can take to prevent a cyberattack and protect your personal or business data and information. Here are a few recommended steps to take from DHS as well as links to DHS information:
  • Enabling Multi-factor Authentication: Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to ensure that the only person who has access to your account is you. Use it for email, banking, social media, and any other service that requires logging in. CLICK HERE to learn more.
  • Practicing Wi-Fi Safety: Practice safe web surfing wherever you are by checking for the “green lock” or padlock icon in your browser bar—this signifies a secure connection. When you find yourself out in the great “wild Wi-Fi West,” avoid free internet access with no encryption. CLICK HERE to learn more.
  • Avoiding oversharing and Geotagging: While it’s tempting to do otherwise, limit your social networks to people you actually know in real life, and set your privacy preferences to the most restrictive settings. CLICK HERE to learn more.
  • Checking App Security: Don’t give apps on your wireless or wired devices an all-access pass to your personal information. Say “no” to privilege requests that don’t make sense. Only download apps from trusted sources. Check your app permissions and use the “rule of least privilege” to delete what you don’t need or no longer use. CLICK HERE to learn more.
• DHS has also provided information on identifying and preventing scams, including phishing, imposters and impersonators, “you’ve won” announcements, healthcare-related information requests, tech support fraud, and identify theft scams. Please CLICK HERE to take a moment and familiarize yourself with these prevalent scams and how to protect yourself and your business from being victims of these malicious attacks.
• This is by no means an exhaustive list of ways to protect yourself, your family, and/or your business from cyberattacks. Your email provider, internet service provider, device manufacturer, and others will also have resources to help protect you and your devices, so please continue to work with sources you trust to keep your information safe.
• To securely report cyber-related security incidents to DHS Cybersecurity Information Security Agency (CISA), please CLICK HERE.
• To securely report a phishing attempt or vulnerability to CISA, please CLICK HERE.

US/Iran Tensions

• No one, including Senator Lankford, wants a war with Iran or with the millions of peaceful Iranian people.
• Iran has become increasingly aggressive in the Middle East region and beyond over the past decade, and the ill-conceived Iran Nuclear Deal only emboldened Iran to affect the region somewhat “under the radar” and with little international impunity.
• The US has worked to curtail Iran’s influence, and we remain committed to ensure Iran’s influence of terrorism and disruption is as minimal as possible.
• As Iran increased its aggressive posture, General Soleimani played a key role in Iran’s aggression and was personally responsible for killing US military and allied forces in Iraq, including a US contractor recently.
• President Trump sent multiple, clear signals that there would be consequences if General Soleimani and his Iranian Quds Force killed another US citizen and continued his pursuit of aggression in Iraq and the Middle East.
• After years of targeting the US and our allies in terror attacks, on January 2, 2020, Iranian General and Quds Force leader Soleimani was killed by US forces in Iraq.
• The Secretary of Defense indicated the US does not plan to remove US forces from Iraq, despite the Iraqi parliament voting to remove Americans from the country after the bombing that killed General Soleimani.
• CLICK HERE to read Senator Lankford’s statement on the death of General Soleimani.
• CLICK HERE to watch Senator Lankford’s interview with KOCO’s Maggie Carlo about the General’s death.
• On Tuesday, January 7, Iranian missiles struck two Iraqi air bases that also housed American troops. The president told the American people on January 8th that no Americans were killed in the attacks.
• Both the US Government and Tehran recognize that Iran was the source of the attack, and the attack appears to be in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Quds Force General Soleimani.
• Senator Lankford said immediately following the attack, “Iran’s aggression against the US clearly indicates that they continue to want to do harm to Americans and our nation. I am monitoring the situation  tonight, and I pray for all the service women and men who are defending our nation.”
• On Wednesday, January 8, President Trump provided remarks from the White House regarding the attack at Iraqi bases. CLICK HERE to read his remarks.
• Following the President’s speech, Senator Lankford remarked, “I'm grateful there was no loss of life from the airstrike & our military was in a position to protect our troops on the ground. President Trump made it clear he does not want a war with Iran, but we are not going to allow the Iranians to take American lives.”
• Senator Lankford plans to continue reviewing the relevant intelligence and continue to assess the ongoing threat from Iran (and its partner terrorist groups in other nations) about whether further diplomatic or national defense legislation may be needed to protect Americans at home and abroad as our military and national security personnel work to keep us safe.

Impeachment

• • On Wednesday, September 24, 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi formally announced that the House would begin an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, focused on President Trump and his Administration’s engagement with Ukraine.
  • The House Intelligence Committee, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Committee on Oversight and Reform subpoenaed witnesses, held closed-door depositions, and gathered testimony from current and former members of President Trump’s team and national security personnel.
  • For an entire month the House fully conducted their inquiry behind closed doors. On October 24, Senator Lankford cosponsored a Senate resolution, led by Majority Leader McConnell and Senator Graham of South Carolina, to urge the House of Representatives to conduct a transparent impeachment inquiry process—consistent with past impeachment inquiries.
  • The committees of jurisdiction then held multiple open hearings over several months that included several days of testimony. CLICK HERE for information on the House Intelligence Committee hearings. CLICK HERE for information on the House Judiciary Committee hearings.
  • Just before Christmas 2019, the House approved two articles of impeachment against President Trump.
  • Upon the House’s vote to impeach President Trump before Christmas, Speaker Pelosi did not immediately transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
  • The Senate is unable to take action on impeachment, as current Senate Rules don’t allow for the Senate to act until Speaker Pelosi transmitted the articles.
  • Under the Constitution, the House has the authority to impeach the President, and the Senate has the authority to conduct the trial to consider removal from office. Therefore, during previous impeachments trials, articles of impeachment from the House have been immediately presented to the Senate for consideration and trial to allow both chambers to fulfill their constitutional duties. CLICK HERE to watch recent remarks from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on the Senate’s role in impeachment, his views on the current situation, and his views about how the process looks going forward.
    • Majority Leader McConnell said on the Senate floor, “The House may have been content to scrap their own norms to hurt President Trump, but that is not the Senate. Even with a process this constitutionally serious, even with tensions rising in the Middle East, House Democrats are treating impeachment like a political toy. Treating their own effort to remove our commander in chief like some frivolous game.”
  • In 1999, the Senate adopted a bipartisan resolution in a vote of 100-0 that set up the initial logistics like briefs, opening arguments, and senators’ questions. It postponed mid-trial questions such as witnesses until the trial was actually under way.
  • Senator Lankford believes using the standard for the Clinton trial for an impeachment trial of President Trump is fair.
  • Senator Lankford wants to see a fair process for the impeachment trial, and we will have more details on the timing and process going forward once Speaker Pelosi transmits the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

Coronavirus

The CDC recommends that organizers cancel or postpone social events of 10 people or more. Examples of events include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, etc. For health-related information from the CDC about the virus, CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE for the President’s Guidelines on Opening Up America Again. James was taped by President Trump to advise on his Coronavirus Economic Task Force. CLICK HERE for Oklahoma's plan to reopen. 

For information on the economic impact recovery checks, CLICK HERE to visit the IRS website for more information. 

• If you filed a tax return in 2018 or 2019, you can check the status of your direct deposit HERE. 
• If you were not require to file a 2018 or 2019 tax return, you can enter your payment information HERE. 
• If you are a Social Security recipient who did not file a tax return, you do not need to take any action in order to receive your deposit. For more information, CLICK HERE. You can also visit the Social Security Administration website for additional details, HERE.
• Economic Impact Payments will be issued by prepaid debit card instead of a paper check. The card can be used to make purchases, get cash from in-network ATMs, and transfer funds to their personal bank account without incurring any fees. You can also check the card balance online, by mobile app, or by phone without incurring fees. The card can be used online, at ATMs or at any retail location where Visa is accepted. This is a free prepaid card. 

For information on unemployment insurance, CLICK HERE to visit the Oklahoma unemployment website. If you typically don't qualify for unemployment insurance, OESC has launched the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). For more information, visit the resources for Oklahoma workers below. CLICK HERE for information on unemployment insurance due to COVID-19. 

Paycheck Protection Program Update:

If you applied and received a PPP loan, SBA and Treasury have released the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application. CLICK HERE to review and fill out the form.

SBA will also soon issued regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities. 

UPDATES: 

Check @SenatorLankford on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for additional information. Don't forget to turn on notifications for @SenatorLankford for the various platforms so you are alerted about resources and updates Senator Lankford shares on social media.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information for Oklahomans

The distrubtion of the COVID-19 is administered by the Oklahoma State Health Department and has launced a vaccine scheduler portal. The portal will allow Oklahomans to find when they are eligible for the vaccine and to schedule an appointment. To learn more, visit the OSDH website by CLICKING HERE. 

Vaccine Phases

• Phase 1: 
  • Long term care residents and staff
  • Health care workers supporting direct inpatient care
  • Public health staff conducting front line COVID-19 pandemic mitigation
  • Oklahoma state licensed emergency medical technicians and paramedics
• Phase 2: 
  • First responders, paid and unpaid
  • Health care workers providing direct COVID outpatient care and services
  • Adults age 65 and older and adults of any age with Comorbidties
  • Teachers and staff in Pre-K-12 schools and educational settings
  • Staff and REsidents in congregate locations and worksites
  • Public health staff supporting front line efforts
• Phase 3: 
  • Teachers, staff, and residents in other education settings
  • Critical infrastructure personnel as specified in the 3rd Executive Order
• Phase 4: 
  • All Oklahoma Residents

To review the state's distribution plan, CLICK HERE. 

Vaccine FAQ

Q: Can I register for the vaccine on behalf of someone else?

A: You can use the same email to register multple people on the portal as long as the names and dates of birth are different. 

Q: Why can't I get an appointment right away?

• Even if you are eligile to receive the vaccine, there may not be an appointment available in your area right away.
• The amount of people we can vaccineate depends upon the supply we receive from the federal government. 
• Oklahoma has adopted a phased approach to distribute the vaccine because supply is limited. The pahsed plan ensures the vaccine can get to those who are most at risk first. 
• Please be patient--healthcare professionals are working hard to get the vaccine out as quickly as possible based on the supply. 
• We will notify wehn you are eligible to recieve the vaccine. 
• Once you receive an email notification that you are eligible, please chek the link in the email on Thursday mornings for new appointments near you. 

For more Vaccine FAQs from the OSDH, CLICK HERE. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Scams

Please be aware of COVID-19 vaccine scams.

• Any ads or offers for early access to a vaccine in exchange for payment are entirely fraudulent.
• The COVID-19 vaccine will always be free to Oklahomans.
• OSDH will NOT ask you for payment to register for or receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• For accurate information on the Vaccine Scheduler Portal and registeraion, visit oklahoma.gov/covid19/vaccine-information/vaccine-faqs.

James received the COVID-19 vaccine in December and released the following statement: 

“Operation Warp Speed is the result of public-private partnership and American ingenuity,” said Lankford. “Through a great deal of hard work and innovative science, we have two safe and effective vaccines and more in the pipeline. Today the US Capitol's Office of Attending Physician encouraged Members of Congress, under the continuity of government protocols, to take the vaccine as soon as possible. I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine this afternoon. I will receive the second dosage in 21 days.”

“Today, because I wanted to show my confidence in the safety of the vaccine and as part of the continuity of government protocols, I received the COVID-19 vaccine from the Office of the Attending Physician,” Inhofe said. “Because of the incredible work of scientists and researchers, along with the health professionals at the FDA, Operation Warp Speed, and the Trump Administration, we have a safe vaccine in record time. I am fully confident in its safety and efficacy, and I urge all Oklahomans and Americans to get the vaccine when it is available to them. Any funding bill must have resources for distribution to make sure the vaccine gets to our frontline health care workers and all Americans."

Vaccine Mandates

Senator Lankford is continuing to stand up to the Biden Administration and raise his voice in full opposition to any federal vaccine requirements for anyone in our nation. He and his family have received the COVID-19 vaccine and have encouraged others to do so, but no one should be forced to take the vaccine, especially if they have religious or moral objections, personal medical issues, or other needs that might prevent them from taking on the additional risks associated with the vaccines.

Senator Lankford has already taken action to try to stop or modify the Biden Administration’s decision to force everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because he’s lost his “patience.”

• Senator Lankford introduced the Stop Vaccine Mandates Act to repeal President Biden’s Executive Order which mandates vaccines for federal employees and federal contractors. 
  • Lankford brought his bill to the floor to demand a vote of the Senate, but Democrats blocked the bill.
• Senator Lankford led more than 39 Senators to formally move to disapprove and nullify President Biden’s vaccine mandate on private companies and their employees under the Congressional Review Act, the official process for Congress to eliminate an Executive Branch rule.
• Lankford took to the Senate floor to share his opposition to Biden’s vaccine mandate and to support the resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) before the Senate to stop the vaccine mandate on private employers. The CRA passed by a vote of 52 to 48.
• For members of the military, Senator Lankford introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act to prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) from giving service members a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Senator Lankford also directly called on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to protect the First Amendment rights of our Armed Forces who cannot receive the COVID-19 vaccine due to their sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with the Constitution, Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and existing Department policy.
• Lankford stood firmly with the Oklahoma National Guard and Guard members around the nation twice last week to offer his bill on the Senate floor. Late last night, Lankford offered the legislation as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prohibit the Department of Defense from discharging or withholding pay or benefits from members of the National Guard because of their COVID–19 vaccination status. Lankford also worked to secure a provision in this year’s NDAA to ensure service members are not dishonorably or less-than-honorably discharged if they choose not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
• For employees, Senator Lankford sent a letter to President Biden outlining his concerns with the Administration’s vaccine mandates and asking specific questions on protections for employees who request religious and medical accommodations as well as on the impact of employees with natural immunity.
• Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor to stand firmly with Oklahoma service members, health care workers, federal employees, and private-sector workers who have chosen so far not to be vaccinated but face a federal requirement from the Biden Administration.
• For essential workers Senator Lankford joined Senator Marsha Blackburn to introduce the Keeping our COVID-19 Heroes Employed Act, which would protect essential workers from being fired due to COVID vaccination requirements.
• Rumor: People who don’t get the COVID-19 vaccine will lose their Medicare or Medicaid benefits
  • This is False: Individuals won’t lose Medicare or Medicaid benefits if they choose not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, the Biden Administration is threatening that health facilities will lose funding if their employees don’t abide by the vaccine mandate. Oklahoma is currently involved in a lawsuit with 11 other states against this requirement for health care workers. The US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, whose lawsuit Oklahoma joined, has issued a temporary federal halt to that mandate pending further court action.

Stopping Democrats' Federal Election Takeover

In America, it should be easy to vote and hard to cheat, but S.1 and S.4 make it easy to cheat and hard to verify any election. Safe and secure elections should be nonpartisan and noncontroversial. I will continue to support legislation that maintains states’ ability to run secure and open elections.

• Senator Lankford opposed the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021,(also known as S.4).
• Lankford opposes the bill because it:
  • Updates and restores strict preclearance requirements overturned by the Supreme Court in Shelby v. Holder so states have to play “mother, may?” I with the Department of Justice
  • Guts Section 2 of the voting rights act “guideposts” established by the Bronvich v. Democratic National Committee decision
  • Requires preclearance for specific types of voting procedures in jurisdictions (regardless of preclearance) that have a growing minority population
  • Settlements and consent decrees count as voting rights violations looking back 25 years, as opposed to only final judgements
• Senator Lankford does not support federalizing elections. He believes elections should continue to be run by states and localities.
• Senator Lankford has worked since 2016 to strengthen our election system through things like enhanced cyber security; information sharing between federal, state, and local election partners; and paper ballot backups. After Russian attempts to interfere in our elections, every state has spent more time and state resources to protect our elections, which is good for our democracy.
• While there are additional steps that can be taken to continue to enhance the security of our elections and ensure confidence in the results, federalizing elections is not the answer.

Oklahoma has secure voter laws. We require identification to vote in person and by mail and other important safeguards, but as we saw in the 2020 election, many states lack even basic election processes and protections. States should: 

• Encourage every legal adult to vote
• Provide enough polling places and machines to make voting faster 
• Allow early in person voting and verified mail in voting 
• Work to instill trust and confidence in the election system and the results 
• Prevent voting in more than one state and prevent deceased people from voting 
• Have paper ballot backups to ensure auditable results 
• Start counting mail-in votes before Election Day, finish counting by Election Day, and receive all ballots by the time polls close on Election Day 
• Continue cybersecurity enhancements. 

Afghanistan

Before President Biden rushed our botched withdrawal from Afghanistan this summer, Senator Lankford was engaged in oversight of US operations in Afghanistan throughout our military presence in country to ensure US military personnel had what they needed for their mission, to assess the situation on the ground facing our service members, and to ensure federal funding was adequate for operations.

• As a previous member of the Intelligence Committee, In 2018 Senator Lankford participated in a congressional delegation trip to Afghanistan (Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif, and Kandahar) to conduct oversight of ongoing US operations on the ground. 
• Senator Lankford supported National Defense Authorization Act provisions for our service members in Afghanistan as well as programs supporting them when they returned home.
• On August 17, Senator Lankford spoke out against President Biden’s too-hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan as Oklahomans watched the chaos that began to ensue when we announced our arbitrary timeframe for withdrawal, later calling on the Administration to devote all means necessary to ensuring Americans could get out amid the chaos, which Senator Lankford said the Administration ultimately failed to do.
• Senator Lankford also worked to support the Gold Star Families whose lives were forever changed by the loss of loved one in their last full m measure of devotion to our nation in Afghanistan. Senator Lankford wrote an op-ed for the 20th anniversary of the devastating attacks on 9/11 regarding his support for Gold Star Families and the importance of us continuing to take care of them going forward.
• Senator Lankford and his colleagues on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee send a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young regarding the White House’s funding request in the FY 2022 Continuing Resolution that would allow the Department of Homeland Security Secretary to adjust the status of Afghan parolees on a case-by-case basis and waive grounds of inadmissibility, including terrorism. 

Guantanamo Bay

President Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan this August now leaves questions for the future of our vital detention center facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

• This summer, Senator Lankford received a very unsatisfactory and troubling response from the Biden Administration regarding their plans for the future of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
• In May Senator Lankford led a letter to President Biden to demand a status update on his plans for continuing to detain terrorists at US facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, even as the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan this week, which Lankford opposed, has essentially allowed the Taliban terrorists to regain full control of the country. The Department of Defense’s short response, after three months, indicated they plan to continue to move forward to close the facility.
• Since 2016, Senator Lankford has spoken out about the important role Guantanamo Bay detention facilities play in combatting terrorism and ensuring we do not bring radical and recruiting terrorists into US detention facilities.

Protecting Second Amendment Rights

Senator Lankford strongly believes in protecting our Second Amendment rights for law-abiding Americans.  

Gun owners must meet numerous stipulations and requirements when exercising their basic constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Federal legislators and regulators should not restrict law-abiding hunters, responsible gun owners, and gun or ammunition manufactures, but the violation of firearms laws and multiple criminal statutes should lead to punishment for violent criminals.

We should identify real and meaningful solutions to address the issues of broken families, drug use, and violent crime.  We must work together to support healthy families, enhance access to mental health services, and continue respectful national dialogues about the harm that hatred and violence cause.

• President Biden's nomination of David Chipman to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF)
  • Oklahomans have shared concerns about this nomination because they believe Chipman will take action to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans. Senator Lankford share these concerns. 
  • On May 26, the Senate Committee on Judiciary held a hearing on Chipman's nomination. Senator Lankford was alarmed by Chipman's answers regarding gun control and his open support of an AR-15 ban. 
  • In early September, the White House pulled his nomination from consideration. Senator Lankford did not support the nomination of David Chipman.
  • Rumors about the possibility of universal background checks. 
    • Senator Lankford is opposed to universal background checks. But he does support the need to be able to consistently monitor and update the National Instant Background Check System (NICS).
    • It is imperative that the necessary records are uploaded to the NICS system so individuals who are not authorized to purchase a firearm are prevented from doing so. 
    • Rumors about the possibility of federal incentives for states that enact red flag laws. 
      • Red flag laws, both federal proposals and current state laws, withdraw a constitutional right first, then force individuals to go to court to get their rights back or get due process. 
      • Decades ago, federal law was changed to not allow a person who had been treated in-patient for mental illness or adjudicated by a court as “mentally deficient” to own, possess, or purchase a firearm of any type.  We should consistently enforce our existing law to protect people with mental illness from doing harm to themselves or others.  Our existing law allows for the removal of firearms from someone who is a threat, but it also prioritizes getting them treatment.  I will continue to look very carefully at any federal legislation that could curtail law-abiding citizens' right to keep and bear arms.

Work to Protect Life

Lankford remains a leader for defending life at all stages—whether born or unborn—in Washington, DC, and especially in the Senate. 

• Senator Lankford joined Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) to release a new memo detailing how the Democrats’ multitrillion-dollar tax-and-spending bill would violate the Hyde Amendment and radically expand taxpayer funding for abortions. Lankford is the chairman of the Values Action Team and member of the Pro-Life Caucus Senate Pro-Life Caucus.
• Senator Lankford introduced an amendment that saved the long-standing Hyde and Weldon Amendments, which prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions and abortion-related discrimination against health care workers, including insurers.
• Senator Lankford applauded that the US Supreme Court allowed Texas’ abortion ban after an unborn baby’s heartbeat can be detected to take effect, which is a promising sign to defending life at all stages. Lankford joined an amicus brief signed by more than 220 Members of Congress supporting the state of Mississippi in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which presents the Supreme Court with the opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. 
• Senator Lankford introduced his Conscience Protection Act to protect health care providers and health insurers from government discrimination if they decline to participate in medical procedures, like abortion, that violate their consciences. This bill would also give health care providers a private right of action so that victims of abortion discrimination, like the entities who are compelled to include abortion coverage under California’s mandate and the nurse at UVMMC, can have their day in court even when the Obama and now Biden Administrations abandon their obligation to enforce the law.

Ensured Southern Border Wall Is Finished

After visiting the Arizona border in March 2021 and after months of holding the Biden Administration accountable for its failures to enforce the law and preserve national security at the southern border, Lankford announced that the Department of Homeland Security would finish several gaps in the border wall located in San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, and Del Rio. This announcement comes after Lankford released a report that exposed billions in waste to pay contractors to babysit the border wall materials at these sites while the Biden Administration “studied” it, even though Congress already allocated the money to build the wall.

Preventing Service Members from being Dishonorably Discharged over COVDI-19 Vaccine Status

Senator Lankford secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authoirzation Act (NDAA) to prohibit the Department of Defense (DOD) from dishonorably discharging service members and instead requires an honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions, which will retroactively apply to the date of the DOD COVID-19 vaccine order and be in place for at least two years

Turning Oklahoma Veteran’s Frustration with TRICARE into a Win for Veterans

After hearing from an Oklahoma veteran who wanted an easier process for getting his prescription drugs paid for at the pharmacy, Senator James Lankford announced a major victory for veterans’ health care after CVS stated they will rejoin the TRICARE network for prescription drugs, which will make processing claims for prescription drugs simpler and more efficient for Oklahoma veterans. 

Exposing Biden’s Border Crisis

The lead Republican on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on the border, Senator Lankford was first to expose the crisis at the southern border through his first-hand pictures and video from the Arizona-Mexican border and the Texas-Mexico border.

Uncovering $2 billion in waste at Border

Senator Lankford uncovered $2 billion in wasted taxpayer money paid to Defense contractors to babysit the steel ready to be put up for the southern border wall because the Biden Administration is still “studying” it.

Preserving the Hyde and Weldon Amendments for Life

A leader in the Senate to stand for life, Senator Lankford introduced a bipartisan-supported amendment, which passed, to the Democrats’ partisan budget resolution to stop taxpayers from being forced to pay for abortions and abortion-related discrimination. His amendment ensures that the budget will comply with the long-standing Hyde amendment, which bars the use of federal dollars to pay for abortion, and the Weldon amendment, which protects health care providers who refuse to participate in abortion from discrimination. This was a major victory for life!

Stopped an ICE detention facility in Hinton, OK

Within a few hours of hearing the rumor about it, Senator Lankford successfully blocked President Biden’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office from opening a “surge overflow temporary facility” at the Great Plains Correctional Institution in Hinton that would have been used to process migrants who crossed the border illegally and release them into Western Oklahoma.

Saving Harmon hospital in Hollis, OK

After months of work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Senator Lankford ensured Harmon Memorial Hospital in Hollis received an extension of their designation to continue to serve the community as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), which saved 100 jobs for this small Oklahoma community

Calling Out Budget Gimmicks to “pay for the infrastructure Bill”

Before Senator Lankford voted to oppose the massive $1.2 trillion tax-and-spend spree masquerading as an “infrastructure” bill, he raised a budget point of order before its final passage to make sure his colleagues and the American people knew publicly that the bill will add billions to the debt and was paid for with budget gimmicks.

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken

Although “the chicken” (as it is affectionately known) is not on everyone’s radar, Senator Lankford knows it is on the radar for farmers, ranchers, energy producers, and developers in western Oklahoma who are voluntarily making efforts to preserve the population before federal regulators bring down the proverbial hammer. That’s why, late this spring, he led a letter to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) urging them to extend the public comment period for the proposed rule seeking to list two Distinct Population Segments (DPS) of the lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This issue is not closed, and Lankford continues to fight against federal overreach under the ESA, which only has a two percent recovery rate for listed species. 

Getting Answers on Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility

• Senator Lankford pushed back after receiving a very unsatisfactory and troubling response from the Biden Administration regarding their plans for the future of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO), after he led a letter in May to President Biden to demand a status update on his plans for GTMO. The Department of Defense’s short response, after three months, indicated they plan to continue to move forward to close the facility.

Working to Protect Against Democrats' Federal Election Takeover

Senator Lankford continues to work for free and fair elections for all legal voters. He recently praised a letter from nationally trusted Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax regarding the dangers he sees posed by S. 1 and H.R. 1, the For the People Act, to Oklahoma’s free and fair election process. Lankford has worked for years to ensure elections are secure, reliable, and remain state run. Senator Lankford opposes H.R. 1/S.1 and any similar legislation. Senator Lankford recently penned a column about the importance of state-run elections that can be verified as well as ensuring all Americans can vote and vote efficiently. Oklahoma stands as a great example of good voting laws. Senator Lankford would like to see our states implement our process or a similarly successful process around the country.

Protecting Conscience Rights

Earlier this year, Senator Lankford introduced his Conscience Protection Act, which protects healthcare providers, including health insurance plans from government discrimination if they decline to participate in abortions and also provides a private right of action for victims of discrimination. Since then, 

Ensuring American Energy Independence

Senator Lankford raised strong concerns this summer when Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Wyden introduced the Clean Energy for America Act. In the Senate Finance Committee markup, Committee Democrats brought a renewed push to try to “cancel” traditional energy and only incentivize investment in renewable and “clean” energy options. Lankford pointed out how the recent extreme weather event in Oklahoma and the region in February left usually reliable renewable energy sources frozen and forced Oklahomans to rely on coal for a time, instead of our largely diverse energy portfolio.

Getting US Passport Processing Back on Track

In July, Senator Lankford sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken demanding action after hearing from numerous Oklahomans who were experiencing big delays in processing their passport applications, some of whom paid for expedited processing and delivery for upcoming travel. The backlog of passports ballooned to an unprecedented level of 2.2 million with expected delays of 4-6 months. His office was able to help move the process forward for many Oklahomans’ passports, and he continues to demand the Passport office get back to full capacity to process Americans wanting to travel overseas.

Helping Veterans & Families Get Veteran Records Efficiently

Senator Lankford’s office was able to more efficiently get access to veterans DD-214s and other military records at the National Personnel Records Center. This ensures veterans and their families who call the office can get the service they deserve to help their veteran loved ones. Lankford also introduced the Record of Military Service for Members of the Armed Forces Ac, which helps reserve component members of the US Armed Forces, including members of the Reserves and National Guard, to receive the benefits they have earned following their retirement or completion of service by ensuring they receive the same DD-214 form as other members of the military. 

Enhancing Access for Charitable Giving

Senator Lankford introduced the bipartisan Universal Giving Pandemic Response and Recovery Act to expand and extend the current deduction for charitable giving. The bill would ensure that Americans who donate to charities, houses of worship, religious organizations, and other nonprofits are able to deduct that donation from their federal taxes at a higher level than the current $300 deduction. The COVID-19 relief package passed in December 2020 included an extension of the $300 charitable deduction was included for 2021. 

Protecting Taxpayer Privacy from IRS Facial Recognition

Senator Lankford, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and their Senate Republican colleagues to raise serious questions and concerns with the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) announcement of a major expansion of its collaboration with ID.me that will require taxpayers to have an ID.me account to access key IRS online resources. In order to register with ID.me, taxpayers will need to submit to ID.me a trove of personal information, including sensitive biometric data, starting in the summer of 2022. Folloing Lankford and his colleagues' probe into their plans, the IRS announced they would transition away from using a third-party service for facial recognition to help authenticate people creating new online accounts.